Bear Flesh Delights

Some people seemed to be staring in their direction, and she got the feeling it was her they were looking at, but she was sure they were just curious about the new girl. In a small town like this one, it was likely they knew who she was and they were just trying to figure her out. Why she was there, and whether or not she’d fit in.

Amelia was actually a bit curious about that herself. It was so beautiful and peaceful there, she was already longing to stay.

After they ate their food, just as previously discussed, Annie took the car home, leaving Amelia and the four Bench women to do as they pleased. But since it was only four in the afternoon, none of them particularly wanted to head back home.

“It’s too early to go to the bar,” Kathy pointed out. “Only the old guys would be in there right now. They’d love to have us, but I doubt we’d be as happy to have them.”

Mary giggled at this. “I know I’m not looking for an old guy myself,” she replied. “Besides, whoever is there now must not like the beach.”

“Well, I have the most perfect idea ever. We have absolutely got to take Amelia shopping for some better clothes,” Judy announced, making all her sisters giggle.

“Are they really that bad?” asked Kathy with a smirk.

“They look like they were designed for a circumspect night at home in the fifties or something,” Judy announced decisively.

“No, they don’t!” Amelia protested, her cheeks flaming. She gave it some thought, however, and had to add, “They were all the rage back in the eighties.”

They all laughed, and Amelia flushed as she shook her head, laughing right along with them. And so, a shopping spree ensued. Amelia was very thankful for their help when it came to picking out stylish clothing. If not for them, she might have opted to get herself a toga and call it good.

Finished shopping, they followed one of the roads that led towards their cabins. They stopped frequently to admire the views. Especially if those views involved seemingly unattached men basking in the sunshine.

“I have to admit, it really is kind of like going grocery shopping,” Amelia said when they were between houses. “That last batch of guys looked pretty good from a distance, but what good is it doing us to just look at these guys if we don’t even talk to any of them?”

“Well, we were trying to let you get used to things first,” said Mary with a smirk. “You know, get a lay of the land, so to speak. Figure out which of the guys you’d actually want to talk to first, and then find a way to do it next time.”

“I don’t know, that seems a bit pointless,” Amelia sighed. “I mean, is this all you guys do each day around here? It’s no wonder none of you has a boyfriend if you do.”

“Just give it a few days,” Judy chuckled. “It’ll grow on you.”

*****

Three days in a row, Amelia and the Bench women went boating during the day, ate a late lunch, and then the daughters walked up a different road each time to get back to their cabins. On the third day, they went up Birch Street, so they could actually see a bit more of the water along the way as well as the occupants of the cabins.

“Okay, a lot of these houses up in this section are private residences,” Judy said, pointing up ahead of them. “This is the section you’re going to want to pay more attention to, since these are the guys who are not leaving anytime soon. So, Amelia, do you think you’ve gotten up the courage to say hello to anybody yet?”

“No way, I’d be totally afraid to try,” Amelia said, holding up her hands as if to ward off the very thought. “But then again, I doubt I ever will have that much courage, to tell you the truth. I was hoping maybe some of them would say hello to us instead.”

“I know, let’s compromise,” said Kathy brightly. “We will smile and wave at the next group of guys we see. If they like us, they should probably come over and talk to us, right?”

“This is hopeless,” Amelia muttered. “It’s like the blind leading the blind.”

“Yeah, you do have a point,” Judy agreed. “Maybe we should throw a beach party or something. Guys always seem to crash those.”

“Wait, wait, I just realized something,” said Ashley excitedly. “We’re getting close to that house.”

“What do you mean?” asked Amelia.

“The one with the really cute guys who have been living there for years,” said Ashley with a knowing smile. “They’re probably the hottest two guys in the whole town. But they never seem to talk to us, though. We’d probably just be wasting our time waving at them.”

“Don’t be such a naysayer, Ash,” Judy complained. “This time might be different, now that we’ve got a blonde in our group. You work it now, Amelia. Let’s see if we can get those fish to bite.”

“You are so terrible!” Amelia protested. Secretly, the thought of getting some guys that never talked to them before to do it now just because of her sounded really fun. She could use the ego boost such an accomplishment would give her.

Judy and her sisters had already begun to wave. Blushing hotly, Amelia looked to see exactly who it was they were waving at. The two shirtless men appeared to be unloading logs from the back of a pick-up truck and chopping them with an ax. When they saw the group of women waving at them, they stopped and smiled at each other, stepping over to say hello.

“Hey there, I recognize all of you, but who is this pretty lady?” asked the shorter of the two. “You’re not from around here, but I don’t think you’re a run of the mill tourist either, am I right? I’m Joe, by the way. Joe West.”

“Hello, Mr. West,” Amelia answered shyly as she shook his hand.

“Don’t call me Mr. West, Mr. West was my father,” he chuckled. “I know what you’re thinking; it’s a cheesy line. But true nonetheless.”

“Joe, then,” she smirked. “I’m Amelia.”

“I’m Skylar,” said the taller man with a grin.

“Hi, Skylar,” she said, grinning back.

The two men really were just as hot as she’d been led to believe. Joe was slightly shorter, and his hair was more of a golden brown, while Skylar was a bit taller and darker, but both of them were definitely musclebound and gorgeous. Amelia couldn’t help but notice even though her inner critic chastised her for being so superficial. She told it to shut up and let her have some fun for once.

“So, how long are you going to be in town, Amelia?” Joe wanted to know. It was obvious by his tone and the casual way he stood close to her that he was extremely interested in her reply.