When the man could not stand it and backed away, the bear rose threateningly and waved her front paws. Who knows how it could have ended if, at that moment, Lauren hadn’t intervened in the confrontation between the man and the bear. The bear immediately lowered her huge paws and let her nose toward Lauren.
Then, turning to the man and growling menacingly at him, she walked slowly along the water’s edge. When the bear disappeared behind the trees, Lauren walked over to the frightened stranger and peered into his face, white with fear. The man slammed his eyes shut for a long time, then dropped his backpack from his shoulders and gestured for Lauren to get water from it.
Having drunk, he lowered himself to the ground and muttered, Thank you. The stranger’s name was Norman, and he had arrived the day before from the city with his hunting friends. But out of inexperience, he got separated from them in the woods and got lost.
Being a she-bear, Norman presumptuously shot at it but missed, which made Maggie very angry. She forced him to step back towards the lake, and no one knows how it would have ended if Lauren hadn’t arrived on the shore. Frightened that Norman could get into trouble again, she offered him a place to spend the night at her father’s gatehouse.
Norman agreed and followed Lauren to the hut. When they finally reached the place, it was nighttime. After lodging Norman for the night, Lauren was about to leave, but Norman grabbed her by the arm and held her back.
Stay, he whispered, wrapping himself in a blanket. It’s already late at night. Where will you go? Lauren stayed.
Having warmed up and relaxed, Norman told her a little about herself. After learning that he was a businessman who owned two hardware stores, Lauren looked at the guy closely and giggled. You don’t look like a businessman, she declared.
Norman, embarrassed and even offended, turned to the wall and remained silent for a long time. Well, don’t believe me then, he said quietly. Then, abruptly dropping the blanket, he rose on his elbows and stared at Lauren.
Do you want me to prove it to you? How’s that? Lauren wondered. Look, come to the city, and I’ll show you my stores, and I’ll also give you a gift. Any item is absolutely free.
Yes, and the delivery is on me. He took a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Lauren. The girl clutched it in her fist and stood up.
I think I should go. Lauren sighed as she buttoned her jacket. Auntie will be worried, and you go to sleep.
Good night. Norman grabbed her hand again, pulled her to him, and suddenly kissed her on the lips. Lauren wanted to slap him, but for some reason she could not, and waiting for the kiss to end, jumped out of the gatehouse in the darkness of the night.
She walked all the way home as if in a deep sleep, rushing from tree to tree like a shadow. Her lips still burned with that spontaneous kiss. Moreover, she wanted another kiss.
This strange desire frightened Lauren, but she could not get rid of it. Upon reaching home, the girl silently slipped into her room and quickly threw off her clothes and dove into bed. For a long time she lay there, thinking of Norman and their strange meeting, which involved a bear, and finally fell asleep.
After the hunter friends found Norman, he stayed in the lodge for several more days. All that time, Lauren was by his side. Some strange, previously unknown feeling attracted her to him, and when she heard that Norman was going home, she became unbearably sad.
When she went out to see him off, she could not hold back her tears, and Norman, noticing this, hugged her tightly and pulled her close to him. You can come to me anytime, he said, stroking her hair. Do you remember about the gift? Lauren nodded, and with an embarrassing kiss on Norman’s cheek, she walked quickly away.
After walking a significant distance away, she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to ask him for his address and decided to go back. But by that time, Norman was already far away. Remembering the business card, Lauren searched her pockets and was horrified to find that the card was gone.