Bear Naked For Christmas (Bear Oak Novella) by Edith Hawkes

One
    A s I approached Scarfell Mountain I could feel all the muscles in my shoulders relax. It had been a tough few weeks at the hospital, and I was so glad to have the break. I was lucky I was able to get Christmas off—I’d managed to trade a few days with a younger, less senior staff member who owed me a favor. But nonetheless, I was still happy to give up my days off in the New Year for a chance to spend the best time of the year on the mountain with my parents.
    The imposing mountain took up most of the view out my windshield, with its green and white coverings, and the sight of it made me think of all the happy times we’d had there. I smiled; I loved this time of year, and I couldn’t wait to spend it with my family, who, with everything else going on in my life and my insanely busy schedule, I’d been neglecting for the past few months.
    Christmas at Scarfell had become a little bit of a tradition of ours. We would all get away from the craziness of the holidays, the mad rush that the city turned into. Instead we kept it simple; just the three of us in the same old cabin that we rented year after year. And of course some good, wholesome Christmas comfort food, a crackling fire and most importantly: peace and quiet. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the city, but sometimes I just couldn’t hear myself think. And after countless forty-eight hour shifts in the last few months, these days away would be what I needed to recharge my batteries for the upcoming year.
    This was the way it was supposed to be. We’d forget all the commercial nonsense that came with Christmas, and instead we’d concentrate on spending it with the people we loved the most. Though this year, I was sure my mom would be a little bit disappointed that I didn’t bring Simon, my fiancé, with me.
    Well, ex-fiancé, but they didn’t know that yet. I had no idea how I was going to tell them. Mom loved Simon, and Dad… Well, he didn't really care who I dated, but I was sure my mom was a little bit in love with him and envisaged wedding bells and baby booties in her not-too-distant future.
    I’d figure out some way of letting her down gently, and hopefully she’d understand that it wasn’t meant to be. Simon, regardless of his good qualities, had countless bad ones.
    My eyes flickered down to my hands that gripped the steering wheel, and my stomach dropped. Right there on my left hand was the engagement ring Simon had given me in September on our one-year anniversary. I’d completely forgotten to give it back. Oh well, I thought, I’d have to give it back to him when I saw him at the hospital next… somewhere public.
    The snow was coming down a lot harder now, and it was getting dark, with a few stars starting to peek out from between the thickening clouds. I was nearly there, so I didn’t have to worry about getting caught out in a snowstorm. Just a few more minutes up the winding road and I’d be in front of the cabin and ready to warm up in front of a roaring fire.
    I took the almost hidden cut-down on the left that led to the cabin, and could see golden lights flickering in the windows in the distance. However, as I continued to drive, I noticed our neighbor Mr. Jenkins’ cabin to the right was shrouded in darkness, when normally it would be just as warm and welcoming as our own.
    Slowing the car down, I could hear the snow crunching under the tires. I was almost past the neighbor’s house when I saw a shadow on the porch. A huge skulking man—definitely not old, withered Mr. Jenkins—paced back and forth. I watched as he banged a fist upon the wood of the front door. My first thought was that he was trying to break in, and god knows what came over me, but I slammed on the brakes. The car skidded slightly; I threw the parking brake on and leapt out to confront the stranger.
    “Hey, you!” I yelled. “What do you think you are doing?”
    The cold air greeted me like a slap to the face, and I was bombarded with thick snowflakes