Her Lumberjack Bear Mate: Crescent Lake Bears, #1

One

Ella

After working various retail jobs, Ella had developed the very special skill of being able to sense if a customer was going to be a nightmare before they said a single word. She foolishly thought she wouldn't have to deal with that sort of demanding client when she opened up a small furniture boutique offering only expensive handmade wooden pieces.

She'd never been more wrong.

The elderly woman sitting in front of her wore a stereotypical pair of thin glasses on the very end of her nose that threatened to slip off. Her coat looked like some sort of unaffordable cashmere and her little handbag was stamped with the Victoria Drake logo. This woman was clearly made out of money and not afraid to spend it on luxuries.

Ella brushed a lock of stray hair behind her ear and conjured a practised smile. It's good to see you, Mrs Draak. You said in your initial email that you wanted to order a custom rocking chair, a birthday present for your husband?

Correct. I want to surprise him with something special. I hope you're up for the task because I have a few non-negotiables.

They always did.

I'm all ears, Ella replied, clicking her pen demonstratively and hovering it over her notepad to show that these demands, however unreasonable, mattered.

The rocking chair has to be ergonomic, with comfortable armrests, a footrest, and large enough that it'll support his head. I don't trust screws and joinery so I want it to be carved out of one piece of solid wood. Something sturdy and durable, but with a beautiful pattern. Maybe walnut, Mrs Draak rattled off, only coming up for a breath once she'd given her list of requirements.

Ella hummed as she wrote down all the demands. I can tell that you have a clear image of this piece in your head but if you want the chair to be made from one piece, walnut won't be possible. It doesn't grow thick enough for that. However, I've assembled some very durable rocking chairs—

No, it has to be one piece. We've had our fair share of trouble with loose screws and weak joints, Mrs Draak interrupted. What type of wood would you recommend then?

Oak would be a good choice. It's grown in various places in the country and it can be really beautiful when its grain is allowed to shine.

Hmm... That's disappointing but I guess acceptable. We have a dresser in oak, a very beautiful piece. Mrs Draak flipped her notebook shut. I can settle for oak.

There are some other things to consider before I accept this order, Ella said slowly, carefully choosing her words. She'd only made a handful of pieces without joinery but a rocking chair would be the largest by far. Just thinking about the sheer amount of wood that would be needed was enough to make her head spin. It wouldn't be easy to find a piece of oak that large. To carve a rocking chair out of a single piece of wood, it will be costly and time-consuming.

Money is no object. This is my husband's eightieth birthday, you understand? He loves sitting on the porch to watch his little animal-critters that come to the feeders, I want him to have years of enjoyment from this gift. As long as you can promise you'll get it done before the end of next month, I will pay whatever you think is fair.

As wonderful as that was to hear, a single glance at her planner reminded Ella she had other projects to finish and previous clients to brief.

Before she could say anything, Mrs Draak spoke again. Oh and one more thing, I want the wood to come from Bearton. Everyone around these parts knows that timber sourced by bear shifters is preferable.

Not a problem, one of our suppliers is from Bearton. I will talk to him—

Mrs Draak shook her head. No, that's not good enough. I want you to personally make sure it's come from the Bearton Woods. If you don't see the tree being cut, then how could you possibly know where it was grown?

There are verifications and that sort of thing in place for that. Ella kept her practised smile while she thought of a polite way to let Mrs Draak know that she wasn't going to personally fell a tree just for her. She was a furniture maker, not a lumberjack or whatever they were currently called.

Mrs Draak pursed her lips in a way that almost looked like a grin, as if she was bemused that someone thought they could say no to her. I won't accept a rocking chair made out of just any wood. What's the objection here? Money? I told you, I will pay whatever you think is necessary.

As much as Ella wished she didn't have to dance to the tune of her clients, her bank account thought differently.

I will see what I can arrange. I'll also have to do some calculations on the price for this order. I can email the numbers to you, she said slowly, deciding that if she was decently compensated, there was no reason to refuse. And if she needed to carve the rocking chair out of one piece, making sure the tree they sold her was thick enough wasn't the worst idea.

Mrs Draak nodded as she stood up. Wonderful. I expect nothing but the best.

Ella walked the older woman out and waved politely until she was out of view. Her arm fell down by her side and she returned inside, her brain already milling about how much she could reasonably charge for a project like this and whether it would be possible to handpick the tree.

She grabbed her phone and navigated to the number of the timber company in Bearton that she usually worked with.

The line connected after only a few rings.

This is Darcy at Honeywell Timber, what can I do for you? a woman with a pleasant chipper voice replied.

Hi. Is Jake available? It's Ella from Moonlight Furniture, Ella introduced herself, hoping to get hold of her usual contact. She figured it was more likely

Oh, my brother is currently unavailable. He's on bed rest with a slipped disc. Can I help you? Darcy replied.

Ella scratched the side of her head as she leaned against the edge of the table. She'd been counting on her previous working relationship for a request that was honestly a bit out there.

Hello? Darcy said.

Sorry, I was thinking. This might be an unusual request but I'm hoping to source a solid piece of greenwood oak. Something large, maybe two metres by one by one?

The woman on the other end chuckled. That's not such a strange request, we are a timber company.

Ella chuckled too. Yes, but I wanted to see if there was any possibility I could come along and observe you cutting the tree.

"Okay, that is unusual, Darcy replied, but the lightness in her voice suggested she was mostly amused. Umm... Let me think. Did you say you wanted a solid piece of two metres by one?"

Yes. I'm carving a rocking chair for a client, Ella replied, hoping that explained her request.

Aha, that's why you want greenwood. Right. For a piece that size, we have to take down a bloody big tree.

I assumed as much. What would the price be for an undertaking like that? Including me tagging along, Ella asked. She couldn't believe she was actually trying to arrange a tree viewing, as if that somehow had any impact on the quality of the wood. The things she did for money.

Darcy let out a thinking hum. That's complicated. I'll need to check with my dad. Can I call you back in a few days with an estimate?

Yes, that works for me. I appreciate that. And I appreciate you not instantly shooting me down. I know it's a bit weird that I want to observe, Ella said, genuinely grateful.

Not a problem! Everyone has their kinks.

What? That's not what— Ella ceased her protest when the other woman’s giggle made it clear she was being messed with. That’s not funny.

Sorry, just teasing. Ella from Moonlight Furniture, right? I just want to make sure I write it down correctly.

Yes, you got it, she replied curtly, a little irritated by the unprofessional joke. If anyone else had done this, she would have put the phone down and found a different company to work with but there was only one family that took care of the woods around Bearton and that was the Honeywells.

Once the call ended, she put her phone away and let out a long sigh. She hadn't even officially accepted the rocking chair commission yet but she already knew the whole thing was going to be a struggle from start to finish.

Two

Darcy

Darcy lifted the axe above her head and let it come down with confidence. The log split cleanly in half, exactly where she intended. Pleased with the result, she tossed the two pieces on the pile of firewood and grabbed the next log, setting it up on the stump.

She lowered her axe when she saw her dad coming from the workshop and waved. Hi! What's up?

He paused a few steps away from her, as always sticking to the golden family rule which was to never step within swing distance of someone with an axe. A rule that had saved plenty of tears and toes in a rowdy family of bear shifters.

Hey, sugarplum. I looked into the latest request. There might be a suitable oak tree up on Mud Hill.

Oh, the one past Zigzag Creek? Darcy put her axe down. I didn't realise that one needed to go.

Yeah, it's gotten too big and it's hindering the growth of the surrounding flora. Her dad wiped his hands on his flannel shirt. It'll be a challenge to take it down and transport it out though. The nearest service road is fifteen minutes away.

So bear power then?

He nodded. Yes, especially if they want such a large solid piece.

How much are we charging for the whole operation then? Including this Ella person from Moonlight Furniture tagging along?

"Adding up the drive there, the felling, bear removal, the man hours, the wood itself, and tourist tax... If she's taking a large stump home, we won't need to process it ourselves. Is she picking up the stump from the warehouse or do we need to deliver it? Let's quote an even five hundred, five-fifty if we need to