#lostandwild

There was a small festival in town, a few tents dotted the road ahead, hay bales lined the sidewalks. Carnival games grabbed the attention of JB and Blue as they handed over dollar bills to throw balls at milk jugs, darts at balloons, and ping pong balls at vases. Blue roared in response to her grand prize achievement, receiving a stuffed bear larger than herself. JB wordlessly offered his help, the two carrying the stuffed monstrosity to the next game booth.

Harper held Bam’s hand as she watched them, their bright faces and infectious laughter always left her in awe at the lives she and Bam had brought into this world. To see the way the two were so close almost brought her to tears, she managed to hold them back as Bam squeezed her hand.

“We got pretty lucky, didn’t we?” He let go of her hand to slide his arm around her waist.

Harper turned to look at him, his sunglasses hiding the emotion she knew he was hoping to hide in his eyes. She smiled and kissed his cheek, nodding.

“Yeah, real lucky.”

At the end of the row of games, the plush bear was dangerously close to dragging the ground as their children’s stamina was dwindling. Bam convinced Blue to let him carry the bear since they were going to need all of their strength to carry back their pumpkins, pointing at the tent ahead that had hundreds of pumpkins spilling out of it’s confines.

Both of their eyes were as wide as saucers, their minds filled with the stories Harper had told them stories over the last few weeks of carving them and setting them aglow with candles. Blue asked every night before bed if she could carve anything she wanted, her first choice changing nightly.

After looking back for their parent’s permission, Blue took JB’s hand and they raced off, pouring over the gourds one after the other.

“JB! Look at THIS one! No….this one!” Blue could barely stop and study one before she was zipping to the next. JB following her lead, the two narrowly avoiding a collision a few times as they zigged and the other zagged. Bam brought his camera, snapping pictures of them both as they lifted heavy pumpkins, showing everyone to their parents.

When Blue finally picked out the one she wanted, her little legs shook with effort as she tried to lift it, the circumference of it, stretching her arms to their limits. To keep from dropping it, she let Bam carry it for her. JB’s was slightly more modest, but he carried it, slightly struggling, Harper bent over next to him as he walked, ready to save the gourd from it’s doom should it topple out of his grip. Borrowing a wheelbarrow, the children heaved their selections into the basin, picking out a few more for their aunt’s and uncles and grandparents. The lot of Browntown had been happy to participate, each planning their own carving to make the holiday more festive in the forest.

Raising his eyebrows at the total, Bam sighed sarcastically, peering at Harper over his glasses.

“I better at least get a pie out of this.” He chided.

Harper narrowed her eyes playfully. She leaned in mumbling into his ear.

“Oh, you’ll get a pie alright, as long as you’re a good boy.” She quipped to him. She almost laughed aloud when he quickly dug out cash and thrusted it at the cashier.

“I’m always a good boy…” he grumbled back, she turned, trying not to yelp when he pinched her backside.

“Joshua!” Harper blushed, but couldn’t stay mad at him, not as happy as he looked.

The little family made an assembly train as they unloaded the pumpkins from the wheelbarrow onto the boat, Bam having to muscle the last one alone as Blue followed him, concern in her face that he would drop it.

“Daddy, be CAREFUL! Respect the pumpkin!” She said to him as he set it down and she hugged it in relief. Harper snickered.

“That one is alllll your fault.” She pointed a finger in Bam’s chest playfully. He huffed, unable to hide his amusement.

“I guess I can’t deny that one.”

--------------------

Back in the inlet, the boat anchored, Harper, JB, and Blue took turns handing pumpkins to Bam in the skiff, Blue demanding they go slow and easy with her’s, barking orders as if she were in charge of a wrecking crew.

“Little lady, you better watch that tone.” Bam warned as she criticized his handling of the stem. The earnestness in her face made him want to scold her and hug her at the same time. She held JB’s hand, trying her hardest to help him down into the skiff. In reality it just made it more difficult, but neither Bam nor Harper had the heart to tell her otherwise.

Safely aboard the skiff, JB and Blue held tightly to their pumpkins, Blue squeezing so tightly that Harper had to warn her not to hug it into a million peices. Neither child wanted to part with their selection once at shore, worried that in the flurry of unloading there would be a mixup and they would lose track of the ones they’d chosen. As the rest of the Browns met them at the shore and indulged Blue and JB’s recantation of their trip to town, eventually gathering their pumpkins and heading back into the forest.

Blue tested Bam’s patience, refusing to let him carry hers even though she had to stop every five feet to set it down and rest. Bam’s resolve was wearing thin, but every time she stopped, he just looked skyward and took a deep breath before reaffirming his patience with his daughter. JB was much more easy going, holding onto his mother’s hand as they followed, his pumpkin in Harper’s arm.

-------------

Once they finally arrived back at their cabin set a short way from the center of Browntown, pumpkin guts were slinging everywhere; slimy little handprints were all over every surface. Bam was clearly on edge, large knives lying on the table, he saw the twinkle in Blue’s eyes as the shiny metal caught her attention.

“Blueberry Gypsy, don’t you even think about it.” He bellowed a little, making her jump a little and scowl; Harper couldn’t believe how much she looked like her father just then. Redirecting both of her children’s attention, Harper took a flat pan to the wood stove along with all the seeds she and JB had been seperating and cleaning. She recruited Blue to salt the seeds, JB’s little hands spreading them out flat.

“And we can eat these, Mommy?” Blue asked, watching the seeds drying on the door of the stove.

“Yes, this one one of my favorite things to eat as a kid.” Harper said, popping a raw one in her mouth.

Bam now calmer, called his children over and sat with them, letting them use a small pocket knife to trace small outlines on each of their pumpkins. Once they were happy with their designs (JB receiving a helping hand from his dad), they stood close by while Bam and Harper each carved along their traces carefully. Both children watched and chattered excitedly as chunks of pumpkin fell away revealing the jack-o-lanterns.

Blue was jumping up and down in her chair with excitement as Bam and Harper sealed light from the cabin, covering windows, shutting the doors, darkening the room before lighting candles in each gourd. JB and Blue both looked on as the glow illuminated each perfectly crooked face.

“I LOVE IT.” Blue’s loud whisper spoke her level of wonderment, JB clapping.

Still insisting on carrying it, Blue made her way slowly outside to put the pumpkins at the end of the little walkway to the cabin, setting both pumpkins down opposite each other. In the dusk, lit up they looked every more magical. Soon the rest of the family came to see their pumpkins, Blue going into extraneous detail of hers’, JB jumping up into his grandpa’s arms and pointing at his simply.

The large group travelled from dwelling to dwelling, seeing the different pumpkins that each person carved. Both of the small children were tickled to pieces over their new tradition, begging to do it every year.

That evening, Blue dressed up as superhero and JB as a Bear, the two ran from house to house, zig-zagging around Brown-town, collecting candy and completing activities that aunt, uncle or grandparent planned for them. Bobbing for apples was Blue’s favorite as she almost dunked her entire little body in the basin. JB liked the face-painting, looking even more like the cutest teddy bear.  

Once night fell, all the jack-o-lanterns were lit, the light cast from their faces dancing on the ground and trees surrounding them. When the night threatened to draw on too long, Bam and Harper rounded up the children and walked them back to their cabin, both Blue and JB kissing each jack-o-lantern good night as they passed. Their excitement kept them up and excitable for a short time, but ultimately both crashed in their parent’s lap as Bam read to them from a Halloween book about ghosts, witches and wizards.

Laying Blue in her bed, Harper frowned when she heard the pillow crinkle. Lifting it as to not wake Blue, she found a stash of candy that Blue had somehow managed to sneak into her room. Gathering all but one, Harper shook her head, biting back a laugh.

“Contraband…” Harper whispered, showing Bam as they met outside of the children’s room. Bam chose a piece and popped it in his mouth.

“Delicious contraband…” He smiled. He smacked her backside as she turned, “ I think we need to go play our own little game of trick or treat. Get in that bedroom, girl.”

----------------------------------------------------------------

As soon as dawn arrived, Blue was up milling around the house. Though Halloween was over, she was still abuzz from all of the activity (and perhaps the candy stash that her parent’s hadn’t found). The moment Bam was up and dressed, she dashed out the front door, beelining for the pumpkins at the end of their walk. She stopped short, dead silent though, staring straight ahead.

“D-Daddy?” She asked, pointing ahead of her as she looked back at him, “My pumpkin…”

Bam’s eyes followed her finger and saw the scattered remains of her pumpkin, smashed beyond any semblance of recognition. The scratches in the dirt, the scat littering the ground not far from it were all he needed to figure out a bear had decided to make a snack of their decorations.

“Blueberry...I’m so sorry. I think a bear must’ve liked your pumpkins, too.” He took her hand, his other hand resting near his handgun holster, his eyes peeled and scanning to make sure the animal was long gone. He walked with Blue around the complex and noticed not a single pumpkin had been spared, pulpy orange flesh lay strewn about. Some had tried to clean up what they could, but the damage was done and Blue was crushed, walking with her shoulders slumped, her feet dragging along the dirt. When they returned home, both JB and Blue’s pumpkin remains had been cleaned from the yard. Blue kicked a rock, sulking.

Bam sniffed the air, looking through the window of his cabin, seeing Harper working on something in the kitchen, JB standing on a stool next to her, still dressed in his little bear costume.  

“Girl, I bet your mama might just save the day.” He sniffed again, smirking. He picked Blue up and let her piggy back on his back, galloping into the house. Blue sniffed when she passed through the door, smelling some sweet spice. She wiggled down off of Bam and went to the over, peering in to see washed, clean chunks of pumpkin baking. She then crawled up the stool next to JB and watch as he stirred a bowl of dry spices and sugar.

“Punkin Pie!” He announced to her.

“We’re going to eat our pumpkins?” She looked horrified for a moment.

“Blue, just because the pumpkins were ruined doesn’t mean we can’t find another way to enjoy them. The pumpkins weren’t going to last forever even if the bear hadn’t come around and tore them up.” Harper explained, working her own bowl of ingredients into a pie crust dough. Blue climbed up on the counter, crawling across, mimicking the kneading of her mother.

“That’s right, little girl. This way we aren’t wasteful. “ Bam tapped a small spattering of flour, booping Blue’s nose, leaving a powdery, white mark behind.

“Daddy!” she giggled trying to wipe it away, her own floury hands just adding to the mess.

The rest of the morning was spent measuring, cutting, mashing, and baking. By the time the pie was done, Blue and JB’s belly’s were grumbling loud enough, they were sure the noise would scare away any bear who dared come near. They hovered dangerously close to the cooling confection as Harper warned them to stay away until after dinner, then they could have some. She noticed then that Blue’s twitchy fingers were unlikely to make it long.

Both children went down for their naps with such ease that Harper couldn’t help but be suspicious. She kept her ears open for any sound of them moving around as she and Bam spent the afternoon together, cleaning the mess that was made, bringing in wood, laundry.

“Harper…” Bam whispered as he stoked the fire in the woodstove, “There is a tiny bear in our ktichen…”

Harper’s heart about leapt out her chest as she snapped her head around, taking him entirely too literally. She saw the bear. It’s fuzzy brown ears, it’s beady, plastic black eyes and it’s button nose was all that was visible behind the counter.

“JB! Sit down!” Came a harsh whisper. It was then that the bear disappeared and that both parents noticed that the counter was now obviously bare, a pie no longer in sight.

Bam had to hide his grin and Harper tried to look stern, but even a grin was playing at the corners of her mouth. They crept quietly together to the kitchen, the unmistakable sounds of little lips smacking wafting out.

Blue and JB sat on the floor, their little hands covered in pumpkin pie as they dug pieces out to eat.

“Mommy really is a good cook.” Blue said, breaking off a piece of crust, JB only nodding in agreement, his cheeks puffed out with a mouthful of the pie.

“Blueberry Gypsy…” Bam rumbled.

“Joshua Bam Bam Junior….” Harper followed.

Both froze in place, hands halfway to grabbing another bite, Blue gulping her last loudly.

“S-Sorry…” Blue said. JB didn’t speak, only looked like he was about to cry.

Harper sighed, joining the kids on the floor after she grabbed forks from the dish strainer. Bam shook his head chuckling as he sat too, pulling JB in his lap.

“Don’t cry, son. Is it good?” He asked his baby bear clad child. JB be nodded, still chewing. JB offered a bite still in his fingers to Bam, smashing a little of it in his beard. Harper had to giggle now, handing each a fork and taking a bite herself, offering another bite to Blue, whose impish smile became infectious.

“I love Halloween, mommy. I can’t wait to do this every year.” Blue said, holding the pie up for others to take more.

“Sounds like we have a new tradition. “ Bam said, nudging Harper.

She felt a sudden rush of relief and her heart swell when she heard 3 long blasts coming from the short. The baby, who was not even walking yet, jumped a little, even at his young age he knew what the sound meant. His head turned quickly from one side to the other already looking for his dad.

Blue was so deeply preoccupied with her own work, she didn’t even act like she heard a thing; Though Harper could swear she saw her start coloring faster. She had to smile a little when she heard Blue singing a little song that she and her Uncle Bear had made up.

“Run through the trees, feel the cold breeze. See me running, running past ya, I’m so happy I live in Alaska”.

The words had such a sing-songy rhythm to them, Blue hummed it constantly. She was pretty enamored with her Uncle who was always giving her little presents and making time for her. Without looking at the card, Harper suddenly realized it was probably for Bear. She smiled, but she knew every time that Blue did something special for Bear, Bam was a little hurt. He never let Blue know, or show her in any way, but Harper had seen his shoulders slump when she would pick an afternoon with Bear over him.

Coming back from a trip, he’d be so excited to see them all, Harper was a little worried that Blue might even blow right past him for Bear.

“Are you excited to see Daddy?” Harper asked J.B. who just giggled and cooed. He might not be able to speak yet, but the word ‘Daddy’ clearly brought him joy, “How about you, Miss Sassy Pants?” She spoke to Blue now who was diligently working while occasionally glancing towards the door as if it would open any second. Harper did the same, trying to find a way to busy herself to keep from jumping out of her skin. In the days before the babies she’s rush out of the trapper shack, jumping in his arms at the midway point when he returned. Once they barely even made it to a sheltered bush off to the side before he made love to her. But that was back then before the babies. Regardless, she still couldn’t wait to jump in his arms and show him exactly how much she missed him as soon as they had a moment alone together.

Her heart skipped a beat as the metal latch on their door clicked and opened and Bam was home. His heavy duffel bag thunked on the floor as he let it slide off his shoulder. A huge smile adorned his face as his eyes fell on each member of his small family. J.B. wiggled, making excited cooing noises, unable to vocalize his excitement any other way. Blue looked over a huge, cheesy grin.

“Hi, Daddy!!” She buried her project under the scraps of her rejected ones, knocking her chair over as she jumped and bounded over to him, being swung up in his arms, wrapping her little arms and legs around him.

“Ahh, there’s my little monkey.” He chuckled, not really having to hold on to her, she clung to him so tightly. Harper walked up to him, trying to keep J.B. from wiggling off of her hip. “Ahhh, and here’s my sexy little monkey…” His voice was softer, suggestive as he drew her to him, his face hovering so close to hers, a smirk played on his lips. His eyes shifted to the chubby hands of his baby reaching for him. “And is this my little man? He grew so much, Harp!” He let J.B. fall into his arms, embracing both his children in a long hug.

Soon other voices of returning family members wafted through the open door and Blue’s eyes shot open, her head up like a meerkat. She started wiggling her way down, climbing off of Bam. She ran to her table and grabbed her project, putting it under her shirt as if neither of her parent’s would notice.

“Blue?” Harper called as the girl, raced by them.

“I gotta see Unca Bear!!” She called behind her, her dark wavy curls whipping behind her. Bam sighed, trying to hide the hurt evident in his tone.

“Well, at least I got the first hug.” He smiled, and turned to J.B., baby talking with him, making the boy giggle.

“You know she loves you. But Bear is the fun, no rules guy....kids always gravitate towards that for a while.” Harper kissed his cheek.

Harper knew that the rest of the day would be family time, where everyone would reconnect after the time apart including a dinner with everyone expected to attend. She had no problem with this normally, but she hoped that the family didn’t make a late night of it, being Valentine’s day and all. She secretly hoped Ami and Billy or perhaps the girls would suggest a sleepover for the kids, to give Bam and her some time alone. They hadn’t been in the new cabin long and she desperately wanted to christen every room “properly” with him.

Bam helped her around the cabin, happy to be near her again, making sure that their part of the dinner was complete. He took the lead with the baby, gently rocking him and telling him a story of their trip lulling him to sleep with his deep, soothing voice. Harper felt like she fell in love with the man more everyday. He continually surprised her with his desire to be a better father every day, a better provider, an equal partner with her. He gently closed the door to the children’s room, J.B. snoozing softly in his bed.

“You are pretty amazing. He’s been fighting that nap for hours.” Harper admitted, cleaning the mess from cooking. She had her arms deep in the warm, sudsy water, washing dishes. Bam sidled up behind her. She giggled as she felt his bearded cheek graze her neck. His hands slid in the water, caressing her skin.

“Well you know me, sometimes Daddy just has that special touch.” She felt a strong pulse between her legs as his words were gravely and husky. He kissed her shoulder, even through her shirt, she could feel the heat of his kiss. She felt it next on her neck, making her whole body break out in goosebumps. He felt the bumps on his lips, smiling.

“Still? After all this time...I still do this to you?” He chuckled in his throat.

“Always…” She smiled at his laugh. She felt his wet hands slide up her arms, out of the water. He wrapped them around her, soaking her shirt with his wet hands rubbing across her breasts.

“God, I missed you.” His voice was in her ear, his body flush against her, moving slightly. She could feel just how much he missed her prodding her backside.

“Joshua...baby…” Her eyes rolled shut, bracing herself against the counter, “ I thought...mmmm...I thought we’d wait until tonight?” She whimpered, his tongue bathing the sensitive skin of her neck.

“No…. I wanna break in this kitchen now…” He growled, his hands roughly yanked her pants down, making her gasp from the suddenness of it, “Daddy needs you...now…” his hand slid back up her, his fingers gently around her neck, stroking the soft skin.

“Oh god…” She felt her core rage with heat, “ Take me now.” She begged, pressing back into him. Bam’s hormones raged themselves, he’d romance her tonight, take his time, worship every inch of her. But now...right now...he needed her, needed to claim her. He needed this quick, wild release

“God, woman, I love you…” He whispered, guiding his more than ready self into her. He hissed as he slid in, her heat almost too much, “Damn...Harper, girl...you fit me like a glove.”

HIs hands slid up her back, grabbing her shoulders, quickly working himself into her, over and over he sank in. He bit his lip to keep from yelling her name, aware that any noises could possibly end this moment. He grinned as he heard her whimpers  that she was trying to hold back, escape from her hips. He moved faster, testing her restraint. He could see the whites of her knuckles as she gripped the counter tightly. Leaning over her a bit, he drove himself deeper inside her wetness, kissing her shoulder blade as his slid his hand around her mouth. He could feel her moans vibrate against his fingers, she let the noises come out, letting his hand block them now.

Sooner than he’d wanted, he felt a tingle building deep inside, increasing as he felt his release looming over him. She felt it too, she felt his shaft expanding inside her. She loved this feeling, the moment right before he released, it was almost cosmic. She felt his thrust become short, hard bursts as he came, filling her with the evidence of his desire, her name a harsh whisper on his breath.

The dishes did not get done. Instead, Bam carried his wife to the sofa, saying to hell with the chores. He sat down, pulling her in his lap, cuddling and caressing her as they sat together, admiring one another. They made little bits of small talk, but for the most part, he just adored her.

Soon their door flew open and Blue presented herself by announcing her arrival. She saw her mother and father on the couch and you could see the feeling of not being the center of attention eating at her. She quickly remedied it by clamoring onto the sofa, climbing in Bam’s lap.

“Oh, all done with uncle Bear?” Bam teased her, Harper could hear a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“Yep, he brought me something. I needed to for my project.”

“Oh, my little girl has her own project now? What did he bring you….2x4’s? A Hammer? A new saw?” Bam teased her. She rolled her eyes, giggling.

“Noooo Daddy...for this!. - She pulled the card she’d been working on from under her shirt, now, wrapped a larger sheet of white paper.

“What’s this?” He asked, raising his eyebrows. Blue, just wriggled and giggled more in his lap. He opened the white paper slowly, just adding to Blue excited agitation. Harper watched, her heart full as she saw how he interacted with their daughter.

The front of the card had just the right amount of hearts on it. It was inscribed with crayon.

To my Daddy The Best Valentine

Harper stroked Bam’s hair, she was sure her strong, strapping man was on the verge of tears. The card was for him.

“For me, my little one?” He asked, his voice gentle and appreciative.

“Yes, Daddy. You’re my favorite...DUH.” She teased him, “ Open it!” Her hands almost covered her mouth to hide her smile. Bam smiled so big, Harper thought his face might break.

He opened and his smile turned to one more of surprise as his face was doused with thousands of tiny, sparkly Blue flakes.

“Bear brought me glitter for your card. And look, Daddy, it’s BLUE.” She giggled so hard that she rolled off his lap and onto the couch. Harper had to cover her own smile that was quickly turning into giggles as she looked at her husband's glitter encrusted beard, his glasses dusted in it as well.

He wiped the glasses, reading the inside.

LOVE

BLUE

At first...he looked blank, Harper not sure if he was amused or annoyed. His head turned as his eyes fell to their daughter, still squirming with laughter. She saw the corner of his mouth twitch and finally uptick into a grin. He shook his head, closing the card.

“Thank you, Blue. Daddy loves it. And Daddy loves you very much, too. “ He squeezed her leg. She popped up and threw her arms around him, covering herself in glitter too.

“Happy Valentime’s day, Daddy. “ She said, leaning her head on his shoulder as she settled down in his lap.