hear me coming they’ll give me a wide berth.”
Jon nodded in agreement, “I always wear my bear bells except when I’m stalking a shot. I’ve been pretty faithful about it ever since my partner Ben got caught doing his business in the bush. He glanced up into a curious bear’s eyes not more than five feet away. He stood up and started flapping his arms and screaming at the top of his lungs, trying to make himself appear bigger and more terrifying. That ole bear took off faster than you could say skedaddle. Luckily for him it was a black bear and I told Ben that once the bear saw him in his altogether, the poor creature took off running as fast as he could go in mortified embarrassment.”
Tia laughed heartily and even Steve grinned.
“Are there lots of black bear in these parts as well?”
“Yes,” replied Tia, “but they only weigh eight hundred pounds. While about half the size of a Kodiak or brown bear, they can be even more dangerous because people underestimate them.”
Steve opened the folded cot and placed a flannel sheet around the thin mattress. “I hope you don’t mind if I sleep here Jon. You take the pull-out bed.”
“That will be fine,” stated the photographer, removing the cushions and placing them carefully upon the floor. His movements were smooth, almost catlike in their flowing ease, and Tia suddenly wondered what the real man looked like underneath his beard. The photo gracing the back of the book had been too distant to make any kind of real assessment.
“So just what kind of advertising did you say you were in Steve?” asked Tia , pulling a pillowcase over the soft down pillow.
“Our company does all sorts of accounts.”
“What did you say the name of your company was again?” asked Jon.
“I don’t recall saying,” answered Steve , taking the pillow from Tia and placing it upon the nearly made-up cot. “But it’s called Laughton Advertising and has been in business for only about ten years and was started by a couple of brothers named Hugh and Mark Laughton. They began by scripting TV ads but eventually decided they preferred still-advertising for glossies. We did lots of clothes and cosmetic advertising during the firm’s beginning days, but now concentrate more on cars, boats, and recreational vehicles. We’ve built up a pretty good clientele and the company is expanding. I’ve worked for them for nearly three and a half years, mostly as a salesman trying to secure new customers, and thus spending a great deal of time with clients trying to match our advertising to their needs. We design several different magazine layouts and choices of advertising options and then present them to the customer. Our trademark is internet advertising and Mercedes and Airstream are two major clients we’ve snagged this year. It’s actually a very lucrative business.”
“I imagine it would be,” said Jon. “Do you have some extra pillows Tia?”
“Certainly” answered Tia, returning to the bedroom to retrieve another down pillow along with a heavy patchwork comforter. Jon had listened politely enough to Steve’s recital of his business, but Tia could sense his disinterest. Most likely Jon Simons had worked so long in the bush that he had little or no patience for anything to do with man-made concerns. As she carried the bedding to the main room, Tia wondered if she had any patience left with that kind of life as well.
Jon covered the bed with the comfort er and gave her his forced half-smile. “This will do me fine Tia, and I must again thank you for your hospitality. I hope we aren’t keeping you from your writing.”
“Oh , that’s alright,” said Tia. “I was getting a little tired of being creative anyway.” She motioned toward the tiny bathroom nestled between the small office and master bedroom. “You can use the hall bathroom. It has a toilet, sink and shower as well as under-floor heating. Just flip the switch. Make sure you run the water for at least
Jon nodded in agreement, “I always wear my bear bells except when I’m stalking a shot. I’ve been pretty faithful about it ever since my partner Ben got caught doing his business in the bush. He glanced up into a curious bear’s eyes not more than five feet away. He stood up and started flapping his arms and screaming at the top of his lungs, trying to make himself appear bigger and more terrifying. That ole bear took off faster than you could say skedaddle. Luckily for him it was a black bear and I told Ben that once the bear saw him in his altogether, the poor creature took off running as fast as he could go in mortified embarrassment.”
Tia laughed heartily and even Steve grinned.
“Are there lots of black bear in these parts as well?”
“Yes,” replied Tia, “but they only weigh eight hundred pounds. While about half the size of a Kodiak or brown bear, they can be even more dangerous because people underestimate them.”
Steve opened the folded cot and placed a flannel sheet around the thin mattress. “I hope you don’t mind if I sleep here Jon. You take the pull-out bed.”
“That will be fine,” stated the photographer, removing the cushions and placing them carefully upon the floor. His movements were smooth, almost catlike in their flowing ease, and Tia suddenly wondered what the real man looked like underneath his beard. The photo gracing the back of the book had been too distant to make any kind of real assessment.
“So just what kind of advertising did you say you were in Steve?” asked Tia , pulling a pillowcase over the soft down pillow.
“Our company does all sorts of accounts.”
“What did you say the name of your company was again?” asked Jon.
“I don’t recall saying,” answered Steve , taking the pillow from Tia and placing it upon the nearly made-up cot. “But it’s called Laughton Advertising and has been in business for only about ten years and was started by a couple of brothers named Hugh and Mark Laughton. They began by scripting TV ads but eventually decided they preferred still-advertising for glossies. We did lots of clothes and cosmetic advertising during the firm’s beginning days, but now concentrate more on cars, boats, and recreational vehicles. We’ve built up a pretty good clientele and the company is expanding. I’ve worked for them for nearly three and a half years, mostly as a salesman trying to secure new customers, and thus spending a great deal of time with clients trying to match our advertising to their needs. We design several different magazine layouts and choices of advertising options and then present them to the customer. Our trademark is internet advertising and Mercedes and Airstream are two major clients we’ve snagged this year. It’s actually a very lucrative business.”
“I imagine it would be,” said Jon. “Do you have some extra pillows Tia?”
“Certainly” answered Tia, returning to the bedroom to retrieve another down pillow along with a heavy patchwork comforter. Jon had listened politely enough to Steve’s recital of his business, but Tia could sense his disinterest. Most likely Jon Simons had worked so long in the bush that he had little or no patience for anything to do with man-made concerns. As she carried the bedding to the main room, Tia wondered if she had any patience left with that kind of life as well.
Jon covered the bed with the comfort er and gave her his forced half-smile. “This will do me fine Tia, and I must again thank you for your hospitality. I hope we aren’t keeping you from your writing.”
“Oh , that’s alright,” said Tia. “I was getting a little tired of being creative anyway.” She motioned toward the tiny bathroom nestled between the small office and master bedroom. “You can use the hall bathroom. It has a toilet, sink and shower as well as under-floor heating. Just flip the switch. Make sure you run the water for at least
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