Page 5 of Two Times the Mountain Men
The resident, who I had yet to get the name of, took a step out onto the small porch and looked at my partner. “Why?”
“Because I’m seeing several sets of footprints. They’re dim, but still there. Three people. A woman and two men from the looks of it. The woman I assume would be you.”
“Oh.” She waved her hand at him. “I went to get wood and saw some footprints leading off and into the woods last night. Most likely the guy that owns this place, getting the cabin set up. No big deal.”
Tyler and I exchanged a look. We knew the owner of the cabin. He never worked with someone. Could it have been the escapees? I frowned and the concern I was feeling was reflected in the expression of my partner.
“You can’t be staying here tonight, Miss.” Tyler said.
She flinched back as if slapped. “I’ll have you know that’s exactly what I intend to do. As I was telling your partner, I can protect myself.”
“I’m sorry, but an app on your phone is hardly a defense,” he stated with condescension in his tone.
“I’ll have you know it’s not an app. I can’t get service here anyhow; you both should know that if you’re who you say you are.”
“Wait.” I put my hand up and walked past her into the cabin, despite her protest.
“Excuse you!” She came rushing behind me. “I never invited you in.”
“This place doesn’t have a phone does it?” As I searched the small cabin, I confirmed my theory. Not a single landline. Most cabins had at least that, but not this one. If I recalled correctly, it only just got electricity and plumbing a few years ago.
“No. I don’t need it. You’re tracking snow all over the place by the way.”
That determined it; she wasn’t staying here. Gun or no gun, without any type of communication with the outside world and the potential for something bad to happen it simply wasn’t safe for her to stay here. There were more than just two murderers to worry about for a single woman alone in the blizzard.
“You’re not staying here.” I seconded Tyler’s opposition to the idea, but turning I saw her behind me, anger flashing in her eyes.
“To hell I’m not!”
“Don’t make me make you.”
She stepped up to me, leaving roughly a foot between our bodies. I could smell a rosy scent coming from her. Very pretty and enticing, but it wasn’t my attraction for her that was driving me now, it was the fear for her safety.
“I’d like to see you try,” she challenged.
Challenge accepted.
