Page 22 of Saved By the Mountain Man

My pulse races and I feel control slipping away.

I fall to the floor.

Through blurry eyes I see the candle on the table, the golden glow flickering, lighting up the two bowls I’ve set out for dinner. There are wildflowers that I picked near the chicken coop when I went and collected the eggs wilting on the table.

I’ve spent all day making everything perfect. I’ve tidied and prepared the cabin, ready to show Jack that this place can be a home. Our home. It looks beautiful… but for what? For someone else to abandon me, just like my parents have? Just like everyone in my life has before?

I’m destined to be alone.

My cheeks are wet from the tears. I’m caught in a moment of weakness and the old scars resurface. The walls have broken down and I’m a mess. Georgie must hear my whimpers and she finds me in the kitchen, settling down beside me.

I cuddle her, but it’s not the same.

That familiar feeling comes storming back.

Emptiness. Deserted. Left behind with no one.

I’ve lost my parents. I’ve lost everyone that I’ve ever dared to love. My heart was fragile before, but Jack filled it. He had me believing, not only in myself, but in love. The world isn’t cruel, it can be magical.

But now he’s gone.

And so is that magic.

Chapter Eight

Jack

It’s late when I pull my truck up the driveway and kill the engine. The misty fog has captured the mountain, and I can barely see the glowing lights of my cabin as I stomp up the steps.

I didn’t expect to be gone all day, but I needed everything to be perfect. My muscles are aching, my body tired, but it will all be worth it soon.

Emma might have agreed to stay here, but I won’t accept it until I’m worthy of such a gift. I’ve sworn to her father, God rest his soul, that I’ll take care of his princess, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.

I kick my boots off and notice that all my shoes have been lined up nicely, a straight line with a clean mat underneath. I collect the ones I just kicked off and place them neatly beside the others, smiling.

I look around and the entire porch looks different. The dim light gives off just enough ambiance that I can see the wood has been stacked nicely too. My heart swells when I see Emma has laid out a bowl of water and seed for the birds.

I go inside and search for my girl. The cabin smells different – like vanilla and cinnamon. It’s spotlessly clean and I can see she’s been re-decorating. It looks amazing.

“Emma?” I call out.

There’s no answer and my tired muscles begin to tighten.

“Emma? Where are you?”

My deep voice echoes through the cabin and Georgie comes running out of the bedroom, her tail wagging so fast she almost loses her balance.

“Where’s Emma, girl? Where is she?”

Georgie spins around in front of me and that’s when I see it.

Standing at the doorway to my bedroom, Emma is staring at me, her eyes red and puffy.

“Princess!” I race over and grab her, blood pumping in my veins. Instinctively, I’m checking inside the bedroom, making damn sure no one is here.

“Who did this? Who made you cry?”

Because I’ll fucking kill them.

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