Page 4 of Saved By the Mountain Man

A blast shatters inside my head, forcing my eyes to snap open.

Everything around me stills.

I’m safe inside my cabin. Fuck. I can’t keep doing this. I need help.

But then another blast strikes, and I know for sure it’s not the trauma causing the vibration. It rattled my front door and even Georgie has sat up to take notice.

I push up off the counter, my legs still shaking from my most recent flashback. They never get easier, but at least the sound of knocking at my cabin door has cut this one short. Another pounding of the door sounds more urgent, so I reach into the pantry and grab my rifle.

I grit my teeth as my heart pounds.

“Who the fuck is it?” I shout, fist clenching the rifle at my side.

They don’t respond, instead, there’s another knock. A softer one.

Shaking my head I yank the door open and take a quick step back. I pull the gun to my shoulder, ready to fire the moment I’m attacked. It’s my military training coming out. Preparing me for whatever danger is on the other side of the door.

But all the training in the world can’t prepare me for what I see.

Stunning blue eyes, so bright and beautiful they make me drop my weapon. I swallow hard and take a step forward, but the stunning woman in front of me gives me a terrified look.

“Jack?” she whimpers, eyes filled with tears.

And then it sinks in.

“Emma? Is that-” I gulp down, my voice low and shaky. “Is that you?”

She looks up at me, suddenly struggling to hold back her tears. She quivers right in front of me, and it’s the damned hardest thing I’ve ever had to watch.

Harder than seeing her father die right before my eyes.

“Oh my god, Emma…” I pull her into my arms and hold her there.

Ryan was a good man, and it should have been me that was caught in the blast. Not him. Not him dammit. He had everything, and he was my best friend. The proud leader of our unit, he never let us down. Not once. I don’t care what the military report says - it’s all bull shit. They weren’t there. They didn’t see the ambush, the surprise attack in the depths of the forest.

“I’m so sorry, Jack,” Emma says, her body shaking beneath me.

I hold her tight. “It’s ok, it’s ok, sweet girl.”

I kick the door closed and wheel back towards the sofa, setting Emma down beside me. Why she’s apologizing I don’t know, but with her in my arms, suddenly nothing else matters.

My pulse is hammering as I leave my hand placed firmly on her knee. Georgie thinks it’s an invitation to get all excited. Her tail is wagging from side to side, her wet nose nudging Emma’s hand so she pats her on the head.

“Oh, she’s adorable,” Emma says, sliding a hand down Georgie’s head.

“Don’t spoil her too much,” I grunt. “She’ll expect it all the time.”

Emma laughs and I feel the relief flood out of me. We look at each other for a moment and it’s like the world stops spinning.

She’s the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen. She’s obviously beautiful, with pale blond hair and perfect big blue eyes to match. Her cheeks are rosy and whenever she lifts those plump lips, I see a hint of two cute as fuck dimples.

My heart skips a beat and I find myself clearing my throat. I need to break the dangerous thoughts of my best friend’s daughter racing through my head.

“I’m so sorry for just surprising you like this,” Emma says, long lashes blinking up at me.

I let her go, but my hands instantly feel colder. My body aches, but it’s different to the pain and suffering that I’m usually forced to tolerate.

“Don’t be sorry, Emma. You’re always welcome here.”

---