Page 5 of Broken Mountain Man

Still, I know I shouldn't criticize it. Rickety bed or not, Russell is doing me a huge favor by putting me up here instead of leaving me stranded outside after dark. I would've been toast trying to find my way back on the trail at night.

With a resigned sigh, I shrug off my daypack and let it thump to the floor, wincing as the vibrations rattle the bare bedframe. Yeah...this might be an interesting night's sleep.

I pad back out to the main living area to find Russell fussing with the old wood-burning stove, trying to get a fire going. He glances up as I approach, his eyes narrowing instantly in that permanent scowl.

"I thought I told you to get settled in," he grunts without preamble.

I hold up my hands in a placating gesture.

"I am, I am. Just thought you might need some help getting that fire started."

He pauses, studying me for a long moment as if sizing me up. Finally, he jerks his chin towards the pile of kindling.

"You know how to do things like that? Make fires and all?"

"What, just because I'm a girl, do you assume I don't?" I arch one brow challengingly. When he doesn't respond, I snort and crouch down next to the stove opening. "Watch and learn."

I can feel his gaze burning into the back of my head as I deftly arrange the logs and tinder. Within minutes, I've got a merry little blaze crackling away, already starting to warm the drafty cabin.

"There, was that so hard?" I straighten up and brush off my hands, grinning smugly. "Maybe next time, don't underestimate the power of a woman who grew up going camping every summer."

Russell watches the dancing flames for a long moment before his lips quirk ever so slightly.

"Well, I'll be damned."

I bask in my small victory over Russell's doubting scowl. There's just something satisfying about proving the gruff loner wrong, even about something as simple as building a fire.

"So," I prod, unable to resist rubbing it in a little more. "Any other outdoorsy skills you want to question me on? I'm a regular female Bear Grylls, you know."

He shoots me a dark look, clearly not appreciating my cockiness.

"Don't get too full of yourself, missy. Fire-making is kid's stuff compared to really surviving out here."

I laugh lightly at his grumbled retort, "Is that so? And I suppose you're just a verifiable wilderness expert, then?"

Instead of rising to my teasing bait, Russell simply grunts and turns his attention back to stoking the growing flames. But I can see the tips of his ears pinking in a way that makes me grin triumphantly—got him flustered again.

"Or maybe," I continue, "you just got lucky stumbling upon this little hideaway and have been winging it as a mountain man ever since."

That gets his head whipping back around, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You don't know the first thing about me, girl."

I hold up my hands in mock surrender, not even a little bit cowed by his gruff tone.

"You're right, you're right. I'm just making assumptions. My bad. Why don't you enlighten me then if you're so skilled?"

Russell stares me down for one long, tense moment. Then, surprising me, he rises fluidly to his feet and crosses the room in two strides. Before I can react, he's grabbing my arm and hauling me towards the cabin's exit.

"Hey! What're you -"

"Quiet," he growls, cutting off my protest as he drags me outside. "If you want me to 'enlighten' you about living out here so badly, I'll do you one better."

I stumble after him, letting him pull me along despite my confusion. What is this guy up to? One second, he's grumpily avoiding my teasing jabs, and the next, he's manhandling me outside.

Whatever it is, despite the slight tinge of wariness, I can't deny the thrill of excited curiosity fizzing through me. If he thinks he can show off and make me eat my words about being an amateur woodsman, I can't wait to be proven wrong.

Russell drags me out into the inky darkness surrounding his remote little cabin, the only illumination coming from the dim glow of the moon peeking through the trees. I have to squint to make out his harsh features in the low light.

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