Page 69 of Saved By the Mountain Man

Rae’s pregnancy was progressing well, and as her belly grew bigger and the little kiddo started kicking, my excitement grew, too.

I’d never imagined I could be a dad, but these days, I couldn’t imagine anything else. Soon, I was going to look after a little girl, or teach a little boy to hunt, and I couldn’t wait for that.

I went to town more often, too. Not just for supplies or to walk Rae home when she got bigger and slower and more and more exhausted, but to connect with the people I’d kept at arm’s length.

Silver Ridge was a small town, but its residents had big hearts, I learned. It had taken me all these years to start letting them in, and I found friends in every one of them.

The sheriff, Caleb Johnson, had become a regular part of our lives. His sturdy build and no-nonsense demeanor always made me feel like someone else was keeping an eye on Rae. After all, he’d been instrumental in making sure Rae was safe, and for that, I would be eternally grateful.

Jethro was behind bars now, thanks to Bear. When Bear had left us in the forest and disappeared, I’d thought it was just to get away from the cops, because he was hiding up in the mountains for a reason, too. But my old friend had tracked Jethro down on the mountain first and brought him to justice before he’d retreated for the winter again.

Knowing Jethro was no longer a threat allowed Rae to breathe easier, and it set me at ease, knowing that he couldn’t hurt her again. Sheriff Johnson kept us updated on the case, and having him visit so often to make sure Rae had what she needed was a constant reminder that we were safe.

The days turned into weeks, and I started to notice how much Rae enjoyed being in town, mingling with the locals. She wasn’t a recluse the way I’d been for so long. When we’d lived in Seattle,she’d always had a lot of friends and it didn’t have to be any different here.

I started to see Silver Ridge through her eyes—a warm place where she had friends, a community where she could belong.

Where we could both belong.

People I had barely spoken to before now greeted me with smiles and nods. Hank often stopped to chat, and Millie from the diner always had a hot meal ready for us in case we wanted to have a meal in town before heading up to the cabin for the long, cold nights.

Being together, alone in the cabin, was still my favorite part, though. There, I could have Rae all to myself and dote on her.

But the cabin, cozy as it was, wouldn’t be big enough for our growing family. I wanted to give Rae and our baby something more—a proper home. I had spent my life running away from everything, but now it was time to turn around and build something instead. I channeled the energy I’d poured into surviving into creating a new life for us.

With the help of some of the townsfolk, I started building a house. Hank offered his expertise in carpentry, and Sheriff Johnson lent a hand whenever he could. Even Millie’s husband, Bob, who was a retired builder, joined in. It was a collaborative effort, and it wasn’t just a house we were building. With so much love and support, it was already a home.

Rae was curious. I couldn’t just get something by her. She knew I was up to something, but she trusted me enough not to pry. The fact that she trusted me meant everything. She had a right not to trust me, to be scared that I would do something behind her back, that I would leave—I’d given her so many reasons to think that I had another agenda. But she’d told me the past was in the past, and she treated me every day with the love, trust, and respect that came with a clean slate.

One cold, crisp morning, as the sun rose and painted the snow-covered mountainside with splashes of gold, it was time to show Rae what we had been working on.

The closer she got to her due date, the more uncomfortable she was. I wanted her to be able to rest, and I wanted her closer to the support network the town had become. If something happened to her on the edge of town, she was close enough that I wouldn’t be the only one who could help.

“Come on,” I said, holding out my hand when we were on our way home after her last day at work before her maternity leave. She’d insisted she still wanted to work, even though I had more than enough money to carry us for the rest of our days. “I have a surprise for you.”

“What kind of surprise?” She put her hand on her belly without realizing it, lifting it a little to offer support.

“You’ll see. But you’ll need to wear this.” I pulled out a blindfold, and she laughed.

“You’re making me wear this all the way through the forest?”

“We’re not going that far,” I said. “Just trust me.” I secured the blindfold over her eyes.

“I do trust you, Tanner,” she said softly, and warmth flooded me.

I led Rae through the snow-covered path, guiding her carefully to ensure she didn’t trip. I held onto her one hand, arm around her body on her other elbow to keep her safe and secure.

The house wasn’t far, just on the edge of town. We would still be between the trees, but it was closer to town, making it more convenient, especially with the baby on the way. The cold air was biting, but I was so excited about the new home, I didn’t feel it.

“How much further?”

“Almost there,” I led her toward the little gate that opened into the yard.

I paused for a moment, taking in the sight. It was a modest house, not too big and elaborate, but it was sturdy. It had a large yard, perfect for our child to play in, maybe even for a dog, and it was nestled at the edge of the forest, giving us the privacy Rae had come to love as much as I did.

“Okay, we’re here.” I removed the blindfold, watching Rae’s face as she took in the sight before her.

Rae gasped and pressed her hands to her mouth. “Tanner… what is this?”

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