Page 2 of Saved By the Mountain Man

Laura finally looked up, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“We have a few rooms left, but they’re close to each other. If you’re looking for real privacy…” She paused, glancing at me with a hint of concern.

“Please,” I said, leaning forward. “I just need something out of the way for a while.” I stared at her, willing her to give me what I needed without asking more questions. I wouldn’t be able to answer any of them. I wrapped my hands around my backpack straps. Everything that had ripped my world apart was inside.

She hesitated, then nodded. “There’s a cabin out back. It’s usually reserved for long-term guests, but it’s empty right now. You can stay there if you’d like.”

Relief washed over me. “Thank you,” I breathed. “I’ll take it.”

“I’m not going to ask what kind of trouble you’re in as long as you’re not running from the law,” Laura said before handing me the key.

“I’m not running from the law. I’m running from…” I tried to find the best way to explain it without giving anything away that could condemn me. “An ex.”

“Right,” Laura said. “Men can be dangerous. I’m going to trust you against my better judgement. There’s something about you… and I know a bit about women who need to run from a man. Just don’t let me regret this, okay?”

“Okay.”

Laura handed me the key and led me through the cozy lobby and out the back door into the crisp night air. The cabin was nestled among the trees, a quaint little structure that looked like it belonged in a fairy tale. It was tucked away, and no one would guess this was a part of the inn.

That was exactly what I’d hoped for. For the first time in days, I felt a flicker of hope.

Laura stepped into the cottage with me, leading the way. She switched on lights that cast a dim, warm glow.

“It’s not much, but it’s quiet. No one will bother you here.”

“That’s all I need,” I said, giving her a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

She nodded and left, her footsteps fading away as I stepped inside the cabin. It was sparsely furnished but clean.

A bed, a small table, a chair. The basics. I dropped my bag on the floor and sank onto the edge of the bed, exhaling slowly. This was my haven, at least for now.

I closed my eyes, trying to push the memories away. Jethro’s cold eyes, the incriminating files I’d found, the realization that my life was a lie. I had to keep moving, keep hiding. If he found me… a chilly finger dragged its way down my spine, and I shivered.

The cabin was silent, the kind of quiet that city living never afforded. I opened my eyes and looked around. It was simple, but it was a start. I had to keep my head down and avoid drawing attention. Silver Ridge was my last refuge.

There had been a time in my life, long before I’d turned a new leaf and moved to the city where I’d met Jethro, when I’d been involved with a different group of people who didn’t exactly follow the rules. Silver Ridge had been one of the safe houses, one of the places where I could have hidden if something went wrong.

That was long gone—the people who would have protected me were not in my life anymore because I’d chosen to leave all that behind. I just hadn’t realized that I’d walked out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I hadn’t realized that Jethro was so much worse than anything I could ever have been involved in.

I walked to the small window and peered out at the dark forest beyond. My eyes strained for movement. I couldn’t see anything out there—the light only reached as far as the homes on the edge of town—and there could be eyes out there, watching me from the darkness.

I had to trust that I was safe here. Silver Ridge had been the safe house, and I trusted it was exactly that.

The silence all around me was both eerie and comforting. The kind of silence that whispered secrets and held its breath, waiting for more.

I let out a shuddering breath and turned away from the window. I could drive myself crazy looking for ghosts between the trees.

I just had to get a good night’s sleep; tomorrow, I would regroup—

Footsteps.

There was no doubting what I’d heard.

My heart beat in my throat, hammering double time, and I felt sick. Fear wrapped itself around me, and I kicked the backpack under the bed, where it would be harder to find.

Someone rattled on the door, and my blood ran cold.

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