Page 21 of Loud Unspoken Memories

“Oh, shit,” I say, a second thought occurring.

She looks up, concerned. “What is it?”

“Abe. The only other guy who lives out here. I should check on him.” I scold myself for not thinking of it before now.

“Wait. There’s another guy who lives out here? And you’re just telling me thisnow?He could have a vehicle that could get me out of here.” She stands, hands on her hips as she glares at me, and huffs out that all-too-familiar irritated sigh. “What are we waiting for? Let’s get my stuff and go.”

I scoop another bite of food into my mouth. “Sit down.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

“Marti, Abe Miller is ancient. He’s got to be eighty-five or ninety years old. And believe me, his truck willnotget you out of here. It may be as old as he is.” I shake my head. “Damn, I should have called to check on him before I took a shower.”

I glance at Marti, knowing the reason I didn’t make the call. I’ve been… distracted.

“He has cell service too?” Her puzzled expression turns into a glare. “Oh, my god, why didn’t you say anything? Maybe his is still working.” She sneers at my blasé attitude. Then she actually puts a hand under one of my armpits and tries to make me stand.

I shrug her away. “Calm the fuck down, woman.”

She steps back and glares daggers at me. “Dallas Montana, did your mother teach you any manners at all? You don’t ever tell a woman to calm down. And you certainly don’t tell one to calmthe fuckdown.”

“You do when she’s acting all crazy like you are now.” I motion to her half-eaten plate of food. “Finish your meal and I’ll tell you about Abe.” She doesn’t move a muscle. She’s nothing if not determined. “Fine, look, Abe’s tower is my tower. When I bought this place, his was the only other cabin around. I made sure the tower was erected an equal distance between us. Then I bought the old guy a cell phone.”

Her face visibly softens. Then she sits, almost reluctantly, as if following my instructions means she’s admitting defeat.

She takes a bite, then says, “I suppose that was a very nice thing for you to do.”

I try not to smile, because that might be the closest thing to a compliment to come out of her mouth since we met.

“I’ll go check on him after we eat.”

“How far away is he?”

I point west with my fork. “About three miles that way.”

“That’s not bad. I’ll go too.”

“Not a good idea.” I nod to her Nikes. “Those are still wet from this morning’s hike. Besides—and this isn’t me having poor manners—I’ll make better time going alone.”

I can tell she wants to argue the point. But facts are facts. I’m a more experienced hiker than she is.

“What if…” She pauses and looks around the cabin. “What if something happens and you don’t come back.”

I shake my head. “Not possible.”

“Dallas, my ex just dropped dead from an AVM nobody knew he had. My mom died of cervical cancer before I hit my first birthday, and my dad succumbed to a massive heart attack eleven years later. And, well… itispossible. It just is.” A pained look crosses her face.

Fuck. This woman has been through a lot. I stare at her, thinking she’s more like me than I thought.

“You’re right. Bad shit happens all the time. But nothing is going to happen to me.”

“You can’t possibly know that for sure. Lots of things can kill you. Bears, trees… not to mention it’s freezing out there.”

I hold up a hand to stop her. “Okay, okay, fine.” I take a deep breath. “Wait, trees? How can trees kill me?”

“I don’t know. You could trip on a root. Or a branch could fall on you. It could happen.”

I shake my head at her paranoia. “If I don’t come back, my wood pile is over behind the truck, my keys are in the drawerby the bed, and you’re welcome to all the wine. Just wait for the snow to melt and cell service will return. You’ll be fine, Marti. I promise.”

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