Page 47 of Mountain Man Daddy

“You were the best the RCMP ever had. Here I was coming to you for help, and you’re asking for mine.” He held out his hand, and Mike took it. “I’ve got a trail of bodies all the way from the US border to your mountain. I think whoever stole this Jeep is a serial killer. And I believe serial killers are your specialty.”

* * *

She waited alone at the cabin while Mike walked down the mountain to the swarm of police. Going to Annie’s was unnecessary when the cops were already on the mountain. Her anxiousness intensified every minute that Mike was gone—even Rocky seemed to sense her emotions. He paced on the porch, slumping down in front of the steps every ten minutes only to get up again. The cabin felt like it was closing in on her. Mike had ordered her to stay inside, as he’d locked every window and door, but she couldn’t breathe now that he was gone.

“They won’t risk sticking around with the cops everywhere, babe. You’re safe,” he’d said.

“Then why are you locking this place up like Fort Knox?”

He’d only shot her a dark look, before settling her on the sofa with a cup of tea.

When she stepped outside, Rocky rolled to lie his girth on her foot. She wondered if Mike had trained him to sit on her if she tried to run.

“I’m sure glad you’re here, Rocky.” The bear groaned and scratched his face by rubbing it against his massive paw.

It was even warmer than she expected, and with the sun strong she didn’t need the jacket she’d thrown on. She was amazed that it was only a week ago a spring storm had buried them. She walked to sit on the porch step, and Rocky followed. They hadn’t had much contact, but she knew she was safe with him. She rose and picked his tire up off its side with both hands. Rocky watched her with curiosity.

“Wanna play?” she asked, and he turned his head slightly. “Come on. I’ll roll it just like your buddy, Mike.” She sent the tire rolling with as much power as she had, but it didn’t go far. It rolled a few turns then flopped flat on its side. Rocky looked at her, then the tire, and she swore he guffawed at her inability to move the thing with any power, but then he hopped a little on his paws and hit the tire, so it bounced up. He swatted it then, and she laughed at the little spring in his step as it began rolling.

“Showoff,” she murmured and he chuffed. Though he was an animal and couldn’t possibly have the intelligence for showing off, she believed that was his intent. The yard around the cabin was more of a level landing before it went down to another relatively flat area. The tire made it to the next flattened part, and Rocky rolled around beside it, clawing and chewing. Avery smiled and picked up Mike’s ax. “I might as well make myself useful, Rocky. You sure know how to cut a game short.” The bear growled playfully and continued to roll around. The ax was sharp. She took a small log and set it on its side. She lifted the ax high and brought it down fast. It stuck in the dirt beside the log. She tried again, and it wedged in the log but didn’t split it. She put her foot on it and yanked but only succeeded in falling on her butt. She rose then, dusted off her pants and with a curse, picked up the ax, log and all, and slammed it down on the chopping block. It made a satisfying crack and split in half. She was out of breath from one chop. It was no wonder Mike was in such good shape.

She did a whole pile, and when she decided she couldn’t do even one more because her arms were more jelly than flesh and bone, she set the ax by the block and looked around for Rocky. He had abandoned his tire and she couldn’t see him anywhere.

“Thanks for bailing on me, buddy,” she yelled down the hill.

“Hello there!”

Avery’s head shot to her right where an older man stood in a ball cap. He had a backpack on, a bottle of water in one hand and a walking stick in the other. It was the second person she’d seen in two days and only three days ago she had been naked tied to a tree with her lover’s face between her thighs. The thought made her blush.

“Uh, hi.”

“Sorry, did I startle you?”

“A little. We don’t see many people around here.” She felt nervous suddenly. She told herself to relax though. He was obviously just an old guy out on a hike. She looked around. But where had he come from? There was nowhere to park along the road that she’d seen and wasn’t this private property?

“Name’s Henry.” He walked over to hold out his hand. She took it, and they shook quickly. He was in his fifties, maybe older, but he was tall like Mike with light hair silvered at his temples. He waited expectantly until she spoke.

“Amanda,” she said, sticking to her alias. “You from around here?”

“Oh, I come to the mountains occasionally. My brother has a cabin around here. I used to be an avid hunter. I haven’t done it for a while. I think I’m out of practice.” He chuckled, his blue eyes shining in the sun. “I didn’t even bring my gun.”

“Well, you should definitely have one out here. There’s a hungry cougar with cubs around.”

“Oh, yeah?” He hummed a bit, looking around. “Is that what all the fuss is down the mountain?”

“No,” she answered slowly. “I doubt it.”

“Well, I doubt the cat’ll be out with all those people around, but I should probably head back anyway.” He tipped the bill of his ball cap at her. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem.”

“Have a good day.”

“You, too.”

Avery shook off the eerie feeling the man gave her and headed back inside. It would be dark soon, and she wanted to shower. As she was halfway to the shower, she turned suddenly and went back to lock the door. Could that hiker have been an undercover cop, or maybe a PI that Eddie and Moe had hired? She shook off the silly thought. He hadn’t asked her any questions. The only information he’d gotten was that there was a cougar around and she had offered that up.

She shoved the thoughts away and grabbed a towel. Mike was right, Eddie and Moe wouldn’t be anywhere near the mountain with all the commotion going on by the Jeep.

---