Page 1 of Mountain Boss

Chapter 1

Courtney Kern

My tits mashagainst the steering wheel as I lean forward, craning my neck to look up at the hawk flying just above me.

Or at least it feels like it’s just above the roof of my Jeep.

Like if I could reach my hand through the glass, I could touch it.

“Pretty baby,” I sigh.

I glance back at the road before looking up for one more glimpse of the amazing creature.

Oh, to be a bird.

To be able to float above the world.

To move, place to place, with ease.

The hawk tilts its wings, then disappears behind the tall pines and yellow-leafed aspens that line the road.

I sit back.

I have no reason to feel so jealous of the creature.

Not today.

Because today, I’m starting a new job.

Well, technically, I start tomorrow.

But it’s still the beginning of a new adventure.

A new chapter of my life.

I let the smile form on my lips as I think about it. And how my fortune has finally changed.

I pat my dashboard, then grab my phone out of the cupholder to check the GPS.

My old Wrangler still runs well, but the screen has been out for a while.

Someday I’ll get it fixed.

When my phone confirms that my turn is coming up, I lift my foot off the gas and start to slow.

There’s no one on the road behind me.

Feels like there’s no one out here at all.

The last town was probably thirty minutes ago, but I’ve seen driveways. Spotted the occasionalPrivate Propertysign along the road. So my destination is secluded but not isolated. Not really.

I follow the turn in the road… and my mouth opens.

Mountains.

Giant, beautiful, glorious mountains tower before me.

“Fuck,” I whisper. “This was the right choice.”

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