Page 13 of Redemption in Misty Mountain

The Rusty Elk is your typical small-town bar with wood-paneled walls, scuffed floors, and the faint scent of fried food permanently soaked into the air. It’s the kind of place where the beer is always cold and the music is a little too loud for my taste. The regulars come as much for the gossip as anything else and their names are practically carved into the barstools.

Hank, the owner, is an ex-Marine. He’s older but still built like a tank and with a voice that could make a grown man snap to attention. He throws these monthly gatherings for all of us ex-military saps who can’t get our shit together… his words, not mine. But he’s not wrong.

I’ve been out of the military for over a month now, and nothing feels settled. It’s like I walked out of one warzone and straight into another. Only this time, there’s no orders… only chaos. And Rosalie’s at the center of it.

She’s gone from my world again and it’s left a void in me I’m not sure I’ll ever fill. That’s exactly why letting her go isn’t an option. My mission is clear. I’ve got to get her back but it’s taking longer than I planned and every extra minute is killing me.

The night’s been a decent change of pace with more than one familiar face in the crowd. Old voices swap war stories and the occasional burst of laughter cuts through the low hum of conversation. I downed an entire pint before I was ready to make eye contact with anyone. But the waitstaff didn’t miss a beat. I’m pretty sure they’ve seen this routine before.

Groups of locals gather to trade gossip over rounds of whiskey. A few women throw smiles my way, but they don’t land. I keep my head down.

By the second drink, I threw some darts with an old Army buddy, Finn. He’s a solid guy, always was. He tends to be on the grumpy side but I didn’t hate catching up if I’m being honest. Turns out, he’s been putting the pieces of his life together, or at least trying.

He’s doing okay for himself now… He’s figuring out how to make civilian life work. It made a pang of jealousy stab through me. It made me wish I could settle into my next chapter. Like this is all just another deployment to get through.

But our chat made it clear that I’m still stuck between past and present. It’s like my boots are caught in the mud and nomatter how hard I pull, I can’t get loose. Four drinks in, mid-game with Finn, it really hit me.Maybe there’s something wrong with me. Maybe I’m the one screwing this up, making it harder than it has to be.

Then I ran into Griff.

The guy looked like he was being tortured just standing here. His shoulders were tight and his eyes scanned the room like he’d rather be anywhere else. And that felt right to me. That made sense.

He and I didn’t need words. Just a quick head nod of understanding. A silent acknowledgment that neither of us had this whole retirement thing figured out. That we weren’t the only ones struggling to make sense of life outside the uniform.

Now I’m more drunk than sober. I’m slouched alone at the back table under a dimly lit bulb. My thoughts are the only company I’ve got and it’s how I prefer it right now. I’m lost in a pool of self pity and an insatiable drive to finish the project I’ve started.

There’s got to be a way to move faster. Hire more people. Get more done.

A hand on my shoulder startles me back to reality. I look up to see Ella reappear beside me. I don’t appreciate the distraction.

“Yeah?” I blink up at her.

“Hey, it’s late. We’re getting out of here,” she says, nodding toward the exit just as her wife, Maggie, appears beside her.

Just what I need, a front row seat to a happily married couple.

“Great. See you tomorrow,” I mutter, settling back into my chair.

Ella lets out an exasperated sigh. “No, you jackass,weare leaving. As in, you and us. We’re taking you back to the inn for the night. You can pine away over Rosalie from the comfort of your room instead of stinking up this bar.”

I huff out a breath, but I don’t have any fight left in me. Not for this. “Fine, but I’m finishing this beer first.”

Ella plants a hand on her hip, one eyebrow arched like she’s already ten steps ahead of me. I take a slow, deliberate sip, dragging it out just to be the jackass she’s pegged me for.

Then Garth fucking Brooks bellows through the speakers. The sound is loud and twangy. It cuts through the bar like a goddamn assault on my eardrums. And that gets me to my feet.

“I hate this song.”

“Great, I’ll be sure to play it in the car,” Ella laughs.

CHAPTER 10

DAWSON

Steppinginto room one doesn’t hold the same luster as it did with Rosalie by my side. I’m in a drunken state of blurriness as I start my nighttime routine. Then I catch my reflection in the bathroom mirror and damn, it’s a rough sight. I’ve gotdark circles, blotchy skin… I look like hell.

The beer finally does its job and after a quick shower, sleep is all I can think about.I only need a few hours and then I’ll head out to the jobsite and be right back to it.Stepping out of the shower, I pull open the door to my room, my towel slung around my waist. I pull open the door to Room One and scan for a flash of orange fur, but there’s no sign of him.

“Cat,” I bellow down the hall. “Get up here. I’m back. If you’re sleeping in here, you’ve got two minutes before I close this door.”

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