Page 20 of Stranded with the Mountain Man

"That's because I walked, young man." She smiles, blue eyes twinkling."My arthritis isn't so bad that I can't manage the path from town when the fancy strikes me."

That's a three-mile hike at least.Brenda Havers might be pushing seventy, but she's made of mountain stock, tougher than half the MC brothers I've known.

"Your rocker's not finished yet," I tell her, embedding the axe in the chopping block.

"Not why I'm here." She pats Bear's head, then makes her way toward me."Earl mentioned you had company.Millie's niece, if I recall correctly."

Of course. Small town. No secrets.

"Roads washed out. She needed somewhere to stay." I keep my voice neutral, but Mrs. Havers' knowing look tells me I'm not fooling anyone.

"Mmm-hmm. And that somewhere just happened to be your cabin?Miles from town? With only one spare room?" Her eyebrows lift."Interesting choice."

"Her house collapsed. I was closest."

"Rosco Stone, I changed your diapers and taught you Sunday school.Don't think for one minute you can lie to me." She steps closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially."That's the girl who broke your heart, isn't it?The scientist?"

I consider denying it, but what's the point?Mrs. Havers has been the town's unofficial historian for decades.She probably has both our birth certificates filed away somewhere.

"She needed help," I say simply."Nothing more to it."

"So I shouldn't mention the kiss Earl's grandson saw through your kitchen window last night?"

Heat rushes to my face. Fucking small towns."Earl's grandson needs to mind his business."

"Hard to do when he was delivering groceries you ordered." She winks."Don't worry, I've sworn him to secrecy.For all the good that will do."

Great.By sundown, the entire town will know I've taken up with Deena again.That's all I need--people making assumptions, planning futures that won't happen, and asking questions when she inevitably leaves.

"It was a mistake," I mutter."Won't happen again."

Mrs. Havers studies me with shrewd eyes."Is that so? Then why are you out here destroying perfectly good firewood instead of facing her?"

"I'm not--" I start, then sigh at her knowing look."It's complicated."

"Love usually is." She pats my arm."But some things are worth fighting for, Rosco.Even if you've been burned before."

"She's leaving," I point out."Back to Atlanta. Her career.Her life."

"Maybe. Maybe not." Mrs. Havers glances toward the cabin, where Deena's silhouette is visible through the kitchen window."But are you man enough to find out?Or are you going to hide out here until she's gone, wondering what might have been?Again."

The question hits harder than I'd like to admit.I've spent three years in self-imposed isolation, telling myself it was peace I wanted.Freedom from the complications of people and their messy emotions.

But these past five days with Deena have felt more alive than the previous three years combined.

"I'm not hiding," I insist, though we both know it's a lie."I'm processing."

"Process faster." Mrs. Havers starts back toward the porch."Life's too short for second chances to go to waste.Trust me on that one."

I watch her disappear into the cabin, no doubt introducing herself to Deena and probably telling embarrassing stories about me as a kid.I should go in, run interference.Instead, I pick up the axe again, setting another log.

The sound of laughter drifts through the open window--Deena's bright and warm, mixing with Mrs. Havers' throaty chuckle.The sound twists something in my chest, a longing for what could be.What won't be.

Because Mrs. Havers is wrong.This isn't a second chance. It's temporary shelter from a storm, nothing more.Deena made her choice twelve years ago, and no amount of chemistry or nostalgia or toe-curling kisses will change the fundamental truth: she belongs to a world I'll never be part of.

The axe comes down with enough force to split the log clean through.If only my feelings for her were as easy to sever.

By the time I've exhausted myself and stacked enough firewood to last through next winter, the sun is beginning to set.Mrs. Havers left an hour ago, insisting she could make it back to town before dark despite my offers to drive her.Stubborn old woman.

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