Page 12 of Stranded with the Mountain Man

"That was Bear!"

"My house, my rules, your responsibility."

The banter feels so natural that for a moment, I forget there are twelve years of silence and hurt between us.I forget I'm only here because of a collapsing roof and a washed-out road.I forget that Rosco Stone is not mine anymore.

Bear returns with the stick, breaking the moment.I stand, brushing soil from my knees.

"We should head back," I say, gathering my samples."I've got what I need for now."

Rosco rises beside me, taking the field pack from my hands without asking and slipping it over his own shoulder.When I reach to take it back, he shakes his head.

"I've got it."

"I can carry my own equipment."

"I know you can." He turns, already heading back toward the trail."Doesn't mean you have to."

It's such a Rosco thing to do that it jolts me momentarily back to why I fell for him so many yearsago.He's always had this gruff chivalry that manages to be both irritating and oddlyendearing.A trait that, without fail, always left me smiling, like I am right now, as I follow him through thewoods.

We walk in companionable silence for a while, Bear trotting ahead as if leading the wayhome.I steal glances at Rosco's profile, noting the new lines at the corners of his eyes, and the slight silver threading through his dark hair at thetemples.Three days of close proximity, and I still find new details tocatalog.

"How's the research going?" he asks suddenly."Your plants and soil and whatever."

I blink, surprised by the question."It's preliminary, but I'm finding interesting variations in the mycorrhizal fungi populations near disturbed versus undisturbed forest areas."

"English, Dr. Wilson."

I laugh despite myself. "The healthy relationship between fungi and plant roots differs depending on human activity.I'm studying how we might use that to improve conservation efforts."

"You always did like digging in the dirt." There's no bite to his words, just a quiet observation.

"I like understanding how things work," I correct him."How they connect. One change ripples through entire ecosystems."

"Similar to how one person leaving changes the entire life of another?" The question hangs between us, heavier than he perhaps intended.

I stop walking, forcing him to turn and face me."Ross--"

"Forget it," he says quickly."Old news."

"Is it? Because it feels like we're still having the same fight twelve years later."

His jaw tightens. "We're not fighting."

"No, we're just politely ignoring the elephant in the room while we play house for a week."

"Play house?" His eyes darken."Is that what you think this is?"

"I don't know what this is." I gesture between us, frustration bubbling up."One minute you're barely speaking to me, the next you're asking about my research like you care.You let me stay but keep me at arm's length.What exactly are we doing here, Ross?"

"Surviving," he says flatly. "Getting through this... situation... until the roads clear and you can go back to your fancy lab in Atlanta."

The dismissal stings more than it should."Right. Because that's all I am--the city girl who couldn't wait to escape this mountain."

"Your words, not mine."

"But it's what you think, isn't it?" I step closer, anger making me bold."That I couldn't wait to leave you behind.That my career was more important than what we had."

Something flashes in his eyes--pain or anger, I'm not sure which."Wasn't it?"

---