Page 9 of Claimed By the Mountain Man

I nodded and looked down at my crumpled form on the floor. “I can move my right hand.” I lifted the hand and shook it out, trying to relax it. My whole body felt on the verge of cramping up.

Gage was thrilled with my effort. “Great job. What’s next?”

I took the easiest route and picked my left hand. I shook it out just like I had done with my right hand. Before he could ask about the third body part, I said, “And I can move my neck.” I rolled my neck from side to side, trying to relieve the tension there. It actually did help a bit.

“You did so good, Cooper. Tell me how you’re feeling now. Can you breathe easier?” he asked.

I nodded. “I can, yes. I’m still a little shaky, but I don’t feel like I’m going to die anymore. So that’s good.”

He smiled at me, and I swear the warmth of that smile could have rivaled the sun. “That is good. It’s very good. And are you feeling a little calmer now?”

“I am, thank you. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here.”

“I’m really glad I was here. I don’t want to think about you having to deal with this alone.” A little hesitantly, he asked, “Do you get these sorts of panic attacks often, Cooper?”

When I didn’t immediately answer, he started backpedaling and saying, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. It’s really not my business. I don’t want to pry into your personal?—“

I interrupted his attempt to sooth my non-existent ruffled feathers.”Gage, it’s fine. I don’t mind telling you. I actually don’t get them very often. They’re pretty rare for me, actually… which is why I freak out so much when I do have them. I don’t know how to handle them. And I don’t always recognize them as panic attacks. My mind thinks it’s some sort of medical emergency, and I totally freak out. Thank you so much for helping me through that. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

“I was happy to help, honestly. I’m just glad you’re feeling better.”

I smiled at him, though it was admittedly a little wobbly. “I am. I’m not 100%, but I’m getting there.”

“I’m going to ask you something, Cooper. And you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. We don’t have to talk about it all if you don’t feel up to it.”

“Oooookay. You’re making me a little nervous here. What do you want to ask me?”

“Can you tell me what might have triggered this particular panic attack? I’m pretty sure it was that horrifically loud boom that shook the ground. I know it scared the shit out of me. I must have jumped a foot when I heard it. What I don’t understand iswhythat triggered you the way it did. Can you explain it to me? Do you feel up to doing that?”

His face was so full of genuine concern for me. How could I not tell him? “Um, yeah. It was definitely the extremely loud noise that triggered me. What do you think that was?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing lightning probably struck one of the trees out in front of the bar. It’s the most likely scenario, I think.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right about that. As to why it triggered me, that’s definitely a longer answer. I told you that my parents died when I was ten and my grandparents raised me from then on, right?”

“Yes, you did tell me that. And you also told me how wonderful they were.”

“Oh, they absolutely were. All in all, they gave me an incredible childhood. And growing up in Ashwood was downright idyllic, if a little boring. I loved my grandparents, and I loved the town of Ashwood. Still do. But as a teenager growing up here, I dreamed of bigger things. I thought I was meant for more than this small town where everybody knows your business and you know theirs. I found it a bit stifling. I couldn’t wait to leave and start my exciting life. So, as soon as I graduated from high school, I enlisted in the Army. I actually went in on my nineteenth birthday, which my grandparents were not happy about.”

“I would imagine not.” Gage chuckled. “Knowing your grandfather the little bit that I do, I would venture to say that ‘not happy’ is a massive understatement.”

I joined him in his laughter. “You would be correct on that. And my grandmother was even worse. She could wield the parental guilt like nobody’s business. Honestly, she put Pop to shame. I knew it was out of love, though.” My eyes teared up a little at the thought of my grandmother. I’m not sure being without her will ever get easier. I can’t imagine how Pop even manages to function. Pure stubbornness, probably. That thought made me smile internally and helped me to shake off the grief enough to continue.

“And when I tested well enough on the ASVAB to get accepted into Ranger school, they were the first to encourage me and tellme I could do it. And wonder of all wonders, I actually made it through.”

“I’m not surprised by that at all. Pretty sure you could do anything you set your mind to, Cooper.” He gave me the sweetest smile then, and I smiled back a little sheepishly. I’ve never been the best at taking compliments, especially from men who are too damned sexy for their own good.

”Anyway,” I said, sure I was blushing, “I was assigned to an elite infantry unit with a great bunch of guys. I had been the youngest on the squad, and although they hazed the shit out of me, they also took me under their wing. They taught me how to survive out there in that desert hell, taught me you always have your brother’s back. No matter what. And you never leave a man behind.”

“You know, I clocked you for a soldier right off. But, Army Ranger? Damn, that’s impressive, Cooper. I bet your grandparents were proud.”

I had to chuckle at that. “Oh, yeah. Embarrassingly so. Of course, I couldn’t tell them anything about our missions, but that didn’t stop Pop from bragging about me to all his friends. I swear, every time he saw something on the news about some high-profile terrorists being arrested or killed, he’d just decide in his head that my squad was the one who did it, and I was likely the one who took the shot. It was sweet, but like I said, beyond embarrassing. He was kind of half right, though. If any of those had been our mission, I probably would have been the one to take the shot since I was a sharp shooter.”

“Well, Mr. Sharp Shooter Army Ranger, I’m glad you seem to like me. I sure don’t want to be on your bad side.”

“You’re in luck then, because these days I’m slinging drinks, not bullets. And I’m lucky I’m still here to be able to do it. The rest of my squad was not so lucky.”

“God, Cooper. I’m so sorry. That’s horrible. Is that how you hurt your leg? I noticed you have a slight limp.” He seemed almost embarrassed to mention the limp.

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