Page 1 of Sheltered By the Mountain Man

Chapter One

Mason

Solitude doesn't fix anything,but it sure beats the hell out of pretending I'm fine.

I pour myself another cup of coffee and stare out the kitchen window at the forest beyond. The skies are cloudy and darker than they were half an hour ago. There's a big Pacific storm headed this way. It's supposed to arrive tomorrow, but further north. Those clouds say otherwise. Shit. Looks like I need to get more firewood ready.

I found this little cabin two months ago when I first came to White Falls. It was one of three my buddy Ezra was looking to purchase as part of his project to help broken vets like me heal our internal wounds. The peace and beauty of the mountains called to something inside me that had been unsettled for a long time. Since before leaving the service. I bought the cabinfor myself, then did what I came to do—arrange the Citadel Securities side of financing the project.

I guess that makes me the unofficial first vet of Ezra's project, though he doesn't know it. Since moving here, I've done my damndest to keep my distance from everyone. After what happened six months ago in New Orleans, I needed to be away from people. Someplace where no one has to count on me.

A grunting snore breaks the silence, and I shake my head.

Make thatalmostno one. My German Shepherd, Nitro, is stretched out on his plaid dog bed, belly up, and sound asleep. He's supposed to help me settle down. Instead, the damn dog drives me crazy. This is what I get for getting a shelter dog instead of waiting the eighteen months for a retired military dog.

Nitro belches, and it wakes him up. He lowers his doggy eyebrows and gives me a look, as ifIwas the one to wake him. I chuckle. He's a bonehead, but I wouldn't trade him for any other dog. Maybe he isn't the companion I thought I wanted. Heisthe one I needed. For better or worse, we have each other.

He licks his chops a couple times, eyes growing heavy, and dozes off.

I finish my coffee, squint at the skies, and grab my phone. I promised my buddy, Derek, an update on the project today. Looks like it'll have to be a quick call. That storm is moving fast.

He answers on the second ring. “I was starting to think you didn't have cell service up there,” he grumbles in greeting.

“You miss me, Fletcher?”

“You're the only one who hasn't hooked up with a woman, so... yeah.” He sounds disgruntled over his friends' happiness. It tugs a smile to my lips. I may be as big as a bear, but Derek Fletcher is as grouchy as one.

“That's not something you have to worry about with me. There aren't any lost little lambs wandering around the woods, and I'm not leaving unless I have to.”

Of course, that’s when my brain helpfully supplies an image of the woman I saw at the bank yesterday. Shiny brown curls, sweet smile, pretty eyes… Some asshole had bumped into her as she was leaving, sending a bag from the local library tumbling to the ground—spilling books everywhere. He didn’t even stop to help.

I’d been grabbing paperwork for Derek and stepped forward, but she’d already gathered everything up and left before I could.

She looked soft and curvy… and not for me.

I shake the thought away and focus back on Derek.

“Glad someone has some sense. What's the news on the project?”

“Ezra and I got through to that last seller. We closed on the deal yesterday. All that's left to do is sign some additional paperwork on Monday, and we're good to go.”

“How many cabins are on the acreage?”

“Three and a half. One is more firewood than cabin.”

His voice turns gritty. “It's a start. If we can help someone, keep them from going down that dark path, it's worth it.”

“Yeah.” I've stared down that road longer than I want to think about. Maybe we all have in our own way.

“You okay, man?”

It's on the tip of my tongue to say, “I'm fine.” That's my standard response. I know it won't fly with Derek. If it had, I wouldn't be here right now. He saw through my bullshit and assigned me the task of finishing up the business with Ezra. I believed him when he said neither he nor Gideon, the other leader of Citadel Securities, could get away to do the job. I know better now. Fucker was sending me here, hoping that like Ezra, I'd find my own peace. Damn him for being right about me and this mountain. I don't really blame him. The last two months have been the best in years, and that means something. I owe him the truth in exchange.

“Tired. Things are better here, though. The solitude is easier to deal with.” Easier than people. I don't say it, but Derek hums in understanding.

“You can be a hermit if you choose, man. Maybe I bitch about these guys hooking up, but I can't deny they're happier for it. I'm not suggesting you find a woman, but remember that when you push people away, no one will be there when you need them.”

I grunt, not sure what to say to that.

---