Page 22 of Sheltered By the Mountain Man

The man is already halfway to me, gun pointed at my chest. He's older, maybe mid-forties, with thinning hair, a wiry frame, and a patchy beard. Not to mention a very steady hand.

The gun doesn't waver even a fraction of an inch.

He looks me over, taking in my jacket and flannel shirt dress, to my knee-high men's socks and boots.

“It's the newest in mountain fashion. Boho flannel.” My voice pitches high, and I don't even know what I'm saying. Boring Bella turns into Chatty Bella in dangerous situations, apparently. I'm talking about fashion at gunpoint while poor Nitro is barking like crazy, trapped in the garage and possibly injured. This is all my fault.

“Figures, I'd find the nut job,” he mutters.

A hysterical laugh bubbles up my throat, but I choke it back down.Don't laugh at the convict with the gun, Bella.

He waves the weapon, indicating I come closer.

I can't. I'm frozen again, only this time my body won't stop shaking. A cold sweat slides down my back as I raise my hands in surrender.

Mason

“Watch your back, Ezra. The sheriff says there haven't been any sightings of this guy, but my gut says otherwise.” Ezra and I served together for two years in Special Forces. He's part of the reason I decided to stay in White Falls. This project to bring wounded vets out to the mountains to rebuild cabins is one I believe in. It's working for me. Same as it worked for him. Despite a serious head injury, he’s now married to a pretty woman he “won” at the holiday charity auction.

“Strange about the firewood. If he's holed up somewhere close, he's probably scavenging for anything he can get his hands on to ride out the weather. I'll lock down the house and keep Madison and Coop close. If this guy even thinks about hurting my woman or my dog, I'll bury him.”

“Right there with you.” Bella isn't mine. Not yet. But injured or not, I'll protect her with my life. “There's a woman I met—” Is that Nitro barking? He sounds like he's outside.

“Madison mentioned you were interested in her friend from the library.” I must have made a sound, because he adds, “It's a small town, brother. Romance news travels faster than lightning. Harmony called and—”

Whatever else he says is lost. I finally recognize Nitro's bark—panicked, then aggressive. Full protection mode.

“Oh shit.Bella.”

I drop the phone and rush into the living room. Her jacket and boots are gone. So is the leash.

I grab my Glock, check the magazine, and rack the slide to chamber a round. Opening the front door a crack, I scan the yard. It's empty. Nitro's anxious bark is coming from the garage to the right. Bella's footprints lead straight there.

I circle left, cursing every step. My swollen ankle is painful, but I can't fail again. I won't. Letting my training take over, I creep forward to identify the threat.

Even in the snow, I don't make a sound. Every step is silent as I stay low.

Nitro's muffled growls echo from the garage. He's tearing at the door like he'll rip it off its hinges.

A man curses just ahead. ”We're going to go inside, and you'll get me the keys to that truck. Understand?”

“I don't know where they are!” Bella's voice is high, but strong.

Hang on, baby. I'm coming.

The crunch of footsteps in the snow draws near.

“Don't lie to me, bitch.”

“Then stopbeinga bitch,” she snaps.

I poke my head around the corner in time to see Bella slap a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock at her own sass. My fierce little lamb—scared, but standing her ground.

A man in an orange jumpsuit grips her arm, a pistol in his other hand. The bastard frowns, then roughly spins her and presses the weapon to her forehead.

“You want to say that again?” he snarls.

Bella trembles, her head barely moving in a 'no'.

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