Page 2 of Echoes in the Night

She’s alive which she wouldn’t have been for long had I not heard her. I need to get her out of this storm before it gets worse. I lift her in my arms and head back to the cabin.

Nudging my door open, I cross the open space and lay her on my bed. “Wake up Miss. Wake up now. You’re safe.”

She doesn’t respond. Her pulse is a little fast and her breathing irregular. To be expected due to the cold. “If you can hear me, know you’re safe. I’ve got you now. I’m going to take care of you. Get you warm. You are safe.”

I glance at her nearly naked body. Fuck she’s beautiful. Curves in all the right places.

Running a hand down my face, my anger spikes. What kind of animal would do something like this to such a goddess? Toany woman? Motherfucker better hope I’m not the one to find him.

The need to protect her, care for her, sends me into action. Grabbing a couple towels from the bathroom I wrap one around her wet hair. Then remove the wet under garments and dry her with another. She has linear welts across the back of her thighs and calves, and scratches from the tree bark on her shoulders and back. After washing her abraded wrists, I treat them with ointment and wrap them in gauze before slipping one of my T-shirts on her. Propping her up against my chest, I dry her hair as much as possible before laying another towel on the pillow and settling her on the mattress and cover her with multiple blankets.

Adding more logs to the fire, I finally pause and study my guest. She’s so beautiful. Long, thick, honey-gold hair and a real woman’s full figure. I’m damn tall but when I held her against me, she fit perfectly against my chest. Too perfect and it’s been too damn long since I’ve been with a woman. My cock reminds me that it’s been a hell of a long time since he’s had any action besides Rosey Palm….

SHUT IT DOWN, buddy.

Now that she’s dry and warm, I’ll give her a couple hours to rest before I wake her. I’ve seen guys in battle like this, wiped out due to stress, fear, exhaustion. They just shut down. Sleep is what they needed to heal. I try to shoot a message to the Sheriff, but my satellite connection is down.

I glance out the window, not like it makes a big difference. Surrounded by a white out we aren’t going anywhere soon.

Chapter Two

Maura Kennedy

Rolling to my side I snuggle into the pillow, inhaling deeply. A rich woodsy scent envelops me. The smell is delicious. I don’t remember buying this scent, but I can tell it’s going to be my new favorite.

“You’re awake. I was starting to worry,” a deep voice interrupts my thoughts. I bolt upright.

A mountain of a man stands at the end of the bed, fingers shoved in the front pockets of his jeans.

“Wh-who are you? How did you get in my….” I glance around him and realize nothing is familiar. “Where am I?”

He doesn’t really move, but it’s as if he deliberately relaxes his body, becoming more of a soft teddy bear than a rock mountain.

“You’re safe in my cabin. There’s a blizzard raging outside.”

“Cabin? Blizzard? Where are we?”

“North of Union Creek in the Cascade mountains. My name’s Jax, Jaxson Alexander. What’s yours?”

“I’m… I’m Maura.” Damn, why was that so hard to remember. My head is pounding, and I feel disoriented. Liftinga hand to rub my forehead I see a white bandage on my wrist. There’s one on my other wrist as well.

I glance up at the stranger at the end of the bed. “Wh-who are you? What have you done to me?”

“I found you on the mountain as the storm was hitting. You were calling for help. You passed out and I brought you to my home. You’re safe. I promise, you’re safe. Do you remember anything?”

“I—I need to pee.”

His eyes crinkle like he’s trying not to smile. “That’s a good sign. I bet you’d like something to eat and drink, too. You’ve been asleep for a while.”

“What’s a while?”

“Almost sixteen hours.”

“What? What happened to me? I never sleep that long. I’m late for work. Did I fall? Hit my head? I have to call work.”

“Phone service is down. Why don’t you go to the bathroom, then we’ll talk.” He points to a door on my left. “I’ll make coffee, or do you prefer tea?”

“Tea, please.”

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