Page 2 of Wounded Mountain Man

“I see something,” I said to myself as the path neared an end.

There was a gigantic patch of dirt that seemed to overlook the mountains. But something sat on that patch of dirt.

Was I imagining it? I thought of those people who walked in the desert for a long time and saw things. Mirages, they were called. Maybe this was a mirage. But no, I was hardly dying of thirst or about to collapse from heat stroke. There was actually a nice breeze in the air that made it the perfect night for a long walk on a hiking trail in the mountains. But I still could be imagining the gigantic RV with the campfire in front of it and no one around.

“Hello?” I called out.

I blinked several times. Long, slow blinks meant to clear my vision. It was still there. But no sign of anyone, and no response to my shouts.

I eyed the door to the RV as I got closer. Should I just walk up and knock? It wasn’t exactly a house. But what else could I do? I needed help. I needed someone with at least one bar on their cell phone—or a way to get me back to civilization so I could call for help.

I opened my mouth to call out again, but my words caught in my throat when the door to the RV burst open. Out stepped a man. He held a gun.

“Holy shit,” I said.

I stepped back, hands going in the air. My phone fell to the ground, and I had the bizarre thought that I hoped the screen didn’t shatter. Who cared about a phone screen while facing down the barrel of a very intimidating rifle? But I wasn’t used to guns. Worrying about my phone screen shattering was an everyday thing.

The guy straightened slightly and lowered the rifle, aiming it toward the ground. My fear suddenly turned to confusion. This wasn’t some country bumpkin who spent his life keeping peopleoff his land. No, he looked like he’d walked straight out of a gym with his bulky muscles and tight-fitting T-shirt and jeans.

He was hot. Hot as hell. I’d never seen anyone so good-looking. And he was all the way out here in the middle of nowhere in the type of RV that retired people used to travel the country. It made no sense.

“You’re on private property,” he said.

“No shit.”

Had those words just slipped out? Yep. It was pretty darn obvious I was on private property. This was hardly a bustling area of town.

But I had to be nice to the guy. I needed his help, after all.

“Sorry,” I said, lowering my hands. He didn’t raise the gun, and I considered that a good sign. “My car broke down. I think it’s on fire. It’s smoking, at the very least. And my phone…”

I looked down at it and made a sad face, like I was grieving its death. It was face down on the pavement. Why couldn’t I have at least dropped it on the grass just two feet away?

“There’s no cell phone service up here,” he said. “No internet, either.”

Was this guy one of those types who lived off the land? That RV of his didn’t appear to be hooked up to electricity, so I was guessing so. But didn’t everybody need a phone? How did he get food?

He drove down to town and bought it, like everyone else. That was an ignorant thought. I was such a city girl. I should probably keep my mouth shut about things like that.

“I just need to get back to civilization,” I said. “If I can get cell phone service, I can…”

My voice drifted off there. What? Call a rideshare? I was the only one in the area doing that. In fact, I’d left some poor guy named Remy stranded. I’d asked if this guy was Remy, but clearly he hadn’t requested a ride.

“I can’t help you,” he said. “My truck’s in the shop.”

I stared at him. Did his RV not have a motor? I should ask, but I didn’t really have a right to stomp up to what was obviously his home and demand he take me somewhere.

I could start crying. Maybe he’d take pity on me and help. I shouldn’t have to do that, though. A gentleman wouldn’t leave a distressed damsel distressed.

He lowered the gun even more, took a deep breath, and looked around. “Fine. Come on in.”

Without waiting to see if I followed, he headed into his RV, stomping up the steps and leaving the door open behind him. Did he actually expect me to follow him inside? I didn’t know him from Adam. I didn’t even know Adam. I was a complete newcomer to this area and confused about the fact that this guy lived up here with no way to get to where people and supplies were.

But instinct told me I could trust him. And my instincts never failed me. I’d developed street smarts from a young age, and I knew how to keep myself safe.

But that wasn’t the reason I followed him up those three steps and into his RV. No, what had me following him was this intense attraction I felt for him. I’d never experienced anything like it. If I had even the remotest chance this guy might be attracted to me in return, I had to see where it would go from here. Otherwise, I’d never forgive myself.

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