Page 53 of Hero Mine

When they crested the hill, the cabin came into view.

Joy stopped mid-step, her mouth parting slightly. “What the—” She turned to him, brows lifted in surprise. “Bear.”

He let the straps of his pack slide off his shoulders and stood silently, giving her time to take it all in.

The cabin was small but sturdy, nestled into the landscape like it had always belonged there. The river cut along the far edge of the clearing, its waters deep and fast enough to resist freezing even in the coldest months. The structure itself was built from locally milled timber, stained dark to blend with the surrounding forest. A stone chimney rose from the far side, where soon smoke would curl lazily into the sky.

“What is this place?” Joy’s voice had softened to almost a whisper. “I didn’t even know it was here.”

“That’s because it wasn’t.” Bear shifted his weight, suddenly feeling exposed. “I built it myself over the past eighteen months.”

“You built this?” Her tone held disbelief mingled with something that sounded like awe.

He shrugged, uncharacteristically self-conscious. “Yeah.”

Joy moved forward slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force. “I thought we were camping in a tent.”

“Figured this might be a little more comfortable.”

“Hell yeah.” She broke into a smile, rushing forward and letting out a breathless laugh as she reached the cabin, her fingers brushing reverently along the carved wooden railing of the small porch.

Bear followed, watching as she took in the details: the solar panel mounted on the roof to catch what light filtered through the treetops, the rain barrels lining the back of the structure. Most of the running water came straight from the river, filtered through a system he’d designed and built himself last spring.

At the door, Joy hesitated, glancing back at him with a silent question in her eyes.

Bear stepped forward, pushing the door open and gesturing for her to enter first.

The cabin’s interior was simple but warm—exactly how he’d planned it. A stone fireplace dominated one wall, and Bear immediately moved to it, building a fire to break the chill that had settled in the space. As the flames caught and grew, he watched Joy explore.

The main room held a sturdy wooden table he’d crafted himself, a love seat positioned near the fire, and a bed tucked against the far wall, layered with thick blankets against the November cold. Getting all the furniture up here had been a challenge, requiring multiple trips and considerable effort, but Bear had never minded hard work.

Joy was the only person he’d ever brought here. Not even his family knew about this place.

Her gaze landed on the kitchen setup—small but functional. A propane stove sat against one wall, open shelves lined with dry goods beside it. She approached the sink and turned the handle, eyes widening when water flowed from the faucet.

“You plumbed this place?” she asked, turning back to him with undisguised amazement.

Bear leaned against the doorframe, warmth spreading through his chest at her reaction. “Filtered river water. Gravity-fed system. Nothing fancy, but it works.”

Her eyes flicked toward the closed door off to the side.

“Shower’s in there,” he added. “Pipes run from the river, heated by a tank outside.”

“This is incredible,” she murmured, turning in a slow circle to take it all in again. “How did you do all this?”

Bear exhaled slowly, tension easing from his shoulders. Yeah, this had definitely been the right choice.

“I did a little at a time,” he explained. “When I got out of the Marines, I needed a place that could be just mine. My family doesn’t even know about this cabin.”

Joy faced him fully then, her expression open and sincere. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For bringing me here. For sharing this with me.” Her voice softened. “My placethat’s just mineis a lot less fancy than this, but I understand the need for it. You sharing this with me means so much.”

She did understand. Bear could see it in her eyes, feel it in the space between them. That meant everything to him too.

He cleared his throat, wanting to shift back to lighter ground. “Let’s go top off the firewood and water storage containers before it gets dark. Then we’ll settle back in here for dinner and get comfortable.”

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