Page 29 of Heart of the Mountain
Something catches my eye on the sidewalk out front. Sullivan senses it, too, both of us turning in that direction. A young woman with ice-blonde hair is waving at us. I furrow my brow while my friend tips his chin up. She approaches us, though she looks over her shoulder as if checking to see if anyone is following her.
“Hey,” the woman says, giving us her best smile. Much like my Sadie, she has a convincing smile that covers up her secrets. “Sorry to bother you guys. I’m kind of lost.”
“How’d you get lost in Hope Mountain?” Sullivan jokes.
She laughs at herself, though her cheeks burn bright red. “I’m not very good at directions,” the woman admits. “Plus, I haven’t really traveled much outside of the… um, I mean my home. Well, not that it’s beenhomefor a long time, but… never mind. I haven’t traveled much in general.” Sullivan and I exchange a look at her stilted explanation.
“Where are you headed?” I ask.
“As far away as I can get,” she mumbles under her breath. I’m sure she didn’t intend for us to hear it. “Uh,” she clears her throat and tries again. “I’m hoping to get to Jackson Ridge. I’m starting a new job, moving into a new place, and finally living life to the fullest,” the woman declares. “As soon as I figure out how to get to Jackson Ridge, of course.”
Sullivan pulls out his phone and shows her where we’re at and which highway she’ll need to take to get to the small, southern Colorado town.
“Thanks so much. Seriously. I thought I was doing okay with my map, but clearly not.”
“Map? Like a fold-out map? Doesn’t your phone have GPS?” Sullivan asks.
“It probably would if I had one.” The woman looks away, fiddling with her purse in a nervous gesture. “Okay, so, I’ll just be on my way. Thank you so much for your help.”
“Wait, what’s your name?” I ask. I make a note to check in with some friends I know down in Jackson Ridge to make sure she gets there okay. Not in a creepy way, I’m just looking out for someone who seems to be getting out of a tough situation.
The woman looks over her shoulder again, and Sullivan and I follow her gaze. There’s no one behind her but she lowers her voice just in case. “I’m Camden. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.”
As quickly as she appeared, Camden retreats down the sidewalk toward a rusted out piece of shit car. At least Jackson Ridge isn’t too far away. Her car should make it there okay.
The front door to the inn opens, revealing my beautiful woman in a new sundress we bought as soon as we got into town this morning. As much as I loved seeing Sadie in my clothes, she needed a wardrobe of her own, especially if she was going out in public. Yeah, I’m a possessive fuck when it comes to Sadie, and I don’t want anyone seeing how sexy she looks wearing my shirt and nothing else.
“Who was that?” Sadie asks as she steps up next to me.
“Camden. She’s headed to Jackson Ridge to start her new life,” I answer, looping my arm around her waist.
“There seems to be a lot of that going aroun. Starting a new life, that is. I get it.” I hope she means she wants to start a new life here, with me. “Now, where are we off to next, chauffeur?”
Her green eyes twinkle with her signature sass, and I can’t help but lean down and taste her sweet smile.
When we break apart, I notice Sullivan has busied himself with the weeds again. I’ll have to give him a call later so we canfinish our conversation about Gabby. I can’t be sure, but I think there’s something between them. When he helped her out of her car during the storm, they seemed to share a moment.
“Come on, sweetheart,” I tell Sadie. “I’ll show you a few of my favorite spots here in Hope Mountain.”
We get in the truck and I weave my way through the streets of the tiny but charming mountain town. I want her to see how special this place is. Maybe then it won’t be so difficult to convince her to leave Denver and start her life right here with me.
I drive by Cherry’s Soda Fountain Shop and point out the sign in front of the charming town staple. “Best chocolate malt in the state,” I tell Sadie as she looks out the window.
“Really?!”
“Self-proclaimed,” I admit. Sadie giggles, the joy in her laughter loosening the vice-grip around my chest.
We continue down Main Street, where I show her the outdoor amphitheater tucked away in Hope Mountain Public Park. We don’t get a lot of well-known performers, but the town takes great pride in showcasing its talent every Friday during the spring and summer months. The rotation of local musicians, up-and-coming comedians, and even the occasional theatrical performance keeps this place interesting. Not every act is a winner, but it gives people something to talk about either way.
“Over here is Margie’s Cafe,” I inform Sadie, pointing up ahead. “It’s the only coffee shop in town, but I checked with Margie and she said she’d stock up on hazelnut syrup in her next order.”
Sadie turns to look at me, her eyes studying my face while I try to keep my cool. I didn’t realize how nervous I was about having this conversation with her. “That was really thoughtful,” she whispers, placing her hand on my forearm.
I don’t say anything as I pull into the final destination - my favorite secluded spot by Maverik River. I hop out of the truck and open Sadie’s door, helping her down and leading her over to the water’s edge.
“It’s beautiful here, Cutter,” she says, looking over the sparkling water and lush, green vegetation.
I step up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. She leans against me, letting me hold her and rock her back and forth. Warm sunlight pours over us as the soundtrack of birds, rippling water, and rustling leaves fills the air.
