Page 8 of Mountain Man Crush
For years now I’ve been thinking about building a new attachment to the garage, but that’s really just something that will keep me busy and give me more space for storage. It doesn’t ever have to be done and I try not to do anything if it’s not a necessity, just to keep from wasting time and energy. I wonder about the river out back, wondering if I’d be able to withstand the cold long enough to do some fishing. Fresh fish would be a great dinner, even though what I’ve caught and frozen is just fine, too.
I finish my coffee and rinse out my cup, leaving it by the sink to use again later before going to my room and dressing for the bitter weather. I pull on a pair of long johns, my jeans, a sweatshirt, then my insulated overalls. I add a pair of wool socks and my Muck boots—great for keeping my feet warm and dry. I put on a ski mask just to protect the tip of my nose from frostbite and I grab my coat and gloves on my way out. Luckily, the gloves have rubber grips on them to keep the axe from sliding out of my hands while I chop.
I hop on the four-wheeler with my tools and journey out through the back property, looking for a tree to cut down. I don’t like to cut anything that isn’t in abundance. The wood will have to sit and dry before it can be burnt, so I plan on using the stock I have left and letting this set until it’s ready. That’s why you always have to stay stocked up. You can’t just run out and cut down a tree the minute you need more firewood. It needs to sit and dry.
I find a tree and I get to work, cutting it down with my chainsaw. When it falls, I cut it into small sections, then I take out my axe and start splitting it. I work hard enough that I begin sweating despite the cold. I take off my coat and feel just a hint of the cold air around me. It’s enough to help cool me off while I finish with the tree.
After splitting the wood, I stack it on the front and back racks of my four-wheeler and tie it down with bungee cords. Hopping back on my ride, I take the wood up to the house and start piling it with the rest, making sure it’s covered. Wanting to give the ATV a break, I head inside for some lunch. I strip out of most of my clothes and leave them by the door for when I go out again. I stoke the fire and then get to making myself a sandwich and some carrot sticks. I pour a big glass of milk and sit on the couch, picking up where I left off with my book. It’s only noon and already I feel tired and in need of a nap, but I push the feeling away, wanting to get in some fishing before nightfall. Since it’s winter, it will be getting dark early.
After eating, I clean up and pull all my clothes back on. Out in the garage, I get everything I’ll need to fish, then I load back up and head for the back property where the river rushes along the mountain.
The stream is full today with all the snow we got and it’s rushing down rather fast. It would be easy to get swallowed up in it if I were to fall in, so I make sure I stay a safe distance away from the edge. I bait my hook and send it out into the water. Now it’s time to relax. I brought a small folding chair, so I set it up and have a seat. I have coffee in my thermos to help keep me warm while I fish since I won’t produce much of my own body heat without exertion.
As I sit and wait for a bite, I can’t stop myself from thinking about Bethany. I wonder what she thinks of me. I’m sure she probably thinks that I’m just some creep who lives in the mountains completely alone. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why she ever let me climb into her car. Doesn’t she know how dangerous that is? My concern for her intensifies. Maybe she doesn’t realize all the dangers of the world.
I feel a tug on my fishing line, so I reel it in and find that I’ve caught a nice, plump trout. I take it off the hook and toss it into my holding bucket before sending the line out again. I sit and watch nature, I listen to the sounds of the water rushing by, enjoy the feeling of the warm sun on my face, and thank God that the snow has finally stopped falling. I end up catching six fish, and that’s enough to call it a day. I pack up my things and head back to the house just before sunset.
After cleaning the fish and getting them ready to cook, I toss a couple of pieces into my pan and the rest gets wrapped up and put into the deep freezer with a date on it. I steam some vegetables and sit by the fire to eat dinner with a glass of warm bourbon. With my stomach full and the thoughts in my head quiet thanks to the whiskey, I clean up and go to shower, grateful that my water heater is powered by gas and not electricity. Showering by candlelight isn’t the best, but it’s something you get used to during winter in the mountains.
I dress in flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt and go back to the living room for another drink, and to read my book by lantern light until I call it a night. The more I drink, the less I read and the more I think. I don’t think about my book or the story I’m reading. I think about her.
There’s something about Bethany that I can’t ignore. She’s beautiful, friendly, and compassionate. If she wasn’t, she never would have insisted on taking me home. I want to get to know her, but I’m not sure how to go about it. She’s been living just up the mountain from me for two years. I should’ve reached out sooner. If I do it now, it will just feel weird and awkward.
Although she was surprised when I showed up there, she didn’t act annoyed or put out. Instead, she seemed happy and amused. I figured after our bickering on the ride home, she’d never want to see me again, yet she didn’t seem to mind it.
It’s been too long since I’ve had to sit and hold up a conversation. It’s been too long since I’ve been around a woman at all. Most of the people I am around are the men I work for, and even that is straight to the point with little conversation mixed in. I can still remember the sweet smell of her car. Her scent was all over it and it’s been a long time since I smelled anything as good. I can imagine the softness of her skin, the feeling of her lips pressed against mine. The way her blonde hair would feel between my fingers. She’s soft and sweet and I’m hard and callused. She’s everything I’m not and everything I’ve craved for too long now.
Just thinking about being able to touch her in that way has my heart racing in my chest. My breathing is a little heavier and goosebumps prickle my flesh. My body begins to grow warm and an area of my body that hasn’t been touched or dealt with in a long time makes its needs known. Annoyed that I let myself take it this far, I throw back my drink and pour another, tossing it back just as quickly. The burn in my throat takes priority in my brain and everything else I was feeling is gone, washed away by the brown liquor.
With that, I put my book away, stoke the fire one last time for the night, and head to my bedroom, praying that I get some good sleep tonight. I pull my shirt over my head and toss it into the floor. I kick off my house shoes as I crawl into bed and pull the blankets around me. I fluff my pillow beneath my head and close my eyes as a sigh leaves my lips.
Behind my eyes, I see her. Sparkling green eyes, shiny blonde hair. I see her plump lips turn up in a smile. I can see the fire raging in her eyes. Then I imagine myself sliding into her and hear the sound I know she’d make, a breathy moan of relief.
My body begins to tingle with need again and I curse myself before rolling onto my side and trying to force sleep again. It doesn’t come easily and when it finally does, it’s not deep or restful because I can only dream of her.
Chapter Seven
BETHANY
Ihaven’t had power in two days and I’m ready to jump off a cliff just for some entertainment. I never realized how addicted I am to modern technology. I can’t work since I have no power or internet. I can’t scroll through social media on my phone because I don’t want to waste the battery with no way to charge it. I can’t binge-watch my favorite shows. I was almost excited about being snowed in and having an excuse to be lazy, but now I can’t even enjoy it.
I wake in the morning and go to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast. Luckily, I have a gas stove so I’m still able to make my tea and food. After losing power, I had to go and pack a few coolers with snow to store my food to keep it from going bad. Every day, I have to empty what’s melted and add fresh snow, but it’s working so far and everything is staying cold enough to keep it from spoiling. The stuff in the freezer I moved outside to stay frozen.
I decide on some pancakes, eggs, and bacon with a hot cup of tea. I sit at the table and eat while reading my book, but I’m too antsy to really dive in. I have too much built-up energy and I need something to do that will allow me to move around and get some of it out. I guess now would be as good a time as any to deep clean. That would keep me busy, and I’d get some energy out, allowing me to sleep a little sounder tonight.
I clean up my mess from cooking and then look around the kitchen, trying to decide where to start. I guess top to bottom. I get the duster and wipe off the ceiling fan and the dust and cobwebs from the ceiling and top corners of the room. After that, I move a little lower to the top of the fridge and cabinets, dusting them off.
I scrub the walls and baseboards, clean off the tile backsplash, and then sweep and mop the floor. By the time I’m done with the kitchen, it looks like I’ve just moved in with everything in the proper place. It took several hours to clean the kitchen and now I’m feeling worn out and in need of a snack. I figure I might as well reward myself for all my hard work, so I get a piece of peach pie and warm it in a skillet on the stove as I heat water for a cup of tea.
I take my plate and tea into the living room to sit in front of the fire to enjoy. I open my book and start reading while my toes warm by the fire and my stomach is happy with sweet pie. I’ve just finished my slice of pie when I hear the familiar sound of a four-wheeler motor. He couldn’t be bringing more wood already, could he?
I stand up and look out the window. Sure enough, it’s Jack on his ATV, and it’s loaded down. I open the door just as he walks onto the porch with another load of wood.
I don’t speak or ask any questions. I just watch him.
He looks at me and shrugs. “I was worried that you weren’t prepared for the loss of power.”
When I don’t speak, he walks back down to his four-wheeler. He’s back moments later, holding two milk crates. “Some water and food that doesn’t require cooking.”
