Page 7 of Saved By the Lumberjack
"Not all at once," I tell her, laughing a little at her shock. "I've lived up here for seven years and you're the first time I've seen them call out a genuine search and rescue operation. The rescue crew mostly recovers stranded hikers and vehicles that breakdown on the four-by trails. You're the first missing person case they've had for two decades."
While the first aid team takes a look at Ivy's bumps and bruises, the rest of the recovery team takes turns greeting her while everyone celebrates her safe return, I pull our local sheriff deputy aside and share what Ivy told me.
"You don't think it was any of the guys on your crew?" Hawk hears me out and starts asking questions.
"Doubt it. Can't be sure though."
"Vale and Sparrow have a room set aside for her here at the resort if she doesn't have a place to stay in town."
"She's staying with me," I tell the deputy emphatically. "I've got time off due, the Murdocks can spare me."
Hawk's lips twitch under the corner of his beard but he doesn't say a damn thing.
Men on the Ridge know better than to get in another man's way when he finds what he's been looking for.
Chapter Four
Ivy
It's all so overwhelming. There's a fire engine and an ambulance parked outside the office at the hot springs resort. The parking lot is a huge, open area that's currently filled with vehicles-- mostly four wheel drive trucks with winches on the front bumpers. A few that have magnets or bumper stickers labeling them as part of the Moonshine Ridge rescue and recovery crew.
It looks like the entire town is crammed into the space, and they're all here because of me.
People keep coming up to me, introducing themselves, shaking my hand and telling me how glad they are that I'm all right.
A couple of paramedics check me over for injuries any more serious than the scrapes and bruises I'm already aware of. If I'd been flirting with hypothermia overnight, my body temperature is back up. They tell me I'm "shocky" but otherwise fine and, after my cuts have been documented and sanitized, a woman who introduces herself as Sparrow tells me the resort here at the hot springs has a room set aside for me to stay in for a few days if I need a place to rest and recover. Free of charge, she's quick to clarify.
I don't know how to answer her. There must be something written in my expression that she understands because Sparrow takes my hand and smiles when she sees me frantically searching the crowd of people for Jake.
"The room is yours if you need it." She tells me in a tone that suggests she gets exactly how I'm feeling. "I know what it's like to need time to process."
"Thanks, but--" I return the light squeeze that Sparrow gives my hand, but I'm suddenly desperate to find Jake.
"Jake's just talking to the deputy, let me get him for you."
Something tells me Sparrow understands more about what I'm feeling than just processing time.
The other woman winks at me and heads toward a truck where a group of men are huddled around the back of a pick-up truck.
Jake's standing beside a man dressed in a sheriff's uniform, looking over a map spread out on the open trail gate with a few other men also intently paying attention to whatever they're talking about.
When Sparrow taps Jake's shoulder and points back at me, however, he immediately heads my way.
"You ready to go?" He moves in close, creating a barrier between me and the rest of the commotion.
Jake makes it easy to feel safe. I like the way he leans into me when I reach for his hand.
His other hand brushes over my hair, reminding me of the dirt and sticks and pine needles in it.
"Sparrow says I can stay up here. I was going to stay in town a few days when I was done camping, but I didn't set anything up before I went."
"You're staying with me."
Jake says it like it's a done deal. I don't want to argue. I want to fall into his arms in gratitude.
Instead, I enthusiastically nod in agreement and let Jake pull me to my feet. He guides me through the lingering crowd and helps me into his truck.
"Let's come back for your car after you've had a chance to rest." He tells me as he passes the turn-off for the trailhead parking where my car is still parked. "I don't want you driving down the mountain in this state."
