Page 98 of Chasing the Wild
That’s when I spot the sweetest little A-frame cabin, a single-room type of accommodation that could probably sleep a maximum of four people comfortably from the look of it. Tucked in a perfect clearing, pretty as a picture nestled amongst pines and conifers and doused in enough sunshine to have the scene take on a sparkling quality. It’s a breathtaking sight, with a few snow drifts still settled in shaded patches, giving the whole scene a sprinkling of winter wonderland dusted over the top.
A small stall for the horses sits just behind the lodgings, and as I try take it all in, the sound of bubbling water catches my attention. Just off to the side of the cabin a small stream runs through rock and alpine grasses.
I haven’t even noticed Colt hop off his horse. It’s only when his warm palm finds my thigh that I look down at him, all hazeleyes and dark, scruffy curls peeking out at me from beneath the black rim of his hat.
“What is this place?” My mouth hangs open. It’s simple and gorgeous and immediately feels like Colt, even though I can’t explain why I get that sensation tingling through my awareness, but this place has his energy. Much more so than the big fancy house down at the main part of the ranch.
His eyes most definitely have a cocky twinkle in them when he taps my jean-clad thigh again, encouraging me to swing my leg over and hop down.
“This is the cabin where trail riders come and stay during summer. Bring ‘em up here for a night or two and let them get a taste of this part of the ranch. There’s a few more tracks the horses are familiar heading further in that direction.” Gesturing his chin towards the trees, Colt runs one palm down Peaches’ nose as she nuzzles him with a snort. I can only guess there must be more stunning vistas to explore if this, right here, is anything to go by.
“It’s beautiful.” I’m turning in place, a touch giddy and entirely overwhelmed by everything my senses are trying to digest all at once. “Wait… how is there a running stream up here at this time of year?”
Colt takes the reins of both horses, leading them in the direction of the stall.
“Stick your hand in.” Is all he calls over his shoulder.
It’s a weird fucking instruction, but I’m bemused enough to do as he says. Tugging off my glove, I crouch down beside the edge of the babbling creek, and as I get closer, I can already feel it, without having to touch the surface. On closer inspection, I can see steam drifting in little clouds and wisps off the surface. Sure enough, as I gingerly reach my fingertips to scoop the gleaming, clear water, there isn’t an icy bite to it that would beexpected for this time of year and this altitude. Instead, the creek is as pleasantly warm as dipping into a bath.
“That’s crazy.” Muttering out loud more to myself than anything, I plunge my whole hand in. It feels incredible, and the further beneath the surface I dip my fingers, the warmer it feels.
“Now you know why this place is called Devil’s Peak.” Colt wanders back over to where I’m crouched down. “The whole mountain is filled with natural heated springs, and the groundwater here pours out hot as hell all year round. No matter how cold it gets, that creek runs like it’s got a fire lit beneath it. Damn good for the stock, too. Full of minerals and shit that keeps them healthy when they drink it.”
Shaking my head, I can’t help but grin. “That’s really cool.”
Colt’s face looks even younger at this elevation, lighter somehow.
“Do you come here much?” I stand up and automatically lean into him, no better than one of the horses, tucking against that broad chest, circling my arms around his waist, and my eyes flutter closed when he automatically wraps me up tight in response.
God, I’m so fucking weak for this man.
“Over summer I’m here just about once a week, depending on the groups booked in for trail rides, but it’s not the same when there’s other people around. Usually I’ll try to steal away on my own for a couple of nights here and there. Mostly spend time splitting all the wood that needs to be stacked ready for the colder months, but really it’s just an excuse to be alone with my thoughts.”
“You like it here.”
I feel him nod above me, followed by a rumbly sort of noise, an agreement that comes out of him right beneath my ear.
“I lived in this cabin for a long time. Before the main house was finished, this was where I came after I knocked down theshithole that used to be my grandfather’s house. Built this place, then spent a long time figuring out what the fuck I was going to do with my life.” He flexes his fingers against my spine, keeping me tucked close and I could gladly just stay here wrapped in the leathery, spiced scent of him and the deep resonance of his voice.
“I loved the land too much to leave after he was finally gone. But back then, I was an angry shit and had started to resent this all because of the bastard I’d been cursed to live with. Being up here helped give me back what I loved most about the ranch after losing sight of what it meant to care for the land. This spot, right here, was where I hid for a long time.”
Colt takes a deep inhale of the mountain air, while I draw in a deep, soul-quenching dose ofhim.
“After everything with my grandfather, then Kayce’s birth. I didn’t have anyone, or anywhere, and this place sort of spoke to me, so I stayed. At first, I judged myself for doing what I needed to do to cope, but then realized it wasn’t hiding… being out here was just a part of my process to go through until I found what my soul needed to feel whole again.”
This is my favorite version of Colton Wilder. I decide it right there on the spot. We’ve only been here all of ten minutes, and I can already tell this is my cowboy’s true heart’s home.
Therefore, it might just have become mine. Even if I can’t stay here with him.
“To be honest…” He clears his throat. “This little patch of dirt saved my life.”
I can’t even begin to imagine what his past was like, but being here and having this peaceful, wild location must have been deeply healing for him.
“Well, in that case, I love it even more than I did five seconds ago.” I tilt my head back and give him a grin.
If this is Colt’s happy place, then it has just leapt to the top of my list of favorite places to be in this entire world.
A cozy firelights up the cabin in an orange glow as it pops and snaps, emitting a delicious heat. We spent all afternoon checking over the exterior of the cabin for any repairs needed after the recent buffeting of storms and heavy snowfall. Even though I’m sure there was much more I could have done to be helpful, Colt waved me off.
