Page 1 of Tempted By the Mountain Man
ONE
Camden
I really needed this.
I take a deep breath, closing my eyes as I smell the pine trees surrounding me. I blink open my eyes, squinting as the setting sun nearly blinds me, and look around the small clearing that I’m currently parked in. It’s just trees for as far as the eye can see and I relax, leaning back against my rental car as I take in the view.
The log cabin is in front of me, and I take it in. It’s not much, just a simple one-story home nestled among the trees but it looks like paradise to me. It’s cozy, inviting, and a welcome change in scenery.
I’ve been living in New York for the last seven years. First in the dorms at NYU and then in my tiny, cramped apartment in Brooklyn. It’s been a while since I’ve heard anything besides the rush of traffic just outside my windows and even longer since I was so alone.
That’s what I was looking for though. I’ve been feeling so isolated and lonely these last few months. If I’m honest, it’s probably been for longer than a few months, but I don’t like to think about that.
I grab my bag out of the back seat of the rental car and scroll through my phone until I find the message from the rental company with the code for the front door.
I rented this place for the next seven days. I’m going to try to unplug, reconnect with nature and find myself. I need to figure out what I want out of life. I need to figure out what makes me happy again because I don’t think that I can continue on like this for much longer. Something needs to change.
I know some people go on yoga or meditation retreats when they have an existential crisis, but I don’t think that it would work for me. I don’t really want a structured day of classes, and I definitely don’t want to be around a bunch of strangers for a week, baring my soul. When I think of relaxing or taking a vacation, I’d rather be in the woods, all alone than at some fancy facility.
I’ve been working so hard and for so long. I’m hoping that that’s all this is, that me taking a break and recharging my batteries is all that I need. That’s what this trip is for. I’m going to unplug from the world and do some soul searching. I know that something needs to change and I’m going to figure out what that is while I’m here.
If I’m being honest with myself, I think that I already know what needs to change, but I’m scared to take that leap and make the change.
I’ve been going through the motions for years. Wake up, work, head home to my empty shoebox apartment, sleep, and repeat it all the next day. Even when I did try to shake things up, nothing else had ever really worked. I’ve tried finding new hobbies like painting and wine tasting, but none of them have really made a difference. I’m still left feeling empty and all alone at the end of the day.
I can’t talk to anyone about it either. My parents were so happy that I found a job right away and as long as I can pay my bills, then they think that I should just suck it up.
I’m not surprised that they don’t get it. We’ve never been that close. How could we when they were barely present for any of my adolescent years. Both of my parents are workaholics. They’re both lawyers and they spent more time at their law firm than at home.
I grew up with my grandma raising me, and she was my best friend. She passed away right after I graduated and part of me wonders if that’s when I started to feel so alone. Maybe this is all grief, but I doubt it.
I’m just not happy anymore. Not with my job, my apartment, my family, or friends, and I need to figure out why.
I let myself into the cabin and smile as I take in the dated flannel couch and wood stacked neatly next to the fireplace.
Alright, I think that I can work with this.
I set my bag down next to the shoe mat in the entrance and kick the door closed behind me. I tie my dark brown hair up into a messy bun as I walk farther into the cabin and look around.
The cabin is all hardwood, the floors and walls are the same dark oak and I run my fingers along the wall as I poke my head into the kitchen. The whole cabin just has the necessities. It’s not modern or even updated into this decade, but that’s alright.
I’m not actually planning on spending that much time in the cabin. I’m going to go hiking and explore the nearby small towns. I passed some of them on my drive up the mountain. It looks like Honey Peak is the closest town, but Maple Bend, Destiny Falls, and Lilac Harbor are all within an hour of here.
I head into the bedroom, smiling at the quilt that’s spread out over the queen-size bed. I only have a twin bed back in my apartment in New York and I’m looking forward to spreading out at night here.
The bedroom is a little small, especially with two bedside tables and a dresser also in the room, but that’s okay. A big bay window is on the far wall and I smile as I see a few birds fly past, landing in the trees just a few feet away.
I back out of the room and peek into the bathroom. There’s no bathtub, but the shower looks like it was just redone and all the rooms look clean. The whole cabin looks spotless actually, and I smile to myself as I head back to grab my bag.
I didn’t pack anything fancy, so I don’t need to hang anything up. Instead, I just dump my bag on the dresser and head back out to the car to grab the bags of groceries that I brought with me.
I carry in the bags, setting them on the counter. I just grabbed a burger when I crossed over the Mackinaw Bridge, so I’m not that hungry. I’ll probably have to grab a few things from town tomorrow or the day after, but I have enough snacks at least to last me all week.
I fill the cupboard up with the food and grab a glass of water, taking a long drink as I survey all of my hard work. It’s getting late but I’m not tired yet. I need to stretch my legs a bit before I get ready for bed.
I spent four hours on the flight out here and then another three hours driving up to the Upper Peninsula. I’ve been sitting all day so I start to walk around the living room. There’s a flat-screen TV above the fireplace and a bookshelf stuffed full of old paperbacks and boxes of board games.
I smile as I scan the titles of the books on the top shelf. I’m a junior editor at a small publishing house back in New York and I’ve always loved books. I love getting lost in stories, imagining myself as a fearless warrior, a cunning and clever detective, or as the plucky love interest that the hero can’t live without.
