Page 9 of Kidnapped By the Mountain Man

“It’s sad if you ask me. I bet this has something to do with getting his hands on her family’s property.”

My attention turns toward Waylon. “What do you mean?”

“Well, they have six hundred acres backing up to the national forest. It’s prime real estate. You can’t buy that kind of land anymore. It’s all shit that’s been grandfathered down.”

I knew that fucker had something in mind.

“What’s it worth? The guy has all kinds of money. What does he need her land for?”

Waylon shrugs. “Not sure, but someone needs to warn that girl before she does something stupid.”

I don’t tell him that’s why I’m here, watching her. I don’t tell him I thought of her every second since I pulled away from the farm, and I don’t tell him that I suddenly have the urge to murder every fucker that looks at her the wrong way. Instead, I nod in agreement and take a sip of the dark roast coffee that’s gone cold.

“Anyway,” Waylon sighs, standing from the table, “I know you have firm rules on time and people, so I won’t keep you. Will you be up at the cattle drive next week? I think we might need an extra set of hands.”

I glance across the street, Cora still in tears against Kate’s shoulder.

I always say yes to Waylon when it comes to a drive, but now, I’m not so sure what I have going on next week.

“I’ll get in touch,” I say, causing a look on his face that’s somewhere between shock and harbored acceptance.

“Sure. No worries if you’re busy, man. Let me know if you need any help moving your sheep. You’re taking them up to Henry’s next month, right?”

My mind is so far from the sheep that I nod vacantly and stare back toward Cora. Waylon must sense something is off and sits again.

Fuck. Guess I need to work on my stalking skills.

“Are you two friends?”

I glance toward him. “Something like that.”

“What does that mean, Austin? I’ve known you all my life, and I’ve never seen you look at a woman like you’re looking at Cora. What’s going on?”

I sigh and stare toward Waylon. We’re family, but as adults we’ve always kept our relationship work related. Hell, the man got married a few months back, and I didn’t know a thing about it until the wedding.

“Nothing, man. Just relaxing, like I said.” I take another sip of the stone-cold coffee and ignore the urge to turn toward Cora again.

Waylon narrows his gaze. “Really? Because if I were a betting man, I’d say you were here only to watch that girl. You have a thing for her?”

“She’s getting married, so it doesn’t matter.”

Waylon’s eyes widen and he laughs, stroking his beard. “Fuck. She’s a great girl, man. I’m just shocked she’s got your attention. You were always so adamant about being alone.”

I smile. “You realize that you’re one to talk, right? You were right next to me all those years talking about how much you couldn’t do it again. Then, poof, you’re a married man and bouncing around this place like you’ve got wings.”

“A good woman will do that to you.” He laughs. “Just go fucking talk to her. The wedding is a sham, anyway. Maybe you could change her mind.”

“That’s not the response I was expecting.” I smile coyly, hiding my face with another sip of coffee. “Either way, I helped her out today and I think maybe I like her a little more than she likes me.”

“Well,” Waylon stands, “only one way to find out, and it’s not by sitting here.”

“What do you suggest I do,” I laugh, “kidnap her?”

He laughs and tips his hat toward me. “Is it kidnapping if she’s an adult?”

I offer a grim smile and watch as he makes his way back to his truck on the other side of the street.

I’m sure he didn’t mean to incite an abduction, but the idea roots in my head like the answer to everything.

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