Page 9 of Found By the Mountain Man

“I’ve made discreet inquires, but no one’s looking for a girl. Hailey’s working at the tourist office and will let me know if anyone suspicious comes in.”

Hailey is Kobe’s wife. Again, I’m thankful for my network of friends on the mountain. They’re more than friends. They’re my family.

Indigo comes back as we’re talking. She hasn’t given me any more information about her situation, but the longer she stays, the less I want to know. I couldn’t stand it if I found out she was married or something.

Before Symon leaves, he scribbles his phone number on a piece of paper and sticks it to the fridge with a magnet.

“You get into any trouble out here when Rhys isn’t around, you call me. Okay.”

Indigo nods.

“We’re family out here,” he adds. “We look out for each other.”

She blinks rapidly, and I think she’s going to cry.

“Thank you,” she whispers. The hard edges from when I first met her are gone, replaced by a vulnerable woman who needs more than shelter. She needs a home.

Symon leaves, and I spend the rest of the day with Indigo. We walk in the woods with my shotgun slung over my shoulder.

I show her my traps, and she seems genuinely interested and not queasy at all about the animals we bring back.

As we’re walking, I take her hand in mine, and I don’t let it go until I see the deer.

6

INDIGO

Rhys’s hand in mine warms me up in a way I can’t explain. It’s not just the warmth of his body. It’s the warmth of his soul. He might just be the first really good man I’ve ever met.

I’m touched by the generosity of his friends, who don’t know me but are willing to help just because Rhys has taken me in. I wish I had friends like that.

The last few days I’ve been focused on my recovery, but now I have to think about my next step. I have nowhere to go and no money.

Rhys says I can stay as long as I need, but what if I want to stay forever? The longer I spend with this man, the stronger my feelings for him grow. He’s thoughtful and gentle and kind, not to mention muscular and hot.

With his hand in mine, I let myself dream of a future together where I’m safe in his cabin forever.

Rhys stops abruptly and puts a hand up to his lips, indicating for me to be silent. I follow his gaze, and up ahead behind a low bush is a deer. Her head is dipped as she drinks from a pool of water collected at the bottom of the slope below us.

Rhys drops my hand and slides the rifle off his back. I step out of his way and wince at the crunching sound underfoot. He shoots me a look, silently telling me to stay where I am.

He moves silently and gracefully for a big man, stealthily raising the rifle to his cheek as he maneuvers into position.

My heart is thumping in my chest. I’ve never been on a hunt before, and the thought that we might be catching dinner has me excited. It’s so primal, tapping into our most basic instincts to survive.

But as I watch Rhys flick off the safety, I realize something’s not right. A tremor runs through his hands. He keeps focused down the sight of the gun, but the trembling gets so bad that his finger jerks against the trigger.

He takes the shot and it goes wide, tearing through a branch above the deer’s head. She takes off into the forest, the opportunity missed.

Rhys is muttering curses as he lowers the rifle, and he won’t look me in the eye.

He slides the rifle over his shoulder and shoves his hands in his pockets.

“Come on. I want to check the other traps.”

He doesn’t want to talk about it, and I respect that. I’m not the only one keeping secrets.

Screams wake me in the night, the sound of a man yelling right outside my door. I tear out of bed and pull the door open and almost trip over Rhys. He’s lying on the floor with a cushion from the couch as a pillow and a blanket over him. By his side is his rifle.

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