Page 15 of Red Hunt

“Hey, Max, is there a place to turn around somewhere farther up?” Ryan asked while closing the doors.

I could still see Milli through the window, couldn’t take my eyes off of her, too. Even though I wasn’t needed anymore.

“Max?” Ryan tapped my arm.

“Yes, sorry, the road ends at my house. That’s the only chance to turn around. But it’s not far.”

I got into my truck and drove toward my new home with the ambulance and S&R guys in tow. We made it in record time even though my thoughts stayed with Milli in the back of that ambulance, all alone.

Once at the lodge, I parked my truck out of the way and got out and watched the S&R guys, and then the ambulance made a turn at my parking area.

The town doc came last, but instead of turning around, he parked his car right next to mine and got out, as well, stood next to me, and watched the retreating ambulance.

“Before I left, I just wanted to say thank you. Milli means a lot to all of us. And welcome to Moon Lake.”

I nodded and crammed my hands into the pockets of my jeans while I watched the taillights of the ambulance disappear, the nagging feeling inside growing stronger with every second.

“Are you really okay with her being alone?”

Alan looked down at his boots and back up at me. “Milli?”

I scraped my hand across my sternum and nodded again.

“Well, she lives with her grandpa, but he’s been in and out of the hospital for the last few months. Her sister owns a construction company down in Stone Valley. But Milli is right—Tara is working her ass off around here.”

I looked down at my feet, not sure what to say next.

“She’s a grown-up. She can handle things.”

Somehow, I had trouble believing that.

“How old is she, anyway?” I kicked at a pebble. Why was I even asking this? I shouldn’t care. Shouldn’t be as invested as I was. She was just a stranger I bumped into twice. Nothing more.

But for whatever reason, I wanted to know more about her. Wanted to know everything. She looked like a teenager, so she couldn’t be much older than twenty-one, which, compared to my thirty-nine years on this Earth, might as well be eons younger.

“I think Milli is twenty-three. But she’s a very mature twenty-three-year-old,” the doc answered.

I could see how he gauged my reaction, or maybe he was questioning my motive for asking.

Why he was still talking to me and answering my questions was a miracle to me. I was just a creepy stranger new to this town, so he actually had no business telling me anything.

“I think I’ll go to the hospital. Just in case.” Did I just say that out loud? Why?

The doc stood there with his hands in his pockets, mirroring my stance, and remained silent until I felt hotness creep up my neck.

“I guess.” He hesitated. “Well, let me be straight. I appreciate the sentiment. I really do because Milli needs someone by her side right now.”

I looked down at my shoes. Something told me there was a but coming.

“You saved her down there. It’s a miracle you saw her bike and even more that you stopped, got out, and did what you did. And because of that, I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. That and because Jake and Ryan know you.”

There was still a but coming. I just could feel it.

“But I have to ask you to respect her.”

Respect her? What the hell did that mean, and why wouldn’t I respect her?

“Milli has had her fair share of hardship and disappointment in the past. She’s in a good place now. She doesn’t need any drama, and she doesn’t need trouble, and if there’s any chance of you bringing either one of those into her life… I need to ask you to keep your distance.”

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