Page 172 of Rough and Rugged

I skim the newspaper article one more time before throwing it and the last log into the fire to keep warm. It’s been weeks since I had a proper meal. It was luck that I found this abandoned hunting cabin, but I’ve outstayed my welcome.

I spotted a Park ranger sniffing around yesterday when I was out gathering the merge firewood now burning in the hearth.

So tomorrow, I have a ten-mile hike uphill in the snow.

If I had a nickel for every time, right?

SIGH.

Whoever owns this place doesn’t use it often. The cans left in the cabinets expired five years ago. I ate every bit of food I could that was safe—by my standards, anyway.

I eye the box of Twinkies and then shake off the idea.

I don’t give a rat’s ass if they are supposed to outlive the apocalypse. The sell-by date is older than me, so it’s a hard pass, no matter how loud my stomach growls.

I hear gravel crunching outside, and then the cabin fills with lights from an approaching car.

“SHIT!” I grab my backpack and sprint for the backdoor.

So much for hiking during the day. Guess I’m heading to that new ski resort tonight.

“Please don’t snow,” I huff to myself as I make it into the trees as the pounding on the front door starts.

“SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT!”

The grass around the cabin doesn’t have any snow left by the wooded area, which is more insulting. If I try to run, they’ll see my footprints. I make a split-second decision to climb into a tree and wait them out.

I get as high as I can and then hug the bark, trying to hide in the pine needles.

“Well, Mr. Björn, whoever was here left in a hurry.” I watched the Sheriff come into the clearing, shining his flashlight around.

“She’s still here.” A large man in a suit comes into the beam of light, and I gasp quickly, covering my mouth.

“Did you hear that?” he growls, and starts for the tree I’m hiding in.

“Just the forest animals, sir. I wouldn’t bother trying to chase them down in those fancy shoes of yours, Drake. They were probably just trying to stay warm. Let’s get a locksmith out here so we can all get a good night’s sleep. You have a big day tomorrow.” The sheriff clasps the guy’s shoulder and turns away, removing the only light I have to see his face.

He was absolutely gorgeous.

But his eyes looked wild. Like he was ready to hunt me down, no matter the cost. I swallow hard as I hear him walk away.

“Run away, little bird. I’ll find you again.”

Din gruva, Nalle

Chapter One

Drake

BEEPBEEPBEEP.

“Ugh.” I shove my head under the pillow and pin it down over my ears, trying to drown out the sound that insists it’s time for me to get up.

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

“I’m up. Damn, blast you!” I launch the soft cushion across the room toward my alarm clock.

Bears love to sleep. Why my ancestors stopped hibernating during winter, I’ll never know, but I wish I were living then so I could make that fucking noise stop.

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