Page 8 of Off-Limits to the Grizzly

My stomach fizzes.

I was planning to never see Twin Falls again. But as soon as Mr Johnson said,I’m taking you home,in that growly voice of his, I knew I wasn’t going to argue.

We pass a familiar mom-and-pop gas station. Then Harding’s furniture store. Then Meadows Restaurant.

Home.The word rises in me. It comes from somewhere deep in my chest. And it fills me with all kinds of longing and sadness. I know this place, in a way that I never got to know Oakdale. Guess I’m just a small-town girl, after all.

Mr Johnson turns off the main road, onto a dirt track. That’s weird; I don’t remember this area. His place is on the other side of town. I keep quiet. Right now, I don’t really trust myself to speak, anyway.

We pass into a forest of pine trees. Big old trunks, shooting up to the sky, packing the road on either side. Mr Johnson takes a bunch of turns, bringing us deeper and deeper into the forest.

At last, he slows and pulls up. We’re in front of a cabin. A very familiar cabin.

My eyes fly wide open and I haul myself upright, as I take in the dark wood front door, the little square windows, the tiny porch. This was our den—Mine and Kayla’s. We found it one day while we were wandering around the forest. Kayla called it our clubhouse. She was obsessed with it. She used to bring stuff to do it up and make it real cozy, and she made me promise not to tell anyone else about it.

“Welcome back, sleepyhead.” There’s an undertone of amusement in Mr Johnson’s voice.

I sure hope I didn’t embarrass myself when I was asleep. Snoring or muttering about how sexy he is or something.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“I could tell you needed it.”

He sounds so soft, so kind, I startle, and next thing I know, I’m staring right into those piercing eyes of his.

Annd….my cheeks are burning again.Crap.Is it going to be like that every time I look at him?

That’s gonna get real awkward.

“What are we doing here?” I blurt out.

“Does it look familiar?” he asks, all innocence.

“I-I didn’t think you knew about it.”

He laughs. “Well, I let you girls think that. I wanted you to have your own space. But, of course, I was keeping an eye on you.”

I blink. Kayla was so fearless walking around the forest, even on those pitch-black evenings in winter, when there was no moon. It was like she was daring the universe to throw something at us. Meanwhile, I thought it was as creepy as hell, and I was only there to keep her company. But all that time her dad was actually watching over us?

Mr Johnson climbs out of the truck and I follow.

The front path used to be nothing but dirt, but now it’s paved with little stone tiles. When he pushes open the front door, a rush of warm, sweet-scented air rushes out. Unexpected. I was preparing myself for mildew and rot.

Inside, the old place is transformed. It was real rundown when Kayla and I found it. A lot of the wooden boards were rotten through, and we patched up some of the broken windowpanes with plastic sheeting. But now, it’s beautiful. There’s a brand-new kitchenette, and it looks like a fire was recently burning in the hearth. There are a bunch of fur rugs on the floor, and the living area has a nice leather couch, armchairs, and a coffee table.

“Wow,” I say.

“I did some renovations.”

“It’s real nice.”

He grunts, like he’s embarrassed, but pleased.

I wander through the cabin. It’s been a while, but I don’t remember there being a passageway at the back. “Is this an extension?”

“Yeah. I needed a little more space here.”

Without stopping to think, I push open the door at the rear.

---