Page 15 of Mountain Man's Redemption

“A-and your mom?” Daphne asks shakily. “What happened to her?”

“At first, we could only write to each other. It was too dangerous for her to visit me in prison—Dex’s men could be waiting for her. She moved around a lot back then, trying to make sure there was no trail to follow. Finally, she settled ina small town in Idaho. Tiny place in the mountains, not unlike Cherry Hollow. Changed her name, met a guy.” I shake my head. “She hated seeing me locked up. Blamed herself. But even so, I think she was happy in the end. Broke my damn heart when she died the year before my release, but she was happy. That’s all that matters.”

Daphne nods, wiping away a tear, and she lapses into silence, processing everything I’ve said.

“I know it’s a lot,” I tell her. “And I’m sorry to drop it on you like this, but I needed you to know the truth. When people say I’m a criminal, they’re not wrong. I’m a killer, Daphne. I killed a guy. And if you want to leave right now and never see me again, I won’t hold it against you. I’m not a good man. And I’m sure as hell not good enough for you.”

Those big blue eyes meet mine, but I can’t decipher her expression. All I know is this beautiful girl is holding my heart between her hands, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve told her the whole story and revealed every ugly corner of my past. Now I just have to pray she’ll give me a chance.

9

DAPHNE

My thoughts are reelingas I process everything Garrett has told me. When he said he committed a crime in his youth, I never imagined he meant murder. And eighteen years in prison? That’s nearly all of his adult life spent locked up in a cell.

I’m a killer, Daphne.

That’s what he said. And it’s true. He took a life. But despite that, I feel a deep well of compassion for Garrett after hearing his story. It was obviously difficult for him to relive all that, and I can’t imagine the fear, the sheer desperation that he went through after his accident. And his poor mom…forced to turn to a loan shark.

God, I don’t know what to think.

It sounds like Dex Mercer got what was coming to him. He preyed on vulnerable people with no way out, and the way he treated Garrett’s mom was disgusting. But murder? Beating someone to death? Heck, Garrett was right. It sure is a lot to take in.

“What was it like being in prison for so long?” I ask, meeting his gaze.

Garrett shrugged. “After a while, it starts to feel normal. Like the world outside is the strange one, and prison is the norm. Ikept to myself mostly—did a lot of courses. Carpentry, mostly. I wanted a way to support myself once I got out.”

I nod, but there’s still one question nagging at me.

“Did you…” My voice is barely a whisper. “Did you mean to kill him?”

“No.” Garrett is quiet for a long time before he continues. “I wanted to hurt him. Beat him up after he hurt my mom. I wasn’t trying to play God—decide who lives and who dies—I was just mad as hell and wanted him to pay. If I could go back in time, I’d knock him out instead. Keep him down long enough to get my mom out of there and get us both to Belize like we planned.” He looks at me then, his eyes burning. “But I’m not sorry he’s dead. I could lie and say I’m full of remorse, but the man was a monster. I’m glad he’s not around to ruin any more lives.”

We lapse into silence again, and slowly, I reach out to take Garrett’s hand. “Thank you for telling me all that. It can’t have been easy.” He looks down at our joined hands, then back up at me, the tension in his face melting away. But before he can respond, I say, “I’m not judging you, Garrett. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you and your mom. You only wanted to protect each other, and now you’ve served your time and paid your debt to society. So why should you keep on being punished? Why should you be judged by people who can’t even begin to understand what you went through?”

He closes his eyes, and for a moment, I’m worried I said the wrong thing. But when he opens them again, he looks at me with so much affection that it takes my breath away.

“You’re fucking incredible, Daphne, you know that?” He makes a noise deep in his throat, his rugged face alive with emotion. “You’re the first person I’ve ever met who hasn’t made me feel judged, or like I’m someone to be feared.”

My cheeks warm at the sincerity in his voice. He’s looking at me like I’m a work of art, and I’m too overwhelmed to speak.

“I wanted to tell you all this sooner,” he says. “I thought about opening up last night after you told me about your family, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Couldn’t stand the idea of you hating me. Not when my feelings for you are so damn strong.”

The world dissolves around me, leaving nothing but Garrett—that handsome face, his thick beard. Everything seems to move in slow motion as his words echo in my mind.

My feelings for you.

“I…I could never hate you,” I tell him, my breath catching.

“Good. Because I’m crazy about you, sugar.” He reaches up to cup my cheek, his thumb rubbing circles over my skin. “Have been since the minute I saw you.”

My blood is pumping so hard I can hear it in my ears. Garrett’s face is so close—his beard almost touching my chin.

“I feel the same,” I whisper.

“Even now? After everything I told you?”

I nod. “Even now.”

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