Page 16 of Rescue in Misty Mountain

The fox chirps behind us, but we don’t move.

Her breath brushes across my lips.

I lean in to narrow the distance between us.

That’s when Whiskey yowls from the porch.

She blinks and pulls back. “He… probably wants dinner.”

I nod and take my own step back.

I clear my throat. "Right. Yeah. The cat."

We both stand there a little too long before heading toward the cabin.

Nothing happened.

But it almost did.

FIVE

TESSA

The Rusty Elk Tavern smells like spilled beer and the faintest hint of grilled onions. It’s not completely unpleasant. But it makes it seem more like lived-in. Like an old favorite pair of jeans.

Hank doesn’t waste time with small talk.

“You one of those bartenders that’s all about craft cocktails?”

“Not really. But I can make a gin gimlet.”

“Meh.” He snorts. “This crowd drinks Bud and whiskey. You got a problem making either of those?”

“None whatsoever.”

He tosses a black T-shirt across the counter. It has a faded elk logo on the chest.

“You’re hired. Your trial shift starts now.”

I blink. “Wait, seriously?”

Hank leans in, eyes gleaming. “I told you I needed help for the season. If you can make it four hours without quitting or crying, the job’s yours.”

I can’t help but gape in disbelief. To be honest, I don’t know what possessed me to take Hank up on his offer. Well, I have an inkling. When a certain animal rescuer told me Whiskey and I were welcome to stay as long as we wanted—and I found out the cost to fix my damn car—taking on temporary work seemed like a good idea.

Now… well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

By hour two, my feet hurt. My ponytail is frizzing. Plus, someone named Earl tipped me in loose change and a coupon for an oil change. Still, I can’t help the weird sense that keeps flowing through me.

I can do this.

I can start over.

Even if I still don’t know where the hell “over” will end up being.

Whiskey’s safe at Gage’s place, according to the check-in text from earlier that read“Cat is alive. Mildly offended. Won’t get out of my chair.”

It’s fine. Everything is fine.

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