Page 22 of Mountain Defender

“I’m surprised they didn’t insist on coming,” I muse. “Considering what happened and all.”

A flush darkens her cheeks. “They don’t know the details. I just told Isla that I ran into a trespasser on the property and got a little banged up.”

“A littlebanged up?” Incredulity tinges my voice. “I’d hardly?—”

“I don’t want her worrying,” Rory retorts defensively. “You know what happened to Isla last year. She and Matt deserve some time to enjoy being new parents.” She pauses. “Knox didn’t tell them, did he? When I talked to Isla yesterday, she didn’t say anything.”

“No, he wouldn’t share information about your case without your permission. But you know Matt will be asking about updates. What do you want to tell him?”

Her shoulders sag. “I don’t know. I guess… I was hoping I’d remember and we could catch this guy. Then I could tell Isla about everything after.”

Turning my attention back to the packed dirt road that winds through the GMG property, I take a moment to consider my response. While I think it would be better if Rory told her friend the truth, it’s really not my place to push her.

So I back off, shifting the conversation back to her original question. “So. I was thinking you could get settled into the cabin today, and tomorrow if you’re feeling up to it, we can have an informal meeting to talk about your case. Not the whole team—Knox and Enzo just left this morning for a two-day job in Boston, and Ronan’s sticking close to your house to watch the dogs—but just me and Alec. How does that sound?”

There’s a brief pause before Rory responds, “That sounds… good. If you’re sure you don’t need to do it today?”

“I’m sure,” I assure her. “Your health is the most important thing right now. And I know you must be exhausted. I remember how hard it was to sleep in the hospital.”

A beat later, I silently curse myself.

Why did I bring up my own miserable hospital experience? I’ve managed to avoid the subject for the first six months I’ve known Rory, and I’d definitely rather not get into it now.

“When were you—” Rory cuts herself off. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”

Damn. I don’t want her to feel bad about her honest curiosity, especially when I was the one who mentioned the whole hospital thing.

And strangely, though I never, ever talk about those first terrible months, there’s a part of me that suddenly wants to share everything. To tell Rory how it really felt, the anger and depression and fear of the unknown. How lonely it was, knowing everything I’d worked so hard for was gone. That myfriendswere gone.

But now isnotthe time for unburdening myself. So, instead, I just flash a quick smile in her direction and say lightly, “It’s fine, Ror. No worries.”

Just up ahead, my house appears on the left, a little A-frame cabin surrounded by a thicket of towering oaks and spruces and maples. A small fenced-in area for Dewey is tucked off to the side—while I normally take him for several walks each day, he likes to go out there to chase the leaves or play fetch.

“That’s my house,” I tell her, slowing as we pass by. “The place you’ll be staying is just a bit up the road from here. So I’ll be close by.”

“Oh, it’s so cute.” Rory glances at me, her expression brightening. “I can picture you here, playing with Dewey in the yard, going for walks in the woods…”

“Yeah. I really like it. When I first moved here, I wasn’t sure how it would be. My old place was out in the middle of nowhere. Now I’ve got Enzo and Winter nearby, plus any clients we have staying here, but it still feels private. Peaceful.”

“I can see that.” A smile lifts her lips. “And I know what you mean. About enjoying the quiet. When people hear that I have a dog rescue, they assume it’s noisy all the time. But it’s not. The dogs might bark when they’re excited, but usually they’re pretty quiet. And it’s nice…”

Trailing off, she goes silent for a few seconds.

Does she regret picking a house that’s so isolated?

If Rory lived in town, she would have had neighbors to run to. There might have been security cameras nearby to catch a glimpse of the man who hurt her. Or she might never have been attacked at all.

“Anyway,” she adds in a falsely cheerful tone, “your cabin is great. And I can’t wait to see where I’m staying.”

“It’s just up here.” Slowing as we take the next curve, I gesture out the window. “The one on the right.”

There are two cabins set just across from each other, each of them just about the size of mine. They have matching porches with Adirondack chairs on them, picture windows on the first floor to let in plenty of light, and little dormers on the second floor. The one I picked for Rory is the nicer one—the one Lark actually lived in while she stayed here. But I did tell Rory she could choose, so maybe I shouldn’t have assumed…

“Sorry,” I add as I pull to a stop in front of the cabin. “I know I said you could pick which one you wanted to stay in. But Knox added some things to this cabin that the other doesn’t have—a reading bench upstairs and a gas fireplace in the living room instead of wood-burning, plus some nicer finishes in the kitchen—so I thought you might like this one better.”

“This is perfect, Gage.” She twists in her seat to face me. “That you guys are even letting me stay here, and in such a nice place… How could I possibly complain?”

“I’m happy that you’re here,” I reply quickly. And now that I’m saying it, I’m realizing how true it is. Not just because Rory is safe here, protected by hundreds of feet of reinforced fencing and security cameras and motion sensors and highly-trained former Spec Ops on the premises, but because I like knowing she’s close by. Not a fifteen minute drive away, but just down the road from my house.

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