Page 7 of The Mountain Man's Retribution

“Yes. Friends and homesteading partners. I need a skilled herbalist.”

She raises an eyebrow, indicting me on my assumption.

Clearing my throat, I mutter, “If you will consider the job?”

She shakes her head, looking puzzled. “You are not a man to lie. I can tell that much, but I don’t believe your knowledge of herbs is really so basic. It makes me wonder how to answer your question.”

“I need your help,” I say, pointing towards the stack of logs I cut earlier. “This homestead is not built for one person to run.”

“That seems better to me,” she says, shoulders dropping. She may be old-fashioned and naive, but she’s not a dumb woman. “But how will you pay me?” she asks, knitting her brows.

It’s a good question. After all, people in these mountains tend to barter rather than exchange currency, which is all but useless up here. Still, I have more than I know what to do with, so I offer, “Cash?”

She shakes her head, raising her chin defiantly. “Safety.” The word comes out on a puff of air, her bottom lip trembling and her eyes hesitant. I wonder what she thinks safety entails.

“Done,” I answer without hesitation, catching her off guard. “And room and board.”

She purses her lips as though she’s not sure how to take this offer, though she and I both know she desperately needs it. But I would never say this to her because I sense she’s a proud woman.

I add, “Flint’s original offer to me.”

“Alright, then,” she says, grinning broadly. The sight could part the dark of night, ushering in the sun. I have to know what she’s thinking.

I raise a quizzical eyebrow.

“I thought I’d have to go all the way to town to get a job at the bookstore or library. But look at my good fortune!” She claps her hands together, chuckling heartily.

“Bookstore or library?” I ask, not remotely prepared to dive into a full rundown of why this would never work.

“Because I love books more than anything.” Her face grows sullen, and she looks down sadly. “When I escaped the fire and Big Man, I could only bring a few pages,” she says, patting the pocket of her green coat.

My stomach roils at thoughts of this Big Man guy and what could possibly have been going on. But that’s a conversation for another time. Instead, I ask, “You love books? This cabin has plenty.”

“Really?” The woman bursts into a little dance, like something out of a clogging documentary about theAppalachians Flint once showed me. Now, I’m convinced she’s from another time.

I nod.

All I know for certain is the smile that captures her face is better than any sunrise, any sunset, anything I’ve ever seen. It warms a spot in my chest until it glows, brilliant and pure, like burning embers.

“So,” she says, eyeing me mischievously. “May I read the books in exchange for tending the herbs?”

“And other chores,” I add gruffly, trying to play the moment off. In truth, the backs of my eyes smart. I’m not a man given over to tears, but Fawn’s lack of understanding about the world, coupled with hints of the nefarious things she endured, floor me.

“Other chores?” she asks, face crumbling and eyes watering. I can only imagine what she thinks I mean.

“Dishes, cleaning, weeding, collecting eggs? That okay?”

Fawn exhales slowly, eyes still swimming as she squeezes them shut, and tears glide over her pretty cheeks. Without thinking, I lean forward, wiping them away quickly, touching her solely with my work-hardened thumb. It’s a tiny gesture, meant to show her I have no evil intent.

She freezes, blood draining from her face before a tiny laugh escapes her lips, and she nods. “Dishes, cleaning, weeding, collecting eggs, and herbs. You have a deal.” She turns back to the green plants, face scrunching with concentration as I bring my thumb to my mouth, discreetly tasting the salt of her tears.

I don’t know why I do this. It scares me almost more than I fear it would scare her, my body demanding a taste of this innocent woman.

As she gathers herbs, chattering about her inner musings and her books, I fixate on one simmering thought: retribution. I will hunt down Big Man and whoever else hurt this woman, and Iwill make them pay for what they’ve done with one-way tickets straight to hell.

Chapter Five

FAWN

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