Page 8 of The Mountain Man's Retribution

Bodie leads me to his cabin, his body language urging me to follow. Fear prickles my skin as I wonder if this is the moment everything changes. When I finally see his devil. The touch of his thumb lingers on my cheeks, rugged and warm, and I wonder at the way he licked it afterward when he thought I wasn’t looking.

Unlike Big Man and his sons, I feel things with this man that I have never felt before. My heart bangs around behind my ribs, deliriously pumping its overflow, and the ache between my legs intensifies, sticky and needy. I wonder if I can wash it away in the shower, or if it will cling to my flesh like the heat his words, looks, and actions build inside me.

He opens the door to his cabin, and my feet freeze. I can’t make my legs work, mouth dry and throat thick with fear. I glance sideways, too fearful to look straight ahead and already seeing too much to comprehend.

Big Man’s cabin was dark, dreary, and endlessly dirty. It had two big rooms and a lean-to for extra provisions. Beneath the floorboards lay the carved-out, primitive root cellar. The place I went when I was very bad, or he wanted to hide me from hisdevil or his sons. He locked me down there for what often felt like hours, curled up in a tiny ball.

But Bodie’s cabin is airy and light, with white plastered walls and fine wooden accents. And everywhere I look, those walls are lined with books, shelf upon shelf upon shelf, so high I wonder how he reaches the tomes at the top. I am in heaven. I cover my mouth with my hands, eyes bugging out of my head.

“So, you like the books?” he chuckles.

I blink slowly, nodding my head enthusiastically.

“Good,” he says with a warm grin as I run from shelf to shelf, running my fingertips over the ancient spines, each holding a world unto itself.

The kitchen is another marvel, filled with things that scare and overwhelm me. Tears spring to my eyes again, and I wipe them away quickly before this man is tempted to consume more of them.

“Tell me what you’re feeling, Fawn,” Bodie commands, his face drawn with concern.

“I-I-I don’t understand. What is this?” I point toward a large wash basin cut into the light-colored, shining wood of his kitchen tables. So many tables, I don’t know where to start. Above the basin, a great metal pipe and spout bend downward, like the fanciest pump head I have ever seen. Moving slowly towards it, I cover my mouth, heart galloping.

Bodie stands next to me, scowling as he touches one of two levers on either side of the curling spout, and water springs from it, clear and clean.

“Oh!” I exclaim, eyes dancing with wonder as I look at him, unable to repress a nervous laugh.

His face works hard to remain unreadable as he orders, “Put your hand beneath the water. Feel it.”

Hesitantly, fearful of his intent, I stretch my trembling fingers, body shaking as I run my hand through the cold, wetcolumn. Like the icy stream behind Big Man’s cabin, where I typically washed dishes and myself. I squeal, delight expanding inside me. It is a marvel, and my cheeks glow with amazement.

But Bodie looks somber, his eyes red, his mouth twisted. I step back, fearful I have somehow upset him.

In deep tones, he growls, “Do not pull back from me, Fawn. My words are sincere. I’ll never hurt you.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, voice thick with emotion. “It is too much. This is too much, but it is wonderful.” I can’t suppress the smile that covers my face as I shuffle towards him one step, my body fighting the whole time. But I must show this man the respect he deserves. For Big Man, that was total, unthinking obedience. For this man, it is fearlessness in his presence.

Gritting his teeth until the muscles jump in his jaw, he pushes the lever back into its original position before leaning across the basin and moving the other. In dark tones, he grunts, “Now this one, Fawn. But be quick.”

“Be quick?” I ask breathlessly, knitting my forehead and staring up into the giant’s large, earthy eyes. My throat tightens, constricting my chest, as something I can only describe as desire pulses through me, greedy, feral, and blossoming in strength at each interaction with Bodie.

Stepping forward, my hand slides through the water. Heat! I pull back, a startled cry escaping my lips as I sink my fingers into my mouth reflexively.

Bodie blinks slowly a couple of times, swallowing loudly. His face flushes as he stares at me like I am a pitiable creature. “Did it burn you?” he asks in raw tones, arching an eyebrow.

“No, but it is hot. Frightfully so.”

“Thisis a faucet.” He eyes me curiously, replacing the lever.

“A faucet,” I repeat. “I have read about them in some of Big Man’s books. One’s he bought me when away in town.”

“So Big Man went to town?” Bodie asks, face tight, jaw clenching.

“Yes.” I chuckle as though this is the silliest question I have ever heard. “For food and clothes, when hunting was poor, or he had some money.”

Bodie nods, staring off for a long moment. “Have you taken a shower before, Fawn?”

“Of course,” I answer, a scolding tone in my voice. I don’t mean to be rude, but these questions are silly. “Big Man had a shower beside the lean-to. Very cold. I didn’t like to use it. But if we could put this heated water in it, it would feel amazing.”

Bodie closes his eyes, his teeth grinding so hard together that I can hear them.Have I asked for too much? Come off as ungrateful?I shift my weight, internally scolding myself. A man must never be made to feel less-than. How could I forget this all-powerful lesson from Big Man? After all, it was often the source of his cruelest punishments.

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