Page 20 of Harvested By The Mountain Man
Levi’s mouth curves as he keeps his eyes on the highway. “We’ll build the best fort the mountains have ever seen.”
She giggles, satisfied. I fold my hands in my lap to keep from wringing them raw. The night pressing against the glass feels darker than it should with shadows stretching long across the fields as we leave town limits behind. My heart beats too fast, still chasing what-ifs -- what if Jake follows? What if he already knows where Levi lives. What if I’ve just handed us over to another kind of danger?
“We’ll be safe,” he says low, almost like he’s answering the question I didn’t speak aloud. I look at him in the dim glow of the dash. Strong profile, jaw tight with determination, eyes focused forward. I want to believe him. I have to at this point.
Chapter 18
Hannah
The climb into the mountains feels like shedding one skin for another. The air is thinner, sharper, carrying the scent of pine and woodsmoke. Even the stars look closer here, crowding the night sky like watchful lanterns.
By the time Levi turns off the road and into a clearing, my nerves have quieted just enough to notice the shape of his cabin rising out of the dark.
Not a rough hideaway like I’d imagined, but a wide-shouldered, two-story home built of heavy timbers and stone. Warm light spills from the windows as if it has been waiting for us.
“It’s gigantic,” Ivy whispers, awe stealing her voice.
“It’s just the right size,” Levi answers, pulling the truck to a stop. He says it simply, but I hear the pride under his words.
Inside, the cabin swallows us in the glow of lamplight. The main room opens wide with a vaulted ceiling and rough-hewn beams. The entire elevated space makes you breathe deeper.
“This is so gorgeous,” I say, my gaze landing on the kitchen beyond.
“I’m glad you like it. If you’d seen the old place that was here, you would really be amazed. I built this a couple of years ago, making it larger than I currently need. There are three bedrooms and two baths. So everyone can have their own room tonight.”
I feel a sense of relief about the sleeping situation. I wondered what I could expect, but didn’t feel bold enough to ask. I tend to toss and turn a lot at night. Ivy having her own bed is best.
Ivy wriggles free of her coat before I can stop her, darting up the stairs. “This one!” she shouts from the second floor, voice echoing with delight.
Levi chuckles, carrying our bags upstairs. “Guess she’s claimed her spot already. Let’s find yours”
Upstairs, Ivy stands in the middle of a cozy bedroom, eyes wide at the quilt folded neatly across the bed, the braided rug underfoot. She runs her hands over the dresser as if it’s hers already.
“Is this really mine?” she asks.
“For as long as you want it,” Levi says. His tone is so matter-of-fact that tears sting my eyes before I can stop them. I busy myself tucking her blanket across the bed, pretending I don’t notice the way Levi watches me … like he knows exactly how close I am to falling apart.
He sets the bags down just inside the doorway to Ivy’s room she’s so boldly claimed for herself.
“This way,” he says, grabbing my arm at the elbow. I like to feel his touch. It grounds me in the most unusual way …and sometimes, it electrifies me from the inside out. He leads me down the hall to another room where the door is closed. He turns the knob and pushes the door open revealing a spacious bedroom with a queen size bed. There’s a large closet which he proudly shows off as well.
“Think this will work for you, Hannah?”
“It’s so perfect. I really appreciate this, Levi.”
He grabs my arm again and squeezes this time. “Bath is across the hall and my room is at the end of the hallway. Let me show you the kitchen.”
The rest of the tour is brief, but enough to leave me feeling like a cabin queen with her little princess for the night … at least until we wear out our welcome. Levi shows us the kitchen, big enough for family meals. There’s a powder room bath on the first floor, small but totally efficient. Plus another spare room he uses as part office and part workout area with weights and even a mini-trampoline.
“You built all this just for yourself?”
“It was easier to build it big than add on later. Figured someday I might need the space.”
I can’t tell if “someday” means family, friends, or just a man preparing for the unknown. But standing here with Levi at my side, I wonder if that someday might not be far away.
“Why don’t you put your and Ivy’s things away upstairs and get comfortable. I’ll throw dinner together for us.”
“Thanks, I’ll take you up on that offer.”
