Page 23 of Shelter for the Mountain Man
Ignoring his recognition, I study him. “You aren’t looking too good, man. Can I help you?”
“Shut up. Billy,” he yells, “get in here.”
The other man from the river stumbles into the barn looking even worse. He’s got what looks like a rucksack strapped to his back. Their eyes are off and I’m guessing they’re strung out on their own product.
Keep Fawn and the animals safe.“Man, you don’t look good. Let me drive you to town. Get you to a doctor.”
“Mic, I need food,” his buddy Billy whines. “You said there’d be food and we could get warm. There’s smoke coming from inside his cabin. Let’s go inside.”
“Pat him down from behind. See if he’s got keys to that truck.” He stares at me. “Make a move and I blow your head off. Maybe I should just do it and get it over with.”
“Ain’t no keys,” Billy cuts in after lifting my knife from its sleeve in my pants. He misses the sig in my boot.
He kills me now, I’m no help to Fawn. I have to play it cool. Brownie will warn Fawn. She’ll be ready.
“I’m so hungry, Mic. I’m gonna pass out,” Billy grumbles.
“We need the truck keys. Grab that rope hanging on the wall and tie his hands then hobble them to his ankles. We’ll get him inside and get some food, then see what else he has that’s useful.”
CHAPTER 14
Fawn
He professes his love in the middle of my goat pen and walks away like he didn’t just upend my life and what I thought I wanted.
What do you want?
Him. I want Spade. Is that too much to ask for?
I always thought I was content here. Didn’t need more than my animals and my art. My life is controlled. No disappointments. No heartbreak and hurt. No big expectations.
After almost losing Mom to a heart attack and her forced move to town, I adjusted to being alone. But the truth is I miss her. I miss companionship.
Once she met John, life took another turn. I saw their friendship bloom to love and started envying their happiness.
I’ve thought of moving to town, but I can’t leave my animals. Having Spade here, even just for a few days, has me wanting things that I never thought possible.
He doesn’t treat me like I’m strange or different. He likes the mountains, nature and the quiet, too. He doesn’t mind the work it takes to care for the animals.
Could this be real? Is he for real? Or am I wishful dreaming? Is he just hanging out taking a break and getting easy sex and then gonna move on?
He could say the same for me. He could say I’m using him for pleasure. Am I?
I mean, wow the sex is.… is so much more than I expected. Of course, my one-minute wonder as a teenager didn’t help my understanding of what to expect. And Mom’s books make it sound too good to believe. But Spade…. I feel the ache building between my legs just thinking of him.
When he leaves, this home isn’t going to feel the same. I’ll know what real loneliness feels like. That scares the hell out of me.
Marble lunges to his feet, tilting his head. A soft growl escapes his lips. He pads toward the door. Following I peek out the window. The taller of the two thugs with the plaid coat who tried to kill Spade slips into the barn. Damn.
“Quiet, Marble.” Reaching above the door I grab my rifle. Careful to stay out of view, I glance out again. I see the smaller guy, loaded down with a pack on his back go into the barn. Seconds later, Brownie comes running from the pens. Damn, Spade sent her to me, leaving himself on his own with no backup. Moments later he stumbles out of the barn. His hands tied and attached to rope that leads down his body and hobbles his legs.
I take position across the room from the door where I won’t be noticed immediately. When the door flies open, Spade meets my gaze, taking in the rifle, and drops to the floor. My shot hits the shoulder of the man holding the gun. He screams and falls to the floor. Marble takes the other man down.
I walk to the man clutching his shoulder and screaming on the floor where Brownie stands over him snarling. “Be still or I let her have you.”
Spade rolls to his feet grinning. “Nice shot, love.”
“I texted the sheriff. He’s on his way.”
