Saved by the Montana Hero

by Vella Munn

  At least she’d be paid time and a half Kolina reminded herself as she headed for the restaurant’s back porch which housed a couple of large refrigerators. The porch was little more than a lean-to with a door so swollen it wouldn’t lock. Plans were to replace the lean-to with a real room complete with a foundation but not until next summer.

  A cold breeze seeped in around the door prompting her to try to shut it. However, debris had collected in the track making that impossible. As she kicked at pebbles and pine needles, she decided to put the best possible spin on things. Being busy meant she wouldn’t have time to think about Terron Sax.

  Much time.

  She still regretted that things had ended the way they had between them. As a result of his offer to let her try out the inner tube run, she’d had more fun than she’d had in too long. In addition they’d shared a unique if confusing experience while they were in the trees. It had been good, interesting, and, yes, exciting until he’d tried to play protector and she’d thrown up a barrier—at least that was how she’d interpreted it.

  He’d probably decided she wasn’t worth the trouble.

  She’d finished cleaning the track and had grabbed the knob in preparation for again trying to close the door when she spotted something around the restaurant dumpsters. Shaw Chamberlin was adamant that the area be kept clean at all times. He’d understandably be angry because someone had dropped junk on the ground instead of depositing said junk in the big metal containers.

  Instead of returning to the dining room and her hungry customers, she stepped outside, thinking that picking up would just take a moment. Before long her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and she realized she was looking at something alive.

  “Dog,” she muttered. “A big one.”

  Mostly black she concluded, although she spotted a bit of white on one ear. The dog looked as if its back came up to her waist. It had short hair, an oversized head, and small flattened ears. She couldn’t tell much about the body’s condition. It was staring at her. Because it faced her, she wasn’t sure whether it was wagging its tail but didn’t think so. She’d never seen it before.

  “Did you follow me? Are you responsible for—what are you doing out by yourself? If you’re friendly I’d be happy to—”

  Before she could finish, the dog backed out of sight. Either her voice had startled it or it didn’t like people. The two possibilities bothered her. A dog that had always known love wouldn’t act the way this one had. Even more unsettling, it would get down to near freezing tonight. If the big mutt had no shelter—

  “Come back.” She encouraged. “You don’t want to be out there all by yourself.”

  By yourself. She knew what that was like. She also knew it wasn’t the end of the world. Just the same, she whistled several times followed by waiting for nearly a minute before giving up.

  I’m here. If you want something, I’m here.

  *

  Several of his coworkers were eating together in the restaurant, but Terron had chosen a small table in a corner. He’d waved at the others then pretended to be engrossed in his smart phone so hopefully no one would join him. Instead of opening his email, he looked out the window. Even though he couldn’t see the nearby lake, it held his attention. Most of the time he took Lake Serene for granted but tonight, maybe because he’d been with Kolina and away from the congested areas, he wished he was still outside—and not alone.

  Gossip spread like crazy at the resort. As a result he knew Ginger had been fired. Kolina had already put in her hours but he figured Melinda would ask—demand—she work tonight. That was why he was here even though his bank account didn’t allow for many resort meals. He wasn’t sure what he’d say to her, something light, maybe discuss the weather.

  He’d been looking for her but trying not being too obvious about it when Shaw and his uncle came in and sat at a nearby table. He’d only seen Robert a handful of times so wondered what had brought the older man to the resort. Like before, Robert was dressed in slacks and a collared shirt, looking as if he was in an office instead of the mountains.

  Shaw acknowledged Terron with a nod. “Rey told me you got the inner tube machinery working. Good job.”

  “I can’t take much credit. It just needed to be lubricated.” He was surprised his boss had mentioned something so minor but then Shaw had his finger on every aspect of the resort’s functioning. Terron knew more than enough about responsibilities. He’d already had a lifetime of them. As a result, he wondered how Shaw felt about the buck always stopping with him. Maybe it weighed him down.

  “Where’s our waitress?” Robert sounded irritated. “Guests are the lifeblood of this operation. If they think they aren’t being catered to—”

  “She’ll be here,” Shaw interrupted. “We had to let someone go today. As a result, we’re shorthanded.”

  Robert frowned. “I trust that condition won’t last long.”

  “It won’t.”

  Robert was looking at his watch so probably didn’t see his nephew roll his eyes. However Terron did and when Shaw glanced his way, Terron winked. Shaw winked back.

  “We’re gearing up for winter,” Shaw told him. “Uncle Robert had a little free time so I invited him to come see what we’ve done since his last visit and what still needs to be accomplished.” He patted an envelope on the table. “These are applications from people wanting to be put in charge of the snowmobile rental operation. Finding someone with the necessary experience won’t be easy.”

  “I guess not,” Terron said. Where was Kolina? “I hadn’t thought about that.”

  “There’s a lot involved in keeping the operation running. One of the applicants, a woman, appears to have the qualifications I’m looking for but—”

  “I don’t want you hiring some girl,” Robert said.

  Shaw’s lips thinned. “She isn’t a girl. I’m impressed by the responsibilities she’s had, but that’s only the start.”

  “What would her duties be?” Terron asked.

  “Everything,” Shaw said. “The master plan calls for a much more extensive snowmobile operation than there’s ever been here.”

  “In what regard?”

  “Both in terms of snowmobiles and the number of trails which means we’ll have to groom them after every storm. That’s going to be a big job.” Shaw tilted his head. “Do you think you might be interested in being on that crew?”

  Shaw was asking him to make Lake Serene his home for longer than he’d anticipated. If he agreed, he’d experience the transition from fall to winter. Feel the wilderness close in, sometimes not be able to leave. Find himself. “I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”

  “I hope you do. Rey speaks highly of your work.”

  “That’s good to know. Lake Serene looks perfect for winter activities.”

  “It is.” Shaw smiled, something he seldom did. “We want to appeal to all age groups, especially children. I’m going to show Uncle Robert the inner tube hill in the morning.”

  Would uncle and nephew sense the presence that Kolina and he had? As if she knew he was thinking about her, Kolina pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen and stepped into the dining room. She was wearing a white T-shirt bearing the Lake Serene logo that showed Mount Lynx’s formidable image reflected in the lake. He wondered if she’d had that on under her sweatshirt earlier today or had gone home before assuming her waitress role. Where did she live? Because he hadn’t seen her around them, he guessed she didn’t live in one of the dilapidated trailers like he did.

  She continued walking as her gaze swept over the room. Her attention seemed to linger on him, but he might be imagining it. Wondering what she was thinking unsettled him. Thanks to what he’d been through, he didn’t want to care about someone beyond on a superficial level.

  Then why had he offered to guard her?

  After supplying his coworkers with menus and water, Kolina did the same for Robert and Shaw. Finally she came to his table. Even though he had to look up
to meet her gaze, she still struck him as a slight figure.

  A feminine one.

  “Did you know who got here when?” he whispered as he took the menu he didn’t need. “I thought you might give those two priority.” He indicated Robert and Shaw who were leafing through the applications.

  “I thought about it.” Her voice was as low as his. “But when I was in the kitchen I spotted the crew driving up followed by Robert and Shaw. First come first serve.”

  She’d positioned herself between his table and where uncle and nephew were sitting and had her back to them. She was standing close to him simply because she wanted their conversation to remain private. He shouldn’t and wouldn’t read anything else into her proximity.

  “I was already here when Robert and Shaw arrived.”

  “I know.”

  Rain started splattering against the picture window overlooking the night-hidden lake. Frowning, she stared at the droplets running down the glass. “I guess this officially signals the end to summer.”

  “Probably. I’m wondering if you live in one of the kitchenettes. They aren’t that far away. Hopefully it’ll have stopped raining by the time you get off.”

  “I don’t care about that.”

  “You should.”

  “Why? Terron, this isn’t about my taking off in the middle of a blizzard. You don’t need to concern yourself with whether I get wet.”

  “You’re right,” he muttered. “Sorry.”

  “Look, I need to serve these people. Will you wait until the crowd thins down?”

  “Sure.” The word struck him as wrong, too casual given her serious expression.

  Chapter Four

  Watching Kolina move from one table to another, he wondered how she could keep track of everything everyone wanted or needed. Her smile remained in place and every time she returned to a table, she resumed the conversation she’d been having with the diners. She gave every indication she cared about her customers’ dining experience, but there was something in her eyes—something maybe only he was aware of. Her way of occasionally staring at the window.

  Despite her demeanor, he’d bet a two-week paycheck this wasn’t what she wanted to be doing. In some respects, he understood what she was going through because he’d been in a similar situation. Trapped where he didn’t want to be. Maybe, eventually, they’d learn what they had in common but maybe not.

  He also noted her lips whitened when she was carrying a full tray. She’d slowly lower her load, wincing as she did.

  “Can you sit down for a moment?” he asked when she brought him his bill. Only two tables in addition to the one Shaw and Robert were at were still occupied.

  “I’d rather you come with me.”

  Confused, he nodded and stood. As he followed her into the kitchen, he glanced behind him. Shaw was watching. Despite his uncle’s presence, Shaw struck him as a solitary figure. The question of what made Shaw tick remained with Terron as Kolina and he passed through the kitchen and entered the ramshackle back porch. The small space was hot in summer, cold and damp on nights like this, prompting him to close the door between it and the kitchen.

  Just like that, everyone and everything else no longer mattered. It became Kolina and him in a cramped chilly space with a couple of older refrigerators making grinding sounds. Hardly an ideal place for—for what?

  Shocked by the thought, he made a show of leaning against one of the refrigerators.

  “Please tell me you aren’t going to try to put me to work,” he said. “No way am I going to move these things.”

  She’d put her finger to her mouth when he started speaking and he ended with a whisper. As a result he wasn’t sure she’d heard his attempt at humor. There was nothing lighthearted about the look in her eyes.

  “I want you to carefully open the back door and focus on the dumpsters. Tell me if you see anything.”

  Questions crowded his mind as he pushed on the door and stuck his head out. Water instantly drenched the back of his neck. No matter how much he strained to see something, he couldn’t. Rain hammering down on the metal roof made listening impossible. He located the outside light switch and flipped it up but nothing happened. As frequently as the bulb burned out, he’d concluded there was something wrong with the wiring. Too bad he didn’t know enough to fix it. He was getting colder and wetter if that was possible. He also no longer sensed Kolina’s presence.

  He backed up and looked behind him. Where had she gone?

  Confused, he shook his head. He was wiping water off his forehead when she came back via the door to the kitchen holding a flashlight and a small plate with part of a hamburger and half a hot dog on it.

  He held out his hand, and she gave him the flashlight but not the plate. He concluded she was waiting for him to move away from the door so she could go outside. Her lack of a coat left no doubt that what was out there was more important than her personal comfort. He didn’t feel the same way, couldn’t. This woman’s body was speaking to his and his was listening.

  Learning.

  Wanting.

  “I’m going to throw the meat near the dumpster,” she said. “Hopefully if he’s around he’ll come after it. Get ready with the flashlight but don’t turn it on yet.”

  “Who is he?”

  “What, not who. A big mostly black dog. He’s pretty skittish.”

  “How about aggressive?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t take chances. You don’t know anything about this one.”

  “There you go again.”

  “Go where?”

  “Acting as if I need a keeper.”

  “Did I? I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t do it anymore and you won’t have to apologize.”

  I might not be able to stop myself. “You’re sure you don’t want a white knight?”

  “I’m sure.” She indicated the yard. “I hope this works. The poor thing needs someone caring about him.”

  He was tempted to point out she wanted to do what she’d just accused him of but opted for acknowledging she felt responsible for the animal and wanted to do whatever she could to make things better for it.

  He’d had several dogs while he was growing up and when, as an adult, he’d had no choice but to move back in with his parents, the three of them had discussed how they might incorporate one in their lives. Unfortunately, given everything he’d had on his plate then, he hadn’t gotten around to going to the humane society, which was where all their pets had come from. After his parents’ deaths, he’d been relieved not to be tied down by a pet. He wondered if dogs had always been part of her life.

  So this was what interest in a member of the opposite sex felt like. He’d almost forgotten. What he didn’t understand was how off-balance his interest made him feel. Was she experiencing the same thing?

  “No one has come in reporting a lost dog,” she told him. “If someone abandoned this one—I’ll never fathom how anyone can do…”

  “We don’t know that. So what’s the plan?”

  “I guess we have no choice but to see if he comes after the meat. If he does, the flashlight should give us a good idea what he looks like and what condition he’s in.”

  One of the dogs his parents had adopted had been severely underweight. Watching the scrawny mutt inhale its carefully measured food and slowly learn that humans could be trusted had been a valuable and emotional experience. Before Shep came into their lives, he’d assumed the world revolved around him. Then he’d put Shep’s well-being first and in the process had learned a great deal about love, compassion, and commitment. Years ago, those things had held him in good stead but he’d had enough for awhile.

  He was trying to wrap his mind around where tonight’s actions regarding this illusive mutt might take him when Kolina opened the door and stepped into the storm. If she had doubts about what she was doing, she gave no sign. Instead, she cocked her arm and tossed the meat at the dumpster then ducked back inside.

  “Good
job,” he said. “You don’t throw like a girl.”

  She rubbed her shoulder. “I’m not sure that was a good idea. I’d need to check on my customers. Do you mind waiting to see if anything happens?”

  So that was why she’d asked him to accompany her. He was her backup. He couldn’t say what he wanted from her, just that being the designated flashlight holder wasn’t enough.

  “What’s going on with your shoulder? I noticed you favored it when you were working.”

  “You did? I hoped that didn’t show. It’s an occupational hazard. I think I strained something from carrying those trays. I don’t let it rest enough to heal.”

  “Maybe the only way that’ll happen is if you do something else to pay the bills.”

  “Don’t. You sound like Echo.”

  “She’s right.”

  “Moot point. I have to work. The darned bills demand to be paid and I have to get a different vehicle.” With that, she left the room.

  After standing with the door cracked open while thinking about their conversation for awhile, he checked the time on his cell phone but since he didn’t know how long ago she’d taken off, he didn’t have a frame of reference. What he did know was that staring at the night hoping to see something move was getting boring. Also, waiting for who knew what gave him time to ponder what, if anything, he’d do if the dog put in an appearance. Hopefully it wouldn’t. On the other hand, his rescuing the dog might impress her.

  Darn it. He wasn’t some shy boy with a crush on the cutest girl in his class. He was a grown man who lived day-to-day and was fine with the condition. Mostly.

  The mostly factored in because he lived in one of the ancient single-wide trailers that had been brought to the lake years ago to serve as staff housing. The one he’d been assigned to was barely large enough to hold his belongings. Fortunately, he had no trouble filling his free hours. The area around Lake Serene offered numerous possibilities for outdoor activities. He hadn’t come close to hiking all of the trails and wanted to climb Mount Lynx again before snow buried it. A dog might not be able to keep up. It deserved an owner who embraced the responsibility of catering to its needs.