Saved by the Montana Hero

by Vella Munn

  “That’s your problem. How about a duck?”

  “What?”

  “You like ducks, right?”

  “Who doesn’t?” She struggled to pull her mind out of the nowhere place it wanted to remain in, a place filled with images of the two of them together. “But their lifespans aren’t very long. I’d have to come back as something else.”

  “True. Elephants live—”

  “No way.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. They look so awkward, and I don’t think I’d ever be able to figure out how to work my trunk.”

  “Boy, are you picky. I’m going to stop in a few minutes. I don’t want to risk making you sore again.”

  As relaxing as the massage had been, she didn’t see how returning to sore was possible, but he knew more about muscles and tendons than she did. Determined to get the most from the experience, she closed down everything except for the feel of his hands on her.

  And her mind.

  She’d been alone for so long, most of her life. Somehow Brian had gotten closer than she’d believed was possible. In the aftermath of his death, she’d vowed to defend her emotional space. Terron Sax hadn’t stormed her walls, but he’d touched them.

  Touched her.

  Chapter Seven

  Weariness hung onto Terron as he stood just inside the restaurant the next morning. Rey had called as Terron was getting up and said he needed to talk to him. Hopefully his foreman wouldn’t notice how worn out he was. He certainly had no intention of telling Rey he’d barely gotten any sleep for thinking about Kolina Childs.

  Speaking of the woman, she was moving from table to table, pouring coffee. He didn’t think she’d spotted him but couldn’t help but wonder if she was replaying their time together, what he’d done to and for her. It had been going on ten when he’d left her place. He’d told her not to bother walking him to the door but she had. She’d stood with her door open and artificial light behind her.

  There’d been something lonely about her. The image reminded him of the expression on his father’s face following his mother’s death. His dad had lost the person he loved the most in life. In contrast, Kolina was simply watching someone who’d given her a massage take off so why had his departure impacted her so much?

  But maybe it wasn’t his leaving so much as trying to figure him out. If that was the case, he understood. Boy, did he.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Rey said as he joined Terron. “Hopefully you didn’t have to wait long.”

  “Only about five minutes.” Terron suppressed a yawn then noticed that Kolina was turning toward him. Despite all that activity, had his voice made an impact?

  “Good. Look, Echo had to take off early this morning. I could have grabbed something to eat at our place but decided to have breakfast here. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.” Now that Rey had mentioned it, Terron realized he hadn’t bothered with coffee let alone food. Besides, eating with Rey might give him an excuse to talk to Kolina. “I figured I’d be helping pull the floating docks out of the lake today. You have a change of assignment for me?”

  Instead of responding, Rey headed for a table overlooking the lake. Come spring a double pane window would replace the old single pane. In the meantime, cold air seeped in around the edges to make this table one of the coolest. Terron sat opposite him and angled his chair so he could keep an eye on Kolina. She held up the coffee pot. Rey and Terron nodded. She was wearing another shirt with the resort’s logo, this one maybe a size smaller. Her jeans outlined firm thigh and calf muscles. There, barely hidden by fabric, was a major reason why sleep had eluded him.

  “Just what I needed,” Rey said when she reached the table. “Kolina, have you heard from Echo today?”

  “No. Why?” She poured Rey’s coffee then did the same for Terron. “I turn my cell off when I’m working.”

  Her gaze held with his. If she was tired, he couldn’t tell. Neither could he guess what she was thinking.

  “Because something interesting might have happened across the lake late last night.” Rey tapped one of the other chairs at the table. “Do you have a minute?”

  Kolina looked at the other tables. Then she pulled out the chair, placed the pot on the table, and sat. So far she seemed to be moving without discomfort. She gave him a brief smile before giving Rey her attention.

  “Two minutes,” she said.

  “That’ll work,” Rey said.

  “What is it?” Terron asked.

  Rey looked around as if assuring himself they could have a private conversation. “Last night a couple at one of the private cabins let their dog out. Right away the dog, a doberman, started barking. The only other time they’ve heard that sound from her was when some drunk wandered into their back yard at home. The dog’s been coming to Lake Serene since she was a pup. Apparently nothing here spooks her.”

  “How do you know about this?” Kolina asked.

  “Their cabin isn’t far from Alisha’s. She and Nate heard the doberman. Also, their dog Bruce got agitated at the same time. First thing this morning, she contacted the couple and they compared notes. Then she called Echo. That’s why Echo left when she did. She wanted to get over there and see if there are any tracks.”

  “Wolf tracks?” Kolina whispered.

  “I’m not going to jump to conclusions,” Rey said. “But my lady’s excited. She would like nothing more than to have proof that one is or was near the lake.”

  Despite himself, Terron stared out the window half expecting to spot a dark shape lope past. “Could that backfire?” he asked. “I mean some people might decide having a wolf around is too dangerous and stay away.”

  “There might be more than one wolf,” Kolina said. “They’re pack animals.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, my gosh. Shadow could be in danger.”

  “Shadow?” Rey asked.

  Terron kept the explanation brief so they could get back to talking about wolves. No question about it, Kolina was worried for the elusive dog. In contrast, he felt removed from the animal he hadn’t yet gotten a clear look at. He supposed he loved dogs as much as most people but Shadow wasn’t his responsibility. He’d built a shelter for the mutt, but he hadn’t bought or adopted him, hadn’t felt the mutt’s tongue on his skin, knew nothing about his personality and quirks.

  Neither did he want to.

  Distance and objectivity were vital to him. He’d had enough of responsibility and the emotional wrench that went with the condition. Kolina was an interesting—all right, an intriguing—woman but that was as far as it went.

  Liar.

  “This is what I’d like you to do today.” Rey directed his comment at Terron. “I’ve decided we might as well start getting an overview of the snowmobile and cross country ski runs while maybe helping my girlfriend. Take the quad and a camera I’ll give you. I want you to concentrate on the trails near the private cabins. Keep an eye on the ground.” He pinched his nose. “Sorry. I’m not sure what you should be looking for. Big paw prints I guess.”

  “And wolf scat,” Kolina added.

  “How will I know if I see—” Terron started.

  “I’ll show you. Echo sent pictures to my cell.”

  A woman who made her living as a waitress had pictures of wolf poop on her phone? What else did it contain and would the images tell him more about her? So much for telling himself he considered her a casual acquaintance.

  “If there’s a pack,” he said, “how careful do I need to be?”

  “You should be fine,” she said. “There have only been two or three documented killings of humans by wolves since they started keeping such records.” She sighed. “I’d give anything to be able to join you.”

  He believed her. Unfortunately she wasn’t going to get her wish since the restaurant was still short-handed. Because having Kolina so close kept distracting him, he again turned his attention to what lay beyond the window. Today’s clouds were higher and whiter than they’d been yesterday. There w
as also more blue sky, which said rain was a remote possibility—unless conditions changed, which they did all the time.

  “I’m asking both of you to keep what I told you to yourselves,” Rey said. “Echo is planning to make an official statement in an effort to head off the rumors. Terron, spotting anything is a long shot but this is the only thing I can think of.”

  “I bet Echo is excited,” Kolina said.

  “Like a kid at Christmas. Fortunately her enthusiasm rubs off, if you know what I mean.”

  Terron did. Bottom line, Rey was deeply in love with Echo.

  What did that feel like?

  “Kolina and I talked about that last night,” he said in an attempt to quiet the question. “About what we each consider the perfect career. I can think of worse things than studying wolf behavior.”

  Kolina stood and asked what they wanted for breakfast. She studied him for maybe two seconds followed by spending twice that long staring at the land between where they were and the lake. Envy radiated from her.

  If only he could help.

  No. Don’t go there. This is your time.

  “I’ll call you later.” He heard himself say. “Hopefully I’ll have something exciting to tell you.”

  “I’d love that.”

  *

  Unless Terron was oblivious, and Kolina was certain he wasn’t, he’d probably picked up on her mood this morning. Before Rey had told them what he had, she’d managed to confine her thoughts to getting through her workday. When she’d first spotted Terron, her intention had been to let him know his massage had done the trick. Her shoulder felt better than it had in weeks. However, wolf talk had gotten in the way.

  It was going on three in the afternoon before things slowed down enough so she could grab a bite of lunch in the kitchen. As she ate her chicken sandwich, she tried to picture where Terron was. She had no trouble imagining him straddling the quad’s wide seat while leaning forward so he could keep an eye out for obstacles.

  Not just things that might upend the quad. Wolf prints, too.

  I hope you see something. And that you take a picture to share with me.

  Share?

  Had their relationship reached that point and was it what she wanted?

  Feeling more than a little unsettled by the questions, she pulled out her cell phone and punched Alisha’s number. As she waited, she thought about the things that had taken place for her to consider the cabin owner and realtor a friend. Mostly she, Alisha, and Echo had bonded over a shared love of Lake Serene.

  Alisha and she had encouraged Echo to apply for the Fish and Wildlife position. When Alisha told them she’d decided to shut down the commercial real estate company her father started so she could concentrate on providing low income housing, the three women had celebrated at Alisha’s cabin.

  Her friends were doing exciting things, feeling fulfilled in both their personal and professional lives while she—

  “Hi there,” Alisha said by way of greeting. “Did you hear about our adventure?”

  “That’s why I’m calling. Were Bruce and your neighbor’s dog spooked?”

  “I think Bruce was just reacting to the weird barking. The other dog didn’t sound as if she was scared. It was more of a ‘holy cow, I can’t believe this and let me at it’ reaction. It gave me chills.”

  Kolina asked for more details which Alisha was more than happy to supply. After that they speculated about what Echo might be doing now. After Echo had shown up at Alisha’s place, she’d spent a couple of hours looking around. Alisha had joined her for a while, but they hadn’t seen any wolf prints. In contrast, dog prints were everywhere.

  “Rascal—that’s the neighbor’s Doberman’s name—is still agitated. I wonder what might have happened if she’d been someone’s fur baby. It’s possible Rascal would have become a snack.”

  Shadow was pretty big but the mutt might not be as confident as Rascal was. Wondering what the outcome might be if her dog ran into a wolf altered her thinking about the predators a little. They were mystical all right, but they were more than that. Reality. Hopefully Shadow knew to avoid predators—and would soon realize that humans, her at least, could be trusted.

  Did Terron want the same thing?

  “Unfortunately,” she said, “I have to get back to work but maybe…” She was going to suggest they get together this evening but what if Terron came looking for her?

  “Hold on a minute,” Alisha said. “I’ve been thinking about this, and I talked to Nate. Now’s as good a time as any to ask you something.”

  “What?”

  “How would you like to stop watching people feed their faces and come help me?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “About becoming my employee or I should say my best chance at staying somewhat sane. The business Nate and I launched has taken off like crazy. It’s more than I can juggle on my own. I can’t be specific about what your duties would be. Mostly doing what I don’t have time for. We can learn together.”

  As Alisha detailed some of what she needed help with, Kolina walked out the restaurant’s back door and looked around for Shadow. She’d already done so several times today. Unfortunately there was still no sign of the dog. The possibility of never seeing him again left her feeling empty. Wherever he was, she hoped he was safe and warm.

  “What do you think?” Alisha asked.

  Alisha and Echo believed the hardest part of her job was the fast pace and dealing with demanding customers, but it went deeper than that. She’d learned the art of putting customers first and could judge whether they wanted to talk or be left alone. If, as often happened, the diners encouraged conversations, she held up her end, but it didn’t come naturally.

  Her quiet time in the wilderness kept her balanced. No matter how much she dealt with the public, she remained a hermit at heart. What Alisha was talking about would require social skills she wasn’t sure she could pull off, but it sounded as if some of the time she’d be working on her own doing something new and interesting. Stretching her mind.

  “I think I need to see you in action before I can give you an answer,” she said. “I might not have what you’re looking for.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short. You know how to listen and are organized. That’s a lot of the job.”

  “I’m just being honest.”

  “I know you are. How about we arrange a time for you to come to Kalispell.”

  Kalispell. Not at Lake Serene.

  Feeling conflicted, she agreed to her friend’s suggestion. She debated telling Alisha about Shadow, but she had to get back to work. Besides, Alisha would ask what her plans for the dog were. How could she answer when she didn’t know how to respond when a job was all but handed to her?

  If only she had someone to talk to.

  Not just someone. Terron.

  The man who confused and excited her.

  Chapter Eight

  Terron’s rear end was worn out by the time he returned the quad to the lean-to next to the storage building. Except for when he’d taken a chain saw to some downed trees that had been on the trail, he’d spent the day sitting and was looking forward to doing anything else. He’d enjoyed being in the back country by himself. Not seeing any sign of a wolf was disappointing but not surprising. He’d spotted several elk in a meadow and was pretty sure there had been a black bear on the far side of a creek. He’d taken pictures of the elk and was looking forward to sharing them with Kolina.

  Kolina.

  Moments ago he’d been debating whether to look for her at the restaurant or check to see if she was at her place. Now he was asking himself whether he was ready to see her at all. Maybe he needed more alone time.

  And what would he do with additional solitude?

  He had just started to get to know her. It wasn’t as if they were in a relationship, lovers. He had no intention of putting a ring on her finger, buying a house together, or becoming parents, so why was thinking about her so darned complicated?r />
  Even as he pondered the question, he acknowledged at least part of the answer. He’d spent years being responsible for his parents. He hadn’t begrudged his decision, but their needs had dominated every aspect of his life. Now that chapter was over. He could focus on himself. Decide how to support himself long-term. Just him. Embracing freedom.

  No emotional entanglements.

  “You’re back.”

  Startled by the soft words, he looked around. Somehow, instead of going to his trailer as he thought he was going to do, he’d wandered over to the kitchenettes. Each unit had a porch that was barely large enough for two lawn chairs. Kolina was sitting on her porch wearing a man’s coat.

  So he’d made his decision, at least about tonight, he concluded as he climbed the three stairs and joined her. In deference to his rear end, he remained standing.

  “It’s going to be dark pretty soon,” he said unnecessarily. “Then the temperature will really drop.”

  “Any luck?”

  It took him several seconds to realize what she was talking about. The sunset cast a reddish hue over everything, changing her skin tones so she looked as if she was glowing. Her hair was full of red highlights and her eyes glittered.

  Her mouth looked so darned inviting and it had been so long since he’d felt the pull of the opposite sex. If he wasn’t careful, he risked forgetting his vow to focus on himself.

  Seeking distraction, he patted his coat pocket where his cell phone was. “I’ll show you some pictures but, no, I didn’t see any sign of a wolf. Sorry to disappoint you.”

  “I’m not surprised. I’m thinking that won’t happen unless he wants us to know he’s around, if he is.”

  “Intimidation on his part?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’ve been researching wolf behavior some more. They don’t have anything to prove. What they are is curious. And intelligent. They can determine whether something constitutes a threat.”

  “But they can’t know about guns or traps.”