Stranded with the Mountain Man

by Aislinn Kearns

  Ray would probably see the smoke, but that wouldn’t matter if he followed their tracks. And being well-fed was essential.

  A few minutes later, Gia crawled out of the shelter and turned towards him. She caught sight of the rabbit and made a face at the dead animal but didn’t say anything. He sighed, remembering their discussion on lard. He should have done a better job of making it look like meat, not animal. He’d forgotten her squeamishness.

  “Any sign of Ray?” she asked, peering into the gloomy forest as if she might catch sight of him.

  He shook his head. “He must have been even farther behind us than I thought. We might get to town before he finds us.”

  She nodded. “Good.”

  As she came closer, he noticed the way she favored one leg, but attempting to disguise the awkward movement.

  “Your ankle is bad again,” he said with a scowl.

  Gia froze, then let out a long breath. “I’d hoped you wouldn’t notice that.”

  “When did that happen?” he demanded, pulling her closer until she was on the fallen tree beside him.

  “Last night,” she admitted. “Right after we left the cabin.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

  She shrugged. “What could you have done? And don’t say carry me,” she interrupted when he was about to say exactly that. “I’ll be fine.”

  He glared at her leg. He hated she was in pain and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Well, almost nothing. He pulled her leg into his lap and carefully removed her boot. The shoes he’d so painstakingly made for her were already showing a lot of wear. He’d have to make more.

  Her ankle was swollen and red, but it wasn’t as bad as he feared. “You should rest this,” he told her.

  “That won’t happen,” she replied determinedly. “Not until we get to safety.”

  He sighed. “At least we’re walking through snow, so you’ll get some ice on it of sorts.” He wrapped one hand around her heel and the other around her leg and slowly tested her movements. She winced and sucked in a sharp breath and he dropped her foot back into his lap.

  “Not broken. I’ll splint it,” he said. “The compression will help. Food first, though.” He left her foot on his lap and slid her sock back on, but not the boot. When she tried to move it away, he held it still until she got the message.

  “You need to elevate it.” She didn’t argue anymore, simply sighed in relief, and Elijah smiled to himself.

  He took the rabbit off the fire and checked it was cooked through by slicing a large strip off it with his knife. He offered her the piece, and Gia gingerly took it between gloved fingers.

  “Careful, it’s hot.”

  She diligently blew on it before taking a bite. He made sure she swallowed before taking his own slice off the animal.

  “It’s not bad,” she said, then took another bite. “Could use more salt,” she teased.

  He chuckled. He was glad that whatever else, she was still comfortable joking with him.

  After a moment of companionable silence, Gia turned to him. “Thank you,” she said.

  Elijah frowned. “For what?”

  “For…getting involved, I guess. You could have left me to deal with Ray and focused on saving your cabin.”

  He glared at her. “I would not.”

  “I know. I know you’re not that kind of man. But this is my fight, my problem. I married him, I stole his money.” Her gaze moved to the pack, still sitting by the entrance to the snow shelter. Regret lined her face. “All of this is my fault.”

  He gazed at her steadily. “No. It’s his fault. He was the one who terrorized you.”

  “Yes, but was stealing his money and running away the best way to deal with that?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe. If you stayed, he might have hurt you worse. And I doubt he planned to use the money well.”

  Gia gave him a long look. “Why are you so calm about this? Why aren’t you angry at me for barging into your life, getting you shot at, and your cabin burned down?” Her voice was raised, almost begging him to be mad. Instead, all he felt was empathy and an intense desire to protect the woman who had come to mean so much to him.

  “Why would I blame any of that on you?” he asked, genuinely confused.

  “Because it’s my fault. I should have known we weren’t safe. I should have known he’d find me and ruin my life all over again. I never should have stayed with you and brought all his evil down on your head.”

  Elijah exhaled, scrambling to think of the words to reassure her. She was worked up and upset, believing the words that came from her mouth. He was better at gestures than words, though. And he couldn’t exactly make her another pair of boots here and now.

  “Even if I’d known what would happen when I took you in, I still would have done the same. You needed help. And…” He hesitated, then plowed on. “And it turns out I needed company.”

  Her smile was watery. “That’s sweet. But I still don’t think it makes up for everything you’ve lost. That cabin meant everything to you and it’s my fault it got destroyed.” Tears spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks.

  “Gia, it’s not your fault. It’s his. And yes, it sucks I lost the cabin. But I can rebuild.”

  She nodded with a sigh, tinged with melancholy. It was clear she still blamed herself for everything that had happened, and Elijah had no idea what to say that would make her feel better. He wished he’d had more practice talking to people, comforting them, but he’d spent more time with squirrels and rabbits than humans.

  Maybe, if he was an urbane city man, like Gia was used to, he’d know what to say to make her see none of this was her fault. That him finding her wasn’t the disaster she believed it to be, but the best blessing he’d ever received.

  She’d changed his life in the short time he’d known her. She’d shown him there was a bigger, brighter world out there. And maybe he’d never fully integrate into civilization. But she’d also shown him there wasn’t anything to be afraid of in making friends, seeing people.

  Falling in love.

  “I’m sorry I got you caught up in this,” she said, mind still on her regrets.

  “I’m not,” he told her sincerely, then took a big bite of rabbit. There was nothing more he could say to make her believe that. Now wasn’t the time to tell her he loved her, and wanted her to stay with him. Now that his cabin had burned down, he had even less to offer her than before.

  But he had no intention of letting her go, no matter what it took, no matter how long.

  She gave him a shaky smile. “You’re a good man, Elijah.”

  His face heated at her compliment, as it always did. Until her, he couldn’t remember the last time anyone had praised him. His father had been a hard man, overcome with grief, and had been more focused on teaching Elijah to survive than building his confidence. But Gia was so free with her compliments, like it was normal for her to raise someone up. It was something that struck Elijah as a special type of kindness.

  Yeah, he loved her. It was unmistakable. It filled up holes within him he’d never known were there, in ways he’d never expected. He’d gained so much in their short acquaintance. He could never think of her and loss in the same sentence because it was only a gain to have met her.

  His mind was already ticking over with plans, but he didn’t tell her. She wasn’t ready to hear them and he didn’t have the right words anyway. It was best to show her, when he was ready. When Ray was in prison where he belonged, and Gia was finally free of him and his influence over her.

  “We should go,” he said as they finished off the last of the rabbit. “Don’t want to take too long.”

  She nodded. He handed her a flask to drink from and stood, gently placing her injured ankle down on the fallen tree where he’d been sitting. He pulled out a spare shirt from his pack and tore it into strips about six inches wide. He made the splint over her boot, otherwise the shoe might not have fit over the top.
He placed solid sticks on either side and tied them down as tight as he dared until they supported her injured leg as much as possible.

  “Tape would have been better,” he muttered, eyeing his handiwork with a critical eye.

  “Why’s that?” Gia asked, testing it.

  He shrugged. “It would have gone right on the injured area on the outside of your foot, and given you support beneath the boot. I’d never bothered to trade for tape, but I should.”

  More subtle changes she brought into his life. There were so many things he planned to change, ways he wanted to make his life—and hers—better. But he kept his mouth shut as Gia walked a slow circle around the fire, testing his splint.

  “It’s better,” she told him. “Doesn’t hurt as much.”

  She was lying to humor him, but he didn’t know what else to do. There were some treacherous paths coming up, ones he couldn’t navigate while carrying another person.

  “Will we have to do any abseiling down mountains or anything?” she asked.

  Elijah cleared his throat and shook his head. “No. I, um, took us the long way around. To avoid any rock climbing.”

  Gia stared at him and his face heated. “How long will it take us to reach town?” she asked quietly.

  He twisted his face. “I’m still hoping we’ll get there by nightfall.”

  “But you don’t think we will?”

  He shook his head. “Tomorrow is more likely.”

  Gia slumped, and for a long moment Elijah was afraid she’d given up. But when she finally raised her head and looked him in the eye, her gaze full of determination. His heart swelled at the sight. She was so brave, so fierce. Had been through so much and wasn’t even close to broken.

  “Let’s go, then,” she told him.

  Chapter 21

  Ray stared down at the path he followed through the snow. Kill. Gia.

  His vision blurred as his mind struggled to concentrate on what he saw. It had been happening more and more since the cave, since the last time he was warm. Now, he shivered uncontrollably. Maybe he’d never be warm again.

  His feet had gone numb somewhere in the walk to the cabin, and they hadn’t regained sensation, even as his right leg felt like fire ants crawled up it. He should have checked that cut last night, but he’d been too exhausted. And since he’d barely slept, his mind was even worse now. All Ray could do was hope the numbness and fire combination wasn’t a bad sign. They hadn’t killed him yet. He’d get somewhere warm and he’d be fine.

  Last night he’d caught a few hours’ sleep in a ditch under a fallen tree. He’d managed to scoop out most of the snow before settling in, and the walls of the trench had kept out some of the wind. But it was still the worst few hours he’d ever experienced in his life.

  What he wouldn’t do for a fire. A house, with a proper roof and electric heating. Fuck, he’d be satisfied with one of Aaron’s caves right about now. Too bad he’d killed the man.

  He had to press on. He couldn’t give up. Gia was somewhere ahead of him and he needed to find her.

  Kill. Gia.

  His brain had distilled into that one simple thought. It was all that kept him going. As he trekked through the snow, following the path she and her mountain man had carved, he kept repeating those two words to himself.

  Kill. Gia.

  Had she fucked the mountain man? Is that how she’d convinced him to help her? Slut. She was his wife. She belonged to him. Not some lumbering backwoods hick living in a rundown cabin. The size of the man had given Ray pause when he’d seen him by the light of the burning cabin. He was huge and hulking. Gia must have been desperate to let that between her thighs.

  Though Ray wondered if his eyes had been accurate last night. They were playing tricks on him, showing him hints and mirages of things that weren’t there. Was he sick? Did he have a fever?

  Kill. Gia.

  It was all that mattered. Anything else—like emergency medical treatment—could happen after he’d shot his wife in the head. No, stabbed her. Slit her throat. Yeah, that would be the most satisfying. Then he could watch her life’s blood drain out of her.

  Those assholes had moved fast last night. But he must be close. He’d only taken a few hours rest.

  Maybe.

  He frowned, considering. He was losing track of time. Tracks. Right, the tracks would have been gone if he was more than a few hours behind them. Only a few hours.

  He breathed a sigh of relief.

  So cold.

  But he had to keep going. Had to find them. Had to make them pay.

  Kill. Gia.

  He stumbled across a larger path of tracks. It took him a long minute to realize it was because his prey had traversed the area multiple times. The remains of a fire had been smothered by snow that had since melted. Rabbit bones smoldered in the ashes.

  When was the last time he’d eaten?

  No matter. He’d eat when Gia was dead.

  Beyond the fire, out in the snowfield and away from the trees, was a dome of snow. Ray staggered towards it, falling to his knees outside the low entrance. He twisted and peered inside.

  Empty.

  They must have slept there last night. The bed of pine needles in the warmth of the dome would have been much warmer, more comfortable, than his ditch.

  Ray glared impotently at the place. This was luxury compared to what he’d had. After everything he’d done for Gia and she’d left him to sleep in a ditch, spreading her legs for that giant of a man.

  Had she fucked him right here in the night?

  Ray slammed his fist into the snow. He wished he could kill her twice. But he’d enjoy tearing her lover apart, too, for taking what belonged to him.

  Ray heaved himself to his feet. His limbs were as sluggish as his mind. He wasn’t sure how worried he should be about that. Maybe he should have researched more before hiking up a mountain in winter. Or maybe he shouldn’t have killed his guide.

  No, wait. Aaron had wanted him dead. He wouldn’t have been any help.

  Fuck.

  He slammed his leg into the wall of snow. It was more solid than he’d expected, taking more force to finally crack like ice. But Ray held on to his determination, kicking, and stomping, and tearing, and clawing until the structure was nothing but another pile of snow.

  He stood there, panting, swaying. He shouldn’t have lost control, shouldn’t have used his energy on such a pointless display of frustration.

  No matter. He’d rest up once Gia and her lover were dead.

  Kill. Gia.

  Chapter 22

  Gia trudged forward another step, leaning heavily on the branch Elijah had trimmed into a staff for her.

  Elijah was going slower than yesterday. While part of her wanted to believe it was because they were both tired, she knew he’d measured his pace for her.

  Her ankle burned with every step. The worst of it was, even with the slower pace she was barely managing to keep up. She was desperate to stop, to give herself a break, but the threat of Ray closing in kept her putting one foot in front of the other.

  Regret still weighed her down. She never should have stolen Ray’s money. Never should have relied on Elijah and gotten him involved in this mess. Her first instinct had been to run, and she should have done so, even with a bad ankle.

  She’d believed she was safe, but she should have known Ray would find her. He’d be motivated, determined to get his money back. Determined to hurt and punish her.

  And now Elijah had lost everything he cared about because of her. Because he was a good man who had helped her, who had rescued her and taken her in when she was desperate, and shared everything he had with her. And how had she repaid him? By getting his entire life burned to dust.

  Guilt gnawed at her.

  Elijah had been kind to her earlier when she’d apologized, but she knew he must be angrier than he said. Because she knew he cared for her, a lot, and he’d still chosen that cabin over her.

  He was probably cursing the gro
und she walked on, hating her with every step. He’d be too nice to say it here and now, when they were in such a dangerous situation.

  Gia shivered in the cold, her limbs stiff like ice, but still she trudged forward, slowly and carefully.

  They’d had more steep descents, more thin ledges down a cliff face, and Gia’s ankle hurt more with every step where she had to twist or maneuver. Even Elijah’s splint hadn’t helped through the worst parts.

  Even if she let him carry her—which she wouldn’t—it still wouldn’t help in those more difficult bits, with deadly drops beneath them.

  Gia sighed.

  It occurred to her that despite her pain and cold and misery, she’d still prefer to be right where she was rather than back in Ray’s comfortable and decadent mansion. The company was better, for one; even Elijah’s silent back was better than Ray’s anger. And, even better, she was free. Not constantly afraid of what Ray might do or say, not worried about being judged or reprimanded. Out here she could make her own choice, could place her trust in her companion, and know they’d get through anything.

  A smile bloomed across her face at the knowledge. Who would have thought she of all people would trade in her glamorous life of silk dresses and ten thousand dollar handbags for handmade leather boots and a mountain man?

  But she had.

  If Elijah could forgive her.

  Which was a big if. Was his silence over the last few hours because he was concentrating on their path, or because he didn’t want to speak to her? She couldn’t help thinking it was the latter.

  Ray had a lot to answer for.

  If he hadn’t found her at the cabin…how had he found her at the cabin?

  She could understand finding the plane. She’d assumed there were rescuers searching for the wreckage, and they might have spotted it from the air. But even if they’d somehow found that, how had Ray known she’d been on it? And how had he gone from the plane to Elijah’s cabin?

  “How do you think Ray found us?” she asked on a gasp, sucking air into lungs burning with cold.