Embrace the Wild (The Great Outdoors Book 5)

by Shayne McClendon

  “That’s good of you.” Taking in the small cluster of businesses around the gas station, she asked him questions.

  He was happy to tell her about the locals. “That’s the most amazing little grocery store. They have everything you need and if they don’t have it, they’ll order it for you.” Considering, he added, “Why don’t you lock up and we’ll grab you some basics while you wait for Wade?”

  “I’d like that.”

  Watching her walk through a store was fascinating. For a moment, he wondered if she’d ever been in one before but dismissed the thought as ridiculous and impossible.

  She mainly chose canned goods like tuna and soup while picking one of most of the fruit they had available. Struggling to get a case of mineral water in her cart, he took it from her.

  At the register, she smiled warmly at the man behind the counter. He offered her a tin of fresh fudge and she didn’t know how to reject it so she bought it. The same went for a container of homemade cookies and a jar of local honey.

  After she paid for everything, he helped her load it into her Jeep and she took out the cookies and fudge. “I don’t eat sweets. You should take these.”

  He laughed. “Why’d you buy them?”

  “I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. His wife made them. He’s proud of her so…it was the least I could do.”

  “I’m not turning down the offer of dessert.”

  Wade’s big truck pulled into the parking lot and he grinned through the open window before jumping out.

  “You must be Abigail.” They shook hands. “I’m Wade Overly. We’ve heard nothing about you so we’re nosy as two teenage girls. Be prepared.”

  She tried not to laugh and failed. “Thanks for the warning.”

  “Let’s get you up to the cabin so you can settle in. You have everything you need?”

  “Yes. I bought soup.”

  “Um…alright. Soup enough for you?”

  “It’s more than I usually eat. I’m excited.” She climbed into her vehicle and the men shared a glance of surprise behind her back. “Ready when you are!”

  Glancing over her shoulder, there was a moment where Knox almost recognized her. Then it was gone.

  “You kicked ass on the course. We live just down the mountain from the cabin if you need anything. Door’s always open.”

  “Thank you for everything, Knox.”

  “You bet.” He walked to his Bronco and drove toward home with far more questions than answers.

  Per Hollow, an old contact they guarded fiercely, Abigail North planned to live on their mountain for at least a year, possibly more. Wade was right. They were nosier than teenage girls.

  Eventually, they’d discover her secrets.

  Chapter Eight

  Wade Overly had seen a lot in his thirty-six years. Their new tenant’s attempt to hide her obvious good looks ranked as one of the strangest.

  While the friends promised Hollow not to dig too deeply into Abigail North’s identity, they hadn’t promised not to wonder. They hadn’t vowed not to use their charm to find out everything they could.

  Through her open window, her breath was visible on the cold air. “Lead the way, Mr. Overly.”

  “We’re going to be neighbors. Call me Wade.”

  “You can call me Gail.”

  Grinning, he turned his truck around and led her out on the road. In less than three miles, he turned on an unmarked gravel road. The slope immediately changed.

  Galina stopped long enough to put the Jeep in four-wheel drive like Hollow showed her and felt an improvement in traction.

  They ascended for a long time and progress was slow. On one side, they passed a huge clearing with an enormous cabin built in the center. It had two large side wings and a connected section in the middle that was all glass.

  Knox’s Bronco parked there made her grin.

  The road continued to climb. Half a mile further, they entered another clearing. A pretty cabin sat back from the road which ended in a circle just past the turn.

  Wade pulled in and parked. When they were both out of their vehicles, he took a key ring from his pocket.

  “Okay, Gail. This is it.”

  “I love it already!”

  Hiding his surprise, he said, “I had two cords of wood delivered. That should get you through a month or so. I can give you the number and the guy will bring up more as you need it.”

  He stepped up on the wide porch and opened the door. Her expression was easy to read. No person had ever been so happy as he escorted them inside the little cabin they used as secondary income a few months a year.

  Wade smiled. “There are two rooms. One really isn’t big enough for a bed. The bathroom is through here. It has an old copper soaking tub which is hard to find anymore. The hot water is very hot, so be careful until you get used to it. It’s an on-demand system and really efficient.”

  He opened doors to show her each space. “There’s a deep freeze on the back porch. It has a lock on it to keep the animals out. All the appliances are new. They shouldn’t give you any trouble, but if they do, give me a call and I’ll take care of it. There’s a stacked washer and dryer over here inside the pantry. Do you have any questions?”

  “I’m going to be so happy here.” Her eyes moved around the little cabin and he saw she meant it.

  “We had a cleaning team go through the place and they stocked it with new linens and basic things for the kitchen and bath.”

  “I was going to use my sleeping bag and order everything I needed online.”

  Chuckling, he said, “We wouldn’t drop you here without necessities.” Gesturing to her Jeep out front, he added, “I’ll help you unload. It’ll be full dark in the next hour and I don’t want you stumbling around out there.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  Handing her the keys, he held the door for her to walk through. They unloaded two boxes, a couple of duffle bags, her camping gear, and the groceries.

  There was a small generator still in the box as well as a box of survival supplies like flashlights, a radio, and batteries.

  She pulled a smaller backpack from the floor of the passenger side that likely held a laptop. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Rent is five hundred a month?”

  “We’re not charging you rent.”

  “I’m afraid I have to insist.” She pulled a thick envelope from a side pocket of her bag and held it out. “This is rent for two years. If I leave before, you can keep it. I included extra because Hollow thought you might take care of having wood delivered. To maintain my privacy.”

  His brows shot up. He didn’t take the offered envelope.

  “Gail…I’m sorry. You want to hand me two years’ worth of rent in cash? You don’t know what the winters are like up here yet. You might be in over your head.”

  “I did lots of research. I’m sure. I’m staying.”

  Floored, he tried again. “Listen, we told Hollow we wouldn’t charge you rent at all…”

  “That’s ridiculous. I imagine lots of people would love it here.”

  “Be that as it may, charging no rent and then having you give me two years of it is a little unorthodox.”

  She shook her head and he practically heard the stubborn wheels turning. “I’m staying. I know what I’m doing.” Pressing the envelope into his hand, she added, “Please.”

  The silence drew out between them. “Gail.” Her frown deepened. “Alright, but if you leave, you get every dime back you don’t owe.”

  He stuck the envelope in his jacket and she smiled brightly. “Can you show me how to use the fireplace?”

  Walking to it, he demonstrated by laying a lovely fire in the grate. “That’s perfect. I won’t be any trouble.”

  “You’re definitely an enigma.” She smiled but didn’t reply. “I’m going to get out of your hair but we’re just down the mountain if you need anything. We’ll keep an eye on anyone coming and going.”

  “Your house is pretty.”

 
“Thanks. Knox and I share the place. Built it a few years ago, when we retired from active duty. He has his side, I have mine. It works.”

  “I’ve never had a friend like that. Hollow is my only friend.”

  He told her seriously, “He’s a good one to have. You get settled and holler if you need anything.”

  “I will.”

  She stood in the doorway as he walked to his truck and waved as he turned to head back down the mountain.

  The friends needed to compare notes immediately. She was a puzzle they had to figure out or they’d go batshit crazy.

  There was something about her…

  * * *

  Knox was waiting for him on the porch when he parked. His hair was still damp.

  “Gonna catch your death out here, man. Anxious to gab about our new tenant?” he asked jokingly.

  “Thanks, Mom. Like you’re not trying to figure her out.”

  “Damn it, I need to know.”

  “That’s what you said right before we nearly had our asses handed to us in Thailand. Just like then…I’m on board.”

  They stood talking, their eyes trained up the mountain. With the trees thinning, they could just make out one lit window of the cabin.

  Wade told him about his experience and Knox filled him in on the days of the survival course.

  “She doesn’t look familiar but I feel like she should.”

  Knox shrugged. “She’s athletic. The other guys were gasping for air and she just kept chugging along.”

  “Wearing a wig, she’s serious about hiding her identity. That tells me she’s someone even guys like us would recognize. Unfortunately, that rules out women’s sports.”

  “Let’s throw some steaks on.” They went inside and Wade opened a couple of beers while Knox prepped two massive ribeyes. “She told us she was a teacher.”

  Wade shook his head. “Doubtful. Hiding during the course and with us means the pool is narrow. Most men wouldn’t recognize a figure from politics or education.”

  “Maybe a witness to something?” his friend mused.

  “Doesn’t feel right, does it?” He turned it over in his head. “I don’t know. I’m thinking it’s something obvious. Acting, music, something like that. A well-known face.”

  “She’s damn tall for a woman. Close to six feet.”

  They made food and sat down, eating in silence for several minutes. Finally, Knox said, “I’m going to sleep on it. Days on the frozen ground kill my spine.”

  “See you tomorrow. I’ll throw her cash in the safe.”

  As he walked toward his side of the house, his friend said, “Access to that much cash…another clue.”

  Wade went outside and sat on the porch railing. He stared up at the cabin while he finished his beer.

  “Miss Abigail North. Who are you really?”

  * * *

  In the little cabin a mile away, Galina took a long soak in a hot bath, washing away the grime from five days in the wilderness and relaxing tense muscles.

  The moment Wade was out of sight, she removed her disguise and it felt marvelous. Unbinding her breasts was pure bliss.

  Staring at her own reflection for the first time in almost a week, she whispered, “There’s your only skill. Looking pretty.”

  Inhaling, she stripped down and sank into the glorious tub she knew she’d spend a lot of time in.

  Looking back on the first week of her new life, she considered it progress. She’d contact the nice grocer and see if he’d be willing to deliver food to the cabin for a fee.

  Once she set up her laptop and connected to the secure server Hollow arranged, she’d order some basics as well.

  Errands to be completed could wait. For now, she could breathe and be herself in complete privacy and seclusion.

  After her soak, she unpacked her belongings and familiarized herself with her new home.

  She made a bowl of soup in the microwave, added wood to the fire, and curled up with a book on the plush sofa.

  When she started to doze off, she set the screen over the hearth and headed to bed.

  As she drifted to sleep, she realized it was, without question, the best day of her entire life.

  Chapter Nine

  November 2012

  The next morning, Knox prepared to hike up and check on Gail when the local grocer drove by with a wave on his way to the cabin.

  Twenty minutes later, Knox flagged him down. “Hey, Tuck. You delivered to the new renter?”

  Tuck nodded with a big smile. “She offered me two hundred dollars so I couldn’t say no. Told me she’ll need a delivery every week and to expect the same tip. You can bet the missus isn’t going to know about that money. I’m gonna surprise her with a vacation to see her sister in Seattle.”

  Gesturing toward the cabin with his thumb, the grocer added in a quiet voice, “What a figure on that one. My word. Made me wish I was young again. To get the look, you know?”

  Tuck was in his late fifties, soft and balding. The comment made Knox smile. Then he replayed the rest of his statement and concealed his surprise.

  “She has enough food? We were worried.”

  “Had me bring mostly instant meals. Said she don’t know how to cook but she’ll have time to learn now. I took her a cookbook and picked two recipes lots of people eat for her to practice.”

  “I’m curious, what did you pick?”

  “Pot roast and chicken soup. I asked the gal who runs the meat market and she said those are easy to learn. I can’t boil water…my Becky cooks for me.”

  Tuck looked off in the distance. “I don’t think she plans to leave the mountain for anything. I told her I’d be happy to bring up any packages she gets if she shipped it to the store.”

  “That was good of you, Tuck.”

  “Least I can do. Don’t know why she feels the need to hide herself away.” The older man shook his head. “Seems she’s trying to make herself plain or something but she can’t hide that body in jeans and a t-shirt. I tell you what.”

  Putting his van in gear, he chuckled. “To each their own, I guess. See ya, Knox!”

  Knox was more curious about Gail by the moment.

  For the next month, they heard nothing from their renter. They left her in peace but Tuck passed their place once a week to deliver groceries like clockwork.

  The first snow fell in the middle of the night. Gail called Wade to ask what to do when the pipes stopped working.

  He hauled ass up the mountain.

  His friend returned more confused than ever. “She was wearing a ton of clothes and avoided looking directly at me. It was odd.” Walking inside, Wade added, “I invited her to have Thanksgiving dinner with us and she accepted.”

  The next week, she hiked down the snowy mountain with a basket of fresh banana nut muffins.

  Knocking softly on the door, Knox grinned when he saw her standing on the other side. “Hey there.”

  “Hi. I saw both your cars home so I thought I’d visit. I’m having second thoughts about bringing you these. I need to do a few more test batches, I think.”

  “Come on in. We just made coffee.”

  Shyly, she followed him inside and placed the basket on the kitchen island. “Your house is very pretty.”

  “Thanks. Everything okay up at the cabin?”

  “Fantastic. Um, I’ve been learning to cook. I-I don’t know how these taste.”

  “You don’t eat what you bake?”

  She shook her head. “No. I just like making it.”

  Wade poured all of them coffee and they sat together at the dining table. The friends each took a muffin and bit into it.

  It was delicious but immediately sucked all the moisture out of Knox’s mouth. He took two sips of coffee and said, “These are great.” Wade nodded in agreement.

  Looking back and forth between them, her eyes narrowed. “They look dry. Are they dry?” They froze in the act of chewing and she sighed. “I can’t get better if I don’t know what I’m doing wr
ong.”

  “Full disclosure,” Wade said gently, “they’re a little dry but the flavor is truly amazing.”

  “What he said,” Knox added.

  “See? I can look up how to fix that.”

  “Now you tell us something.” The smile on her face made his heart skip.

  “Clever. Alright. Ask me a question. I’ll be as forthright as I can within reason.”

  “Have you ever been married?”

  “No. Not even close.”

  “Do you have children?”

  “One day, hopefully. That’s two questions,” she chided softly before releasing a sigh. “Go ahead, I can see you’re dying to ask more.”

  “Are you running from the law?”

  She chuckled. “No.”

  “Are you in disguise?” The silence drew out before she nodded once. “Do you feel safe here?”

  “Yes.” Smiling, she stood. “I’m going to head back. Perhaps my next batch will be better.”

  They watched her hike up the mountain and Wade said, “More answers lead to more questions.”

  Knox agreed.

  * * *

  Two weeks later, they celebrated Thanksgiving together and Gail brought a small cake and a bottle of aged scotch that made the friends salivate.

  “I don’t drink much. I asked Hollow and he said this one was good. I hope you like it.”

  “He has excellent taste.” Wade immediately poured each of them a glass and said, “To old friends and new ones.”

  The moment the scotch hither throat, she turned red and started to cough. “O-oh god. It burns.” Taking a bottle of water from Knox gratefully, she decided, “Not for me.”

  Her presence made it feel the day feel more festive but the friends couldn’t figure out why. After dinner, she insisted on helping to clean up before leaving with sincere thanks before it was too dark.

  A few days later, winter hit the mountain hard.

  Gail occasionally left muffins and breads on their doorstep. They’d find them when they returned home from work.

  She always left a note. “My latest experiment. I think it’s safe.”