CHAPTER 6
EDEN
Thanks to my growly, grumpy neighbor, I had water. Having him see me bathing naked seemed a small price to pay for being able to access running water whenever I wanted. I spent the next few days getting settled, unpacking the rest of the few belongings I’d brought with me, and securing the pen where I kept the goats to make sure Scapegoat wouldn’t be able to get out again.
I hadn’t seen Shaw since that night, though I hadn’t stopped thinking about him. There was something about him that made me curious to learn more. I’d started to think that maybe he wasn’t as hard and rough as he wanted people to believe. Underneath that gruff shell, I got the sense he’d been hurt and was just trying to protect himself, but I could have been way off base.
Alana spit out her coffee when I told her what happened. I partially blamed her for suggesting I bathe in the creek, but she didn’t seem to care. We’d just hung up when I stepped out onto the front porch.
The sun had gone down, and the first stars were starting to dot the dark sky above. I loved everything about living on the mountain, but this time of day was becoming my favorite. The birds were quiet, and a comfortable stillness settled over the cabin like a fluffy, favorite blanket.
I eased onto one of the lounge chairs and tilted my head back to look up at the sky. There was still so much to do to get my business up and running. I had big dreams, but also had the drive and determination to make them happen. I’d met a contractor at the building my grandfather left me downtown. He was working on plans to transform it into the retail space and wellness retreat area I’d envisioned. There would be plenty of room for the yoga classes I wanted to teach as well. Things were moving along, and I was starting to think of Mustang Mountain as home.
A sharp snap of a twig disrupted the peacefulness. I sat up, immediately alert. Though I hadn’t seen any bears or other wildlife since I’d moved in, there were warnings all over town about being bear aware. The goats had been herded into their shed for the night. That meant I’d be the most appetizing creature on the menu if some wild animal was looking for a late dinner.
A man’s voice mumbled something too low for me to hear. My heart hammered faster and harder until I thought it might burst right out of my chest. I slid off the chair and crouched low. If I could make it inside the cabin, at least I could lock the door and call for help.
But who would I call?
I’d moved to the top of a mountain. It took me a good half hour to make the drive into town. Even if I called the police, it would probably take fifteen minutes to get to me.
I turned to face the direction of Shaw’s cabin. A soft, distant light filtered through the trees. Whether I liked it or not, he would be my best bet.
A dark shape slipped past the edge of the porch. I saw a flash of white teeth and the glimmer of two yellow eyes. With my heart in my throat, I crept toward the front door. Inch by inch, I eased the screen door open just wide enough to slip inside. I didn’t dare turn on any lights since I wasn’t sure if whoever was out in the woods was after me or just looking for a cabin to rob.
I closed the front door and flipped the deadbolt. Then I rested my back up against it and fired off a quick text to Shaw.
I didn’t keep track of how long it took him to get there, but it seemed like only seconds before the front door shook as he pounded on it and called my name. “Eden, are you okay?”
I’d never been so happy to see someone in my life. I got up and flung the door open. He stood there in a pair of gray sweats that hung low on his hips. His chest was bare.
“What happened?” Concern etched parallel lines into his forehead as he studied me with those dark, pine-colored eyes.
I pushed the screen door open enough for him to come inside, then fought the urge to bury myself against his chest. “Did you see anyone? I was sitting out on the front porch, and I heard someone walking around the cabin. Then there was some animal. I swear it must have been a bear or a lion.”
“Stay here. I’ll go take a look.” His hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed. He probably intended for his touch to bring me comfort, but I was too on edge.
“Be careful.”
He nodded and pulled the door closed, leaving me standing in the darkness alone. I kept an eye on him through the windows, traveling from room to room to track him around the perimeter of the cabin. When I heard him step back onto the porch, I opened the front door and flipped on the outdoor lights.
“Did you find anything?”
He filled the doorway, so tall the top of his head almost brushed the frame. “There’s a set of fresh footprints leading to the creek. They were almost as big as mine, so I’m assuming they weren’t yours.”
I followed his gaze down to my feet. “No, not mine.”
“There have been a few break-ins around the area. Unless you can think of a reason someone would be snooping around looking for you, I’d assume that’s what they were up to. Hades probably scared them off.”
“Who’s Hades?”
Shaw whistled and patted his leg. A huge gray animal hopped onto the porch and nuzzled his cheek into Shaw’s hand. I backed away, terrified of the giant beast.
“It’s okay, he won’t hurt you. My friend Jackson saved him as a pup and now Hades is more town mascot than wild wolf. He keeps an eye on things around here.” Shaw bent down and ruffled the fur behind the wolf’s ears. “You can pet him if you want.”
I shook my head.
“Maybe next time.” Shaw stood and Hades bounded off into the darkness. “Let me get you a glass of water or something. You’re as pale as a ghost.”
I’d felt the blood drain from my face and could only imagine what I might look like. Following Shaw toward my kitchen, I tried to swallow the lump that had lodged in the back of my throat. “These break-ins, have there been a lot of them?”
He pulled open a couple of cabinets until he found where I kept the glasses. “A few. The sheriff has a couple of leads, but none of them have turned up anything yet. Do you want water or something a little stronger? I’m pretty sure Leroy used to keep a bottle of whiskey around here.”
“I think something stronger,” I said, slumping into a chair at the kitchen table.
Shaw took the seat next to me and set two tumblers and a bottle of whiskey on the table. He poured a finger’s width into each glass, then handed me one.
“Here, take a sip of this.” He held up his glass and tilted it toward me before taking a long drink.
“If there was someone looking for me…” I started.
Shaw lowered his glass, his eyes locking onto mine. “Are you running from something, Eden?”
“Maybe. I had a partner back in Asheville. We started the company together, but when things started going well, we couldn’t agree on how to move forward, so I left.” That was the best way to condense a very complicated history. Shaw didn’t need to know any more. “I can’t imagine he’d follow me all the way to Montana, though.”
“What kind of partner?” His voice came out low and gruff.
“Business. He wanted more, but that wasn’t going to happen.” I lifted the tumbler to my lips and poured a generous amount of whiskey down my throat. It burned, almost as hot as my face. Seemed I was always blushing around Shaw.