Waiting until he disappeared around the corner of the cottage, I checked the trail map for a relatively short hike. Looked like there was one just a couple hundred yards ahead. Based on the map, I estimated the whole hike should take me less than an hour and wear me out enough to come back and sleep through the rest of the morning.
I took a sip of water and set off again, invigorated by the fresh mountain air. Birds chirped from the tree branches, and I caught a glimpse of bright blue sky overhead. The mountains of Montana were a world away from the Chicago skyscrapers I’d left behind.
I thought about what my ex-co-workers might be doing right now. Probably fighting traffic on their way in or out of the city or sweating their butts off on a coffee run. I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t miss it. But I couldn’t stay. Not after the stunt my boss pulled that turned my whole world upside down.
Feeling sorry for myself wasn’t going to solve anything. I looked around for something bright and beautiful to pull me out of my funk. A cluster of pink wildflowers bloomed in a clearing just off the trail ahead. I stepped through the long grass to reach them and snapped a few pictures, trying to line up a shot to get the mountains in the background.
“Can’t you read?” A gruff voice snapped from the edge of the trees.
I turned toward the sound, all of my senses on high alert. The flannel-clad mountain man I’d seen outside the cafe stood a few yards in front of me. Muscular arms covered in tattoos crossed over his broad chest and the edges of his lips turned down in a scowl.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I probably should have been scared, but my gut told me he wasn’t interested in hurting me. I’d always trusted my instincts before. Now would be a really bad time for them to fail me.
“I asked if you can read.” He pointed to a No Trespassing sign nailed to a tree. “I’m assuming you can’t, since you clearly didn’t pay any attention to the signs I posted.”
“I’m just stretching my legs and taking a few pictures.” I waited for him to speak, but he stared at me like I’d just committed a felony instead of overlooking a few signs. “I’m staying at The Huckleberry?—”
“I know. Nellie told me.” Irritation rolled off him. Nellie hadn’t been kidding when she said he was a grump.
“I’m Joely.” Hoping a smile and a handshake might thaw the iceberg in front of me, I moved closer and stuck out my hand.
He looked at it for a long beat, then reluctantly gripped my hand in his. “Thatcher.”
Goosebumps popped up along my arms as we touched. His palm felt rough against mine, like he worked with his hands for a living. For a split second, I imagined what they might feel like running over my skin. Then he pulled his hand away. The scowl returned, though slightly less scowly. Maybe I was making progress.
“Do you live around here?” More curious than alarmed, I wanted to learn what I could about this man who had the power to make me feel things I hadn’t felt in a very long time… things I had no business feeling in the mountains of Montana.
He shook his head. “I’m not doing this.”
“Not doing what?” He acted like I’d offended him, but all I’d done was ask a question.
“The property line’s back there.” He jabbed a thick finger toward a tree a couple dozen feet behind me. One of his No Trespassing signs was nailed at eye level. “You stay on that side and everything will be fine.”
If he hadn’t looked so serious, I might have laughed. “So much for small-town hospitality.”
He didn’t respond. Just stood there with his arms at his sides like he was waiting for me to retreat and leave him alone.
“Fine.” I put my hands up and backed away. “Relax, Paul Bunyan. I’m not here to steal your axe. Just wanted to find a good trail to walk off some of Nellie’s stuffed French toast.”
His frown faded just a smidge. “There’s a trail behind Nellie’s cabin that’ll take you to a private lake. Just follow it until it splits and stay to the left. You can’t miss it.”
“That wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
His eyes narrowed. “What?”
“Acting like a human being instead of a tree stump.” I flashed him a grateful smile and turned around to head back the way I’d come. I’d save my hike for another day. My interaction with the grumpy lumbersnack had already worn me out.
CHAPTER 3
THATCHER
Helping Nellie set up her menagerie of animals during the Farmer’s Market Kick Off was my personal version of hell. She always asked me for favors during my weakest moments, like right after she dropped by with a fresh huckleberry pie or when she crashed Friday night trail suppers with the guys and brought along enough homemade chocolate chip cookies to last us all night.
I couldn’t remember when she’d strong-armed me into helping this time, but I had a long record of being sweet-talked by Nellie. Pretty much everyone in town did.
“That should do it.” Nellie brushed her palms against her jeans. “Just holler if you need me.”
We’d just finished setting up the portable pens and getting all of her four-legged and feathered friends settled. The other vendors were still busy unloading trucks and setting up their stands. I figured I had about fifteen more minutes before the early birds arrived and started wandering around the vendor stalls. That gave me just enough time to grab a cup of coffee to go and head out of town.
