Elowen smiled. “No offense taken. From the back, I know I look like a guy. Short hair and all. It serves me well out here when I’m alone.”
“You must be the owner of the cabin.”
Elowen nodded. “I am.”
“We love the place. I’m Nichole.”
“I usually go by El. That way, people don’t know I’m a woman out here alone. Name is Elowen.”
“Did you build the cabin? It’s beautiful. I’m Danika.”
“Nice to meet you. And no, I didn’t build it. I bought it a few years ago and did some renovations.”
“Well, what you did in the bathrooms is freaking amazing,” Danika said.
“I’m Asher. The place is wonderful.”
“I’m Amelia. And they are right, it’s perfect.”
“Oh, you’re the one who contacted me. Your men will be here tomorrow, right?”
Amelia nodded. “Yes. We’re looking forward to having them here. Though it’s nice to have these few days together.”
“I bet. Well, if you women need anything at all, my cabin is just up that way. I don’t advertise that bit because I don’t want people knowing I live close and, like I said, alone.”
“I can’t imagine living out here alone. I’m Rowan.”
Elowen smiled at them then shrugged. “I’ve made a name for myself as a badass who will beat the shit out of people who try to assault me. The locals know not to cross me.”
“Well, you’re brave,” Rowan said.
She snorted a laugh. “Or crazy.”
They all laughed. She liked this group of women. They weren’t pretentious, and they were kind.
Before the women walked off, she pointed out the berry bush. “If you all want pie, there are so many blackberries on these bushes they’ll rot before I can use them. Feel free to come out and pick.”
“Thank you,” Danika said.
“How much will we need?” Nichole asked.
Elowen held up her bag. “A bag like this should be enough.”
“Good. Thank you,” Nichole said.
The women headed down the path and she finished picking berries, thinking about how good the pie would taste. She had some work to do this afternoon, but she was looking forward to a long weekend with nothing but baking and reading on her agenda.
Since moving out here, her life had slowed down. Some days she missed the hustle, but times like this, when she could wake up early and pick berries then make a pie with her haul, made her realize she had everything she wanted…which was mostly the truth, but having a good man would be nice. She shoved the thought away and focused on her surroundings and not her lack of a decent lover.
Chapter 4
He didn’t goto town often, but when Jenkins did, he hated the stares tossed his way. Most people thought he was odd and steered clear of his path, but some of the older teenage boys tried to goad him into fights or trick him into doing something stupid and illegal. Now he was older than them and smarter, too. Before he turned thirty, he would have fallen for their shit, but he was too smart for that. He kept to himself, ignoring their taunts and was better off for it.
Normally he wouldn’t travel into town so soon after he’d just been there, but he’d wanted to see her again. She wasn’t around, though. He didn’t see her truck in any of the lots or on the street.
Going by her place again so soon would be dangerous. The last thing he wanted to do was alert her that he’d been watching before he was ready to have her come live with him. Had she seen him the last time he’d driven past? He hadn’t meant to be so obvious, but sometimes his impulses won, and he acted first then thought about the consequences.
Rumor around town was she didn’t live in that big cabin, instead she lived behind it. He should go out at night and figure out where she lived. Maybe he could set up some cameras.
