A Reason to Kill (Reason #2) (8 page)

Pulling onto the access road that would take him up the mountain and to their base camp, he did a double take when he saw Mia pass by heading back into town. No one else seemed to be in the Jeep, so his jealousy spiked thinking she might be ignoring the bears for Hunter.

Making a U-turn, he headed back into town right behind her. When she pulled into the only gas station, the town had, he pulled in behind her and got out heading towards her Jeep. Ripping open her door, she looked surprised to see him, but that surprise didn’t last long as her face pinched in anger, a lovely shade of rage tinting her skin.

“Save it, I don’t want to hear a word you have to say,” Mia hissed as she climbed out of her vehicle and then headed to the back. Before she opened the back hatch, she wheeled around and pointed at Donald leaning in, “If you touch me again, I swear I’ll take an axe to your head.”

The gas station attendant had walked out during this exchange and was now listening, keeping an eye on the situation. So, he lowered his voice and bit out “Cut the crap Mia, I wouldn’t have hurt you if you hadn’t tried to pull away.”

“You cut the crap, Donald. I can’t believe you went behind SIOZ’s back,” she shouted back.

“One night with Hunter and you’re already forgetting your priorities. Did you or did you not sign on to protect the bears?”

She rolled her eyes as she opened the hatch, pulling out a gas can and moving towards a kerosene pump. When they reached it, she grabbed the nozzle, shoved it in the can, then turned on him and bit out, “Our priorities do not include putting people out of their homes. We work with the community and educate them to live in harmony with nature, not kill a town putting its people on the streets. Jesus, Donald, what were you thinking?” Mia yelled him.

“Calm down, I’ll explain everything when we get up the mountain.”

“Oh, no, if you’re going up the mountain, then I’m going home. Newsflash, Dickhead, not only am I opposed to what you’re doing, I’ll fight you tooth and nail to make sure you don’t succeed.”

“So, one night in bed with that mindless Neanderthal has you overlooking your commitment to the bears?” He snapped.

“God, you’re such a man, you think everything revolves around your dick.”

“Just admit you’re only having a fit because you slept with him.”

“I’m having a fit because you’re an asshole.”

“Admit you slept with him,” he roared and then took a step towards her.

Mia jerked back a step when he shouted, unease settling in her gut. However, she’d had enough of his power play, enough of his jealousy, and decided to go for the throat.

“I’ll admit that one night with that man would likely make any woman forget her life’s calling, get the picture?”

Seething, feeling sick to his stomach hearing her confirm she’d slept with Hunter. He took some comfort in knowing her outburst served a higher purpose other than crushing his hopes of a reconciliation. Now he had another witness, the gas station attendant, to confirm she would do anything for Hunter. If she caused him trouble, and he knew she would, he had an ace in the hole to use against her with the board. However, right this minute, he had other problems to deal with.

Hunter had pulled into the adjacent parking lot and was currently making his way towards them while they argued. He’d had to push Mia to get her to answer before Hunter reached them and the way her voice carried, he’d heard it all and was bearing down on them unbeknownst to her. He may have lost her to this overgrown caveman, but he wasn’t walking away without slinging some mud of his own.

“Well done, Hunter. You managed to get in her pants in one night when it took me three. Tell me, did she make that little mewling sound when she came?”

Closing my eyes as Donald spoke I knew without looking what I’d find behind me. I should have punched Donald myself for his childish behavior, but I was too busy thinking about hopping the next flight out of Trails End to care. How long had he been there? How much had he heard?

“You slept with this ass-wipe?” Max clipped in my ear.

Panicked about what he might have heard and praying to God the next flight left in five minutes, I whipped around to explain but caught my toe on the concrete. Then, because God hated me, I slammed into his chest as I stumbled forward. Max had caught me before I slid to the ground so I opened my mouth and babbled like an idiot.

“I plead insanity to whatever you just heard. In fact, just forget all about it and I’ll be on my way. Does Curly work on Saturdays?”

“He has dreadlocks for Christ sake,” Max growled ignoring me. I thought that was an odd reply so I defended my stupid actions.

“What does his hairstyle matter? You wear flannel; you don’t see
me
judging
you
for wearing flannel.”

“He looks like a hippie.”

“And you look like a lumberjack what’s your point?”

Max’s brows shot up and he looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. Then he bit out, “Jesus, please tell me you don’t sit up on that mountain smokin’ pot and singing Kumbaya.”

“How should I know, I’ve never camped before in my life. If they do, they won’t pass their drug test at work.”

His jaw tightened for an instant, then he sighed in exasperation, what he did not do was let go of me much to my relief and horror.

“Did I hear you say you’d go to bat for this town?”

“Of course, I don’t agree with what he’s doing,” I answered as I tried to back out of his arms, but he tightened his hold when I pushed back.

I couldn’t believe my luck. All I wanted to do was get in and out of town unnoticed, but, no, hell no, I managed to find both objects of my fantasies. One I fantasized about killing and the other, for lack of a better visual, I fantasized about licking from head to toe.

“I thought SIOZ was behind this?” Max inquired breaking me from my thoughts of Wet Max and dripping water.

“NO! SIOZ would never support a position that shuts down a town to save a species. Why would you think that?”

“They may not agree, but that won’t stop me from doing what needs to be done, you can count on that, Hunter,” Donald interrupted.

On that threat, Max let go, moving me to his side and slightly behind him, putting his large frame between Donald and me.

“You know when a man throws around threats in my home, he’s no longer welcome. I suggest you take your agenda to close down this town and get the fuck outta here. You’ve worn out your welcome.”

“Are you gonna beat me into leaving?” Donald bit out.

“Nope, not unless you lay another hand on Mia.”

“I didn’t “lay” a hand on her in the first place, she overreacted.”

Overreacted? I don’t think so.

Pissed off, I tried to move around Max but he stopped me with his large arm, pushing me further behind him.

“I got a dozen witnesses who say otherwise. In this town, we don’t tolerate women bein’ manhandled. If you don’t leave, I’ll call Chester and have him remove you by way of jail.”

“You’re bluffing.”

“Learn this quickly, I don’t bluff. You get your ass out of my town by tomorrow or Mia will be filing a report,” Max growled.

“I’m here to collect research on public land. You can’t stop me from doing my job,” Donald answered arrogantly.

“Not anymore, leave or go to jail, your choice.”

Then the battle of wills began for about a nanosecond. One was large and very, very pissed and the other was a piss-ant who recognized quickly he needed to leave, so he left.

God, I can’t believe I slept with that piss-ant.

“I’ve decided I’m being punished for some past-life transgression,” I mumbled as I watched Donald drive away.

“Past what—you know what, never mind. I’ve lived around my mother long enough to know better. You gonna be all right with that asshole till he leaves?”

“You should be asking him that, not me. I’m so pissed right now I could kill him for you.”

Max chuckled as a crooked grin tugged at his mouth. Then he reached up and tugged my ponytail as the grin spread to a dazzling smile. Caught off guard by the somewhat flirty move and blinding smile, I lost myself in his eyes as he stared back at me.

“You want this tank in the back of your Jeep,” Max finally asked.

“Please,” was all I croaked out since my center of gravity seemed unsteady. When he took the Kerosene to my Jeep, I watched him as I tried to gain my bearings. But the visual of him in those Wranglers wasn’t helping.

Gah, that man had an ass.

After I had paid for my purchase, Max helped me into my Jeep, then leaned against the door as I started my engine.

“Thanks for defending me, Max. That’s twice today, you’ve come to my rescue.”

“Least I could do since I made you forget your life’s calling.”

“Shit, you heard that?” I whined.

“Uptown girl, half the town heard that, your voice carries,” Max grinned.

“Of course, they did,” I sighed, “could you point me to the nearest mountain so I can throw myself off?”

“Which part?” he asked oddly.

“Which part?”

“Which part of last night was life changing?”

“I remember your boots.”

Grinning, he leaned in closer and asked, “You don’t remember kissin’ me?”

Whispering now, I replied, “I didn’t kiss you.”

“You sure about that?”

“No.”

“You get tired of hangin’ out with bears and singin’ around a campfire, come down I’ll buy you drink. Maybe then, you’ll remember kissin’ me.”

I dipped my head for a moment because he unnerved me, made my heart race, and generally made me an idiot in his presence. When I didn’t answer, his grin grew wider at my discomfort so, of course, color rose in my cheeks. Then he winked, tugged my ponytail, and headed back towards his truck. Shit, definitely time to employ operation “Evade and Hide” . . . right after I watch his retreating backside.

Dressed in a blue and black flannel shirt with tight Wranglers and work boots, I decided right then and there that I loved flannel. In fact, I would never look at flannel the same way again, or Wranglers. I’d definitely been missing out on Wrangler clad asses.

The drive back took no time and I cursed up a storm when I saw Donald’s vehicle parked at the entrance.
He’d better keep his distance when I got back or I’d feed him to the bears.
The climb up the ridge was much slower with the heavy kerosene. I was in shape, thanks to my home gym, but dead weight was dead weight, I had to stop every few minutes and rest. It was darker on the path this time around, the sun was lower and the shadows felt darker more ominous.

When I was halfway up, I had to pee, so I looked for a bush to hide behind. As I scanned the forest, my eyes caught on what looked like someone lying on the path further up. Squinting, I moved closer as the shapes of arms and legs became clearer. Assuming someone was hurt, I ran the rest of the way up until I recognized it was Donald.

“Are you hurt?” I shouted, but the blood on the ground had my heart racing in fear. When he didn’t answer, I kneeled down beside him and with a shaking hand, rolled him face up. Nothing in my life had prepared me for that moment. You think in the face of something as horrific as a violent death that you’ll shut down, become immobile. The truth is, you become hyper-alert.

“Oh, God, oh, God, HELP ME!” I shrieked when I saw his face.

In the center of his forehead was a large gaping wound that penetrated into his brain. His eyes were open with a blankness to them, his mouth relaxed, his lips blue. “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit,” I chanted searching the forest for help. Then cold fear weaved its way up my spine, shutting down all my senses but one, my hearing. When a twig snapped behind me, my breath caught and I listened. The faint sound of deep breaths being pulled quietly into lungs told me I wasn’t alone. Afraid to turn and face the killer my fight or flight instinct kicked in. Without thinking, I bolted west off the path as the sound of someone in pursuit froze my blood. Panicked, I hadn’t paid attention to my surroundings as I ducked limbs and pushed through foliage so thick it cut my arms. Then the hair on my neck rose suddenly and I knew the killer was a whispered breath away. So, I flew under a limb and broke through some bushes into the bright sun from the forest darkness, screaming for my life. Fear kept my legs moving when I should have stopped, but I kept running into the blinding light, kept right on running off the edge—to the rushing river below.