Summer on the Mountain (21 page)

“Jarrod,” she murmured, “I’m so …”

Her words seemed to spur him into action.  Suddenly, he reached for her, pulling her roughly against him.  He held her so tightly she could scarcely breathe.  When he spoke in her ear, his voice was rough and haggard.  “You could have been killed, Summer,” he moaned.  “Oh, God, I could have lost you.”

Relieved that he apparently wasn’t angry with her, and warmed by the emotion in his voice, she leaned weakly against him.  Suddenly, she realized how close she had come to meeting her maker and her eyes filled.  She swiped at the tears threatening to spill over.

Suddenly, Jarrod thrust her away from him, glaring into her eyes.  “
You could have been killed, Summer!
  What the heck were you doing in those woods by yourself?”

She was taken aback by the sudden shift in his manner.  “I …,” she sniffled, but couldn’t manage to complete a coherent sentence.  To her horror, she burst into tears instead.   

Jarrod groaned and gathered her against him, this time crooning in her ear.  “You’re all right.  Everything is all right,” he soothed.  “Let’s get you inside the cabin.  And let’s keep you there,” he added ruefully.

Inside, he deposited her on the couch.  Summer suddenly felt cold.  She shivered and he wrapped a throw blanket around her shoulders before dropping onto the seat beside her.  She turned to him, determined to explain herself.  “I … I …went huckleberry picking and suddenly, two little cubs turned up.  I remembered watching a television program … in which the narrator said that when cubs are close, a mother is nearby and … then I heard a growl, but then I couldn’t get back to the cabin because the growl came from that direction, so I hurried into the forest and began running…”

“Where were you running to?”

“I wasn’t running
to
anything.  I was running
away
from the bears.”

He sighed, leaning forward and turning his head to watch her through weary eyes.  “Do you know how close you came to…?”

She nodded.  “I know.  I’m an idiot.”

“I didn’t say you’re an idiot,” Jarrod said.

“You’re thinking it.”     

He quirked a smile.  “Admittedly, going up there alone wasn’t the brightest thing you could have done, but you had no way of knowing you’d find a bear family up there.”

“I should have prepared for any eventuality,” she said in measured tones.

“Well, I’m not sure how you would have prepared for that.  But, I do believe I mentioned to you that you should never go anywhere alone, nor should you go trudging around these woods without telling someone where you’re going.”

“But I only planned to go as far as the huckleberry bushes.”

“And how’d that work for ya?”  He scrubbed at his jaw, and then pinned her with his eyes.  “Why didn’t you take the pepper spray with you?”

She sniffled, and felt her eyes filling again.  She’d forgotten all about it.  The reality of her near demise came crashing down on her head.  She began crying and Jarrod groaned before pulling her into his arms.  He held her for several moments, but broke away when the radio on his belt crackled to life.  “Honey, I have to take this,” he said with weary resignation.

He rose and she straightened, determined to stop her blubbering.  If Jarrod was still angry, he still managed to call her honey.  That had to be good.

Summer heard a voice she didn’t recognize speak to him through the radio.  The voice indicated he was needed back at work immediately.  He snapped the radio back on his belt and turned to her.  He wagged a finger in her direction.  “Don’t … go … anywhere.  If you must go for a walk, stay on the path around the lake.  Please.”

She nodded numbly and stood up.  “Okay.”

“Summer, I don’t know when I’ll be back.  Will you be all right?  Should I call my mom and have her come up?”

She straightened her shoulders.  “No.  I’ll be fine.  I’m sorry I went off by myself.”

“I know.  I’m just thankful you’re alive to tell the tale.”              

“Me too,” she murmured. 

Jarrod took a step toward her, kissed her gently on the lips, and then without another word, walked out the front door.

***

Two days passed and Summer hadn’t heard a word from Jarrod.  Deciding to keep her mind and hands occupied, she rose early to begin painting, gathering her supplies on the front porch. 

As she began applying color to the canvas, she revisited her near death experience.  What the heck had she been thinking going off alone?  She realized that until her escape from the mother bear, she hadn’t truly viewed the mountaintop as rife with danger.  Jarrod had tried to warn her, but she had been so entranced by its beauty, it hadn’t sunk in.  Well, it sank in now. 

She wondered, was he disgusted with her for her stupidity?  Had she embarrassed him in front of his coworkers?  And most of all, she wondered, was she cut out for life on the mountain?

Why would she even presume she belonged up here?  Was she harboring some fantasy she and Jarrod might have a future together?  After her seventy-five-yard dash down a mountain road with bears on her heels, and with witnesses to her stupidity at the finish line, she suspected Jarrod would likely weigh her and find her wanting.  She wasn’t equipped to live the life he loved.  She’d proven that many times over the past weeks.  Living on the mountain was a pipe dream!

In truth, she had begun to think she really might want to remain here—perhaps even find a place of her own.  She envisioned herself painting from her own mountaintop cabin and selling the artwork at Gwendolyn’s gallery.  It was a fanciful notion, about as practical as trying to outrun an angry mother bear while wearing hiking boots.  She had no business on this mountaintop.  She thought she had but … she had been wrong.

The point was driven home moments later when she heard a strange sound behind the cabin.  She snatched up a rag and wiped off her hands.  She hurried down the front porch steps and out back behind the cabin. 

Had she just seen a human shape dart across the lawn?  She glanced around fearfully, wondering what she should do.  She stood as still as a statue, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

She heard the low sound of a motor.  Her ears perked as she strained to discern the various forest sounds around her.  She heard birds and then what she suspected were human voices, speaking in hushed whispers so close to her that goosebumps rose on her arms. 

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she spied a man run across the back of the property and then disappear again. She heard an engine rev and then the sound faded into the distance.

She shook her head, wondering what had just happened.  Clearly, someone had been on the property.  But why?  Any valuables were inside the cabin, and no one had attempted to break in.  At least she hoped not.  Quickly, she checked the back door, but it remained locked.  She considered calling law enforcement, but decided to do some sleuthing herself before bothering them. 

Cautiously she strode out to the back of the property, her eyes widening when she spotted deep tire ruts in the soft soil.  She glanced around her, wondering how a vehicle had managed to maneuver through the thick trees.  She studied the terrain, realizing a truck could drive through, provided the driver was both skilled and careful.

She placed her hands on her hips, wondering why a truck would pull onto the property.  Glancing around, her eyes lit on something large and brown lying on the forest floor.  She hurried to see what it was and when she reached it, she screamed. 

The bull elk that had been at the salt lick only days before lay on a bed of pine needles.  Its rack of antlers had been sawed off.  A deep gouge had been carved into its underbelly, as if the poachers had begun cleaning the animal but had been scared off before they could finish.    

Summer’s knees went weak and she dropped to the ground.  She sucked in air, attempting to revive herself.  Her heart drummed in her chest, her breaths coming in gasps.  She attempted to steady herself by breathing deeply and evenly, and she finally calmed herself enough to assess the poor, slaughtered creature.

Reverently she studied the elk, reaching a gentle hand to stroke its side.  The poor animal!  It was dead and it was all her fault.  If only she hadn’t put out the salt licks.  This beautiful animal would still be alive.  

She rose and walked slowly into the cabin and placed a call to the Sheriff’s Office.  She couldn’t bring herself to call Jarrod.  She had been responsible for the death of a beautiful animal, and for that reason, she could scarcely imagine facing him.  What would he think of her?

Soon, a deputy she didn’t recognize showed up to take a report.  He advised her he would call other local authorities needing to be apprised of the situation.

Once done talking to the officer, Summer packed her clothing and toiletries, and carried them to her car.  She carefully gathered her painting supplies and stowed them in the trunk.  She gingerly placed the paintings in the back seat, propping each carefully so as not to damage them, and then closed the door.  She hurried to the back of the car again and closed the trunk with a bang that echoed across the property. 

She stood for a moment, staring at the cabin that had been her home for several weeks.  She turned to look at the lake.  Its pristine beauty called to her still, but she couldn’t answer the call.  She didn’t belong here. 

In a short span of time, she’d managed to put herself and others in jeopardy, had endangered animals—not to mention the horror that had befallen the elk because of her stupidity.  No, she didn’t belong here.  She probably never had.

Chapter Sixteen

“Doesn’t it just figure Leonard would be out of town when you return with your gorgeous paintings?” Gwendolyn said, as she and Summer sat eating lunch in the gallery business office.

“When do you expect him back?” Summer asked.

She shrugged.  “Who knows?  Business trip.”  She waved a hand dismissively.

Summer glanced around, her eyes lighting on the lake painting she had done, that was currently propped against the wall.  Gwendolyn had decided to keep the paintings stowed at the gallery until she could safely hang them in Leonard’s study at home.  The two women intended to do just that in a couple days.

“You seem blue, Summer,” Gwendolyn observed sadly.

She attempted a smile.  “I’m fine.”

“You miss the mountain.  You miss…”  She narrowed her eyes speculatively and Summer watched her curiously.  “You miss Jarrod,” she said with a certainty in her voice.

“I…”

“You just try to deny it,” she challenged with a knowing chuckle.  “I know a woman in love when I see one.”

She shook her head.  “I…”  She shrugged.  “I … can’t deny it.”

“I thought so!” Gwendolyn said triumphantly.  “So call him!”

“I’m not calling him,” she said sadly.  “I messed up, Gwendolyn.  Thanks to me, a beautiful bull elk is dead.  Thanks to me, more animals might be in jeopardy.  I’d be surprised if Jarrod ever speaks to me again.  My stupidity has caused him problems more than once, if you want to know the truth.”

Gwendolyn watched her speculatively.  “Jarrod loves you.”

She shook her head sadly.  “I thought he might, but…”  She sighed loudly, and her eyes clouded.  “He loves his mountain and the wildlife even more.”

“More than you?” Gwendolyn scoffed.

She nodded sadly, certain she was right that Jarrod had washed his hands of her when he had learned about the slaughtered elk.

“Then he’s a fool,” Gwendolyn said angrily. 

Summer sniffled, attempting to smile through her tears.  “He’s not a fool.  I am—for thinking I might actually belong up there.”

“But you do!” Gwendolyn cried.  “My goodness, Summer, you actually
liked
it there.  You didn’t want to leave, did you?”

She shook her head.  No, she hadn’t wanted to leave, but she felt she had no choice.  Among other things, she had nearly gotten herself killed attempting to outrun an angry mother bear.  She hadn’t mentioned that to Gwendolyn, and opted not to, since if anything demonstrated that she didn’t belong on the mountain, it was that incident.  It was better to change the subject, to leave things alone.  She was home in the city, back to the gallery, and back to real life.

She rose suddenly.  “I should get back to work.”

“Honey, sit down.  There’s nothing out there that can’t wait.”

“I need to keep busy,” she admitted.  “I need to keep my mind occupied, otherwise…”

Gwendolyn nodded sympathetically.  “I understand.”

Summer paused at the threshold of the door.  “Gwendolyn, how is he?  Have you heard from him?”

She shook her head.  “I haven’t, Summer.  Is it possible he’s still on his stakeout?”

“He could be,” she said, and then returned to the gallery floor.

Gwendolyn watched her friend walk away, bereft, and her heart tugged.  She decided to place a quick call to Jarrod.  What was wrong with him anyway?  He loved Summer.  It was clear to her that her son had finally found the right girl.  Who knew Summer would prove to be a woodsy gal?—that her most valued employee, a polished and professional gallery associate, would feel more at home in the woods than in the city?