decided to join me. It was obvious that he was comfortable with all the people there and I just know they were listening in because they can’t seem to resist the gossip. Since I want him to feel comfortable opening up to me, I know that he couldn’t do it there.
So, I pack up my things, and we go out to the parking lot.
‘Where is your car?’ he asks, scanning the lot.
‘My cabin is not too far so I walked here.’
What I don’t tell him is it’s because I currently don’t have car insurance and can’t afford the gas back and forth. Or there’s the fact that my car has two flat tires. I’ve considered selling it and socking the money away for my own place. Jana thinks that she knows someone who would be interested in it.
‘Well, my truck is right there. I’d be happy to give you a ride or we can both walk.’
‘Thank you. I’d appreciate a ride.’
A small smile crosses his face like he’s glad I chose to allow him to give me a ride.
When I follow him to his truck, he even opens the door for me which, to be honest, shocks the hell out of me. None of the guys my mom ever dated opened the door for her. Closing the door behind me, he walks to his side of the truck and I start to realize that he might be one of the good guys. But at the same time, a girl like me doesn’t get lucky and end up with someone like him. So I remind myself that I need to enjoy him while I have him. Not that I have any claim to him at all.
Sure, he’ll be nice to me and everything, but eventually he’ll move on to someone much more suited to him. Someone who can at least afford to keep their own car in shape and running.
After giving him directions to my house, he parks in the driveway. Well, he parks in the dirt in the front of the yard that has been used as a driveway. Though my car doesn’t go unnoticed by him. He takes a quick glance at it but then turns his attention back to me. While I wait for him to ask about the car, but surprisingly, he never does. When I look over to Mrs. Tipton’s house, I can see that she’s inside, so there’s a chance that she might not even see me bring Cash home. But whether she sees him or not, she’s going to want all the details.
My cabin is small. It has a little living area just big enough for a couch and a TV with a view out to the front yard. The kitchen area is tiny, with a peninsula, large enough to hold two bar stools. It’s perfect for just me. Though once we’re inside the house, with Cash here and how big he is, everything looks miniature.
Cash sits on the couch while I go to the refrigerator and grab a pitcher of sweet tea and a couple of glasses. After bringing it back out to the living room, I set it on the coffee table.
‘This is sweet tea. If you don’t want it, I do have water. Mrs. Tipton next door refuses to drink sweet tea, but I’m from the South and we drink sweet tea like it’s water.’ When I sit down next to him and reach for the pitcher, he stops me. Instead, he pours me a glass before pouring himself one. Then he takes a hesitant sip before taking another.
‘I’ve never had sweet tea before, but this is really good,’ he says with a small smile. ‘What other differences are there from where you grew up to here?’
‘The biggest one is the mountains. The closest thing we had down there in southern Georgia was really big hills. North Georgia has mountains, but I never really got up that way. Here there are no southern accents, so it makes mine stand out. It makes me kind of a novelty around town, and I think people ask me questions just to hear me talk. Places around here are a lot more pet friendly. There are dogs in almost every building and that wasn’t allowed down there. Oh, and there are huckleberries here. Even though I absolutely love huckleberries, I do miss being able to find a peach tree anywhere and pick one for a snack. The heat in Georgia is no joke, especially with the humidity.’
I stop myself from continuing to ramble because I could go on. There isn’t a lot that I miss back home and there’s so much more that I like here in Montana, and I don’t want him to think that I don’t like it here.
‘There are wild huckleberries growing up on the mountain,” he says. On our property, we have many of them. My favorite days were going out and picking them with my brother because he’d let me eat them as we picked, and I could have as much as I wanted. We’d bring the rest home and make some canned jams, and he’d always that night a fresh huckleberry pie. I love going for full hikes and seeing the leaves change in the cooler weather, so I knew come fall it was always time to go pick the berries. I guess that’s why it’s one of my favorite times of the year.’ His smile drops, and I know that he’s thinking about how his brother won’t be able to go with him anymore.
‘If you want to go collect huckleberries this year, I’d be more than happy to go with you. I know it’s not the same as your brother, but we can start some new traditions.’ He looks at me, and the expression on his face is almost too hard to read. There’s a hint of pain there and I know the death of his brother is still new, but there’s something else that I can’t quite put my finger on. But I’ve never been all that great at reading people, anyway. He offers me a small, forced smile and nods his head.
‘You’ve shared a lot about yourself, so I guess it’s only fair that I tell you a bit about me,’ I say, trying to lighten the mood.
‘You don’t have to tell me anything that you don’t want to,’ he says.
‘I know, but you’ve been so open with me that I figure I should at least return the favor.’ He gives a short nod of his head and then when he looks at me, I know I have his full attention.
‘My mom was a single mom. She says that when my dad knew about me, he turned around and bolted. After that, she’d never seen him again, nor did she have any strong desire to track him down. Even though my mom worked, she was the kind that did the bare minimum of what she had to as a mother. We lived in a suburb of Savannah, not a good suburb either. In our tiny house, my bedroom was more like a closet. Whether there would actually be food at the house was hit or miss because she would spend any extra money past the rent on drugs and whatever new boyfriend she had.
Early on, I learned how to take care of myself. I guess the one nice thing about her was that she never cared about my comings and goings. She didn’t care what time I got home or if I even came home. In fact, sometimes I think she’d rather I didn’t because it would be one less mouth for her to feed. Fortunately, I had a really nice neighbor who helped watch out for me, taught me how to cook and take care of myself, and helped me with my homework. In return, I’d help babysit her kids for some extra money. When I was sixteen, I picked up a waitressing job, saved all my money, and as soon as I graduated high school, I was able to buy a car with the money that I saved and I left.’
His eyes stayed on me the entire time I was talking. Because he’s paying attention, it makes me want to share whatever I want. Now, for some reason, it makes me want to share more.
‘Living out of my car, I took some odd jobs here and there. Then one day I saw a poster at the library for some classes to become an editor. Since they were free, I signed up. I built my business while I lived in my car and kept traveling. When I crossed into Montana, I stopped at the visitor’s center and there was one lone pamphlet for Whiskey River and it just seemed to call out to me. So I made my way here and fell in love with the area. I’m grateful that I got really lucky on this place. But to rent here, it’s expensive, and my budget is tight so I use the Wi-Fi at the cafe instead of having my own. I walk instead of using my car, but I am here in a space that is completely my own and I’m standing on my own two feet and that’s all I ever wanted.’
‘I know the major thing my brother taught me was to live off the land as much as possible. Not having to depend on other people is something I like. In spite of all his faults, he did teach me that.’
While he’s talking, I study Cash. Even though he’s a bit awkward, I like that about him. He’s unapologetic which makes him really easy to be around.
‘So, you’re pretty self-sufficient up there on the mountain?’ I ask because I want to keep him talking.
‘Yeah, we rely on very little that we have to get in town. But when my brother got sicker, I started to need some of the conveniences that Axel’s wife would bring up to me. My brother trusted one person to manage his earnings and pay the bills, but otherwise, we handled everything ourselves. I hunt, fish, and can fix just about anything on our property. With Phoenix’s assistance and with his help, I was even able to get satellite internet out there. Now what I don’t know, I can easily look up and figure out.’
‘I had a friend in high school whose family used to take me hunting with them,” I tell him.
‘Well, I was planning to go this weekend, and I’d love to have company if you want to join me.’
‘I’d love to, but I don’t have anything to hunt with or any hunting gear.’
‘I’ve got plenty at the cabin that you’re welcome to use. And I’ll come pick you up in the morning.’
‘I’d like that.’
After he leaves to go home, I’m left thinking about him all night. But now I get to spend an entire day with him. It’s my hope that his inviting me means he wants to spend more time with me like I want to spend time with him.
I know the mountain men in these parts prefer to be left alone, so I doubt he invites many people, if anyone, up to his cabin.
I’m honored to be going and if I’m nervous and slightly scared as well. The last thing I need in my life is a man, but for some crazy reason, the only thing I want in my life right now is him.
