Caught by the Blizzard: A romantic winter thriller (Tellure Hollow Book 1) (7 page)

“Great job, Liz. Less than a day and you’ve managed to get into three arguments with two different guys,” I whispered, my breath coming out in a white cloud. “Fresh start, my ass.”

I pulled out of the lot onto the quiet street. It was a little past midnight and anyone who wasn’t at the bar was fast asleep in bed. Not wanting to go home and face yet another fight with Noah yet, I decided to drive around. Tellure Hollow was literally a one stoplight town. I wondered what it was like during the summer. Did the mountain pull in people during the summer months or did it get even quieter?

With the massive mountain looming over the place, it was impossible to get lost. I turned right and left, navigating around the quiet streets until I thought I should probably make my way back to the cabin. As I turned left onto a road that led back to Main Street, I immediately noticed the bright glow of a pickup’s red taillights. They looked odd, tilted strangely. My lights streaked across the backend as I turned and I saw the front driver’s side tire was stuck in a ditch. I squinted at the scene, slowing as I passed. I didn’t see anyone around but judging from the burned out patches of road, the driver had tried to gun it out and failed.

I saw movement in the cab and my heart started racing as I realized the driver might be hurt. It was obviously a fresh accident, maybe they’d hit their head? I pulled alongside at an angle, shining my headlights on the crooked truck. Rushing to the passenger side, I banged on the door.

“Hey! You need help in there?” I heard a groan and a little movement but no response. The engine was still idling, the exhaust filling the light with a smoky haze. I had to really pull at the heavy door to open it. As soon as I spotted the driver, I let out a loud groan. Bryan’s drowsy eyes met mine, a bright trickle of red blood flowing from a cut on his head. I nearly shut the door and walked away.

“It’s you,” he slurred. His smile was the only thing that stopped me from leaving him there to freeze. It was so genuine, like he was actually happy to see me. Still holding the door open, I looked down the street and ran through my options. I could leave him, but he might die of hypothermia. I could knock on one of the houses…

“I’m gonna pull your truck out with the Jeep. Turn the wheel towards me.” With his head lolling, he tried to pick up a hand but didn’t even make it half way. “Turn the wheel towards me.” I used my dad’s voice, stern, no-nonsense. It seemed to get through the fog of inebriation. Bryan lazily pulled the wheel to the right and I concluded I was correct about the ex-soldier evaluation. “Hold onto it while I tow you out.”

I walked back to the Jeep and moved it around to face the truck. I took a little joy in seeing Bryan blink and shield his eyes from the bright lights. “Serves you right,” I glowered. I jumped out, detached the winch, and got on my knees cursing him the entire time. I hooked it to the frame and climbed back in the driver’s seat. Slowly, I reversed until the line went taut. Keeping the speed steady, the Jeep easily pulled the truck from the ditch.

After putting everything back, I opened the passenger door again. “You can drive home now.”

He scoffed, looking at me with one unfocused eye. “To California? No chance. I’m too wasted…”

“You don’t say.” The neighborhood seemed safe enough and the truck was now parked on the side of the street. He might get a ticket but it’s the least he deserved. His head rolled back onto the seat with a brief snore. “Bryan!”

“Wha…?” he jerked up, blinking repeatedly.

“You’re coming with me. Come on, get out. You can’t sleep here and if you can’t tell me where you live…”

He slid down the bench seat towards me, nearly falling out of the cab. I steadied him against the side of the truck before reaching in and grabbing the keys. I tucked them into his pocket, briefly distracted by how firm his thighs felt under the cold denim. Once secured in the passenger seat of the Jeep, he started to laugh.

“What is it now?” I snapped.

“You’re the Superman now. Super
woman
!
You
saved
me
.” I smiled despite my annoyance. His head rocked forward, chin resting on his chest. Thankfully, he remained quiet for the short trip back to the cabin.

I pulled the Jeep into the heated garage, parking next to Noah’s green Hummer and red pickup. I’m not sure how, but I managed to get him upstairs and into the house. Everything was quiet and dark, mostly. There were noises coming from the opposite end of the hall near Noah’s room, Kayla probably soothing his wounds. I hadn’t quite thought through what might happen if he found Bryan in the house.

I put my arm around his back and guided him towards the living room. He might’ve been a rude asshole, but he made for a very pliable drunk. He fell backwards into the black leather sofa, sinking in with a groan.

“Stay. I’m gonna see if there’s a First Aid kit around here.”

After searching all the bathrooms, I finally found the red plastic case under the kitchen sink. I wet a paper towel in the sink to clean up his cut. Flipping through the supplies as I returned to the living room, I didn’t notice Bryan had already passed out.

“I don’t think you’re gonna need stitches but I don’t want you bleeding on—oh,” I gasped. He’d taken his shirt off and was fast asleep, snoring softly. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the massive scars running down his left shoulder. They weren’t fresh but obviously not very old, the scar tissue still red and raw. I let my eyes roam across his lean, athletic body. I bit my lip as I noticed the small patch of hair disappearing into the waist of his jeans. That’s how I spotted the other scar.

Checking quickly to make sure he was completely asleep, I crouched beside him. A similar red mark to the one on his shoulder peeked out a few inches above his belt. My fingers reached out to touch it, wanting to trace the red line down until it disappeared beyond the waist of his jeans. He stirred a little before I touched him, causing me to pull back quickly. I wondered what sort of accident he’d been in. Maybe something from the deployment? I glanced at his face and thought,
Who are you?

There was a strong jaw beneath that unkempt beard. He had crazy long eyelashes and his full bottom lip begged to be sucked. I pressed my own together, resisting the temptation. After wiping the blood away from his forehead, I could see the cut more clearly. It was small and easily covered by a bandage.

“Definitely not the worst injury you’ve ever had, huh?” I said to his sleeping form. I brushed a curl of brown hair from his forehead and he stirred again.

“Thank you, Superwoman,” he mumbled. He rolled over, facing the back of the sofa. I wanted to lie down beside him, nuzzle into the valley of his spine, and go to sleep. Instead, I grabbed a blanket and tossed it over him, thoroughly confused by my first day in Tellure Hollow.

____________

In my exhausted state, I’d forgotten to draw the curtains over before I’d gone to sleep. The early morning sun reflected off the snow, throwing bright light into my room. Even with the heavy covers pulled over my head, I still couldn’t get to sleep. I gave up and laid there, staring out the windows at the serene forest.

I thought about Bryan in the other room. What was I going to say to him? Was I still even angry with him? I held onto grudges like it was a hobby but really, how was he to know my implants were a sore subject? It wasn’t that I wanted a boyfriend or even a fling. I just hated that I kept fucking things up with him at every turn. It didn’t bode well for any future relationships if I couldn’t remain at least civil with someone new.

Throwing my arms above my head, I stretched and let out a long yawn. I quickly threw on some clothes and went to check the living room and sure enough, he was gone. The blanket was nicely folded. There was an indent from his hand on the top where he must’ve patted it. Tentatively, I put my hand in the spot, spreading my fingers wide to fit. I noticed a note scrawled on a torn piece of paper beside the pillows and blanket.

Didn’t want to wake you. Sorry about last night…I can explain if you want…or not.
Thanks for taking care of me.
B

Living in the cabin was actually great. I could feel the tension and stress from the previous few months just slipping away. Everything that’d happened with Rick, the life I’d fallen into when I was in Ashville…it all started to feel like a terrible dream. Everyone in the cabin, including Noah, worked during the day. I spent the days exercising, watching movies, playing around with my photos in Photoshop. With every passing day, I felt like I was closer to finding myself. There’d been a little tension when Noah had come home early one day, but with everyone around he didn’t make a scene. It was obvious he wasn’t too pleased with me living under the same roof, though. Kayla tried playing peacemaker but the chances of us acting nice were slim.

Kayla hadn’t actually gotten around to taking me to the lodge until a week after I’d arrived. Early one morning, she came running into my room and jumped on my bed.

“Wake up! You’re coming to work with me today,” she said bouncing on her knees. “We got over a foot of snow last night, so it’s a perfect time to make a video.”

As much fun as I was having enjoying time to myself, I was beginning to understand the term “cabin fever.” I was ready to get out for a little while, get a change of scenery. I sat up on my elbows, wiping my face with one hand. “Okay, okay. Coffee on the way please?”

“Already brewing.” She skipped off the bed and stopped short at the door. “Dress warm. We’re gonna be outside today and you’re my camera woman.”

I was really starting to feel at home in Colorado. A few days before, Kayla and I had driven over an hour to shop at the smallest mall I’d ever seen. The trip was pretty much all for me. In typical Kayla style, she’d bought all her winter gear from designer stores before she arrived. She looked every inch the snow bunny; furry collared hoods, matching hat and scarf sets. She even had a pair of knee-high winter boots with three-inch heels she was currently wearing.

“Are you seriously going out in those?” I giggled as she went clicking out of my room.

“What?” she’d replied, kicking her heel up behind her like a cheerleader. “I figure I can spear the snow like an ice climber.” I had to hand it to her, she rocked the hell out of them. Even though I had the money for all that stuff, I was happy with my more practical choices. With a groan, I rolled out of bed and got dressed.

____________

“It’s too high,” I said, shaking my head. I backed away from the window of the gondola, rocking it as I sat. “It’s just way too high.”

“It’s a mountain,” Kayla laughed. “I didn’t know you’re afraid of heights.”

I looked out the side window, the angle of the car roughly the same as the steep hill we were climbing. My ears popped as we rose in elevation. Skiers and snowboarders dotted the trails in the distance, barely more than ants on a hill. “I’m not afraid of heights. This just doesn’t feel right.” I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to calm my breathing. “Just talk to me about something. Distract me.”

“Okay…how did you get your parole officer to agree to you coming out here?”

My eyes popped open. “Anything but that!”

Kayla shrugged. “I’m just curious, that’s all. I guess after everything you told them about Rick it’s the least they—”

“Seriously, stop. I’ll fling myself out of here if you keep talking about it.” Not that I’d actually do it, but even the threat made my stomach clench. I gripped the edge of the seat with my gloved hands, my eyes pleading with Kayla.

“Alright.” She rolled her eyes. “We should go over what I’m looking for then. Your job is really simple. Make me look gorgeous and keep everything in focus.”

“Won’t be a problem.” I locked onto her, my eyes wanting to pull to the windows as if they had a mind of their own. “I saw a few of your videos online. You do a good job, they’re hilarious actually.”

“Ugh, it’s such a pain in the ass to do it by myself, though. I have to use a tripod and record like, triple the amount of footage because for sure some of it will suck.” A little twinkle popped into her eye. “I want this video to really catch Mr. Richards’ attention. If this internship is gonna be worth anything, he needs to know my name.”

“That’s Noah’s dad, right?”

She nodded. “He’s some kind of trillionaire or something. Bought this mountain as a little pet project for Noah, I think. But he owns businesses all over the world. If I can get his attention, maybe I’ll be running a social media department for a big multi-national after I graduate.”