Thunder Snow (Thunder On The Mountain Series) (13 page)

“Like a little mother hen. Get on with ya now and get what ya need. I’ll be heading out in a few. Folks keep showing up fer a cooked meal ta take home or I woulda been done long time ago.”

“Do you need anything? Can I drop it off on my way up?”

“Nah, ‘preciate it, but I’m all stocked up. This one’s s’posed ta be a Nor’easter, so get on outta here.”

“Will do. Love ya, Sam.”

“Ya sure can make me blush. Now get on down the road . . .”

There was a definite spring to my step as I got supplies for a few days. Normally prepared, I had not replenished because I had known I wouldn’t be around, but it was a joyful rush knowing Jack and I would be spending the next twenty-four hours together, at least.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

W
hen I set the grocery bags on the counter, there was an exquisitely carved box that looked like it had been made out of burled black walnut. “What’s this?" I asked Jack, who was loading the bin with firewood.

“Just a little something I thought might help us to pass the time if we get bored.”

“Yeah, like that’s gonna happen,” I smiled. “May I open it?”

“Be my guest.”

What was inside was the most exquisite chess set I had ever seen.

“Do you play?” he asked when he saw me standing there motionless?

“I’m almost afraid to touch them,” I said reverently, removing a Knight from its specially designed resting place.

“Look at the hair on this horses head, Jack. It’s so intricate and curly. I’ve never seen anything like these pieces. The Queen is magnificent. Wherever did you find them?”

“I made them,” he said. “They’re made from black walnut and bass wood. The board’s made out of the same woods,” he said, sliding it out of its hiding place.

“NOW what has you crying, little one? Are you always this sentimental?” he teased.

“Wherever did you get the idea for them?”

“For so long now it’s been just me and the carnival of my mind. Kinda like Scott down at the Carousel. I figured my pieces could look anyway I wanted them to. They didn’t take me twenty-five years, but his carvings are life size. I had an advantage that mine were much smaller.”

I looked at him, then gently touched the pieces. I knew I was being foolish, but I wasn’t able to stop. “Jack, this isn’t just about the amazing talent that would enable you to be able to do something like this. Or the patience it would take. It’s about the heart that went into making them. They are incomparable. Once again, the words don’t exist in my vocabulary that would allow me to adequately describe how these make me feel. It’s almost as if they’re real, as if they have personalities of their own, each of them an individual.”

I could tell he was pleased with my response. He put his arms around me and said, “We’ll play after dinner. If you don’t know how, I'll teach you.”

“My dad and I used to play while my mom was sick. We would sit in her room for hours, quietly, just to be there with her. Chess is a fond memory.”

We spent hours playing that night.

“Best two outta three?” he asked, after each of us had won thoroughly enjoyable games.

“The snow is piling up and it’s almost midnight,” I said, not being able to control my yawns. "Shall we let the winner be decided tomorrow? It’s not like we’re going anywhere else.”

“We are always on the same page – about everything. Tomorrow it is.”

Falling asleep in his arms that night, I was sure I had never been more content in my entire life. “I love you, Jack Franklin,” I whispered as my last conscious thought.

He squeezed me in acknowledgment. The next thing I knew, the sun was up, but the snowflakes were still falling furiously. Jack was under the covers, tenderly fondling my nipple with his tongue.

“Is there anything you don’t do to perfection?” I asked, still mostly asleep.

“I’m not sure. But let me know if I do something that doesn’t please you.”

I could feel his smile against my chest with his morning growth of beard, feel his hardness throbbing against my leg. I wanted to grind against him, but I wanted also to just be still, to enjoy. “I have just enough stubble to make you aware. Let me know if it’s too rough."

But I wasn’t listening. I was too busy moaning, moving, enjoying.

As we worked companionably in the kitchen that day, Jack said, “One of the things I love about you is how sweetly affectionate you are after we’ve made love. Not just right after, but all day. There’s a fine line between sweet and cloying, and you don't cross it. It’s a pretty endearing quality.”

“Thanks. Does that mean I’m better than a cigarette after?”

He touched my face, covering my lips with his. “You’re fun, not needy. I love our banter. Even my lips miss you when you’re not moving in sync with them.”

“I’m always so aware of you afterwards.” I was surprised he could still make me blush. "It’s so much fun, the tease mode we get into. In my dreams, I couldn’t have even imagined you to conjure you up.”

“You’re so much better than I deserve, little one. It’s hard to explain what you do to me. So often you keep me activated in a totally sensual state. It doesn’t need fulfillment all the time, it just is. You are always with me.”

Our days were full of captivating hours, our nights overflowed with magic. One morning after the snow had melted, I found a letter on the kitchen counter. His handwriting was precise and perfectly formed, and my heart raced with excitement as I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down to read what he had written.

Friend of my heart
– No matter where I am, you are with me. You have become such a part of me that I don’t know where I end and you begin. You are always just below the surface or overflowing. I don’t seem to be able to adequately express what my heart wants to tell you.

The first night you walked into Sam’s place, I felt the axis of my world shift. I didn’t want to be aware of anyone like that, but there you stood. My senses had alarms going off, and I knew in that moment my life would be altered. Every day I think I’m going to find you’re a dream I had, that you were something I wanted so much I imagined you. The remarkable thing is I had no idea how much I wanted what we have and now I realize how necessary it is to my survival.

Over the months I came to realize I am complete with you. You make me a better person. I had never considered I was empty until you filled me. Last night when we were lying in bed and you put your hand against mine, I thought it was symbolic of how we fit each other – where I have valleys, you fill me. Where I have peaks, I am able to fill in your blanks, making us a whole unit.

I love your tender heart. In my world, you are the most stunning human I have known. Not only do you rock my world with your physical beauty, but your compassionate and gentle spirit mesmerizes me. There has never been a moment I didn’t trust you.

There is no purpose here except to tell you what I never seem to find the words to convey. You are my world, Callie Weston. I’m not sure I was even living before you came into my life.

Knowing that Jack had appointments most of the day, I sent him a text with tears from an overflowing heart streaming down my face.

As long as I live, I will never tire of hearing your tender words. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Ten minutes later there was his familiar ding.
You are my world.

CHAPTER  TWENTY–FOU
R

S
everal weeks had passed. I had been working more than I wanted to in Denver. Business was great, but I wasn’t sure how many hours I wanted to dedicate to it any more. I had not yet turned thirty, and was finding that all of the things I thought I wanted paled in comparison to the time I was spending here. It wasn’t only with Jack, although he was certainly a major part of it, but it was also the people that inhabited this pleasant village, the carefree way of life. I was definitely getting used to it.

Needing a break from Contracts and negotiations, I grabbed my camera and, even though the weather was nice, I made sure I was well equipped with winter gear. I headed up to Lefthand Canyon, a place I had not yet visited. Parking my car at the trailhead, I texted Jack.

Going up to Lefthand and heading up towards Fireman Hill. If you don’t have anything better to do with your time, maybe we can reconnoiter at my place later. Should be back just after sunset.

As I was getting my camera bag out of the back seat of the car, his familiar ring indicated a response.

As long as you don’t mind a fully aroused, naked man lying on your couch when you walk in the door, plan on me being there.

With a snap in my step, I set off to film this enclave that was popular with ATVs and OHVs, determined to make it as far as I could to the top. I heard you could see not only the entire Front Range from there, but also downtown Boulder.

The lack of noise and the peace could be felt completely. I loved that I was alone out here. After making it a few miles, I saw a huge boulder off the beaten path at the edge of the woods. It was large enough to sit on to not only have a bite to eat, but hopefully to catch the majesty of the storm that now appeared to be coming over the ridge. The temperature was falling fast.

The boulder was considerably larger than it appeared from a distance. I circled to see if I could gain a foothold somewhere. I was on the side, examining it to see if I could climb it if I threw my equipment up first, when I saw someone approaching from the path I had just traveled.

Dammit. I’d have to sit it out for a bit to allow him to pass. Not only did I not want him in my photos, I also didn’t want to alert anyone to my presence since I was here by myself, and no one else appeared to be on the trail. I set the bag on the ground and pulled out my camera. Something registered in my spine that things were not right. What was it that was setting off my internal alarm? The approaching stranger walked with a degree of familiarity. Silently putting on my telephoto lens, I stayed as much behind the rock as possible while training my lens on the encroacher.

Dear God in heaven. It was Jason! I couldn’t move from my hiding place without alerting him to my presence, but it didn’t matter, I was frozen to this spot. I pulled out my phone to text Jack but no longer had cell service. I shot a few photos of Jason, just in case, and quietly packed my equipment and waited . . . and waited.

He was walking slowly. I was sure he was going to be able to hear the frantic beat of my heart. It was deafening in my ears, and I wondered if I would pass out from the frantic flow of blood through my veins. No, dammit, I was stronger and smarter and better than I had ever been, and he would not win.

As he got closer to the rock, I maneuvered to the back side. I could hear his footsteps above the roar of my pulse, and moved again as he came even with it. I switched sides of my stone protection as he passed. He didn’t appear to be aware of me as the sound of his footsteps grew fainter. I became conscious of how cold it had gotten and that there were huge flakes in the air. I knew I had to make a move. I couldn’t risk putting on my jacket, so I slowly edged my way to the tree line. Just as I got behind the tree, I heard a twig snap.

Frantically turning, I realized I was the one that had stepped on the small branch. Oh, God, please don’t let him have heard. I waited, but the howl of the wind drowned out any sound it may have carried. It appeared safe to run, so I did. Staying just inside the line of trees, I ran as fast as I could through the brush. I would slow down now and then to look, but he hadn’t come over the hill, and the snow was falling in earnest now. Any of my footprints that might have been left would be easily obliterated with the fast-approaching storm.

As I arrived back at the trailhead, I stayed behind the closest tree to my car until I was sure I could make it quickly and undetected to the driver’s door. Keys at the ready, no one anywhere near, I made a dash for it. There was only one other car in the lot, a car parked next to mine. I assumed Jason had rented one to remain undetected.

How had he known where I was? Did he know where I was living? Why hadn’t they told me he had been released? Would he follow me when he made it back to the car? Hands shaking from the cold and the adrenaline rush, I pulled the revolver out of my glove box, contemplating whether or not to shoot his gas tank. As I backed out of the parking space, I looked around anxiously, searching to make sure he wasn’t near.

Fearful that a shot would bring him running, I thought desperately of something else I could do to slow him down. This was not going to be a light storm, and I needed to get out of here. Pausing only another fraction of a minute, I grabbed a knife from the console. Daddy always said, “Never bring a knife to a gun fight, but if you don't have a gun, make sure you have a knife.” Since meeting Jason, I always carried both.

Making sure he was nowhere to be seen, I jumped out and knelt beside the back of his car on the cold, wet gravel. Gripping the handle tightly, I raised both of my hands above my head and shoved it with every ounce of terrified strength I possessed into his rear passenger tire.

From the comfort of my front seat, feeling somehow victorious, it took only a minute for me to watch the rear end of his car deflate with the tire. That would slow him down on the snow, but keep me from a murder charge if he froze to death in his car if he couldn’t get it started in this weather. At least he would be diverted long enough for me to get to safety.

The ground was getting thick with snow, and it was now sticking to the untraveled roads that led me to Nederland. This storm was going to be one for the records, and they hadn’t even been talking about it. The random thought occurred to me that there weren’t many professions, other than Meteorology, where you could be so wrong so often and still get paid for your work.

I was being careless with my speed and slowed as much as my racing heart would allow. I just wanted Jack. I knew that once I was in the familiar, I would be safe. What should have taken twenty minutes took me well over an hour. I was frightened.

It was my intention to go straight home but I saw Jack’s car as I sped past the diner. I felt like a madwoman, but I just needed him to tell me it was all going to be okay, just needed his sanity as I felt my world tilting. As the bell jangled, I saw them both standing there, just as they had been the night I met them. I knew I was safe. Jason couldn’t hurt me now.

“We were just coming to look for you. You weren’t answering your . . . what’s the matter, Callie? What happened?" Jack said, taking me by the shoulders.

Examining my face, he said, “Are you cold? Why are you shaking like that? What happened?”

“I’ll get her a blanket,” Sam said, and was immediately unfolding one and approaching me with it.

“He’s here. He found me.”

They exchanged looks, but didn’t need to ask who ‘he’ was. They both knew.

“Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?”

“No. He didn’t see me. I was isolated in the middle of nowhere, and all of a sudden, there he was. I hid until he passed by.” I told them the story as coherently as I could, all the while being soothed and petted by Jack.

“Did ya see him as ya left?” asked Sam, angry and pulling a shotgun from behind the counter.

“No, Sam. He hadn’t made it back to the car when I left. There was no sign of him. But he didn’t touch me. You can't go threatening him with a gun.”

“I don’t plan on puttin’ a bullet in his sorry ass . . . at least not yet. But I sure will put the fear a God in him. I ain't never gonna let no body put that look on my pun’kin’s face again . . . never.”

“Tell us exactly where he was. If he was the only one there, we should be able to follow his tracks.”

“Better yet, I’ll show you.”

Sam and Jack looked at each other and then at me. “No way” and “Absolutely not” came out simultaneously.

“Mornin’ Sun’s on her way over ta watch the shop. She was comin’ this way ‘cause we was gonna look for ya. We’ll head that way, ya stay here with her ‘til we get back. Don't even THINK about leavin’. She kin skin a pole cat ‘fore it even knows it’s been caught.”

Jack took me in his arms, kissing me on the forehead. “You’ll be safe here. Don’t go gettin’ all mule headed on me. Promise me you’ll stay here until we get back. I can’t be worrying about your safety while we’re gone.”

“I promise, Jack, but you have to promise me you’ll be careful. I’d kill him with my bare hands if anything happened to either one of you."

“If we find him, we’re just going to have a little ‘come to Jesus’ meeting with him.”

Sam chuckled and said under his voice, “Yep, he’ll find a whole heap a religion, that’s fer dang sure."

Morning Sun was pulling up as Jack and Sam got to the car. They spoke to her briefly, then backed out in Jack’s Land Cruiser.

We had never been around each other much, so I was nervous and excited to have some time together, just us girls, to get to know each other. We would both have a common worry as we waited. She came in and took charge. She bolted the door behind her, then drew all of the shades. She didn’t strike me as someone who was going to be doing a whole lot of worrying. That put me at ease.

“Take yer coat off and let’s make ourselves useful around here. I’ve been wantin’ to do a good cleanin’ on this place for a long time. Ain’t nobody comin’ in or goin’ out for a few hours, so we might as well put our time to good use.”

“I like the way you think, Morning Sun,” I smiled. “What a nice way to occupy ourselves while we wait."

“Friends call me ‘Sunni’,” she said, running steaming water into a big bucket. “You can call me that if ya want to.”

“I’d be honored,” I said, taking a sponge and starting at the back booth.

The next few hours passed in companionable silence with bursts of conversation. I told her the story of Jason and how I had gotten here. She told me the story of how she had raised a son single-handedly near here after her husband left her for the city lights . . . and a 25 year old girl.

By the time we heard a car in the parking lot several hours later, the Amber Rose was shiny and smelled like freshly squeezed lemons. I also had a new friend.

We waited in the kitchen to make sure no one would be knocking on the door. When we heard the key turn in the lock, we looked at each other with a smile of relief and headed into the seating area. Sam was genuinely surprised as he looked around.

“Woo wee,” he said, then let out a whistle. “This place didn’t even look this good the day I bought her.”

“We’ll talk about that in a few. What happened?” I asked anxiously, looking between Jack and Sam taking off their winter gear.

“Patrol shut down the roads on the back side of Boulder. Couldn’t get through. It’s coming down fast and furious, and I'm afraid the old son-of-a-bitch is going to hope he has a full tank of gas to keep him warm. He won’t be going anywhere with a flat tire in this mess.”

“Oh, Jack. Did I do something terribly wrong?”

He looked at me like I’d taken leave of my senses. “Are you kidding? I’m so proud of you for what you did! How could you think otherwise?"

“Because part of me felt like a chicken for not confronting him. I was seriously afraid I would shoot him, and that would have just caused so many other problems. He’s definitely not worth the trouble THAT would cause in my life."

“Listen, sugar,” interjected Morning Sun. “A smart person figures out a way to
avoid
a fight, not to see if you can be the victor
in
one. There’s no glory in bein’ dead ‘cause you wasn’t strong enough to win in a fight with an angry man.”

“She’s absolutely right,” Jack said, touching my face. “It would have been pure foolishness to have confronted him in the middle of nowhere.”

“Downright crazy,” said Sam.

“Okay, okay. I just want it to be over.”

“Ya got all us now,” Sam said, inclining his head towards the other two. “Ain’t one person that’s gonna harm a hair on yer head an’ live ta tell ‘bout it.”

“I’m gonna take her on home, Sam, Sunni.” Jack nodded at both of them as he led me out to the car.

Jack said, “Let’s take your car, just in case. Don’t want it sitting out here on this busy street for anyone to see. Not that it won't be days before anyone will be able to dig their way out.”

“Great idea. Thanks for doing the thinking for me. I’m afraid my brain feels like mush about now.”

“You’re entitled. As soon as we walk in the door at your house, I want you to hop into the pond. You’re shivering again."

I leaned over and put my head on his shoulder. “I can’t imagine life without you, Jack Franklin,” I said, yawning. "I am so thankful for you. From the bottom of my heart.”