Later, when she was in her bed, she closed her eyes and replayed their first kiss. And the one after that, stolen by Stone Hickman in the doorway of her room before he gave her a gentlemanly smile and loped off down the hall.
What a day this had turned out to be. She curled into fetal position with her arms wrapped around a pillow. He hadn’t asked to come in, and she was glad. As much as she would have liked to have more kisses, she wasn’t ready to sleep with him.
Since the assault, her relationship with sex had been complicated. Her last boyfriend had grown weary of her erratic behavior when it came to their physical life. One day, she was fine; the next, memories of that night pushed aside any pleasure. After that boyfriend, she’d had a brief affair with her costar in a play who turned out to be married. She’d had no idea until his wife showed up to opening night. She’d rewarded him with a candlestick prop over the top of his head. The next day, the director had fired her. Men like that always stuck together.
After that last disaster, she’d sworn off men for a year. The year had stretched several months past her promise. Frankly, she’d been happier without the hassles of trying to figure out what the man of the month wanted. They were a lot of work. Curling up at Maggie’s with a good book proved to be a lot more satisfying than chasing some idiot simply because she needed validation that she was lovable.
But Stone Hickman was a different man all together. He wasn’t like anyone she’d ever dated. She knew even without discussing it that he would wait until she was ready to take it to the next level. Thanks to her friends’ big mouths, he knew about the assault. She suspected that made him even more gentle and careful of her feelings.
When she’d told Dack and her mom about what happened, they’d been heartbroken. She almost wished she’d kept it from them. For years afterward, they’d called her every night before they went to bed. Home at holidays, she’d catch them watching her, looking for signs of distress. She’d developed a mask for them as well as Lisa and Maggie so they would believe she was fine. She hated that they worried about her, grieved for her. The men had hurt more than just Pepper. They’d also caused pain to the people who loved her.
Her phone buzzed on the side table. Would it be Stone? Maybe Dack? Sometimes he texted her from the East Coast when he couldn’t sleep, knowing it was three hours earlier for her. The man was a texting maniac.
It was Stone. She smiled at the screen.
Hey. You still awake?
She texted back.
Yes.
Just wanted to say good night. And say thanks for the best day I’ve had in a long time. Maybe ever.
Ever? That seems like a stretch.
Only if you’ve never had a Pepper Shaker in your life.
She giggled as she typed a response.
You probably say that to all the girls.
Never. Only you.
She sent back a smiley-faced emoji. How did a girl reply to a man so outrageous?
Another text came in from him a second later.
Would you like to meet at nine for breakfast before heading up to the house?
Sure.
Great! Good night, beautiful. XO
Night. XO
She curled back around the pillow and closed her eyes. Minutes later, still smiling, she fell into a sound sleep.
Chapter 13
Stone
* * *
The next morning, after a breakfast at the lodge coffee shop, Stone ushered Pepper into the car. No sooner had they pulled out of the driveway than it began to snow. They drove through town and turned up the mountain road as the sky dumped snow, thick and fast. The flakes were enormous, like an inch in diameter.
Pepper pressed her hands against the dash. “Should we drive in this?”
He’d asked the locals at the coffee shop about the snow warning. They’d brushed his concerns aside. Snowplows were as regular as clockwork, they’d assured him. A guy behind the newspaper had told them that the forecast said that it would snow for about an hour this morning. All clear after that.
So they’d set out, figuring locals knew what they were talking about. He wasn’t so sure now.
Pepper wrinkled her nose, her head moving to the rhythm of the windshield wipers. “These flakes are huge. Like blizzard huge.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
She pulled out her phone. “I’m checking the weather app. Maybe that guy didn’t know what he was talking about.” A few pecks with her thumbs later, she looked over at him. “It says it will stop by eleven and turn to rain.”
“Great. We’ll be fine.”
They drove another mile through the white curtain of snow, unable to see more than a foot in front of them. He gripped the steering wheel. Despite all the missions where he’d driven an AAV across all kinds of dangerous terrains, he was nervous. Pepper was precious cargo. He swallowed to unplug his ears. How high up did this guy live, anyway? Would they be able to get down the mountain? In the twenty minutes since town, at least three inches had accumulated. This might be a bad idea. Too late now, dummy. You’re halfway up this monster of a mountain.
Pepper made a little sputtering sound with her mouth. “We lost service. No bars.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and handed her his phone without taking his eyes from the road. “What about me?”
“Nothing.” She placed his phone in the cup holder between them. “We’re almost there, right?”
At this point he was driving about fifteen miles an hour. They hadn’t seen another car since town. Did the locals know to stay off the roads? A spasm of fear crawled up the back of his neck.
With his teeth gritted, he continued up the hill. Just when he’d almost given up of ever getting there, Pepper let out a little squeak and pointed out the window. “There’s the sign.”
“Thank God.” He slowed and turned into the driveway. The car zigzagged. He steered out of the slide and spoke reassuringly. “Don’t worry. I’m good in the snow.”
Pepper stayed completely silent and still with her hand gripping the handle above her door.
Do not let her know you’re nervous. He unclenched his jaw.
Driving about five miles an hour, they inched down the driveway. It had obviously been snowing for longer up here than in the lower elevation. There was a good foot of snow on the ground.
Finally, the house emerged. It was massive with thick beams and a long porch, and the roof was completely covered in snow, other than the two stone chimneys. He parked the car in the driveway and looked over at Pepper for the first time since they left. Her skin had leached of color, and she’d bitten off all her lipstick. “You all right?”
“Yes. You did very well. I wasn’t at all worried.” She gave him a tremulous smile.
He reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
She brushed his cheek with the fingers of one of the gloves. “You didn’t scare me. The mountain and snow are a different matter.”
“We’re here safely. I just don’t know how we’re getting back down this mountain.”
Her eyes widened but she didn’t say anything, simply reached down to her lap and tugged her hat over her head.
“Wait there. I’ll open your door.” When he stepped onto the ground, his boots sank into the soft, dry snow. The thick forest around them was quiet and perfectly still. He caught a whiff of woodsmoke.
After he opened Pepper’s door, he offered his arm. “Hold on tight. I don’t want you falling on my watch.”
She pressed his arm tighter against her side. “I’m a little freaked out.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be fine,” he said as they traipsed across the driveway, sloshing through snow.
“Do you think we can get back to town?” Her voice sounded thin and high.
“I’m not sure.” He squinted up at the sky. Several flakes landed in his lashes.
“I hope Mr. Lake’s nice,” she said. “And doesn’t mind a few houseguests.”
When they reached the snowy steps to the porch, he dropped her arm and took her hand instead. “These could be slippery.”
Once he had her safely on the porch, they took a moment to look back at the yard. At least an inch of new snow already covered the top of his car. He turned away and banged the heavy knocker on the front door. They waited. He knocked again. Another minute passed. No one came to the door.
“Oh, there’s a doorbell too.” Pepper stepped forward and pushed the button. A loud and rather long chorus of notes played behind the door.
They waited. Still, no one came.
“This is weird.” She wrinkled her nose and rubbed her gloved hands together.
“It’s also strange that he didn’t call back to warn us about the snow.” It had obviously been snowing longer and harder here than in town.
“Do you think he’s okay?” Pepper asked. “Try the door. See if it’s unlocked.”
It was. He opened it wide enough to stick his head through. “Hello. Anyone home?”
No answer. He stepped aside so Pepper could precede him. He followed closely behind. She gasped when she saw the magnificent front room. Picture windows looked out to a frozen pond. Soft rugs and comfortable couches and chairs arranged around a stone fireplace invited lazy afternoons and family time doing puzzles.
“There’s a fire,” Stone said. “He’s here. Somewhere.” No one left a fireplace unattended unless they were planning on returning.
A tray of cheese and crackers was laid out on the coffee table, as though someone expected visitors. He strode over to the windows and looked out to the yard. A red hat lay in the snow. A thin layer of ice covered the pond. Stone drew in a deep breath. His chest tightened. Had Mr. Lake fallen through the ice?
“There’s a hat,” he said.
She joined him at the window. “We have to look for him.”
Without further discussion, they jogged across the room and outside, where their pace slowed considerably. They trudged through the snow and around the side of the house. Finally, they arrived at the hat. He examined the ice over the pond. There didn’t appear to be a crack. He sighed with relief. Stone turned in a circle, scanning the rest of the land. There was a woodshed to the right of the house.
His breath made a cloud in the cold air. “Let’s check the shed.”
He moved through the snow as quickly as he could, wishing he had snowshoes. When he reached the shed, he called out, “Hello. Anyone here?”
No answer. Pepper arrived, slightly out of breath. “Try the door.”
He did so. Locked.
That was when they heard a faint moan. It was the sound of someone in pain. “Hello?” Pepper called out, her voice remarkably loud and resonant.
“Where’s the sound coming from?” Stone did another full circle, but the heavy falling snow made visibility dim.
“There,” Pepper said. “Do you see?”
He followed her gaze. About a hundred yards from the house, a lump, almost covered with snow, lay prone on the ground. The house had blocked it from their view when they arrived. “It’s got to be him. He must have fallen.”
Stone set out with wide strides impeded by the snow. He tripped and fell. Scrambling upright, he trudged forward until he reached the fallen man. Faded blue eyes looked up at him.
“Mr. Lake?” Stone asked.
“Yes.” He moaned, as if speaking had made the pain worse. “I fell. I think I broke my leg. Hurts too much to get up. I’ve been out here for hours.” Mr. Lake closed his eyes. “I’ve been praying you guys got here soon.” He wore heavy boots and a jacket, but he was shaking, either from shock or cold.
Stone knelt over him. “Don’t worry, sir. I’m a former Marine. I’ll get you inside the house. Which one is it?” He assumed it was his right leg, given the awkward angle of the lower leg.
“Right one,” Mr. Lake said. “Shinbone, I think.”
“I’m going to do this as gently as possible.” He scooped his arms under Mr. Lake and lifted him easily out of the snow. Mr. Lake was a small, slender man. Not more than a buck fifty if Stone had his guess.
Stone took a few steps until Mr. Lake cried out.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lake. Just hang in there. We’ll get you inside and comfortable.”
Pepper stood a few feet from him with her gloved hands over her mouth, her eyes wide and frightened. “What should I do?” she asked.
“Go ahead of us and open the front door.”
She turned and trudged through the yard on her long legs.
Mr. Lake shuddered in his arms but made no more moans of pain as Stone followed Pepper. It seemed like a mile but was probably only a hundred yards. He took the steps as carefully as he could but managed to jostle Mr. Lake nonetheless. Pepper was there, holding the door open. Stone went through sideways. The last thing Mr. Lake needed was his leg slammed against the doorframe.
“Where’s your bed?” Stone asked when they were inside the warm house.
“Down the hall. First door on the left,” Mr. Lake said, faintly.
Stone, happy to walk without the cumbersome snow, moved quickly across the broad living room to the hallway. Again, he did the sideways maneuver to get his patient inside.
A king-size bed, a chair, and a large dresser were the only furniture. Pepper had run ahead and pulled back the top covers. Stone placed the broken man on top of the sheets.
“Can you ease out of that wet jacket?” Stone asked.
A flash of pain played across Mr. Lake’s face as he pulled one arm, then the other, out of the jacket. Stone reached behind him to slip it off his bony torso.
Pepper leaped forward to untie his boots and gently tugged them off Mr. Lake’s feet.
Stone peeled his gloves from his hands and shrugged out of his own jacket. Outside the window, snow continued.
“Should we call 911?” Pepper sneaked another pillow under Mr. Lake’s head, then tucked the down comforter around his shoulders.
Mr. Lake grimaced. “There’s no way anyone’s getting up the road. I didn’t figure you two would make it. If I’d been inside, I would’ve called to tell you not to try. This storm came out of nowhere.”
He and Pepper exchanged a look.
“Mr. Lake, on a scale from one to ten, how’s the pain?” Stone asked.
“I’d say a seven,” he said through chattering teeth.
“Do you have any pain meds anywhere in the house?” Stone asked.
“There’s some Advil in the medicine cabinet. And maybe a few pills from my shoulder operation last year.” Mr. Lake indicated the door across the room with a point of his chin.
“I’ll get them.” Pepper sprinted across the room while shedding her coat.
“You have any booze?” Stone asked. “That’ll warm you up and take the edge off.”
“Sure. Bar in the living room has whiskey and vodka.”
Stone left him to search for a whiskey and a glass. He wouldn’t mind one for himself, but he needed a clear head. It was up to him to set the man’s leg.
The liquor cabinet had glasses and several bottles of whiskey. He poured a generous amount into a tumbler before returning to Mr. Lake.
Pepper had him propped up on some pillows and was just taking a glass of water from Mr. Lake’s trembling hand when Stone returned. “I gave him a few of the prescription ones,” she said. “They’re just really strong ibuprofen with a splash of codeine. My dad’s a doctor,” she said to Mr. Lake.
“Drink this.” Stone set the tumbler in Mr. Lake’s hand.
“Don’t tell my daughter-in-law.” Mr. Lake managed a smile, then downed at least half the whiskey. “She’s always lecturing me about drinking and painkillers, like I’m some pill-popping maniac.”
“This is a unique circumstance,” Pepper said. “But she’s not wrong.”
The muscles in Mr. Lake’s face had started to relax. He drank the rest of the whiskey. By then, he’d stopped shivering.
“I need to take a look at your leg,”
Stone said. “You all right if I cut your jeans?”
“It’s either that or have you yank them off me, and I can’t say that sounds super right now,” Mr. Lake said. “Not in front of this beautiful young lady.”
“Where do you keep your scissors?” Pepper asked.
“There’s a pair in the kitchen in the knife rack,” Mr. Lake said. “Nice and sharp.”
Stone poured Mr. Lake another finger of whiskey and encouraged him to drink it. His patient didn’t argue.
“Good call on the booze, son.”
Pepper reappeared with a pair of scissors. “Will these do?”
“Sure.” Stone took them from her, then crossed over to the window and pulled back the curtain. “How long after a blizzard before they clear the roads?”
“Depends on the blizzard,” Mr. Lake said. “But this is Colorado. They’re equipped for this kind of thing. Might be a day or two, but it’ll happen. Only danger is if it freezes.”
He turned back to look at Mr. Lake and Pepper. She’d moved to the chair, still for once, other than clasping and unclasping her hands.
“Do we just wait it out?” Pepper asked.
“No other choice,” Mr. Lake said. “We’ll be comfortable here. I’m stocked up on food and booze. You two can make yourselves at home while we wait for the snow to stop and then the plows to make it up here.”
Stone drew back the covers and set to work cutting the jeans off at the knee. He muffled a curse at the sight of the broken fibular bone pushing against the skin of Mr. Lake’s skinny shins.
“How bad is it?” Mr. Lake asked.
“I’ve seen worse,” Stone said. “I’ll put a splint on it until we can get you to a doctor.”
“Do you know how to do that?” Pepper asked.
“Sure. I had a lot of training in the military for this kind of thing.” He flashed her a smile and flexed his hands together like an athlete preparing for a weight-lifting competition. “I have many talents you don’t yet know about.”
“I’m sure,” Pepper said.
Mr. Lake guffawed, albeit faintly. “You two mind curtailing the flirting until after you’ve got my leg in a splint?”
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