The next thing she knew, her alarm was going off. She went into the kitchen to warm up the bottles and quietly entered the living room. Jack was already there with one of the fawns. “We’ve been waiting for our bottle.” She had to smile. He had a bad case of bedhead, and with those bruises and the bump on his forehead, he truly was a scary sight. She had a wicked desire to take his picture for blackmail purposes later sometime. She toyed with her phone.
It was as if he read her mind. “Don’t you dare do it. I will get even.”
Maggie started to laugh. “It’s just that I have rarely seen a worse case of bedhead. However, I won’t take a picture as it is so nice of you to help; we can get done in half the time and be back to bed before we know it.” She picked up a fawn and gave it the bottle.
“Are you going to name them?” Jack tried running his hand through his hair, which only made it worse. He cuddled the fawn closer to his chest.
“I suppose I should. Have you any ideas?” She was having trouble not laughing at him.
“How about Lucky and Snow?” He lifted the fawn he was holding and looked into its eyes.
“What do you think, Lucky?”
“Who’s Checkers?” Jack put the fawn back into his lap. His countenance fell, and his lips took a hard line.
“How do you know about Checkers?”
“Timber woke me up the other night. You were having a nightmare, calling out for Checkers to stop or something.”
“Oh, sorry, about that. He was my dog growing up. I haven’t thought about my him in years. ”
“What happened? Do you mind talking about it?” Maggie was interested.
“I was out camping with Checkers, and we could hear coyotes in the distance, but then they sounded close. One of them came into camp, and Checkers took off after it. I had not tied him up for the night yet. Coyotes lure dogs away to the pack.”
“I’m sorry, that must have been horrific. How old were you?”
“I was about thirteen; it was the year before I got my Eagle Scout award.”
“Eagle scout, huh. That’s impressive. Maybe you can stay longer. You know, courteous, friendly, helpful, and kind.” She was teasing and laughing. “Sorry, just kidding.”
Jack smirked. Maggie couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she got the impression he knew something she didn’t.
They both got up, put their fawns in the box, and tucked them in. Maggie smiled; they might make it. They were eating. She looked up at Jack. “Goodnight, and thanks.”
He walked to the spare bedroom. “Night.”
Maggie had a hard time going back to sleep. Finally, Timber’s steady breathing lulled her to sleep. Before she knew it, Timber was growling, her alarm was going off, and Jack was standing in her bedroom calling out to her.
“What?” She sat up and petted Timber. “It’s okay, Timber.”
“Your alarm was going off, but you weren’t waking up. I came in to get you, and Timber wasn’t too happy about that.” Her heart was pounding.
“Okay, thanks, I will be right out with the bottles. Maggie had prepared several before she went to bed, so warming them up was all that was needed.
“I am sorry about that.” She handed one of the bottles to Jack, who already had his fawn in his lap. “I didn’t fall right back to sleep after the last feeding, so once I did, I slept hard.”
“Yes, I had a little trouble as well.” He rubbed his chin and tilted his head looking up.
“This last feeding should do it until morning. The crew will be here at ten, and by two, you should be on your way. I am sure it will be good to be back in contact with your life.” She was nervous and talking too much.
“I want to thank you for saving my life, and I suppose I owe Timber a thank you as well. You have been more than kind, taking me in and looking out for me. Getting injured is never fun, but I have enjoyed this stay very much.”
“I don’t suppose you get to feed a baby fawn every day. Then again, waking up to wolf eyes is probably not a daily occurrence either.” Maggie laughed.
“No, and as remarkable as all this is, you will be the one to remain in my memory vividly for some time, I’m afraid.” He looked directly at her, not flinching in the least. Maggie assumed he was disappointment she hadn’t fallen into his arms like she assumed most of his women associates did. Jack looked like a powerful, confident man who normally got what he wanted. He was going to have to be disappointed this time. She smirked. He noticed it and smiled again as if he knew something she didn’t. It really bugged her that he seemed to be so confident. That was the problem withmen she had encountered. They appear to be know-it-alls and seemed to like to take charg of her.
For the second time that night they put the fawns to bed and walked toward the bedrooms rooms to retire for the rest of the night. She called out. “Feel free to sleep in tomorrow. We don’t have to be up until ten o’clock.”
The next day the cabin was bustling with activity. Men were in and out of the kitchen, getting the hot cider Maggie had made, along with cookies and muffins. They had snow removal equipment with them on the roof. Everyone was working fast. Carson, Maggie’s father, had surprised her and arranged his schedule so that he could come up with his crew. At first, Maggie was alarmed he would be there and miffed that he didn’t trust her ability to deal with Jack, but finally, she sighed and was just happy he came as she could then leave it all to him.
Her father, Carson, was a very tall and lanky man. He still had his cowboy hat on with his winter clothing. Maggie thought he looked pretty cool actually. She watched him outside, talking with Jack. They seemed to be hitting it off. Well, they were laughing anyway. She wondered why he felt it was important for him to be here. He never did anything without a reason. Her father was shrewd. Maybe he found something in his search about Jack that he didn’t tell her, and he was concerned. She would love to take some time to talk with him if she could get him by himself. So far, Jack was monopolizing him. When she thought about it, Jack was a lot like her father. Seeing the two men together, both with their cowboy hats on, made that obvious. Her father was a strong, confident man as well, and certainly intelligent. She had to admit he got his way most of the time. But he planned. She wondered if Jack was also a planner.
They both looked up at the window, and she waved. They were talking about her. Oh wow, that’s great, she thought sarcastically. Now she wished she could listen in. She knew her father had an electronic tool that would make that possible. Oh well. She turned and went back to the kitchen. All these men were going to want something for lunch.
Jack was surprised to meet Maggie’s father the next morning. What did she do, call in the Calvary? He smirked.
He liked Carson. There was no doubt this man was in control of a lot more than his life. Looking into his eyes of steel, Jack answered all of his questions. Lying was not an option, and he could use this man on his board. He wasn’t sure how it happened, but he had given him his basic life history and the rundown on his parents and grandparents, all in about twenty minutes. He had a gnawing suspicion that Carson already knew the answers.
“So, what do you think about this place?” Jack had been thinking about his Dad, and he returned to the present when Carson asked him the question.
“I could use a place like this. A nice place to get away.” Jack smiled, thinking he would love to have this place. He wondered if Carson would ever want to sell.
“It’s not for sale. I just wanted your opinion.” What is he, a mind reader? Jack raised his eyebrows and chuckled. Doing that did not hurt him as much now.
“So, you read my mind. I love it here. I love that it’s solar and how it’s fenced to keep those thrill-seekers out in the middle of winter.” He chuckled.
Timber bounded up to Carson and rubbed his head on his leg. “Yes, but the fencing is more to delineate the National Forest from my land. Sometimes the nation sells some of its lumber, and I don’t want anyone making a mistake and coming in here to cut my lumber.”
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Jack felt there was a lot more to this place than Carson was letting on. He reached down to pet Timber. The wolf raised one lip but allowed him to pat his head. Jack laughed. “Well, this wolf doesn’t trust me too much.”
“Yes, he does. If he didn’t, you would have just lost your hand.” Maggie walked up to both of them. “Howdy, Missy. Looks like things are wrapping up here.” Carson always used her pet name.
“Thanks so much, Dad. Thanks for helping. We will be ready when the next storm comes rolling in. I have lunch on the table. The men can come in as soon as they’re finished. She hugged her Dad.
Jack took her hand. “I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done.” Timber was making a low growl, so he dropped her hand. He looked over at Carson, who was finding this amusing.
Maggie was chuckling as she walked back into the cabin. Just as she went in the door, the sun peaked out from behind a cloud, and then the wind picked up again. Jack figured they didn’t have much time before the second blizzard arrived. All the men were moving into the mudroom, taking off boots and coats. Maggie had a huge pot of chili on the stove with cheese, chips, and sour cream to add to it. Jack could smell the French bread and wondered how she did it living so far from a grocery store. Cups and bowls were set out for the men to help themselves to the food. Jack walked over to Maggie.
“This looks fabulous. It’s perfect for a snowy day. It reminds me of Alta, Utah and the lodge up by the Germania lift. Every time I skied there, I stopped for hot chili.”
“I’ve skied there and had that chili. Thanks for the compliment.”
Jack was impressed. So, she skis. When he tasted the chili, it was a bit spicy. Maggie walked over. “I added a little Texas to the chili.” She chuckled. “Use the sour cream.”
“I like hot; I just wasn’t expecting it.” Jack downed some cider. He sat down across from Maggie by the fireplace. “I wonder if it would be appropriate to ask to see you again.”
Maggie raised her eyebrows and didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know.”
He knew a relationship with this woman would have to be serious. A relationship with her would not be a typical fling that ended quickly.
“The truth is, Jack, I’m very busy right now. I don’t need or want to complicate my life.”
Her father walked up and sat down by Maggie.
“So, we are just about ready to leave. Jack, do you have your backpack? We have room for your skis too. The wind is picking up speed, so it’s now or never.” Carson stood up and took Maggie in his arms. “You be careful up here. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
The men had all gone out to the porch to get their gear back on, and Carson walked out to join them. For the moment, they were alone. Just like Carson said, it was now, or never, Jack thought. He took Maggie in his arms and pulled her to him, looking down into her eyes. He leaned in toward her lips and waited. She looked up and reached over to kiss him. The explosion of emotion was more than he could contain. She melted into his arms as he held her closer. He couldn’t let this woman go. He felt like he had known her forever. “This is why you have to go.” She turned and walked away.
No, this is why he had to stay, his mind shouted at him. Maggie was the woman he could spend the rest of his life loving. She was everything most women he knew were not. He felt like this was a turning point in his life where he should do something. But Carson walked back in and said they were ready to leave. Jack walked out and looked back at Maggie, who was sitting on the sofa with Timber’s head in her lap. Everything in him said don’t go, but he walked down the stairs and out to the car without looking back.
Carson leaned in. “Maggie, I’ll lock up on the way out.”
“Thanks, Dad, bye.”
Chapter 3
Three months later
Maggie once again sat for a long time, petting Timber’s head. She had done this a lot since Jack and her father left during last winter’s blizzards. She thought back to Roger; the man she was seeing when her father whisked her away to this haven in the woods. She admitted it was a bad relationship. He was so competitive with her and everyone. His job had to be the best; he had to be the funniest at parties and have the most interesting things to say. She had subconsciously learned to restrain herself so he could shine. It was negatively affecting her personality and her interaction with others. She had known she would have to end the relationship sooner or later, and it was just fortunate her father stepped in when he did. Roger was now married. Happily, she hoped. The relationship had been such a drain on her that the thought of getting into another one was just too much. Once she finished her dissertation and got settled teaching at a university somewhere, maybe then she could look at that aspect of her life.
It had been months now, and she tried to stop thinking about Jack, but her mind kept going back to how comfortable and secure she felt in his arms. The peace she felt there was something she couldn’t deny. The kiss was amazing, but there was something else, a feeling like she belonged there. He felt like home. Well, that was ridiculous since he’d left her life, and she hadn’t heard a thing from him or about him since. She sighed. Timber looked up and tried to lick her face. “Not now, Timber, good boy.”
She thought back to the middle of the night conversations they had while feeding the fawns. He had confided in her about how he wanted to make changes in his life and particularly with his business. He had said, “Life doesn’t seem to have a lot of meaning. I need to change.” She wondered if her life was as empty as it felt. She had just about finished her dissertation, which was something of import. But why didn’t she feel complete then? She doubted he had ever shared his feelings about losing his dog, Checkers, with many people. But because he did with her, it revealed a bond they both had with animals. She smiled as she pictured him with a baby while he fed the fawn. He looked like he would be a good father. For a while, they had been parents together. It felt good and right. Never mind it was just fawn parents.
The fawns they both bottle-fed were nearly grown now and out on their own if you could call a nature preserve being on their own. They still came to her back porch looking for food, which she of course left out for them. She knew she was not the best caretaker of wild animals. Timber was a large blot on her record with the Rangers, but then this was her private property; not in their jurisdiction. Timber stretched out and went to sleep on the sofa. “I guess that’s my cue to put the last touches on my paper.” The rest of the afternoon and into the night, Maggie typed furiously at the computer.
Spring was here, and she had finished her paper and was planning to deliver it in person to the university. The Blue Bonnets and Indian Paint Brush would be in full bloom at the Rio Lago Ranch that her father managed. She loved being there in the spring before the sultry summer days began. The whole front pasture bloomed. It was gorgeous and filled her heart with joy. Her mother had taught her to love wildflowers. These trips with her mother to see the Texas wild flowers were a time when her mother taught her many life lessons. I wonder if my mother knew then that every time I saw wildflowers, I would remember her and her advice.
The day came for her and Timber to take the truck cross country to the ranch. Her father would take care of Timber, and she would drive into Houston to hand in her dissertation and possibly meet with the department head. She was already receiving calls from headhunters looking for people to work for the oil industry. But even though she had a lot of ideas to help them become more eco-friendly, it was the last place she wanted to work. What she wanted was a nice college town with a fun job teaching the sciences, oceanography, and possibly some sustainability classes.
“Okay, Timber, we are about to embark on the possible fruition of all this typing I have been doing while you tried to entice me to go outside and play.” Maggie had to smile. Many times, Timber would come up to her and flip her arm off the keyboard with his nose before laying his head on her lap. Well, it was so cute that she often had to get up and play with him for a while. But the last few wee
ks she was in a time crunch and didn’t stop to play much. “You’ll love visiting the ranch again Timber. Aussie is there, and you two can play.” At the mention of Aussie, Timber’s ears pushed forward, and he sniffed the air for something.
Maggie finished loading the truck, locked up the cabin, and started driving. She stopped at the gate and got out to look back. “I love this place.” She had left the smaller back corner gate open enough for animals to pass through. Trees and bushes hid the gate, but the animals would be able to find their way out or in if they wanted. And hopefully, wilderness tourists would not find the opening.
“Let’s go.”
Timber whined a little but seemed excited to be on an adventure with Maggie.
It took nearly an hour to make it to the highway. The old logger roads required slower driving, but Maggie loved the drive. It was dark in the forest with tall trees on both sides of the road. The ferns and wild azaleas were starting to bud out, and she rolled down the window to smell the fresh pine. Looking ahead, she stopped. A large bear was lumbering down a steep slope toward the road. “I think I’ll just stay here and let her pass.” Timber sat up, alert, and breathing faster. He watched, eyes glued to the bear. “Well, that’s something I don’t see every day, thank heavens.” Her studies taught her that bears who wake up from hibernation are very hungry and their work immediately begins to replenish the fat they lost during the winter months. This bear was hunting fish and berries, and she didn’t want to get in his way.
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