by Wendy Stone
The road to the cabin was little more than a two track, barely kept up when he wasn't around to keep it groomed and the branches off. It was rutted and his car bottomed out more than once even though he was careful. Then the trail seemed to bloom out of the woods and into a wide clearing that was grassy and filled with wild flowers and the buzzing of bees. The sound of the river was a warm and welcoming sound, giving him a lazy feeling of coming home.
Gideon felt the worry and strain of the past few days fall from his shoulders as he parked the car and got out, going to the door and opening it with one of the keys on the ring. The others were for the shed and the boat house, both down closer to the river.
It was a regulation log house, the inside chinked against the winter's cold winds. He hadn't been up here in the winter in many years, not since his father died. They'd come up for a week, brave the cold and hunt. Hawk smiled as he thought of the lies his father had told him, of the ones that had gotten away. It just made him realize how much he missed his father.
Carrying in his supplies, he started the generator and got everything up and running, hauling water from the river to prime the pump with. Then he gathered up his favorite fishing pole and a bucket to carry his catch in and headed down to the river to drown some worms.
He'd barely cast out the first time before he felt a tug on the line and hauled back, hooking a very nice size large mouth bass. It gave him a satisfying fight before being dropped into the bucket. Gideon sighed as he cast again, feeling the kinks in his back loosening under the warmth of the sun and the pleasure of just sitting here fishing, not having to worry or care.
He caught three more bass, taking the bucket up to the round tree stump that they'd always used to clean the fish on. When he was finished, he had eight beautiful fillets ready to be rolled in bread crumbs and fried. He took them into the house, rinsing them again in the sink and then washing his hand with water and lemon juice to take away the fishy smell.
Loneliness set in as he was fixing his solitary dinner and he couldn't help but wonder what Kenzie was doing right then. She was probably being babied by her cousins or by her parents. He couldn't blame her. She'd been through hell the past few days.
A little voice in the back of his mind tried to interrupt, to set down the idea that he'd been beside her through most of what she'd gone through. But he ignored it. She was right to want to go home, wasn't she? Isn't that what he'd done? Gone to a place where he felt safe, where he could feel his father's spirit and connect once more with what was important to him.
The fish was good, flaky, with a hint of lemon and some chives. He'd made a salad out of some lettuce and vegetables that he'd gotten from the store and he opened the first of the beers he'd brought with him, something he didn't allow himself to have often. It was cold and tasted great with the fish. He ate four of the fillets himself, saving the other four for the next day. Cleaning up took little time and he walked out onto the back deck he'd finished himself after his father had died. Sitting in one of the wooden chairs they'd made, he watched the sun set, drinking another beer.
He burped, covering his mouth with his hand and then took another drink of the beer, watching as the deer came out across the river in the field. They moved slowly, some staring over across the river at him as they caught his scent. He made no movement but the continual lifting of his beer bottle to his lips, watching as they deemed him harmless, dipping their heads to eat and then coming back up and looking around as they chewed.
Something startled them and they all took off bounding through the field, white tails flashing in the darkening evening. They disappeared into the woods.
The first of the mosquitoes came out, landing on his arm. He slapped it, and it seemed to get him moving. He stood, gathering the last of his beer in his arms and heading back into the cabin. He had some books he could read or he could just go to sleep. Opening another one of the beers, he lit the water heater, and sat down and waited for the water to get warm.
Memories assailed him, of his dad, of the time the two of them had spent together. “I wish you were here now, dad. I could sure use some answers."
He stripped, dropping his clothes in the small basket in the bathroom. Turning on the water he soon had the small room steamy hot and he stepped in under the water, letting it run over his body and through his hair. He cleaned up, stepping out and watching the steam curl up off of his skin into the cooler air. Then he dried off and pulled on a pair of sweats, before curling up into the bed in the loft that he'd always used when he was here.
Sleep came easily, as did the dreams. He woke suddenly from seeing Chris's throat slit once more. But worse was the shock in Mackenzie's eyes as she sank down in the ambulance. “Why hadn't I seen that before?” he asked himself, feeling guilty as hell for leaving her now.
She hadn't wanted to go. He'd pushed her into going by walking away.
"How could I be so stupid,” he growled. “If I had just stayed there with her she could have come up her with me."
He slid out of bed, pulling on clothes and throwing everything back in his suitcase. If he hurried he might be able to get there before she left.
He closed up the cabin, turning off the generator and locking everything up. Throwing everything in his car he turned it around and started down the two track road. It was steep, rutted and his lights didn't seem to be working right. He went around a small curve and slammed on his brakes, swerving sideways down the road, he felt the crash as it slammed into the side of a tree, the deer he'd hit his brakes to miss running off the road.
The impact sent his head lolling into the driver's side window, his head cracking the glass. Blood trailed down his forehead, dripping to his shirt. He was about to get out of the car when he felt it sliding down the steep incline. It picked up speed as the slide continued, suddenly rolling twice before landing on its hood.
Silence echoed through the small valley as the engine ticked, cooling off.
* * * *
"For the last time, Dillon, I'm not going. I'm sorry if that upsets you, but I'm staying here until I find out what is wrong with Gideon. Maybe then we'll go and visit my parents... So take your damn ticket and if you can't understand why I'm doing this, you can shove it up your ass.” Her voice rose as she grew more frustrated by the minute with Dillon's patronizing smile. “Hunt, please,” she said softly, her hands pressed together against her lips. “Please, talk to him."
"He doesn't listen to me either, baby,” Hunt said, running his knuckles over her cheek. “But for what it counts, I'm on your side."
Mac yanked down on her tee shirt, her eyes narrowing. “Thanks for that, at least. Dillon,” she started to say, looking up at her tall good looking cousin. He was holding his phone and staring at the view screen the color fading from his face.
"What is it?” Hunt said, stepping forward to grasp Dillon's shoulder.
"Rylie, she's in labor.” He looked up, panicked. “We have to get home, now!” He turned and then sank down onto the floor, putting his head between his knees.
"Dillon?” Kenzie said, kneeling down next to him. “Breathe, cousin. Just breathe."
Hunt was on the phone, changing their tickets for an earlier flight. “We can just make it to the airport if we leave now,” he told Dillon. Dillon nodded, his face turning white.
"I'm ready,” he said, gulping heavily.
Mac helped him up, only flinching a little when he pressed down too hard on one of her bruises. “Go, Dillon. Be with your wife. Call me when your baby's born.” She hugged him tightly. “I love you, cousin. I'll be fine."
Dillon hugged back. “I'm going. Will you at least promise to try and stay out of trouble?"
She crossed her heart with one finger. “Now go,” she said.
Hunt snatched her up in his arms, squeezing her hard. “Please, stay out of trouble. Angel and the kids hate it when I'm gone."
"You give them my love and take care of him,” she said, nodding toward where Dillon was searching his pocket
s for his keys. “Don't let him drive, okay?"
"Trust me, I like being alive.” He tapped her on her nose and then hurried and grabbed the keys out of Dillon's pocket, grabbed his brother's shoulder and pushing him toward the door.
Mac stared around the room, seeing that Gideon's suitcase was gone, his things were gone out of the bathroom. There was a bag on the bed that held the clothes he'd brought back with him this morning when he'd come into the room and found her gone. So much had happened since then. She sighed, pulling out the clothing and laughing a bit when she found some of her sexiest underwear packed as well.
If he wasn't here, he was at home and she'd go and find him. She changed quickly, taking a hurried shower to rid herself of the smell of gasoline and fire and death. She blow dried her hair, pulled on her clothes and then left the room, taking the key with her.
Grabbing a taxi had her outside his apartment in about ten minutes. She climbed the stairs slowly, her body slow, fatigue beginning to drag on her. She'd find him and they'd get this whole thing straightened out and then they'd go to bed.
She knocked on his door, waiting a couple minutes before knocking again. Closing her eyes, she pressed her ear to his door. There were no sounds coming from the place, not music or the sound of the television or even someone moving around.
"Miss, can I help you?"
Kenzie whirled around, her short curls flying, her hand going to her throat as a small scream ripped from her mouth. “Oh good God you scared me!” she exclaimed. She took a couple of deep breaths to get her system moving again. “I'm looking for Detective Hawkins, do you know if he's in?"
"Nope, I ran into him this afternoon. He left for his cabin up off of route #2. Said he planned to take it easy for a few days until he healed up some and do some fishing."
Mackenzie felt tears of frustration start in her eyes. “So he'll be gone for a few days?"
The man looked at her. “Ain't you that reporter girlfriend of his?"
Kenzie nodded.
"Well, hell girl, I can draw you a map up there. Him and his dad were good enough to invite me up there for fishing a few times. It's only about a two hour drive or so. You could be there before morning."
"Thank you,” Kenzie said, smiling and followed him into his apartment.
She left there with the directions firmly in hand. Grabbing a taxi, she took it to the nearest car rental place, renting a big SUV for the trip. She stopped at an all night retail store, loading up on food and clothing more durable that what she had. Buying a pair of hiking boots, she put them on in the truck. Then she headed out. A map of the surrounding area was unfolded on the passenger seat next to her, the map Hawk's neighbor had given her laid carefully out on top of it.
She drove with the windows down, the night air rushing into the SUV and helping to keep her awake. She played the music loud, singing along with it and changing radio stations as she'd lose one.
The sun was beginning to change the night sky a deep shade of purple by the time she turned off on the two track road that led to the cabin. She was jounced and bumped around in the cab of the SUV, cursing more than once as she bit her tongue.
The two track opened out onto a clearing that looked absolutely stunning in the early morning light. The cabin was picturesque, a log cabin with a stone fireplace built on one end. She could hear the sound of the early morning birds and the burbling of the river as it rushed along its way. Stepping from the SUV, Kenzie could see what Hawk would see in this place. It was breathtaking. But his car wasn't here, the cabin looked deserted, and the only thing she could see that might place him here at all, was the grass that was flattened up nearer to the cabin. Could she have passed him on her way up? Could he have been on his way to her?
She plucked her phone from her pocket, holding it up and looking at the signal bars. She had barely one bar. “It'll have to do,” she said. Dialing his number, she held her breath waiting for him to pick it up.
* * * *
Hawk woke to the sound of ringing in his ears. His body felt crushed and pain came at him from almost every side. He moved his jaw, rubbing his ears to rid himself of the ringing sound before realizing it was his cell phone. Opening the glove box dumped everything inside onto the roof of the car. That was the first time he realized he was upside down. He scrabbled through the junk, finally finding the phone and trying to open it with shaking hands.
* * * *
A lull in the bird song around her and she could suddenly hear his phone ringing. She automatically turned toward the cabin before realizing that that wasn't where the sound was coming from. Getting back in the SUV, she turned it around, straining her ears to hear the sound over the engine noise. Kenzie looked down into the valley on the other side of the steep stretch of two tracked road, and spotted Gideon's car on its roof almost immediately.
She flipped her cell phone closed and stashed it back into the pocket of her jacket. Sliding down the steep incline, she approached the car cautiously, afraid of what she would find. “Hawk?” she said softly, kneeling down next to the driver's side window.
The side of the car was caved in and the glass was gone out of the window. Hawk turned his head, looking over at her. “Mackenzie?” he asked, surprised.
"Yeah, your neighbor told me where I could find you. I came up to see if I could talk you into taking me back."
"I thought you were going home with your cousins. I thought you didn't want me.” He said, his voice sounding thick. “Can you help get me out of here?"
"Definitely. But first you're going to have to get rid of the seat belt, baby."
"It's stuck,” he said, yanking on the metal fastener.
"Hold on,” she said, sliding under him. “Put your hands down to brace your weight.” She pushed on the button that held the fastener closed, yanking at the same time. He spilled down over her, his legs catching on the bottom of the steering wheel. “Okay, I'm going to wriggle out and then you're going to follow me."
She squirmed her way out from under him, cutting her leg on a small piece of glass. “Watch the glass,” she growled, ignoring the sting. Then she was outside again and reaching in for him, to help get him out. “Come on,” she urged gently.
He moved jerkily, and she worried all the way up the hill, breathing a sigh of relief when he finally settled into the passenger seat of the rental car. “I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No, let's go back to my dad's cabin, Kenzie. We really need to talk.” He leaned his head back, grimacing a little as it hit against the leather seat. “We can talk after we get to the cabin. There's a first aid kit there.” When she sat there in silence, he turned and opened one eye a mere slit to glance at her questioningly.
"You should go to the hospital."
"I smacked my head on the window in the door. I've got a hard head."
"I know,” Mackenzie whispered.
"What was that?"
"I said, I know, you have a thick skull and a hard head and it's terribly difficult to get anything into it.” She put the SUV in reverse. There was nowhere to turn around. It took less than five minutes to get back to the cabin. A little bit longer than that to get Hawk inside. His head was aching fiercely and his eyes seemed full of grit. He'd remembered to grab the keys out of the ignition so Mackenzie could open up the cabin.
"I'm going to get you a cloth for your head,” she said, after making sure he was sitting down. “Stay there."
She went into the bathroom and found the small cupboard his father had built for towels, and found the first aid kit.
"What happened?” she called out to him as she pulled out the kit, checking to see what was in it.
"I was on my way to get you back when I went round the curve and there was a deer in the road. I slammed on the brakes and slid off the road. The rest, well, you can see,” he grabbed the counter, steadying himself as he moved up behind her. His hands went to her shoulders, pulling her back against him. “I was really stupid, Mac. Can you forgive me?"
His
scent wove around her, the feel of him behind her made her want to lean back against him. But in his state right now, he'd probably end up on the floor with her on top of him. A part of her giggled at the thought. It wouldn't be a bad place to be. He was making her nervous, fidgety and she pulled away, turning to grab him and lead him back out to the chair she'd put him in before. “Let me clean up this wound,” she said.
"You didn't answer me,” he said stubbornly. He took the cloth away from her and grabbed both her hands. “Will you forgive me for being the world's biggest ass and leaving you with your cousins?"
He took one hand, tipping her face up so she was forced to look into his eyes. “Please, Mackenzie. I need you to forgive me."
She nodded, her amber eyes gazing into his. “There was nothing really to forgive. I needed to face down Dillon and I did. Of course it helped that Rylie picked that exact time to go into labor as well. Dillon kind of forgot what he wanted me to do and Hunt drove him to the airport."
"Dillon procreated? Oh shit, the world isn't prepared for two Dillon Hunters.” He bent his head, dropping a kiss on her lips before sitting back in the chair and letting his head rest against the back. She brought up the cloth, cleaning off the blood before dabbing at the wound. “Ouch,” he said gently.
"I'm sorry,” she said, catching her tongue between her teeth. Big tears formed in her amber eyes, one falling to her cheek. He caught it on his thumb. “What's this?"
"I'm just being silly,” she said, trying to sniff away all signs of her tears. “I just don't want to hurt you."
"Never leave me,” he said softly, bending his head to kiss away the trail of her tears. “As long as you're with me, you could never hurt me."
"I never wanted to leave you. But when my cousins were pushing at me, you didn't say anything. I thought you wanted me gone. Then I looked up and you'd disappeared. You were just gone and I had no idea where you were or what you felt for me...” she trailed off, seeing the look in his melted chocolate eyes.