by Sable Hunter
Stopping to catch his breath, he surveyed the amount of wood remaining. There was still enough for several days. He made a mental note to make sure more was chopped and brought in for her use. Leaning the axe against a tree, he stooped to fill the canvas carrier to take inside the cabin. He’d no more than knelt down before a god-awful roar brought him to his feet.
“Holy hell,” he breathed. His eyes widened to see a huge bear lumbering out of the woods. “I damn sure hope you’re Koda.”
Inside, Clare heard the bear’s unmistakable growl. She threw down the dishtowel she’d been holding and ran outside without bothering to take the time to put on a coat. Koda was harmless to her and her family, she just wanted to make certain he didn’t see Nathan as a threat. Rushing through the door, she ran to place herself in between the bear and the man. “Koda, it’s all good. Everything’s fine.”
Nathan understood she’d raised this animal from a cub – but it was damn big, and Romy was so small. Without thinking, he moved ahead of her.
“What are you doing?” Clare took another step or two forward, returning her attention to the bear. “Koda, it’s okay. Are you hungry?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. You know, this animal should wear a name tag.”
“Stop it. His agitation is growing because he’s picking up on yours.”
“Well, excuse me.”
As he watched with his heart in his throat, Romy walked right up to the huge beast and put her arms as far around its non-existent waist as she could reach. “It’s all right. Nathan’s a friend.”
“Romy Clare Connelly! Are you trying to kill me?” he hissed.
“Stop worrying. This is the safest place in the world for me.”
Nathan begged to differ. “In my arms is the safest place for you, now back off before I have a heart attack.”
Considering the circumstances, she giggled. “Come on, let me introduce the two of you.” She held out her hand for Nathan to come closer.
He stiffened his back, trying to put a little steel into his spine. “This can’t be wise.”
“The only way he’d hurt you would be if you tried to hurt me. I’ve found he has the same instincts as a guard dog.”
“Great.” He’d known about her unusual pet from his dream but being face to face with the real thing was different. “Does he shake hands?”
“I wouldn’t advise it, he needs a nail trim.”
Nathan stood stock still as he stared down a seven-foot bear. “What kind is he?”
“Even though he’s cinnamon colored, Koda is a black bear. That’s the only species of bear native to Colorado.”
“Okay. Hello, Koda. I guess we have something in common.” He started to touch its big paw, but seeing the two-inch long claws changed his mind.
“What’s that?” Clare asked as she coaxed Koda onto all fours. “Good boy.”
“We both care about you.”
Clare swallowed hard. “Do you want to feed him?”
“I’m not sure I want him to eat out of my hand.”
“He has a bowl. If you will, go look in my front closet and bring that sack of apples and nuts. That’s what he’s here for, aren’t you? A snack?”
Nathan did as she asked, looking over his shoulder to make sure she was safe. When he returned with bag in hand, the bear lifted his head to sniff the air. “Does he have a cave nearby?”
“He does. About a half mile due east of here. I’ve even outfitted it with some creature comforts.” She placed three apples on a nearby stump. “There you go.”
“What kind of creature comforts?”
“A huge bean bag chair, a couple of warm blankets, and a huge scratching pole.”
This made Nathan smiled. “You’ve spoiled him rotten, haven’t you?”
“I guess I do that for things I love.”
Nathan sighed. He refused to be jealous of a bear.
After feeding him another half dozen apples, the animal ambled off into the forest. “Well, that was an experience,” Nathan muttered as he finished filling up the canvas carrier. “We’d best get inside, the snow is coming down heavier.”
“I see that.” She grabbed one side of the handle.
“I’ve got it.”
“Let me help. I’m used to doing this by myself, you know.”
“Don’t remind me.” Together they carried the heavy load into the house. As soon as he stored it, Nathan stood. “I think it best if I go see to the horses.”
“Do you think we’ll have another episode like before?”
“I don’t know. Better safe than sorry.” He stopped to look her in the face. “I’m not leaving you yet. Not until I know the danger has passed. So, don’t even ask me.”
Clare frowned. “I wasn’t.” She really wasn’t, it hadn’t even crossed her mind. What that said about her and their situation – she wasn’t ready to analyze. “I’ll have breakfast done when you get back.”
By the time he did return, the snowfall was slowing down. Nathan was glad he’d already settled the idea about him staying. He figured this part of the world was like Texas – weather could turn on a dime.
“How are the horses?” Clare asked as soon as he walked in the door.
“Antsy.” He pointed behind him. “I think we could turn them out in the corral for a little while, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure. Did you do it already?”
“No, I was on my way back when I noticed the weather. I thought we might go out together. Despite everything, it’s really pretty out there.”
“Do you like to play in the snow, Nathan?”
Seeing her smile, he grinned. “Well, you have to understand, snow is as rare as hen’s teeth in my neck of the woods.” He sobered for a moment. “Although, it’s hard for me to reconcile the fluffy flakes falling now with the dangerous blizzard we saw yesterday. When I think of what could’ve happened to you I…it doesn’t bear thinking about it.”
Clare shivered at the thought. “You saved me and I’m eternally grateful.” She came to him and took both of his hands in his. “I wouldn’t have survived, I know that. But…let’s not think about that anymore. Let’s have a good time.” While they could. While she could.
“Deal.” He put the worry out of his mind and sat down to a hearty breakfast of blueberry pancakes and bacon.
Once they finished, he made sure she bundled up before they ventured outside. The snow was falling but at a leisurely pace. Despite the memory of the storm, he couldn’t deny the glory surrounding them. The mountains, the trees, even the rocks in the stream were flocked in white. Yet, it all paled next to the beauty at his side.
After freeing the horses from their stalls, they walked hand in hand around the property. To Clare’s delight they really did play – making snow angels, throwing snowballs at one another, trying to catch flakes of snow on their tongue. They started to build a snowman, but the wind picked up and Nathan thought it best to cut their recess short. “You head back into the house, and I’ll tend to the horses.”
“Hurry up,” she called, looking up into the sky that was clouding up quickly. “I’ll make hot chocolate!”
“Oh, my favorite!” Nathan did hurry, but the sweet drink wasn’t his prime motivation. When he joined her, however, he was pleasantly surprised. The concoction she was brewing didn’t come from a paper packet. No, he stood at her side rapt as she melted chocolate, then mixed in warm milk, sugar, and a cinnamon stick. “That looks amazing.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never had homemade hot chocolate before.”
“I’m not sure. I know it didn’t smell like that.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat.” She handed him a huge mug. “Want to sit by the fire?”
“I do.” He followed along behind her, taking an opportunity to admire the way her cute bottom looked in a pair of jeans. “That bear of yours is something else.”
“He is.”
Nathan took a seat on the couch nearest to the hearth. He patted the
cushion next to him but was disappointed when Romy curled up in the opposite corner. “How did you come to make his acquaintance?”
“Koda’s story is a familiar one. His mother was killed in a wildfire and a hunter rescued him. We’d just moved to Colorado. This was before my cabin was built. Storm and I were on the way to Telluride, and we’d stopped at a filling station to gas up the SUV. While we were there, this guy pulled in and we noticed people gathering around his truck. My curiosity got the best of me, and I wandered near enough to see this cute little cub in a cage. His fur was burned, and he was scared to death. Maybe the man would’ve done the right thing and carried him to a rehab center, but I didn’t like the way he was talking.”
“What was he saying?” Nathan kept thinking of Lobo, he could certainly understand Romy’s concern.
“He was talking about how much money he could sell him for. I know bear baiting isn’t supposed to be a thing anymore, but he even mentioned he knew someone who might want the cub to train his dogs.” She visibly shivered. “When I heard that, I ran back to Storm and told him everything. Since money was what the guy wanted, my brother made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
“Good.” Nathan licked a bit of hot chocolate from his upper lip. “So, what happened then? Did you just bring him home with you?”
“We took him to a vet and got him patched up. When he was well enough to leave, we did bring him to the ranch. They made a place for him in the barn. and I slept out there every night so he wouldn’t be scared.”
“That sounds just like you.”
“Yea, well…while I was getting attached, Mad made some inquiries about places that could care for him until he could be released into the wild.” She rubbed her thumb on the side of her mug, a thoughtful smile on her face. “Needless to say when the time came for Koda to leave, I was prepared to go with him. After a great deal of family discussions, my brothers brought in a representative from one of the foundations who specialize in animal rehab to teach me what to do so Koda could have a good life and spend time in the wild. My work with Koda is the main reason I have this cabin. As he grew, he gradually ventured out on his own more. Yet, I’m still near if he…needs me.” Clare made a face. “I guess that sounds ridiculous to you, doesn’t it?
“Not at all. Remember, I have a coywolf cub I rescued.”
“That’s right. I’m sure you’re anxious to go check on him.” She looked concerned. “If you need to go, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“No, I’m not leaving you.” He gave her his answer before he looked out the window. “The snow is coming down faster. He has a waterer and a feeder that dispenses what he needs. He’ll be fine for several days if necessary.”
Clare set her near empty mug on the hearth. She felt so torn about Nathan staying with her. She wanted him here, that was undeniable – but the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to give him up. “How about the ranch work?”
“My role is implementing projects, not the day-to-day care of the animals. Of course, I pitch in where I’m needed and right now I’m needed here. I’m sure your brothers would agree.”
“I daresay you’re right.”
Nathan felt a twinge of guilt. “What are they going to say when they find out I took advantage of you?”
“I’m twenty-two years old. You didn’t take advantage of me. I seduced you, remember?”
A laugh burst from Nathan’s lips. “Is that how it went down? I thought I seduced you.”
Clare shrugged. “Let’s just say it was mutual. Besides, I’m not so sure they’d be upset. They worry about me.” Understatement of the millennia. “They worry about me being alone.”
“You’re not alone. Not anymore.” Nathan looked at her with his heart in his eyes. “I’m here.”
“You’ll be going back down the mountain as soon as the weather clears.”
“Don’t make it sound so permanent. The trail goes both ways. I intend to see you again as often as you’ll let me. I want to date you, Romy.”
Clare felt her heart dip, then rise into her throat. “Nathan, I don’t date.”
He could hear the panic in her voice. Even though he didn’t understand it, he was sharing that same emotion with her at the moment. “Okay. We’ll call it something else then – courting, wooing, going out. Spending time together. Just don’t ask me to walk away from you. Please.”
Closing her eyes, Clare sought for something to say in response. She didn’t want to get into this with him now. “I know you think you know me well, but you don’t.”
“I bet I know more about you than you could imagine.”
“How could you?”
Nathan squeezed his cup so hard, he broke the handle off. “Damn. Sorry.” He set it down. “How could I know you?” He tried to think of some way to explain it. “Telling you I dreamed about you seems silly, but it’s true. It wasn’t like other dreams I’ve had.” He told her what he’d told Cady. “So much time seemed to pass. Years. I woke up feeling like I’d shared a lifetime with you.”
Clare understood more than she could let on. “How is that possible?”
“Hell, if I know. I only know when I woke up – I mourned the loss of that life. Our life. To me, it felt like I’d lost my reason for living. It felt like you’d died.”
Up until that moment, there was a part of her that wanted to relent. To change her mind. To throw caution to the wind and see where this whirlwind of joy could take them. But…hearing him say how deeply he was hurt by awaking from a dream – there was no way she could knowingly set him up for the real thing. “Dreams can seem real, but they’re not.”
“I don’t know, Romy. I knew you before I came.” He motioned to the walls surrounding them. “I knew this place. I knew the sound of your voice. Hell, I even knew about that dang bear.”
“I don’t deny we have a connection.”
“Connection?” He pointed to the bed. “Yea, I’d say we connected pretty well.”
“Nathan…” She pressed her lips together and sighed.
“I know what our future holds, Romy. I’ve seen it.”
She wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t. She longed to know more about his dream, but she was afraid to ask. “There’s a quote from one of my favorite singers – the past is solid, but the future is liquid. Things happen every day that can change the future.”
He didn’t want to argue with her. She’d expressed her doubts before and look where they were now. If he stayed on course, he’d win her heart. Nathan was in this for the long haul. “I tend to agree. My hopes and dreams have changed over time. I used to want to be an astronaut, then a herpetologist. I even dreamed of being a doctor. Now, I realize I am who I am. A cowboy. My vision of the future isn’t defined by my career choice, but by who I share my life with.”
She cherrypicked her reply. “Nathan, you’re living the dream. Just imagine how many little boys want to be a cowboy when they grow up.”
“I want to live my dream, you’re right about that.” He watched her face, and he could tell he was pushing things. “Okay, enough about me. Tell me what Clare Connelly’s dreams of the future are all about. Do you want to see your artwork in a museum? Own your own art gallery?”
“No, none of that. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing.” How could she tell him how living to the ripe old age of 30 would be a dream come true? “I’m not ambitious.”
“You’re content and that’s a rare gift.” He picked up the broken mug. “I’ll pay for this.”
“Nonsense. I made it. I’ve got a box full ready to go to the kiln.”
He touched the finely made piece of pottery. “You are the most talented person I’ve ever met.”
“I doubt that but thank you.” She glanced at the clock. “I think I’ll put a pot of soup in the crockpot for later.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll make a pone of Texas cornbread to go with it if you have some corn meal.”
“I think I do. How are you at chopping vegetables?”
“Almost as good as I am at chopping wood.” He picked up the pieces of his mug and her empty one. “Just give me a knife and I’ll go to town.”
A little bit later, they were working companionably side by side. Nathan was happier than he’d ever been. “I’ve been so busy getting settled, I haven’t done any sightseeing. Tell me some fun things to see and do around here.”
“Oh, okay.” She brightened, glad to find another subject to discuss other than the uncertain future. “There’s so much. Let me think. You’d probably enjoy the Cumbres and Toltec scenic railroad. It goes over some fabulous countryside.”
“Yea, I’d like that. I’ve never ridden on a train before.”
This amazed Clare. “That’s a shame. Everyone should ride a train. We used to take the Cannonball from the city to the Hamptons almost every Friday. Plus, I used to take the subway regularly.”
“Does the subway count?”
“You bet it does. Being underground just adds to the excitement.” She began to transfer the ingredients into the slow cooker. “Another thing you might like is the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Storm and Mad used to go sandboarding out there. They had a blast.”
“Sandboarding, now that sounds intriguing. Have you tried it?”
“No, I’m not very athletic.”
“I bet you’re graceful as a gazelle at anything you do.”
“You are so prejudice,” Clare observed dryly as she added broth to the pot. “Hand me those spices next to the sink.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He brought them to her. “Any more ideas? How about things you like to do?”
“Well, it’s a little drive north but the Florence Pioneer Museum is amazing. They have this arrowhead collection that’s out of this world.” Clare held her breath, knowing what his response would be.
“Arrowheads? Oh, yeah. I’d love that. I collect arrowheads too.”
“It’s an interesting hobby. I don’t have a collection myself, but I have found a few in my time. I…gave them to a friend.” She didn’t say that he was that friend.
“Wow, yea I want to go there for sure.” He backed up to the sink, resting his hands on the edge of the cabinet. “What else floats your boat?”