Mountain Man Next Door

by Ava Grace

  I’d just opened the third bottle of wine and though I hadn’t drunk as much as Violet and Andrea, I’d consumed enough that I would definitely have described myself as tipsy. In fact, I was well on my way to being sloshed.

  “I still can’t believe you had Coop and Mason fighting over you this morning!” Andrea said with a laugh. “That’s hilarious. You’d be the envy of every woman in town.”

  I couldn’t resist laughing along with her. “They weren’t fighting over me,” I disagreed. “Not really.

  “Coop was just trying to get me to go to this barbecue thingy and Mason was, well, I don’t know what Mason was doing exactly, but I think the whole argument had more to do with his dislike of Coop than it had to do with me.”

  Andrea rolled her eyes. “Don’t kid yourself. I haven’t seen Mason interested enough in anyone to argue with Coop about them. Not in years. Not since Caroline.”

  “I concur,” Violet said, her tongue tripping over the word before she broke out into a fit of giggles.

  Faith was even quieter than usual, but I put that down to the fact that she hadn’t been drinking.

  In all honesty, I didn’t like the comparison that Andrea had made.

  Mason and Coop had been in love with Caroline for years, but they barely knew me. From the little I’d learned about Coop, it would seem that he was pretty much interested in any woman who had a nice ass and a half decent rack.

  And I highly doubted that Mason was into me. He had only just started being civil to me for goodness sakes. From what I knew about his past and the fact that he kept himself so shut off from the world, it was a miracle that I’d even gotten as much as a smile out of him let alone the offer of help. Although I had enjoyed our chat earlier. He was easy to be around and when I’d laughed, it hadn’t been put on.

  And then I’d gone and spoilt everything by shouting at him and kicking him off my property.

  Good job, Lib.

  I sighed and took another sip of wine.

  I thought about calling by his house in the morning to apologize for my rudeness. However, I couldn’t say that I was sorry about the way I’d reacted. Not really. Mason and Coop had behaved like children, arguing over a toy in the schoolyard, tossing insults at each other that were meant to cause offense. It was pathetic, really, and I was angry at them both for behaving that way.

  Coop had been so insistent in trying to get me to go to the barbecue with him that he hadn’t cared about the fact that I wasn’t interested in going. It seemed like he just wanted to get one up on Mason. And Mason might have acted like he was sticking up for me but it was clear that he was just pissed at Coop and having a go at him in the guise of having my back.

  What the heck was that all about?

  Okay, so I knew that the two of them had shared history and there had probably been a lot of underlying tension between them for years, but they had no right to put me in the middle of it. I didn’t want to be there and I wasn’t going to take sides. Mason was my neighbor and Coop was my boss. If they wanted to knock each other’s heads off, they could do it when they were far away from me.

  “Meh, I don’t want to think about Mason or Coop,” I said before knocking back the rest of my wine.

  “Are you sure about that?” Faith said, “Because I’m sure I just saw Mason walk past your window.”

  “What?” I spun around and looked towards the window, but I didn’t see him out there.

  “Maybe he’s come to apologize,” Violet suggested.

  I looked towards the front door and waited for his knock, my heart pounding suddenly.

  Should I let him in?

  Should I apologize?

  Or had I been in the right?

  No knock came.

  Andrea got a wicked look in her eyes. “Maybe he’s got his head out of his ass and he’s come to ask you out.”

  When Andrea and Violet broke out into fits of giggles, I rolled my eyes. Where was he?

  “I guess I’ll just have to see what he wants.”

  As I crossed to the front door, swaying from side to side, I realized that I was way past tipsy and had already arrived at sloshed. I pulled open the door and peered out into the darkness.

  There was no one there.

  “Mason?” I said, stepping out onto the porch. “Hello.”

  I looked from left to right but there was no sign of him. “Huh.”

  I turned back to the girls. “He’s not out there. Are you sure you saw him?”

  “Maybe he heard us all in here and changed his mind,” Andrea said.

  “Yeah, he’ll probably leave it until the morning to talk to you,” Violet suggested. “When he can speak to you alone.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” I said distractedly.

  Faith frowned. “Perhaps it was just my imagination.”

  “And on that note…” Andrea got to her feet and yawned loudly. “It’s time for us to be heading off.”

  Violet finished her wine then stood. “Yeah, I’ve got to meet with my attorney about the divorce in the morning.”

  “Good luck with it,” I said.

  Faith, who was already halfway across the room, stopped by the couch and picked up one of my throw pillows.

  “Wow, these are great. Where did you get them?”

  “Oh, I made them,” I said proudly. “Finished them this morning.”

  “Yeah? They’re gorgeous.”

  There was a chorus of oohs and aahs as they each inspected my handiwork.

  “These are incredible,” Andrea said.

  Violet nodded. “You should totally sell these. I’d buy some.”

  “One of my foster moms’ was really into handicrafts,” I explained. “She did everything. Quilting, embroidery, dressmaking. She taught me how to do it all when I was young and I’ve been making things ever since.”

  “The quality is amazing,” Violet said. “My cousin owns a store in town that sells all kinds of soft furnishings. She makes a killing with the tourists in summer and she’s always looking for new designers. I’ll introduce you.”

  I felt a lump rising in my throat. “Really?”

  “Yeah, totally. She’d love these.”

  I’d always dreamed about working for myself doing something I loved and I couldn’t think of anything better than sitting on my back porch, looking out at that amazing view while working on my crafts.

  “Thank you,” I said around the lump.

  She shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

  But it was. It was a huge deal. It felt as if my life was finally clicking into place. I had a home, a job, good friends who went out of their way to help me and if things worked out, I might have a shot at my dream career. It would have been nice to have someone to share my life with but I was sure that would come in time.

  Baby steps.

  I had to keep reminding myself that—especially when I was around Mason.

  “Thanks for dinner,” Andrea said, hugging me on her way out the door.

  “It was delicious,” Violet added.

  “My place next time,” Faith said.

  After I’d finished the round of hugs, I waved them all off and watched until their car had pulled out of the yard and disappeared out of sight. I turned, intent on getting started on the washing up, but I stopped dead when I saw that the back door was ajar.

  “Hello Libby,” the familiar voice said, right before Brandon stepped out of my bedroom door to lean against its jambs. “Long time no see.”

  His face was twisted into an ugly expression, one I’d seen a hundred times on him before, right before he got handy with his fists. Panic rioted inside me as I cataloged my escape routes. Then, I saw the glint of metal that was the hunting knife in his hand and the scream bubbled up in my chest before tearing from my mouth in sheer, blind terror.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Just like the first time I heard it, the piercing scream made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My first instinct was to run to Libby’s aid again and I got half
way to the front door before I stopped and thought about what I was doing. She’d probably just seen another spider on the wall again.

  If Libby wanted to live in the mountains then she’d have to get used to them being around. They were an inevitable part of life here—however much I sprayed her yard to keep them at bay.

  Duke got out of his bed in the corner of the room and ran to me, barking like crazy. “Lay down, boy,” I told him.

  He barked again and when I continued to ignore him, he ran to the back door and tried to get out of his doggy dog, but it was to no avail. I’d already locked it for the night.

  “Lay down,” I said again. “She’s okay.”

  I’d seen Andrea, Faith and Violet show up there a couple of hours ago with several bottles of wine. They’d still been there twenty minutes ago when I let Duke outside for his bathroom break because their car had still been parked outside so I knew she wasn’t alone. I was sure one of them would take care of a little spider for her.

  No doubt Andrea was laughing her ass off at Libby for being so scared of a spider. I wouldn’t blame her if she was. It had been pretty damn funny to me, too.

  And cute.

  I couldn’t forget the cute part.

  At first, Libby had looked so lost and helpless as she stood on her couch pointing at the big bad spider on her wall that I just had to help her get rid of it. God knows what she’d have done if I hadn’t been there.

  But what good had helping her done me?

  She’d kicked me off her property for trying to protect her from Coop’s advances when it had seemed clear that she wasn’t interested in him. That would teach me not to stick my nose in where it wasn’t wanted. I knew what Coop was like when he wanted someone. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. I mean, he would never force himself on her or hurt her physically in any way, but he could be pretty damn persuasive when he wanted to be.

  Perhaps Libby liked the fact that Coop was doing his damnedest to get her into his bed. Some women liked to be chased, didn’t they? Maybe she was just playing hard to get. God knows that Coop didn’t usually have to work so hard for it. How long would it be until she gave in and slept with him?

  I balled my hands into fists, enraged. I felt like punching something. Or someone. But, unfortunately, Coop wasn’t around and I didn’t want a hole in my wall.

  I couldn’t have put my finger on the reason why exactly, but the thought of Coop and Libby together made me sick to my stomach.

  He wasn’t right for her.

  Couldn’t she see that?

  If Libby knew what was good for her she’d stay the hell away from Cooper Brown.

  After I retrieved a beer from the refrigerator, I cracked it open then took a long drink. I’d never been one for drowning my sorrows, but I felt anxious and out of sorts. It was almost like one of those days when I went into town and convinced myself that I’d left the cooker on or had forgotten to lock the doors.

  Still, something didn’t feel right.

  Duke barked again then leaped onto the couch where he could look out of the window towards Libby’s place.

  He barked again.

  Loudly.

  I scrubbed a hand over my face.

  “Come on, Duke. Give me a break. Please.”

  Another bark.

  The anxious churning in my gut intensified.

  “She’s fine,” I said, unsure if I was trying to convince him or me.

  Maybe I was just tired after working out in the yard all day. I was sure my uneasiness had nothing to do with my crazy, beautiful, annoying new neighbor, Libby.

  If I drank enough beer, I might even start to believe it.

  I closed my eyes and sighed when Duke’s barking increased in volume and intensity.

  Heaven help me.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I reached for the lock on the front door with shaking hands, but just as I got it open and closed my fist around the handle, Brandon grabbed me from behind then tossed me away from the door as if I weighed no heavier than a feather.

  I swallowed hard and bit back tears.

  I was terrified, but it wouldn’t do me any good to panic.

  I bolted for the back door, sure I’d be able to get to it before him, but he chased me down and caught me before I even came close to reaching it.

  “No you don’t.”

  A choked sob slipped from my throat. “Brandon, don’t do this,” I pleaded. “What do you want from me?”

  The maniacal laugh was unlike any sound I’d heard before. It chilled me to the very bone. The stench of the alcohol on his breath ratcheted up my fear. He was always meaner when he’d been drinking.

  “Don’t do this,” I said again. “Please.”

  I started to cry.

  I didn’t want my life to end like this, not when I had only just started to live it. For the first time in forever, I was happy and content. I had a future that I looked forward to. I had a job and friends. I had… When an image of Mason and Duke flashed through my mind, I started to panic anew.

  This wasn’t fair.

  I couldn’t have survived all the crap in my life just to have it end like this.

  Surely.

  When Brandon lifted the knife to my throat, I roared out my frustration. I was tired of being a victim, tired of being controlled by fear. I struggled to free myself from his steely grip, but he brought the blade down and slashed it down my arm, slicing through my skin as easily as he would a hot knife through butter.

  “Don’t fucking move!” he warned. “Or the next cut will be your throat.”

  I stilled, knowing full well that he was more than capable of making good on the threat.

  “I’ve seen you in town hanging out in that restaurant with those sluts,” he spat. “Batting your eyes at that fucking caveman who lives next door, giving him lemonade and loving on his damn dog. It ends now.”

  I sucked in a breath when I realized that he’d been watching me this whole time.

  “You asshole!” I shouted angrily. “You’ve been spying on me?”

  I should have kept my mouth shut because Brandon reared back his fist then slammed it into my face, snapping my neck back from the impact. My cheekbone exploded with pain.

  “Did you really think you could just leave me behind and come here to start a new life without me? Did you? Did you think it would be that fucking easy?” he roared. “You belong to me, Libby.”

  By this point, my body had stopped shaking so violently because I was paralyzed with fear.

  “How did you find me?” I asked in a voice so small I hardly even recognized it.

  Brandon got a mean look on his face that was halfway between smugness and a sneer.

  “How do you think?” he asked and at that moment, I knew.

  There was only one person I’d told where I was moving to—the same woman who had been instrumental in saving my life the night that Brandon had left me permanently disfigured. Dotty, my elderly neighbor was the only person who had my new address here in Creede.

  My mind and body were numb from the realization.

  “What did you do to her?” I whispered.

  He curled his upper lip. “Nothing the old bitch didn’t deserve.”

  Bile rose in my throat.

  That was the moment I knew that it was highly unlikely I’d get out of this alive. The man standing in front of me was clearly insane—a psychopath for all intents and purposes. He had no fear of getting caught, no remorse about the things he’d done and worst of all, he derived pleasure from hurting people—from seeing them suffer.

  If I was to survive this, I needed to be strong. That was all well and good. In theory, it made perfect sense, but when Brandon pressed the knife harder against my throat so that the sharp blade sliced into my skin, making a rivulet of blood trickle down my chest, there was nothing to do but open my lungs and pour all my horror into a thunderous scream.

  Chapter Fifteen

  If I’d thought that Libby’s first scream had been
loud, the second had been ear-splitting and I knew, right then and there, that no damn spider had been the cause of it. Duke started howling, something I’d never seen him do before then he ran for his flap in the back door again, turning to growl fiercely at me in an attempt to get me to let him outside.

  “It’s okay, boy,” I soothed.

  But it wasn’t okay.

  I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.

  I tried not to panic, but worry and anxiety ate away at my insides as I headed to the pantry where I kept my shotgun. I loaded a couple of shells into the gun on my way out to the yard.

  Duke had taken off at a run towards Libby’s place the minute I’d opened the door, and, as soon as the shotgun was loaded, I sprinted after him. It was then that I noticed that Faith’s car was no longer outside the cabin. The girls had left already. If I’d known that, I would have come to Libby’s aid sooner, but I thought she had company.

  I thought she was safe.

  I ran faster, my mind a jumble of unwelcome thoughts and images. My heart thundered in my chest. When I reached the front door of the cabin, I saw Duke running around the porch to the back of the property. He wouldn’t even wait for me to get the door.

  I didn’t hesitate to slam my body into the old wood again, just as I’d done the last time and because the lock was already weakened and I hadn’t had a chance to fix it yet, it gave way with ease. But unlike the last time, the scene that greeted me was very different. This time, Libby wasn’t alone. And the man with her held a knife to her throat.

  The next few moments played out in slow motion, almost like a scene in a movie and yet everything seemed to happen at once.

  I noticed all the blood on Libby’s chest and was transported back three years to that gas station floor as I cradled Caroline in my arms. I shook the painful memory from my mind and roared out my fury and despair.

  “Get the hell away from her or I’ll shoot!” I warned him.

  “Come any closer and I slit her throat open,” he countered.