Summer on the Mountain

by Rosemarie Naramore

  Summer shook her head, surprised at herself for her romantic musings. She was a practical girl, more inclined to deal with the reality of what was, rather than what might be. And until she knew Jarrod’s real feelings for her, she would forgo her daydreams.

  At least she would try.

  ***

  Summer woke bright and early several days later to the sound of knocking on the front door.

  She rose abruptly, wondering if Jarrod might be home. She uttered a hopeful prayer, and then tossed open the door. Her parents greeted her with broad smiles and armloads full of groceries.

  “Mom! Dad!” she cried eagerly, opening the door to allow them to step past. “You came!”

  “How could I pass up the promise of fishing?” her father demanded in mock indignation. “If my little girl can land the big one—and from what you say, have—then it’s time I gave it a go.”

  “I can’t agree more,” she said delightedly, kissing him on the cheek. She hugged her mom next. “Don’t you look nice,” she observed. Her mother was decked out in khaki shorts, t-shirt, and hiking boots. A walking stick rounded out her ensemble.

  “While you and your father fish, I intend to do a little hiking,” she volunteered.

  “You’ll love the trail around the lake,” Summer told her.

  While her parents put the groceries away, she hurried to get ready. Although it had been a surprise to see her parents, it was definitely a happy one. If only Jarrod was home to meet them.

  Summer returned to the kitchen, and to the aroma of freshly cooked bacon and eggs. “That smells heavenly,” she observed, her mouth watering even more when she spied a box of cinnamon rolls from her favorite bakery back home.

  “Thought you might be missing these,” her mother said, gesturing toward the liberally frosted rolls.

  “You thought right,” Summer said, grinning as she reached for one.

  After breakfast, she led her father to the back porch, where the two selected a pole for him. She trotted to the front porch to retrieve Jarrod’s pole, and then paused briefly to give her parents a look at her paintings.

  Her mother gasped. “Summer, they’re beautiful.”

  “Perhaps your best work,” her father mused, watching her curiously.

  “Well, I don’t know about that,” she said humbly, but her father brushed her modesty aside.

  “Really, Summer, they’re very well done. I think you’ve found your muse,” he observed.

  She chuckled. “Whatever that might be.”

  “Gwendolyn tells me he’s over six feet tall, sandy haired, and with eyes as blue as the lake.”

  “Mom!” Summer gasped. “Stop that.”

  “I’m teasing, honey,” she said with a chuckle. “But humor me. Does the description fit?”

  She chuckled ruefully, but refused to comment, instead leading her parents to the lake and out onto the dock.

  In her outdoorsy attire, her mother looked as if she were born to trek the forests. As her mother tipped her face to the cool breeze, breathing deeply of the fresh mountain air, Summer realized immediately that she found the mountaintop as beautiful as she did.

  Her father also surveyed the scenery with wide-eyed wonder, turning ever-so-slowly to take in the panoramic view around him. “Wow!” he declared finally.

  “Now you understand why I like it here,” Summer said softly.

  “I imagine winter’s can be a challenge,” her father observed, ever the realist.

  “And I imagine that’s a matter of perspective,” her mother said. “I would think it would be lovely up here, with the trees dusted in snow, and the lake shimmering…”

  “Exactly,” Summer said. “Let’s get a lure on your line, Dad,” she said, suddenly eager to change the subject. It pleased her that her parents seemed to appreciate the beauty of the Great Outdoors, since she had wondered if they might have reacted more like Gwendolyn.

  When her mother trotted off with a breezy wave, declaring she would be back as soon as she rounded the lake, she knew Gwendolyn hadn’t managed to even remotely sour her on Mother Nature.

  Summer showed her father how to tie on a lure, demonstrated how to cast, and then sat down with him to await the big catch. It was a short wait.

  Soon he was on his feet, laughing with delight as he reeled in a huge trout. Summer helped him tug the lure from the fish’s mouth. “Dinner!” she cried, as she took the fish and dropped it into a bucket of water. “Next!” she added with a giggle.

  “You bet!” her father declared, and then cast as if he’d been doing it his whole life. Before too long, he’d caught several trout. He glanced at the bucket, shaking his head ruefully. “I could get used to this,” he declared.

  “I know,” Summer agreed. “Just wait until you taste them. Remember when you told me that there’s nothing better than fresh fish fried up in a pan?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, that, you were definitely right about,” she said with a grin.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Summer hated to see her parents leave two days later, and she was certain they hated to go. After her father stowed an overnight bag in the trunk of his car, he slammed it closed with a bang, and then stood with hands on hips, surveying the scenery around him.

  “Gorgeous,” he declared with a low whistle.

  “It is,” his wife agreed, moving to stand beside him.

  Summer crossed the few feet that separated her from them and hugged each tightly. “I’m so glad you came. I don’t think I could do justice to this place in a verbal description.”

  “What’s important is that you have done justice to this beautiful place in your paintings,” her father reminded her.

  She couldn’t help smiling. Her father had always been supportive of her art, and she loved him for it.

  “You’ll call us to tell us when you’re coming home,” her mother prompted.

  She nodded. “I will.”

  “You are coming home?” her father inquired with a knowing chuckle.

  She laughed, but refrained from answering. She wasn’t exactly certain why, and her father didn’t press. Instead, she walked them to the passenger side of the car, finding herself sad to see her folks leave.

  Her mother slipped into the seat, but turned toward the sound of an approaching vehicle. Summer and her father turned, as well.

  Jarrod drove up in his SUV, the muddy tires and heavily soiled vehicle exterior a sign of the rough terrain he’d just come from. Summer watched him curiously, her eyes bright and hopeful. Her parents didn’t miss the eager expression on their daughter’s pretty face.

  He parked and hurriedly joined her, watching her parents with unconcealed interest.

  “Jarrod, these are my parents,” she told him, smiling warmly.

  He extended a hand to her father, and then to her mother, who had climbed out of the car. “Good to meet you both,” he said.

  Summer shot him a furtive glance. His heavily-lidded eyes and stubbled cheeks attested to his fatigue, but she knew immediately he wouldn’t be staying long. He seemed agitated, taking a deep, steadying breath before he turned to her. “How’ve you been?” he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile. His blue eyes raked over her face, as if memorizing every feature.

  “Good. You?” She continued to study his features in return, her heart warming at his mere presence.

  Summer’s parents watched the couple curiously, her mother especially attuned to their unspoken body language as much as their verbal cues. She suspected Summer’s young man had something to say, but couldn’t with them there.

  “We should get going,” she said, smiling widely at the young couple.

  “We should,” her father said, rounding the car. He climbed in and started the car. With a final wave, he turned the car around and drove away.

  Summer turned to Jarrod and smiled tentatively. “You look exhausted,” she said, reaching up to smooth the hair off his brow.

  He smiled, and then reach
ed for her, pulling her against him. “I am, and … I miss you.”

  “Me, too,” she said.

  He pulled back and claimed her lips. “That’s just what I needed,” he sighed, pulling back and gently scrubbing his cheek against hers.

  “How are things going?” Summer ventured, though she suspected he wasn’t ready to fill her in on anything just yet.

  He sighed again and stepped away from her. “Honey, I can’t talk now. Just promise me until I come home, you won’t wander off and that you’ll keep the doors and windows locked. Oh, and that you won’t touch any unfamiliar plants, or feed any wild animals, or…”

  Summer wasn’t sure whether to laugh or be offended. Did he think she was a total moron when it came to the perils of the Great Outdoors? Surely he realized she’d learned something during her time on the mountain.

  When she glanced into his eyes, she realized he was teasing her. She held her right hand up. “I promise to be careful.”

  He searched her face. “Thank you, sweetheart. If I thought you might be in danger, I…”

  “I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “And I want the same promise from you.”

  “I’ll be careful,” he told her, and then kissed her again. “Come with me while I grab a few things from my place.”

  She followed him to his cabin, where he strode purposely from room to room, seeming intent on finding some misplaced item. Finally, he returned with a large knife strapped to his side. Summer’s eyes widened fearfully.

  “Nothing to worry about,” he told her dismissively.

  She followed him into the kitchen, where he pulled out a case of water and several canned items from his pantry. Summer sighed resignedly and he heard her.

  “I won’t be much longer,” he promised her, stopping to take her shoulders so that he could look into her eyes. “Will you be here when I get back?”

  She smiled nervously. Would she?

  “Summer?” he pressed. “We need to talk, but…”

  “You don’t have time.”

  “I really don’t. Please don’t go anywhere until I get back.”

  She watched him thoughtfully. If only they did have time to talk. She couldn’t help but think Gwendolyn must be growing impatient with her absence. She wondered if she had hired any additional help. Soon the summer season would be over and she would need help changing out the paintings in the gallery, in order to ready for fall.

  Summer knew that by remaining on the mountain, she had left her boss in a tough spot. Was she being selfish? She felt a pang of remorse at the prospect. She really needed to talk to Jarrod about her concerns and fears.

  She sighed. She also wanted to tell him how she felt about him, but felt uncertain if it was the thing to do. Suddenly, she wanted to beg him to stay even a few moments longer. But she couldn’t. He had a job to do and she would never stand in the way of his duty.

  “Will you be here when I get back?” he pressed softly.

  “I’ll do my best.” It was the best she could do for now.

  He nodded and she followed him outside. He locked up the cabin and the two hurried to his SUV, still parked in front of his folks’ place. Beside the truck, he gathered her in an embrace, and then with a sigh, climbed into the truck and drove off.

  Watching him go, Summer felt as if her heart had been torn from her chest. She realized then, she loved him—with all her heart.

  ***

  When the phone rang a couple hours later, Summer intuitively knew it was her mother calling.

  “Mom, you can’t have been home more than a few minutes…”

  “You’re right. I stepped into the house and picked up the phone.”

  Summer laughed. “Okay, Mom, what’s on your mind?”

  “Just wanted to tell you I approve.”

  “Approve of what?” she asked obtusely. She bit back a laugh, knowing very well her mother was talking about Jarrod, though how she could have decided she approved of him after such a short meeting was beyond her.

  “I approve of your young man,” she clarified. “He is a rugged fellow, isn’t he?”

  Summer chuckled. “I suppose.”

  “Do you two have romantic dinner plans?” her mother asked hopefully. “Or maybe a late evening walk around the lake together?”

  “Actually, Mom, he’s not even home, and there’s no telling when he might be again.” Summer filled her in on the stakeout, and Jarrod’s continued involvement.

  “Honey, are you safe up there alone? You could be in danger.”

  “I’m fine, Mom.”

  “Do you think you should come home?” she pressed. “Or maybe your father and I should stay with you.”

  She sighed. “I would love for you to come back. But for Gwendolyn’s sake, I probably should come home. Did she happen to mention to you how things are going at the gallery?”

  “Well, she did seem awfully harried when I stopped by. She was running around like a chicken with her head cut off, hanging a painting here, answering a call there, and dealing with customers all at the same time.”

  “She doesn’t have help?” Summer asked with a wince.

  “Not that I could see.”

  She groaned loudly. “I should come home.”

  “What’s stopping you?” her mother asked, and then chuckled. “Stupid question.”

  “No. It’s just…”

  “What?”

  “I know you’re thinking I don’t want to come home because of Jarrod, and he’s part of it, but it’s … more than that.”

  “You’ve fallen in love with that mountaintop, haven’t you, dear?”

  “Mom, I really have. I can’t even explain it properly, but I feel drawn to it … as if I’ve come…”

  “Home,” her mother said knowingly.

  She sighed. She didn’t want to hurt her mother, since home would always be the house she had lived in with her parents. “Mom, I have to admit, I feel a special connection…”

  “That goes even beyond your feelings for your young man?”

  She chuckled, feeling embarrassed. “Yes. I’ve even toyed with the idea of buying a home up here. Would you and Dad visit me often?” she asked hopefully.

  “You know we would,” she assured her. “Frankly, your father fell in love with the lake—well, the fish—and I really enjoyed my hike. I have to tell you, I’m surprised at Gwendolyn. I suspect that if she were to give the place a chance, a real chance, she might realize she could enjoy it up there.”

  “It is very different from what she’s accustomed to,” Summer said in her friend’s defense.

  It wasn’t as if Gwendolyn could help that she preferred city life to mountaintop living. She was entitled to her preferences, but Summer couldn’t deny she was thrilled that her parents understood why she loved the mountain so much.

  “It’s true Gwendolyn is a die-hard city dweller,” her mother acknowledged, “but don’t worry, your father and I would visit as often as we could manage it. You’d probably get sick of us. Who knows? Maybe Daddy would like a place up there, too. Did I tell you he…” She laughed. “No, I haven’t told you. We just left you a couple hours ago. Anyway, Daddy plans to head over to the sporting goods store and pick up a fishing pole.”

  “I’m so glad,” she said delightedly. “He had fun, didn’t he?”

  “He did. Well, hon, I should sign off. Keep in touch, okay?”

  “I will, Mom. Love you.”

  ***

  Summer painted for several hours after her phone call with her mother, taking a break only when Deputy Sanders drove up in his patrol car.

  “Hello,” he called out as he exited the car.

  Summer grabbed a rag and swiped at her hands before leaving the porch to greet him. “How are you?” she asked.

  “Good, good.”

  “And how is married life treating you?” she prompted with a grin.

  “Real good,” he said crisply. “Near perfect, well, if it weren’t for Meg hating the dog.”

&nb
sp; “I’m sure she doesn’t hate Brutus,” she scoffed. “I’m sure if she weren’t allergic…”

  Rick offered a lop-sided grin. “I don’t know. The two seem to spend the bulk of their time glaring at each other.”

  “Brutus glares?”

  “Yeah, he does. And he’s not particularly willing to give up his side of the bed, which is now supposed to be Meg’s side…” He gave a dramatic wince.

  Summer nodded her head up and down. “Been there,” she muttered. “Hey, should Brutus be in the house in light of…”

  “Meg’s allergies?” He shook his head dejectedly. “Nope, he probably shouldn’t, but tell him that. Besides, Meg is getting allergy shots in hopes she might be able to eventually tolerate my big buddy. Anyway…”

  “That’s very … tolerant of her,” Summer said, and then watched him expectantly, wondering what the young deputy had on his mind. He seemed to read her thoughts.

  “I, uh, just came by to see how you’re doing. I spoke to Jarrod yesterday and he’s beside himself with worry. You should see him, all on edge and pacing around half the time.” He chuckled. “The guys are really ribbing him, telling him he’s whipped…” Suddenly, his eyes widened and he clamped his mouth shut. He swallowed loudly. “You, uh, won’t mention to Jarrod what I just said…”

  She shook her head, but worried about Jarrod focusing on her rather than his work. She prayed he wouldn’t let his guard down and possibly be injured because of it.

  “Anyway, I promised Jarrod I’d check on you, and I have…” He gave a salute as he strode to his patrol car. He paused before dropping in behind the wheel. “Uh, Summer, I don’t suppose you miss Brutus? If so, I could drop him by…” He watched her hopefully. “The big boy really took to you, you know.”

  She smiled and shrugged. There were moments she missed the big lug, but… “I really wish I could keep him, but…”

  Rick flashed a smile. “It was worth a try. I sure hope Meg’s allergy shots work soon.”