Lawson

by Anna Joung

  LAWSON

  Mountain Man, 4

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 Anna Joung – All rights Reserved

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Table Of Contents

  Description

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  Also By Anna Joung

  About The Author

  Description

  She’s stuck in a loveless relationship.

  He’s hiding away from his past.

  Hailey

  My fiancé lured me to this mountain village under the pretense of a romantic getaway, I didn’t realize romance included all his friends and a hunting trip. Left to my own devices, I end up in town and stumble on something to keep my busy – a rock-climbing experience. What could go wrong?

  Lawson

  As soon as I turned eighteen, I left all my problems behind, preferring the solitude of the mountain and my Dutch Shepherd, Thor. My house is off-the-grid and I only go into town to pick up groceries once a week. Minimal contact with society keeps me safe, stops my remembering. If only I hadn’t advertised my rock-climbing business with the nosey vintage shop manager.

  When Hailey Beaumont winds up on my door, demanding I keep her entertained whilst her fiancé fools around behind her back, what can I say? There’s a hidden sadness within her that calls out to my own. Could this be destiny?

  Every curve of her body drives me wild, sending me spiraling into obsession. I can’t get enough of her and it’s clear she’s not backing down.

  It’s just a matter of time before she gives in to her desires, and I can’t wait.

  Prologue

  Hailey

  My eyes darted back and forth as I surveyed the mass of trees rushing past. I was a city girl, not used to the wilderness and I had acquired a taste for the finer things in life. Looking at me, I very much doubted that I would be meet the straggles of the mountainous country. My mind longed for the comfort of home, tucked up in bed with a good book to read. Instead, I had been dragged out to the country against my will.

  “Almost here,” Matthew flashed a grin at me, his pearly white teeth glistening in the light.

  I looked across at my fiancé, the man my father had chosen for my betrothal. He looked the perfect gentleman on the outside – the hair perfectly swept back in brunette waves, his straight yet shapely nose, his immaculately chiseled jawline. Any woman would go mad to have him by their side. Any woman but me. Look close enough and those murky brown eyes are filled with secrets, some that even I fear to delve into.

  The evening was drawing close and I wanted nothing more than to get to the hotel and settle down for the night. Matthew had promised a couples massage when we got there followed by a mud soak. Despite his odd choice in location, I was thoroughly looking forward to the vacation. It had been a long journey and we had taken his car, which meant we had to follow his rules. That meant no eating and perfect posture the entire way. Everything ached and my agitation was on the rise. My eyes strained against the dimming light until I finally saw our intended destination.

  Something about this doesn’t look right. That doesn’t look like a hotel.

  “Welcome to the Pemberton cabin! My father bought it with the latest deal he pulled with a local sawmill. Surprised?”

  My mouth dropped open as he continued to drawl on about the cabin. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to get out and run away while I still could. Except… I couldn’t. I was out in the middle of nowhere with no means of getting back to the city unless I convinced my conniving fiancé to drive me.

  How could he lie to me like that? Why did he trick me to come out in the middle of nowhere with him? What are his intentions? Does it matter? My father threw away my freedom the minute he promised his business partner's son my hand in marriage.

  Just as we pulled up outside the cabin, a group of men came piling out the door. At first glance I couldn’t recognize them, then, as they stepped into the headlights, I did.

  “Why are they here?” I asked, still stunned at the audacity of my partner’s lies.

  Before I could answer, Matthew’s friends started calling out for him. I watched as he shrugged a lame apology at me before jumping out, running into the throng of his five friends. I hesitated before placing my feet on the ground, ready to exit the vehicle, wondering whether there was any chance this could be a bad dream. It was then Nathaniel Adams, Matthew’s best friend, broke free from the gang and came sprinting up to me.

  “Glad to see me here?” he asked, smoothing back his hair, his goofy lopsided grin planted on his face.

  Great, just what I need. The man who had spent the entirety of his life trying to get in my underwear is now stuck in a cabin with me for Spring Break. What could go wrong?

  “You’re not meant to be here,” I pouted, “None of you are. This was meant to be my romantic spring break vacation with Matthew.”

  He mocked me with a frown, “Aww, the little princess didn’t get her way? Well, sorry sweetie, this is the boy’s hunting trip. He only brought you with him to please your parents. Even they can see the connections not there, and don’t you wonder why that is?”

  I rolled my eyes, “Why?”

  “Because you should be with me,” he smirked.

  Disgusting pig.

  I shoved him away, snarling, as I clambered out the car. Matthew had all but abandoned me as I headed to the trunk to get my own bags. Nathaniel tried to take them off me but I just swatted him away like the annoying fly he was. As I struggled to the door, I felt tears dampen my lower lashes and I tried to blink them away. By the time I entered the building, I was almost ready to collapse into a heap and start bawling. It wasn't until late into the night, leaving the boys to drink downstairs, did I creep out onto the balcony and stare up at the mountains. The moonlight bathed their crests in a silvery glow and I felt whisked away for a moment, as though I were someone else entirely.

  Free.

  I allowed a single tear to fall to the ground below before turning on my heel and collapsing into bed. That night I slept restlessly, tossing and turning, dreaming of a better future.

  ***

  Lawson

  “Mom had another relapse?”

  Thor nuzzled against my lap as I smacked the wall hard. My dad’s wavery voice came through the phone as he explained that, yet again, she had gone overboard and was stuck back in the confines of rehabilitation. All the memories from my past came flooding in and it took a lot of strength to push them back, keeping them caged like they always had been.

  I’m not ready to open that vault. Not yet.

  “They’re trying a variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches; they think this time she’ll be able to push through it.”

  “How many times have I heard that? How many times are you going to p
ut yourself through this, dad?”

  “It’s a neurological disease that feels inescapable to her. She’s your mom, the woman who gave birth to you. And she’s my wife, the woman I love. She may be struggling but it’s our job to stand by her and help her regain her footing in the world. You know after your brother…”

  “I don’t want to hear it,” I snapped, “No matter how you spin the story, it never gave her an excuse to destroy my childhood. If she cared so much about being a mother, then why didn’t she bother with me? It doesn’t matter… she’s where she needs to be now, as am I.”

  My dad’s voice came softly, “Are you sure that’s where you want to be? Chester is where all those memories still live, all that pain you keep putting yourself through. Why don’t you come move in with us? At least for a little bit until you save up to get yourself a proper place. Somewhere that doesn’t run off-grid.”

  Move in with him? Move back to the people who had caused me unending misery? The misery that has clawed its way into my adulthood, forever leaving irreparable scars on my psyche? Scars that forced me into the mountains in the first place?

  I sighed, “I can’t be near you right now. Especially mom, that’s why I got away from you. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “At least tell me how you’re doing, we rarely ever get to speak. Have you met anyone out there? Any friends?”

  I could hear myself growl from deep inside my throat. It wasn’t until I felt Thor’s tail whacking against my leg that I calmed myself.

  “We don’t speak because the only time you ever call me is to tell me mom has messed up again. And no, dad, surprisingly enough I haven’t met anyone out in the mountains. The Iron Peaks don’t offer much in the way of ladies.”

  Though I would hardly refuse if one made her way up here. A bitter eternity of loneliness isn’t the future I planned out. But that’s down to your choices, dad. You allowed her to ruin my life. You allowed her to do this to me.

  “And your business?” he pressed.

  “We’ll see what Spring Break brings,” I replied, “You never know, I might be surprised this year.”

  Chapter 1

  Hailey

  Matthew pressed his lips into mine as he headed off with the boys to start their day of hunting. They felt like cold leeches against my skin. I know I should have felt something, wanted him to hold me, to keep me safe, to love me but his touch made my skin crawl. Without trying to show any obvious disgust, I attempted to kiss him back. When he pulled back, I could see from his expression that I hadn’t fooled him. Staring me in the eyes, he discreetly used the back of his forearm to wipe my touch away. I felt a coldness descend upon me, dripping me as I stood there staring. In the background, his friends wolf-whistled and he turned and left for the woods. Matthew had given me instructions on how to get to the nearest town and I intended to follow them.

  No way I’m staying here all day, huddled away like a trophy wife. He may expect me to have nothing going on in my life but I didn’t get dragged all the way out here from the comforts of the city to be abandoned in an oversized cabin. There’s got to be something in this blip on a map to keep me entertained, something interesting.

  I had opted for jeans and a stone checked woven blazer, fashionably tied in with my gray combat boots. Clutching my phone, I left the warmth of the cabin as I walked in the direction of the sleepy town of Chester. The winding roads slowly widened and the trees became sparser as I headed into civilization. My first view of the town was their fire department on the bend, a dented tree opposite. As I got closer in, I was not impressed with the selection of buildings to choose from. It was easy for me to find their main street containing the majority of shops. Sighing, I surveyed my pickings and landed on a vintage clothes shop.

  Well, at least I’ll be fashionable when I die of boredom.

  “Welcome to Beltline Fad, can I help you with anything today?”

  I looked around a pile of skirts to see a bouncy mixed-raced female come skittering up to me. Her hair jumped around her shoulders as she gripped the miniskirt I was looking at. For a moment I wondered whether she was going to take the item off me. I was rather bemused by this woman’s forward greeting.

  "A 1990s floral print mini skirt pairs well with a long-sleeved evening blouse. I have one in cream with a high neck and ruffles that would look amazing on you. Want me to get it for you?"

  I backed away, intimidated by the woman’s eagerness. I was used to the high-end boutiques in the city, the ones where the staff refused to speak to you unless your reputation proceeded you. Here there was this over-friendly bundle of energy, literally tugging at her sleeve.

  “Mommy!”

  I watched as a tiny version of the woman came bounding up to her, throwing herself in her arms. I couldn’t help but be warmed by the sight of pure love and joy as her mom spun her around in her arms before placing her back on the floor gently. I had always wondered what it would feel like to genuinely be loved by my own family members. Sure, we were a family by name, but we were never bound by any shows of affections. The closest I ever got to my mother was posing for family portraits.

  “Mommy is with a customer right now, why don’t you go and check on your great-grandma? I’m sure she could use the company.”

  The little girl’s curls bounced as she enthusiastically nodded her agreement before sprinting out of sight. The mom and I watched her go before she turned her attention back to me. I felt my heartstrings tug, the longing for someone to need me the way that little girl needed her mother.

  "They can be quite a handful," she looked down, noticing the giant rock on my finger, "Talking of handful, that's quite a diamond you've got there. Your fella must have realized just how lucky he was by the look of that."

  I offered my hand for her to inspect it closer. Gently, she grasped my hand and pulled it towards her face, examining the ring.

  “Beautiful,” she smiled, “I’m sure in no time you’ll be dealing with your own little sprogs.”

  “Oh, I can’t have children,” I stated.

  She clapped a hand to her mouth, uttering a thousand apologies as she grasped onto me. My mind blanked out every time I said it, no longer able to process the pain that came with it. I remember the inescapable pain when I had been told as a teenager. The knowledge that I would never bring life into this world had caused me relentless nightmares. My mother had never looked at me the same after the news was broken to her, almost like I was no longer a woman at all. I was waiting to find out how Matthew would react when I finally told him he wouldn’t be conceiving any heirs with me.

  “Actually,” I interrupted her, “I came in here looking for some form of entertainment for the rest of my vacation. My fiancé told me it was going to be a romantic getaway but turns out he’s on a hunting trip with the boys. I thought I’d get some shopping done today. Other than that, any suggestions?”

  The woman stopped apologizing and looked about the room, as though deep in concentration. Eventually, she clicked her fingers and disappeared behind the counter at the back of the shop. I had just started to wonder if she was hiding when she came rushing back towards me, a piece of paper rustling in her hand. Her excitement made me giggle into the back of my hand. I had never witnessed such energy in such a small woman before.

  “There’s not much here, we’re a pretty quiet town. However,” she thrust the paper into my face, “I do know that this guy wouldn’t mind with some extra business.”

  I looked down at the leaflet in my hands. My brow furrowed as I read about the rock-climbing experiences he offered. It wasn’t something I had considered before.

  Beggars can’t be choosers. Although the thoughts of being stuck up on a mountain with a complete stranger doesn’t exactly sound appealing. It’s either that or being stuck at the cabin with Matthew smirking at me and Nathaniel slobbering over me.

  “Do you know this guy?” I examined the document, “Lawson Camden? Is he safe?”

  She laughed, “He’s comp
letely safe. A bit of a miserable hermit, if you ask me, but then you never know what’s underneath. That’s how I met my Cillian, after all. Anyway, how about I give him a call and you swing by tomorrow? I’ll have directions printed out for you by then.”

  I smiled, now warmed by the friendliness of this woman. It was very rare to have anyone this amicable in the city; I would have been shunned for walking into an establishment like this in the first place.

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  “Kayla Carter,” she grinned, offering her hands.

  I accepted, shaking it firmly, “Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. How can I thank you enough?”

  “Well, how about that skirt and top you were looking at…”

  ***

  Lawson

  The Dutch Shepherd barked as I threw the stick before bounding after it. I laughed as Thor tumbled over trying to grab it. His clumsiness matched with his intelligence made for some humorous adventures. As he came back to me, I stroked him behind the ears, rewarding him for his obedience before throwing the stick once more. Sometimes I wondered whether it was insane that my only companion and my best friend was a dog. If I was being honest with myself, I did miss some human interaction. I just wanted to feel happy, feel wanted…

  To feel loved. I sometimes wonder if I’ve ever felt true love.

  Nearby, the Crystal Creek babbled as it streamed by, its current powering my house. As the sunlight started to die out, I called Thor to me as we headed back towards the ramshackle building. The roof was covered in a combination of grass and moss, the chimney barely poking out from the top. I had just closed the door behind us when my phone started buzzing from my pocket.

  If something has happened to mom again, I swear I’ll kill that woman. That’s if she hasn’t killed herself already…

  Nausea swept over me as I pulled the device out. It wasn’t until I took note of the caller ID did my fear subside. Now, curiosity took over as the owner of Beltline Fad’s name scrolled across the screen.