Chapter 2 Hunter
Saturday December 1, 3 :25 p.m .
The woman’s legs dangled from the ridge, her eyes wild. She let out a grunt as her trembling, pink gloved hand reached up and grabbed Hunter’s. Her other hand gripped hard onto a small tree that would likely give way in a matter of minutes.
Hunter’s heart hammered as he leaned forward, pressing his heels into the snow and steadied himself. Cold bit his fingers, but he kept his grip strong. He attempted to pull the woman up by one hand. He was strong, but she was down at an odd angle, and it was hard for him to get leverage. The falling snow and slippery ground underneath him didn’t help.
“Give me your other hand!” he yelled. In order to do that, she’d have to let go of the small tree first. Which required a lot of trust.
He knew how hard it could be to trust.
“I can’t. I can’t!” The woman’s eyes had closed, one hand on the tree, the other hand in his. But she was wearing gloves, and the one gloved hand he held was slipping fast.
“Trust me.” Hunter had to give her hope, a reason to let go. “Just look at me. I won’t let you fall.”
Finally, she opened her eyes and they locked eyes. Something in her calmed, and she nodded. The woman let go of the tree and grabbed his other hand. With all his might, Hunter jerked her up, the snow under his hiking boots crunching, making him slip backward until he dug his heels into the ground.
“Gahh!” He wouldn’t let go. He couldn’t let go. With one final, desperate pull, he yanked her up the last few feet. She collapsed forward, landing on top of him as he fell back flat onto the ground, the snow a pillow under him.
“Ooof!” they both yelped as they landed .
For a moment they just lay there, the woman on top of him, her cheeks flush, Hunter’s heart racing. Not exactly how he went around meeting women.
She shook her head, snow flying off her. Her eyes darted around wildly at first, then she peered into Hunter’s, locking eyes. The adrenaline coursing through Hunter’s body started to wear off as he focused solely on the dark gaze piercing into his soul.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she said.
Black hair peeked out from under her winter hat, her brown skin a beautiful contrast to the snow around them.
“You okay?” Hunter asked, breathless from pulling her up off the edge, breathless from having a woman on top of him. It had been a while since that had happened.
“Yeah. I mean. Oh! My gosh, thank you for saving me.” She smiled, her eyes gentle, and for the first time in a long time, Hunter’s heart leapt. The stinging cold air and snow melting from the warmth.
But her elbows were totally jabbing his ribs.
“So, do you think you could get off of me?” Hunter asked, a smirk emerging. He didn’t exactly mind the current setup, except he didn’t know her, and his backside was getting wet.
The woman’s eyes opened wider. “Oh! I’m so sorry.” She scrambled up, took off her gloves as they were already halfway off, then offered her hand to help him up. His eyes lingered on her hand, deciding what to do next.
Obviously, he could get up by himself. But it had been a long time since he had felt a woman’s skin on his. And if he was being completely honest, he totally wanted to let her help him.
He grabbed the woman’s hand, her skin heating him from his hands to his toes. With all the might her cute little frame could muster, she grunted as she attempted to pull him up. Failing to pull him up. It was cute.
“Okay, buddy, I know you saved me and everything, but could you meet me halfway and use some of your own strength? I can’t exactly pull you up myself.” The woman spoke like she had a hand on her hip, even though she didn’t.
He laughed and nodded. He pushed himself up as she pulled him. Now standing, Hunter looked down at her hand and reluctantly let go. He would have held on longer, but that would have been creepy. He cleared his throat.
Hunter peered at her pink monstrosities passing for boots. No wonder she had nearly slipped off the side of the ridge.
“You get those boots in Seattle or what?” Hunter nodded toward them. He’d seen it a million times. Tourists biting off more than they could chew in the great outdoors of Leavenworth, without the proper equipment or knowledge of the area or what to do.
Granted, there hadn’t been a tourist this cute before. Not that he had been paying attention.
“Yeah.” She looked down at her boots, lifting one up off the ground to inspect it. “My feet are so cold. I’m guessing these aren’t actual hiking boots. Know where I can get some?”
He stuck out his lips and nodded. So she was a tourist. Meaning she’d only be here for the Christmas festivities and head back to her big city life. He f olded his arms as a way of warming himself, but also emotional protection . “Bavarian Boots. Front Street. Can’t miss it.”
She nodded in return. “Thanks. So, uh, I guess I’ll be on my way then. Hopefully, I won’t need you anymore.”
Hunter raised his eyebrows. She had a brush with death and suddenly everything was rosy? As much as he’d love to rescue her again, Hunter also didn’t want to see her fall into unnecessary danger–again. “I’m heading back down the trail myself. Maybe I should walk you back. You know, for safety.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “I don’t walk with strangers. That’s like girl hiker rule number one.”
He smiled, looked down at his boots, then up at her. “I’m Hunter.”
The woman wrinkled her nose. “I’m Rosa.”
“Okay then,” he said.
“Okay then,” she mirrored.
“You want me to lead the way, or…” Hunter trailed off.
“Nope, I got it.” She started back down the trail, the snow thankfully letting up. But the accumulation made the trail practically impossible to distinguish. Unless you were Hunter Parks and knew the trails backwards and forwards.
After a few feet, she went off course.
“Rosa. A little to the left.”
“Right. I was just looking at the trees.”
He stifled a laugh. She was adorably stubborn.
Most of the rest of the way down was done in silence, but Hunter didn’t mind. That’s why he had come up to Icicle Ridge in the first place. To clear his head. It had worked, until Rosa needed his help. Until Hunter had rescued her.
It felt nice to rescue someone. Because it didn’t always work out like that. Even when you tried everything, some people just couldn’t be saved. No matter how hard he loved them.
Finally, Hunter and Rosa reached their cars, both of them covered in snow. Rosa had pulled her gloves back on and used her arm to sweep the snow off her windshield. He glanced over and chuckled softly. Amature city girl unprepared for the mountain snow. Hunter opened the large metal crossover truck toolbox and pulled out two full-sized brooms.
“Here.” He chucked one over to her.
“Woah!” She caught it and followed his lead.
“First, sweep off the area around your front door,” Hunter said while showing her with his broom. “Then turn your car on. That way it’ll warm up as you finish sweeping off the rest of the snow.” He was kind of an expert on living in the area and the snow that came with it.
Her eyes lingered on him as he spoke. Hunter got in his truck and started the engine, then he swallowed as his gaze went back to Rosa, who quickly turned and followed suit. Hunter also turned away, pretending not to hyperfocus on her every movement as he swept his truck and returned to the driver’s side, placing his broom back in the toolbox .
She stopped sweeping and snow crunched under her boots as she approached him from behind. His heart raced as he turned to face her. Rosa handed the broom back. “Thanks. Never thought to carry a broom around in my car.”
His eyes met hers and he took the broom, slowly pulling it toward him. “Gotta have the proper gear if you’re gonna make it in life.”
Rosa let go of the broom and bit the side of her lip. “That’s good advice. Well, thanks again. Hunter.” She paused. “For saving my life. And for the broom.”
For a split second, his heart warmed up enough to open a tiny crack. She seemed so out of place here, yet she pressed on, determined. He liked that.
But Hunter simply stood there, thinking of every single reason he could come up with to n ot a sk her for her number, to not ask her out, to not ask her how long she was in town. Because his heart was not ready to be opened up all the way again.
“Anytime.” He swallowed. Hunter meant it. He’d literally save her anytime. But take the next step? That was another story.
Rosa searched his face, narrowed her eyes, then walked away. Hunter stood next to his truck, offering a small wave as she drove out of view, a dullness entering his chest.