Chapter Three
LUNA
Months later
The trees rustled above as I stopped, resting my hands on my hips as I looked around.
There was a distressed sounding animal nearby, but I didn’t know what animal, or where it was.
After I walked a little further, I came to an abrupt halt in front of a hole in the ground, almost a perfect square and maybe four feet deep.
Inside, two moose calves looked up at me.
I whipped my gaze in a circle to discover a mama moose lingering in the trees nearby.
At the moment, she was eyeing me cautiously, as if trying to decide if I was friend or foe. I’d grown up in Alaska, so I was deeply familiar with how protective moose were of their calves, rightly so. I needed to be careful.
“I’m going to help your babies!” I called over to her.
She remained in the edge of the trees, watching as I peered down at the moose calves. “Luna, what are you thinking?” I mused to myself.
My gaze flicked over my pink pajama bottoms with a fleece jacket thrown over the top.
I’d heard the sounds while I was trying to enjoy my morning coffee.
Worried, I’d decided to investigate. I quickly checked my pocket, pleased to discover I’d thought to grab my cell phone when I hurried out.
I contemplated which of my friends might be awake at this hour and finally decided it was safe to text Casey.
Me: I’m rescuing two moose calves. If I’m late to drop off the donuts, mama moose has probably trampled me.
“There,” I said to myself, or I suppose the moose.
I glanced around, considering my options. A few minutes later, I dragged two boards over from the shed nearby and made a little ramp. I brushed my hair out of my face and clambered down, knowing if I thought too much about it, I might talk myself out of it.
At this point, mama moose approached. “Don’t you come down here,” I warned her.
The moose calves were all legs. I’d guess they were maybe a few months old. For the second time this morning, I asked myself, “Luna, what are you thinking?”
Now, I was in this. I had to somehow get these two calves out of here. They were studying me with rapt curiosity.
“Well, I’m here,” I announced.
I approached them, taking a herding approach to get one over toward the side of this hole where I lifted its front legs.
The moose wiggled like crazy, and it was heavy enough I could barely hold on.
I clumsily shoved the calf out from behind.
“You made it!” I cheered when the calf scampered over to mama moose, who sniffed her all over.
I repeated the process with the other calf. This one was even more wiggly, giving me several kicks in the thighs with sharp hooves.
“Yay!” I cheered when calf two scrambled away from the edge of the hole.
I hoped mama moose had enough sense not to jump down in here, but I decided it was best to give her a few minutes to move away.
My breath was heaving, and I was absolutely filthy.
My pink flannel pajama top had a big tear in it.
I was relieved I had a tank top on underneath.
At least I wasn’t flashing the wilderness in my backyard.
All in all, I couldn’t believe I’d gotten them out of here.
Peering out, I watched as the three moose walked a short distance and began snacking on some alder trees. It was early autumn in Alaska and chilly in the morning. That was Alaska.
“I’m going for it,” I announced to them. Even mama moose ignored me.
I clambered back up my makeshift ramp and began running, only to hear mama moose following me. I didn’t realize there was another human here until— “Ooof!”— I collided with someone.
I all but bounced off of this person’s chest. It felt like the human equivalent of bumping into a rock wall. I stumbled and glanced up. “Parker?” I tried to catch my breath.
“Luna?”
I didn’t have time to explain. “Hurry! There’s a moose chasing me!”
Parker didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry when I grabbed his arm and started dragging him.
“She’s walking the other way now, Luna,” he said, his tone super calm.
“Well, she was just chasing me.” I dropped his arm, feeling sheepish.
“Yeah, I saw that.”
“What are you doing here?” I finally thought to ask.
He thumbed over his shoulder. “Walking my dog.”
A giant dog approached, loping along with his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging. “Oh,” was all I could manage.
The dog approached me, his tail swishing against my legs. “What’s his name?” I knelt down to greet the dog.
“Fuzzy,” Parker said with a sheepish grin when I glanced up.
“Hey, Fuzzy.” I scratched behind his ears, and he dipped his head down to press it into my chest, wiggling all over with pure joy.
A moment later, I straightened.
“I was walking up the trail and heard you cheering. Maybe I’m crazy, but I could’ve sworn you pushed one of those moose calves out of that hole over there.” Parker gestured toward the square hole in the ground.
“You’re not crazy.” A laugh sputtered out. “That’s exactly what I did. Both calves were in there, and that seemed like the only way to get them out.”
Parker’s low chuckle sent a sizzle of heat over my skin. I glanced around to see the moose were out of sight now. He walked over to peer inside the hole. “Could be a foundation for an old cabin.” His gaze arced around the clearing. “Maybe somebody planned to build here and never did.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
When Parker looked back at me, I imagined I must’ve been quite the sight.
His eyes dipped down before whipping back up.
It was only then I recalled I had a big tear in my pajama top.
My fitted tank top was the only thing protecting my bare skin from burning up under the heat of his gaze.
I could’ve sworn my nipples perked in greeting.
“I should let you keep going,” I said hurriedly.
My voice sounded breathless, which was annoying.
Parker Reeves was cute with his shaggy dark blond hair and rich brown eyes.
He had defined features with a bold nose and one of those jaws you could wax poetic about, all strong and chiseled.
He tended to distract me, or rather, my hormones.
If I had any effect on him, it was absolutely not obvious.
He nodded before asking, “Are you okay?”
My eyes dipped down, taking in the dirt smeared in streaks on my pajamas and jacket. “I’m fine.”
Parker’s lips quirked at the corners, his eyes sparking with a gleam that made my belly feel all tingly.
“Enjoy your hike!” I called as I began to make my exit, walking with my chin held high.
I blamed it entirely on Parker and his handsomeness that I promptly took three steps, tripped over a root, and fell flat on my face.