10. Excerpt from next in series.
Excerpt from next in series...
Rescued by the Mountain Man
HAWK
Ouch! Fucking asshole.
I grab at my hip as I slide out of my truck, a burning pain shooting the length of my leg. It’s a stark contrast to the harsh wind that freezes my cheeks instantly.
“Useless old man,” I grunt to myself, hobbling to stand up straight.
A truck rolling down the street honks their horn and I flip them the bird over my shoulder. I glance and see Jack, one of my old military buddies laughing behind the wheel. It’s a surprise to see him this far down the mountain, and it looks like he has a girl with him.
I smack a fist against my leg, willing it to work while holding my middle finger up at buddy. Jack honks again and they’re both just laughing their heads off as I struggle to get my hip working properly.
I really need a beer.
To be fair, it would be a sight to see. A fragile old man, crippled by war so bad that I can barely hobble across the parking lot of the towns only bar. I used to be the fittest of the bunch, top in all the tests when I was serving for my country.
Not anymore.
I fought one too many battles and paid the price. Wounded so badly I was told to step down, find a place to rest and get fit again.
My life has never been the same since.
Don’t get me wrong – I fucking love Misty Peaks Mountain. A shit ton of ex-military men are flocking to Misty Peaks in droves. Escaping to nature, it’s the perfect place for hiding out and pretending to heal.
Yeah. Deep down I know I’ll never be able to rejoin the forces. That adrenaline and pride that I thrived on each and every day… it’s all gone.
But winter is always the toughest. The daily struggle of the pain in my leg, the itch of the rough, scarred skin to go with it, it’s all a dark reminder of the man I’ve become.
And now, that fucking icy wind just adds to my problems.
I clutch my coat over my chest and stride forward toward the bar. I’m getting too old for this shit, but as a volunteer Park Ranger, it’s a requirement that I attend these ‘meetings’ once a month.
And by meetings, I mean sit around and drink a few beers with a bunch of beat-up old army guys who wear the same scowl I do.
“Ah, here he is!” Briggs shouts, his booming voice startling a table of diners to the side of the bar. “About time you decided to show up!”
I hobble up to the table. “You know I wouldn’t pass up free beer.”
Briggs slides a bottle across the table and I take a swig. We’re at our usual table in the darkest corner of the room, right beside the pool table. The swirl of cold bubbles hits my tongue and I’m guzzling the rest down before it even hits my gut.
“Whoa, slow it down there, buddy,” Briggs chuckles. “The drink won’t loosen up that stiff old hip of yours.”
“It’s worth a shot,” I grunt, grabbing another bottle.
The bar is quiet, as usual. It’s a worrying sight heading into the colder months. Me and the guys try to help out the new owner, Becca, by showing up a few nights every month. She’s thrown herself into this run down old place, but just like the rest of Misty Peaks, the sudden revival of the mountain is looking promising.
That’s part of the charm of this town. We’re all here with what life has given us. We may not like it, but we’re doing it anyway.
That’s why we’re all on the volunteer team. For me at least, it gives me a sense of belonging. I’ve always fought to protect, and being a ranger on this beautiful land is as close as I’ll get now.
I sip my beer and slap my buddy Blake on the shoulder. “How’s the cabin going, man?”
Blake’s hard eyes stare blankly at the table. He doesn’t like to brag about the stash of money he hides up in his cabin, but we’ve all been there – it’s a fucking mansion in the hills. He’s done a great job building it and it must be worth a fortune.
“Aces, man. Lovin’ it,” Blake says, his wild hair messy around his face. “Gets a bit lonely, though. Living in there all by myself. You boys gotta come up and we’ll test out my new grill one day.”
“Or you could just get a girlfriend!” Landon, another military vet, calls out from behind a pool que.
Blake has always been the quiet one, but lately we’ve seen him chatting with the café owner across the street. It’s been a hot topic every time we meet up for our meetings.
“Working on it, man,” Blake quips back, winking to Landon.
Landon smirks and shakes his head at me. “And how are you going, Hawk? That leg still giving you trouble, old boy?”
I shake my head and sink into my chair. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
Briggs leans in, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Speaking of handling things, you manage to chase away those teenage punks the other night?”
“I might be a cripple, but I’m not about to let some city-slickers rob the only bar in town.”
The boys all laugh and hold their beers up. “Fucking amen, brother.”
I snort and choke on my beer. “Fucking little assholes. Tried to take everything, including the empty kegs. Lucky I was close anyway, so it was no trouble.”
“Thanks for doing that,” Briggs says, eyes still staring dreamily across the room at the bar owner. “Had to happen on the one night I was snowed in.”
“All good man,” I say, kicking him under the table so he stops staring. My hip gives a twinge from the sudden movement, and I grab at the pain. “Someone’s gotta keep the mountain safe, eh?”
“Well, we know who to call for the next mountain rescue then,” Briggs grunts, kicking my shin in retaliation.
Briggs glances back to Becca. Her cheeks are flushed red. She’s pacing back and forth, flustered behind the counter, trying her damned hardest to do everything herself. I’m sure I see Briggs go to help her, the look in his eyes different to any I’ve ever seen before.
We eventually fall into some kind of structured meeting. It’s Briggs’ job to keep notes and we talk about who’s taking on what volunteer role until the next meeting. Thank Christ I’ve passed town night watch onto Blake, and now he can deal with out-of-town brats who think small towns are easy targets.
“Right, Hawk,” Briggs says as he jots down everyone’s new jobs on the paper. “You take mountain rescue for the next few weeks. That means you’ll need this.”
Briggs hands me a satellite cell phone. I go to grab it, but Briggs knots his brows together and pulls it back when I clutch it in my palm.
“You know how to use one of these things, right?”
I snatch it from Briggs. “Funny fucker, aren’t you?”
Briggs cackles with amusement. He’s always been the joker of the group. I guess if it weren’t for his banter, we’d be the most miserable bunch of men ever known.
We finalize the formalities quickly and get back to drinking. The windowpanes across the room rattle with the wind outside.
The warmth of the bar and the camaraderie of my friends has provided a brief respite from my otherwise dull life. But as the night drags on and the ache in my leg gets worse, I know it’s time to head back up the mountain.
I push my chair back, the screech of wood against tile drawing a bunch of curious glances.
“Alright, boys, time for this old man to call it a night,” I say, grabbing my coat from the back of my chair.
“Already?” Briggs teases, raising an eyebrow. “We were just getting started. I’ve ordered pizza and Becca said she’s gonna join us for a slice.”
Briggs looks towards the kitchen, a hint of hope in his eye.
I chuckle. “You know I can’t keep up with you anymore. Beside, I’d better behave myself tonight. Ranger duties and all.”
I pat the cell phone I’ve slid inside my coat pocket.
Blake gives me a knowing nod. “Stay safe out there, Hawk. Storm’s are coming in the next few days, you’ll have your work cut out for you.”
I wave off his concerns with a grin. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve survived worse.”
I step out into the biting cold, the wind whipping at my face. Fucking winter. The pain in my hip pulses, but I push through it, determined to make it back to my truck without looking like a complete cripple.
I am on rescue patrol for the next few weeks, so I’ve gotta find a way to push through it.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I let out a long breath. I savor the silence and start the engine, the rumble of the truck adding to the comforting sound. The sky is starting to darken, the sunset at this time of year a beautiful orange glow, albeit brief.
I begin the drive back up the mountain towards my cabin, watching the trees swaying ominously in the growing winds. I’ve driven this road a thousand times, and I lean back and grip the wheel with one hand, relaxing into the seat before a shrilling sound has me shooting upright.
I fumble for the vibrating satellite cell phone inside my coat, my fingers stiffened from the cold.
“Hawk here,” I answer eventually.
“Hawk? Oh, hi, darling!”
It’s Susie from Head Office. She’s a sweet bird, a bit chatty for my liking but she means well nonetheless.
“Hey Susie, what’s up?” I say, trying to keep it brief.
“Always short and to the point,” Susie teases. “Listen, we’ve had a call from a hiker who’s slipped. I couldn’t get many details. Can you respond? I’ll shoot through the coordinates.”
“On my way,” I say, ending the call.
The cell buzzes with the location and I see it’s right near my cabin. I step on the gas, glancing at the clock on the dashboard. It’ll be dark soon. And that wind isn’t going to get better anytime soon.
That thrill of a challenge begins to rush through my blood.
It’s what made me a damned good soldier. Venturing into the unknown, determined to bring safety to my people. It’s the adrenaline-fueled service that I crave – no matter how much pain my frail body is in.
The headlights of my truck start to show on the road. Darkness is close and I come to the end of a road near my cabin. There is a path leading towards the cliff face that offers the best views of Misty Peaks.
It’s these vast and majestic views that made me build my cabin where I did.
I race down the path, my heart pumping so fast I forget about the pain in my leg. As I near the cliff, the beam of my flashlight catches a figure huddled against a rock, shivering in the cold.
Then, my heart stops.
Long auburn hair whips around the most gorgeous face I’ve ever seen. Plump cheeks and bright red lips catch my eye, stirring something inside of me that I thought died a long time ago. Despite the obvious fear, this woman’s eyes are like shining diamonds.
I don’t hesitate, I find a way down the rocks with ease.
Instinct kicks in and that’s something that’s never led me astray. On the battlefield, in the heat of war, you learn to go with your gut.
And right now, mine is screaming out at me to get her to safety – no matter the cost.
I need to save her. I must save her.
Because if I know one thing, my instinct is telling me that this woman is mine .
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