22. Five Meddling Sisters and a Hunting Lodge
WHEN WE FINALLY pull into the tiny village of Amlina, I’m ready to claw my way out of the Jeep.
I love an adventure as much as anyone else. A nice road trip over a long weekend can be wickedly fun. What we just finished was not fun. It was fucking miserable. I understand our reasons for driving nonstop, but me spending almost sixty hours straight in a car is never happening again.
Never.
Tate reaches across the console to grab my hand, squeezing it with his own. “How are you feeling?”
“I”m not gonna puke on your floorboards in the next five minutes, if that”s what you”re asking.” I don”t normally get carsick, but I learned ten hours in that my stomach has limits. I”ve spent the bulk of this trip trying not to dry heave into a convenience store shopping bag. Even taking breaks to walk around with the little girls for fifteen or twenty minutes every five or six hours didn’t help. It just added time to my misery.
But we’re here now, so I can finally eat something besides crackers and sleep somewhere besides an upright seat.
Although, based on what I”m seeing outside my window, my options are going to be pretty slim. This place is in the middle of freaking nowhere. It”s been almost four hours since we saw anything I would consider civilization. And, while I can understand the women”s reasons for coming here the same way I understand why we drove straight through, I”m still questioning everyone”s decision-making skills.
“Are you sure this is where you want to live?” I swing my eyes to the seat behind us where Anna sits along with her two daughters. “There”s nothing here.”
Anna gives me the brightest smile I”ve seen on her so far, but it”s still pretty lackluster. “I know.”
She”s kind of hard to read, but it seems like she”s sure, so I face forward since looking back makes the nausea that keeps creeping into my gut flare back to life. “Well if you change your mind, just let us know. We’ll turn around so fast it’ll make your head spin.”
Speaking of heads spinning, I”m starting to feel a little barfy again, so I crack my window, hoping the fresh air will help. It”s pretty darn chilly outside considering it’s the tail end of summer, and I shiver as the brisk air swirls through my hair.
I”ve gone through bouts of being too hot and then too cold this whole trip, forcing Tate to adjust the air conditioning more times than I can count. At a stop just before the border, he came back from the gas station’s convenience store carrying a bag. He”d gotten me an oversized, extra thick hoodie printed with an outline of the state of New York. I pull it on now, sinking into the bulky warmth as I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.
“I’m starting to get a little worried. We”ve only got half a mile left, and I”m still only saying trees.” Tate scans the thick forest on each side of the unlined road. “I”ve double checked the address at least five times, so it”s got to be—” his words die off as the trees suddenly end and we get our first glimpse of the actual village.
And I”m using that word pretty generously.
There”s a gas station with an attached store that’s slightly bigger than a convenience store, but smaller than an average grocery store, that is also labeled as the post office. Across from that is an airstrip that runs the length of an exposed, rocky shoreline. There”s no real beach, per se. It”s more of a rocky ledge than anything. But the contrast of the evergreen foliage surrounding us and the craggy rocks in front of us is stunning. The water beyond it is sparkling in the evening sunlight as soft waves roll in. “Wow. The shore is really pretty.”
And it’s still got nothing on the gigantic structure we’re parking in front of.
Anna explained to me on the way here they”d all been hired on at a hunting lodge and would be doing things like cleaning rooms, cooking meals, and doing dishes. The place offered not only good wages, but also room and board. To them, it sounded like a dream come true.
I was skeptical. But that was mostly because the lodge in my mind was small and dark and rundown.
The building in front of me is none of those things. The enormous A-frame structure is three stories tall and has what I’m guessing is a wing of rooms flaring off each side. The triangular, center portion is almost all windows, taking full advantage of the waterfront view. It’s made of wood, which is what I was expecting, but the thick, richly stained logs give it a warm, rustic feel. It’s impressive as hell.
For the first time this entire trip, one of the little girls in the backseat speaks up, her voice small and quiet. “Is this our new home, Mama?”
Anna nods, her wide eyes edged with tears. “It is, baby.”
We”ve only been parked a few seconds when the huge set of double doors situated at the center of the wide porch stretching across the front fly open. A group of women who look to be in their sixties filter out, wearing the biggest smiles I”ve ever seen as they rush across the stone porch. They’re shockingly tall, and even though each of them is trim and fit, they have a sturdiness that makes it easy to see how they”ve survived in such an isolated, rugged spot for so long.
Anna lingers in the backseat, watching the group with a wary gaze. I don”t want her to be afraid. That”s the whole reason we drove them all the way here instead of getting them plane tickets. We wanted to make sure they felt safe and comfortable in their new home.
Pushing open my door, I step out onto the gravel lot, pulling in a deep breath of fresh air to clear away the last of the nausea in my stomach. I glance over as Christian and Simon pull up beside us. Like me, Lydia and Myra immediately get out. We’re protective of these women for our own reasons and want to make sure this is going to be a good situation for them. We want to make sure they know someone’s looking out for them.
When I left home, I was young but already well-versed in the art of taking care of myself. I had a driver’s license. I had a bank account. I had a job. These women have none of that. They don’t have a good grasp on how the world works, and it would be easy for someone to take advantage of them.
I”ll be damned if I”m gonna let that happen.
I stride toward the steps leading to the wide and deep porch, matching the smile of the women greeting us. “Hey, there.”
The woman in the front of the pack stretches both arms out. “You made it.” She grabs me, squeezing me tight before holding me out and looking me over, her expression warm and open. “How was your trip?”
I snort and answer without thinking. “Fucking terrible.”
Her dark eyes widen and her smile falters a little bit. It still takes me a second to realize the word I led with, and I cringe. “Sorry.”
She studies me cautiously. “Are you Lucy?”
I start to laugh. If she’s expecting a group of sweet, godly women, I probably just confused the shit out of her. “No. I’m just helping Lucy and her friends get settled.” I turn, motioning to where Lucy is climbing out of Simon’s extended cab truck. “Lucy’s over there.” I rest one hand against my chest. “I”m Piper, and while your place is absolutely beautiful, I’m going to be heading back to civilization first thing tomorrow.”
The woman in front of me cackles, head tipping back on a laugh as she pulls me in for another hug. “You are a doll.” When she releases me, she lowers her voice, holding a hand up like she”s telling me a secret even though everyone around us can hear. “And I don”t blame you. Between you and me, I”d kill for a McDonald”s chicken nugget sometimes.”
Now it”s my turn to laugh. It”s from amusement and relief. As our drive dragged on, my worry over Anna and her daughters finding a safe place grew. I”m concerned for all the women, but Anna holds a special place for me. Seeing the lengths she’s gone to for her daughters hits me in the spot that’s dictated my life for years. Helps ease the ache I will likely always carry. I want to do everything I can to help her since no one was around to help me.
“I”m Alma, and these are my sisters, Maeve, Louise, Ida, and Nina.” She glances around as Tate and the rest of our crew gather behind me. “We run the Amlina Hunting Lodge, and we are so excited to have you girls with us.” She widens her eyes, blowing out a breath that is so strong her lips raspberry a little. “This place has gotten so busy that we’ve been covered up lately. There’s no way the five of us could handle everything. We were working ourselves to death trying to keep up. Nearly at our wit’s end when you girls found us.”
I could swear her eyes seem a little misty. Like having Lucy and her friends here is an answer to a prayer instead of an answer to a help wanted ad.
Alma sniffs loudly then beckons us with a wave. “Come in. I”m sure you”re tired and hungry and ready to relax.” The sisters lead us through the rough-hewn front doors and into the most insane great room I’ve ever seen. My jaw literally drops open as I take in the soaring ceilings and oversized leather furniture. Like the front wall, the back wall is almost all windows. But instead of looking over the water, they look out onto a large patio featuring a dozen Adirondack chairs surrounding a stone fire pit.
A gigantic table sits in front of the back windows, stretching twenty feet from end to end, with chairs running up both sides. There are two kitchens, one on each side of the large space. The appliances are all high-end and gleaming. Matching islands—that are so big I could lay crosswise on them—sit between each kitchen and the rest of the room. It’s beautiful, and more than a little surprising considering I was expecting a dark and dreary den of a place.
But the more I look, the more I discover the décor isn’t the most shocking thing about this place.
There are animals everywhere. Not cute, cuddly, happy animals. These are dead ones. Their beady little eyes stare out from shelves and walls and tables. There”s a bobcat on a perch built into the wall high above my head. A fully flared turkey tucked into one corner. The busts of moose, deer, and elk are racked above a wall of books like they’re all just hanging out at the library. It’s a little creepy for my taste but is probably an expected addition to a lodge I’m starting to guess caters to more elite hunters. It would explain the wages the sisters were willing to pay.
I glance behind me as Anna comes in with her daughters. I watch to make sure they aren”t traumatized by what they”re seeing, but their expressions are open and curious. The smallest one points a little finger at the stretched wings of an owl posed to look like it’s flying above the enormous fireplace.
Alma continues chatting and gesturing, leading us straight to the long table at the back of the room. The space is so large, I”m halfway across it before I finally smell the savory scent of food. My stomach growls like it’s going to eat itself if I don”t put something in it soon and I start to salivate as I take a seat.
Tate settles into the chair beside me, hooking an arm over the back of my seat as he leans in, breath warm against my ear. “How are you feeling, Sugar?”
“Hungry.” I lean closer to him, relaxing a little as the heat of his body sinks into mine. I know I”ve been with him for nearly four days straight, but there was an entire console between us, and three strangers in the seat behind us—two of them way too young for my colorful language—so we didn”t do much talking or touching on the drive, and I miss him.
It”s weird because I”ve never missed a man. Never liked one enough to miss him. But here I am. Missing a man because being in the same car with him wasn’t close enough. I’m an embarrassment to myself. And the worst part is, I don’t give a shit. Especially not now that he’s right next to me, pulling my chair closer like he missed me too.
Tate’s arm stays around me as the sister’s stuff us full of roasted caribou and some of the best mashed potatoes I”ve ever tasted. His arm stays around me as Alma leads us to the room we’ll be staying in overnight, letting us know they’ll be serving us breakfast in the morning before we head out.
It”s not until we’re closed into our rustic-chic bedroom that Tate’s arm leaves my shoulders. But even then, it”s only so his hands can start to peel away my clothes.
I lift both arms over my head as he lifts away the hoodie, but the second it clears my face, I give him as much of a scowl as I can manage. “I can undress myself.”
“I”m pretty sure you”ve done enough over the past few days. The least I can do is get you scrubbed and tucked into bed.”
I laugh as he tugs my shirt up and off. “I”m not the only one who put in a shit ton of effort.” I shiver a little as my shirt hits the floor and Tate moves me into the beautifully appointed bathroom, leaving me to stand on the sealed stone floor as he starts the shower. “If I remember correctly, you wouldn”t let me drive more than a few hours the whole way here.” I lift my brows as he turns back to me. “That means I actually got a little sleep, but you”ve been awake for over two days straight.” I step toward him, reaching for the waistband of his jeans. “By your logic, I get to make sure you”re scrubbed and tucked in too.”
“I”m fine.” He sweeps my hands away before working the fly of my jeans open.
He’s so focused on the task, he doesn”t notice I”m genuinely glaring at him now. I lock my legs together, ensuring he won”t be able to get anything more off my body, and wait.
Tate tugs a few times at the jeans before realizing what”s happening. He lifts his eyes to mine. “Seriously?”
I scoff. “Seriously, me?” I poke him in the middle of his chest. “Seriously, you.” I cross one leg over the other, because simply clenching is starting to get exhausting. “Do you know I have never touched your dick? Not with my hand. Not with my mouth. The only thing I”ve grabbed it with is my vagina, and even that hasn’t gotten a hold of it in forever.” I stare him down. “So unless you”re going to let me touch you the same way you touch me, you can get out and I’ll shower myself.”
Tate’s head bobs back like I hit him. “I just want to take care of you, Piper.” He sounds genuinely confused over why I”m not thrilled to lay my ass back and be a doted-on pillow princess.
I get some people might like that, but I”ve seen what happens in an unbalanced relationship. When one person makes the other their entire reason for existing. I’ve spent my entire adult life making sure I never ended up like that, but never once did I guess I might be on the other side of the equation.
“And you can take care of me.” I gentle my tone because there”s a panic in his eyes that makes my chest tight. “I like when you take care of me.” I reach out, resting one hand over his sternum. “But I want to take care of you too. I won”t be in a one-sided relationship, Tate. Not ever.”
His breathing speeds up as he rakes one hand through his hair. “It”s not about being one-sided. It”s about me making sure you know how much I appreciate you. That you”re enough for me.”
I swallow hard, my throat aching at how much fear I see in his face. I understand it.
Hell, I”ve had it.
But somewhere along the way, I accidentally stepped past it, and I”m pretty sure it”s because of the man in front of me. Because he fights for me. He changes his life to make room for me. He thinks of me. Pays attention to what I say. How I feel.
And if he thinks for one fucking second I don’t plan to give just as good as I get, then he hasn’t been watching as closely as I thought.