Chapter 3
three
Asher
She’s shocked. I can tell by the way she stiffened against me.
Truth be told, I am too. I don’t know why I threatened to spank her, but damn if I don’t love the idea of seeing my handprint on her pale skin.
This isn’t the path I should be traveling.
Even if she’s breaking the law, as I suspect she is, it’s the sheriff’s job to enforce it.
Once he does, she’ll be gone and that will be it.
Except she feels perfect in my arms and smells like spring rain. My cock’s been getting harder since I picked her up. None of it makes sense. I can’t even remember the last time I wanted a woman. Solitude is all I need, that and my brothers.
I need to rein it in. I have to get answers. Starting with who she is.
“What’s your name, little one?”
“Why are you calling me little one?” I struggle to hide my smirk at how offended she sounds.
“What should I call you? You haven’t told me your name yet.”
“I’m Emma. Emma Kincaid. And I’m not little, I’m twenty-five.”
Why does her name sound familiar? Have I heard it before? For the life of me, I can’t remember. “You’re little to me.”
She sighs. “True. But I don’t think that’s how you mean it. You’re going to be sorry when you realize you’re making a big mistake. Huge, even.”
“I doubt it. I belong here. You don’t. I’ve been removing trespassers for years. It’s insane that none of you can read signs for private property.”
“I keep telling you, I’m allowed to be here. If you’d listened to me and taken me to my tent, this would have been resolved already. Instead, you’re being a stubborn fartknocker.”
“Did you just call me a fartknocker?” I can barely hold back a chuckle. She’s serious, and honestly, I'm surprised she hasn’t kicked me yet.
“I did. What of it?”
Emma is the most entertaining trespasser I’ve come across. Smart, too. I’d probably believe her too if Andrew didn't always tell me when anyone received permission to be up here.
“It’s cute and surprised me. No one’s ever called me that.”
“I’m surprised they haven’t if you treat everyone like you are me. So far, you nearly scared the poop out of me when you chased me, then you yelled, didn’t listen to me, now you’re dragging me off to your lair.”
“My lair, huh? Interesting word choice. It’s actually a very nice log cabin. I built it myself. You’ll see it soon. We’re almost there.”
“That’s not the point, is it? I’m here to study the Mountain sweet pitcher plant for my doctoral thesis. I have permission to be here for two weeks, and I’ve only been here for two days. But you won’t to listen to me.”
Emma’s not wrong. Not that I intended for her to get hurt. If what she says is true, I’ll owe her an apology, and I’m going to give Andrew a load of shit. Either way, I need to make sure she’s okay.
“If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize. But you’re injured and need tending.”
“Again, it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t acted like a growly bear. Hence the reason you’re a fartknocker.”
“I think I like growly bear better.”
“I bet. Maybe I should call you Bear. Unless you’re going to tell me your name?”
I probably should have done that already. “It’s Asher, Asher Gallant.”
She leans away from me, and I feel the loss of her head against my shoulder like an ache. “You’re a Gallant brother?”
It comes out as both a question and a statement. She’s either done research about us, or she really has gotten permission to be here. A twinge of guilt twists in my stomach, but it doesn’t change my path.
“I am,” I answer, stepping into the clearing surrounding my cabin.
The automatic lights are on, shining through the windows.
I stop for a minute and look at it with a critical eye.
I built it log by log. It took me almost a year to finish, since I did almost everything myself. I wonder what Emma will think.
I turn my face from the cabin to glance at Emma.
It’s the first time I can see her clearly.
The light catches her eyes, but I can’t tell whether they’re green or blue.
Dirt smudges and dried tears mark her pale skin.
Several strands of blonde hair have escaped from her ponytail, and I tuck them behind her ear.
It feels like silk against my work-roughened fingers.
My breath catches in my throat—she’s stunning.
“Why have we stopped. Is something wrong? You’re making a weird face.” Emma’s eyes widen since we’ve stepped into the light and she’s seeing me for the first time. And no, she’s not wrong about me looking like a bear, especially after two weeks of roughing it.
“We’re here. Let’s get you inside and check out your injuries.”
“That’s… umm, that’s where you live?” Her surprise is almost comical. I wonder what she was expecting. A rundown shed with no light or running water?
“Yes, it is. Each of my brothers has their own. They live closer to the main homestead. I built mine first, further from the others since I like my privacy.”
“Not surprised,” Emma says.
When I glance at her face, I see her grin. The little trespasser is toying with me. She really should know not to poke the bear.
“I’m happy to make an exception for my little captive.” Chuckling at her gasp, I climb up the steps to the porch and stop at the front door. We don’t have locks on any of our individual cabins. But we always keep the main house, our base of operations, locked down tight.
Knowing exactly where the cameras are located, I turn toward the closest one and smirk. If Adrian is doing his job, he’s watching me and Emma right now. I wonder how long it will take for my brothers to knock on the door.
Emma doesn’t remark about me calling her a captive.
She’s too busy taking in her surroundings.
Pride puffs up my chest at the wonder in her gaze.
I’m proud of my home. It’s one with nature and totally off the grid.
All our cabins are. We have almost everything we need right on the mountain.
It’s how our parents planned it, and my brothers and I have followed the path they set.
“Did you do this by yourself?” Emma asks as I place her gently on the sofa.
“Most of it. I needed some help with the solar panels and water reclamation system. I even built most of the furniture. We grew up on the mountain, living off-grid before it was a thing.”
Emma nods in understanding, her expression soft. Now seeing her clearly for the first time, I realize I was mistaken earlier. Her eyes aren’t blue or green, but somewhere in between. Even with her dirty face and messy hair, she’s captivating. I’m so totally fucked.
“Stay there. I’m going to get the first aid kit.” I wait a moment until she murmurs her agreement. Then I walk over near the front door and drop our backpacks on the floor. I’ll go through hers after I tend to her injuries.
The cabin has an open floor plan, with separate rooms for the master bedroom, my office, and a spare room. It has a small bathroom between my office and the spare, but I have a full ensuite off my room. I’m a big guy, and I need room.
She’ll be able to see me from where she’s sitting.
As I step away, she shudders—from cold, fear, or something else?
After grabbing the first-aid kit from a drawer in the island, I then pull a glass from another cabinet and fill it with water. I’m sure she’s thirsty. Fuck. My brothers are going to laugh their asses off when they see how I’m treating her. It should bother me, but it doesn’t.
I still don’t know who the hell she is, or why she’s here. It doesn’t matter, not anymore, not since I realized Emma is mine and I’m not letting her leave.
“Drink it all. You need to stay hydrated.” I know I sound like a blunt asshole, but I can’t help who I am. Expecting her to push back, I’m shocked when she takes the glass from me and smiles. If I wasn’t a goner before, I am now. That’s when I notice the dried blood and dirt on her palms.
“Thank you.” Her voice is gentle, like a rasp of silk against my skin. How did I miss that earlier? Because I was too busy seeing red and wanting to tear her apart, I remind myself. Her gaze tracks my movements as I drag the coffee table closer and sit on it, placing the first-aid kit next to me.
“I’m going to wash the dirt off your face. Then I’ll take care of your hands. Okay?” I try to sound less like the fartknocker she thinks I am.
“What?” She blinks, confusion clearly visible until she flicks her gaze to her hands while holding the glass. “Oh. I didn’t realize…”
“It’s okay, Raindrop, I’ve got you.” My voice comes out gruff, and I clear my throat. After taking the glass from her, I put it on the table next to her and cradle her hand in mine. It looks tiny.
“Why Raindrop? Although I guess that’s better than little one. It’s still kind of weird. You could just call me Emma.”
I smirk, but my head is tilted down as I clean her left hand with an antiseptic wipe, then cover it in antiseptic cream and wrap it. As I reach for her right hand, I catch her watching me with a disconcerted expression on her face.
“What?”
“I don’t understand. You were ready to kill me in the forest. It was obvious from the way you chased me down. But now you’re touching me like you’re afraid to break me. It doesn’t make sense. What’s changed?”
She’s observant. I’ll give her that. There’s no way to explain what I’m feeling without scaring her away, which is the last thing I want to do. I go with as much of the truth as possible. Mom always said to start as you plan to continue, which means being honest.
“I don’t like to see anyone hurting. Plus, the last thing you need is to get an infection.”
“Okay.”
I’m surprised she accepts my explanation, but I’m not complaining. When I finish up with her right hand, I place it gently in her lap. “Does that feel better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Good. Now let me look at your leg.”
“You don’t have to. I’m sure it’s fine by now.” Emma squirms on the couch and reaches for the water glass.
“Not happening, Raindrop.” I bend down and lift her right leg onto my lap. With her hiking boot unlaced, I slide it off and remove her sock. My gaze meets hers when she gasps.
Besides the swelling and bruising I expected to find, there’s a recent scar on her ankle.
“Son of a biscuit,” she whimpers.
“What happened to your ankle, Emma? Is that why you fell?” I figured she’d tripped over a tree root or a rock, but seeing evidence of a prior surgery makes guilt churn in my stomach.
I cup her heel in my hand as I examine the swelling.
Her prior injury is an issue. I’m going to have to take her into town to see Doc Winston for an X-ray.
He’s been the doctor in Maple Creek since my parents’ time, but he’s still sharp as a tack.
“It’s fine. I was in a car accident a year ago…” Her voice trails off, and her eyes fill with tears.
Without her telling me, I know that accident did more than injure her ankle. “It’s okay, Raindrop. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. But we need to get you to a doctor to have it checked out.”
Emma bites her lower lip. “I don’t think we need to do that. I’m sure I’m fine. I just put too much pressure on it.”
“Raindrop…” She’s saved from my growly response by knocking on the door. It didn’t take my brothers long at all. “Stay here, I’ll be right back. It’s probably just my brothers.”