CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A noise in the brush caused Holly to tense. Buttercup’s ears perked, and Lady instantly went on alert. Holly stood, slipped the bear spray into her pocket, and picked up her rifle and flashlight.
“Lady, no. Stay,” Holly hissed at the dog but too late. Lady took off into the woods to investigate. Holly followed, hoping she wouldn’t go far. She was uneasy leaving Buttercup and the fire unattended.
It was only a minute before she heard her name, echoed by Lady’s bark. It sounded like Cole, but that couldn’t be. He was hundreds of miles away.
She rounded a copse of trees and saw him. Dwarfing Jen’s mule, hunched over and talking to Lady. His hair was all cattywampus, and blood trickled from a few scratches on his face. But he was still as handsome as ever. And a sight for sore eyes. When he claimed to be “saving her,” she couldn’t stop laughing.
“Yeah, yeah. I must look pretty funny,” he said with a smile. “Laugh it up.”
She approached him as he slid off Lucifer’s back. “Jen said you were a day overdue. We were worried.”
“So you came to find me? How long have you been out here?”
“Yes.” He stood tall, obviously proud of himself. “And I don’t know. It feels like a week but can’t be more than a few hours.”
“Did you ride Lucifer?” She raised an eyebrow. “Or did he drag you? You’re beat to hell.”
“Yeah, well. I don’t claim to be a mountain man. Are you all right?”
“Yes. Come on. I’ve got a fire going and don’t want to leave it any longer than I have to.”
He followed her back to her campsite, dragging Lucifer by the reins. At camp, she dug into the saddlebag, knowing Jen would have packed supplies for him. She removed his bridle and saddle, fed and watered him, and tied him next to Buttercup.
“Thank goodness I found you,” Cole said, warming his hands by the fire. “Can you imagine me spending a night in the woods by myself?”
“No. And it was dangerous of you to come after me.” She was happy to see him, but it really was irresponsible for him to traipse into the wilderness just before dark.
He frowned, and his brows creased. “You want me to go back?”
“No,” she said, softening. “I’m glad you found me too.”
“So, why are you still up here? Why didn’t you contact Jen?”
“Oh, um.”
“You got lost,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Not completely,” she said. “I beg of you, don’t tell my friends.”
“Only if you promise not to tell anyone I rode a donkey.”
“Hm.” Just the image of it made her laugh again. “I’m not sure I can take that oath.”
He rolled his eyes. “Is there no signal up here?”
“There might be, but I forgot to turn off the Wi-Fi, so my phone died searching for a signal. Does yours work?”
Cole pulled out his phone. It had one bar and half a battery. “Yes.” He handed it to her. She typed into it, looked at it, and then held it up high.
“It’s not sending? Here, let me try.” He took it and raised his hand, moving around the campsite, checking every few seconds to see if it had gone through.
“I could climb a tree,” she said, only half joking.
“I know you could.” He returned the phone to his pocket and sat by the fire. “But it sent. We’re good.”
“Thanks.”
“Is it safe to be out here?” he asked, eyes darting furtively into the surrounding darkness.
She shrugged. “Probably. Did you bring overnight supplies?”
“Jen packed my bags. No idea what’s in there.”
Holly took a quick inventory. Sleeping bag, pad, tent, rain gear, the usual. She pulled out a granola bar and sat down next to him.
“So, um, what are you doing here?”
“I told you. I came to make sure you’re okay.”
“I don’t mean here, here. I mean in New Hampshire. In Green Valley Falls.”
“Oh, that.” He sucked in a deep breath, as if calming his nerves. “I had to find out why you left New York so abruptly. Without saying goodbye.”
She studied him. This wasn’t about bad manners. The look in his eyes gave her hope. Did he feel about her what she felt for him? Should she go out on a limb and admit it first? No, she wasn’t ready for that.
“I just didn’t know what I would say,” she hedged. “We had a really good time and I wanted to leave on a positive note. I didn’t want to make it awkward, you know?”
He ignored her response and plowed on. “Also, I wanted to tell you that…I think I’m in love with you.” He rushed it all out in one breath, terror emanating from his eyes.
Her eyebrows hit her forehead. He what? Was in love with her? Or thought he was. Worried he might pass out from nervousness, she put him out of his misery. She knew she loved him, but followed his lead. “I think I love you too.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “I knew it.”
She laughed as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. They made out like he’d just come home from war. A little sloppy, but what it lacked in finesse they made up for with enthusiasm.
“That doesn’t change the logistics of our situation,” she said.
“I know.” He let her go but grabbed her hand. “I don’t know what to do about that, but figured we’d cross that bridge when we came to it. Finding out how you feel was my first priority. I didn’t think much past that.”
“Well, it’s funny. I came up here to ruminate and had an epiphany. I made a pretty big decision.”
“Oh, yeah. What’s that?”
“I’m leaving Green Valley Falls.”
“But this is your home.”
“Sort of.” She picked at a fingernail. “My parents aren’t here and aren’t coming back. Half the town hates me, which I could get over, but why bother? The house I live in is here, but I don’t consider it ‘home.’ My friends are really the only thing holding me here, and I can always visit. They’ll support me no matter what I do.”
“Your job?”
“Not as fun now that I either have to avoid or deal with Rick every day. I can work any place there’s a state or national park, which is basically anywhere. I’m ready for something new.”
“You sound pretty sure about it.” He studied her as if gauging her sincerity. “Where will you go?”
“I made the decision yesterday and only get more certain as I think about it. It’s time. I haven’t decided where yet.”
“Well, in that case, I know a great big city just south of here.” He winked. “You could stay with me until you find a place.”
“What if that takes a while?”
“I mean…” He shrugged.
Holly did a double-take. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
He paused. Probably kicking himself for making such an offer on the fly and wondering what to say to get out of it. “What if I am?”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?” she asked. Did he realize the seriousness of what he was suggesting? Would he regret the invitation in the light of day tomorrow? “We met less than a month ago.”
“Tracy says when you know, you know.”
“Tracy’s twenty-two and single,” Holly countered. But her heart rate had ticked up a notch. And surprisingly, it felt more like excitement than panic. “But she might have a point. The idea should terrify me, but it doesn’t.”
“I know what you mean. This is the biggest step I’ve ever taken with a woman. But I’ve learned to trust my gut. And it feels right.”
Holly also believed in gut-trusting. But could a decision this big be made on intuitive vibes? Maybe she should make a counteroffer of staying with him for a trial period. Plan to get her own place in case things didn’t work out.
Or, was it possible she’d found her dream man? Calm, cool, confident, and most importantly, loved her for her, despite her many flaws. He was the one she could trust with her heart.
Deep down, she knew. Sure as the sun would rise the next day. She didn’t need weeks or months to decide. Cole was her future. And just like the decision to leave Green Valley Falls, this also felt right.
“Yes,” she said, turning to stare at him. The firelight bounced off his face, and gratitude overwhelmed her. This is what she’d been waiting for. Who she’d been waiting for. “I’m in.”
“Yes!”
“You sure New York can handle me?” she said, throwing another log onto the fire and pushing it around with a stick she was using as a poker. “I seem to bring death and destruction.”
“In the last three weeks, I’ve scared off bears, roomed with a rattlesnake, and ridden a mule deep into the wild wilderness. If I can survive your jungle, you can survive mine.”
She laughed. “True.”
“I have a confession to make,” he said. “I lied before.”
“Well, that was fast,” she quipped, and he chuckled.
“I don’t just think I love you.” He kissed her softly. “I know I do.”