chapter 6
The weeks following my ill-fated trip down the mountain and into town were so busy that I didn’t have time to dwell on the stupid sheriff or whatever had or hadn’t happened down by the river the night of the storm. Not only was the main lodge full of guests who needed full-time service, but I’d also set Risky to work on transforming part of the massive wraparound deck into an outdoor lounge area so it was ready for the rapidly approaching ski season. It was a gigantic project; one I knew good and well he couldn’t handle on his own. He had no issues putting together the outdoor furniture and heaters I’d bought. The task of building the bar structure and expanding the small outdoor kitchen space pushed even my DIY knowledge to the limits. There was no way I harbored high hopes for what Risky could accomplish. I knew it was going to be a group project. The amount of work bordered on being overwhelming.
Every time I thought about the endless list of things I needed to tackle, a dull ache throbbed in the center of my chest, and I missed my grandparents more than I’d thought possible.
They’d had each other and made running this place look easy. Now that I was basically a one-woman show, I understood just how much time and effort they had given to their dream. It made me even angrier that my parents were so eager to sell it off to the highest bidder. I blamed myself for being away those years I’d ended up entangled with Baker. If I’d come home right away, as planned, I wouldn’t have to put as much effort into repairing things that had gotten dry rot or worn away from the harsh elements. I should’ve been here, keeping the place up and running, not trying to resurrect it, like I was now.
“We need to raise the railing higher and enclose everything, just in case families with little ones plan on spending time out here when they get back from the slopes.” I showed Risky my crude drawing of the deck, lined with a decorative lattice and wrought-iron framework. “I have a local ironworker scheduled for the metal part, and they’re handling all the welding. We need to have the carpentry finished by next weekend.” I tapped the plans with a fingernail and glanced over at a frowning Risky. “Do you think you can handle making a trip into town and getting the supplies we need ordered? I don’t mind paying extra for them to deliver the wood.”
“That’s adding a lot of weight to the deck. Don’t you need permits and structural engineers to make sure the building isn’t going to fall off the mountain if we add all this stuff to it? This seems to be a bit much for an amateur handyman.”
I pushed a few strands of hair out of my face that had fallen loose from the messy bun on the top of my head. I’d been running myself ragged, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d brushed and styled it. I knew I looked far from a put-together business owner at the moment. If Banner wasn’t dealing with her cheating husband and baby, I would’ve asked her to lend a hand. And my parents always hurt more than helped in any situation. It was frustrating, realizing that I’d isolated myself to the point of having no one I could rely on in a pinch other than a stranger I’d picked up alongside the road. If asked, I could honestly say I was never lonely, but it was startling to understand just how alone I’d become. Once I got the lodge back to its former glory and didn’t have to worry about just how much money was going out without enough coming in, maybe I’d need to be more sociable and attempt to make some friends.
“I started plans for this before I moved back to Blue River. It took forever for them to get approved and for the license to come through. Everything has to be done above board, or one of those developers will call the city on me. They’re looking for any reason to shut me down and force me to sell.”
Risky picked up the long list of lumber and other building supplies. It was the first time I saw him appear apprehensive about any of the projects I’d placed in front of him.
“If I call in a favor and get someone to help get this thing built, would you be opposed to having an extra set of hands?”
My eyebrows shot up, and a laugh burst out. “I can barely pay you minimum wage. I thought it was pretty obvious that I don’t have the money for more help.” I never made it a secret that I put every dime I earned back into the lodge, which meant I was barely scraping by.
“A favor means it’s free for whoever calls it in. I understand you think you can do everything yourself, Lucky. And most of the time, you’re right. But some situations require more than a can-do attitude.”
We stared at each other, the tension between us thick enough that it could be cut with a knife.
“There are a lot of people from my former line of work who owe me. I don’t have any reason to call those debts in for myself. When I quit my job and left, I knew I was going to leave most of the markers I’d collected on the table for the next guy. Let me put them to work instead of wasting them.”
I cocked my head to the side and stared at the enigmatic man across from me. The better he treated me and the more invaluable he became to my rebuilt life, the more I worried about the other shoe that was inevitably going to fall. There was no way my luck would let me find a virtual guardian angel and not turn all he offered into a hellscape.
“Why did you leave your former job?”
It sounded like a sweet gig from the little he’d let slip about it.
A dark look crossed his golden eyes. The shift sent a shiver down my spine. For a brief second, Risky looked like a totally different person. The costume of being a low-key maintenance worker slipped away, and I glimpsed the real man beneath the denim and flannel. He was not someone I should take lightly.
“My mentor retired. She left the family business to her daughter. I didn’t see eye to eye with the new management. It was time to move on and find something new.”
“If you left all those favors behind, the new boss must’ve been sad to see you go.” I would feel the loss if he walked away, and he wasn’t even good at his current job.
Risky grunted as his expression turned cold. “She’s a handful of years older than me, but we basically grew up together. In her eyes, I will always be a random kid her mother brought home and forced upon the rest of the family. My mentor had a habit of bringing in strays and rehabilitating them. Her daughter was never my biggest fan. Until she decided she wanted to keep me as a pet.”
“One of these days, you’ll have to tell me exactly how you ended up on the side of the mountain that day. I feel like it’s gotta be one hell of a story.”
I couldn’t picture him being tamed or coddled by anyone. His spirit was so wild and free; it was hard to imagine anyone attaching a leash and leading him around.
His dark eyebrows lifted in amusement, and all the scary shadows that haunted his gaze drifted away. “I don’t think it’s nearly as interesting as your story.”
The tension between us switched from something tight and anxious to something unruly and hot. The tingly feeling under my skin and the lightheaded sensation took me by surprise. I’d been so indifferent to men since the disaster with Baker. Well, I was indifferent to most people if I was being truthful, which made my desire to open my childhood home to strangers to the point of obsession very contradictory.
Speaking of strangers …
The odd atmosphere between me and Risky was broken by someone knocking on the glass door that led onto the deck. I’d blocked the area off and kept the doors locked, telling all my current guests this part of the lodge was under construction. It was no place for anyone to be at the moment, and it was especially no place for children. I’d made sure that the family here for their reunion knew the deck was off-limits when they made their booking. For the hassle, I’d even given them a major discount on their rooms for the week they were here.
I walked to the door and pulled it open to face the grandparents of the group. The grandmother was a Colorado native and had been nothing but lovely during their stay. The rest of the family was from Texas and parts of Arizona. I heard plenty of rumblings about the chill in the air and how dry it was. I thought the younger generation of the family would’ve preferred a trip to Disney, but everyone had caved to the matriarch’s wishes.
“Hello. I know you’ve mentioned the deck area being closed, but before we leave, I’d really like a full family photo with the beautiful scenery in the background. I’m sure you understand and can accommodate us. We’re the only guests on the property at the moment after all.”
I blinked and tried to keep my irritation from showing on my face. “Under normal circumstances, I’d be delighted to accommodate you. But it’s currently impossible because of ongoing construction.” I waved at the parts of the deck where we’d pulled off the rotted railings. “It’s a hazard and too much of a liability to let guests on the deck. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
I didn’t bother to remind her they were the only guests because I had gone out of my way to book them as such. I was trying to be nice.
My initial plan had been to shut the lodge down for a few weeks before high season was in full swing to take care of all the construction and odds and ends. I relented because this grandma gave me a sob story about growing up in the area. She cried that this might be the only time her entire family got the chance to experience such a special place. She reminded me of my grandmother, so of course, I’d gone soft.
“Please let us take one photo. It’d mean so much to me.” The older woman’s eyes teared up, and her husband gave me a dirty look. I could tell he wanted me to feel as if I was purposely antagonizing her and making her cry.
I shook my head. “No, it’s not safe. Your group had advance warning this area would be unavailable during your stay. There are multiple places close by that offer the same view. I’m happy to show you.”
There was a lookout spot just a few hundred feet away from the entrance of my driveway that offered a stunning panoramic view. My grandfather had led a daily hike there for guests every sunrise and sunset when he was alive.
“Oh … you’re just being difficult. The best part of this place is the view. It’s not worth the price without it.”
I had the door cracked just enough to carry on a conversation. I wasn’t prepared for the older woman to suddenly push the glass with all her weight behind it. I stumbled back, my still-healing ankle hindering me from chasing the couple down.
I sent a frantic look in Risky’s direction. He was no help. He stared at the gray-haired interlopers with a bland expression. I noticed he had his phone in his hand and appeared to be recording.
The grandmother rushed to the edge of the deck. “It’s so beautiful. The air is so clean and fresh. I miss it. It’s criminal to keep a view like this from paying guests. You won’t stay in business long, young lady. I can see why this property has so many mixed reviews.”
I regained my footing and stepped toward the couple. “Please go back inside. I can’t be responsible for your well-being if you’re going to ignore a verbal and written warning.”
The older gentleman scoffed and gave me a dirty look as his wife moved closer to a portion of the deck that still had the railing. Risky had already pulled the rotten pieces of wood and put up safety tape and a temporary plastic mesh covering in the open spaces. At least the bossy woman was smart enough to lean on the solid part of the decking.
“Young lady, we’ve lived twice as long as you. I think we know when something is dangerous or not.” The grandfather who did not remind me of mine—at all—did his best to intimidate me.
I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. And while I maintained my customer-service smile, there was no stopping Risky from chuckling at the older man’s bluster.
“Listen.” The grandpa was getting ready to lecture Risky when the air was suddenly split by an alarmed shriek.
The portion of railing the grandma was leaning against made a crisp snap sound and then gave way. The older woman immediately lost her balance and started to wobble dangerously on the edge of the decking. There was a sheer twenty- to twenty-five-foot drop, straight down the side of the mountain. If she went over the side, there was no positive outcome.
Without a single thought for my safety or any consideration for my still-tender ankle and barely healed hand, I dove across the distance separating me and the woman and latched on to the fabric of her T-shirt. The husband was shouting. Risky was swearing. The grandmother was screaming. All the noise was a cacophony in my head. I pulled back with all my might, but the woman had several pounds on me as well as forward momentum on her side.
We were both going over the edge.
It was such a stupid and senseless way to die.
I had so much left to do and so many unresolved grievances.
I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to a life that was only half lived.
If you’d asked me a couple of weeks ago whose name I would call first when I was in serious trouble, I wouldn’t have been able to give an answer.
Today, the answer was crystal clear.
“Risky!” I shouted his name, each syllable coated in terror.
I felt my boots dragging on the planks of the decking, and the rushing river down in the valley was suddenly in view. More than half of the older woman’s body was dangling over the edge of the deck, and I was losing my grip on her clothing.
I heard something clatter and more swearing. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer, not that any heavenly body had acknowledged my existence before. If anyone was listening, they had to be from the special corner of hell reserved for the chronically unfortunate.
I heard a loud grunt. I saw a muscular arm, covered in flannel, reach out and clasp the woman’s shirt near where I was holding her. The fight against gravity ended as both of us were yanked backward in a graceless heap. We tumbled over one another in a mess of arms and legs. I took an elbow to the nose and smacked the back of my head on the decking. I groaned and blinked until the black and white lines in my vision turned back into the blue sky. It felt like everything had happened in slow motion and we’d been near death for hours. In reality, the entire ordeal had happened in seconds. Risky had reacted faster and moved quicker than I did. Almost as if he had anticipated the woman falling and me sacrificing myself to save her.
I lay on my back, panting from fear and adrenaline when I heard the older man start to shout.
“I’m calling the police. You nearly killed my wife. I’m going to sue you and have you arrested. What kind of two-bit establishment are you running?”
He consoled his crying spouse while Risky pulled himself up and moved so he could crouch in front of me.
“You okay, boss lady?”
I noticed his knuckles were bleeding, and there was obvious concern in his pale gold eyes. “I’ll live.”
I looked at the crying woman and her furious spouse. “I told you that no one was allowed out here. The area is closed off for a reason. I only accepted your reservation after you agreed access to the deck wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for you. I have all our communications about the reservation saved. You put yourself, as well as me and my staff, in danger. This was a completely avoidable accident.”
The old man blustered and postured as he pulled his terrified wife to her feet. “My nephew is a lawyer. We’re taking our family elsewhere. But this isn’t the last you’ve heard from us.” He huffed and puffed until Risky got to his feet.
He was a head taller than all of us, and his easygoing demeanor was long gone. He bent to pick up the phone he’d fumbled and showed the screen to the couple. It was still in recording mode, even though he’d dropped it when he dived to haul me back from the edge.
I shivered when I realized he’d done that physically a couple of times, and metaphorically more than I wanted to think about, throughout the short course of our relationship.
“Be sure you let your legal representative know that the entire incident was recorded by an eyewitness and security cameras.” He pointed to the outdoor camera I’d insisted he install for me after the night of the storm.
“You’re welcome to check out, but the regular stipulations apply. You won’t be refunded since the accident was your fault.” He put the phone in his pocket and lifted an eyebrow.
“I agree that we need to call the police and have your wife checked out by a medical professional before you leave. I want to make sure you don’t pull anything funny and claim serious injuries after the fact.”
Risky smirked. “Your nephew might be a lawyer, but I spent my previous career figuring out any and all loopholes in our legal system. There isn’t a scheme in the playbook I haven’t seen.”
The couple shared a look.
The husband wrapped his wife up in a protective embrace and helped her hobble to the door. “Acting like we’re trying to pull a fast one. You have some nerve, young man. My wife needs medical attention. Of course, we aren’t going anywhere until she’s attended to.”
Once I was alone on the deck with Risky, I collapsed on my back and let out a deep breath. “That was a close call. Thank goodness you have fast reflexes.” I let out a dry laugh and put a hand over my still-racing heart. “My nasty luck has really upped the stakes recently.”
Risky snorted and crouched down next to me. “It’s not luck. It’s sabotage.”
“What?” I sat up in a rush. Belatedly realizing it put our faces really close to each other.
“We checked all the remaining wood. That railing was fine a couple of days ago.” He pointed a finger at the base of the post that held the railing together. “There’s a faint pile of sawdust at the bottom of the post that wasn’t there when I took measurements. If anyone leaned against the part of the railing, it would break. My guess is that the person responsible wanted you to be the one falling into the canyon since you’re doing so much of the hands-on work yourself.” His tone dropped, and his pretty eyes stared seriously into mine. “You’ve got a very determined enemy, Lucky.”