Mountain Refuge (Mountain Mutineers #1)

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Adam

S unlight woke me. My head was pounding, so opening my eyes to the brightness was difficult. It took several blinks to get my vision to focus. I was staring up at a vaulted wood ceiling, though I had no idea why. The beam across the center had lights built into it, but they weren’t on. No, it was the light streaming in from the window that had roused me.

My head was foggy, and I wasn’t entirely sure I was awake. After all, my bedroom in the mansion was painted white on the ceiling. Certainly wasn’t wooden or vaulted. I wondered briefly if I’d had too much to drink. I wasn’t a drinker, but I liked the occasional beer. I hadn’t overindulged since my college days. But after the shit I’d seen and experienced recently, I might have given in to the temptation to escape for the night.

My brain, though muddled, immediately rejected that conclusion. I wouldn’t risk not being able to be there for my kids.

I sat up quickly, my heart pounding. “My kids!”

“Easy,” a gentle voice said from behind me. “You’re safe. The kids are safe. ”

I spun where I sat, a thick blanket tangling in my legs. A woman knelt by a large stone fireplace. It looked like she was in the process of adding more wood to the flames. She was beautiful…and somewhat familiar, I realized. She had long blonde hair, braided down the back of her neck.

Since I had a seven-year-old, I tended to relate that look to Elsa from Frozen . If she had red, frizzy hair, it would have been Merida. While I tried to keep the children engaged outside of video entertainment, I did allow the occasional movie. My little angel used to love Disney princesses. Not so much anymore. Her innocent outlook on life had been stolen from her, and she no longer dreamed of fairytales and happily-ever-afters.

I looked around but I didn’t see my angels anywhere.

“They’re in the kitchen,” the woman told me. She handed me a glass of water. “The baby’s been a food monster since you guys arrived. We’re almost through your stock of baby food.” Her face scrunched up in a way that, if the situation was different and I wasn’t so confused, I would have thought cute. Maybe even alluring. “Unfortunately, we’re almost out of diapers too. I was grateful when Lydia had pulled out such a big stack from your backpack. But damn, that kid can poop! I’ve already had to wash his onesies, so he has clean spare clothes.”

I wanted to comment, since I knew firsthand how much Henry could eat and poop, but my brain was caught on the fact that I was almost out of diapers. How long had I been out? I looked to the window, as if it could tell me what day of the week it was. All I knew was that it was daylight.

I remembered the journey here. My confusion was clearing the longer I was awake. I knew the decisions and choices I’d made. I also remembered my mistakes. The biggest one being turning right at the intersection and blindly following Corbin’s instructions to drive until he found me. Clearly, he hadn’t found me .

But this woman had.

I remembered our blizzard rescue on the back of her snowmobile. I remembered assuming she was a man, and then my shock as I passed out that she was in fact a woman. Did she live up here with her husband? I don’t recall seeing another man before I passed out but that didn’t mean he wasn’t here.

“Who are you?” I felt that was the most sensible question to ask. While I couldn’t see the kids, and I desperately wanted to, I could hear them. Lydia was singing to Henry. The fact that she was singing Taylor Swift’s Love Story to her infant brother was a little weird, but it reassured me she was happy and safe. Lydia didn’t sing otherwise. When she felt threatened, she went scarily quiet.

It was the terrible reality of our lives that I knew that fact about my daughter. I once again chastised myself for not being able to protect her better. I was a teacher, not a warrior.

“My name is Brooke. This is my cabin. You’re on Big Mountain near the town of Whitefish, Montana. I’m assuming you guys are staying at the ski resort and you got lost in the storm? It was very lucky I came upon you when I did. It snowed all night and into the day.”

Thank you was on the tip of my tongue, but the lack of snowfall outside caught my attention. “Into the day? What time is it?”

She pointed a thumb out the frosted window. “That’s west. You slept through last night and today. I was trying to figure out if I should wake you so you could eat or go to the bathroom, but Lydia told me you hadn’t slept in a long while so I figured I’d let you be.” She paused. “What’s your name? Lydia just calls you ‘Daddy’, but I doubt you want me to call you that.”

Her eyes widened as if she hadn’t realized the implication behind her words until after she’d said it. My eyebrows shot up. I’d never had an age-play kink or any desire to be called ‘Daddy’ by an adult, but I had to admit I did like the way her cheeks flushed over her slip.

To save her embarrassment, I didn’t draw attention to her unintentional innuendo. “Adam.”

I had told Lydia I’d planned on us using fake names but we’d never settled on what names. Though her favorite for Henry was “Poopy St. Smelly Pants”. Since this woman, Brooke, already knew Lydia’s and likely Henry’s, I figured she might as well learn mine. After all, we wouldn’t be staying here once I figured some things out. Knowing our names shouldn’t hurt. I just hoped Lydia hadn’t given away our surnames. “And thank you. For saving us, I mean. And taking care of the kids while I slept. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep like that.”

It really was careless of me. What if something had happened? What if, despite the blizzard and mountain terrain, we’d been followed? What if we’d been found while I’d been snoozing? That was a dangerous mistake, and I couldn’t make it again. I had to keep my kids safe.

I wasn’t even sure how to find Corbin now. The burners Jack had given us were left in the car in my hurry to pack. I knew electronics and cold didn’t mix, so I wondered if they were even usable now.

I thought of the Jack’s General Store that we’d passed on our way through Whitefish. Maybe I could get there and figure out if that was the same Jack. He’d mentioned Corbin had bought the postcard in his store. It wasn’t until I saw the snow outside and the trees surrounding the cabin that I wondered why Corbin would buy a beach scene postcard to send from a mountain town in Montana.

“Are you hungry?” Brooke asked. She walked past me, and my eyes fell on her round ass. She had some hips on her, that was for sure. I’d never been a man to prefer one body type over another, but I certainly liked the way those round hips worked on her. She was wearing black leggings, tall gray wool socks, and an oversized pink sweatshirt. I could see the straps of either a bra or tank top on her left shoulder where the large neckline hung low. She had lightly tanned skin. It was the kind you could tell came naturally, not from a bottle.

The oversized shirt made me remember my wonder if there was a man in her life. It was probably his. But as I looked around, taking in the cabin, I didn’t see a man’s touch. Not a jacket by the door, not boots on the rack. The décor seemed functional more than decorative, but it was also distinctly feminine.

I stood up, untangling the blanket from around my legs, and noticed for the first time that I wasn’t wearing pants. I looked down at my bare legs in confusion. I didn’t recall taking off my pants before I’d passed out. Which begged the question who did take them off. A glance around told me they weren’t nearby.

“Shit,” I heard softly. I looked up in time to see Brooke turn quickly around to give me her back. “Sorry, I forgot about that. I mean, not that I forgot I took off your pants. I did. I mean, I had to. I mean, your jeans were soaked through and you shouldn’t have had that cold clothing against you in this weather. Even with the fire going, you could have gotten sick and done some serious damage to your body. I mean, not to your… Well, I mean, it could have been to your… But that wasn’t what I was looking at! I didn’t look, I swear! I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable. But, um… Your pants are in the bathroom. I washed them and dried them. Well, the air dried them. I don’t have a dryer. Just a small washer. It’s just me so I don’t need full machines, plus they take up too much space and energy.”

She stopped babbling, dropping her face down into her hands. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a smile tug on my face. God, how long had it been since I’d had a reason to smile outside of my children? It had certainly been years since a woman had made me smile so. As ungentlemanly of me as it might be, I found her floundering to be extremely alluring.

In quick motions, she stood straight and squared her shoulders. “I’ll go get you your pants.”

I picked up the blanket and wrapped it around me like a toga. College had made me an expert on how to tie a sheet around me like that. I was still wearing my underwear but clearly Brooke would have been uncomfortable if I walked around without covering myself up more. Was that because her husband could walk in any minute?

No , my gut told me. I didn’t think there was someone else here. I didn’t see pictures on the walls or a wedding picture on the mantel above the fireplace. Actually, the fact that the walls were mostly bare of pictures was interesting. No family photos or even one of a dog or vacation. The only picture was one of a sunset behind a mountain ridge.

As soon as I walked barefoot into the kitchen, Lydia looked up from where she had Henry perched on a chair. It took me a moment to figure out what he was sitting in. It looked like someone had taken a plastic bucket, drilled holes into it for his legs to fit through the sides, and strapped it to a wooden kitchen chair for a makeshift highchair. The fact that Henry was held in by bungee cords brought another smile to my face.

I didn’t know how I knew but this had Brooke written all over it. Upon closer inspection, I noticed there was caulking around the edges of the bucket where Henry’s legs stuck through.

“Daddy!” Lydia ran over to me.

Keeping one eye on Henry, I caught her up in my arms and swung her around. She clutched me as hard as she could, burying her face in my shoulder. My little angel. She’d been so strong. I shushed her as I felt her start to shake. I finger-combed my hand through her hair, noticing it had been recently washed. She was also wearing the spare outfit I’d had in the backpack for her. Most of the clothes inside had been Henry’s but I knew there’d been a spare set of shoes, undies, shirt, and pants for Lydia.

I walked her across the floor, nearing where Henry was bouncing in his makeshift seat. One-handed, I undid the bungee cords keeping him in and lifted him out by his diapered bottom. Henry, all of six months, giggled and baby-cheered at seeing me. He gripped my too-long hair in one fist, his other hand going to my overgrown beard near my mouth. I play bit his hand, making sure to cover my teeth with my lips as I nibbled. He giggled some more, which was the best sound in the world.

There were no words for how I felt in this moment. The terror we’d been facing over the past couple of weeks, over the past couple of years for Lydia and me, was overwhelming. To have this moment of peace, this feeling of security given by this cabin, mountain, and snow, was beyond words. It was everything to have my children happy and healthy. Safe. Whole. Mine.

I sat down on the floor, crossing my legs in front of me. I rested Lydia’s butt on my right leg, keeping a tight grip on Henry with my left arm. I closed my eyes, breathing my children in. The greatest gifts in the world to me were these two kids. I was beyond proud to call myself their father. They were worth every sleepless night, every law broken, every risk taken. They were my whole world. I needed them like I needed air to breathe. If anything happened to them, I would be destroyed.

As a teen, even a young adult, I’d pictured myself as a father…someday. It was the clichéd dream of finding a wife, buying a house, getting a dog, and then having two kids. Never would have imagined my kids being born under the ci rcumstances they had been, or the trials I’d gone through to claim them.

I was their father. At the end of the day, that was all that mattered. It was my job to protect them. I’d been doing a crappy job of that over the past two days, first with getting caught in the snowstorm and then sleeping for over a day.

Lydia’s knee collided with my belly, and I realized for the first time that my bladder was also awake. Damn, I didn’t want to move from this spot.

Movement out of the corner of my eye drew my attention to Brooke. She stood awkwardly in the doorway, almost exactly where I’d been standing when I’d collapsed. She held my jeans in her hands, staring at the floor like it had the secret to life etched in it.

“Thank you,” I said softly. She looked up, shocked that I’d spoken. Her eyes widened when she saw my eyes on her, as if she hadn’t been expecting to be acknowledged. I gestured downward to the little angels in my arms. “You looked out for them when I couldn’t. I owe you everything.”

She shook her head immediately. “You don’t owe me anything. I did what anyone would do coming across your car like that.”

The fact that I knew that wasn’t true, that most of the populace was too selfish to step forward and help a group of strangers, was sad. I’d reached out to Corbin in my desperation to keep my kids safe. He and his friend, Jack, were oddities to help me so selflessly. Brooke, even more so.

It took me a moment to realize Lydia’s shaking had ceased and her breathing had evened out. She was asleep. My little angel, I had to wonder how much she’d slept while I’d been passed out on the couch. With me out of commission, she would have felt it was her responsibility to guard and care for Henry. She likely hadn’t slept while I’d been sleeping .

I kissed the top of her head. Then looked back at Brooke. “She’s asleep.”

Brooke nodded. “She paced most of the night. She barely set Henry down even though I’d made him a little crib out of a plastic bin and blankets.”

My eyes flew to the highchair. “Crafty.”

Her cheeks reddened, and I found it adorable. Damn, what was wrong with me. My kids were on my lap. I could not get an erection right now. And yet, that little blush made my blood pump faster.

I looked around, mainly to get my eyes off of her, and that cute dusting of freckles across her button nose and cheeks, but also to contemplate my predicament. I was sitting cross legged on the floor with a blanket toga around my body and my children asleep against me. I also needed to take a piss like, well, like I hadn’t gone in two days. Some personal hygiene attention was also needed. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d showered. Body wipes were good for the kids or quick gas station bathroom hair washes for Lydia. But I hadn’t washed or shaved in a long time.

I was suddenly embarrassed. Here I was having a cartoon heart throb moment staring at Brooke while I no doubt stank with BO, and who knew what else, looking like a hobo. Not exactly a turn on for her. I didn’t embarrass easily, nor did I consider myself a vain man, but I suddenly needed to get to that bathroom now . I did not want her seeing me like this longer than she had to.

And why was I even thinking about that? I had to concentrate on my kids, on finding Corbin, on figuring out our next steps. I should not be thinking about how great her long legs looked in those leggings or how I really wished that oversized shirt revealed more about her shape underneath and yet found the mystery oddly alluring. Peeling off that shirt would be like opening a gift on Christmas, the anticipation?—

Fuck. I stopped that train of thought before it went any further. I really could not get an erection right now.

“Um,” I cleared my throat, “I could really use some time in the bathroom. Do you think you could…?” I gestured to my sleeping kids. I was prepared to take them into the bathroom with me so they wouldn’t be a bother to her, but I needed help standing with them. I was not what one would call graceful or athletic.

Brooke came forward, draping my jeans over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. For being just her living here, which was the assumption I was going off of, I wondered why there were four chairs around her kitchen table. I could understand one or two, being just her and maybe a guest, but why four? Maybe I was wrong, and it wasn’t just her living here?

Bending down, she took Lydia from me. The perpetual psychology student in me pondered if there was a reason she chose Lydia over Henry. Did it have to do with their ages or gender? Was she uncomfortable around infants? Maybe she felt sorry for Lydia after what I’d put her through the past couple of days?

Regardless, one less child freed a hand to allow me to stand. I went to reach for Lydia so I could take her into the bathroom with me, but Brooke took a step back and shook her head.

“I’ll put her on the couch. Follow me, and I can show you what I made for Henry. Hopefully it’s safe enough for him. I wasn’t sure but I’m also limited on supplies in the house during the storm. My tool shed is out back and difficult to reach in the snow right now. Plus, I didn’t want to leave the kids alone that long to fight through the snow to get there.”

She started walking away, not meeting my eyes. Had she seen the lust in them? I hope I hadn’t made her uncomfortable. I really did owe her for giving us food and shelter. The thought of food made my stomach grumble, but I really had to take a piss before I could eat or drink anything.

A shower would be nice too. My hunger could wait. I was used to putting off eating by now. Nerves and a need to make sure my kids had enough to eat first had kept me from consuming much over the past two weeks. If I’d been asleep one plus days then this was day fourteen since we’d run. Exactly two weeks since that awful day.

I followed Brooke back into the living room. Her cabin was quaint. Probably only had one bedroom and one bath. There was a loft that I hadn’t realized before looking out over the living room. I wondered if that was her bedroom. I didn’t see stairs though, which made me ponder if the cabin was bigger than it looked. I don’t recall what the house looked like from when we’d arrived. I’d been out of it and hadn’t been noticing much at that point. When the snow died down some, I’d like to take a walk around the cabin to see the outside.

I watched Brooke lay Lydia on the couch where I’d woken up. Since I had the blanket still around my waist, she reached over the back of the couch for a lighter throw. It looked homemade, maybe knitted. Had Brooke made it? Maybe her mother?

The thought of family made me doubt yet again if Brooke lived here alone. If she did, more power to her. I didn’t know what it took to live on a mountain, but I’m sure it took more guts and brains than I had. But it also made me wonder why she was alone. Brooke was beautiful, strong, and independent. She could be living it up in the city or being the small town’s golden girl. Why was she living in a cabin in the middle of the woods on a mountain? Clearly the snow secluded her. I wasn’t sure where the electricity that was lighting the cabin was coming from, but she had to have a source other than electrical lines. What about water and plumbing? She had to be self- sufficient in a place like this. And, again, I wanted to know why.

Brooke gestured me over to a plastic tub by the fireplace. It wasn’t so close that it would be overly hot for Henry. “I wasn’t sure what was safe for him. Obviously, there’s no lid.” She gave off a nervous giggle at her own joke. I found myself fighting a smile again. “I put this blanket down to cushion the bottom. He didn’t look old enough to climb out but I was hoping it was tall enough to keep him from standing. It’s not the greatest crib but, unfortunately, it’s all I have.” She sent me a fleeting look and then faced forward again. “I wasn’t exactly expecting a baby to be sleeping here.”

I reached forward, touching her arm. Henry was out, probably not having slept that well over the past couple of days. Babies picked up on moods, and if Lydia was scared or nervous, he likely had been too. I kept him secured to my chest with my left arm.

Brooke jumped. I wrenched back my hand. Shit, I shouldn’t have touched her without her permission. I chastised myself, calling myself all sorts of stupid. I knew better. I really did. I never touched without asking first. Consent was important to me.

But before I could open my mouth to apologize, she did.

I blinked, confused. “What are you apologizing for? I’m the one who touched you without asking if it was okay.”

Brooke turned to face me. I really wanted to say finally , but the torn look in her bright blue eyes gave me pause on my excitement that she was looking at me. “I’m not used to people. I generally only go into town once every month or two. I don’t usually talk much either, yet I seemed to have found myself babbling whenever I try to talk to you. You probably think I’m this weirdo lady who lives out in the middle of nowhere and are doubtful I can or should watch your kids. But I swear, I can. I mean, not long term. That would be silly. But for the thirty minutes you need in the bathroom, sure.”

She stopped talking to take a deep breath. I thought she was done and opened my mouth to speak, and once more she cut me off. Her eyes went really wide. “Not that you only have thirty minutes to use the bathroom. Use it for however long you need. I’m not timing you.” Then she slapped a hand over her mouth, muffling her voice. “I’m going to stop talking now.”

I didn’t fight my smile this time. “Brooke, I don’t think you’re a weirdo, nor do I think you can’t watch the kids. I just didn’t want to be a further burden to you and figured I’d take them into the bathroom with me to give you some peace.”

Her hand slowly lowered from her mouth. “Oh.”

“Can I touch you?”

That cute blush crept over her cheeks again. “Yeah. I mean, yes. Um, where?”

Unable to stop smiling, I leaned forward and placed a kiss on her cheek. She was shorter than my five-eleven height by four or so inches, which was nice that I didn’t have to duck too much to reach her. “Thank you for taking care of us. I really do need to get to the bathroom though.”

She nodded, silently stepping out of the way of the makeshift crib. “Down the hall on the left.”

I didn’t plan on leaving Henry in a plastic bin overnight or long term, but it was fine for the minutes I needed in the bathroom. He didn’t even stir as I lowered him down. I touched Lydia’s hair on my way past her. She was snoring slightly, which she did when she was overly tired. My little angel.

I needed to be stronger for her, for both of them. She should be a child in her own right, not co-parenting her baby brother with me. I needed to put less on her and work on giving Lydia her own freedom and fun.

Brooke’s voice followed me down the hallway. “You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Take it from someone who knows, up here in the mountains, that weight becomes a lot less.”

I didn’t respond verbally, only nodded my head in thanks. She had no idea how much weight was truly on my shoulders. And I didn’t want to drag her down with me or lay my problems on her. As soon as possible, I needed to figure out how to find Corbin and get out of here.