and a lot of people are worried.”
“I didn’t realize.”
Another ten minutes of this and he was sure he’d want to give her back to the bear.
“They’ve been searching for you. Especially your friends, Jake and Gage.”
“How are they?” It wasn’t as if he’d been out here all these months without thinking about his friend, or what everyone back in Treasure Creek thought about his disappearance.
“I’ve only been in town about a week, but from what I’ve seen, they’re doing really great. Worrying about you hasn’t stopped them from falling in love.”
“Falling in what?”
“Don’t make it sound like they fell in a pile of something nasty. They’ve fallen in love. Millions of people do so every day.”
“In love with whom?”
“Well, I don’t know Jake that well, or Casey…”
“Don’t tell me he’s dating Casey Donner.”
“I think it’s more like engaged and planning a wedding. There’s talk around town that he’s waiting to find you, wanting you to be his best man.”
“What else has happened?”
“Romance, I guess. Dr. Havens and his nurse. I really believe Joleen and Harry Peters will get married. Won’t that be a sight, to have Joleen stay in Treasure Creek?” She rambled on and he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. He kept going back to the idea of his childhood friends in love. “Anyway, they’re all really worried about you.”
He’d tuned out her chatter and missed most of what she said until she got to the last part, about people worrying about him. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t thought of that, that people would be searching. He’d just hoped they found the note and realized he was safe.
“As you can see, I’m fine. If I wasn’t, you would still be back there with that bear cub.”
“The bear wasn’t a cub.” Penelope knew when to change the subject. She looked up, studying his face—the sandy brown hair that was a little on the long side, and hazel eyes that glinted with flecks of gold. He didn’t look like this in the pictures they put up in town. Those were pictures of a lawyer lost in the woods. In the photos plastered in the paper and all over town, he was slick, with short hair, expensive suits and a cynical expression. The type of man her father would have on his team.
The type of man her father would probably love to have for a son-in-law. The type of man she detested.
Instead of being the man on the poster, Tucker Lawson was capable and strong. He looked like most of the men in Treasure Creek, dressed in jeans and a heavy jacket. He was broad shouldered and rugged. He was so handsome he made her mouth water a little. The way it watered when she looked at a yummy dessert.
“He was this year’s cub.” His words were clipped, short. “You could have run at him and he would have been scared to death.” He huffed as he walked. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing out here, miles from town?”
“Hiking. What else?”
“Alone?”
The word alone bounced around inside her mind.
She glanced away from him, at the looming shadows as dark fell. She had been about to stay the night in the Alaskan wilderness, alone. And now she was in the arms of a stranger who had saved her from a bear. She really felt like crying.
What kind of man stayed out here, though? How in shock had she been that she hadn’t immediately thought about that, about him and how unsafe she was at that moment in his arms?
“I had problems with my Jeep.” She blinked furiously. “I can walk. I shouldn’t really go any farther. Someone will come looking for me.”
He grunted and kept walking.
“Listen, I can take care of myself.”
“I think you’ve proven that point.”
“My backpack. My stuff. I need my cell phone.”
“Honey, you don’t need your cell phone, not out here. Who are you going to call, Smokey the Bear?”
“It might work. There might be a signal they can follow.”
“Who, Smokey the Bear?”
“Rangers, police, people who rescue other people.”
“They’ll follow you to a ravine in the middle of nowhere. Now please, stop talking.”
“I can’t.” She started to shake—uncontrollable shaking—and her breath came in short gulps. “Please, just let me go.”
A million thoughts whirled through her mind. She was miles from anywhere. She was alone with a man who had disappeared into the woods. She had walked hours after ditching the Jeep. No one would know where to look for her. She didn’t even know if she was going south. She struggled, thinking if she could get away. If she could get down and run.
He stopped walking and peered down at her and then he shook his head. His arms tightened around her trembling body. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Right, of course you’re not.” She wanted to stop holding his shoulders, but she couldn’t convince her hands to cooperate. She needed to wipe away the tears. Common sense told her to be brave, to show him he couldn’t hurt her. “I know karate.”
He laughed. “That’s great to know. You could have used it on the bear.”
“You think I’m joking. I took a class in self-defense.”
“I believe you. But you won’t need to use it on me. I’m taking you to a nice safe place and a sweet older couple who will look after you.”
“There are other people out here?”
“There are.” He started to walk again and her body was still trembling. Shock, fear and cold were sinking into her bones. “Calm down, we’ll be there in a few minutes.”
She nodded, but her eyes were blurring and her vision became a pinpoint. She wanted to be strong. She wanted to fight him. Instead the world faded. She heard him telling her to breathe. She was sure she was breathing. She could feel her heart pounding hard. And then nothing.
Chapter Two
Tucker took large steps in the direction of the old lodge he’d called home for the past few months. It was his own fault she’d passed out. He should have told her about the Johnsons sooner. He should have seen the panic in her face, noticed the second when she realized how alone she was. He jostled her a little, but she didn’t wake up. This was just what he needed.
Or didn’t need.
The lodge appeared—a dark, shadowy place, hidden in the mountains. Unused for over twenty years, it didn’t have electricity and they were using an old pump for water. This place was his haven.
And now he had to share it with a screeching, high-maintenance female. He continued up the path. She was getting heavier. She wouldn’t thank him for mentioning that.
He carried her up the steps, then had to maneuver to get the storm door open. The inside door opened as he pulled the storm door. Mrs. Johnson pushed it all the way open for him to get inside. Her eyes widened when she saw the woman in his arms.
“Where did you find her?”
“In the woods.”
“Is she okay?” Mrs. Johnson followed him down the hall to the small parlor they used most often now that it was cold. It was easy to close off, easy to heat.
“She’s fine. She got herself worked up and then she passed out cold. A little exhaustion, a lot of fear.”