Mountain's Captive (4 page)

C
hloe stared
out of the diner window as she waited for her hamburger. It was about the only thing on the menu that the waitress seemed to know was in stock. She lifted her cup of coffee to take a drink and noticed everyone was staring at her.

“Hi.” She nodded and tried to smile. “Nice town you have here.”

A few of them nodded back. A few others grunted.

Chloe guessed that this was the place everyone in town got together to visit—only they weren’t visiting. They were staring at her as if she was a political speaker ready to make an important announcement regarding the town mining company. And they didn’t anticipate her speech to be good.

“So is it true?” her waitress asked with a cock to her hip. She gave a sly smile to the man at the counter she had been flirting with. His teeth were slightly bucked and stuck out when he smiled.

“Pardon me?” Chloe looked at the attractive woman. She wore too much makeup and hair spray, but was comely nonetheless. Chloe guessed she was one the few women her age in the town and from the looks of her bored expression she seemed to resent the fact that there weren’t more men to choose from. “Is what true?”

“That you’re married to Everest Beaumont.” The waitress was chewing loudly on a piece of gum. Chloe wanted to snatch it from her.

Chloe took another drink of coffee, not knowing how best to answer. Biting her lips, she started to panic. How was it that everyone seemed to know her business already? She had only been in the diner for twenty minutes. Then, as she spied the woman who had been shopping with Gladys in the General Store, she grimaced in disdain.

“Are you?” An older gentleman at the counter joined the inquiry.

“Yes. But, it’s a mistake—a clerical error.” Chloe tried to remain calm. She felt like she was on the witness stand. “I am here to clear it up.”

“So, what you mean to say is that you found out he lives out here in the boonies and you want no part of it.” The waitress laughed heartily. A few of the other’s joined her. “I can’t say that I blame you.”

“No, I didn’t mean that at all. Your town is l-lovely,” Chloe stuttered.

“How do you like that?” The older man again.

Everyone chuckled as Chloe turned red with embarrassment. She wished she were let in on the joke, though she got the feeling she was somehow the punch line.

“Leave her alone, Clyde,” the waitress scolded before turning back to her interrogation. “Now, Everest is a cute one. Could it be that you’re here to convince him back to wherever it is you’re from? Not that he will go, mind you. Where are you from?”

“New York,” Chloe answered weakly, feeling as if she had no choice. She took a sip of coffee wondering what the waitress’ standard for cute was—a man with most of his teeth? She gulped as the bucked tooth lad leered a little too approvingly at her.

Dear God
, she thought.
Please tell me I didn’t sleep with something like that!

“See, I told you. She doesn’t want to be moved out here. She’s used to that city living. What I wouldn’t give to go to New York.” The waitress gave a dreamy sigh. “Do you get to shop on Fifth Avenue?”

“Now you’ve done it.” Clyde, the man at the counter, laughed as he lit his cigarette. “Betsy will be asking to go with you before you know it, mark my word.”

“Shut up, Clyde!” Betsy, the waitress, yelled.

The diner broke up in laughter as Betsy ran into the waitress station with an audible sob.

“Now you all leave that poor child alone. Shame on you!”

Chloe turned grateful eyes to Gladys who had just walked in. Her stern voice instantly drew respect from the gathered customers. She pointed her finger at Clyde and shot him a scolding look of disapproval.

“Last time you made her mad, Clyde Walton, I had to cover her shift for three days.”

Clyde nodded his head as he gave her a defiant look. But, instead of answering, he turned back to his coffee and said nothing.

Gladys moved to join Chloe at her table. She sat down in the booth across from her without waiting to be invited. “Don’t you mind them, none. They don’t have anything better to do.”

“Thank you,” Chloe mumbled. She didn’t know why the woman was joining her, not that she minded terribly. Chloe coughed as the smell of the smoke coming from the man at the counter drifted over.

“Not at all.” Gladys smiled kindly as she began rearranging the condiments on the booth’s table. “You’d see that they really mean well, if you’d get to know them.”

Chloe groaned inwardly. “I am sure you’re right. But there has been a terrible mistake. Our marriage isn’t real. I don’t want this to become inconvenient for him after I am gone. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Don’t you worry about Everest. He’s known these people his entire life. He won’t have any problems with them.” Gladys winked as Betsy brought a plate of food to the table. “Glad to see you didn’t have the meat loaf. Well, I’ll leave you be. Grandpa should be ready to go as soon as you are done.”

“And just what is wrong with my meat loaf?” Betsy asked in a huff.

“Nothing, dear,” Gladys chuckled in merriment as she stood up.

“Yeah, except you’re supposed to kill the animal before you cook it.” Clyde coughed, happy to have his two cents in.

Chloe smiled halfheartedly as Gladys joined an offended Betsy in the kitchen. She found it difficult to eat with so many of the locals trying to watch her out of the corners of their eyes.

“Waitress,” she called, as she grabbed her jacket, “can I get this to go?”

C
hloe held
onto the roll bar of the jeep as the vehicle jostled on the bumpy trail. She prayed Grandpa knew where he was going for she had yet to see anything that resembled a paved road. She would have taken the time to enjoy the scenery, but her eyes were beginning to freeze into her head.

“How much farther?” Chloe yelled over the wind. Grandpa’s jeep didn’t come with a top. The chilly air was making her breath come out in puffs of white fog and she thought she felt the water from her eyes freeze to her red, stinging cheeks.

“Just a bit further,” Grandpa hollered back. “You see that cliff over there?”

Chloe followed his crooked finger and nodded. Miserably, she tried to control the shivers in her body. The cold didn’t seem to be affecting the old man. Grandpa was well bundled for the weather.

“We had an avalanche there a couple winters back. See the clearing in the trees? That’s how you can tell.” Grandpa put his hand back on the wheel. “Everest was snowed in for two months without a telephone. Takes a certain kind of person who can live through that. Most people would grow crazy in the isolation. Not Everest, no sir. He comes from good stock. No telling when that thing will go again.”

Chloe eyed the mountain in fright. It seemed the avalanche was the local horror tale. She turned to Grandpa. He seemed to think the fact that her husband was a loner who lived in the mountains should impress her. What it actually did was make her suspect her husband had indeed gone crazy years ago.

“I’ve seen many avalanches, been in one too. But that was a long time ago. One of the prettiest acts of nature you’d ever see. Well, that’s as long as you aren’t looking at it from the bottom of the mountain.” Grandpa laughed gruffly. “Animals won’t even go down that ravine this time a year.”

Chloe smiled politely as she edged farther away from him.

“Everest’s place is just over this ridge,” Grandpa yelled as he pointed again.

“Why aren’t there any roads?” Chloe asked, as she pulled her hair to her nape and held it in place.

“No need. Most people ride horses up here. They’re more efficient in the snow.” With a wink, he added, “And you can eat a horse if you had to. Everest had a horse up until a few years ago.”

“Of course,” Chloe mumbled, unable to believe she what she was hearing. She gulped and turned pale. Weakly, she inquired, “Was that the year of the avalanche?”

Grandpa’s teasing grin was lost on her, as he mused thoughtfully, “As a matter of fact, it was.”

Chloe grasped nervously at the door handle wondering if she should bail.

“Yes, sir, there’s no need for roads. Not many people live up here.” Grandpa nodded his head. “And those that do manage just fine.”

They rode in silence as Grandpa maneuvered his jeep up a steep incline. Chloe grabbed the roll bar even tighter, frightened that the vehicle would tumble over onto its back. When it leveled out again Chloe gasped in surprise for before her lay a cleared section of land surrounded by trees. In the middle stood a large two-story cabin, as elegant and as well-kept as any country home she had ever seen. The soft glow of firelight shone dimly from a giant picture window. A long porch wrapped around the front of the house. To the side of the cabin was a barn where Chloe guessed her husband had kept his horse before he’d been forced to eat it. There was a small storage shed next to the barn and an old Ford pickup. If Chloe had her guess she would say that the Ford was from the 1950’s, like everything else on the mountain.

“This is it,” he announced proudly. Grandpa honked his horn in several short blasts.

“It’s beautiful.” Chloe breathed, amazed that something this elegant could be found hidden within the woods. She laughed with relief as she realized she had been expecting a sod house or some camping tents.

“Everest built it himself.” Grandpa grinned with pride. “He just finished with the first floor this last fall. Well, actually there are only a few minor details left to do. But mostly it’s finished. I think you should be most comfortable here.”

Chloe took it to mean that Everest had the house built for him. She wondered how much one would have to pay a contractor to come out this far into the mountains, and what sort of man would even want to.

“Everest! Come out here, boy!” Grandpa hollered, slowing the jeep. “I’ve brought something for you.”

Chloe darted her gaze away from the barn to stare at the cabin. She ignored Grandpa, unable to hear his friendly chatter over the pounding of her heart. She waited in breathless anticipation and fear. Her slight smile froze as she saw the vaguely familiar man open the front door. If his home had amazed her, the man himself astounded her.

A blurred vision of a night of passion came rushing back to her as if from a long ago dream. Her body shuddered in response. She could feel hands—strong and powerful as they commanded her flesh. She could feel lips pressed in places she rarely looked at. Blood stirred hotly in her veins warring with the insistent chill of the evening air. The mere sight of him took her breath away and she could understand fully how she had succumbed to him.

The jeep stopped in front of her husband and she stiffly moved to climb out, aware that his eyes remained curiously calm. He was a tall man, with bulging muscles underneath a flannel shirt. Chloe gulped, instantly thinking of the stereotypical handsome lumberjack. His strong arms were folded neatly over his chest, giving him the confident air of supreme dominance. He looked as if he worked hard to survive in the wilderness.

Chloe let out a slow, unsteady breath. Everest Beaumont was nothing like she had expected. She felt dwarfed standing in front of him. He was a massive man in size, looking like he could have been a professional body builder at one time, only to have given the occupation up long enough to let his rock-hard build mellow into a smoothly seductive sculpture of masculine perfection. Chloe found herself captivated by the hidden muscles of his broad chest. Men just were not made like him anymore. Seeing the amusement in his expression, she turned her eyes downward in distress. She hoped that she hadn’t been too forward.

“Grandpa, what are you doing out here?” Everest gave the woman a questioning look, but didn’t move. His firm lips curled slightly in a lazy smile. “I didn’t expect you for another week.”

Chloe shivered at his deep resonant voice. Her lips were suddenly dry. Growing unsteady, she fell to lean against the jeep.

“Just as well, I’ve got some venison in the freezer for you,” Everest paused before adding, “Did a bit of hunting last weekend.”

“There now, don’t let the marshal hear that.” Grandpa chuckled mirthfully. “He’ll want some for himself.”

Everest chuckled.

Clearing his throat, Grandpa nodded to his companion. “I told you I brought something for you.”

Everest turned his attention to Chloe and smiled a wickedly handsome smile. He took a step forward, uncrossing his massive arms. Giving her an acknowledging nod, he held out his hand. “Everest Beaumont, ma’am.”

“Chloe,” she stammered in return. Lifting her finger in a polite wave, she didn’t dare touch him. She was afraid to take his hand in her shaking one. She tried not to blush at the teasing light in his hazel-green eyes. He had noticed her mental perusal of him and let her know it with a piercing look that shot through her like a bolt of lightning. His hand fell to his side.

“That’s strange.” Grandpa scratched his balding head. His eyes narrowed in confusion. “I was under the impression you’d met.”

Everest smiled kindly and shook his head. “Afraid not.”

“Well, actually,” Chloe interrupted. Her disheartened glance found the old man as she took a halting step toward Everest. “We did meet once. About two weeks ago, in Vegas.”

The easy smile faded from his handsome face as she said the words. Recognition dawned on him. Clearing his throat in discomfort, he said absently, “Uh, let me help you with those, Grandpa. What have you got there anyway?”

Chloe pursed her lips as she watched him ignore her. As soon as he turned, she took a steadying rush of air. Everest Beaumont was not the backwoods, inbred man she had envisioned. He was a virile example of American masculinity. He was tall, strong and very handsome. He had warm, inviting hazel-green eyes and soft shoulder-length brown hair that was tied back neatly into a ponytail. He wore a red flannel shirt, tucked neatly at his waist into a pair of worn blue jeans over boots.

“Can I help?” she asked the men, hoping her voice didn’t sound too weak.

“No, you just wait right there.” Grandpa answered with a smirk. “This won’t take us long at all.”

Unsure, she watched the men carrying boxes of food and supplies into the house. She felt like a fool standing in the snow. It began to fall on her lightweight jacket. She wished that they had invited her in. The bitter cold soaking into her toes crept into her lower legs leaving her shivering uncontrollably. She wasn’t prepared for an early winter. She hadn’t packed for it. The jacket offered little protection against the elements, as did the business suit underneath.

Chloe wondered if she should bother with her luggage. Everest didn’t appear overjoyed to see her. She speculated briefly that he might have someone living with him who would not be heartened by her presence. She hadn’t even thought of that.

When they came back for their last load Chloe was still standing by the jeep. She hadn’t moved from her place, too frozen to take a step. But, as she saw Everest’s heated gaze glance pointedly in her direction, her body went completely numb until she could no longer feel the chill in her feet through the thin dress boots she wore.

“Everest, if you don’t mind, Chloe and I will be staying on for the night. I’m not feeling right and don’t want to drive,” Grandpa said. He put a weathered hand to his chest and patted his heart. Chloe gulped. The men ignored her, as Grandpa continued, “Tomorrow, being Sunday, the store will be closed and I don’t feel up to going to church with Gladys.”

“Fine,” Everest nodded slowly. He shot the old man a confused look.

“Help me with her bags, son.” Grandpa winked at Chloe as he moved to grab her luggage. Taking the briefcase out of her frozen grip, he told Everest over his shoulder, “Haddy had someone staying at her place, so there was nowhere else for this young lady to go.”

Chloe’s mouth went dry as Everest gazed at her in silent expectation. Suddenly, she was grateful for the weather for it hid the blush that threatened her red cheeks. Snowflakes fell harder, blanketing him gently. He didn’t appear to notice. Grandpa cleared his throat noisily to break the spell between them. Everest immediately stepped into action.

When Everest drew near her she could feel her body tremble in reaction. She caught the slight scent of cedar smoke coming off of him. He leaned over the side of the jeep. She turned next to him to grab her purse and laptop computer.

“I won’t impose long,” she whispered.

“Why don’t you go inside?” Everest said as he passed her. “We can get these.”

Chloe did as he instructed, wondering how she could have forgotten a night with a man like him. She stepped inside the door to his home, feeling like an intruder.

His cabin was simply decorated. A fireplace burned brightly, giving her the impression that it was the only source of heat in the house. It did a magnificent job. Before the fireplace was a bear skin rug, head included. She wondered if he had killed it himself. A wooden bench and matching chair surrounded the fur. And there was a beautiful old rocking chair with a thick knitted blanket thrown over the back.

Chloe stepped aside as Everest came into the house behind her. She could feel the heat radiating from his body.

He put her bags into a pile by the front door. His arms barely strained under their weight.

“You have a lovely home,” she asserted politely, meeting his devilishly handsome gaze.

“Thank you,” he offered in short reply. He gave her a brief glance of curiosity before moving to close the door behind Grandpa.

“There now,” Grandpa said. “Why are we standing about?”

“Please, have a seat,” Everest offered belatedly. His voice was a bit hoarse as he uttered in a low tone, “I was just working on some blueprints in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”

“Always working,” Grandpa scolded when Everest left the room. He moved to the wooden couch. “Why don’t you warm yourself? He won’t be too long.”

Chloe didn’t need to be invited twice. She took a chair next to the fireplace and held out her stiff fingers. Closing her eyes, she soaked in the inviting warmth of the fire. She willed her heart to slow its frantic pace as she thought of the quiet man she had married. Her knees weakened and she was glad to be sitting. Biting her aching lips, she stared into the lapping flames. It was going to be a long evening.