Chapter 5: Jack

I'm about out of clean clothes, so mid-morning I shove what little clothes I have into my rucksack in preparation for making a run to the nearest laundromat, which is in Estes Park.

Just as I'm about ready to leave, there's a knock on my door.

I tuck my Glock into the back waistband of my jeans and glance out the peephole at Ruth's brother.

He knocks again.

I should ignore him, but curiosity gets the best of me. Why's he here? To warn me away from his sister? I'd like to see him try.

I open the door and meet his gaze head on.

Unflinching, he stares right back. The guy's got balls, I'll give him that.

"What branch did you serve in?" I ask, recognizing a fellow soldier when I see one.

"Marines."

"Combat experience?"

He nods. "Two tours in Afghanistan as a chopper pilot. You?"

"Navy." He doesn't need to know the details. "What do you want?"

Micah's jaw clenches. I've pissed him off. Good.

"I'm here to give you a friendly warning," he says.

I almost laugh. "I'm listening."

"Stay the hell away from my sister. I don't know what your game is—"

"I'm not playing any games."

"Just stay away from her."

I can't fault the guy for looking out for his sister. "Don't worry. I'm leaving soon. I'll be gone before you know it."

"Make sure you are."

I watch him climb on his bike and ride away. I could be pissed that Micah thinks he has the right to warn me off his sister, but I'm not. I'm actually glad Ruth has someone watching over her.

* * *

I load my car and head to Estes Park to do laundry, taking my time, going out of my way to change up my route and make sure no one's following me.

After I toss all my clothes in a washer, I sit out of the line of sight from the street and kill time reading the latest Jack Reacher book on my phone. I drop some money into a couple of ancient vending machines and indulge my weakness for salty junk food and ice-cold Coke.

While my clothes are drying, I use my phone to log into a secure site where I can leave a message for Mike and the guys. My old team—four of them. I sure miss those guys.

Jack – I'm leaving Bryce tonight, heading to New Mexico.

After logging out of the message board, I sit and stare at a bulletin board on the laundromat wall, at the myriad of notices pinned to it. My mind wanders back to Bryce. It's noon now, and the bar opens in three hours. Maybe I'll stop in one last time this afternoon, just to see Ruth once more and say goodbye. I hate the idea of leaving town and never seeing her again, never having a chance with her. But it's just too risky for me to stay. As long as there's a contract out on me, everyone I'm around is in danger.

Once my clothes are dry, I fold everything and shove it all into my rucksack. Then I hop in my car and head back to town. I return to my motel room and kill time lifting barbells and later going for a hike along a trail not far from the motel. I'm still trying to get acclimated to this altitude.

After showering, I drive over to the tavern just as it's opening. The parking lot in the back is starting to fill up, and customers begin filing inside for a late lunch or an early dinner.

I follow them inside, stopping short when I spot Ruth walking out of the storage room carrying three cartons of beer bottles.

She practically runs into me, her eyes widening when she spots me. "Sorry." She takes a step back. "I didn't see you."

"Let me help you." I take two of the cartons from her before she has time to protest. I realize she doesn't actually need my help, but I want to do something for her. Even something this small.

"If you insist." She starts off down the hallway, toward the bar, her eyes narrowing as she glances back at me. "What are you doing here so early?"

"I thought I'd grab some lunch."

She nods. "Have a seat at the bar."

After setting the two cartons of beer on the counter, I continue along to my usual seat at the far end. A moment later, she's standing across the bar from me, holding out a laminated sheet of paper. "The lunch menu."

"Thanks." I give it a cursory glance even though I already know what I want. "I'll take a burger and onion rings."

She nods. "Coming right up. Anything to drink?"

"Beer. Something local. Whatever you recommend."

"Got it."

I watch as she puts my order in at the kitchen window. She proceeds to wait on a few more customers, giving me a chance to observe her.

It's not long before she brings me my food and an icy cold bottle of Fat Tire Amber Ale. She pulls an opener from her apron pocket, pops the cap, and hands it to me.

"Thanks." I take a sip. "Nice. So, Ruth." I realize I just like saying her name. "Mind if I ask you a personal question?"

She looks surprised. "Okay. Shoot."

"Are you single?" I have no business asking, but it's eating at me.

There's a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "To answer your question, yes. I'm single." And just as I'm about to reply, she cuts me off. "And before you say another word, the answer is no. I'm not interested." And then she turns and walks away.

Ouch. That was fast. I didn't even get a chance to ask her.

After finishing my lunch, I don't bother waiting for a check. I leave plenty of cash on the counter and head out the way I came. Ruth's nowhere in sight, and I'm disappointed I won't have a chance to say goodbye. I guess it doesn't matter since it appears I never had a chance with her anyway.

The door to the storage room is open, and as I pass by, I glance inside just as Ruth attempts to pull a large cardboard box off a high shelf. The box must be heavy, because she's clearly struggling.

I walk up behind her, reach up, and grasp the box. "Allow me."

Startled, she looks back at me, and for the briefest moment, I see a myriad of emotions flit across her face—a mixture of annoyance, surprise, and anticipation—which makes me think maybe she's not as disinterested as she claims.

We're standing just inches apart, and she looks me directly in the eye. I can feel her body heat. When I catch her scent—something hot and spicy—my gut tightens. I set the box on the floor.

"Thanks," she says, her voice little more than air.

Her cheeks are flushed, her dark eyes bright. I glance down to see her chest rising as she catches her breath.

"I'm leaving town tonight," I tell her. "So, I guess this is goodbye."

"Oh." She actually looks disappointed. "I guess it is." She looks like she wants to say more, but she doesn't.

I hate the idea that this is it, that I won't ever see her again, so I decide to go out on a limb. "I'd really like to come by the bar one last time this evening to buy you a drink."

She swallows hard, but doesn't look away. If anything, her gaze is even more direct. "Since this is my bar, it's my booze. I don't need anyone to buy me a drink."

Grinning, I reach out and tug on her braid, feeling vindicated when the flush on her cheeks deepens. "Okay, fine. How about you buy me a drink?" Throwing caution to the wind, I lean in and kiss her. Just a light peck on her lips.

Her eyes widen, but she doesn't pull away. Or slap me. I see that as a good sign.

"I'll take that as a yes," I say, not giving her a chance to shoot me down. "I'll see you tonight." Before she can even form a reply, I turn and walk out.

When she doesn't holler at me, or cuss me out, I smile. Looks like I have a date tonight.

* * *

"What in the hell are you still doing there?" Mike asks when I call him that afternoon. "What's so special about this place that you'd risk your safety by hanging around?"

I chuckle. "The scenery."

"Really? And does this scenery have a name?"

"Ruth. She owns the local tavern."

"You have no time for women, my friend. You need to hit the road. You can get laid later."

"Relax. I'm leaving tonight, after she buys me a drink." The timer on my watch goes off. We keep our calls to a minimum. "Bye, Mike."

"Let me know when you've left."

"Yes, dad," I say.

After ending the call, I change into sweats and sneakers and go for another run. I'm not used to working out at this elevation, and it's harder than I expected. Two miles later, I'm gasping like an old man who just walked up five flights of stairs.

After my run, I grab a shower, then I crash for a while and read. Anything to occupy my mind so I stop checking the time. I think I'll show up at the bar just before closing. There won't be a lot of people there that late, which means I can have Ruth to myself for a few minutes.

When I kissed her earlier this afternoon, she didn't slap me or tell me off. No, she actually smiled. Maybe she's more into me than I thought.