Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Amanda

A manda sat on the edge of her hospital bed, staring out the window at the snow-covered landscape beyond. The events of the past few days played over and over in her mind like a broken record. She couldn't shake the image of Rance from her thoughts, the way his eyes had locked onto hers with an intensity that had both unnerved and intrigued her. The mystery of who he was—and why she felt so inexplicably drawn to him—gnawed at her, refusing to let go.

"Amanda, are you even listening?" Eva's voice broke through her reverie, bringing her back to the present.

Amanda turned to her friend, who was sitting in a chair beside the bed, her expression a mix of concern and mild exasperation. "Sorry, what did you say?"

Eva sighed and shook her head with a knowing smile. "I was asking how you're feeling. You've been through a lot, you know. It's not every day that you survive a car crash in the middle of nowhere and get rescued by some mysterious stranger."

Amanda bit her lip, her thoughts immediately drifting back to Rance. "I've been thinking about him," she admitted, her voice soft. "Rance, I mean. I can't get him out of my head. It's like… like I'm drawn to him somehow."

Eva raised an eyebrow, her interest clearly piqued. "Drawn to him? How do you mean?"

Amanda hesitated, searching for the right words to explain the strange connection she felt. "It's hard to describe. When I was with him, even though I was hurt and scared, I felt… safe. Like he was someone I could trust completely. And there's something else, something I can't quite put my finger on. It's like there's a part of him that I know, even though I've never met him before."

Eva leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. "That sounds pretty intense. Are you sure you're not just fixated on him because you think he saved your life? Keep in mind when the evac people got there, you were alone."

"Then who called them? I couldn't get to my phone or the radio. And who pulled me out of the wreck? I was pinned in."

Eva was quiet.

Amanda shook her head. "I'm not wrong. He wasn't a hallucination. There's something about Rance."

Eva regarded her friend thoughtfully for a moment before speaking again. "The only person I've ever heard of on Kodiak with the name of Rance is Rance Manville. He's a bit of a loner, works for the parks department up at Frostbark Ranger Station. I've heard he's been through a lot, and he keeps to himself most of the time. People say he's rarely seen in town."

Amanda's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. "That has to be him. Do you know anything else about him?"

Eva shook her head. "Not much. Like I said, he's a loner. People say he's been through some rough stuff, but no one seems to know the details. He's not the kind of guy who opens up easily. Honestly, Amanda, if you're thinking of trying to find him, I'd be careful. He might not appreciate someone prying into his life."

Amanda smiled faintly, though her resolve was unwavering. "I'm not trying to pry, Eva. I just want to thank him for saving my life. It's the least I can do."

Eva sighed, clearly recognizing the stubborn determination in her friend's eyes. "All right, but just be careful, okay? I don't want to see you getting hurt again."

Amanda nodded, appreciating Eva's concern but knowing that she couldn't let this go. She had to find Rance, had to understand the connection she felt with him. It was as if something beyond her control was pulling her toward him, and she couldn't ignore it.

That night, as she drifted into a restless sleep, her thoughts once again turned to Rance. The dreams that came were vivid and unsettling, blurring the line between reality and the strange pull she felt toward him.

In her dream, Amanda was running through the woods, the cold air burning in her lungs as she raced through the dense underbrush. The trees loomed overhead, their branches like skeletal arms reaching out to grab her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a massive bear, its fur a mottled blend of dark browns, grays, and black so that he blended in with his surroundings. He was barreling through the trees behind her. Panic surged through her, her heart pounding in her chest as she pushed herself to run faster, to escape the beast that was chasing her.

But no matter how fast she ran, the bear was faster. She could feel its hot breath on the back of her neck, hear the thunderous roar that reverberated through the forest. Just as she thought it would overtake her, the bear leaped, and everything around her changed. The air turned icy, a thick mist swirling around her, and suddenly, she was no longer running. The bear was gone, and in its place stood a man—Rance Manville.

He stared at her with those same intense eyes, but there was something different about him now, something wild and untamed. Amanda couldn't move, couldn't speak. She could only watch as Rance stepped closer, the mist wrapping around them both like a shroud.

Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the dream shifted again. The mist parted, and Amanda found herself standing in the middle of the forest, the snow falling gently around her. She looked down at her hands, expecting to see them covered in fur, but they were human—her own. And when she looked up, Rance was gone, leaving her alone in the silent, snow-covered woods.

Amanda jolted awake, her heart racing and her body drenched in sweat. The dream had felt so real, so visceral, that it took her a moment to remember where she was. She sat up in bed, trying to shake off the lingering sense of unease. The clock on the wall showed it was just after dawn, the first rays of sunlight creeping in through the window.

Her thoughts were a jumbled mess as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, the cold tile floor sending a shiver up her spine. She needed to clear her head, to shake off the remnants of the dream. Maybe a hot shower would help.

Amanda made her way to the bathroom, the events of the past few days swirling in her mind like a whirlwind. The memory of Rance, of the strange connection she felt with him, was still as vivid as ever, refusing to be pushed aside.

As she stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water, she let the steam envelop her, the warmth soothing her tense muscles. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax, to let the hot water wash away the fear and confusion that had been plaguing her since the accident.

Standing under the steamy water, she closed her eyes and brought her hands up to cup her breasts. It was easy to imagine they were his hands, his thumbs strumming her nipples, taking them between his fingers, rolling and pinching them. Even easier, with the hot water dripping off her pebbled points, to imagine him sucking them into his mouth.

She let her other hand slide down her torso, gliding down her wet skin like an ice skater on perfect, freshly polished ice. She tickled her fingers as her hand moved down to her mound, slipping between her legs to play with her clit. She moaned, envisioning it was Rance's hand running circles around her clit before moving down to her pussy.

She stayed under the water for longer than usual, letting the steam fill the room while she brought herself to climax. When she finally shut off the water and stepped out, she felt a little more like herself, more grounded in reality.

Wrapping herself in a towel, Amanda walked over to the sink and wiped away the steam from the mirror with the palm of her hand. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at her reflection.

For a fraction of a second, she thought she saw the image of a bear staring back at her—large, dark eyes, a powerful muzzle, and thick, dark fur. A quick scream escaped her lips. But the image was gone as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only her own startled reflection in the glass.

Amanda's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing. It had to be the dream, the stress of everything that had happened. There was no way she had actually seen a bear in the mirror. It wasn't possible.

She let out a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. But before she could fully collect her thoughts, she heard footsteps hurrying down the hall, followed by the door to the bathroom swinging open.

Eva and a nurse rushed in; their faces filled with concern. "Amanda, are you okay?" Eva asked, her voice laced with worry.

Amanda forced herself to nod, though her hands were still trembling. "I'm fine," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I just… I thought I saw something, but it was nothing. I'm just ready to go home."

Eva exchanged a worried glance with the nurse, who nodded and stepped back out of the bathroom, giving them some privacy. Eva turned back to Amanda, her eyes searching her friend's face for any sign of what might be wrong.

"Amanda, if there's something going on, you can tell me," Eva said gently. "You've been through a lot, and it's okay to feel shaken up. But if you're seeing things?—"

"I'm not seeing things," Amanda interrupted, her tone more defensive than she intended. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I'm just… tired. I need to get home, get back to work. I'll be fine once I'm back in my own space."

Eva studied her for a long moment, her expression softening. "Okay, if you say so. But promise me you'll take it easy, all right? You've been through enough for one lifetime."

Amanda forced a small smile and nodded. "I promise."

By the time Amanda was discharged from the hospital and settled back in her home, the strange incident in the bathroom had been pushed to the back of her mind. She chalked it up to the stress and trauma of everything she had been through. After all, it wasn't uncommon for the mind to play tricks after a near-death experience.

But as the days went by, Amanda couldn't shake the feeling that something inside her was changing. It started with small things—her senses seemed sharper, more acute. She could hear the faintest rustle of leaves outside her window, the distant call of a bird that she would have never noticed before. The smell of the forest was more vibrant, the scent of pine and earth more distinct.

And then there were the emotions. Amanda had always prided herself on being level-headed, and able to keep her feelings in check even in the most stressful situations. But now, her emotions felt like they were constantly bubbling just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over at the slightest provocation.

It was as if her body and mind were on high alert, constantly attuned to everything around her. And the dreams—those strange, vivid dreams of bears and the wild, untamed forests—continued to haunt her every night.

Determined to get some answers, Amanda decided it was time to find Rance Manville. She needed to thank him for saving her life. She didn't care what anyone said, she knew he had been there and that without his intervention, she'd be dead. But it was more than that, she needed to know if he was experiencing anything similar. She knew it sounded crazy, but in the same way she knew he had been there, she knew they were connected somehow. She needed to understand what was happening to her.

She spent a few days recuperating at home, regaining her strength, and trying to prepare herself for what she might find. On the morning of the third day, she baked a batch of cookies—oatmeal scotchies—a small token of gratitude, something to break the ice when she found him.

It took some digging to find out where Rance might be. The locals were tight-lipped about him, but eventually, she learned that he worked as a ranger at the Frostbark Park Ranger Station. No one seemed to know where he lived… or at least they weren't willing to share the information with her. Armed with her cookies and a renewed sense of determination, Amanda set out to find him.

The drive to the Frostbark Park Ranger Station was peaceful. Her new SUV—the old one had been totaled—handled the snow-draped landscape like a champ, passing through it in a blur of white and green. But as she drew closer to the park, Amanda felt that familiar sense of unease creeping in, the same feeling she'd had since the accident. It was as if the air itself was charged with electricity, humming with a power she couldn't quite grasp.

When she finally arrived at the ranger station, Amanda hesitated for a moment before getting out of the car. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and then made her way to the front door. The station was quiet, a rustic cabin nestled among the trees, with smoke curling from the chimney. Off the back was a tall lookout platform, accessed by an imposing ladder.

She knocked on the door, her heart pounding in her chest. A moment later, the door swung open, and there he was—Rance Manville, the man who had saved her life. She must really have been close to death to not have noticed how gorgeous he was. Tall and brawny with broad shoulders barely contained within his ranger uniform. She couldn't see much, but a small amount of chest hair showed above the buttoned-up shirt.

Rance's expression was unreadable as he looked down at her, his gaze flicking to the plate of cookies in her hands. "Dr. Adams," he said, his voice low and even.

"How do you know my name?"

"You're the local vet who helps us out with wounded animals—for which we're grateful."

"Right. I guess you would know me."

Rance nodded. "What are you doing here?"

Amanda offered him a small smile, trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered at the sound of his voice. "I came to thank you," she said, holding out the plate, her gaze not leaving his eyes. "For saving my life."

Rance hesitated, his eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, Amanda thought he might refuse or deny he'd been there. But then he stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Come in."

The inside of the cabin was warm and cozy, with a fire crackling in the hearth. Amanda stepped inside, the smell of burning wood and pine needles filling her senses. Rance led her to a small kitchen table, where she set the plate of cookies down.

"Thank you," Rance said, his voice still guarded. He didn't sit, just stood there, watching her with those intense eyes that seemed to see right through her.

Amanda felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her, but she pushed it aside. She had come here for answers, and she wasn't going to leave without at least trying to get them.

"Rance," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "Something's been happening to me since the accident. My senses are sharper, and my emotions are more intense. And the dreams… I keep dreaming about bears, about the forest. I don't know what's going on, but I have this feeling that it's connected to you, to what happened that night."

Rance's expression tightened, his jaw clenching as he looked away. "You shouldn't have come here, Amanda."

His words were like a punch to the gut, but Amanda refused to back down. "I need to know the truth," she insisted. "I need to understand what's happening to me."

Rance's eyes snapped back to hers, and for a moment, she saw something in his gaze that she couldn't quite decipher—fear, perhaps, or maybe regret. "The truth isn't something you're ready to hear," he said quietly. "It's better if you go back to your life, forget about what happened."

"Forget?" Amanda repeated, incredulous. "How can I forget? My life hasn't been the same since that night, Rance. I can't just ignore it."

Rance ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. "You don't understand. If you keep digging, you're only going to find more questions, more things that don't make sense. And once you cross that line, there's no going back."

Amanda took a step closer to him, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "Then help me understand. Please, Rance. I need to know."

Rance stared at her for a long moment, the silence between them stretching taut. Finally, he let out a long breath and nodded, though his expression remained tense. "All right. I'll tell you. But not here."

He turned back to his open computer and seemed to log out. He picked up the mic to the radio. "Frostbark Lookout signing off for a while. I'll check in later."

With that, he headed toward the door, grabbing his jacket from a hook by the wall. Amanda followed him, her heart racing. Whatever Rance was about to reveal, she knew it would change everything.