Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

It’s about a forty-minute drive to get to the cabin on the mountain where I’m meeting the volunteers. The SUV is packed with crates and the largest cage we could fit standing up for the mother. Wedged in between all of that is a ramp so we can walk her into the vehicle instead of having to try and lift her while she fights us. My pack contains a change of clothes, medical supplies, and plenty of water and snacks. In another bag, I brought a sleeping bag and warmer clothes, because it tends to get colder at night on the mountain. My hiking boots are heavy, but they have a steel toe and are waterproof, since we will be trekking through streams and rocky terrain. Some would be leery about these kinds of rescues, but parts of them excite me. I love the outdoors, hiking, camping, and being one with nature. Most of my favorite date nights were spent outdoors, watching falling stars or camping in the middle of nowhere. I used to travel to remote locations with my dad so he could treat animals on site. We’d stay the night in hunting cabins or campers, sometimes even tents. I’m not a survivalist, but I do know some skills to help me survive if I was the last person on earth. Let’s just hope I never have to test those skills on my own.

My GPS stops working the closer I get to state forestry. After a quick pitstop to the owners’ farm to check for sightings of the dogs, I’m finally getting close to tower four. The towers are built for individuals to pose as fire lookouts. This particular post is empty right now, but a new person is set to arrive within the month to stay for six months. The last person quit after five months so this particular area has been left without someone. It’s not the peak season for fires, but it’s still potentially dangerous to stay vacant. If you’re great being alone for long periods of time and enjoy a hefty hike to your living quarters, it’s a cool gig. It pays well, and they provide drops of sustenance and materials to keep the person comfortable. Pets are allowed, even encouraged for companionship. However, they don’t like more than one person up there, because of the distraction it can have on the job. A fire can travel quickly in the first ten minutes undetected. These locations are so remote it takes emergency a long time to reach the scene, so every second counts. Though rare in this area, they still happen.

From the looks of the narrow driveway, this path hasn’t been driven on in a while, but I know I’m on the right track. The cabin faces north, its back against a flowing stream that ends at a cliff with a waterfall. It would be a lovely vacation spot if it wasn’t protected state land. Finally seeing a building up ahead, I sigh in relief and pat my leg as a self-celebratory reaction to not getting lost.

This isn’t an exciting place to hole up. Noticing the age and lack of upkeep, this place looks as if it could collapse at any second. Overgrown weeds cover the entrance, and the slanted A-frame roof is almost grown into the ground as if nature is taking it back. It’s called a trapper’s cabin.

A-framed or leaned roof structures were the easiest to build for trappers and hunters to make quick shelters to ride out the weather. They’d use mud to fill in the cracks, due to the logs being unpeeled and bowed. When you picture a cabin you see something built well, sitting with a nice porch and stone fireplace on at least one side. This is nothing but a shack. I really hope we find these dogs quick or I’m going to probably sleep in my vehicle where the bugs are a bit less.

I’m already missing my dogs as I sit waiting for the first person to arrive. When I see the brown truck pulling in with the Natural Resource logo on it, I unbuckle my seatbelt and hop out to greet them. The sooner everyone arrives, the faster we can get out there and get started searching.

An older man gets out that I recognize immediately. He reaches into the vehicle and pulls out a baseball cap, placing it on his head firmly before heading in my direction. “Your dad said you volunteered for this.”

Bernie Knox has been with the Natural Resource police for over forty years. He was a huge help when my father married my mom and built his veterinary practice. They’ve been longtime friends who come over to play cards with my parents and my grandparents, who live just down the road from them. His kids graduated with my uncles, Jake and Jax Mitchell. He’s known my grandfather, Tyler, since they were kids themselves.

Everyone around here knows the Mitchell crew and our local farm and ranches. If you’re from Western North Carolina, there’s a good chance you’re eating beef from my grandfather’s cows. The rescue and vet clinic are surrounded by family land, and it’s only grown as the children become adults, buying up nearby properties to start their own lives.

Uncle Bernie has been a part of it all. He’s like part of the family. I’ve called him Uncle Bernie from the time I stared talking. They still give me a birthday card with twenty dollars in it, even though I’m an adult and never expect it. “Uncle Bernie, why didn’t you tell me you were the one coming? I thought you were on strict desk duty now.”

“I’m up for one more adventure with my favorite niece,” he says with an ornery smirk. “Besides, I miss this, and Aunt Becky wasn’t going to let me do it until I told her I’d be watching out for you.” He arrives in front of me and reaches in for a quick hug. “Besides, this new guy could be a real punk, so I figured you’d need someone to kick his ass if he gets out of line with you.”

I pull out a multi-knife from my pants pocket and show him. “I have eight different ways to show him who’s in charge.” We both laugh, because this little pen knife set isn’t going to fend off a fly.

“Glad you’ve got that covered then. Guess I can head home for a nap.” He starts to head back to his truck when I stop him.

“You can stay. I have a feeling this one is going to be hard to catch. Promise me you’ll be careful, and if the terrain gets too tough, you stay back to keep yourself from getting injured.”

He nods. “It’s a deal.”

“So who is this new guy? Know anything about him?”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t ask. He’s probably temporary, so I figured he’d be gone before it mattered. I’m just glad they found someone to cover the area. Poachers are going to get heavy soon with hunting season upon us. These areas can’t go without coverage. Accidents happen and they’re trained to get to the spots others can’t.”

“So true. Hopefully he’s not a jerk. I want to get this rescue over with so they can start getting treatment. This momma is not going to come easily.”

“I brought my thickest set of gloves. She’s not getting through them,” he exclaims.

“She’ll just take your whole arm off instead.”

His loud guffaw echoes off the trees. “Well, now that’s possible, I suppose.”

We both laugh a little when the sound of another vehicle grabs our attention. While we wait for the person to exit the truck, I gather my bags to be prepared to begin our search right away. Losing daylight will halt the search. I’m not about to be stuck in this small cabin with two grown men, one a complete stranger. I don’t care how sweet Uncle Bernie’s sincere attempts at protecting me would be. He’s an old man with less strength than I have. All he would do is become another victim, if this guy is dangerous.

I’m not paying attention when Uncle Bernie speaks. The tone of his voice tells me he recognizes this person and seems surprised to see them. It’s not until the man speaks that I freeze in place and lose all functioning ability to turn around. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. Long time no see, kid.”

“Uncle Bernie. Didn’t think you’d sign up for something like this.” The person, I’ve yet to look at, says it with sarcasm as I come to grips with this situation.

There’s no way. He’s supposed to be thousands of miles away from here working in the great state of California. Why on earth would he be filling in for a game warden in North Carolina? Before full panic sets in, I realize it could be his brother Brach. Their voices are similar and I’m probably jumping to conclusions because I’m lonely, freaking out, and pathetically hoping it’s Brantley James.

Then my mind starts going to a million places. Did he have a breakup? Is his momma sick? Did he come here for me? Shaking the possibility away, I clear my throat and offer a smile as I turn to face him.

The once love of my life, the man who took my heart and left, the one I’ll never truly get over, stands in front of me, his grin so big it makes me want to smack it away. He’s broader, large biceps stretch against his tight fitting shirt. His brown hair, high and tight cut, has gotten longer on the top and it’s messy like he did it that way on purpose. Those light blue eyes cut holes into my body. He’s smiling with those full lips and square jaw framing his face. I don’t want to be happy, even though inside every part of me feels alive. My adrenaline is taking over. My hands shake and I’m all of a sudden profusely sweating in every crevice of my skin. He’s so handsome, tall, and strong. It’s going to be impossible to focus with him being this close to me.

“Hey, Sarah. It’s been a long time.” He winks when he says it.

I’m stumbling on words. Do I go right at him and slap him for not telling me he was here? Do I act like he means nothing to me in order to see if he cares? “Um, wow. It sure has.”

We stare at one another for what feels like five whole minutes before Uncle Bernie speaks. “We best get going if we want to utilize this daylight. We can catch up on the way.”

I nod, steadying my nerves with the important reason we’re here. Being in Brantley’s presence is going to be distracting, but this is my job and I have to put it first. As much as I wish this would be a happy reunion, I have to remind myself he has a life without me. Saving an aggressive dog and her pups isn’t going to rekindle what we once had.

I take charge, leading the three of us to the last sighting on record. There are cleared thickets from deer that lead to a natural stream. Everyone knows animals stay close to water when traveling so it’s always readily available. The silence is uncomfortable. Uncle Bernie makes small talk with Brantley, but I think the conversation is meant for me.

“What brought you back home, son?” His question captures my undivided attention.

“I was working a government contract and they decided not to renew. The work was finished and there wasn’t a need for us to continue there. I became a game warden in California then moved to Wyoming. That’s where the real action is, I’m telling ya. There’s activity every day. My job was as popular as the police. In fact, I arrested quite a lot of poachers.”

The old man replies, “Sounds like it was right up your alley.”

“It was for a time, but there was an incident with the local zoning. They had to downsize in the department, so I volunteered to be reassigned.”

I want to ask so many questions, but keep my curiosity to myself. I haven’t heard from him in years. He promised to keep in touch. I’m angry with him, showing up here like he has no qualms about my feelings. We spent years together, planned our whole future out, and then he was gone. I simply can’t stand this awkwardness, but I’m determined to stay on task, to keep searching for this dog causing havoc so I can get home and lock myself away until he gets the point and leaves again. He obviously doesn’t realize how many nights I cried myself to sleep after he left, on every special date that passed, especially holidays. He’s oblivious to me, my feelings, and the heartache he left behind. It makes me want to hate him, though I can’t. I’ve tried. For so many reasons I’ve forced myself to move on, yet the mere sight of him has brought all of those unfinished feelings front and center.

A dog barking in the distance gives me a glimmer of hope and distraction of the thoughts consuming my mind. Uncle Bernie points in the direction of the sound, but we’re hiking on the side of a mountain, so the echoes can be deceiving as to the exact location. I’m so worried about these puppies and even the feral mother. They’ve been neglected, probably never knowing real human touch and love. This isn’t going to be an easy adjustment if we’re even able to capture them on this attempt. People on television make rescues look easy, but they’re anything but. With the terrain, the distrust, and the nature prey drive, these particular dogs aren’t exactly hoping for someone to come around and save them. They’re happy living in this environment, killing small and large animals for sustenance. It’s also the reason a game warden was assigned to help. They want the vicious predator who is mauling deer, bunnies, and squirrels put down or removed. I choose the latter option, so I’m going to ignore my company and save some animal lives.

Brantley and Uncle Bernie bicker over where the barking is coming from. As they point and consider options, the old man steps between two large boulders and I hear him cry out in pain. We’ve walked about a half mile and this is exactly what I was afraid of happening. Brantley immediately attends to the injury as I hurry over to check things out myself. Uncle Bernie is in extreme pain. He’s reaching for his ankle but is too feeble to touch it. We get him to a sitting position and remove the foot from in between the large rocks. The whole boot is twisted in a way that tells me he’s just broken it, or at the least his ankle.

“Stay still, “ Brantley tells him. “I’m going to try to splint it until we can get you back to the trucks.” He goes into his tan army backpack and pulls out a roll of duct tape. I almost want to laugh as I watch him leap over a few scattered rocks in the hill to find a straight stick. He breaks it until it’s about a foot long and returns to the injured man.

I’m still trying to console him. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get you to the hospital and have you all fixed up in no time.”

Uncle Bernie won’t stop apologizing. “I’m sorry. I was only trying to lend a helping hand. Your aunt is going to kill me. She told me I’d do this. I’m never going to hear the end of it.”

He’s right. My aunt isn’t going to be happy, but things could be worse and he’ll recover, so at the end of the day I’m hoping she’ll be happier that he’s home safe. Besides, she loves taking care of people. This will fill her days and give her additional purpose. I’m not knocking his injury, just trying to make light of something terrible.

Brantley takes the stick and the tape and prepares to splint the foot and ankle. Uncle Bernie cries out at the mere touch to the area. As much as we reassure him, it does nothing to dull the pain he’s in. Brantley and I work together, neither acknowledging the disdain between us. This is an emergency and Uncle Bernie needs us to get him down the damn mountain.

When we get him up to a standing position, he steadies himself with help from Brantley and me. We stand on either side of him and slowly begin our trek back down to the trucks. It takes us over an hour, but we make it. We even manage to get Bernie into Brantley’s back truck seat. Then Brantley stands to look at me. It’s our first real moment alone and there’s still nothing to be said about our past. There’s no time.

“Hop in. We’ll take him to the hospital and come back up. We still have a couple hours of daylight.”

I don’t argue. The faster we get him to a hospital the sooner he can get his ankle reset and he can go home to recover. After calling his wife to meet us there, we sit in the waiting room until she arrives. It’s then that I realize I’m going to have to ride back to the mountain alone with Brantley. I half contemplate calling someone else to come get me, but it would make me look weak and I’m determined to put on a brave face and act like this doesn’t bother me at all.