Three times in one night. Her idea of a good Saturday night. And waking to an aroused stud in her bed. She lay still while his final pulses worked their way through before she pushed him out and let him hold her tight. She liked being in his arms. She could feel his heart beating and could hear his elevated breathing. They lay still for a long time, no words; just two warm bodies recovering from a night of passion.
She made bacon, eggs, and toast for breakfast, with strong, black coffee, and they ate outside. Molly could feel a sadness setting in. She’d really liked their short time together. She didn’t want him to leave. But it was Sunday morning and he needed to hit the trail. She wouldn’t see him for a month, assuming he’d look her up the next time he was out of the mountains. She thought that would be the case, but she didn’t know. Was this a one night stand? Was he the kind of guy who didn’t commit? Did commitment scare him away? Would she ever see him again?She didn’t know, and asking about that was a futile exercise. Either he’d return or he wouldn’t.
After breakfast, he gathered his things and summoned Bear.
He said, “Can I see you again on my next trip?”
“I’ll be insulted if you won’t stay here, and I hope it’s for more than just a weekend.”
“Thank you. Let’s plan on it. I wish there was a way for me to give you advance notice.”
“We’re pretty flexible here. I’ll be looking for you in about a month. We’ll know then whether we’re going to be grandparents or not.”
“I hope we are. I think Bear and Shadow will produce some beautiful offspring.”
She faced up to him. He opened his arms and she moved into them, wrapping her arms around his back, pulling herself tight, and lying her face against his chest. He held tight for a long time. She loved being in his arms. She didn’t want him to go, but she didn’t want to feel needy or prolong the moment. Finally, she pulled back, looked up, and they shared a long, beautiful lover’s kiss.
He turned and walked down the path, stopping at the gate to turn and wave. Shadow sat obediently by her side. She understood it was time for them to part. Molly knelt down and gave her a good scruff as they watched their new friends disappear into the woods.
Molly returned to the kitchen, poured the final cup of black coffee into her mug, and walked out to the Adirondacks overlooking the lake. She settled back, Shadow lying at her side.
Well, she hadn’t expected that. A stud cowboy appears at her door out of the blue with a suitor for Shadow. Bear had papers. The two dogs had a weekend of mad love. Molly had a night of passion. It didn’t feel like a one night stand to her. She wouldn’t see him for a month, but she felt a connection had been made that was more than a fling.
She was surprised he opened up as much as he did, telling her about the PTSD, his therapy, and the army’s failing recovery program. He was on a military disability. He loved living in the wild. She chuckled when she thought of his two families. Bart, Brett, Kitty, and Cheyenne. And then Bart, Bear, Blitz, Bella, and Beryl. She loved the image of him living in the wild with his critters.
The lovemaking had been fantastic. She hadn’t been laid for a while, and it felt good. But it wasn’t just because she hadn’t had it for a while. It had been beautiful. Their bodies fit together perfectly. He was a patient, attentive lover. His eyes were intent on her the entire time, making sure she was comfortable, and that what they were doing was bringing her pleasure. It was, and she returned those signals. He wasn’t a talker during lovemaking, but the communication was there.
She watched Shadow get up and walk slowly to the lake, sitting gingerly in the cold, glacier-fed water. She often drank out of the lake, but rarely sat in it like this. Molly watched for a few minutes before figuring out what was going on.
“Oh, girl, you’ve had quite a weekend, haven’t you? Does the cold water feel good on your bottom?”
Shadow stayed in the cool water until Molly got up and summoned her. They walked to the cabin together as Molly retrieved her medical kit, put on a plastic glove, and applied a soothing ointment to Shadow’s swollen and inflamed tissue.
“There, that should feel better.”
Molly chuckled about the wild and crazy time she and Shadow had shared with their new friends. But Molly didn’t need any special treatment. All was good down there. Really good.
Chapter 5
Getting to Summer’s End Resort involves a drive through North Central Washington State on the main road to Canada. The highway goes through Omak, Okanogan, and Tonasket until it arrives at the Canadian border. Straight ahead are the Canadian Rockies. To the east is the Columbia River meandering down from Canada through the Grand Coulee Dam. To the west is Summer Lake and the federally designated Pasayten Wilderness Area made up of the Washington North Cascade Mountain Range.
Heading west on Summer Lake Road between Omak and Tonasket involves a scenic drive through ranches and farms nestled into valleys of the Cascade Mountains. Summer Lake Road winds around the shores of Summer Lake until it concludes at Summer’s End Resort, the US Forest Service campground, and the main trailhead into the Pasayten Wilderness. An adventurous hiker could leave Summer’s End and walk through the wilderness area across the border into the Canadian Rockies.
Three years ago, Molly became the fourth generation McGuire owner of the resort.
Monday morning, Molly started her day just as she started nearly every day at Summer’s End, with a short visit to each of her managers. She strolled through the businesses, stopping to chat. It was their time, not hers, to talk about the issues of the day. She asked a few questions, but mostly listened.
Her first stop was usually the stables to check on her horse. Molly and Jo had competed on the rodeo circuit for years, and Molly knew Jo’s days were numbered. Molly and Shadow had been together for two years, but Jo went back seventeen years through Molly’s years of competitive riding. They didn’t usually ride in the morning, but Molly checked to make sure she had food and water. On this morning, she was brushing her down and bringing Jo up on recent events.
“Hey, girl. Guess what? Shadow and I both got laid this weekend. Sorry I couldn’t set something up for you. We had quite the excitement. A mysterious mountain man showed up at my door with his gorgeous German Shepard. Shadow had busy a weekend, didn’t you, girl.”
Shadow barked on cue when asked the playful question.
“We’re hoping they come back in a month. When they do, we’ll bring them down for introductions.”
Molly mindlessly chatted to her beloved partner as she brushed her down, added feed and water, and rubbed Jo’s neck and ears.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that.” A familiar voice interrupted Molly’s chatter.
