Page 2 of Claiming His Girl

Chase Andrews. Forty-five. Unmarried. Injured during an explosion during an overseas tour. Honorably discharged.Works part-time for the Fit Mountain Search and Rescue. Cooper Hills native.

And then I read the most important note of all.

Committed to his recovery.

I close the folder and put it back in the cabinet, then grab my coat.

If Chase is committed to his recovery, then so am I.

Now, I just have to prove it to him.

I getinto my hot-pink bug and smile. It’s been a long day, but I’m excited by the possibility of meeting Chase.

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to spend my life caring for others. I spent most of my summers during high school and college volunteering at my dad’s clinic. I loved meeting the patients and seeing the progress they made. I thought then, and I still think now, that my father performed miracles. And that’s when I knew I wanted to do the same thing.

It turns out that the drive to Chase’s house is longer than I thought it would be. He lives on the east side of Fit Mountain, which makes things tricky.

A few years ago, another local ex-Marine, Callum Walker, purchased Fit Mountain and built a fancy resort with his three brothers.

Cooper Hills has been bustling ever since.

But the east side of the mountain is still pretty undeveloped. And the Walkers let the original residents continue to live there undisturbed.

As I drive, I start feeling nervous. And I can’t help but wonder—what will Chase think when I show up at his doorstep out of the blue? Some patients, especially those wounded in combat, sometimes find people like me to be overbearing.

But then again, I’ve worked with quite a few during my career, and I’ve learned that even the hardest hearts can be won over with care and kindness.

I figure it’s probably a good idea to rehearse what I’m going to say and how I’m going to introduce myself.

Hi, I’m Molly, your physical therapist.

Too boring.

Hi, I’m Molly. You may not know me, but I know you.

Nah. Too… stalkerish?

I decide it’s probably best if I wing it. Twenty minutes later, I pull up the long driveway of Chase’s log cabin.

It’s small but beautiful. I can tell it’s well made with thick tree trunks and a sturdy foundation. The shiny red door and a small porch give it a cozy feel, and the lush plants and mini gardens that line the walkway to the entrance give it character.

I’ve never understood the idea of living so far up here in isolation. But as I look down and see our tiny town sparkling below, it looks almost… magical. I can see why Chase wouldn’t want to leave a place like this.

As I walk up the porch steps, I feel peace wash over me. It’s a distinct feeling that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I get a lot of flak for believing everything always turns out the way it’s supposed to. People think it’s some mystical saying, but it isn’t. I simply believe that the universe tries to help us, and I’m convinced I’m at Chase’s cabin for a reason.

I knock for the first time, shivering at how the sound echoes through the quiet woods.

No answer.

I knock again, three more times.

Still nothing.

I feel my spirits start to sink. Ugh. Ireallyshould have called first. What if he’s out on a walk or away on a trip? It’s a few weeks before Christmas, after all. Maybe he’s away visiting family.

I sigh and turn back down the pathway toward my car when I hear movement coming from inside, followed by a deep bark that makes me jump.

I’m not normally someone who gets startled easily. I’m usually too busy looking on the bright side of things to be scared. So I don’t like the spark of fear that surges through me.

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