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“If you weren’t here tonight, I’d be a grand richer, and I’d have—”
“You’d have nude photos all over the internet and your ex would be blackmailing you for God knows what. Doesn’t sound like you had things handled to me.”
She’s shut down, staring out the window, ignoring me like a man probably deserves to be ignored. I had no right to do what I did. It was barbaric, insensitive, and a little insane. That said, I’d do it all over again if it meant keeping Peyton safe.
Sirens whirl behind me, and I know I’m about to be in real fucking trouble, but I’m not sure I care. I have what I need right beside me, and this time, I’m never letting go.
Chapter Seven
Peyton
I know every sheriff in this town.Every one of ‘em. I grew up in Rugged Mountain, so everyone is like one big family. Their kids come to my kids’ parties, they invite me to potlucks on Sunday, and we help each other when snow storms blow in.
Atlas, on the other hand, is a mystery. A rebel out-of-towner who comes from a family of Alaskans that everyone in town is irritated with. Mostly because they were hunting on other people’s land, but more recently because they’re ‘stealing work and women.’
I drag in a deep breath as Sheriff Woods knocks on the side window. I’m sure he’s not used to calls like this one.
“Evening. Gonna need you to step out of the truck, sir. We’ve got a call in that someone with this truck’s description kidnapped a woman out at The Barnyard.”
This is the part where I could let Atlas take a hard fall or I could help him out. I don’t know which I’d rather do. On one hand, he’s a psycho pain in the ass and I’d like to see him get a little tough love of his own. On the other hand, he’s coming from a good place, and deep down, I know if he weren’t there tonight to protect me, Rick would’ve used those photos he was taking to hurt me.
I wave toward the sheriff, tucking my hand out of Atlas’ oversized flannel. “Hey!”
He narrows his brows. “Peyton? Is that you?”
“It is, but I’m fine. Rick was causing trouble and Atlas helped me.” I glance toward Atlas. “In averyaggressive way, but I’m fine.”
Sheriff Woods narrows his brows. “Are you sure, Peyton? Why don’t I give you a ride home.”
The sheriff is a tall guy with wide shoulders and a round belly that hangs below his belt. He’s a kind man with a heart of gold who volunteers every chance he gets. People say small towns are corrupt. It’s not like that in Rugged Mountain. This community is different, and it shows in the people who live here.
Out of nowhere, my stomach tightens when my eye catches sight of the grizzly bear everyone has been looking for. He’s a mere six feet away from the sheriff and my entire body has gone into statue mode. I’ve lived up here my entire life and I’ve never been this close to a bear so big. It’s not as exciting as I thought it would be. This animal is the size of a small car and probably just as wide. With its massive paws, the bear is ripping through a bag of trash that fell off the back of someone’s truck on the highway.
I swallow hard and attempt to find words. “Um…the bear… the bear is behind you.”
Atlas, who’s attention has been on me all night, suddenly snaps toward the road where he sees the bear.
“Fuck! Sheriff, you okay with me grabbing my gun?”
Woods nods and Atlas grabs his rifle off the overhead gun rack before hopping out and aiming toward the grizzly.
I’m not sure why this forces such an alarm in me, but I panic. I’ve never seen anything killed before. My father went hunting all the time, but he only brought home meat. We never saw the details of the kill.
“Wait!” I holler sliding toward the driver’s side of the truck. My scream is enough to scare the grizzly, and the shot is lost as he runs back into the woods by the main road.
This isn’t going to go over well.
Atlas glances back toward me, his jaw tight. “What are you doing? I had him! The entire town is looking for this bear!”
“I know, but I think it’s the wrong one.” It’s a lie. Grizzly bears don’t come up this way, and usually this time of year, bears are hibernating. There’s only one bear causing trouble right now, and it’s the one we just saw.
“There’s only one bear, Peyton,” Sheriff Woods says. “This one has the diamond on his hip just like the one we’re looking for. He’s a menace to everyone, and he’s getting braver by the second. I don’t like the needless killing of animals either, but he’s going to hurt someone, Peyton. Something’s gotta be done.”
Atlas shakes his head and climbs back up into the truck. “Are we good to go, sheriff?”
“We’ve still got assault charges coming, I’m sure of it. The guys down at the club said there was a man you fought.”
“Yeah, that was Rick.” I clear my throat. “He was harassing me, and Atlas helped me out.”
