Take Me To The River: A Mountain Man Romance (Mountain Men of Whiskey River Book 1)
Take Me To The River: Chapter 12

My Little One is always replaceing new ways to surprise me. Watching her learn and adapt to living out here, is one thing, but seeing her thrive out here, is another. Like today, she showed me she’s going to flourish in this life.

She got the deer, first shot.

Damn.

I’m so proud of her. Though, I don’t dare hope that she’s meant to stay with me. Yes, here with me. If she does choose to stay, I know she’ll be a natural at it.

Even I didn’t do this well on my first hunting trip. I had my dad with me then, and he was a patient teacher, and we spent the weekend in the woods until I caught my first deer.

I know my dad would love her. They would bond over this, and he’d want to know every detail, and he’d be the first one to tell everyone he knew about it. Now, I understand that pride, because I want to tell everyone about her.

On my first hunting trip out here, I came home empty handed and a little worried about filling my freezer for winter. I was starting to think twice about moving out here, and if I was going to make it through the winter without having to stock up on food from town, instead of catching it myself.

That first year there was a lot to learn, and I didn’t have someone to teach me. I taught myself. Emelie has me to teach her, and she seems to know quite a bit already.

‘Let’s go get your catch,’ I say, as I pick up our gear.

She stands with a huge smile on her face and looks around. I remember that feeling, taking in the moment, wanting to remember every detail. Wanting to remember the location, the feel, and the smell in the air, so you could relive that moment the next time.

Taking her small hand in mine, I lead her into the meadow, careful to pay attention now that the smell of the fresh blood is in the air. We don’t want to draw in predators. For that reason, we need to work fast.

‘How do we get it back to the cabin?’ She asks.

‘I carry it,’ I shrug.

‘In your arms?’

‘No, I learned a trick from a man in town. He was in town hunting for the weekend and taught me. I carry it much like a backpack. You’ll see.’

I set our gear down and hand Emelie her rifle.

‘You carry this, while we walk, just in case.’ I nod, as she takes it from me.

Quickly, I work getting the deer ready, and popping the joints to allow me to use the legs, as backpack straps.

Once ready, I slip the deer on my back and stand up. Emelie helps me adjust the gear, and we head off. I want to get back to the cabin as quickly as possible, so I know my Little One is safe. Until the deer is processed, there’s always the chance it can draw in predators.

We get out of the meadow and back to the tree line, as she looks back over at me with worry on her face. I don’t like her to be anxious. That’s my job.

‘Don’t worry, Little One. I’m built for this, and it’s lighter than you think.’ I wink at her, but it doesn’t seem to ease her tension.

I love that she’s concerned about me. It’s been a long time, since someone has been worried about me, other than the guys, and I don’t think they worry about me too much. Just like I don’t worry about them, because we know how to live out here.

‘I do this all the time, and promise, I’m okay. It’s actually easier with you here. You’re carrying some of the supplies.’

That seems to calm her a bit. It really is easier to know someone else has my back, as I carry the deer to the cabin. It’s good to have an extra set of eyes, watching for animals that will smell the blood and want to come investigate. Of course, in my mind, an extra set of eyes anytime is never a bad thing.

‘Tomorrow, we will go check my traps for some smaller animals,’ I say, trying to take her mind off our trip home.

‘You’ll let me come with you?’

‘Of course. You’ve proven yourself. I won’t leave the cabin without you by my side.’ I want her to know I trust her.

‘Except to go to the river.’

I was wondering how long, before she brought that up, but it’s true. I go to the river every morning alone, trying to get my head on right. Waking up with her on top of me is perfect, but after she comes, all I want to do is slip into her, and I need that distance, so I don’t give in.

No way do I ever want to hurt her, or think the only reason I want her here, is for sex. What I want is her company, her conversation, her smiles, and not just her body. But boy, do I want her body, too.

Hoping she’ll drop the subject, I’m relieved, when she does. Though, she also doesn’t talk the rest of the way back to the cabin. I don’t like the silence that I used to love, not when it means she isn’t talking.

I watch her, as she takes in the landscape of the mountains I love. This time of the year, the mountain tops are still covered in snow from the winter, making them look like they glitter in the sun. Flowers are starting to bloom, and soon, there will be spring berries all over.

There’s a slight floral scent in the spring air with the promise of the berries and flowers to come. It’s time to get to work on the mountain and prep once again for another winter. Everything is coming to life, and even though it still gets cold at night, it’s nice and warm during the day, especially in the sun.

It’s also the time of year that bears are out looking for food and other animals as well after winter. Since it’s not too hot yet, spring is when I like to do repairs around the cabin, too.

When we get to the cabin, I take the deer to one of the sheds I have set up for this. In case it attracts a bear or other animals, I don’t want the blood near the house. Now that Emelie is here, it’s just an extra measure of protection that I’m glad I put into place.

‘Want to help me process your deer?’ I ask her, and her face lights up.

‘Yes,’ she turns to me and then sets her stuff down.

I show her how to remove the hide in one piece and set it up to dry to take into town.

“Umm, gross.” She says and squishes up her face, as I chuckle. “My dad always meant to take me hunting. We had a hunting trip planned for a few months after he died. He was going to show me all of this.”

“I’m sorry he never got the chance to show you, but I’m glad I’m the one to get to do it now.”

“Me too.” She whispers, and we take a moment to stare at each other, before getting back to work on removing the antlers.

‘What do you use them for?’ She asks curiously.

‘In town, they’re sold as dog treats. They can also be used to make some of Bennett’s weapons. He’s particularly gifted working with them.’

Then, we remove the meat to make jerky with and take it inside.

‘Some of this we’ll take and stock the freezer with, too,’ I tell her, wrapping it in the butcher paper.

Every time I look at her, she’s watching me, and looks at ease, like she belongs here. When she catches me watching her, she smiles, and it slows down the process for sure, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off her.

‘I didn’t know watching you process a deer could be so sexy,’ she says.

‘I’m covered in sweat, blood, and deer guts, and you replace this sexy?’

She shrugs and lets her eyes roam over me again, and I know with the look on her face she isn’t lying.

Damn.

This girl was made to be out here. No more denying it, she’s meant to be out in the woods. I think she would thrive out here. What are the odds that she found me, or that I found her? How could I have gotten so lucky to replace someone who takes to this life as easily as she has?

‘What do you do after you remove the meat?’ She pulls me from my thoughts.

‘I keep some of the bones to use in my knives and some are used in Native American jewelry. That kind of stuff. Then, we burn the rest to prevent attracting predators to the cabin.’

She helps by starting to cart the organs and the rest of the carcass to the fire pit, as I work on getting the fire started. As I watch her, I notice she isn’t worried about getting blood or dirt on her. She just digs right in.

I have no doubt she’s meant to be here.

The problem is… is she meant to be here with me?