Page 15

“Frost Mountain Was My Home”

Stanley reacted quickly, making a dash for the porch steps quicker than he could form another coherent thought. But there was only so much good his speed could do him with Allison still firmly in Johan’s clutches.

“Not another step closer,” the Collector snapped, his grin widening slightly, “or I’ll have to kill your lovely wife.”

Stanley halted and stared daggers at the man. His inner snow leopard bared its teeth viciously.

“That’s it,” Johan said. “I want her to watch you die before I rip her throat out. It would be such a shame to have to kill her first.”

Stanley gritted his teeth. The man was insane.

No, not insane. He was simply a murderer.

A thieving, murdering marauder. The man must have snuck into the house and grabbed Allison.

How the hell had he done that without anyone noticing?

Not a single alarm had been raised. The ranch was quiet except for a gentle breeze and the sound of his pulse jackhammering in his ears.

His gaze traveled over his wife’s body. Allison looked frightened out of her senses, but other than that, she was unhurt.

It had better stay that way, Stanley thought.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Johan said, tracing a clawed finger across Allison’s throat; it didn’t pierce her flesh, but a shudder rocked her body. “If we were back on Frost Mountain, I’m sure the Ice Melter would have loved to keep her as one of his treasures.”

The idea of Allison being stuck in that massive cave with Grim Jim made Stanley’s gut clench. “We’re not on Frost Mountain anymore,” he said. “Things don’t work that way here.”

“That’s the problem, isn’t it?” The smile was suddenly gone from Johan’s face. “You took me from my world to this ... this place.”

Stanley sensed movement somewhere in the distance. One or two of the cowhands must have noticed something was up. Hopefully, they wouldn’t come and try to help. Two or three men could overpower Johan without much of a struggle, but they’d be risking Allison’s life in the process.

Besides, this wasn’t their fight. It was Stanley’s.

“I never meant to bring you here—” he began.

“You meant to kill me,” Johan cut in. “You thought I would die in that pit.”

“Isn’t that why you shoved me into it?” Stanley countered. “You were ready to sacrifice me to please your master.”

“The Ice Melter gave you a choice!”

“And I chose to die because it was better than joining you to murder and steal from innocent people. Turns out your pit of death was nothing but a way off Frost Mountain. You’ve been giving people freedom instead of sending them to their deaths.”

Johan scoffed. Before him, Allison gave a whimper that caused Stanley’s heart to throb painfully.

“Freedom,” the Collector said. “Is that what you call this? This strange world with its strange rules?”

“Welcome to America, asshole,” Stanley spat.

“What you’re experiencing is called order.

Must be a major culture shock since you’re used to chaos.

” He shook his head, still glowering at the man.

“You’d really rather be stuck in a dimension that was designed to trap and kill you?

Not to mention not knowing when someone might rob or murder you in your sleep? ”

He doubted trying to talk sense into Johan would suddenly give the man a change of heart, but if it bought Stanley enough time to come up with a way to get Allison out of his clutches and to safety, it was best to keep talking.

Johan’s gaze flickered for a second. Stanley got the feeling he was looking at his scars.

“Frost Mountain was my home,” he said.

That gave Stanley pause. Up until now, it hadn’t really occurred to him just why the man might find being on Frost Mountain more bearable than coming to Earth.

It seemed absurd at first glance—why would anyone prefer to be stuck in a freezing death trap?

But now it made a bit more sense. Being here meant Johan had been cut off from every aspect of his life back on Frost Mountain, including Grim Jim and the Collectors.

It was a feeling Stanley could empathize with.

He had been stuck on the mountain for four years.

The thought that he’d forever lost his old life, his ranch, and Allison had been devastating.

Not that it justified Johan’s actions.

“You might as well have sentenced me to death by bringing me here,” the Collector said. “And what was it you said to me when you pulled me into the pit?”

Stanley’s own words crossed his mind. If I’m dying, I’m not dying alone—you’re coming with me.

“You couldn’t kill me before,” Stanley told him. “I’m only going to warn you once: Let my wife go, and maybe I’ll let you walk away from here unscathed.”

Johan guffawed. “You think you could take me down in a fight?”

“You captured me on Frost Mountain because you caught me by surprise. And when you tried to kill me, you had your Collectors and master to protect you. I don’t see them around anywhere.”

It was a calculated statement intended to infuriate Johan. And it worked. The man’s face reddened, his grey eyes lighting up with murderous rage. For a moment, Stanley saw his grip on Allison relax a bit.

She noticed it, too. Before he could make a move toward them, she drove her elbow into Johan’s gut.

Stanley doubted it hurt the man, but the blow took him completely by surprise.

Johan staggered backward for only a moment, but that was all she needed to get away from him.

She darted back inside the house just as Johan straightened and made a grab for her.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Stanley snarled, lunging for the man.

He caught Johan by the legs and tackled him.

Johan kicked at him, struggling to get free.

A second later, claws cut through the air before Stanley’s face.

He gave a heave, straining with all his might to get the man away from the front door, and the next thing he knew, they were tumbling down the porch steps.

Stanley rolled and sprang to his feet, bracing for an attack. Johan had already gotten up. The man’s grey eyes bored into his.

“Maybe it’s a good thing that pit didn’t kill you,” he spat. “Now I can do it myself.”

He lunged, shifting as he did. His clothes ripped away, and a moment later, a large brown wolf collided with Stanley, knocking him to the ground. The wolf’s jaws widened and snapped shut, missing his face by mere inches.

Stanley’s inner snow leopard growled in response.

Then, his own clothes ripped away as his body grew and changed shape.

No sooner had his face elongated into a muzzle than Johan struck again.

The snow leopard’s quick reflexes kicked in, and Stanley easily dodged the attack, feeling the displacement of air where his head had been a second ago.

Johan struck blindly with his claws and was rewarded with a yelp. With a heave, he shoved Johan off his body and sprang onto all fours. The wolf growled menacingly. He wasn’t bleeding as far as Stanley could see. All Stanley had done was make him angrier.

They circled each other, hackles raised, both poised to attack. Stanley studied his opponent intently. He was more agile, but Johan was larger. Those grey eyes gazed back at him, threatening demise. But Stanley wasn’t ready to die.

He wasn’t going to die. Not if he could help it.

It was he who struck next, feinting an attack on Johan’s left flank and suddenly striking his right. It wasn’t until he’d launched himself at the wolf that he realized he’d made a mistake. The sudden stab of pain in his shoulder confirmed that fact.

He hit the ground and rolled, getting up on all fours before Johan could deal him another blow. Stanley growled in pain. His left shoulder throbbed where the wolf’s claws had slashed him. There was no telling how deep the wound was, but it was most definitely going to leave a scar.

If he survived this fight.

They continued to circle each other. Johan’s jaws parted slightly as if the wolf were grinning at him, taunting him.

The ground rumbled beneath his paws as Johan charged again, lunging at him, claws outstretched.

Stanley darted to the side. Just before Johan hit the floor, Stanley extended his own claws.

He felt them make contact with Johan’s body, and a howl of agony pierced the air.

The ground shook again as the wolf landed, writhing in pain.

Stanley could see three bright red gashes on the wolf’s side. As he watched, Johan shifted back to human form, groaning and clutching his side. Blood trickled from under his fingers. Stanley doubted the wound was deep enough to kill him but just deep enough to disable him.

The snow leopard’s body gave way to his human form. Chest heaving, Stanley stood over Johan; the man glared up at him, his expression a mix of pain and resentment.

“You should kill me now,” the man said, “while you still have the chance.”

Stanley merely blinked at him.

“Do it!” Johan snarled. “Kill me.”

Stanley shook his head slowly. “No. I think you’re going to be around for a while. You’re going to love being on Earth.”

With that, he brought down his fist, knocking the man out cold.

***

“Glad you threw some clothes on him before the police showed up,” Allison said, folding her arms across her chest. “We’d have had to explain to the cops why there was a naked man bleeding on our front porch.”

Stanley managed a grin, watching a policeman slap handcuffs on Johan’s wrists and lead him toward the nearest police car. The man was silent, glowering at the couple as he climbed into the backseat.

It looked like the entire police force had responded tonight.

Half a dozen cars were parked haphazardly, lights flashing as policemen inspected the property and took notes.

They’d already questioned everyone they could, including a few cowhands who’d witnessed the whole thing, about what happened, and scoured the property twice for evidence.

Allison had to admit, she felt a little uncomfortable having so many of them around, but the sight of Johan getting cuffed made it all worthwhile.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Stanley said.

She looked at him. He’d managed to change clothes and discard the shredded ones before either of them heard the sirens. In his sleeveless grey T-shirt and blue jeans, he hardly looked like he’d just been fighting for his life. Well, except for the bandage on his shoulder where Johan had clawed him.

Another scar from Frost Mountain , she thought.

“Thank you,” she blurted, “for saving me.”

She’d shocked herself when she’d elbowed Johan and broke free, but she’d had enough presence of mind not to just stand there and let him grab her again.

So she’d hurried into the house and called 911.

By the time she put down the phone, all was quiet outside.

It had taken all of her courage to step back outside.

And what had she found? Stanley standing over Johan’s unconscious form.

She’d never really seen Stanley in action before.

Seeing him like that, with that dark expression on his face, had been a little unnerving.

The man was a force to be reckoned with, especially after his time on Frost Mountain.

He hadn’t killed Johan, but Allison didn’t doubt he could have if he’d wanted to.

The cops soon started to leave. The police car with Johan in it roared to life and began pulling away from the house.

Allison gazed in its direction and froze.

Johan was staring right at her. His face was expressionless now, but it still sent shivers down her spine.

Barely an hour ago, the man’s claws had been at her throat.

More than once, she’d been mere seconds away from death.

Stanley put a protective arm around her shoulders.

“He can’t hurt you,” he said. “Not anymore. Not from behind bars.”

She looked at him.

“He’ll live,” he told her. “The wound I gave him won’t kill him, although I’m sure it’ll leave a doctor or two confused for a while. But I don’t think he’ll go free anytime soon. It’s been four years, but I’m pretty sure attempted murder is still a crime around these parts.”

Allison managed a small smile, feeling a little relieved. “You’re right.”

“It’s all over now. We’re safe. Still,” he continued, “I’m really sorry.”

“For what?”

“Everything.” He gesticulated vaguely with one arm and winced, lowering it quickly. “This is all happened because of me. You were hurt because I disappeared. And even when I returned, I brought a murderer with me and nearly got you killed.”

His head started to dip, but she reached up and cupped his chin, turning his head to face her.

“You didn’t even know you’d be coming back here,” she told him. “I heard what you and Johan were saying. I was there, remember? You had no idea that pit was some kind of portal. You had no idea you were ever going to see me again. And it wasn’t your fault you disappeared.”

“You have a point.” Stanley’s blue eyes bored into hers. “I still feel like I need to make up for it somehow.”

“You’re here, Stanley. That’s all that matters. That’s all that’s ever mattered.”

His lips twitched. He turned to face her. “I’m not going anywhere. Not without you. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”

“I don’t see myself trying anytime soon.”

His grin widened. And then he kissed her. By the time he pulled away, she was practically gasping for air. He reached up and touched the pendant resting on her chest.

“I love you, Allison,” he whispered against her lips.

She beamed at him. “I love you, too, Stanley.” She cocked her head to one side. “You know, maybe there is a way you could make it up to me.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“You could make me a cup of coffee ... right after some alone time together in the bedroom.”

Stanley chuckled. “Well, what are we waiting for?”