Page 4 of Emergency with the Mountain Man (Silver Ridge Mountain Men #1)

four

Jake

Taking it slow is going to kill me.

It's been a week since our evening at the waterfall, and I've seen Norma every day.

Coffee at Juniper's Diner, lunch at the Silver Lodge, dinner at the steakhouse I promised her.

Long walks on forest trails, afternoons helping her organize supplies at the clinic, evenings spent on her front porch talking until the stars come out.

Every moment we spend together makes me want her more. Not just physically—though the attraction between us burns hot enough to melt steel—but I want her in my life, in my future, in every day that's coming.

But slow means keeping my hands to myself when she laughs at something I've said.

Slow means not pulling her against me when she shivers in the evening air.

Slow means ending each date with a chaste kiss on her doorstep instead of carrying her inside and showing her exactly how much she means to me.

I've never wanted anything as much as I want Norma McKenzie. And I've never been so terrified of screwing something up.

"You're distracted again," my foreman Tom observes as I measure the same log for the third time. "Whatever's got your head in the clouds needs to either get resolved or get ignored until after work hours."

"Sorry. Just thinking."

"About the pretty vet who's got you walking around like a lovesick teenager?"

Tom's been with Kirkwood Timber longer than anyone, and he's made it his business to know everyone's personal life. Usually, I'd tell him to mind his own business. Today, I'm too tired from sleepless nights to muster much irritation.

"Something like that."

"Well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it. Haven't seen you this happy since you moved to Silver Ridge."

Before I can respond, my radio crackles to life. "Jake, we've got a problem at the north site. An injured fox got caught in some old barbed wire. Poor thing's been thrashing around trying to get free and made it worse. Can you get up there with the ATV?"

My blood goes cold. Injured wildlife plus panic equals potential disaster for both the animal and my crew. "On my way. How bad is it?"

"Deep lacerations on her legs and side. She's exhausted from fighting the wire but still snapping if we get too close. We've backed off, but she needs help fast."

"Call Dr. McKenzie," I say, already heading for the ATV. "Tell her to meet me at the north access road with her emergency kit. If she can't get her truck up there, I'll bring her on the four-wheeler."

"Copy that."

The ride to the north site takes fifteen minutes on logging roads that would challenge a mountain goat. I'm pushing the ATV harder than I should, but injured wildlife doesn't wait, and a panicked fox could seriously hurt someone if we don't handle this right.

I reach the access road to find both Norma's truck and Carrie's car already there, emergency lights flashing. Norma is loading gear onto a four-wheeler while Carrie organizes additional supplies, their movements quick and efficient despite the obvious stress of an emergency call.

"How bad?" I ask, jumping off my ATV.

"Sounds like significant tissue damage but nothing life-threatening if we can get her stabilized.

I've got tranquilizer and everything I need for field treatment.

" She looks at my machine, then back at hers.

"Your ATV looks more stable than mine. Can you drive while Carrie and I prepare the equipment? "

"Absolutely. Let's go."

We transfer their equipment quickly. Norma climbs on behind me while Carrie takes her own four-wheeler, following close behind with the additional medical supplies.

The familiar weight of her body against my back would normally send my pulse racing, but right now all I can think about is getting to that fox before she hurts herself worse.

The ride up the mountain is harrowing—loose rocks, steep grades, and fallen branches that force us to take a circuitous route. Norma holds on tightly, her medical bag secured between us, never once complaining about the rough terrain.

"There," I say as we crest a ridge. "Can you see the crew?"

Below us, the Kirkwood Timber team has formed a wide circle around the trapped fox, keeping their distance while Tom coordinates from a safe position. The small red animal is lying on her side, exhausted from struggling, barbed wire wrapped around her legs and caught in the underbrush.

"Let me assess from here first," Norma says as we reach the clearing, Carrie pulling up beside us. "I need to see how panicked she is before I get close."

I watch her observe the fox with practiced eyes, while Carrie quietly unpacks supplies. Within minutes, Norma has formulated a plan.

"She's exhausted, which works in our favor.

I'm going to sedate her first, then we can safely remove the wire and treat the wounds.

" She loads a small tranquilizer dart with steady hands.

"Carrie, can you prep the wound cleaning supplies?

And I'll need your crew to stay back until she's under," she adds to me.

The next hour passes in careful, coordinated work.

Norma approaches the fox with calm confidence, delivering the sedative precisely before waiting for it to take effect.

Once the animal is safely unconscious, she and Carrie work together to methodically cut away the barbed wire and clean the wounds.

"Muscle damage but nothing too deep," Norma announces as she works, Carrie assisting with cleaning and bandaging. "She'll need antibiotics and monitoring, but she should make a full recovery."

I help them load the fox into a small transport carrier they'd brought, marveling at their preparation and teamwork.

"Where will you take her?" I ask as they secure the carrier.

"Back to the clinic for now. She'll need a few days of observation before we can release her." Norma strips off her gloves, satisfaction clear in her expression as Carrie packs up the remaining supplies. "She'll be back to the wild by next week."

"Thank you." The words feel inadequate for what she just did. "Seriously, Norma. You probably saved that fox's life today."

"I did my job. Wildlife rescue is part of what I do."

"It's more than that, and you know it. The way you handled everything—stayed calm, made quick decisions, knew exactly what that animal needed. You're incredible at this."

She shrugs, but I can see the satisfaction in her eyes. "Large animal work was part of my training. I've handled a fox before."

Of course she has. This incredible woman continues to surprise me with her competence, her preparedness, her dedication to helping any creature in need.

"Norma, what you did today..." I set down my work gloves and turn to face her fully. "I've never seen anything like it. The way you took charge, read that animal's condition, never hesitated to do what was needed. You're extraordinary."

Color rises in her cheeks. "I just did what needed doing."

"No. What you did was save a life because you have the skills, the courage, and the heart to help when help is needed. That's who you are—someone who shows up when it matters."

She looks down at her hands, and I can see her struggling with the compliment. Sebastian really did a number on her self-confidence if she can't accept praise for her obvious expertise.

"Hey," I say softly, reaching out to tip her chin up until she meets my eyes. "I know your ex made you doubt yourself, but what happened today proves he was wrong about everything. You're not just a good veterinarian, Norma. You're an exceptional person. And I'm falling in love with you."

The words slip out before I can stop them, hanging in the mountain air like a confession I wasn't ready to make. We've been taking it slow, being careful, not pushing too hard or too fast.

But watching her work with such skill and compassion, seeing her in her element, I can't pretend my feelings are anything less than complete and overwhelming love.

"Jake..." she whispers.

"I know it's too soon. I know we agreed to take things slow. But I can't watch you doubt yourself for one more minute without telling you how incredible you are. How lucky I am that you decided to start over in Silver Ridge. How completely gone I am for you."

Tears fill her green eyes, and for a moment I think I've ruined everything. Pushed too hard, said too much, scared her away with the intensity of feelings she's not ready to handle.

Then she rises on her toes and kisses me, right there in the forest clearing with dirt on our clothes and the scent of pine all around us.

"I love you too," she whispers against my lips. "I didn't want to, didn't plan to, but I love you too."

Relief and joy and gratitude crash over me in waves. I gather her against my chest, holding her like she's the most precious thing in the world, because she is.

"Does this mean we're done taking it slow?" I ask when I can finally speak.

She laughs, the sound bright and happy and full of promise. "I think we can upgrade to moderately paced."

"I can work with moderately paced ."

"Good. Because I want to go home with you tonight, Jake. I want to stop being afraid of what I feel, stop letting Sebastian's damage control my choices. I want to be brave enough to trust you with everything."

The trust she's offering, the courage it takes for her to say those words, humbles me completely. "Are you sure?"

"More sure than I've been about anything in years."

"Then let's go home."