Page 3

Fletcher

I 've been obsessively working on my art for the past month. I need to do something, or I'll go crazy up here on this mountain. I came to Hunter's Peak so many years ago as a broken man, having experienced the worst of humankind in the military.

I have so many finished pieces in my workshop that it's starting to get crowded in here. I try to focus on what I'm working on—a deer with two fawns caught as they drink from the creek that is not far from here. As I carve the detail on the piece, I wonder why it reminds me so much of her.

Her. Erika White. Young, vibrant, and the woman of my dreams. Except I know she'll never have an old broken man like me, so I've been trying to stay away. It's been harder than I thought it would be. In the first few weeks, I had to keep myself from driving into town to deliver my artwork.

We have a verbal agreement about me making pieces for her to sell in her gallery, but there's no written contract.

A fact I'm using as an excuse not to go to her.

It's just that my feelings for her are now overwhelming, and I know that if I see her, I'm going to kiss her and claim her, no matter where we are when that happens.

When she approached me so that she could show my work in her gallery, I was immediately taken by her.

Getting to know her with each encounter we've had has been life-changing for me.

At first, I didn't believe that she could sell art from her tiny gallery here in Hunter's Peak, but she proved me wrong time and time again.

Now my mind is filled with images of her smiling and showing me support for my art. I thought I could make a few dollars with my hobby, but she's made thousands in sales for me, completely surprising me. That's who she is, though. A surprising individual with a heart of gold.

I continue working on my piece until my phone rings. I set down my carving tools and reach for it.

"Hello?"

"Fletcher, this is Dean from the search and rescue team. We need a few volunteers to help us look for a missing person who seems to be lost in the mountains. Are you available?"

"Yes, I can help. Where do I meet you?"

"I'm sending you the location where we've found her car. She's been missing for a day and a half."

"Damn. Okay. I'll see you in a few."

I close the connection and put away my tools. The SAR team here at Hunter's Peak often calls on my help due to my military experience. These mountains can be treacherous to those who don't know how to navigate them.

The place where I'm meeting Dean is relatively close to my cabin, and a chill races through my body when I get closer and see the car that's been left on the side of the road.

It's her car.

Now I'm close to hyperventilating.

It can't be. She can't be missing for a day and a half. What if she's hurt? The thoughts in my head are going a mile a minute as I park my car and rush to meet Dean.

"This is Erika White's car, Dean. Is she the one missing?"

"Hi, Fletcher. Yes, I'm afraid so. You work with her, right?"

"I do. Put me to work."

We are divided into groups and assigned different grids of the mountain. I am utterly and completely devastated by the fact that this delicate, young girl has been out here on her own for so long.

The search goes slowly, and with every minute that passes, I grow more concerned for Erika. It's summer, but I try to remember what the temperature was last night. What tears me up inside is how frightened she must be.

I push myself harder and harder because I want to be the one to find her. I swear to myself that I'll pull her into my arms and never let go of her again. I'll confess my love to her and we'll live happily ever after, like in the fairytales.

But this is no fairytale, and it becomes a nightmare when I catch a glimpse of something down the mountain. Whatever it is, it’s not moving.

"Over here."

I shout for the others as I make my way down to where a figure is lying inert on the hard forest ground. The closer I get, the scarier things become until I kneel down before a pale and unconscious Erika.