They finished breakfast and were about to head out when Nate looked Jason over. “You’re going to need warmer gear.”
Five minutes later, Jason was wearing a spare pair of Nate’s long underwear, as well as a winter parka, a woolen hat, and warm gloves.
Nate nodded. “That’s better.”
Outside, the air was fresh and cold, the scent of snow mingling with pine, the first light of dawn spilling into the valley from the east. The ranch hands had already attached an extra-long horse trailer to Nate’s pickup. Nate opened the rear doors to show Jason the UTV strapped inside. Big enough to carry four people, it could definitely handle three adults plus gear.
Then he opened a side door that was closer to the front. “If we get cold and need to retreat to warm up, we can shelter in here.”
Inside, it was like a small camper, complete with a stove, a bathroom, and sleeping space. Best of all, it was heated.
Jason wouldn’t even ask how much that had cost.
They met Deputy Marcs at the parking lot. This time, she had a rifle, in addition to her sidearm. “I heard about what happened last night. Let’s catch this bastard.”
Nate backed the UTV out of the trailer, locked it up, and they piled on.
It was a bumpy half-hour ride to the creek.
Jason climbed out of the UTV and immediately saw what they were looking for—four-wheeler tracks with the flying chevron in the center. “He exited the road via the creek, heading straight up the creek bed. He’s on Forest Service land.”
They waited a few minutes while Deputy Marcs called this information into the Forest Service to let them know what was happening, then left the UTV and hiked into the snowy forest. The tracks were obvious and easy to follow, the snow a perfect canvas.
Jason stepped over the snow-covered trunk of a fallen pine, wind blowing snow from the branches high above them, cold flakes hitting his face. From somewhere overhead came the cry of a raven, the air fresh and crisp. “Look.”
Just ahead, the tracks left the creek bed and headed up the mountainside.
Instinctively, Jason stopped, looked uphill, trying to see through the trees. “I don’t like having the low ground.”
Nate walked up beside him, rifle in hand, very much still the Marine. “I don’t like it either. Keep your heads on a swivel, folks. Situational awareness.”
Then in the distance, Jason heard it—a low growl that turned into a howl.
It could only be a wolf.
Chapter 14
Winona wokewith a smile on her face and stretched. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this relaxed or contented, her body languid, her mind empty. She rolled onto her side, hugged Jason’s pillow, and inhaled his scent, memories from the night running through her mind—the heat in Jason’s touch, the erotic sound of his moans, the sensation of him moving inside her.
Last night had been the best sex of her life.
There hadn’t been any of the awkwardness she associated with the first time with a new partner—the uncertainty, the clumsiness, the nervousness. Something about Jason had put her at ease. Maybe it was his confidence. Or perhaps he was just so damned good in bed that she hadn’t had time to be nervous.
She glanced at the clock on the nightstand, saw that it was already half past eight. She got up, took a quick shower, made the bed, and dressed. Then she opened her blinds and found herself staring at a landscape covered in white.
It was breathtaking—high peaks glittering white, pines and firs with snow on their branches, a bright blue sky.
Downstairs, she found Jack, Janet, Megan, and the children in the kitchen, the mingled scents of coffee, bacon, and buttermilk pancakes making her mouth water.
Emily saw her first, her little face lighting up. “Winona! Guess what? I have a snow day.”
Megan was trying to get a squirming Jackson into a high chair. “Good morning. I hope you slept well.”
Heat rushed into Winona’s face. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Come have a seat.” Janet cut up a pancake and gave her daughter a little fork—which went straight onto the floor. “Lily.”
Jack poured Winona a cup of coffee. “We’ve got eggs, hash browns, bacon, and my homemade pancakes.”