Summer on the Mountain (16 page)

Summer watched him step outside and check the lock on the backdoor again.  “This needs to be secured,” he said, “but we can’t do it tonight.”  He grimaced, catching her gaze.  “I hate to think you’re up here alone.  I know Jarrod is on a stakeout on Janson Ridge.”

She nodded.

“Well, at the very least, you need to turn on all the outside lights.”  He shook his head, realizing how futile the effort might prove to me.  He’d been startled earlier at the previous cabin to discover the thief had cut the phone lines.  He stepped back into the cabin, securing the door behind him, and asked her where the phones were located in the house.

She told him and he strode into the kitchen.  He picked up the receiver, relieved to hear the dial tone.  Summer watched him curiously and gasped when he explained that the phone lines had been cut at the other cabin.

Summer hugged herself miserably, wondering if she should stay at the cabin.  But where would she go? 

Rick seemed to read her thoughts.  “You might be wise to drive into town and stay at a hotel until we catch these thieves,” he suggested.  “Or are you planning on going home soon?”

She shrugged uncertainly.  She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving, particularly since Jarrod expected her to be there when he returned from the stakeout.

“I’m going to stay here,” she told him, and Rick nodded. 

“Be sure to lock all the doors and windows.  Also, we’re going to have a deputy stationed over at the park, just north of Jarrod’s property.  It’s a central location that’ll allow him quick access to several lake properties on this side.  We’ll also have a man on the west side of the lake.”

Summer nodded, feeling some measure of security hearing that. 

“If you need us, call 911.”  He sighed.  “I wish there was more I could do for you,” he admitted.  He scrubbed a hand over his jaw.  “Frankly, Summer, I don’t think it’s safe for a woman alone up here, under the circumstances.”

She sighed, knowing full well he was right.  But what could she do?  Darkness had settled over the lake and she didn’t feel comfortable leaving now anyway.  A drive down the mountain at night would have its own risks.

Suddenly, Rick perked up.  “Look, I’m off work in an hour.  I’m leaving for my honeymoon tomorrow, directly after my wedding.  We’re going on a cruise,” he added, grinning widely.

“Good for you,” she said, attempting to stave off the panic that edged her voice.

“Anyway, I was thinking…”

“What?” she prompted, glancing around nervously.

“Well, I have a dog—a big dog named Brutus.  I’d planned to leave him at a kennel during our time away, but…”

“Bring him here,” Summer said, following his line of thinking.  Surely she would be safer with a big dog on the property.  Another worrisome thought came to her mind, however.  “Is he…”  She gulped.  “Does he like strangers?  I mean, will he like
me
?” she amended.

“He’ll like you,” he assured her, “and he’s very protective of his people.  As long as I introduce the two of you, and demonstrate you’re friend and not foe, he’ll love you.”

“That sounds great,” she said with relief. 

Rick grinned sheepishly.  “Actually, you’ll be saving me a wad of cash, since it’s expensive to board an animal as big as Brutus.”

“Then it’s a win-win,” she said brightly.  Surely a big dog on the property would serve as a deterrent to potential intruders.

“Okay, then, lock the door behind me and I’ll be back in an hour or so with Brutus.”

Summer nodded, thanked him, and then closed and locked the door behind him.  She was eager for him to return with the dog.  She hadn’t asked him what kind of dog Brutus was, but it didn’t matter.  As long as he was big and had a ferocious bark, he would provide a much-needed service on the mountaintop.  And with him nearby, she might actually manage to sleep at night.

“Brutus, move over!” Summer moaned, shoving at the two-ton mastiff currently occupying the biggest part of the queen-sized bed.  Since arriving at the cabin several nights before, he had routinely claimed the mattress at bedtime, deciding to make himself very much at home.

In frustration, Summer rose from the bed and moved to the end, tapping furiously with her hand.  “Brutus, here!”

The dog lifted his massive head—Summer was certain he smiled—and then lazily dropped his big, block head.  He did do her the courtesy of thumping his tail a time or two, but he refused to budge.  She couldn’t blame him.  The bed was comfortable.

She threw her hands in the air, chortling with disgust.  She was exhausted, having slept fitfully since the attempted break-in several nights before.  And now, when she suspected she could actually sleep due to her overwhelming fatigue, she didn’t have a bed to sleep in.  With frustration, she tugged a pillow out from under Brutus’ front paw and headed for the couch.

She tossed the pillow onto the end, punching it with an intensity that matched her mood.  Finally, she dropped onto the couch.  To her horror, Brutus joined her, stepping onto the cushions and over her, as if in slow motion.  He wedged himself between her and the back of the couch.  She heard the coil springs protest under their combined weights, just before she rolled off the couch and landed with a resounding thud on the hardwood floor.

“Brutus, down!” she commanded. 

She awkwardly rose from the floor and grasped his collar, attempting to pull him to the floor.  He watched her through heavily lidded eyes, but refused to move. 

“Move!” she said forcefully and shrilly, and to her relief, he finally complied and dropped onto the floor and assumed his position as body guard, lying parallel to her. 

Summer hurriedly lay down and dropped her hand to pat the dog’s head.  Brutus dropped off to sleep faster than she, but finally, she too managed to drift off to sleep.  Too soon she was awakened by a very wet and large tongue slathering her face with doggy drool. 

“Brutus,” she moaned.  “
Please
!”  The dog simply kissed her again for good measure and then trotted to the front door and began pawing at it.  “Ah, Brutus, you’re killing me,” Summer groused, but got up to let him outside.

She was pleased to see he remained close to the cabin.  He never wandered off and she was grateful for that. When she set up her easel to paint each day, he simply dropped down beside her and lazed the day away.  He also proved a conscientious walking companion, remaining by her side, twitching his nose in the air and barking if he sensed some threat.  All in all, aside from the bed wars each night, Brutus proved a good and loyal companion.  When Jarrod showed up out of the blue one day, he had to agree.

Summer and Brutus were both standing knee deep in the mountain lake when he arrived.  Summer had delighted to find the waters had warmed just enough to allow her to wade without her feet going numb. 

“Fetch, Brutus!” she commanded, tossing a stick.  The mastiff delighted in fetching anything, so long as she didn’t throw it too far out into the water. 

“Good boy,” she crooned when he returned, but suddenly, he dropped the stick, and spun around, sloshing through the water and toward the bank, barking an alarm.  Summer turned and saw Jarrod approaching. 

“Jarrod, hello!” she cried eagerly.  “You’re home!”

He watched Brutus with both curiosity, and then concern, when the dog planted himself between him and Summer, barring his teeth and barking ferociously. 

“Brutus,” he said in surprise.  “What’s the deal?  You know me.”

“Brutus, come!” Summer called with authority and the dog bounded to her side, still barking at Jarrod.

“Well, that was a heck of a welcome,” he said, smiling at Summer, and then shrugging his broad shoulders.  “Darn dog!”

From Summer’s side, the dog emitted a low growl, and Jarrod shook his head again.  After warning Brutus to mind his manners, Summer hurriedly sloshed through the water toward Jarrod, glancing up eagerly into his tanned face when she reached him.  She didn’t waste a second wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly on the lips. 

When she pulled back, he smiled.  “That’s more like the welcome I was hoping for.  I’ve missed you.”

Brutus, still beside Summer, apparently took her warm greeting as cue that all was well, and he stood to his full height, bracing his soggy, massive paws against Jarrod’s chest.  A wet tongue slathered his alarmed face.  “Brutus!  Stop!” he commanded, laughing, and taking a staggering step backward, before regaining his balance. 

He shot the dog a bewildered look.  Summer couldn’t help chuckle as he ran a sleeve across his mouth.  “Don’t imagine you’ll be kissing me again anytime soon,” he directed at her, smiling ruefully.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said with a grin.  “Brutus has shared more than one kiss with me over the last couple days.”

Jarrod grimaced at the news, but then wrapped an arm around her waist.  He eyed the dog curiously.  “What’s Brutus doing here, by the way?”

Summer relayed the details of the attempted break-in at the cabin, and concluded by explaining Rick Sanders had offered her Brutus for her protection.  Jarrod watched her with concern. 

“Thank God the burglar didn’t get in,” he said, “and that law enforcement was nearby.  I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you.” 

Summer smiled and placed a gentle hand on Brutus’ head.  “When Rick suggested Brutus might be just the ticket to ward off intruders, and when he mentioned he needed a dog sitter, I agreed it was a good idea for him to stay with me.”  Suddenly, her eyes widened and she winced.  “I probably should have checked with your mom first.”

Jarrod waved a dismissive hand and shook his head.  “You did the right thing.”  She noted his manner had sobered considerably and he raked a hand though his hair.  “I can’t leave you up here alone,” he blurted.  “What if the intruders come back?”  Summer could see the turmoil in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” she assured him, waving off his concern.  The last thing she wanted was him worrying about her when he had a job to do—and a dangerous one at that.  She would leave the mountaintop before she would put him in jeopardy.

He sighed, pulling her against him.  Summer felt the jolting power of their attraction the instant their bodies touched.  It was a revelation.  She couldn’t remember ever experiencing a similar response when she’d been close to her former boyfriends.  She sighed with contentment as he brushed her cheek with his lips. 

When Brutus suddenly pushed his massive body between them, she nearly tumbled backward.  Jarrod reached out to steady her, shooting the dog a look of daggers.  “I think he’s jealous,” he muttered in an incredulous tone, watching the animal with chagrin.  “When is Rick coming back, by the way?”

“In a few days.”

“You really think he’s coming back for this beast?” he asked, chuckling, and indicating Brutus with a mock-contemptuous nod.

“Of course he’s coming back for him.  Why…wouldn’t he?”  She watched him speculatively, sensing he knew something she didn’t.

“I happen to know Rick’s fiancée—now wife—is allergic to Brutus and he’s been unsuccessfully searching for a Patsy… er…”

Summer gasped.

“That came out wrong,” he said quickly, chuckling ruefully and raising a hand in surrender.  “You had no way of knowing Rick might have ulterior motives in placing Brutus in your able care.”

“Well, he did mention it would save him boarding fees, but…”  She grimaced.  “Oh, wow.”

“You don’t want to keep him?”  He smiled into her eyes.      

“It’s not that…”  She turned to scrutinize the mastiff.  “He’s as big as a horse,” she whispered, as if fearful she might offend the dog.  “You wouldn’t believe how much he eats.”

“Oh, I can imagine,” he said.  “Speaking of food, do you have time for lunch?”

“You mean, do I have time to fix you lunch?”

“I’ll fix lunch, and be glad to do it,” he said agreeably.  “You don’t know how much I’ve missed the comforts of home.  You don’t know how much I’ve missed … you.”

Summer smiled into his eyes.  “So you said.”  He couldn’t possibly miss her more than she missed him.  “How much longer until this stakeout is over?” she practically moaned, and he grinned.

“You do miss me.”

“More each day,” she told him, unashamed to admit it.  “I’m lonely without you.”

He smiled, reaching for her hand.  “You do have Brutus,” he pointed out.

“It just isn’t the same,” she said with a smile, shaking her head.

They walked hand in hand to Jarrod’s cabin, Brutus trotting alongside.  Inside, Jarrod excused himself momentarily.  He returned carrying a handful of maps.  Summer watched him with interest.  “I remembered these yesterday,” he said.  “I might be able to use them, since one in particular indicates a series of little known trails that lead all over the mountain.  It was compiled by a long-time resident who knew this place like the back of his hand.”

“Things aren’t going well up there?” she inquired.

He shook his head.  “I’m afraid not.  We have law enforcement all over the mountain at this point, but the culprits apparently know we’re there.  Half the time I’m up there, I’m sure the poachers are hunkered down out of sight, watching us and laughing their heads off.”