J. Robb - Bump in The Night

Grace couldn’t help grinning at his imitation of a carnival barker. „Were you planning on staying in one of the cottages here?“

„Not really. I’d planned on camping in the open. Along the trail.“ He wrapped a towel around the handle of the skillet and removed it from the fire. „I was about to film my journey for a television special.“

„You’re a TV producer, too?“

He gave a quick shake of his head. „Just a guy who loves nature.“

„How many people are going with you?“

„Just me. The rest of the crew planned on filming me here at the beginning, and then waiting for me at the end of the journey to wrap things up.“

She flushed. „I’m afraid I don’t watch much television. I’m out of the country more often than I’m home. I’m not familiar with your show.“

„It isn’t a TV show yet. The producer was hoping this special might create enough interest to make it into a regular feature on the Sports News Network.“

„Now that’s something I’m familiar with. SNN is seen everywhere.“

The fish were still sizzling as Josh turned them onto a plate. He removed a packet of leaves from the fire and opened them to reveal a mixture of steaming roots that he’d collected from the wild vegetation growing in the woods around the cabin.

When he carried the platter to the table, Grace eyed it with naked hunger.

Josh shot her a wicked grin. „Wouldn’t you like to know what you’re about to eat?“

„I don’t need the scientific names, if that’s what you mean. As long as you assure me that they’re edible.“

„A girl after my own heart.“ He settled down beside her and began to fill both their plates. „But just so you know the food is safe to eat, I’ll tell you the name of everything here.“

She chuckled. „A lot of good that’ll do. How will I know whether you’ve given me their real name, or something you just made up?“

„You won’t.“ He popped a steaming green leaf into his mouth and gave a sigh of pleasure before swallowing. „Now this is what I call fresh.“

Following his lead, Grace tasted the fish and couldn’t stop the little sigh that escaped her lips. „You’re right. It’s wonderful.“ She speared a green leaf. „All right. Just to play along, what’s this called?“

„Lamb’s-quarter. It’ll taste a lot like spinach.“

She bit into it and gave a quick nod. „It does.“ She lifted a steaming tuber. „And this?“

„Wild yam. The Native Americans who lived here probably considered it a delicacy. It’ll stay fresh all winter if left in the ground.“

„It’s delicious.“ Grace tasted yet another green. „And this?“

„Wild asparagus.“

„Tasty.“ She found herself wondering if he actually knew all these plants, or was having fun with her. Testing him, she pointed with her fork. „This?“

„That’s wild mint. And that one is thyme.“

She started to laugh. „Honestly?“

„Would I lie to the woman who saved my life?“ He speared a tuber. „This is orris root. And this is verbena. I’ll use some later to make you tea.“

„You’re trying to impress me with all this knowledge, aren’t you?“

„Guilty.“ He grinned. „Is it working?“

„Yeah.“ She shot him a sideways glance. „How do you learn all this?“

He shrugged. „The same way a city girl quickly learns which restaurant has the best carryout. I’ve spent so much time in the wild, eating from the land has become second nature to me.“

„Is this when you tell me your amazing tale of having been raised in the wilderness by wolves, and that you’re actually an untamed mountain man?“

That had them both laughing.

It occurred to Josh that he was having a grand time, feeling more relaxed and carefree than he had in years. „I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. She used to tell me stories about my dad, and I wanted to be just like him. I was keen for any adventure. I was on skis as soon as I could walk. Climbing mountains when other kids were riding their bikes.“ His tone lowered. Softened. „Gram told me that there wasn’t anything my father wouldn’t attempt. When I was a kid, I thought he could walk on water.“

Grace heard the affection in his tone and felt a sudden ache around her heart at the thought of all she’d missed with her own father. „No wonder you need to get the generator up and running. He’ll be worried sick until he hears that you’re safe.“

„My father died when I was ten. Until then, I was a military brat, moving all around the world. Though my mother hated it, I was having the time of my life.“ He crossed to the fire, retrieving the coffeepot. „I think, if my father had lived, my parents would have gone their separate ways.“ When he’d topped off both their cups, he set the coffeepot aside before returning to the sofa and stretching out his legs toward the heat. „Within a year of my dad’s death my mother remarried, and I was allowed to move in with my grandmother. It was a good move for all of us. My grandmother was an amazing woman.“

Intrigued, Grace turned to him. „In what way?“

He shrugged. „She’d buried a husband, a son. Since I was the only family member she had left, it would have been natural for her to lock the doors and cling to me as tightly as possible.“

He saw Grace’s sudden frown and wondered where she’d just gone in her mind. „Instead of holding on too tightly, she seemed perfectly content to allow me to follow my heart, no matter where it took me. When I was fourteen I told her I wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail the way my dad had. She offered to come along, but I told her I wanted to do it alone. And I did.“

„But you were only a kid.“

„I grew up fast. I found out a lot about myself that summer. After that, I spent every summer doing the things my father had done. Hiking in Wyoming. Snowboarding in Colorado. Fishing in Montana.“

„So young. Weren’t you afraid and awfully lonely?“

He smiled, remembering. „There were times when I thought I’d taken on a challenge that was bigger than my talent. But I can’t say I was ever afraid. As for feeling lonely…“ He stared into the fire. „I’ve always felt the presence of my dad in my life.“

Again that quick tug at her heart before Grace nodded toward the gloves in his breast pocket. „Your good luck charms.“

„Yeah.“ His grin was quick and easy as he removed them and set them on the table. „These were the only things left. They arrived in a box with a typewritten note saying my father had been wearing them when his plane went down.“

„A plane crash?“ She was so startled, she sat up straighter.

„Didn’t I mention it? He was a soldier in Special Forces.“

Grace went very still, wondering how he could speak of such a thing without emotion.

„You’re quiet.“ He reached over and caught her hand in his. „I’m sorry if I upset you. But if you’re thinking I was trying to emulate him by crashing my plane, you’re wrong.“

She absorbed a jolt, but when she tried to pull away, she found herself held firmly. She stared at their joined hands, then up into his face. „I wonder how your grandmother found the courage to allow you such freedom after dealing with something so violent and unexpected?“

He moved his thumb along her wrist and felt the way her pulse jumped. Was she feeling it, too? The heat? The adrenaline from this simple touch? „Gram told me that whenever we give in to our fears, the bad guys win. It’s become my mantra. Never let fear rule.“

„I like that. Though I never heard it put into words, it’s pretty much my motto, too.“

„Really?“ He looked at her with new interest. „Most people I know prefer to avoid risks and live their lives quietly.“