Chapter 4 - The Mountain Man
I spent three days in that cabin.
Without the toxic "supplements" Julian had been slipping into my drinks, my failing heart began to steady.
The fever broke entirely.
My body was battered, but the mysterious illness that had put me in the hospital was vanishing.
On the fourth day, the cabin door creaked open.
Titan was instantly on his feet, teeth bared, emitting a low, rumbling growl.
A man stood in the doorway, bundled in heavily insulated gear, holding a rifle.
He froze at the sight of the Belgian Malinois ready to tear his throat out.
"Easy," the man said, raising his empty hand.
He looked past Titan to me, huddled under the wool blanket.
"I saw the smoke.
This is my summer line cabin.
You look like hell, lady."
His name was Elias, an off-grid mechanic and former Army medic.
Once I called Titan off, Elias moved with efficient, practiced grace.
He checked my vitals, boiled water, and listened in stunned silence as I croaked out the story of my husband, the paracord, and the snowstorm.
"I can take you to the state troopers," Elias offered, his jaw tight with anger.
"No," I said, my voice gaining strength.
"Julian is wealthy.
He has lawyers.
If I show up now, he'll claim I was delirious and wandered off.
He'll say the tying up was a hallucination.
May you like
I need proof.
I need him to hang himself."
