My Alaskan mountain man

Robins take on it!

Stomping around outside in the snow, trying to keep busy and trying to avoid thinking of Cammie leaving the homestead, Robin is shovelling snow like crazy.

‘Cammie is going to be gone within the hour, I may not see her again’, Robin thinks to himself.

This whole trying to keep busy to avoid thinking of her isn’t exactly working. Which frustrates him even more. He is so annoyed that if the snow was pure 10inch thick, hard ice he would punch it and he would probably break it with his bare fists right now just to get rid of all his frustration. Instead he shovels the snow with more intensity then before. So much so that there is snow flying all over the place with every shovel and it looks like he’s creating his own man made storm.

Shovelling snow like his life depended on it, he keeps mulling it over and talking to himself as usual, “if Cammie leaves for town today, when will the roads be clear enough for me to drive down into town to check on her? I don’t like the idea of her being in town, her attackers could be anywhere, could be anyone... and with three of the fuckers there’s a good chance they may get to her. They’ll be even more determined to get rid of her and’ll be hell bent on finishing what they’ve started.” Looking around him now, he contemplates going with them into town, he could book into the local hotel so he could be closer to Cammie and keep an eye on her as much as possible....but..... he can’t, his livestock need tending to daily.

Robin says aloud to himself, “s**t! I really don’t like this idea!”

I wish she would just stay here, that way I can keep an eye on her and keep her safe. At least that way fewer people will even know she exists. Once in town, no matter how tight the Sheriff intends to keep the news it’s going to get out and when it does it’s going to spread like wild fire. It’s already a liability that the two medics, the pilot no doubt and the superintendent know about her already. Gossip is basically the heart and soul of the town, and even though most of the townsfolk are harmless and don’t wish bad on anyone, just talking to someone or saying the wrong thing to the wrong person could put Cammie in danger.

Robin looks toward the house, maybe he should tell her to stay. Maybe he should talk to the Sheriff and Doc Willow, convince them she won’t be safe in town.

Robin heads toward the cabin with the intention of convincing everyone that Cammie should stay-put on the homestead. He can look after her and if her condition gets worse he can call Doc Willow for advice.

Once inside, Robin over hears Doc and the Sheriff discussing something to do with Cammie.

Doc, “it’s definitely overwhelming for her Henry, you can’t expect her to trust just ANY MAN after what’s happened to her. She’s going to need therapy and god knows how long it will take her to recover fully, if ever.”

Sheriff, “I know, but I’m not ANY MAN, I’m the Sheriff, if she should trust a MAN it should be me. I just wish she’d tell me more so I can catch these bastards and put them away. I hate the thought of people like that being a part of and possibly living in our town”.

Robins stops dead in his tracks and rethinks his strategy to keep Cammie here with him. Doc is right, Cammie probably only feels comfortable here because Doc Willow is here, another woman to give her a sense of security. Cammie won’t want to stay here on her own with me, I’m practically a stranger to her, and I’m a man! How would she ever be able to trust that I have only good intentions after what’s happened to her. Hell I know what it’s feels like when someone’s done you wrong. After what my brother did going behind my back and him taking my girl from under my nose. And the pain it caused knowing that she chose him over me after we’d been together and happy for so long.

It’s hard to let go of the past and trust again, especially if you got hurt in the process.

Besides, she will need therapy and I’m not qualified to provide therapy to a mouse let alone a young woman. I’m going to have to accept that she has to go.

Sheriff interrupts my thoughts, “you okay Rob?”

“Yeah, fine thanks”, I look up at Sheriff and try to hide the frown on my forehead, “I’ve shovelled a large clearing in the paddock for the chopper to land and a path to it. Should make it easier for you to get all your stuff to the chopper”.

Sheriff nods with a smile and heads into the bedroom where Cammie is.

A loud, THUD-THUD-THUD, comes from outside, my heart immediately sinks to the pit of my stomach. I head out to find the chopper coming up and over the tree line in the distance.

I head out to the paddock and wave the chopper down and direct them into the clearing.

Once it’s landed I show the medics to the cabin. They follow me through the front door and I lead them to the bedroom where I find Sheriff and Doc Willow just entering the room at the same time.

Sheriff and Doc Willow greet the medics and share pleasantries in the doorway to the bedroom.

Doc then turns to Cammie who is sitting on the bed, her head is hanging down low and she is still.

“Cammie”, she calls in her gentle voice.

Cammie doesn’t respond.

I instinctively realise that something’s off, I walk toward her as Doc calls to her again, this time with a little worry in her tone, “Cammie?... the rescue helicopter is here!”

Still no response when Doc says for a third time, “Cammie?”

I crouch down beside her and gently put my hand on her shoulder. I’m low enough to see her face to face now and I can see her thoughts are in another world all together. The look on her face of absolute terror when she comes back to us is almost unbearable to see.

“I’m not going!”, Cammie blurts out.

She says something else, but I am too busy replaying that over and over in my head...”I’m not going!”....”I’m not going!”

It takes me a moment before it sinks in properly. My heart leaps at the realisation that she wants to stay, she wants to stay here with me. That means she trusts me and that means I’m going to be able to take care of her.

The Sheriff tries to convince her to go with them, but I can see the terror in her eyes and I can hear the panic in her voice. I won’t have her forced into going if she doesn’t want to.

No way in hell that’s going to happen!

I stand up in front of Cammie and block her with my body from everyone’s wide eyed stares.

“She’s staying!”

I say it loud and clear with an assertiveness that lets everyone know that I mean business.

“For as long as she wants to!”