Christmas Escape

Chapter Two

Micah

When Joseph, Peyton’s father contacted me to book a place for his daughter to stay, he’d warned me that she’d had the s**t beat out of her. But nothing could’ve prepared me for the sight of Peyton. Her right eye was still swollen. Bruising dripped down her cheeks and she had distinct fingerprints on her neck.

Peyton’s arm was in a cast that went up over her elbow and held in a sling. She looked frazzled and I couldn’t blame her in the least bit. The bastard that did this to her had a lot to answer for. Anger bubbled in the pit of my stomach as I thought about what kind of man could do something like that to a woman he was supposed to love.

I shook my head to wipe the heavy clouds that were threatening to engulf me. I watched my mother every day until my father finally succeeded in killing her. Once I was old enough to get out of the foster system and make it on my own, I’d worked every job I could find. Finally saving enough to buy the lodge. Now, I kept at least two rooms available for women just like Peyton.

I wouldn’t charge her for the room. She could stay there for as long as she needed. Peyton was as safe as she could be at the lodge. Badger Valley was one of those towns, where everyone knew everyone. So, if her ex-husband were to miraculously find her and come chasing after her, he would stand out and word would race around.

I lifted the trunk of my car and slipped Peyton’s simple suitcase in the back. When I glanced over at Peyton, she stood shivering with her arms folded across her chest. Alaskan winters were notorious. They were freezing. Snow coated everything and the wind blew through you, cooling your core temperature in minutes.

“Come on, jump in the car and that will warm you up,” I said with a bright smile as I opened the passenger door.

Peyton nodded her head and gave me a brief smile. It was forced. She wasn’t just trembling because of the cold. She was also scared. I couldn’t blame her. This must be the most overwhelming thing she’d probably ever faced..

I jogged around the front of the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. As soon as I brought the engine to life, I cranked the heater to fill the car with warm air. Peyton’s cheeks and nose was pink as she leaned forward and put her fingers in front of the vent, warming them up.

“Do you have warmer clothes?” I asked.

Peyton glanced over at me and shrugged her shoulders. “Mom and Dad bought me a jacket and some thermals but I’m not sure it is going to quite be enough,” she admitted.

I nodded my head. No one could imagine the bitter cold of Alaska until they got here. “We will organize you some warm clothes to get you through.”

Peyton’s brows pulled into a frown, and she shook her head. “I’m not a charity case,” she said so quietly that if it wasn’t for the silence of the car, I wouldn’t have heard her. There was venom in her voice. My eyes widened as I realized that I’d put my foot in it. I’d never meant to make her feel like I was treating her like charity.

“I’m sorry, that’s not how I meant it,” I apologized quietly as I watched her. She faced the front of the car and didn’t make eye contact with me. When I reached out to turn her face to look at me, I quickly dropped my hand when she recoiled and pressed herself tightly against the passenger door.

Peyton let out a shaky breath and when she glanced over at me, I noticed the tears that clung to her lashes. I sighed to try and swallow the anger I was feeling. It wasn’t anger that was aimed at Peyton, but at her ex-husband. This girl was nothing more than a scared little rabbit.

“I promise you Peyton that I don’t mean to treat you as a charity case. I just want to help and take some of the pressure off you,” I explained.

Peyton’s shoulders relaxed and she slowly exhaled before looking over at me. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I appreciate that you are trying to help me.”

I smiled at her and nodded my head. “I can only imagine how overwhelming this is for you. And if you need me to back off, then please tell me. I don’t want to encroach on you. I want you to feel safe here.”

Peyton nodded and gave me another forced smile but didn’t say anything. I turned my attention to the road, flipping on the indicator before pulling away from the curb and heading back towards the tiny village of Badger Valley. I prayed that Peyton would find her healing, just as I had.