Welcome to Texas, the sign read as I exited New Mexico and entered the Lone Star State. Mountains rose in the distance. I rolled down my window and breathed in the heat of the plains. I was about four hours away from my new life and final destination.

Stopping at a travel center, I filled the tank with gas and grabbed a few snacks for the remainder of the road trip. I handed the clerk a twenty-dollar bill for my goodies, and she handed me back my change. “You look exactly like Nikola Stone, you could be her twin.”

“Really? I think she’s taller.” The last thing I needed was a call to the paparazzi. Unwanted press was a surefire way to piss off my parents. They were working on the remake of Jesus Christ Superstar so anything scandalous would ruin their chances of continuing the project. They were already struggling with locations because no one wanted Christ the rock star to be filmed in their country.

I took my change and raced out the door to my Jeep. The next several hours were pure bliss. It was just me, and my thoughts. About an hour from my destination, I stopped by the largest market I could find and purchased enough supplies to get me through the evening and tomorrow morning. I had no idea what I would be walking into. I didn’t ask if the place had a stove or refrigerator. I really didn’t think this through. Anxiety rippled across my chest. I debated whether to follow through with my plan or turn around and high tail it back to California. Deep in thought, I almost missed hearing the woman talking beside me.

“Ma’am, are you finding everything you need?” She looked at me. A twinkle of recognition reached her eyes.

“Yes, although, I really need a baseball cap of some sort for sun protection, would you happen to carry those?”

She gave me a knowing look. “Sure, follow me, hats are in aisle twelve, sunglasses in eleven.” She showed me the way, gave me an exaggerated wink, and then left me to make my selection. With a Cowboys cap and a pair of Foster Grants in hand, I made my purchases and left.

In the car I dialed Max. “Are you there?” The phone crackled and hissed.

“I’m here, did you make it safely? What’s it like?”

“I’m not quite there, but I should be within the hour. I called to tell you I made it okay, so you wouldn’t worry.”

“Find your bliss, girl, then come home.”

I drove the remaining forty minutes without a single thought running through my mind. I had no idea how I found the place but somehow I did. It’s not like it was on the main highway. The dirt road wound back and forth, through hills and valleys, and crossed a creek at one point.

I’d never been so happy to have this Jeep. Up ahead, I saw the outline of several buildings. Set apart from the other structures, sat my home for the next three months. Stepping out of the Jeep, I stretched my legs and investigated. The cabin was too cute. It was a single story with a large covered porch. Wooden logs slid together in a tongue and groove pattern, creating the four corners of the building. On the right side stood a majestic stacked stone fireplace that was at least twenty feet tall.

As I stood there staring up at the massive chimney, I was knocked completely off my feet by a blur of yellow fur. The long muzzle of a yellow lab nuzzled into my neck and left slobbery trails up my cheeks. Pinned to the ground by the weight of the dog, I was at the mercy of his wet tongue.

“Bo, get off,” a deep voice boomed from across the yard. “Come here, boy.” He whistled, but the dog kept licking. “Bo, come here.”

The dog jumped off at the last command and ran to the side of his master. Wiping the drool from my face, I looked up to the extended hand.

“I’m so sorry, he normally behaves better. Let me help you up.”

I took the offered hand and found myself righted and back on my feet. The man scanned me like a barcode at the checkout.

I brushed the dust from my jeans. “Thanks, I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? You hit the ground pretty hard. Move everything around to make sure it all still works.” The man circled me, so did the dog.

“I’m sure. I was caught off guard a bit, but I’ll be okay. So who is this friendly guy here?” I leaned down and pet the dog’s bobbing head.

“Oh, that’s Bo, our friendly neighborhood greeter. Who might you be?” he asked as he reached down to pet the floppy ears of the overzealous lab.

“My name is Nik, and I believe this is my new home for the next few months.”

The look on his face went from gracious to grimace in a heartbeat.

“You’re Nik?” He narrowed his eyes. “Wow, I was expecting something way different. Facial hair, muscles, but not this.” He said the last bit as if my being a girl was distasteful.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you. I’m Nik. All five foot three inches of pure X chromosomes. I’ve driven all the way from California to get here, and I have no intention of turning back. Is there a problem?” I was tired and road weary. My patience meter had no room for a misogynistic ass.

“No, not a problem, I just assumed the name Nik belonged to a man. My mistake. Is Nik short for something?”

“Yes, it’s short for Nikola.” Why I felt compelled to tell him anything, I had no idea. “Who are you?”

“Forgive my bad manners, I’m Colton.”

So … this was my landlord. “Well, Colton, are you going stand there or show me around?” I was snarky by nature, but I’d hoped to rein in that trait.

“Forgive me for saying, but you don’t strike me as the outdoorsy type. What brings you here, Nik?”

“I make it a policy not to talk about myself with people I don’t know, Mr…?” I can’t believe I didn’t know his last name. I’m sure the lawyer had it, but why didn’t I think that far ahead. I really had a lot to learn.

“Colton, you can call me Colton.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Okay, Colton, is this my house or not? I’ve been on the road for two days. I need a shower, and I’d like to unpack my car.”

“Certainly, you may want to take notes, Nik, because I’m only going to say things once.” He brushed past me. “Follow me.”

I followed him up the steps and into the cutest log cabin I’d ever seen—not that I’d seen many. The great room was decorated with an overstuffed sofa and chair. Pine furniture was placed throughout the room and giving it a woodsy feel.

On the wall to the right was a massive stone fireplace with a large wooden mantel. Relief washed over me when there were no animal heads hanging from the rafters. The kitchen area opened into the great room. It had the normal amenities of an average house. There was a small stovetop and oven, a microwave, and a little refrigerator but no dishwasher. The bathroom was small and contained a sink, toilet, and a small stall shower—no tub.

The only bedroom had a large, pine, four-poster bed in the center, nightstands on each side, and a dresser off to the side. The entire tour took less than five minutes.

“This place is amazing, I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so modern or cute.”

“Glad it works for ya. Now I need your undivided attention.” He pointed to himself as if I’d be watching someone else. “Living off the grid isn’t easy, it takes a major commitment to conservation, and you have to plan.” He walked at a quick clip toward the great room. “The house is self-sustaining as long as you’re frugal with resources. It runs on solar and wind energy. There’s a propane generator in case of emergencies. When there isn’t a lot of sunshine, there isn’t a lot of power. You’ll always know where you stand by reading the panel located over here by the front door.”

“Got it.” He guided me to the front door and pointed out the battery indicator. “It’s dummy proof. You can see the indicator has three colors: green, yellow and red. You don’t ever want to be in the red. If you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself there, you need to act quickly to make adjustments to your usage. Keep alternative light sources on hand, just in case. Camp lanterns, flashlights or candles work, but candles would be my last choice given the fire danger they present.”

He told me the house was dummy proofed as if I would find that reassuring. I’m no dummy. The man continued to talk without taking so much as a breath, and somehow I was supposed to remember everything.

“What about water?” A shower was at the top of my list so understanding that resource seemed timely.

“Water is a precious commodity here too, the house has its own well, but conserve water when you can. Out the back door is a rainwater barrel. If you choose to use it, make sure you take the necessary precautions to ward off mosquitoes.” Right then, I wanted to kiss Max. I had a can of precaution in my car.

I’d retained about ten percent of what he told me, but I’d never let on to missing anything, so I smiled and said, “Is that all?”

“No, the septic system is also a no-brainer if you follow a few guidelines. Absolutely no flushing of feminine hygiene products. They won’t break down. You have to use specialty toilet paper made for septic systems. You can purchase it at the store in Marathon.”

“Okay, special TP. Got it. Anything else?” I was eager to get on with my new life. Listening to his diatribe of do and don’ts was like listening to a person read the phone book in monotone.

“The only heat will be from the fireplace, make sure you get the airflow going up before you ignite your kindling. There is a bit of wood on the front porch. That should get you through tonight. There’s a cord of wood out back, but it will need to be split. The ax is near the woodpile. Make sure you keep the screen placed in front of the fireplace and bank your fire. You don’t want to go to sleep with it burning. I do a controlled burn in the fire pit every week to dispose of paper trash. Are you getting all of this?”

“Wood, bank fire, screen. Got it.” I shook my head while he continued to ramble on. Holy hell, how much did I need to know to live in a one-bedroom cabin?

“There is a lot of wildlife in the area. Most animals won’t bother you, but there are some aggressive bears around, and every once in a while I see a mountain lion.”

“Mountain lions?” I was prepared for mosquitos and bears. I’d have to let Max know he failed in his preparations.

“The pond out front is fully stocked and you’re welcome to fish to your heart’s delight. Be careful when walking in the taller grass, there are various types of snakes. Some can deliver a painful bite. The nearest hospital is over an hour away, so you need to be responsible for your personal safety. I can’t be your babysitter.”

Did he just say babysitter? What an arrogant, pompous, ass. I was so angry. I held nothing back. “I’ll have you know that I haven’t needed a babysitter in over fifteen years, and I don’t anticipate needing one anytime soon. What’s your problem? Is the fact that I’m a girl thrown you off your game? I hardly think that the presence of one woman will unman you for life.”

His eyes lifted, his brows furrowed, and he chuckled. I couldn’t tell if he was laughing at me, questioning me, or dismissing me.

“I have no problem with you being a woman. In fact, the last tenant in this cabin was also a woman. She lived here for a while. The problem is in your head, not mine. I’m just letting you know I stay busy and won’t be able to be of much assistance to you during your stay. I’m happy to answer occasional questions, but I don’t have the time to teach you how to survive out here.”

“Is there anything else I need to be aware of, Colton?” I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “If not, you should move your busy self right on out of my cabin.”

The shocked look on Colton’s face was a welcomed payback for his babysitting remarks. Where did he get off thinking because I was a woman, I needed a house for dummies? What a jerk. I walked past him to the Jeep. It was time to unpack the boxes that contained my new life.

Colton disappeared into a cabin that sat across the field.

As the sun began to set, the temperature dropped, and a chill crept into my bones. I gathered logs from the front porch and stacked them in the fireplace. Newspaper and long matches sat on the hearth. I crumbled several pieces of paper and shoved them between the logs.

What did he say about the fireplace? Something about airflow and put the screen in front. Heat rises, so all I have to do is light the paper and the air will flow up, right? Congratulating myself on my genius, I struck the match and lit the paper. It seemed to be going well until smoke began to fill the room. It was so thick I couldn’t see the far wall through the billowing gray cloud. The acrid smell and thick plumes burned my eyes and nose.

Thick smoke.

No air.

Burning lungs.

I raced for door trying to get outside to take my next breath. Just as I reached it, Colton picked me up and tossed me outside. I land on my backside and watched as he entered the house. A few minutes later he towered over me and yelled into my face.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You’ve been here less than a day and you’re burning down the house. Did you listen to anything I said? Airflow, Nik. I told you about the airflow. What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m sorry. I thought I had it.”

“This isn’t summer camp. If you wanted to rough it why not visit a hotel that doesn’t have room service? This isn’t going to work out.”

Tears blurred my vision. What was I thinking when I came here? I’d never been camping. When I started a fire at home, I flipped a switch and the flame came to life. I was way out of my element. I should tuck my tail and leave, but something about this place made me want to stay.

I struggled to sit up. My voice quivered. “Please don’t kick me out. I need to be here. I came here to find myself, not burn down your house. Give me a month.” I swiped at the tears running down my cheek. “If after that period you feel I pose a threat to the safety and welfare of those around me, I’ll pack my things and go. I promise to stay out of your way.”

Colton looked down at me, his facial expression unreadable. He extended his hand for the second time today and catapulted me into a standing position.

He was tall, at least six feet with a broad chest that stretched the cotton of his T-shirt. I tilted my head back and looked into his eyes. Shaking his head from side to side, I could see he’d decided against me. My heart sank.

As a last ditch effort, I blurted out, “I’ll plant whatever garden you want me to plant.” I had no idea how to garden. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be as tough as building a fire.

He stared at me long and hard. “Against my better judgment, I’ll give you the month you asked for, but I don’t think you’ll make it past the first week. Living off the grid isn’t for the weak at heart. Don’t make me regret my decision.” He bent over and dusted the leaves from my jeans. “Follow me back inside, and I’ll show you what you did wrong.”

One moment I was standing in front of the man, and the next I had myself wrapped around his waist. He stood there with his hands up and out like I was holding a gun on him. Eventually, his hands rested on my shoulders. He used them to pry me from his body. Back inside, he taught me how to build a fire—again.

Colton gave me a thorough lesson in fireplace terminology—again. I was confident I wouldn’t repeat that mistake. Left on my own for the remainder of the night, I took out my computer and recorded everything I could remember Colton telling me during his tour for dummies.

Next, I curled into the overstuffed chair and stared into the fire while I ate canned stew. Lost in the mesmerizing flicker of the flames, I replayed the day in my head. The smell of smoke lingered in the air. It reminded me of how Colton smelled when I pressed my face against his chest. My sore bottom replaced the memory. If I was going to succeed, I needed to educate myself. My first self-taught lesson was to stay clear of Colton. What mistakes he didn’t see wouldn’t get me kicked off the land.

The box of books I’d brought beckoned me to the corner of the room. Dragging them to the coffee table, I organized them into relevant piles. Gardening and The Growing of Herbs in one pile. Outdoor Living, Fishing for Dummies, and Understanding Wildlife I placed in another. Simple Cooking, Canning your Homegrown Produce, and Drying Herbs went into a third pile. The fourth pile consisted of pure pleasure books—several romance novels, and a few thrillers to pass the long nights.

Picking up the gardening book, I settled in for the evening. If I had any hope of staying here, I needed to make myself useful, and the only thing I knew he needed was a garden. I was going to plant the most amazing garden. When he saw it producing an abundance of produce, he’d have no choice but to let me stay. How hard could it be? Dig a hole, plant a seed and water it. Voila.

Three hours and two logs later I sat and stared at the fire. What in the hell was a soil testing kit, and who would have thought that different vegetables would need different types of soil, different depths for planting, and different water requirements? I headed to bed with thoughts of green beans and cucumbers in my head.