The next day dragged by. When Brad showed up at closing time and begged her to come with him, MacKenzie knew she should find an excuse, but she was too tired. He might not be the person she wanted to be with, but he’d been nothing but considerate with her and she really needed a distraction right now.

“Where?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise, but you’re going to love it. Come on, my truck’s out front.”

MacKenzie shook her head. “I’d rather follow you and go straight home after. I’m really worn out today.”

“Okay, no worries.” Brad escorted her out of the shop, waiting while she locked the door. He followed her around to the side street and held her car door and then she trailed his truck northeast of town to the ski resorts and lodges. They parked in the main parking lot and Brad escorted her toward the ski lifts.

Children leaped off of a platform onto an enormous trampoline, people milled around the shops and restaurants, and more children played miniature golf or jumped in a harness that bounced them up and down. Most of the people were going up the Red Tail ski lift with mountain bikes loaded on the back of the seat in front of them. Music with a dance beat was in the background. It was a fun atmosphere that gave MacKenzie much-needed energy and excitement for life.

They walked past both lifts and started climbing the mountain.

“What are we doing?” MacKenzie asked. Crested Butte and the lush, green valley spread out below them. There were large homesteads with ponds to the west. This was such an incredible valley.

“Are you afraid of heights?” Brad asked.

“No.”

“Good, you’ll love this.”

They hiked for about ten minutes. MacKenzie watched the mountain bikers descending the trails and wanted to try that, but when Brad gestured toward a tower with a zipline, she squealed in delight and pointed at the first tower.

“Really?”

Brad grinned, took her hand, and walked her to the tower. “I thought you’d like this.”

“I’ve always wanted to do a zipline.”

He beamed at her.

Their guides were both teenagers, one was average height with curly brown hair poking out from his beanie, a grungy t-shirt and cargo shorts. The other was a tall kid with spiky blond hair and preppy clothes. “You our private tour?” The blond kid asked.

Brad nodded.

“Great. You all ready?”

“Yes!” MacKenzie shouted.

They both laughed at her exuberance and the dark-haired boy helped them into harnesses and gave them advice and safety details then they climbed onto the tower and the blond flew across to the adjoining tower as the other kid hooked up MacKenzie.

She jumped off the tower and soared through the air. Squeezing her eyes tight and just reveling in the sunshine and the wind and the smell of pine trees, she leaned back, spread her arms wide, and laughed. The ride was over much too quickly as she slowed then jerked to a stop at the next platform.

She waited for Brad then climbed over a rope bridge to the next tower. This time she opened her eyes and took in the gorgeous view of the green valley below. The little town, the river and small lakes, and all the mountains and forested areas looked like a postcard. She loved it here. Part of her wished she didn’t have to leave, but it was inevitable that her stay here wouldn’t be long.

There were five separate ziplines and three bridges. They rappelled to the bottom of the last tower and she was disappointed the tour wasn’t longer. When she finished, the blond helped her take off the harness at the bottom of the tower. She waited for Brad. He arrived with a whoop and a large grin. He seemed to really enjoy life.

Brad stepped out of his harness, walked to her side, and rubbed her arm. “Pretty cool, eh?”

“It was fabulous. Thank you for bringing me up here.”

He nodded, looking pleased with himself. They didn’t say much as they walked back to their vehicles through the party-like atmosphere by the lodges. Being back on the ground and not flying through the air, she felt like she’d deflated. How sad to come back to reality and the problems she was facing. If only she could escape on that mountain: zip-lining, biking, hiking. She’d be safe and love every minute of it. She’d take Isaac with her. She smiled at her wishful thinking.

They reached her car.

“Thank you. I loved that.”

“No problem.” He swung open her door. “Can I talk you into dinner tonight too?”

MacKenzie shook her head. “No, but thanks again.”

“Maybe tomorrow.” His smile was forced, but she didn’t have any desire to commit to anything. He didn’t seem to be the villain Haley and Isaac thought he was, maybe he’d changed or maybe they were wrong, but he still wasn’t her choice for someone to have dinner with. She’d ruined that choice when she’d yelled at Isaac last night.

“Thanks.” MacKenzie shut her door and drove away, looking back at the beautiful mountainside and trying to ignore the man watching her go.

* * *

Isaac had a pounding headache after one of the worst days of his life. Branding cows again was bad enough, but the worry over MacKenzie and why she’d turned away from him just ate and ate at him like a worm burrowing through the dirt, chomping and processing but never accomplishing much.

He tried to work in his shop after downing a protein shake for dinner, but he was making a mess instead of art. Taking off his welding gear, he stepped outside the open door. He told himself it was for a breath of fresh air, but he really knew it was so he could watch Haley’s house and see if MacKenzie was all right. He didn’t know why he cared so much. If she didn’t want to heed his and Haley’s warnings, she got what she deserved going with Brad. His stomach rolled. No. No one deserved what Brad was capable of.

Her car was there and a light on in the living room. At least she was home safe. Glancing around quickly, he didn’t see Brad’s four-door truck. Another relief.

He heard a rustle in the bushes around the side of Haley’s house. Isaac’s spine pricked with the sense of danger. MacKenzie had reacted very strongly to him being on her porch a few nights ago and his dad walking past the next night. Was someone after her? Was she afraid of something tangible? He knew she was hiding something from him.

Isaac slipped into the shadows around the back of the house, stealthily following whoever was stalking MacKenzie.

He saw a tall shadow rise up and peek through the gap in the blinds in the bedroom. Whoever that pervert was, they were going down.

The front door opened and MacKenzie came out onto the porch, holding a pitcher of water. She carefully poured water on the outside flowers, her eyes darting to the shadows. Before Isaac could get close enough to grab the intruder, the guy jumped onto the porch and slurred, “MacKenzie! I came to see you.”

Brad. That loser. Isaac rushed around to the porch.

MacKenzie grabbed onto the screen door, yanking it open.

“Hey, pretty woman.”

“You’re drunk,” she screamed at him, trying to escape into the house, but Brad grabbed her arm and pulled her back onto the porch.

“I just wanna have a little fun.”

Isaac wasn’t going to let this go any farther. He tackled him from behind. Brad roared and flipped over, swinging wildly, his blows weak and ineffectual. Isaac drove his fist into Brad’s jaw. Brad crumpled and covered his face, whining, “Don’t hit me. Don’t!”

Isaac dragged him to his feet. “You’re drunk and you’re trespassing.” He gave him a shove off the porch. “Don’t come around MacKenzie again.”

Brad’s eyes were full of hatred, but he was plowed enough he could barely walk away. “I’ll get you soon, Kenzie.” He laughed.

Isaac rushed down the porch steps. Brad yelped and scuttled off their property. Isaac let him go. A few seconds later, Brad’s truck motor flared and he gunned down the road without any lights. Isaac pulled out his phone and dialed Josh’s number.

“What’s up?”

“Brad just tried to attack MacKenzie. He’s driving toward town, drunk and with no lights on.”

“I’ll catch him. Does she want to press charges?” Josh sighed loudly. “Don’t know if she wants to go through that, it might turn into a case of he said, she said with Brad.”

“I know. If you can catch him driving drunk that’ll be enough, right?”

“For sure. Nobody can dispute that. Plus, it’s a second offense. He’ll have to serve time.”

Josh hung up before Isaac could thank him. The thought of Brad in jail was very comforting. Retribution, finally.

He turned to MacKenzie. She was pressed against the door frame, quivering.

“I’m sorry,” he began. “I tried to warn you.”

She gave a little shake of her head and a sob escaped before she flung herself against his chest. Wow. That was a good outcome for him.

Isaac held her close, stroking her long hair and murmuring soft words, “It’s okay. I’ve got you. He won’t hurt you.”

After a few minutes, she shakily pulled away and gave him a tremulous smile. “Thank you, Isaac. I treated you horribly and you did try to warn me.” She shook her head and then rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.

Isaac was startled for half a second but recovered quickly, matching her kiss for kiss and pouring all his understanding and protection into her, mixed with desire and passion that he’d never felt in his life. He wanted this woman. He wanted to take care of her, be with her, get to know her. He tried to tell her all of that with his kiss. Her response was strong. He slowly backed her against the doorframe. Threading her hands through his hair, she stepped up onto the ledge and changed the kiss with the added height. Isaac could hardly think straight as he savored each sensation.

She pulled away, breathless. “Thank you,” she whispered again.

Isaac grinned. “That was the best thank you I’ve ever had.”

She took a step into the house. “I’m going to, um, go inside now.” She released a cute little giggle and touched her lips with her fingers.

Isaac wanted to ask if he could follow her inside like the whipped puppy he was, but she was much too appealing to him. After a kiss like that and the adrenaline of fighting Brad, he wasn’t too logical in his thinking. He didn’t want to prove himself to be as low as Brad, trying to push things too far or too fast with her.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” He didn’t reach out and touch her, though every part of him wanted to.

MacKenzie tucked her long, dark hair behind her ear and nodded quickly.

“I’ll be close by, in my shop, if you need me,” his voice was low and husky, but that couldn’t be helped.

MacKenzie smiled. “Thank you.”

The thank you had such sincerity in it. He imagined she was thanking him for watching over her, fighting Brad for her, and that kiss.

“Anytime.” Isaac tilted his chin up to her then backed away. He tripped on the first porch step and had to grab the railing to steady himself. MacKenzie giggled slightly behind him.

“That’s pretty low,” he said, “Making fun of the man who can’t see straight after kissing you, Mac.”

She laughed louder. “I’m just glad to see there’s some vulnerability in that huge body.”

“Only for you.” He winked and walked away with his back straight and what he hoped was a manly walk. He heard her door close after he rounded the corner of the house. Pumping a fist in the air, he was grateful for Brad’s drunken revelry for the first time in his life.