Page 9 of Challenged By the Mountain Man

I almost smile. Almost.

"Thanks," she says, and the word sounds like it costs her something.

"It's a loan," I remind her.

"Right. A loan."

We stand there for a moment, and I realize I still don't know her name.

I'm not going to ask.

"Anything else?" I say instead.

She shakes her head. "No. I'm good."

"Then I'm going."

I turn to leave, and Bear, traitor that he is, sits down at her feet and looks up at her like she's the most interesting thing he's seen all week.

"Bear," I say.

He doesn't move.

"Bear."

The woman crouches down, and before I can stop her, she's scratching behind his ears. His tail thumps against the ground, and he leans into her hand like they've known each other for years.

"He's sweet," she says.

"He's supposed to be a guard dog."

"He's terrible at it."

"Yeah. I noticed."

She looks up at me, still crouched, and for just a second, her expression softens.

"What's your name?" she asks.

I hesitate. I don't want to tell her.

Telling her makes this real. Makes her real. But she's looking at me, waiting, and Bear is still leaning into her hand, and I hear myself say, "Griffin."

"Hannah," she says.

We don't shake hands.

I call Bear, and this time he comes.

We walk back up the road, and I don't look back.

But I know she's watching.

I can feel it.

Chapter 3 - Hannah

I watch Griffin disappear up the road with Bear trotting beside him, and I stay crouched there longer than I mean to, my hand still warm from where the dog's fur was pressed against it.