Chapter 44

Suddenly there seemed no better cure for the burned hand and the horrific way his day had begun than to rush outside. And why not? The door was already hanging open, and he could bury his smarting hand in a snowdrift.

Biting his lower lip to ward off the tears he knew were coming, Hunter rushed outside, dropped to his knees in the snow, and thrust his hand into the thickness of it. He closed his eyes as the icy stuff gave immediate relief to his burned fingers.

When he sensed someone behind him, he was certain he would open his eyes, turn around, and there would be no one there.

But there was someone. A very handsome, strapping someone who was staring down at him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. The man was about Hunter’s own age but tall, well over six feet, with broad shoulders, curly, unkempt blond hair, a full beard, and the most piercing blue eyes Hunter had ever seen.

“Are you okay?”

The guy squatted down next to him. Hunter smelled wood smoke.