Why did she say that? Was it to prove she was competent living in the woods, or did she want to show off? Neither reason was a good one. However, she didn’t need them to think she was a liar.
She kept her hunting equipment in the hallway, next to the wonderful bathroom that actually had a tub. While divine, it had been a luxury she only occasionally took advantage of since it took a long time to heat that much water—not to mention the amount of wood she had to cut for the fire.
Cassidy carried out her handmade bow and arrow. To show them that she was a deadly accurate shot, she placed one end in the string, pulled it back, and walked out with it.
Mike held up his hands and grinned. “Don’t shoot, please.”
That made her smile. To prove her competence, Cassidy decided to demonstrate. She walked over to the fire, faced the men, and took aim.
“Cassidy?” Zach asked, actually sounding a bit concerned.
“Don’t worry. I won’t hit you.” Before they had the chance to move, she shot the arrow right between them. It thunked when it hit the cabin wall. “Whoops.”
The men looked at each other. Dare she say she’d impressed them?
Actually, she wanted to let them know that she was no pushover. If Doug had figured that out, he would have looked for someone else to bear his child.
Mike held out his hand. “May I see that?”
She handed him the bow and then retrieved the arrow from the wall.
He ran his hand over the wood. “Did you make this?”
“Yes. My clan believes in living a sustainable life. We farm, have solar energy, and collect and purify our rain water. We also hunt. It’s how I learned to make a bow and arrow. It’s crude, but I wasn’t expecting to stay here long.”
“My cousin Drake is an architect. I bet he’d love to ask you some questions about sustainable living,” Zach said.
Cassidy didn’t think being seen in public would be wise, but since these men didn't seem to be a threat, she might have to reevaluate things. They were nothing like the Kitchener Clan back home, but letting her guard down too soon wouldn’t be wise. However, if she could find a way to learn about the Granger Clan, she’d feel better. Her best friend, Mindy, claimed that of all the people in the area, the Grangers could keep her safe.
“He’s welcome to come here.”
“Or you could come to Wildwood and meet him. I’m the forest ranger here and commute daily.”
He lived here? That was good. It meant he wasn’t sent here by Doug—unless Zach was the one who was lying.
“I’ll see.” That was a non-committal answer, but it would be a shame to have come this far only to be found.
“I understand.”
Did he really? She turned to Mike. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a part-time ski instructor. During the off-season, I take people on wilderness excursions.”
Wow. Both of these men loved being in the woods, as did she. “Sounds like a great job.”
“It is. What do you do, Cassidy?”
“I’m a firefighter.”
Zach’s eyes widened. “Really?” He looked over at Mike and then back at her. “Do I look familiar?” he asked.
“No, why?”
“This might sound crazy, but by any chance did you happen to find a dying man lying in the snow with his back carved up about two weeks?”
Cassidy swore her heart stopped for a moment. How could he possibly know that? Unless... She studied him. The man she’d found close to death had been wearing a cap. To be honest, she hadn’t paid much attention to his face other than to notice his eyes were closed and his breathing ragged. Someone had slit open his jacket and shirt and carved something in his back. From the amount of blood covering his skin, she couldn’t tell what it was. The severity of his wound had distracted her.
“Why would you ask that?”