Reva nodded in agreement, feeling a renewed sense of responsibility for her town. “We will be,” she said with quiet determination. “And we’ll get through this together, just like we always do.”
As they left the community center, Reva glanced back at the room, now nearly empty but still filled with the echoes of the evening’s conversation. She felt a little more at ease, reassured by the shared resolve she’d seen in her neighbors’ faces.
Thunder Mountain was ready for whatever Mother Nature decided to throw their way next.
19
Capri texted her mom numerous times over the course of days. Finally, she received a reply. “Sorry, honey. We’ve been so busy. As of last Tuesday, I am officially Mrs. Earl Dunlop. After several days of fun in Vegas, we’ll be driving to Idaho over the weekend. Here’s a few pics of the wedding.”
Capri scrolled through several images of her mother and Earl in some wedding chapel posing with Elvis. She rolled her eyes and closed the message, then wandered out and sat on the porch, her legs stretched out in front of her, the wooden boards rough beneath her bare feet. The evening air was crisp, with a slight breeze carrying the scent of pine and sagebrush.
Normally, sitting here brought her peace, but tonight her mind was a jumble of thoughts she couldn’t untangle. Her mother’s sudden marriage and move to Idaho felt like a jolt, leaving Capri with a hollow ache she hadn’t expected. She’d spent so long being her mother’s rock, the fixer of things, the one to keep it all together. Now, without that tether, she felt adrift, uncertain of her own place.
She sighed and leaned her head back against the porch rail, her eyes drifting over the silhouette of the mountains. Her friends had all found their footing lately—Charlie Grace with her photography exhibit and Nick Thatcher. Lila running the vet clinic with Whit Calloway, and Reva balancing her work as mayor, raising Lucan, and enjoying her new role as wife to Kellen Warner.
They had each found something, and someone, to hold onto. Capri wasn’t bitter, but she felt like the odd one out, stuck in place while everyone else moved forward.
Her phone buzzed beside her, breaking the stillness. She glanced down, her heart skipping when she saw the name on the screen: Jake Carrington. The contractor she’d hired to work on her mother’s old cabin had texted a few times since they met, keeping her updated on supplies and project details. Nothing personal, just business—but still, she found herself hesitating before opening the message.
“Got more of the materials in. Enough to get started. Want to meet tomorrow to go over the final schedule?”
Straightforward, no extra words. That was Jake. Capri let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. He was reliable, the kind of guy who did what he said he would, no nonsense. It was refreshing, especially after the whirlwind of the last few months. She admired that about him, though she barely knew him.
“Sure. What time?” she typed back, her thumb lingering over the send button for a second longer than necessary.
Almost immediately, his reply came: “Noon? I’ll bring the plans.”
She sent a thumbs-up emoji, then dropped her phone back onto the porch and stared out into the darkening sky. She should be excited about the cabin renovations, but there was something about the whole situation that unsettled her. Maybe it was Jake himself—steady and confident.
They’d only just met, yet his presence had already stirred something inside her she couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t romantic, at least not yet, but there was a quiet connection, a sense that he didn’t just see the surface of things. And that was the problem—because if he looked too closely, he might see that Capri didn’t have it all together, that she wasn’t as confident or sure of herself as she pretended to be.
Her phone buzzed again. Another text from Jake.
“Looking forward to it.”
Capri blinked at the message. Just four words, but they sent a ripple through her. She shouldn’t be overthinking it. It was just a meeting, just plans for the cabin. Still, something in the back of her mind kept her on edge, as if meeting him again might tip the balance of her carefully ordered life.
With a sigh, she stood up, stretching out her stiff muscles. The evening air had grown colder, and she wrapped her arms around herself as she took one last look at the mountains. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and with it, more decisions. For now, she allowed herself a brief moment of quiet, hoping it would settle the unease Jake’s message had stirred inside her.
The next day, just before noon, Capri wandered out onto her porch, a half-eaten bologna sandwich in hand. She heard the crunch of gravel and looked up to see Jake pulling up in his truck. He waved through the windshield before stepping out, the plans rolled up in one hand, the other holding a thermos of what she assumed was coffee. He looked as solid as ever, dressed in a worn flannel and work boots, like he belonged here among the mountains and wild landscape.
“Afternoon,” he called, his voice easy and steady, just like the man himself. He met her halfway up the path, his familiar smile in place. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“No, just got here myself after being in town all morning. Things are ramping up with tourist season and all,” Capri explained, trying to ignore the small flutter in her chest at the sight of him. She crossed her arms, more to give herself something to do than to ward off the chill. “So, what’s the plan?”
Jake unrolled the plans on the hood of his truck, holding them down with a couple of rocks. Capri stepped closer, standing shoulder to shoulder with him as he explained each detail—his final suggestions for updating the kitchen, reinforcing the foundation, and reworking the back porch. His voice was smooth and calm, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts racing in her head.
“You okay with this layout?” Jake asked, glancing over at her.
Capri blinked, realizing she hadn’t been paying attention. “Yeah. Sorry. What did you say about the porch again?”
Jake didn’t seem fazed by her distraction. He tapped the plan with his finger. “I was thinking we could expand it a bit, give you more space to sit out and enjoy the view. It wouldn’t take much work to extend the decking.”
Capri nodded, trying to focus. “That sounds good. I mean, you’re the expert. I trust your judgment.”
The words felt strange on her tongue and were contradictory to their first encounter.
Trust.
