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CHAPTER THREE

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Morning light seeped reluctantly through the slim gaps of his curtains, coaxing Karl from sleep. He stretched, muscles protesting after spending the night sprawled in his favored chair rather than his bed.

A glance through the window confirmed Jenn's house lay quiet under its mantle of dawn mist. Good. Let her rest. The events of yesterday would likely weigh on her as much as they did him. Still, routine dictated certain chores required doing regardless of the newcomer. He dressed swiftly in work clothes - sturdy jeans and a flannel shirt – and started a pot of coffee before heading out.

Outside, autumn leaves crunched satisfyingly beneath his boots, a stark reminder of the coming freeze. Winter's icy breath would soon descend upon these mountains, bringing with it fresh challenges. Karl welcomed the prospect with grim determination.

He set about stacking split logs in neat piles beside the fireplace, hands calloused and surprisingly efficient. Occasionally, his gaze drifted to Jenn's dwelling, taking comfort in seeing no immediate threats lurking there. A bird trilled in the distance and Karl paused briefly, appreciating the peaceful morning.

He finished his tasks with practiced ease, returning inside for coffee at just past nine o'clock. Karl leaned against the kitchen sink sipping his dark roast while mentally composing today's agenda; checking traps, mending fences damaged by recent storms, maybe finish preparing vehicles for winter - all standard fare for this isolated lifestyle. Of course, first, he'd have breakfast.

But actually, first…a quick check-in with Jenn wouldn’t go amiss. He hadn't seen any movement from her cabin yet. Not so much concern as precaution…right?

He downed the remainder of his drink and refilled it before heading toward her residence, careful to make noise approaching lest he startle her awake.

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Jenn woke up abruptly, a beam of morning sunlight landing on her face. She groaned as she realized she'd fallen asleep in the chair the night before, neck protesting as she winced and pushed the blanket away.

Kylie hopped up from her lap, stretching on the floor and yawning, before sitting down to scratch at an itch behind her ear.

“Morning sweetie,” Jenn said sleepily, standing to stretch herself before she put some wood on the smoldering fire in the stove and shuffled into the kitchen to feed Kylie, pouring herself a glass of water while the cat happily munched.

She was just finishing up changing from her pajamas into a pair of skinny jeans and a cream-colored turtle neck sweater when she heard a crunching sound coming from outside and she froze, listening carefully. It was footsteps, and she was terrified for a second or two before she forced herself to relax.

This must be her neighbor approaching, who else could it be?

She moved towards the front door cautiously, heart racing despite herself.

Karl's knock was firm, three raps echoing through Jenn's cabin just as she reached the other side of the door. The porch creaked beneath his weight. Despite his stoic facade, a sliver of anticipation wormed its way into his thoughts. He had to ensure she was okay - nothing more, he assured himself. Just part of the apparent neighborhood watch that he never signed up for.

His eyes flickered side to side; he could hear her there on the other side of the door, breathing.

When Jenn finally appeared, her dishevelment was endearing. Her hair was a mess, lines on one cheek from where she'd rested her face against the back of the chair, the print of the upholstery telling the story of her less-than-comfortable night.

“Mornin',” he said, his voice gruff with the promise of more to come. “How’d ya sleep?” His eyes twinkled slightly, amused.

Jenn smiled, glad to see him and surprised that she felt that way. He seemed much less prickly today, his eyes less suspicious and more... resigned.

“Morning,” she replied, opening the door wider and stepping aside in a silent invitation for him to enter. “Passed out in the chair and slept like the dead all night,” she said, reaching up to run a hand through her tangled hair self-consciously. “Two days of driving really takes it out of you I guess.”

Kylie came trotting into the room with a greeting trill, winding around Karl's legs eagerly, her purr loud in the otherwise silent space, and Jenn stifled a laugh. She knew better than anyone how pushy and insistent the little cat could be when she wanted something, and clearly, she wanted Karl to be her friend very, very badly.

Stolen story; please report.

“Beans, stop harassing the neighbor,” she scolded, but her lips quirked up into a small amused smile despite herself.

One corner of his mouth tilted upward, a dry, almost imperceptible smirk. He bent to scoop her up, the feline purring contentedly as he stroked her soft coat. Truly, she wasn't so bad at all...

Kylie was beside herself with happiness as Karl held her, and she writhed in his grasp, nuzzling her face against his stubbled cheek like a girl possessed.

Jenn couldn't help her laugh, lifting a hand to cover her lips. “I'm so sorry, she loves facial hair,” she explained, watching her cat rub against Karl's face almost desperately. “I guess the scratchy texture feels good or something?”

Karl set Kylie down firmly once her affectionate assault subsided. The cat sauntered off, leaving him with white hairs clinging to his chest and shoulder. He brushed them away absently.

He glanced around the interior, noting the tidy state of affairs despite the obvious age of the furniture and general decor. The faint scent of dampness lingered, a testament to the cabin's age, but overall,

Jenn had managed to impose some order on the chaos. It was a great start.

“Need help with anything?” he asked, his gaze lingering on a loose board on the wall, curling away at one end, before drifting back to Jenn. The offer was stiff, grudging as if pulled from him unwillingly.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded her. “Fire looks good, at least.”

She shook her head at his question. “Nah, I think I'm okay. You've done more than enough to help me already,” she insisted. “I have some unpacking to finish up, and then I was thinking about exploring a bit this afternoon, actually. Are there any trails I could walk on in the woods that would be safe? It's been so long since I've really been outside in nature, you know?”

“There are trails, yeah,” he confirmed, looking out the window towards the forest that surrounded them. “Just remember, this isn't Central Park. We have bears, mountain lions, and all manner of critters.

Don't want you becoming someone's dinner.”

His tone carried a note of genuine caution, but there was also an undertone of respect for the untamed wilderness that surrounded them.

Karl retrieved a well-worn, folded map from his wallet, spreading it out on the table. His fingers traced various hand-drawn lines, indicating the paths that wound through the dense woods. “Stay on this trail for starters,” he advised, pointing to a particular loop, drawn in red ink. “I have it pretty well marked and it goes around most of my property. Should take you about three hours at a steady pace. Keep your phone on you. Service might be spotty as hell, but it's better than nothing.”

Finished with his impromptu tutorial, Karl stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest as he awaited her reaction to his instructions.

Jenn nodded, looking down at the map carefully.

“Will do,” she said, lifting her chin to look up at Karl. Standing this close, she was able to see his dark eyes more clearly. There was a depth to them that she felt like she could almost get lost in, and she tore her eyes from his with some difficulty, only to notice that Kylie had left some of her fur among the stubble on his face.

She bit her lower lip unconsciously, lifting her hand before she realized what she was doing and brushing the fur from his short facial hair. Her heart raced at the feel of his warm skin and stubble beneath her fingers.

“Kylie left you a present,” she explained, voice almost breathless, and she looked away as she felt her face warm.

Karl's body went rigid beneath her touch, a barely perceptible shift that betrayed his usually controlled exterior. He stepped back subtly, putting distance between them.

Her heart clenched painfully at his discomfort in her touch, and she winced, embarrassment warring with disappointment. 'Get it together, Jenn.' she thought in annoyance. 'You annoy him, remember? He feels like he has to babysit you. No crushes allowed. You're a wreck, damn girl.'

But also, she couldn't really deny this intense pull towards him, either. Something intriguing about him, something about the way he looked at her, at the way it made her feel.

Clearing her throat, she touched the map with trembling fingers. “It'll be nice to get some fresh air, it's so beautiful here. I used to spend a lot of time outdoors when I was a kid and I've really missed it, honestly.”

He swallowed hard, gaze dropping pointedly back to the map spread across the table. His finger resumed tracing routes, perhaps a little less patiently than before.

“Good, uh... good you can appreciate it then,” he managed, his voice rougher than intended. “Not everyone sees the appeal of roughing it in the sticks.”

He folded the map efficiently with broad hands, creasing each fold with precision. The maneuver served as a distraction from Jenn's proximity. “Make sure you have the compass enabled on your phone, too, even if you don't intend to stray off the path,” he suggested, handing over the folded map. “It's easy to get turned around out there.”

Karl glanced up again, meeting Jess's blue eyes directly this time, holding the contact longer than necessary. A battle played out in the shadows of his irises - caution versus curiosity - until he ultimately chose caution, glancing away again.

“That's...about the gist of it. Should be enough info to keep you in one piece. But hey, if you find yourself having any questions...you're welcome to stop by.”

Jenn tucked the map into the back pocket of her jeans and nodded, looking down at the table.

“Thank you, I'm sure I'll be okay,” she said with a smile more confident than she truly felt.

Karl studied Jenn, trying to reconcile the woman before him with the fragile figure from yesterday. There was resilience under that soft exterior, a fighting spirit that intrigued him in spite of his best efforts to resist.

“I should go, things to do,” he mentioned casually, heading towards the door. Pausing briefly, he added,

“Let me know if anything strange happens out there, okay?” His gaze darted back to hers briefly before slipping away again.

Karl exited the cabin without further comment, the wooden door closing behind him with a gentle click.

Letting out a slow, shuddering breath, Jenn sat down heavily in the nearest chair, mind whirling.

'Let him know if something strange happens in the forest?' she thought incredulously. Jenn had a feeling he wasn't talking about bears or mountain lions, that wouldn't be strange, it would be terrifying.

She shrugged, chalking it up to her hermit neighbor being, at the end of the day, a total weirdo.

She looked around at the boxes still stacked here and there around the space, and gave a resigned sigh – it was time to finish unpacking, as much as she dreaded the thought.

Standing, she crossed the room and rolled up her sleeves, getting started.