Mountain Boss: Mountain Men Series Book One
Mountain Boss: Chapter 31

On my hands and knees, I hunch my shoulders, then stretch them out like a cat.

It doesn’t help.

I still feel like I was rolled down a hill.

The plywood beneath my hands groans with the movement.

“Quit your bitching. I’m getting up.”

I crawl to the edge, then reach down with one foot until I replace the top step of the mini ladder.

The steps did make it easier to get into bed last night, but this—I shift and reach my other foot down—is less easy.

When I fell asleep with pitiful tears on my pillow, I told myself I’d wake up feeling better.

I know the situation.

I can create a plan.

I can figure out a budget.

But when I get my feet on the floor. And I feel the throbbing in my shoulder from sleeping on it.

I accept that I don’t feel better today.

I slowly move my head side to side, willing the knot at the base of my neck to go away.

Maybe a hot shower will help.

I could take one now and one tonight. Really indulge.

Knowing I have time, since I never changed my alarm from the first day, I brush my teeth and gather an outfit for today—jeans and a worn-in crew neck sweatshirt.

I’ll have coffee in the Food Hall, but I quickly scoop a spoonful of peanut butter out of the jar and shove it in my mouth before opening the door.

My foot halts over the top step.

The clipboard.

With my mouth glued shut, I glance around, eyes lingering on the view I have of Mr. Black’s front patio. But I don’t see anyone.

Picking up the clipboard I left in the Food Hall at the end of the day, I see a new sheet has been added, and Costco is written across the top.

There’s a shopping list of groceries, a business membership credit card tucked under the clip, and a scrawled note across the bottom of the page that says

Use the card to fill up your gas tank.

I blink at that last line, reading it over and over.

Gratefulness he doesn’t deserve lifts some of the weight off my shoulders.

He might not realize it, and this might just be standard policy, but my boss just handed me a lifeline.

It’s not enough for me to suddenly afford a mattress. But it’s a free scouting mission.

And it’s a trip to the Costco food court.

My stomach grumbles simply at the thought of a slice of pizza.

With a genuine smile on my face, I look over at Spike.

“We’re gonna eat good today.”