The Grumpy Mountain Man by Lilly Deanna

Author:Lilly, Deanna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-09-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Over the next few days, Eric and Sarah settled into a comfortable routine. Much like when Sarah was staying at his place during the storm, Eric would wake up in the early hours of the morning and head straight to the barn to work on his projects in peace and quiet. He enjoyed the stillness that could only be found early in the morning.

Sometimes, he'd prop open the barn doors, a steaming cup of black coffee in hand, and stand at the threshold, gazing out over his land. He wished he could see the sunrise from where he was, but the mountain blocked his view. His cabin was built about 600 feet from the top of Whispering Pines Ridge on the westward side of the mountain. This was wise to protect the home from severe weather, but it hid the morning sun for long hours. He had to settle for the display of orange and pink light painting the sky as it peaked through the treetops.

After about three hours of work and time spent in his own thoughts, he would shift gears and prepare breakfast. Soon after, Sarah would trundle into his living room, unwrapping herself from the blanket she had cocooned herself in to ward off the cold that penetrated through her coat. She was always coldest when she first woke up, and the biting winter air on her walk up the mountain did not help. She would drape the blanket on the back of the couch and drop her computer bag full of work things on the seat cushion beside it before making her way to the table. Eric always had a steaming cup of coffee waiting for her, and a delicious plate of food would follow quickly behind.

"How do you manage to have breakfast ready just when I show up? Are you secretly tracking my wake-up time?" Sarah playfully inquired, digging into the stack of fluffy pancakes made from scratch and topped with delicious homemade strawberry topping. “Or am I just that predictable?”

“Oh, you’re quite predictable.” Eric chuckled. “Of course, it helps that I’ve been up for about four hours already. Not everyone enjoys sleeping the day away like you do.”

“I do not sleep all day!” Sarah's voice held a playful protest against his accusation. She knew he was picking on her; he had been doing that almost from the start. “It’s not my fault you like to wake up so ridiculously early. Honestly, Eric, do you even sleep?”

“I do. I just don’t need as much beauty rest as some folks around here,” he retorted with a grin.

Their playful banter continued throughout the meal, pausing as they enjoyed the food or transitioned topics to whatever came to mind. The conversation flowed effortlessly, touching on books, weather, and movies they both enjoyed. Sarah had been surprised to learn that Eric owned a TV. It was tucked away in his bedroom and only used on sleepless nights. This discovery led to new discussions about their favorite shows, providing her a deeper glimpse into his personality.

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