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No one else is out here because they’d need 4-wheel drive to traverse the dirt roads During the winter, I’ll catch a few cross-country skiers, but that’s pretty much it I built my cabin on the mountainside for the views and peaceful exclusion

The engine of my truck roars and a massive cloud of exhaust blows out the back like the breath of a fire-eating dragon I have to adardless of no one being around It scares off the deer, which savesI want to deal with up here

I' into town on this perfect day, but not because I want to So the last heavy su the brush,to fix it myself, I realized it needed a new chain I was immediately irritated because now I have to drive to the store to buy the parts I spent the entireto cut the fallen trees into s I don't have what I need to finish the job, I'm forced to make a special trip to Jack's Hardware in town Now I have to face civilization, which I don't like to do often, especially ork needs to get done

With the s rolled down, I crank the music and as lance at hi out of his hteen, which makes it a solid ten years ofso much, and I can't put into words how much he means to me He's o into town I wish some of his happiness would rub off on me

“You just know you're getting a treat, dontcha?” Shark pants in anticipation Every tiet him a biscuit fros I usually get a blueberry muffin for myself because they're the size ofand a muffin only won’t suffice All I had were a few pieces of bacon early this ht-headed since it’s been hours since I ate last

Over the years of living a secluded life in the nificantly since leaving y hair, I’ve becoht now, she wouldn’t recognize me, and she most definitely wouldn’t approve I’m not the Abercrombie & Fitch poster child she once knew

I ht at the fork in the road and follow the route along the creek The forest along the road is endless, and when it snows, many of the trails up the road are where the tourists ski in the winter The town is full of people in the summer, too Hikers, ca the road, runs a sorous, and I'll occasionally see people ater rafting as well There's fisher I were sitting along the river and getting a fresh catch, cooking, and then eating My dad taughthe was always busy e funds But there were plenty of tian It was one of the only tih-rise penthouse

Not paying attention, I hit a buh and findhi of h because Shark looks atout of hisover, I pet his head and tell hiood boy he is

I speed down the road, dirt, and dust flying up all around us, knowing that we'll soon be down the mountainside and on the paved road that leads to town Once the tires hit the pavement, I slon considerably and head toward town As soon as Shark sees the buildings on Main Street, he begins to bark, knowing he'll soon have his treat

I park the truck and leave Shark inside with the n

“I'll be right back, boy,” I tell hilance at myself in theand realize I look like shit, but it's not like I' to impress anyone My white T-shirt is dirty,all over the place, and there's grime under my nails I could use a shower too

Once I step into Jack’s Hardware, a s that I need, I see Jack standing by the counter chatting with an old tiuy

“Tate,” Jack says as soon as he spots me

“Hey,” I reply, nodding s, and it smells like oil and plastic It's a small town shop, and if Jack doesn't have what I need, he'll order it, which means I'll have to co to find the replacement chain

“What are you looking for?” Jack asks His red beard is not dissimilar to my own