“She knows and she won’t say much more than to make sure I put sunscreen on and bug spray.”
“Did you?”
“Got both in my purse. We won’t go far from here. Sometimes I think it’s just nice to get out and breathe the mountain air. Almost like a reset.”
“Taking a break,” he mumbled. “Getting a breather.”
“That’s it,” she said cheerfully. “It will do us both good. Almost as good as last night in my room.”
He leaned in for another kiss, then took a second bite of the donut. “I enjoyed that. I doubt the hike will be as pleasurable.”
“Don’t be so surprised. We can drink our coffee on the trail. Got Clay’s gun?”
He went to his room and pulled it out from under the pillow where it was taking up residence at night.
She slipped a backpack off her shoulders, opened it and he glimpsed her gun in there. “Clay gave me a holster to give you for it.”
“Thanks. That makes it easier for today.”
He took it and clipped it to his belt under his shirt, put the gun in and then pulled on another sweatshirt.
Ten minutes later they were parking at a trail at the base of the mountain and making a climb through a clear path with their coffee cups in their hands.
“How did you sleep? You look a little rough if I do say so myself. I don’t think I caused that, but I could have.”
He could appreciate the humor in her voice. “Rene.”
“Oh. What did she say this time? Or I should ask what she did.”
Gale’s ponytail was weaving around as she waited for his answer. He liked that the woman he was getting close to didn’t judge him or think he was losing his mind, but rather joined in the intrigue of it. Her cheekbones were as sharp as her brown eyes and there was a touch of humor in them.
“More of the same. She was upset and I lost my patience, which I don’t do. She was crying.” He wouldn’t admit that he was too.
“Do you know why?”
“She’s scared for me. She said she doesn’t want me hurt. To keep doing what I am, but they are after me.”
“Who?” she asked, gripping his arm.
“Your guess is as good as mine. Could be why I lost it with her. I’m more frustrated than anything.”
“Because you’re getting closer.”
“Or not,” he said. “This could all be a wild goose chase more than finding her killer. I can’t tell you how pissed off I’m going to be if at the end, all it did was rile people for fear their tourism was going to diminish or some business deal would fall through.”
“If that is what it ends up being, then they will get over it. This is bigger than that,” she said. “We know and if they can’t understand, too bad.”
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” he said, walking along the path and climbing higher. “I wish I did. She’s sad and it kills me. Then she said none of this can bring her back.”
“That’s right,” Gale said. “It can’t and it won’t. You’re looking for answers, not to rewind the past. I know you know that, but sometimes I think you wish you had some magic wand to erase what happened.”
“Wouldn’t you feel the same way?” he asked desperately.
“I would,” she said. “I don’t know Rene, but I feel as if I do at times. But I know you, and you need this break and that is whatI’m giving you. Why don’t we just put it aside for the next hour and enjoy nature? I’ve been on these trails most of my life. Ask me anything.”
“What kind of plant is that?”
She looked closer as if she was going to answer him, then shrugged. “No clue. It’s not poison ivy. Those things I know. Everything else I try not to touch. And if we had better service up here, I’d put it through my handy app to get an answer.”
