That’s what was spread across her coffee table that night—destruction.
“Did you know that Montana only gets two tornados a year on average?” Flynn asks, tugging me from my thoughts.
“If we get any.”
Montana’s about the safest place a storm chaser could hide from their former life. What if it’s not someoneshe ran from, but something?
“I don’t think I want to see one,” Flynn says, shaking his head. “Fires are destructive, but at least we have a fighting chance. Fire can be extinguished. But a tornado? All you can do is fucking take cover and hope you survive it. There’re no evacuation warning hours or days in advance. Just a siren minutes before your fucking house might be lifted off its foundation. Could you imagine seeing an F5?”
“I’ll pass.”
Isthatwhat Everleigh’s been running from? Did she encounter an EF4 or EF5 and it rattled her? Did she lose someone important to her? I make a mental note to research storms from that timeframe last summer for clues.AfterI sort out this whole thing with Walter Smalley, that is.
“Hey, you busy tomorrow?” I ask Flynn when the loud movie storm subsides and the living room grows quiet once more.
“You need me to watch Thor again?” he asks.
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Thor’s never too much trouble, are you buddy?” Flynn scrubs both hands over Thor’s giant face. Flynn would have a pack of dogs if he had the ability to stay in one place. But dogs and fighting forest fires all over the country don’t exactly go hand in hand. So, my brother gets his fill with Thor whenever he’s in town.
The pup’s tail thumps against the couch as he looks up my brother with the most pathetic, adoring puppy dog eyes known to man.
“I might be gone most of the day,” I add.
“Helping Everleigh again?”
“Headed to Springdale, actually.”
“Springdale?”
“Apparently Walter Smalley’s in the nursing home there. I want to see for myself.”
“The alpaca guy?”
“Yeah.”
“You know those old folks like to sleep in, right? You leave too early, you’ll just be waiting around for Walter to wake up.”
“I have to head to Stone Ranch first.”
“You bringing the alpaca with you or something?”
Though the thought has crossed my mind, I haven’t decided if it’s worth the risk. If Walter’s grandson happens to be visiting at the same time, things might get a little complicated. I can’t risk Birdie’s safety until I have more information.
“Everleigh has to take some pictures for the ranch before we head out, and I need to chat with Ryder.”
“You’re sure spending a lot of time with Everleigh James. Something I should know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you’re going to get married, just plan it around fire season. I’d hate to miss the wedding.”
“You’d hate to miss a chance to get laid.”
Flynn smacks a hand to his chest. “You wound me, brother.”
I shake my head at his poor attempt at an English accent. “Have you been watching Bridgerton again?”
