“Bertha. Are you talking about the truck that took a swim down Clark Fork?”
“The very one. She was my rock. You should have seen my father’s face when I told him I was driving to New York. By myself.”
“Where the hell was I?”
“You weren’t my keeper, Axe. You were just my… You were my brother’s best friend.”
Little did she know. “And you drove her all the way to Billings after you graduated?”
Her face lit up like I remembered. “Yeah. Bertha and I managed to see the country together. We took our time going both ways. I enjoyed the time alone. It allowed me to think. Maybe grow up.”
“Why Billings?”
“Why not? I had a job offer.”
Leaning over the railing, I stared at her, shoving my free hand into my jeans pocket to keep from reaching out and pulling her even closer.
She finally realized I was waiting for an explanation, wrinkling her nose a few seconds later. A telltale sign of when a subject either bothered or pissed her off. I had a feeling this was a little of both. “My father and I aren’t getting along and haven’t for a long time. Even after I graduated with honors six months early from law school, he was certain I was coming back to work with him on the business. In fact, he insisted. I said no. He wasn’t happy. We stopped talking.”
“I didn’t know that.”
She nodded. “He even told me he’d write me out of his will. That’s what Daddy does when he doesn’t get his way. He threatens people. I don’t honestly know why my mother has stayed married to him.”
While she laughed, I could tell she was truly bothered about the situation. “I think people appreciate familiarity.”
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe that’s why I’m here.”
“Homesick?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a little. The urgency in my father’s voice caught me by surprise. I also had the need to ground myself. I don’t know. I really don’t.”
“So where are you staying?”
Her sigh was exaggerated. “I haven’t figured that out either. And don’t worry, Axe. You’ve made it perfectly clear what happened last night can never happen again. I get it.”
“Kenzie.”
When she threw her hand out, she laughed. “I’m a big girl, Axe. Don’t get me wrong. I loved last night. More than I can tell you, but what happened was based on our proximity and the near tragedy we both experienced. Whatever my father needs I’ll help him with, but I’m not staying in Missoula. I told you and everyone else a long time ago that I wanted to leave. I’d feel as if I failed myself if I came back.”
Her definitive answer brought a strange feeling from deep inside. I didn’t want her to go. In fact, I almost blurted out the way I felt. She’d loved Missoula and had planned on spending her life in town. “You could always open up shop here. Start a practice. A lot of folks have small businesses.”
“I can’t do that. It’s better when I’m living somewhere else. My father would never let me alone.”
“I get it. I really do.” I hated him even more for what he was doing to her.
She took a deep breath and while she was studying the mountains and scenery that I took for granted, I was studying her.
Maybe she was right in that it was better she wasn’t around. Just by being here, she could easily become a distraction.
“What is that?” she asked, shielding her eyes.
“What is what?”
When she noticed I was staring at her, she grabbed my arm and pointed toward the mountains. “That. Is that smoke or just the fog?”
I was reluctant to look away, but did not only because she asked, but because of the scent I detected. Smoke. My instincts were to spin around. When my eyes focused, I could tell I was right. “There’s a fire somewhere in the mountains.”
“After the storm we had?”
