She thought about it for a moment, tried to imagine what Mitch would say. “Mitch kept journals dating back to when he was in college. Your father is in there from our early climbing days in Yosemite. I’ve been recording journal entries and playing them back for him, trying to stimulate his brain. I’m certain he wouldn’t mind if I shared entries that include your father.”
Kurt cleared his throat. “That would mean a lot to me.”
Chapter 6
Mitch was standingon top of Columbine Boulder, pumped up on the adrenaline of having finally climbed White Lightning, when he spotted a familiar blue Chevy van heading their way. He pointed. “Hey, Calder’s here.”
“Dean?” The excitement on Megs’ face made her look like a little girl—and left Mitch feeling strangely jealous.
Dean parked, climbed out, and headed in their direction. He was probably the best climber among them—excluding Megs, of course. He’d taken to climbing after getting back from a tour of duty in Vietnam and now lived out of his vehicle, traveling the country, always in search of new routes.
Megs waved to him, and Dean headed in their direction.
Mitch stayed where he was. It was his rock-solid proof that he’d climbed the route Dean had declared unclimbable.
Oh, yeah. This was going to be sweet.
Dean spotted him, grinned. “How the hell did you get up there—a ladder?”
“You wish! The unclimbable has been climbed.” Mitch felt a moment of satisfaction at the astonishment on Dean’s face, but it was quickly replaced by guilt. He hadn’t been the first to get here. “Megs showed us how to do it.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Dean walked over to Megs and hugged her. “How’s it going, kiddo? Are you putting these boys to shame?”
Mitch downclimbed and stood back while Megs demonstrated for Dean how she’d proven him wrong. Having climbed the boulder numerous times since her first ascent, she now had the route down, moving quickly and gracefully up the rock. Mitch could have watched her climb all day. He’d never seen anyone move the way she did, both athletic and graceful.
It went beyond skill. It was genius. It was …art.
When she topped out, Dean applauded. “Far out! Why didn’t I think of that?”
“You guys climb using physical strength.” Megs made her way back to the ground. “I have to use my brain, too.”
Mitch couldn’t help but laugh. She wasn’t wrong.
They spent the rest of the afternoon at the boulder, until each of them had successfully climbed the route. Afterward, Megs pulled Dean aside, leaned close, said something that made Dean shake his head and rest his hand on her shoulder. When she walked to her tent to change for work, she looked pleased.
Mitch found himself watching her as she came out of her tent in her cafeteria uniform and climbed into her car. Did she and Dean have something going on? And why the hell did he care?
Dean walked up beside him. “You like her.”
Mitch couldn’t deny it. “She’s one hell of a climber.”
Dean chuckled. “No, I mean youlikeher.”
“Yeah. There’s something about her…”
“Tell me about it.”
Mitch turned to look at his friend, needing to know. “Are the two of you…?”
“Lovers?” Dean laughed. “Oh, hell, no. I’m too old for her.”
“Too old? You’re only twenty-eight, man.”
Dean laughed, shook his head. “Want to get away from camp and go for a hike?”
“Yeah.” Mitch grabbed his daypack with its first aid kit, filled his water bottle, and met Dean near his vehicle.
“The Upper Falls?” Dean shoved a bag of trail mix into his backpack.
