The man repeated each name, but when he met Brooke’s gaze, something shifted in his expression; just for a second, so brief Gina almost missed it. Recognition? Satisfaction? Interest? Whatever it was disappeared immediately behind a friendly smile.
“I’m George.” He nodded before motioning toward their pile of gear. “Were you hiking? Bad day to be out on the trails.”
“It didn’t start off bad,” Brooke said, her tone defensive.
“Tell me about it,” Joe said. “The weather turned faster than we expected.”
“Mountain weather’s unpredictable this time of year,” George agreed. He pulled off his gloves, revealing smooth hands.
Gina glanced at Nick’s hands and saw the difference immediately. His were calloused, the hands of someone who worked for a living. George’s looked like they belonged to a man who spent his days at a desk.
His skin was a normal color, with no redness from the cold, even though he wore only simple leather driving gloves. He’d said his truck had broken down a mile away. In weather like this, that walk could take an hour or more, and she was surprised he didn’t look worse after that much exposure.
And his feet? Loafers were a strange choice for the Absaroka Mountains. Who explored an old ghost town in shoes like that? His clothes looked like they belonged in an office, not outdoors.
Nick caught her eye. He’d noticed too.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” she asked, motioning toward the camp stove.
“That’d be great. Been a rough couple of hours out there.”
She raised her eyebrows as she glanced over the man again.A rough couple of hours? Interesting.
“Have a seat.” Nick offered the folding camp chair in the corner near the camp stove. “You’ll get a little extra heat here when we’re heating water. It might help you dry out a bit.”
George sighed as he sank into it and pulled off his wet loafers as the water heated. When Gina brought him a mug, he wrapped both hands around it and closed his eyes briefly as he took the first sip. “Needed that more than I realized.”
“You said you used to hunt around here?” Nick asked.
Gina listened to his answer while she added more water to the kettle. They could all use a cup.
They’d gathered enough snow for several servings, using a tarp they’d set outside and making a quick run to the vehicles to scoop it off the roofs. They had already boiled it and strained it through a bandanna, so it was at least somewhat clean.
But that was before the storm kicked up again. Soon, they’d need to collect more snow, especially with an extra person to keep hydrated.
“Years ago. My dad used to bring me up here when I was a kid.” George’s smile was easy, conversational. “Beautiful country. Lots of places to...meet up with friends, if you know what I mean.”
The phrase hung in the air with just enough emphasis to make Gina wonder if he meant something more than casual hunting trips. Meet up with friends? In an abandoned mining town, miles from civilization? It could be innocent, but combined with everything else that felt off about George’s arrival, it set her nerves on edge.
“We were fortunate to make it here before the storm got really bad,” she said, testing him. “Another hour and we might not have found shelter. The snow made visibility challenging.”
“Indeed,” George agreed. “Though I have to say, this old hotel’s always been a reliable refuge. People have been using it for years when they need somewhere...private to conduct business.”
There it was again. That slight emphasis that suggested he knew more about this place than casual hunting trips wouldexplain. She looked toward Nick. His expression mirrored her concern, and something about that shared wariness made the situation feel more manageable.
George unzipped his fanny pack and pulled out an energy bar. But as he did, his jacket fell open enough to reveal the grip of a handgun in a shoulder holster.
“You came prepared,” Nick observed neutrally.
“Have to, in country like this,” George replied, making no effort to conceal the weapon now that it had been seen. “Never know what you might run into. Four-legged or two-legged threats, if you catch my meaning.”
In Wyoming, firearms were common. Many people carried them in bear country, especially when alone. On its own, the gun meant little, but paired with his unusual clothing, it felt out of place in the wilderness.
The sight of it shifted the mood. Joe tensed, eyes fixed on George’s jacket. Brooke straightened. Kelsey let out a quick, sharp sound, like a startled animal.
Nick moved closer to Gina, not obviously protective but near enough that she could feel his presence. The gesture saidI’ve got your back without being overt about it. She instinctively moved toward him too, their shoulders nearly touching as they stood by the camp stove.
“Storm looks like it’s going to be here for a while,” George said, settling back with the relaxed confidence of someone who was exactly where he wanted to be. “Might be a long night.”
