Enough, Brooke, she told herself.You are too messed up right now to even be thinking about getting involved with someone.
She let out a sigh and turned away, her eyes moving over the forest as she took a few steady breaths. Callingherself messed up was no exaggeration. She’d been trying to keep things together, throwing herself into work, and she’d had a good race two months earlier. Not the one she’d planned, but the one she needed. Still...she knew herself well enough to recognize that her tendency to obsess was at an all-time high. And when that happened, she didn’t make the best choices. Better to get through today and forget all about the tall, handsome Tyler Gillis.
Movement caught her eye. Robert was off the phone, and he and Sue were heading toward their Subaru. They moved to the back and started pulling out what looked like a cooler.
“They’re sending someone,” Robert called out. “Could be a while. Half an hour, probably longer.”
Longer was more likely unless they already had someone patrolling in the mountains. She considered where they were: near the Wyoming-Montana state line but still inside Basin County, Wyoming.
Sue approached, carrying sandwiches wrapped in plastic and a handful of granola bars. Robert followed with bottles of water.
“Figured we might as well eat while we wait.” Sue offered her some food. “It’s going to be a long afternoon.”
Brooke hesitated. Eating felt wrong. Disrespectful when someone was lying dead on the mountain. But her body was crashing from the adrenaline spike, and she knew she needed fuel. Her stomach agreed with a growl, reminding her she’d only had coffee and a bagel before leaving the house that morning.
“Thank you,” she said, accepting a sandwich and water. When she unwrapped it, she discovered turkey and swiss on wheat bread. Simple but welcome.
Tyler took a sandwich as well, and Brooke noticed he looked just as conflicted about it as she did.
Stop it, Brooke. Just don’t even look at him.
“I know it seems strange,” Sue said gently, reading their expressions. “But we’re going to be here for hours once the police arrive. We need to keep our strength up.”
“She’s right,” Robert added. “I’ve been through something like this before. Years ago, when I was working construction in Colorado. Found a hiker who’d fallen off a cliff. The investigation took all day.”
They settled into an awkward circle near Brooke’s SUV. The food helped, grounding her in her body and in the present. She was alive. She was safe. The sandwich was good.
“You mentioned you’re from Irma?” Sue asked.
Brooke nodded as she swallowed her bite. “Born and raised. I own the coffee shop on Grand Avenue. Irma Brew.”
Sue’s face lit up. “Oh, of course. I knew I recognized you. We’ve been there. You make those amazing scones. I love the variety.”
“Thanks. We always have the plain but try to do a specialty scone or two each day.”
“They’re incredible,” Sue said. “We just moved to the area a few months ago. Robert bought the auto repair shop in town.”
“Morgan’s place?” Brooke remembered hearing the longtime owner had finally retired.
“That’s the one,” Robert confirmed. “Found the listing online and made a deal quickly. He said he was ready to spend more time fishing.”
Brooke glanced at Tyler. “Are you new to town too?”
Something flickered across his face, too quickly for her to read. “I work for Robert. At the shop.”
It wasn’t really an answer to her question. Brooke waited, expecting him to elaborate, but he took another bite of his sandwich.
“Tyler’s a fantastic mechanic,” Sue filled the silence. “We’re lucky to have him. He was part of the team from when Morgan owned the place.”
“How long have you been in Irma?” Brooke asked Tyler directly.
“Awhile,” he said, his tone pleasant but vague.
Brooke felt her curiosity sharpen. She knew most people in town, at least by sight. The coffee shop saw everyone eventually—morning regulars, tourists passing through, construction crews, ranchers coming in from the outlying properties. That or at the grocery store. Everyone had to buy groceries.
But she’d never seen Tyler before.
“We try to get out hiking most weekends,” Robert said, steering the conversation elsewhere. “Tyler’s been showing us good trails. He knows the area well.”
