Page 40 of Mountain Captive

Chris ended the call and returned to the kitchen, where Rand was finishing the dishes. “How old are you?” she asked.

“I’m forty-one. Why?”

“No reason. You just seem...younger.” She knew he was a little older than she was, but fourteen years older? Then again, there were plenty of times when she felt decades older than someone like Bethany, who was probably much closer to Chris’s age than Rand.

“Having second thoughts about hanging out with an old man?” he asked.

“No. I appreciate maturity.”

“Ouch!”

She turned away, smiling to herself. Bethany was right. Rand was definitely a hot older guy. There were worse ways to spend a summer afternoon than with him.

RANDDROVEHISSUV as far as he could into the high country above town, until they reached the roads only a Jeep or similar vehicle could navigate. They chose a trail that promised a hike to a high mountain lake and set out, Harley trotting ahead. The trail climbed gradually, and they passed areas where wildflowers grew hip-deep in an extravagance of pink, purple, yellow and white. Bees and hummingbird moths wove erratic paths between blossoms, heavy with pollen, and the air was as perfumed as a boudoir. Harley stalked through the grass, then burst out ahead of them, shaking a shower of flower petals from his coat and grinning in that way dogs have, an expression of ecstasy.

“Have you been married before?” Chris asked when they had been hiking a while.

“Where did that question come from?”

She shrugged. “If you’re forty-one, I figured there was a chance you’d been married before.”

“I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

His first instinct was to saybecause I haven’t, but Chris deserved something less flippant. “Let’s see—six years of medical school and residency, terrible hours and no money, three years in a surgical unit in a war zone... Not conducive to long-term relationships.”

“That only takes you up to, what, thirty?”

“Three more years in a military hospital stateside. I had girlfriends but nothing ever lasted.” He shrugged. “Marriage is a big decision. One I don’t want to make unless I’m sure.”

“Fair enough.”

“Does it bother you that I’m so much older than you?”

“I didn’t even think about it until Bethany said something.”

“What did Bethany say?”

Chris smiled. “I’m not going to tell you. It will go to your head. But she referred to you as an older guy.”

“I like to think I’ve got a lot of good years left. For what it’s worth, when we first met, I thought you were older. Not because of your looks but because of your attitude.”

“Guess I’m just an old soul. And today I’m just enjoying being in a beautiful place.” She sent him a look that held a little sizzle. “With you.”

All right, then.He suddenly felt a foot taller—but also like it was time to dial back the tension. “Race you to the top of the next ridge.”

Rand beat her to the top, but just barely. They stood side by side, looking out across the mountain peaks and rolling valleys. “What is that down there?” She indicated a cluster of colored shapes in the shadow of a jagged pinnacle.

Rand dug his binoculars from his pack and focused on the spot. As he adjusted the focus, a dozen or more colorful tents came into view. “It’s a bunch of tents and people,” he said. “Didn’t Danny announce something about a scout group up here?”

“That’s next month.” She held out her hand. “Let me see.”

She studied the encampment for a long moment, her body tense. Then she returned the binoculars to him. When she didn’t say anything, he asked, “Do you think it’s the Vine?”

She nodded. “I can’t prove it. And I’m afraid if I report this to the sheriff, he’ll think I’m either paranoid or vying for more attention.”

He scanned the area again. He counted at least fifteen smaller tents and several large ones. Lots of people—men, women and children—milled about. “It could be them,” he said. He lowered the binoculars again. “I’ll call the sheriff when we get back to my place. He can’t accuse me of seeking attention. He needs to know about this—he’s still looking for those involved in Lana’s death.”

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