Page 29 of The Mountains Edge

We might pretend that we get together to report about the mountain, but it's more than just checking in. These meetings kept us sane after coming home, when the silence got too loud and the memories too heavy.

Jake starts, all business. "The fire was a warning to us to get better prepared. Three idiots tried to scale up the north side yesterday. I had to extract them from the ledge."

"Tourist season." Cole shakes his head. "Getting worse."

"Town council wants to promote more adventure tourism." Finn's voice holds disgust. "Like we need more fools on our mountain."

"Your brewery's benefiting," I point out. Finn started a small brewery, mainly for the town but more tourists now add it to their list to visit.

He shrugs. "Rather have peace than profit."

We all understand that.

"Speaking of peace." Jake grinned. "How's domestic life treating you?"

I growl, but there's no heat in it. They've earned the right to give me shit.

"Focus." But I'm fighting another smile. "Trail report?"

They share intel about conditions, wildlife movements, problem areas.

"Grizzly signs near Miller's Creek," Cole reports. "Female with cubs."

"Mark it." I update our shared map. "Finn?"

"Brewery's good cover for monitoring river traffic." He stretches his bad leg. "Caught some poachers last week."

"Handled?"

His smile is cold. "They won't be back."

Good. We protect our own here, the land, the town, each other.

"Doctor's asking questions again," Jake mentions casually. Too casually.

I hide my smile. "About?"

"Rescue protocols. Medical response times." He shifts. "Training requirements."

"Sounds reasonable," Cole says innocently. "Maybe you should show her personally."

Jake's glare could strip paint.

"She's good people," I offer. "Daisy says she climbs."

"Don't start." But Jake's ears redden. "Not all of us need a woman to fix us."

"Fix us?" I snort. "Daisy doesn't fix anything. She just?"

"Makes it better," Finn finishes quietly.

Yeah. She does.

The room softens as we all remember why we're here. What brought us to this mountain, seeking peace after the military broke us differently.

My scars are just the most visible.

"Speaking of Daisy." Cole pulls out a flask. "When's the wedding?"

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