Page 18 of The Stranger's Code

I’d come over to Big Sky Rescue after my stressful breakfast, hoping that spending some time with Levi would calm me down. I knew that it wasn’t fair to use him as a source of comfort when I wasn’t being honest with him, but I couldn’t help it. Levi was the only person at Stratton Ranch who seemed to get me, intrinsically. Besides, even if we could never be anything other than friends, a friend was exactly what I needed right now.

I took his hand, shaking it politely. “I don’t know if there’s a nice way to say this, but would you say you’re more of a normal Stratton or an, uh, eccentric Stratton?”

“So, you’ve met Virgil.” Shane smirked. “He’s an acquired taste. It just takes some time.”

“Which means you’re a normal Stratton.” I let out a playful sigh of relief. “Phew.”

“I can see why Levi likes you.” Shane turned back towards his computer. “He told me about how you assisted him with that hiker. Sounds like it was harrowing.”

“It was.” I shrugged. “But if it wasn’t us, then who, right? Someone had to save him.”

“You’re awful helpful for a guest.”

“Should I not be?”

“I’m just not used to people from the city being so willing to get their hands dirty, maybe even bloody,” he replied. “I think there might be something else to you, Cameron Miller.”

“Something else like what?” My body felt like it was on fire. I’d come here so someone could help me calm down, not make things even worse.

“I don’t know. Something.” Shane typed something on his screen. “I think there’s something you want, but you’re not saying what it is. Not yet.”

“Well, you know I’m here to see what it’s like running a ranch?—”

“There’s something else,” he interrupted. “But I also think you seem like an honest guy. I think you’ll tell us what it is you really want. Eventually.”

“Shane? What are you doing here—Cam?” Levi suddenly stepped into his office, looking between us. “Were you two having a meeting in here or something?”

“You were the one who invited me here. Remember?” Shane quirked an eyebrow. “You said you needed help with inventory.”

“Oh, right. That was like weeks ago.” Levi blew out a breath. “Well, let’s get on it, then. Cam? Do you mind helping out?”

* * *

I was staringover at Shane, as we stood behind the office.

We were looking through first aid kits, portable water heaters, tents, tactical knives, compasses, flashlights, duct tape, fire starters, space blankets, tarps, granola bars, and a bunch of other stuff that I didn’t recognize by looking at it. The goal was to make sure everything was still up to snuff, since it would’ve been a disaster on top of a disaster if Levi needed to make an emergency shelter and the tent he grabbed on the way out had holes in it.

I was finding it harder and harder to pretend like everything was okay, my looks over at Shane getting more nervous each time. Did he already know who I was? Was he like Jolene, trying to give me the opportunity to confess? Or was Shane just unnervingly wise, the kind of person who didn’t often speak, but when they did, it was like a lightning strike?—

“Are you okay?” Levi asked, now standing beside me. “You seem a little shaken up.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “I’m good.”

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

“I slept fine,” I lied again. “Sorry if I seem off. Maybe I had too much for breakfast. I was at Canyon Creek Diner and ordered the Canyon Special?—”

“Uh, yeah. That’ll do it.” Levi laughed. “That comes with like a huge stack of pancakes.”

“They were delicious, though.” Another lie, since I’d barely tasted my breakfast.

“In that case, since you’re so full from breakfast,” he continued. “Would you want to get something for dinner? We could go into town and?—”

“I need to pee!” I said it way too loud. “I’ll be right back.”

“Oh. Uh…” Levi watched as I practically sprinted away from him towards the nearest bathroom. When I got there, I made sure to stay for at least five minutes, wanting to make it seem like I’d actually used the facilities. The entirety of that five minutes was instead spent freaking out, wondering if Shane would tell Levi about who I really was, wondering if Levi’s dinner invitation would be rescinded as soon as I got back.

Fuck.

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