Page 26 of Mountain Grump

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There’s no need at all.

But… I climb out of my truck and stride into the woods.

Chapter 13

Tilda

I roll my lips together.

The ribbon is gone.

There’s nothing on the fence.

I turn left, then right, double-checking that I’m not in the wrong spot. But this is where I tied the ribbon that Ranger Grumpy Pants complained about. And I’m ninety-nine percent positive he told me to remove the rest of it. Which would mean that he left some of the ribbon on the fence. But…

Nothing.

It’s all gone.

Holding the metal part, I tap the plastic handle of the scissors against my skirt, matching the beat of the song playing from my hip.

Part of me wonders if I’m losing it.

Maybe there never was a sexy park ranger with tattoos and two different colored eyes…

I spin in a slow circle.

I’m in Colorado.

Uncle Jack is gone.

I woke up in his old house because I live here now.

I put ribbon on this fence yesterday, but it’s gone today.

Facing the bare fence again, I inhale deeply.

I didn’t imagine Ethan.

And I’m not imagining the burst of color a few yards ahead of me, on the other side of the fence.

I don’t remember seeing these flowers yesterday.

And… they’re purple.

I left my vase back on the front step, and it’s already full of flowers. But the purple ones are so pretty. And there was still another vase under the sink. So… I want these.

I just need to figure out how to get over there.

And I need to ignore the sign that I read farther down the fence yesterday. The one sayingNo Entry to State Park from Private Property.

Honestly, the sign feels a little insulting. Because who—other than the occupant ofmy land—would even see this sign?

And really, what’s the difference between where I’m standing right now and fifteen feet in… that direction?East?Who knows. But really. These are man-made lines. And those flowers are pretty.

I examine the fence, judging my options.

I don’t bother entertaining the idea of hopping over the fence. Not in a million years could I do that.

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