Page 2 of Canyon Killer
“You’re the guy who bought Humboldt Canyon and closed it to climbing.” Carter turned to his sister. “Some of the guys were talking about it at the last search and rescue meeting. Humboldt was a popular climbing spot, and this guy closed it and is going to develop it.”
“I’m going to build a via ferrata,” Ian said.
“What’s a via ferrata?” she asked.
“It’s Italian foriron way,” Ian said. “It’s a climbing route with steel cables, platforms and walkways. It will be open to the public.”
“It’s a tourist attraction.” Carter spoke with a sneer.
“Like this Jeep tour company.” Ian slipped his credit card back into his wallet.
Touché.Bethany bit back a grin. Carter definitely deserved that comeback. “It sounds like a lot of fun,” she said.
Actually, anything to do with climbing scared her, though training with search and rescue was helping her conquer that fear. So far she had been content to help the really skilled climbers with their gear, but she had taken a couple of training sessions navigating some less technical terrain. She had joined search and rescue when she’d first moved to Eagle Mountain to push herself out of her comfort zone, and it was definitely doing that.
“It sounds to me like a rich guy looking to make a profit off something that used to be available to everyone for free,” her brother said.
“Carter!” She glared at him. “Nobody asked you.”
She wouldn’t have wanted to be on the receiving end of the look Ian sent Carter. “Why don’t you wait and see what I do before you pass judgment?” Ian said.
Joella chose that moment to start crying. Bethany rushed to the carrier and picked up the baby. “Sorry,” she said, raising her voice to be heard over the wailing. She bounced the infant in her arms as she returned to the desk. “Let me finish up the paperwork and get you on your way.”
“Cute.” Ian leaned closer. He smiled and extended one finger. The baby immediately fell silent and grasped his finger.
Uh-oh. Call her a cliché, but she couldn’t think of anything more devastating than a good-looking guy smiling at a baby. She blamed evolution, stirring up all those hormones. He looked up and met her gaze. Yep. Devastating.
“How old is she?” he asked.
“I don’t really know.” One-handed, she grabbed the paperwork from the printer tray. When she turned back, she caught his puzzled look and laughed. “I’m watching her for a couple of customers.”
He accepted the paperwork. “Thanks. Um, I didn’t get your name.”
“It’s Bethany. Bethany Ames.”
“She’s my sister.” Carter still looked out of sorts. “Don’t get any ideas.”
Her face heated, but she stayed calm. “Ignore him,” she said to Ian. She handed him the keys. “It’s parked at the end of the row. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thanks. I’ll check it out, then come back in an hour or so to pick it up.”
“Then I’ll look forward to seeing you again.” She put a little extra warmth behind her smile. She wasn’t dating anyone, and no matter what Carter said, Ian Seabrook seemed really nice.
He nodded and left.
As soon as the door closed, Carter turned on her. “Let me know if you need anything else,” he simpered. “Honestly, Betty. You sounded pathetic.”
Her brothers only called her Betty when they were annoyed with her. “And you sounded out of your mind.”
“What are you two fighting about?” Dalton came in, a half-eaten sandwich in one hand.
“Ian Seabrook was in here, and Bethany was flirting with him,” Carter said.
“I wasn’t flirting.”
The door that led to the back office opened again, and their mother entered. Trim and athletic, with blond, curly hair and freckles, Diane Ames could probably pass for ten years younger than fifty-two. She stared at Bethany. “What are you doing with a baby?”
“She’s the Hendersons’—on the ten-a.m. tour. They didn’t realize they couldn’t take her with them.”
