Page 5 of Canyon Killer
“I can see why you wanted a Jeep,” she said as she climbed out of the driver’s seat. “But hey, this is gorgeous.” She turned her back to him to look up at the canyon walls.
He came to stand beside her and joined her in admiring the view. The canyon walls rose straight up over two hundred feet, the jagged rock in rich shades of orange, red and purple. Dark green conifers jutted from the rock in places, while in others yellow and lime-green lichen glowed in the afternoon sun.
Bethany smiled up at him. One of her upper front teeth was crooked, the slight imperfection appealing in a way he couldn’t quite put his finger on. “Tell me about this via ferrata,” she said.
“The idea is to have a route of walkways, rungs, ladders and platforms that people can follow as they make their way up and along the canyon walls,” he said. “The iron road. It’s challenging but doable for most people, especially if they hire a guide to coach them along—which we’ll recommend they do. It’s a way to share my love of climbing with other people. A via ferrata is set up so that people who wouldn’t normally be able to experience the sport—people of all different ages and abilities, even with certain disabilities—can climb, with the right gear and assistance. They started out in Europe and have spread to the United States. They’re really popular, and this is the perfect place for one.”
“We have a big climbing community around here,” she said.
“Are you a climber?”
She shook her head. “But I volunteer with search and rescue, so I’m starting to learn. It’s not required for the work we do, but it comes in handy. Fortunately we have a number of skilled climbers on the team.”
“Search and rescue? That’s amazing. What kind of calls have you been on?”
“All kinds,” she said. “We get cars that go off the road in the canyons and crash, lost hikers, people who get hurt on the trails and can’t get down under their own power. Falls in the mountains. And we get our share of climbing accidents.”
Ian had experienced a couple of bad falls—fortunately nothing that had resulted in permanent injury. “The locals are lucky to have people like you on call,” he said.
“Do you know many of the local climbers?” she asked.
“I’ve met some of them. I know a few of the local guides. Most of my climbing has been in Europe and Asia, though. I spent six months last year in Tibet.”
“My brothers said you’re a billionaire. Is that true? Or is that a really rude question to ask?”
Her smile was so disarming, he couldn’t be offended. “My dad is a billionaire,” he said. “I’m not in his league.” Time to change the subject. “If you’re not in a hurry, I could show you around.”
“I’d love that.”
“Are you up for a little hiking? The trails can get rough.”
“I’m ready.” She extended one foot to show that she was wearing hiking boots.
“Then let’s go. I’ll show you the general route for the via ferrata.”
He led her up a rocky path he had hacked out with a machete the day before. “This first section will feature a rope bridge, then there will be some iron rings set into the cliff face to traverse, then a platform where people can catch their breath and enjoy the view.”
“It sounds just challenging enough to be fun,” she said.
“That’s the idea.” He leaned down to help her onto a large boulder.
“Where did you live before you came to Eagle Mountain?” she asked. “I mean, before Tibet?”
“I grew up in Upstate New York, but I haven’t lived there for fifteen years. Mostly I’ve traveled. Before I came here, I was living in Maine, near Mount Katahdin,” he said. “What about you? Have you always lived in Colorado?”
“No, I’ve only been here nine months. I’m originally from Vermont.”
“What made you decide to come to Eagle Mountain?”
“I came here to take a job at the Jeep rental place where I work now,” she said. “My parents came to visit and ended up buying the business and moving the whole family here.”
“How many are in the whole family?”
“My mom and dad and my three brothers.”
“Do they all work with you?” he asked.
“The younger ones—the twins—do. You met Carter. His twin is Dalton. My older brother, Aaron, is a sheriff’s deputy.”
