Page 27 of Spirit on the Range

"I have, but it’s changed."

That's helpful.

"Why are we doing this?"

"Dad told me about a hut up here. Hikers and marshals used to use it. And a pass. I want to see if we can find it. "

"Why wouldn't we be able to find it?"

"There was a landslide here the year Eve and I were born. Closed off the pass between our property and the one bordering to the north. But if your girl is getting across, she sure as hell is not going over the mountain like a goddamn bear.”

“She's not my girl. “The words left my mouth without permission.

Trav paused, slapping his palm on the granite and hoisting himself up. "You sure about that?"

"She was kissing another man with arms around his neck like she was starving for him,” I snapped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know that."

“Keep it up, and my temper won’t last all day.”

Trav turned around, facing me. "I've made you hike at least the five miles I promised from the house, and we haven't stopped to eat yet. I'd say you've got plenty of reasons to be shitty with me."

I grinned. "Glad to know I've got permission."

He eyed me. "Granted." Without another word, he turned and continued his climb.

Thankfully, after the next three boulders, the ground flattened out and we walked in silence side-by-side, without risk of falling off the damn hill. I risked a glance over my shoulder. I couldn't see Longside from here, but I could see past Black Hillnext door to Travis’ land, and the road that led into Sienna's place.

Goddamit, I wasn't going to say her name.

I cleared my throat when we stopped for a water break. "Tell me about Double B."

Trav pressed his hand to the rockface, pointing to our next trail, thin, but thankfully, it didn't seem to involve climbing. We’d have to go single file to fit between the sheer, unyielding walls. For the first time in my life. I was glad I wasn't claustrophobic.

"Jamie is..."

I shook my head, frustrated that he couldn't see me. "I don't wanna know about Jamie. Tell me about double B. "

Travis scoffed. "If you want man to tell the fucking story, let him tell it the way he wants to.”

I paused. "Granted."

Travis snorted. "Jamie’s a bastard,” he stated baldly.

"I know that."

Travis shook his head and kept walking, his much longer stride with his over six and a half feet compared to my six feet flat ate up the ground. "No, I mean it in the literal sense. His father claimed him, he’s but the progeny of...some other man.”

“Fuck off. That's gotta be a rumor. "

"You've never been there, have you?"

I thought of my mother, the one I didn’t remember, and frowned. It might be story time, but that wasn't a story I’d share with Trav or anyone else. "My sort isn't encouraged on the land, Trav. We're from different worlds.”

"Fair enough."

The difference between Trevor and I was around fifty million, give or take. I wasn't fussy with round figures.

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