Rescue Me(37)

“Let’s see if I can find that leak and put a plug in it,” Pete said. He touched her shoulder as he walked past her. “And yes, I will save you.”





5


WILLOW REFUSED to let today’s hike end in epic failure. Even if Sam’s words contained an eerie, haunting prophetic doom.

What could go wrong?

She could start with the arrival of Quinn Starr, who was dropped off by his senator father at the PEAK ranch just as they were leaving.

The fact that Quinn had other plans became evident the minute he got in, pulled out his cell phone, and began to text. Even Josh Blessing’s attempt at a name game got little response.

At least the rest of her youth seemed on board with today’s agenda—get to know Josh, enjoy nature, maybe even be inspired.

Seven kids in total. Dawson Moore, sixteen, son of a local doctor, and Vi, his twin sister. Gus Blumer, senior nose guard starter for the Mavericks, a youth group faithful. Zena Lynch, tall and dark, from her dyed hair to black fingernails. She probably came simply to escape a Saturday at home. Whereas Riley Rigs, video gamer, was most likely forced into the light. Maggy Nichols sat eating a bag of Cheetos in the back. The daughter of the choir director, she never missed an event.

They played the game with Josh as Willow drove them into the park, Sam riding shotgun. He’d offered to drive, but she knew exactly where she wanted to take them today.

Except, that turned out to be the next fateful mishap.

“What does it mean, ‘Closed Due to Grizzly Danger’?” Josh asked as they parked in the gravel lot at the Huckleberry Mountain trailhead.

Sam shot him a look.

Willow suppressed a smile. “Don’t worry, I got this.”

Which only meant she had a reason to take them to a better hike, one she’d always wanted to take them on—the Numa Ridge Fire Lookout.

“Are you sure?” Josh asked as she drove them north, past the town of Polebridge, her old haunts, and of course, the commune.

“Yes. It’s a steeper hike, but so worth it.” She glanced over her shoulder, met eyes with Quinn.

He still bore the scars of last week’s terror—not only on his body but in his eyes. Shame, and she wanted to shake it out of him.

Show him that he didn’t have to let his mistakes consume him. Sorry, but she still didn’t believe he’d meant Bella harm. She had it on good authority that he’d camped outside Bella’s room at the hospital for three days until she was discharged.

Willow could only imagine what Bella’s mother thought of the senator’s son hanging around. She couldn’t put a finger on why the senator had dropped off Quinn for the day, but if she could nudge Quinn out of his funk, get him to talk about it—even with Sam—she’d count the day as successful.

“Eyes on the road, Willow!”

Sam’s voice jerked her back to the moment, to the fact she may have edged over to the side a smidgen. About six miles into the park, they were gaining altitude, with Bowman Creek falling into the valley below them. Pine trees intersected the rocky debris, and the road wound through forest and along the cliffside.

Spectacular.

“Sorry,” she said.

Sam folded his arms over his chest, stared out the window.

Which hinted at the third disaster of the day. Because she’d heard Sam’s call to Sierra as they’d left Huckleberry Mountain, and the fact that it went to voice mail. He hadn’t left a message.

Worse, when he’d called Jess, Pete had picked up her cell phone and told him Sierra wasn’t there.

Sam turned dark and moody.

Willow wanted to offer the easy explanation—Pete had decided to show up at Jess’s house, and seeing that he had it covered, maybe Sierra had gone to the ranch to catch up on administrative work.

Although, it had her feeling a little dark too.

So much for her grand plan to give Sierra and Sam a magical day.

Her spirits lifted when they reached the trailhead. The day was bright and the air was crisp. The kids seemed eager to get out, stretch, embrace the challenge of the hike.

A slight wind bullied them as they walked along Bowman Lake, with Rainbow Peak rising in majestic glory, her ridges covered in rich green pine and spruce.

They reached the ridge, and the panorama began to open up, tiny glimpses of the lake below, a deep turquoise blue surrounded by the rich glacier forest. The terrain turned rough, and they stopped for lunch in a field with a view of golden larch and aspen.

Sam sat away from them.

Quinn, too, didn’t join the group, though his phone was now useless with the loss of signal.

“He’s been really upset since Bella got hurt,” Maggy said as she peeled back the wrapper on her cheese stick.

Zena took snaps with her phone. Vi read a book on a boulder nearby. Josh sat with Gus and Riley, and Dawson stood not far away, nursing his water bottle.