“Lots of tremors. The seismometers are picking them up all over the area. Many are too small to detect from the surface. My boss has called the US Geological Survey, and a volcanologist is on the way here.”
“Seriously? He thinks we might be in danger of a volcano in Montana?” Sharon asked.
Cooper shrugged. “It’s hard to say, but I need to get back to the office and then head to the epicenter. I’ll take half my staff with me and send the other two to the high school.” He dashed past them and grabbed his shoes. As he sat on the edge of the couch tugging them onto his feet, Sharon went toward him.
“I’m worried.”
He finished before he looked up at her and stood. He took her face in his hands and held her gaze. “I know. Trust me. I’m pretty concerned myself. But all we can do is follow the signs and our guts and make sure we’re not missing anything.”
“That’s just it,” she added, “we are missing something.”
Cooper nodded. His face was more serious than she’d ever seen it. “I know.”
She stared deep into his eyes. “You suspected a volcano, didn’t you?”
He pursed his lips before responding. “Not gonna lie. The idea has been floating around in my mind. I’m sure my boss has had his own suspicions also. It’s a tough call. The signs would indicate a high probability of volcanic activity. However,” he lifted up his pointer, “this is not an area of the country under any volcanic suspicion. We can’t cry wolf until we have the data to prove it.”
She smiled at his use of the word wolf. “Is this why no one has called for a state of emergency? Simply because the likelihood is not there?”
He nodded. “Exactly. Neither I nor my boss—nor anyone else for that matter—can go to the governor and tell him to evacuate an area based on a hunch or a feeling or a cluster of small quakes.
“Clusters of tremors happen all over the world every day. They don’t lead to anything larger. Does my gut tell me something enormous is about to occur? Hell, yes. My best guess is a larger quake the likes of which this state has never experienced, or a volcano, as insane as that sounds.”
Cooper glanced at Jackson and then back at her. “Every member of my family and yours has enough intuitive skill to be on alert. But we can’t run around making an issue out of a bunch of tremors based on our gut instincts. We need proof.
“Hovering spirit guides and shaman who can feel impending danger will not cut it. Who would listen to us? Let’s hope the US Geological Survey or the volcanologist can find something definitive.”
Sharon shook her head. “So many people are out on the mountainside. Hikers. Campers. Small cabins. Lord, the biologists from the college.”
He cupped her neck and hauled her face forward to kiss her briefly. “I know, babe. I know.” He lifted his gaze over her head and spoke to Jackson. “Keep her safe.”
“You know I will.”
“Don’t talk like that,” she mumbled.
Cooper looked back toward her and kissed her mouth briefly. “I need to know Jackson is with you. No matter what happens, I need to know you’re safe. It’s the only way I can do my job without freaking out.”
“Okay.” She would consent to anything to ensure he had his head one hundred percent in the game.
“Stay in touch with me.” He released her, grabbed his jacket from the back of the couch, and shrugged into it. “Whatever you do, make sure the citizens are willing to force the fracking to stop. I don’t know what else we’re up against, but we all three know that’s paramount. It’s the first step. It’s the only thing we can control at this point.”
“Consider it done,” Jackson said.
Cooper nodded and raced from the condo, shutting the door with a resounding snick behind him.
Sharon turned to face Jackson, setting her hands on his chest. “Do you have to work today?”
He smirked. “Do you think that’s even possible?”
“Not really. No. Just asking.”
He gave her a squeeze. “I think the world will revolve without my accounting input for a few days.”
“Are you sure?” she teased. “What about all those late filers with extensions? Are they not lined up outside your office? And the logging sites? Don’t they need someone to come by and keep them straight?”
He rolled his eyes. “First of all, people don’t usually ‘line up’ to see their accountant, especially those who filed for an extension. And second of all, if you recall, I already inspected the local logging site last week.” He kissed her lips gently and continued. “That’s where I was when you had your mysterious fake accident and I picked you up on the side of the road.”