by Debra Kayn
"I'll go up there." He shifted into neutral.
"Hang on. She's moving." Quint walked back to his ATV.
Mark wiped the sweat from his forehead. For how much he wanted to keep her from reaching the peak, he wanted her to stay safe. Knowing she only learned to ride yesterday, he—as the owner of a rental business—would never urge or allow a beginning rider to go where they were uncomfortable, or where any sort of panic on her part could put her life on the line.
The rock wall she'd navigated around wasn't for the faint of heart, and he found himself respecting her bravery, despite wanting her to leave the mountain.
"She's made it to the next switchback," said Quint.
Mark started his ATV. Taking the lead, he rode up the mountain, going slow in consideration of Carly's speed. There was nothing to stop her from reaching Bear Peak. She'd navigated what he considered deterrents for her. Whatever reason she had for going, it must be important.
The closer he got to the top, the more he doubted his first impression of her. Maybe Jaster hadn't sent her to kill him, Quint, and Anders. But she was here because of them. It was a feeling he couldn't shake.
All of them grew up in the care of the state. No family, no relatives, and a recorded past that ended at fifteen years old. By the time they'd escaped from Mexico, became adults, the world had forgotten about them.
Six boys from six different states, the only thing they had in common was their experience with the men who'd kidnapped and placed them in Mexico where they'd been forced to train and later fight for their lives in the illegal dogfights.
Five of the six men were dead, along with every man that worked for them that was sent to the Bitterroot Mountains to kill them. Carly coming here and seeking him, Anders, Quint, and mentioning Will, plus wanting to go to Bear Peak couldn't be ignored.
Coincidence be damned.
After coming out of the last switchback, he held up his fist, stopping Quint from going further. He cut the engine and turned in his seat.
"If we go up, she'll know we followed her." He swung his leg off the ATV. "Let's walk around the bend."
Quint got off his ride. "If she were from around here, we'd get a slug put in us as soon as we showed our face, and she wouldn't be asking why we were following her first."
The problem was Carly was hell-bent on getting to the peak, she wasn't aware of the dangers around her. He couldn't decide if she was the threat or if she was setting herself up to be the victim.
His body tensed the closer they got to the top. Like every time he came up here to visit the memorial site for Joney, Two-crow, and Will, he found himself at a loss for words. He had such few people he cared about in his life and to lose more than half of them because he and the others couldn't protect them burned a hole inside of him.
Carly came into sight. He held his arm out, stopping Quint from going closer. She had her back toward them and stood in front of the crosses.
"What the hell is she doing?" said Quint.
His chest pounded. The crosses weren't hidden, but the few riders who came up to Bear Peak respected the memorial site. Over the last thirty years, no one had damaged or removed Joney's cross. He expected the same reverence for Two-crow and Will's crosses.
To see Carly paying particular attention to the monuments set off every warning bell inside his head.
She kneeled down on the rocky ground. He swallowed hard, protective of his friends, of his memories, of his life. There were reasons why none of them had gone to the police. Nobody would understand what they'd gone through.
They'd killed men to stay alive. They'd hidden bodies to stay free. They'd relied on each other because it was the closest any of them had to having a family.
"Do you believe me now when I tell you something is seriously wrong about her being here?" He turned to Quint.
The pain etched around his friend's eyes spoke of his worry. Mark jerked his chin, motioning for them to leave. They'd seen enough.
Carly had achieved what she came for. She'd made it to Bear Peak. For whatever reason, he no longer cared why she was here. He only wanted her to leave the Bitterroot Mountains.
Chapter 5
Carly put her purchases in the trunk of her car. She was running away.
No matter how many times she kept reminding herself that she was following her plan and going to Bitterroot Campground would give her an opportunity to find out more about Quint compared to Anders and Mark, she needed to escape.
Escape the feelings of disgust, shame, and hate.
Escape the feelings that somehow, she was responsible for the devastation on top of Bear Peak.
Escape the pain that came the moment she spotted three crosses on the mountain.
She'd known about Joney and Two-crow. Guessing the third one represented Will—another death that shook her to the core when Mark threw that information at her, she could barely keep herself from crying in front of the men.
So many useless deaths.
Sliding into the driver's seat, she started the car and drove out of Federal. It took almost five hundred dollars to buy the supplies she needed for the next week. Thankfully, the teenage boy at the hardware store that sold camp goods helped her pick out the essentials. She'd never stayed in a tent, but right now, a sleeping bag and closing herself off from everyone around her sounded like an escape.
She drove onto Interstate 90, merged with traffic, and checked her phone. Groaning at discovering no cell service, she would need to find the campground by the directions she'd memorized earlier.
Thirty minutes later, because she'd taken a wrong turn, she slowly pulled past the gate of Bitterroot Campground. Looking around, she tried to make sense of the arrow signs posted on the trees and almost ran into the office.
Parking her car, she got out, and the aroma of fresh pine caressed her senses, reminding her of good times in her past. Christmas trees from her classroom at school. A field trip with her classmates to a Gathering of Nations Powwow. The scented candle she'd smelled at the checkout in town. She inhaled deeply. There were hardly any trees in Albuquerque, and she never expected to enjoy them as much as she had.
Smoke came from a nearby campsite, and she was glad to have bought two boxes of matches at the store. She'd never made a fire in her life and would need a big learning curve.
Leaving her supplies in the car, she walked over to the cabin with the open sign and let herself in.
"Welcome to Bitterroot Campground." A pretty woman set a box down and smiled at her. "I'm Katelynn. How can I help you?"
"I was wondering if you have a vacant campsite." She approached the counter.
The female worker wore a flannel shirt rolled up above her elbows with a pair of jean cutoffs. Instantly put in a good mood by the woman's friendly nature, Carly glanced around the room. There were supplies for sale on the far wall. A map of the campground, and stacks of firewood for sale.
"I can look for you." The woman opened up a large flat book. "Will you want an RV pull-thru site, a back-in travel trailer spot, or a tent campsite?"
"A tent."
"That makes it simple. We have several open campsites." The woman walked around the counter to the map. "Let me show you what we have, and you can pick which one you'd like."
Carly stepped over and studied the map, finding a river running on the far side. It helped that she'd learned to read the map from the ATV rental business.
"We have four available. One over by the river." Katelynn pointed to the spot. "Two on the first loop, side by side, so unless someone else comes, you'll have a little more privacy and space. The last one is here." She tapped the map. "It's a campsite that is reserved for those who have a pet with them. Do you?"
She shook her head. "I'd like the one by the river."
"Good choice." Katelynn explained where the community bathrooms were located, then moved back to the counter. "That'll be fifteen dollars a night. You can pay now if you'd like or someone will be around each day to collect the fee."
Katelynn turned the book around and put a pen down in front of Carly. "Go ahead and put your name in the spot with the red X."
The door opened behind Carly. She leaned over and scribbled her name.
"Everything okay?" said a male voice.
"Perfect," answered Katelynn. "Thanks, Jared."
Carly handed the pen back. It was surprisingly easy to rent a campsite, making her look forward to relaxing for the rest of the day before she had to think about finding Quint and seeing how his life had turned out.
She'd already met him once—indirectly—at Mark's. Maybe he would remember her and strike up a conversation.
"If you'd like, I can show you where you'll be staying." Katelynn wrote out a receipt. "I put your space number on the paper."
"I can probably find it."
"All sites have a brown piece of wood at the entrance with white numbers to help you find your way." Katelynn walked around the counter. "I'll point you in the right direction."
"Thank you." She followed and stepped outside.
"Right over there," said Katelynn.
She followed the woman's finger and found a large man striding straight toward her. It took her two seconds to recognize Quint.
Warmth flooded her face. Caught off-guard, she hurried to thank Katelynn, and started walking, narrowly avoiding Quint.
Needing today to figure out what she'd say and ask, she only wanted to learn what she came here for and not interrupt his life.
Chapter 6
A branch slapped Mark in the shoulder. He ducked his head and rode through the hidden entrance behind Quint's cabin. As soon as he'd received the text, he'd left Kyle and Josh in charge of checking in the last customers when they arrived and headed over.
Not stopping at the cabin, he headed down the driveway and pulled into headquarters. Quint met him at the door.
"Where is she?" He turned around and gazed at the closest campsites.
"Space C4. Last tent spot on the river." Quint lit a cigarette. "You were right."
At the moment, he wished he'd been wrong. Anders had called and said she'd checked out. He wanted her to go away. Neither one of them knew she'd gone straight to Bitterroot Campground.
He looked at Quint. "She's a woman. Do you know what this means?"
"It means, I won't harm her," said Quint.
"Are you going to let her kill you?" He scoffed. "You've got Katelynn to worry about. What if Carly goes after her? Anders? Iliana?"
Quint inhaled heavily. "I'll go kick her out."
There was no other way to deal with a threat. Woman or not, he wasn't going to lose another person he cared about. He would put his life down to save Anders and Quint, which meant he'd also protect their women.
Mark stepped forward and stopped. "She's not by the dogs, is she?"
"No."
"Good." He swallowed. "I'll go."
"You don't own the damn campground," said Quint.
He looked behind him. "Doesn't matter. By the time I'm done with her, she'll want to leave."
"Jesus," mumbled Quint behind him.
Striding forward, Mark studied the campground. He had a hard time believing she was working alone. Jaster was the only one left that wanted him dead. He'd send in more than one young female.
"Hey, Mark." Pete Reynolds, standing beside his motorhome, lifted his hand. "The rainbows are biting."
An old-timer on the mountain, Pete spent his days parked next to the river with a hook in the water.
"You'll have to catch my limit for me." He lifted his chin. "Some of us have to work for a living."
He picked up his pace, knowing Pete would find some reason to try and get him to shoot the breeze. Cutting through an empty campsite, he wound his way to the back loop and looked toward the corner, spotting a blue nylon tent.
Time for pussy footing around and ignoring her popping up at all their businesses was over. He stepped onto her campsite and looked around. She had a cheap three-legged stool by an empty firepit, an icebox, and a pair of shoes set on an upturned log.
Five feet away from the closed tent, he said, "Carly?"
The thin material never moved. He stepped closer, listening for any movement. The rush of the river twenty yards away muted any nearby sounds.
He walked a few feet closer to the water and looked around. What were the chances that she was away from the camp, checking out the area?
Curiosity in the form of anger took him back to the tent, and he unzipped the flap. He looked inside and found it empty, except for a rolled sleeping bag and two luggage bags. Straightening, he gazed around to see if anyone paid any attention to him.
He might never have another chance to find out more about Carly.
Squatting, he pulled the smallest bag to him and peered inside. He tipped it sideways, knocking the hairbrush and hairdryer out of the way. A see-through baggy held makeup. Another one contained hairbands and earrings.
He put the bag back and reached for the large case. Not hesitating, he flipped both clasps. Folded clothes.
"Damnit," he muttered.
Staring down at a thin slinky pair of panties, he picked up the item and rubbed the material between his thumb and finger. She was a tiny thing compared to him, but that small underwear wouldn't even be enough to cover her. The material would slide right up her—
"Hey, get out of my tent."
Recognizing the voice, he dropped the panties and closed the case, not letting Carly's temper bother him. She was the one in the wrong place.
Slowly, he straightened, prepared for her full wrath. She glared at him with her hands on her hips.
"What are you doing with my things?" she said.
"Pulling your things out of the tent so I can take it down." He held open the flap. "Since you're here, go ahead and do it yourself."
"Excuse me?" She shook her head in confusion. "You own the ATV rental place, not the campground."
She knew more about him than he knew about her.
"You need to leave. I'll help you put your things in the car." He stepped over and yanked the corner spike out of the ground holding her tent in place.
She grabbed his arm. "Stop that."
"It's best if you get off the mountain before it gets dark."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Yeah, you are." He shook off her touch, walked to the back corner, and pulled another spike from the ground.
The tent leaned to one side, threatening to collapse. She scrambled to grab the nylon, holding the material.
"What is wrong with you? Why are you even here?" Her brow wrinkled. "I've paid to stay here. You can't force me to go."
"Lady, I'm getting tired of dealing with you." He approached her, making her take a step back. "Get your things and get your ass in the car."
She lifted her chin. "No."
"Don't make me—"
"What?" She glared, not backing down. "What do you think you can do to me?"
Oh, he could do a lot. His gaze dropped to her pursed, full lips. For how dangerous she could be, her sexiness was her biggest power over him. There was something tangible about her. He could reach out and touch her, and he knew without a doubt that she'd feel good in his hands. That he'd feel good.
"What the hell are you doing here," he whispered, clenching his hands into fists to keep from picking her up and putting her in the car.
"The same thing as everyone else." Her calm voice broke with a quiver. "I'm camping."
"And, what were you doing at Anders' Lair?"
"Vacationing." She raised her brows. "Anything else you want to ask me?"
"Why did you rent an ATV from me? Twice?" He tilted his head, daring her to lie.
"Look around you." She stretched her arms out to her sides. "We're in the Bitterroot Mountains. This shouldn't be a newsflash to you but people actually enjoy the outdoors, and I've visited the three main sources
of entertainment and lodgings around here."
He gritted his teeth, studying her. She gave him nothing.
Bringing up Jaster's name would open up a conversation he couldn't have with her. There was nothing else he could do.
He turned around and walked away without looking at her again. If she wanted to shoot him in the back, he'd given her the opportunity. Quint would have to protect Katelynn and himself because he couldn't get rid of the woman without hurting her.
As much as he tried to intimidate her, she only grew irritated at him. She wasn't scared, despite being alone with no man to protect her. She'd stood toe to toe with him and had challenged him.
He found himself admiring her strength as much as he hated her being here.
Quint waited for him outside headquarters. Mark stopped and wished he had a bottle of whiskey or something to take the edge off. Carly left him keyed up.
"She's not leaving." He looked at his friend. "When I got there, she was gone. I went through her things—"
"Fuck." Quint gazed off at the campground. "You can't be trespassing on my guests."
"She's not a guest."
"Until we know differently, she is." Quint ran his hand over his beard. "Maybe it's better that she's here."
"But, Katelynn—"
"Jesus, every thought about our situation revolves around keeping my wife safe." Quint walked a few feet away and returned. "I'll keep an eye on Carly. We have to face it that until we know for sure, there isn't a whole hell of a lot we can do with her. You'll be lucky if she doesn't call the state police and report your ass for going through her things."
Quint's lips thinned. Mark understood the tension running through his friend. They'd faced danger before. Except now, Quint and Anders had more to lose. They had a family.
"What are you thinking," he asked.
"Maybe we should let her get close to us. It'll draw Jaster to us." Quint threaded his fingers together and hooked his hands behind his neck. "We could end the hell that we've been living in."
"I don't know..." said Mark, thinking of everything that could go wrong. It hadn't been long ago that they'd lost Will.
Quint blew out his breath. "I have a hard time believing that slight of a woman would go up against three men. Jaster could be using her as a distraction or for information, but she physically couldn't do any real harm...unless she has a gun."