by Tena Stetler
“Are you going to keep the cottage? I assume you will be living here from now on.”
“Yes, I may rent it out or keep it for when friends and family visit, depending on what the future holds.”
Chapter Five
Finding Brandy—A Blow to the Ego
It was clear to Stefan that Brandy knew Glacier as well as he did, if not better. He decided the visitor center or ranger station was the best place to start. If the straightforward approach didn’t work, he wasn’t above using vampire persuasion to get information.
Arriving at the visitor center, he stepped quietly inside and scanned the area. A female ranger walked through the doorway from the office to the main lobby. He stepped directly into her path. “Excuse me. Could you help me?”
“Oh my.” She swerved to avoid running into him and put a hand on her chest. “You scared ten years off my life.” Eyes wide, she took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Okay, now what can I do for you, sir?”
“I’m looking for a friend of mine. Her name is Brandy. She has a slight Irish lilt to her voice, and she’s tall.” He held his hand up even with his nose. “A slender build with long, curly hair, bright-green eyes. She knows this park like the back of her hand. Any chance you know where I might find her?”
The ranger paused for a moment, then slowly shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I’m kinda new here, but Randy will be in shortly. He’s been here forever and knows absolutely everyone. If anyone can help you, it’s him. You don’t mind waiting around a few minutes?”
A smile spread across Stefan’s face as he nodded. “Not at all.”
“Good. I’ll see if I can raise him on the radio and let him know you’re waiting.”
“That would be great.” Stefan paused, reading her nametag. “Sharry.”
She hurried toward the counter, then stopped. “Your friend isn’t missing or in any trouble, is she?” Sharry’s forehead wrinkled with concern. Her gaze searched his.
“No, I don’t think so. She was supposed to meet me at the Highline Trailhead this morning around dawn and didn’t show. That’s not like her, but she may have gotten busy and forgotten our appointment. I just want to make sure she is okay. Unfortunately, the piece of paper she wrote her address and phone number on was in my jeans pocket when I washed them. Stupid mistake.” And the oldest excuse in the book, but it was all he had.
Sharry eyed him suspiciously, crossed her arms over her chest, and straightened. His dark gaze held hers, and then he smiled, ensnaring her with a little vampire thrall.
Slowly, she returned his smile. “It’ll be just a minute.” She walked behind the counter and keyed the radio.
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” he said smoothly.
While waiting for a response, she asked the girls behind the counter if they knew a woman meeting Brandy’s description.
“Maybe,” one girl piped up, but she wasn’t certain.
The radio squawked to life. Sharry took the handset and walked into the office, closing the door. She was gone only a few minutes, returning with a big smile on her face. “Good news. He knows Brandy Shaughnessy. She works with the National Park Service as a park ranger and volunteer trail guide here. She works out of the West Glacier sub-office. Randy is on his way in, so you can talk to him yourself. Anything else I can do for you, sir?”
“Nope, you’ve been very helpful. Thanks.” Stefan turned from the counter just in time to see an older man in a park ranger uniform walking up the path to the door.
The ranger removed his hat and sunglasses, then yanked open the door and strode into the building. He looked around until he spied Stefan. Smiling, he walked over to Stefan, hand extended. “The name’s Randy. You looking for Brandy?”
“Yes, sir.” Stefan shook Randy’s hand firmly.
“Sharry tells me Brandy was supposed to meet you this morning at Highline Trail. Are you a relative?”
“No, just a friend.”
“Policies prevent me from giving you any personal information about her. What I can tell you is she’s been gone for a couple weeks but is on the schedule for tomorrow. You can probably catch her here around five in the morning. I think she’s leading the sunrise hike.”
“Thanks for your help. I’ll catch her early tomorrow and give her a hard time about forgetting me.” Grinning, Stefan shook hands again with Randy and nodded to the girls behind the counter. “Ladies.”
On his way out the door, one young blonde called to him from behind the counter. “Hey, you’d be the last thing I’d forget.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” He turned and kept walking toward the door. How am I going to be here at five in the morning when I don’t get off until six? By that time her group will be well on their way. Asking Russ for time off is out of the question. In a small town like Whitefish, the rumor mill already knew more of his business than he liked. Asking for time off would add more fuel to the fire.
Two hours before his shift, he walked into the control room with a plan, one he hoped would keep the rumor mill at bay. “Hey, Cody.”
“Hiya, Stefan. Still looking for a life, I see.” He glanced at the clock and back to the vampire.
“Nope, not tonight. I need a favor.”
“You, Mr. I-Don’t-Need-Anyone?” Cody lowered the magazine he’d been reading. His gaze met Stefan’s. “Only kidding. What’s up, kid?”
Asking favors of any kind rankled. He’d got along just fine without anyone’s help until now. At least in the mortal world. This time, he didn’t see any way around it. He’d just have to suck it up and ask. “I need to leave an hour early tomorrow morning to take care of personal business. Russ would probably come in, but I really don’t want to ask. He’s my boss. I was hoping you’d be able to cover for me. I’d be happy to return the favor anytime.”
Cody’s salt-and-pepper eyebrows arched mischievously, and his lips twitched as if trying to hide a grin. “If it’s about matters of the heart and that beautiful redhead, I’ll be happy to. If it’s about you being a stubborn SOB, I’ll simply kick your ass. Now, you don’t have to tell me which it is. But if I don’t see her with you soon, I’ll assume the latter and stomp your ass into a dry mud hole and then kick the dirt out. Got it?” A grin spread across Cody’s face as he reached for his coat, then slapped Stefan on the back on his way out the door.
“Got it. Thanks, Cody.” Stefan shook his head. That Cody is a strange one. The vampire went about his duties feeling better than he had in recent weeks.
The next morning at four-thirty sharp, Cody strolled in the control room door. “Go get her, boy.” He grinned wide as he shoved Stefan out the door.
Stefan jumped in his truck and peeled out of the parking lot, sending gravel and dried leaves flying in all directions. It was still dark when he arrived at the visitor center and parked next to Brandy’s yellow four-by-four, the same one she’d driven to the baseball game. She was the only one there. He walked to the door and watched her through the glass, appreciating her curves and long slender legs. I’d love to have those wrapped around me. A jolt of pure lust shot straight to his loins, causing a tight uncomfortable fit in the crotch of his jeans. It’s been too damn long. He got up and walked around a bit. He couldn’t greet her in this condition.
Under control again, he knocked on the window to get her attention. Busy perusing paperwork on a clipboard, she absently pointed to the clock on the wall. Another tap and she looked up. He felt her heart skip a couple of beats and smirked. Sometimes being a vampire is pretty cool.
Flustered, she dropped the clipboard, flinging papers all over the floor. Frowning at him, she bent down and picked up the scattered documents.
He rapped on the window again. “Brandy, let me in or step out here. We need to talk.”
She walked to the counter, picked up the keys, and unlocked the door, pushing it open just a crack. “I don’t have time right now. I have a sunrise hike in a few minutes. Besides, I’m not sure I’m ready or even want to have a conver
sation with you.”
“Well, I want to talk to you. Guess I’ll have to join the hike.”
“Suit yourself. We can’t talk during the hike. I’ve a job to do.”
“I know.” Giving a half shrug, he straightened, taking a step closer and wedging his boot in the door. “We can talk later, but I won’t let you out of my sight until we do.”
Lips pressed tightly together, she narrowed her eyes and frowned. “What? Are you threatening me?” Her knuckles turned white, gripping the door handle so tight.
Yep, all the signs are there. She’s pissed. He blew out a breath and threw his hands up in frustration. Then, remembering this situation was one of his own making, he relaxed his stance and grinned. “No, not at all. You have a habit of disappearing into thin air, and I can’t risk that. Cody’s going to kick my ass if I don’t straighten this out with you. He’s covering my shift right now, no questions asked but a lot of guessing on his part.” Stefan removed his booted foot from blocking the door.
She threw up her hands, letting them fall limp to her sides, and sighed. Pointing to a bench against the brick wall, a faint smile crossed her lips. “Wait there for the other hikers. Don’t expect special treatment either.” She tugged the door closed and clicked the lock.
He walked over and sat on the bench. She wasn’t going to make this easy, but he couldn’t let her slip out of his life either.
It wasn’t long before a young man and woman walked up. The man had a sleeping toddler in a child carrier backpack. Stefan stared up at the man, and he took a couple of steps backward, putting his hand behind his back and closing his fingers over his wife’s arm protectively. He narrowed his eyes and watched Stefan and then cautiously asked, “Is this where we meet for the Iceberg Lake Trail hike?”
“Yep, it is. Have a seat,” Stefan said absently.
Several people of different nationalities arrived. They all kept their distance from him. This is going to be an interesting but crowded hike. Too bad. Small and intimate would have worked better.
Brandy came out of the office, smiling brightly. Her gaze swept over all the hikers, totally ignoring him. “Good morning, everyone, I’m Brandy Shaughnessy, and I’ll be your guide today. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Are we all set? Cameras ready? The sunrise will be spectacular this morning. The views are tremendous on the lower section of the trail.”
Several of the hikers smiled and murmured in agreement.
“The trail to Iceberg Lake is an easy hike in comparison to others in Glacier National Park. The first two hundred yards are the toughest,” Brandy said.
He watched her with a wrenching pain in his gut. Iceberg Lake. How appropriate. With the others, she’s Little Miss Sunshine. Me—not so much. She’s professional, but the warmth is gone out of those beautiful green eyes. Not a good sign.
“The wind can have a bite to it. Does everyone have a warm jacket?” She assessed each hiker. “Appropriate hiking shoes are required. Sandals are not acceptable.” She looked directly at a dark-haired girl, whose partner shot her an “I told you so” look.
The girl’s face turned bright red as she wiggled her toes in her sandals. “I have other shoes in the car. It’ll only take me a minute to change. Okay?”
“Sure,” Brandy replied easily. “Sunscreen, sunglasses, bear spray, and water are also important. I see most of you have a hydration system. That’s great. For those of you who don’t, there are bottles of water for sale in the office. A couple of quarts should do. You can refill them at Ptarmigan Creek, which crosses the trail about halfway up. Who needs water?”
Only two of the hikers raised their hands. Brandy motioned them to follow her into the office. She took care of their needs and returned.
“Everyone bring lunch?” She surveyed the crowd.
All hikers nodded except Stefan, who gave her a cheeky grin and shook his head. She glared at him and whirled around on her heel, keeping her back to him.
The young woman with the man carrying the toddler said, “We’ve enough to share, if anyone gets hungry.”
“That’s fine then,” she said more sharply than intended. Adjusting her backpack, she smiled at the dark-haired girl who had exchanged her sandals for hiking boots. “The weather here can change quickly. Keep an eye to the sky and that rain poncho handy. Grizzly bears frequent this trail, so stay together and alert. You’ll also see bighorn sheep, mountain grouse, ground squirrels, and, if we’re lucky, a mountain goat or two. Let’s be off.”
Bright streaks of orange, red, and pink crept across the dark-blue and purple of the breaking dawn. Resembling a prism, all the colors blended seamlessly into each other as the sun peeked over the mountaintops, its brilliant golden rays warming the crisp morning air. It had been a long time since Stefan appreciated such a spectacular sunrise. Still, he kept to the shadows as others stepped into the bright sunlight. Thanks to his grandfather’s enchantment, the sun had very little effect on him, but he felt safer in the shade.
During the hike, Stefan mulled over the situation with Brandy and found that he was comfortable pursuing a relationship with her. But having to grovel didn’t sit well at all. If there was a knot in his gut, it was only because it had been a long time since he’d gone out on a date.
Vampires were carnal creatures. He had enjoyed the occasional one-night stand with a female vampire, which satisfied both of their needs and desires but nothing more. The meetings were always discreet and out of town. He hadn’t indulged in that pleasure for quite a while.
The fact that Brandy was something other than human nagged at him a bit. If she intended him harm, she’d had several chances as they hiked the deserted trails. He tucked that thought away for another day, hoping it too would sort itself out eventually.
Views along the trail were fantastic. The mostly open terrain had only a few forested spots in the middle of the hike. From a steep cliff, a couple of bighorn sheep stopped momentarily to watch the hikers, then returned to grazing. A lone grizzly bear lumbered across the meadow, paying little attention to the hikers and keeping a safe distance. Ground squirrels scampered through the vegetation and up the trees as the group passed alongside. A mountain goat clopped across the path and disappeared into the forest.
Upon reaching Iceberg Lake at lunchtime, the trekkers spread out on the rocky beach of the crystal clear lake as waves lapped at the shore. The air filled with lots of friendly chatter. Several people commented on the Irish lilt to Brandy’s voice and asked her about Ireland. Alex and Pam, the couple with the toddler, set the child on the ground with a wrapped sandwich grasped tightly in her little fist. She wobbled on her short, chubby legs over to Stefan, offering him the sandwich.
Smiling, he took the sandwich, thanked them, and ate the sandwich, though his digestive system would make him pay for it later.
He walked away from the group, heading to the lakeshore, and skipped a rock across the surface, hoping to maneuver Brandy away from the crowd. Pointing out into the lake, he asked, “Ms. Shaughnessy, is there floating ice in the lake year round?”
“Very good question. Did everyone hear what Stefan asked?” She repeated the question, walking closer to the lake and him. “Yes, even in August the lake is generally full of floating ice. Because it’s on the northern flank of Mount Wilber, it receives very little sun. The lake is left in shadow most of the year due to the three-thousand-foot vertical cliffs of Ptarmingan Wall that surround it.”
All heads tipped backward to stare at the tall cliffs.
She pointed to the rugged terrain surrounding the lake, then continued. “During the winter, a thick coat of ice develops that slowly melts throughout the summer. The permanent snowfields above it also drop chunks of ice into the lake.”
He snagged her arm as she passed by and whispered, “Brandy, I’ve thought a lot about what you said.”
She watched him intently for a moment, nodded, and turned her attention back to the group. The bright- blue sky of the morning filled with da
rk ominous thunderclouds. “Let’s get cleaned up and start back. Looks like a storm is brewing.”
The trek downhill seemed shorter than the four and a half miles up to the lake. Large raindrops splattered on the ground as the hikers returned to the trailhead. They hurriedly boarded the waiting shuttle or ran for their vehicles.
Brandy waved to the departing hikers, then ducked inside the office with Stefan close behind her. Randy was standing behind the counter smiling “I see you found her.”
“Yes, I did. Thanks for your help, sir.”
The blonde-haired girl grinned at Brandy. “If I were you, I wouldn’t forget about him too often, or someone might just lure him away.”
Her light copper brows drew together, a little line digging itself between them. Brandy tilted her head up and looked at him quizically.
“I stopped by here looking for you when you failed to show at the Highline Trailhead the other morning. Guess you forgot me.” He shrugged and tilted his chin toward the counter. “The girls gave me a hard time about it.”
“Oh, is that the way of it?” Her mouth set in a thin line, she stared up at him, then looked sharply back at the girls. “I don’t think any of you know what you’d be getting into with this one.” Brandy jerked her thumb toward Stefan. “Don’t let his handsome face fool you. He’s a devil.” She wound her hand through his arm, turned, and led him out the door.
Chapter Six
Talking Is Over-Rated
“Okay, Mr. Talltree, what did you want to talk about?” Brandy said, her voice dangerously calm. Stepping off the path, she walked toward a bench nestled in a clump of trees a few yards from the building.
“Us.” He followed, then turned her to face him and experimentally ran his hands slowly up and down her arms. She didn’t stop him, so he took that as an encouraging sign.
“Relationships. I’m no good at them.” He shook his head. “I’ve had some very bad experiences. It’s no excuse, but that’s why I acted so badly the last time we were together. There’s a lot of truth to what you said at the rock.” Stefan stepped away from her and unconsciously dug the toe of his boot in the soft ground.