by Hope Malory
“I’m impressed. Better than average. I finished in sections rather than a thru-hike. Prior to becoming a firefighter, I was a Search and Rescue volunteer. The SAR experience helped me land the job. How did you develop an interest in hiking and climbing?”
Hmm, a firefighter. No wonder he has a hot body. What did he ask? Oh, now I remember. “My four older brothers hounded me to keep up with them when I was little. I had to be strong to survive. My hometown, Azalea Valley, is in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, and I hiked and climbed with them for as long as I can remember.”
“Man, four brothers?”
“Yes, and a younger sister. My parents loved kids and always wanted a big family.”
Will ran his fingers through his hair. “Whoa, I can’t imagine. My younger sister is a girly girl. One is enough. With the hair, makeup, and clothes, she takes two hours to dress. My girlfriend—rather, my ex-girlfriend—is the same way. The two of them together . . . well, there was no shortage of drama.”
Ex-girlfriend, huh? “Are you going to attempt the search in the morning with your sprained ankle?”
“If it were up to me, I would, but probably not. Walsh thinks I’ll slow the team down. Another ranger is on standby to join you two. Since you have to wake up early, I’ll leave so you can rest. See you around camp.”
She appreciated the view of his biceps bulging out of the short-sleeved black tee and his perfectly fitted jeans as he ambled away. That wasn’t so bad. At least he didn’t antagonize me.
A few minutes before sliding into her sleeping bag, she reached for her phone and texted her sister, Brenner.
I made it. Did you find any other invoices or records of Nonna’s? B
Grief returned as she recalled her grandmother’s death three weeks ago. What would have happened to them if Nonna hadn’t moved into their house and taken care of them after their parents died? The two of them had been too young to live by themselves and none of their older brothers could take responsibility for two teenage girls.
After Nonna’s death, she had agreed with Brenner’s suggestion to move back into the family home. While sorting through their grandmother’s things, Brenner had found a debt notice and a stack of old invoices marked “paid in full” dated over thirty years ago and addressed to someone named Grainger Devlin III in New York. Neither had recognized the names of the people or companies who’d sent them.
A quick Google search had listed Devlin as a real estate tycoon and his wife, a socialite. Who are these people? How did Nonna know them, and why did she keep their records? Preparations for her trip had prevented Beasley from conducting further research, but she intended to follow up when she returned home.
The chime signaling a text brought her out of her reverie.
Didn’t find anything else. Be careful on the climb. B2
In texts, she always signed with a “B,” and Brenner had chosen “B2” as her sign-off. It should have been “B7” and “B8,” as their parents’ names were Benton and Belle, and their older brothers were Bradley, Baxter, Benjamin, and Blake. Friends dubbed them the “B” family.
After setting the alarm on her cell, she climbed into her North Face sleeping bag, pulled it over her shoulders, and fell into a dreamless sleep within minutes.
The phone beeped the next morning filling the tent with an annoying sound. After punching the stop button to silence it, she stood, moved outside, and started the camp stove to make oatmeal. As she dressed in layers to accommodate the changes in temperature, she thought about the little boy who wore only a sweatshirt to keep him warm.
The morning was soupy. Gray skies and fog blanketed the park. Campers stirred about. A man with baggy clothes and an unsteady gait whistled as he unfolded two camp chairs. Two energetic teenagers and a woman with graying hair stuffed backpacks and laced their hiking shoes for the day’s activities. A choir of birds in perfect symphony serenaded them. Under a stand of pines, a carpet of damp needles released a faint odor of decay.
She experienced a pin prick of disappointment at the thought Will wouldn’t be with them. Why do I continue to react to him? Although he had redeemed himself somewhat, she didn’t believe his attitude about her had changed. No doubt, he treated her with more civility because she helped him.
She emptied her mug, grabbed her gear, and headed for the rendezvous point at the base of the trail to meet Ranger Walsh. The instant she rounded the corner, she spotted Will holding his pack.
“Are you coming with us?” Her stomach fluttered at the thought of spending the day with him.
“The swelling in my ankle went down, and I wrapped it well. The more people searching the better, so I came.”
Wasting no time, the ranger gave directions. “The incident commander instructed us to widen the search. Our route is the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, though it’s improbable a seven-year-old ventured up that far because of the terrain. Fortunately, the temperature didn’t drop much last night.”
What he hadn’t mentioned? The possibility someone had abducted Cole and taken him up there. She shivered.
Ranger Walsh stopped and took a protein bar out of his pack when they reached Columbia Rock. A light breeze whirled dead leaves. Although the fog had lifted, a curtain of mist from the Upper Yosemite Falls blocked their view of the valley below. His face registered worry.
Will stepped up beside Beasley. “You mentioned your home is in Tennessee. How long are you staying?”
“I’m in Yosemite this week but in California for three weeks. I came to visit an old friend in Truckee, northwest of Lake Tahoe.”
“I know where it is. I live in Tahoma, about twenty-three miles south of Truckee on the western edge of the lake. I had planned to climb Half Dome while I was here, but the fall changed my plans.”
Ranger Walsh finished his snack. “Gregor, how are you doing?”
Will had winced a few times, but he said, “I’m okay. Let’s keep going.”
“Your call, but I’ll warn you, the upper section of the trail is steep and rocky. Let’s take our time and scan the immediate area.”
The team trudged through oak woodlands. The views were incredible when they reached the falls. Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan peaks jutted above the rest in the valley. They had an excellent view of the valley’s meadows and the cottonwoods lining the Merced River. The trees’ roots stretched on top of the ground for several feet along the banks. Though sparse vegetation dotted the rocky summits, the Pacific dogwoods bloomed below the waterfall. Under different circumstances, she would have appreciated the vista more.
Ranger Walsh pointed out Yosemite Creek, which was tiny in comparison to the massive waterfall it fed. He announced, “We’ll cross the Merced River at El Capitan Bridge and head east toward Yosemite Village.”
After they started their descent, Beasley spied something red alongside the path and reached down to brush away leaves. “Hey guys, look.” Heart pounding, she held up a Spiderman figure.
Walsh got on his phone and called headquarters. “We found something. Get in touch with the parents and ask if he owns a Spiderman toy. If so, send the dogs and other search teams over here.” He gave the dispatcher their coordinates.
“Good work, Beasley. Let’s spread out and comb the area.”
They went in separate directions, but she was still near the ranger when his phone rang. He gave the thumbs up confirming the toy belonged to Cole. Adrenaline kicked in and she jumped over rocks and sprinted through brush scouring the region for more clues and yelling Cole’s name. Her chest thumped at the thought he might be nearby. Dogs barked in the distance. “Oh, please let someone find him.”
She circled back and ran into Will. “Anything?”
He shook his head. “No, but if someone finds him, it will be due to you.”
“I don’t care ab
out credit, I just want him to be okay.”
They heard Ranger Walsh yelling for the child and headed toward him, each foraging through different sections.
Soon after they returned, a shout came over the ranger’s radio: “Yosemite, we found Cole. The boy is safe and we’re taking him to his parents.”
Will blew out a breath. “Oh man, fantastic news!”
Relief washed over her. “Awesome!” Her taut muscles relaxed, and tears pooled in her eyes. She took the Spiderman figure out of her pocket and handed it to Ranger Walsh. “Will you make sure he gets this?”
“Happy to.” His lips curved upward, and lines creased the corners of his eyes for the first time on the two-day search. A nice smile. Why doesn’t he do that more often? “Thank goodness the outcome is positive. Excellent work, team. Let’s rest a few minutes before we start back. Standard operating procedure is to follow the marked path. Under the circumstances, we’ll go off trail. The shortcuts are quicker and easier to maneuver. The map doesn’t show them, but I know the way. You’ll also get a better view of the valley.”
Beasley reached for her water bottle and perched on a giant boulder. “Ranger Walsh, what led you into this line of work?”
“Call me Josh, since we’ve been together for two days. I was never social as a kid and preferred the solitude of being in the wilderness. As a teenager, I went climbing, backpacking, and rafting as often as possible. After high school, my best friend joined the Marine Corps and talked me into joining. The military provided perfect training for this career, and I studied forestry in college. Being a former marine gave me an advantage with getting a federal position. So, here I am close to twenty years later.”
“This job suits you. You’re good at it.” Over the two days, she had grown to admire Josh. His gruffness may have stemmed from his military background and years of corralling volunteer teams. Adversity hardened a person. This pursuit had a positive outcome, but a fair number of rescues didn’t.
“Thanks. I misjudged you when we first met. You were excellent out there.”
She smiled at the unexpected compliment. “Thank you. Forestry, huh? I graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a BS in forestry.”
“What do you do with your degree?” Will asked.
“I own and run a landscaping company, Beasley’s Gardens. In case you didn’t notice, I checked out the flora along the trail.” Since arriving at Yosemite, she had identified native flowers: blue flag iris, leopard lily, shooting star, and California poppy, among other species.
“Impressive,” Will said.
Josh called the incident commander to ask about the rescue, and after the call ended, he repeated the details. “The boy chased after a rabbit, but when he tried to retrace his steps, he took a wrong turn at a confusing intersection. Instead of walking toward his parents, he went farther away. By the time they realized he had disappeared, he was too far out of range. The storm contributed to the problem. Cole went off trail. A team passed near where they found him huddled under a tree, but with the pummeling mountain wind and rain, he apparently didn’t hear them calling for him. He’s scared and has a few minor scrapes, but he’s doing well considering what he’s been through.”
“I love happy endings,” she said.
They followed Josh through less-traveled territory past vegetation scattered across rocky ridges and cavernous drops to the forests below. The waterfalls still flowed. As the snow melted, they would soon dry up.
A sense of peace washed over her as she hiked in the deep woods beside mountain streams and rock formations. Although she was in the wilderness with two men, she felt the solitude of the remote trails.
Josh halted, reached for a stick, and pushed through brush to the side of the path.
“What are you looking for?” Will asked.
“Hold on.” Josh held up his hand and pressed forward, thrusting tree limbs aside. He stopped, snatched his flashlight out of a pocket, and pointed it toward something. After examining the area, he yanked his radio out and glanced toward her and Will as he called in his discovery. “This is Ranger Walsh. I found some human bones.”
Chapter 4
Beasley’s hand flew to her mouth, and she stifled a gasp. Will dragged his fingers through his hair. “What the . . .?”
Josh checked his GPS and gave his supervisor their location. His satellite phone rang.
“Yeah . . . Hell yes, I’m sure. I’m looking at a human skeleton here. Let’s talk about it later. Two volunteer searchers are with me. Send someone up here to escort them to camp.”
He strolled over to them. “The commander will give me grief for going off trail, but this could solve a missing person case.”
After she couldn’t stop trembling, Will put his hand on her back and rubbed in circles. “Why don’t we sit?” He led her away from the spot where Josh had found the bones. They slumped on a rock, waiting for someone to show up, while the ranger paced. In a quiet, calming voice, Will engaged her in conversation, distracting her from the shocking discovery. She appreciated his compassionate demeanor.
At last, someone called out for them. “Down here,” Walsh shouted.
Chaos erupted when a group of rangers and law enforcement officers descended on the area. The formidable commander in charge, who had swarthy skin, a mustache, and broad shoulders, barked orders with his rich, resonant voice.
Josh spoke to a fellow ranger. “Flynn, this is Will and Beasley,” he said and pointed his thumb toward them.
“Ranger Flynn will guide you to your camp. I’m staying here to help.”
The three of them hiked in silence. As soon as they reached Camp 4 and their guide left, Will asked, “Are you going to be all right?”
“Yes, but I’m still shaking. This was more of an adventure than I bargained for.”
“Why don’t I come by later? We can go into the village and find something to eat.”
Not wanting to be alone after their discovery, she answered, “Sure, why not?”
She called Casey and Brenner and summarized her experiences over the last two days. By the second telling of the events, the tension in her muscles had eased. Exhausted, she took a nap.
Will woke her when he came by. “Have you been asleep since I left?”
“Yes. Today wiped me out. Now, I’m hungry.”
“Which do you like best: deli, pizza, or burgers?”
“Pizza, always.”
“A kindred spirit. We’ll go to Degnan’s Loft.”
The sun bathed everything in a golden light. On their way to the restaurant, they trekked past a throng of visitors who appeared to have the same thirst for natural beauty. The diverse group of tourists ranged from climbers to CEOs to ecologists. Professional and amateur photographers swarmed the summits, capturing breathtaking views through their camera lenses.
Will and Beasley settled into their seats and ordered pizza and beer.
“Did you hear anything more about the skeleton?” she asked.
“This afternoon, I ran into Josh in the village. Detectives scoured the area and unearthed a wedding band and the partial sole of a shoe. The sizes indicate they belonged to a female.”
“That’s sad. Since we found only skeletal remains, her death can’t have been recent.”
“From the appearance of the bones, they figured they were there for years. Forensics will examine them and conduct DNA testing. Don’t let this incident upset you or break your concentration.”
“I won’t. I’ll shake it off. I’m super focused.”
“When did you decide on the Nose?”
“Last year when I climbed part of El Capitan. I’m a planner and research everything. This is the time I had hoped to come, but the exact date was flexible, depending on my business schedule. This time worked well for Casey, my
friend in Truckee; for my climbing partners; and for me because I needed a break. The last few months were more hectic than usual. The wilderness restores the soul. I am calmer and more peaceful in the mountains.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Will lifted his beer. “Here’s to a successful climb.”
She clinked her mug to his. “Thanks.”
“Tell me about your trip so far.”
“On Friday, I flew into Reno and stayed downtown in a hotel in the Riverwalk District. My fourteenth-floor room overlooked the Truckee River, and I watched the kayakers and hordes of people tubing. The Sierra Nevada mountains at sunrise were the color of cinnamon.”
“Do you take part in water sports too?”
“Yes, kayaking and white-water rafting are my favorites. Azalea Valley is about two hours from the Ocoee, where part of the 1996 Summer Olympics took place, and less than three from the Nantahala in North Carolina. Both are perfect for white-water rafting and kayaking.”
“You amaze me. Now I feel foolish for questioning your ability on the search.”
A broad grin spread across her face, and she wagged her finger at him. “You should since you gave me such a hard time. Enough about me. What do you like to do besides climbing and camping?”
“Because I live so close to Tahoe, I kayak every chance I get. My buddy jet skis, and I go with him sometimes. Our winters rock. This area is a major playground for cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing. As soon as the snow starts, I head for the slopes. Do you ski?”
“I’m passable at skiing and snowboarding, but I have only ice-climbed twice.”
“What are your plans for the climb?”
“If all goes as we hope, we will take three days to go up and stay Thursday night on top. I should be down on Friday, go to Camp 4 that night, and head to Truckee on Saturday”
“Let’s go back to camp so you can rest. You’ll need all your strength for El Cap. Four-thirty, huh? I’ll be here by then. Are you nervous?”