Deciding he’d had enough of the conversation, he steered things back to business. “Do you know if this is a well known area? For locals, I mean.”
“Um…”
So much confusion in that one little sound. Got him wondering about her offer of friendship. She’d asked, why not? He wondered, why?
“I wouldn’t think so,” she finally replied. “I don’t even know if Mark knows about it.”
He turned to face her dead on. “Do you know if Casey’s been up here lately?”
It only took a second for comprehension to wipe everything else from her expression. “Casey is not the poacher. Surely you saw his background check. He went to school to be a ranger, just like you. He would never—”
“You also thought Levins was a nice guy.”
Her gaze narrowed. “The Mitch I know is nice.”
Great, she was still defending the convicted felon.
“At this point, I can’t afford to discount anyone completely,” he advised. “Not even nice guys or wannabe rangers. Now, if you’re done taking pictures, I’m going to start looking for that kill.”
Chapter 16
Britt swallowed hard as Joel turned away. After he’d scoffed at her desperate suggestion for them to be friends, he might as well have tacked on the part he was surely thinking.
Not even nice guys or wannabe rangers…or wranglers like you.
The guy didn’t make friends because the people in his life were all suspects. And the women, it seemed, had the added benefit of being a fun way to pass the time.
Ironic, considering she’d only suggested friendship in an attempt to ward off the growing attraction that had her rethinking her No Casual Sex rule. He’d told her he didn’t do relationships. He warned her he always moved on, so she figured if they were friends, she’d have a clear line drawn in the sand. Thinking about kissing him, or how his rough, warm hands would feel skimming every inch of her body would definitely be on the other side of that line.
Well, she knew where she stood now, didn’t she? He didn’t trust her, and the fact she hadn’t told him about the meadow didn’t help her case. She was way on the other side of the line. Problem solved.
You wish.
Britt ignored the annoying inner voice that knew too much and asked, “What can I do?” No matter what he thought of her and her friends, she did understand where he was coming from in relation to the job he had to do, and helping was better than standing there wallowing in frustrated resentment.
“I’m searching for either footprints or cougar tracks. If you want to check that way, we’ll see what we can find.” He pointed her in the opposite direction he’d been heading. “Go slow so you don’t accidentally step on anything, and if you spot something, let me know.”
She began a sweeping search like he’d been doing, moving back and forth with her gaze glued to the ground. About twenty minutes in, her neck and back were getting sore. She paused, straightening so she could stretch before moving on.
“Got something over here,” Joel called. “Bring that camera over here.”
She turned around to see him on the far side of the ledge. After she snapped a couple pictures of a hiking boot imprint in the dirt, she followed Joel as he tracked the trail down the mountain.
She realized they weren’t far from where the cougar had disappeared when he straightened and drew his gun. The sight of the weapon made her tense, and then he gave a terse order for her to stay right at his back.
Didn’t need to tell her twice.
She’d thought the cougar sighting was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, but had she been alone, she’d have been scared out of her mind. Joel’s protection, gruff though it was, was more than welcome, especially since they were heading into the lion’s den, so to speak.
He came to a stop, gun ready in front of him. “The carcass is up ahead. Cougars are known to stay with a big kill and feed for several days, so keep a sharp eye out for him.”
“Okay.” Her nose wrinkled as the smell of decomposing flesh began to register.
“I’m going to need your camera.”
“It’s not your standard point and shoot.”
“I’m familiar with DSLR.”
She handed the camera over without taking her eyes off the wilderness around them. Her heart raced at the thought of the lethal cat stalking them from the shadows. “If he just ate, it’s not likely he’d attack, is it?”
“He may decide to defend what’s his. I don’t like this either, but I just need to verify the kill, get a few pictures, and then we’re outta here.”
“Sounds good.”
“Cougars are the opposite of a bear, so if you do spot him, be big, be loud. Look him in the eye and yell.”
The hairs on her arm stood on end. “Got it. Now hurry up.”
She followed Joel toward the site, but faced away from him to watch their backs. His muttered curse made her pulse skip a beat. She sidled closer until her leg brushed against him, suddenly needing physical contact for reassurance. “What?”
“Head’s gone.”
One glance over his shoulder and she wished she hadn’t looked. He’d cleared the debris the cougar had raked over the kill to lay claim, and though the cat had clearly feasted on the carcass, it was obvious the animal’s head had been cut off. Her stomach churned, and she returned her attention to the forest as Joel began taking pictures.
“Judging by the smell, it’s at least a couple days old. The cat eating on it may have sped up the rate of decomp, so it’s hard to know for sure.”
“So, the tracks on the trail were probably the poacher’s. He knows about the meadow.”
Joel didn’t confirm or deny. A minute later, he finished with the photos and rose to his full height. “This is going to have to do. Let’s get out of here.”
She happily followed him back to the overnight camp, then found herself constantly looking over her shoulder as they completed the work necessary to get the site ready for ranch guests. She wasn’t sure if she expected to see the cougar or the poacher, but both were equally unnerving.
By early afternoon, they were able to pack up the horses and head back to Highlands. During the ride, she kept seeing the bloody, headless sheep in her mind. Her usual pristine Rocky Mountains had received an ugly stain, and she really hoped Joel caught the sonofabitch soon.
And then he’ll move on.
The dismay that accompanied the thought confirmed she’d better tread carefully.
They reached the trailhead near sunset, and she pulled her horse to a stop when Joel rode past his truck and trailer. “I’ll be fine from here, it’s only about three miles to the ranch.”
“I need the photos off your camera, and I want to talk to Mark.”
“Mark won’t be there, so just take my SD card with you. I can stop by the station to pick it up tomorrow when I’m in town.” The less time in his company, the better.
“Is Fuller working today?”
“Yeah, but he’s probably gone by now. If it’s about the investigation, you can tell me and I can—”
“No and no. Let’s go.”
She clamped her mouth shut and urged Paelo into a trot until they reached the barn. It was dark by then, just after eight-thirty, and she was surprised to see light spilling from the office window. Casey stepped out into the barn aisle as she led her stallion to a stall.
“Hey, Sunshine, everything go okay?” His voice was casual, but with his pointed glance outside where Joel was tying his horse to the hitching rail, Britt understood what he didn’t ask out loud. Understood and avoided.
“The trail’s all clear,” she said. “What are you still doing here?”
“Waiting for you.”
She jerked her chin toward the door behind him. “Well, good thing, because Joel needs to talk to you.”
Joel had entered the barn and Casey gave a dismissive wave toward the office. “I’ll be right there.”
When he turned back to her, Britt set
her camera bag outside the stall before pulling the saddle from Paelo’s back.
“Anything worth shooting up there?”
Really? She shoved the saddle into his arms, eyebrows raised as she jerked her own pointed glance toward the open office door Joel had just passed through. He would read so much more into that specifically worded question than Casey could imagine.
His answering shrug said he knew and didn’t care.
Bet he’d care if he knew what they’d found.
He held out his hand for the bridle and she passed it over. To get rid of the disturbing image of the bighorn sheep, she told Casey, “We saw a cougar.”
His brown eyes went wide. “No way.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, man, tell me you got some of that.”
She nodded. “Wait until you see the pictures. It was awesome.”
Joel appeared in the doorway. His frowning head shake wiped her grin away, and she quickly grabbed a brush. “But I can finish telling you this later. Joel’s waiting.”
“All right. And hey, Jayne and Gina are at the bar, come join us when you’re done.” He left her saddle in the tack room, then swung the door closed as he entered the office. The latch didn’t catch all the way and she easily heard his brusque, “What can I do for you, Morgan?”
“For starters, someone needs to make sure Brittany starts listening to my instructions.”
“I vote you,” Casey quipped.
Her hand froze mid-stroke against Paelo’s ebony hide.
“This isn’t a game,” Joel snapped. “Poachers aside, we’re damn lucky that cougar didn’t attack. She seems to make a habit of going off by herself, and it’s not safe right now.”
She quietly latched the stall and moved closer to the door as Casey spoke again.
“I’ll remind her, but as you’ve figured out, she’s got a mind of her own. Was that it?”
“Not quite.” Irritation colored the ranger’s voice. “How’d you know about that meadow up there?”
“The one above camp? Britt and I found it one summer when we went for a hike. Four years ago, I think.”
“Who else knows about it?”
“I have no idea. I wouldn’t think many do other than the rangers, and the chopper pilots. That area of the park has limited public access and it's not marked on the hiker's map. I’ve taken my wife up there a time or two, but other than that we don’t advertize it or take guests up there.”
“Let’s keep it that way.”
“Sure.”
After a pause, she heard Joel ask, “And you haven’t been up there in the past week?”
The question was casual, but she knew Casey would connect the dots pretty quick. “If I had, Mark wouldn’t have sent Britt and Mitch, would he?”
“You got a time card or something I can verify?”
Silence, a rustling of paper, and then a loud bang that made her jump.
“Let me tell you, Morgan, I grew up here and I resent your implication that I’m involved in something that’s destroying part of our national park. My home. I thought you were just trying to scare me with your little threat the other night, but suddenly I realize you’re serious.”
“Of course I’m serious. It’s my job.”
“No, it’s mine,” Casey ground out. “I applied for an opening in the park just before you came. Ryan told me the job was mine, but then you showed up and suddenly the position is filled and they don’t have money in the budget for a full time ranger and a hot shot investigator.”
“I’m only here temporarily.”
“Believe me, you wouldn’t find anyone happier than me if you caught the bastard tomorrow and left the next day.”
“Good to know.”
The lowered intensity of Joel’s voice appeared to signal an end to their mutual hostility. Britt realized how intently she was eavesdropping and returned to the stall to finish taking care of her horse.
During the next ten minutes, occasional laughter interrupted the low drone of male voices from the office. Just like that and they’re friends? Wow, talk about a slap in the face. Her jaw clenched tight as she stepped into the aisle, swung the door closed and rammed the bolt home.
The scrape of a chair reached her ears, then the office door swung open on Casey’s invitation for Joel to join them for a drink.
She stooped for her camera bag as he replied, “I can stay for one beer.”
Her heart thudded and a tingle surged through her nerve ends. Damn it. Where the hell was the line when she needed it?
“All done?” Casey asked as he flipped off the office light.
“Yes. But I’m pretty tired, so I think I’m going to pass on the bar tonight. Tell the girls I’ll see them tomorrow.”
“Aw, come on, it’s still early.”
She shook her head with an apologetic smile as they stepped outside. While he locked up, she removed the SD card from her camera and extended it to Joel without meeting his gaze. “Here. I’ll stop by the station to pick this up tomorrow.”
Casey gave him a light slap on the back as he walked past. “I'll see you over there.”
She tracked his progress with a narrowed gaze, then shifted her attention back to Joel, who hadn’t taken the card yet. The overhead light cast his face in shadow. Dark stubble on his jaw added to the effect, making it hard to gauge his mood as he stood next to where Nobel waited patiently at the hitching rail.
She waggled her hand impatiently. “You want the pictures or not?”
He finally reached for the little card and his fingers brushed hers, supercharging the tingle of anticipation lingering throughout her body.
Pulling her hand away, she funneled her frustration into her words. “I don’t appreciate you telling Casey to babysit me.”
“You heard that.”
“Of course I heard that. I heard you the first time up at camp, so what’s the point of saying something to him?”
“Because, while you hear what I say, you don’t seem to listen very well.” He slipped the media card into the front pocket of his faded jeans. “I highly suggest you listen to this: either you follow my rules, or I’ll revoke Highland’s riding access.”
After what she’d seen, she had no intentions of camping alone until the guy was caught, but his threat caught her off guard. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
“That’s blackmail.”
His gaze held steady on hers. “Whatever it takes.”
“Why do you even care? It’s not like we’re friends.” Oh, God, why couldn’t she just keep her mouth shut?
“My duty is not only to protect the animals in the park, but people as well.”
So, she was nothing but duty. Great. At least he had no trouble locating the stupid little imaginary line. She swallowed past the lump forming in her throat and tried to come up with a reply to show she didn’t give a damn how he categorized her.
Something shifted in his eyes. Light seemed to collect in the gold flecks around his irises. They softened—no, heated.
He took a step closer. “You really want to know why we can’t be friends, Brittany?”
She wanted to say no, but her voice wouldn’t work. Wanted to back up, but her feet wouldn’t move. His voice had lowered to a sensual, mesmerizing pitch that held her rooted to the spot while he closed the remaining distance between them.
“You are frustrating as all hell and drive me nuts.”
Nothing like the truth to break the spell. Now she could move. Except when she took a step backward, the hitching rail brought her up short. Next thing she knew, Joel had braced a hand on either side of her, caging her in the circle of his arms.
“You don’t like me. Fine, I get it.”
“Do you?” he asked softly. “Really?”
She thought she did—until he leaned in as if he was going to kiss her.
“Yes,” she said quickly, wishing her voice hadn’t come out so breathless. As if she wanted his mouth on hers. She raised her hands between
them, but hesitated to press her palms against the soft cotton covering his muscled chest. “The feeling’s mutual, by the way. And I don’t want to be friends anymore, anyway.”
The barest hint of a smile curved his lips. “Good.”
Then he brought his hands to her face, threaded his fingers in her hair, and tilted her head for a full-on, passion-infused kiss that scrambled her brain and left her aching for all of him. Confusion was incinerated by desire and any thought of resisting went up in smoke.
She wound her arms around his neck, reveling in the hot glide of his tongue against hers. He lowered one arm to slip beneath her unzipped jacket and drew her tight against the hard length of his body. Even with the layers of clothing between them, his heat warmed her to the core. He smelled like the mountains, and tasted better than her favorite chocolate dessert. Yes, kissing him was definitely better than dessert.
Their labored breath sounded extraordinarily loud in the quiet night, joined only by the soft nicker of a horse directly to her left. Nobel. Joel pulled back just enough to lean his forehead against hers, one hand still cupping the back of her neck. She opened her eyes to see his were still closed.
“Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea,” he whispered.
For a moment, they simply breathed. Quick, shallow breaths barely filled her oxygen-starved lungs. Her inhale matched his exhale, moving their bodies together as one as she contemplated his statement. His grip tightened on her neck and he dipped down for one last, too-brief taste. This time, when he pulled away, she lost the heat of his entire body.
All he said before he swung into the saddle was, “Tell Fuller I changed my mind.”
Britt raised a hand to her throbbing lips as he rode off into the night.
Good God that man could kiss. He made her forget everything except what she felt at the exact moment his mouth was on hers.
Unfortunately, he was right—it hadn’t been a good idea at all. Because like each of his kisses, all it did was leave her wanting another.
She took a couple deep breaths, willing her pulse to return to normal. Two steps toward the parking lot, she remembered her camera. When she turned around to search for the bag, she saw the glow of a cigarette in the dark, near the side of the barn.
Evidence of Trust Page 10