“I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.” Admiration swelled in her heart. “Seriously, I should have made that connection already.”
Jack stared at his cell. “I’ll see what more we’ve come up with on her company and her background, and look into any archaeological sites her company has run into.”
“She traveled, Jack, so that search has to be broad and wide.”
“She was murdered in Montana. Jim was murdered in Montana. We’ll start in the county seat of Big Rapids and work our way out from there.”
Terra turned onto a winding road leading into the Gros Ventre Wilderness area.
Jack groaned. “I think my call is going to have to wait.”
“No signal?”
“No. Oh, wait, there it is. No. Gone again.”
A burst of laughter escaped. She hadn’t laughed so hard in far too long. But no more laughing for her as she turned onto a challenging, rocky, and twisted drive up the mountain.
“Just where are you taking us?” he asked.
“I put this address in the GPS, but I was warned it was kind of tough to get to. A guest ranch. Owned by somebody McKade out in the boonies near the town of Grayback. Apparently they were dozing to install a new structure when they came across human remains and artifacts, so the construction has stopped. Dr. Brand is leading the team of archaeologists, interns, and volunteers.”
“Dr. Brand. He’s the guy you don’t have a story with?”
She steered slowly under an archway with “Emerald M Ranch” carved into the pine arch.
Terra angled a look at Jack. “That’d be the one.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Jack hiked with Terra across the meadow where several white, tented domes had been set up. A few people worked in excavated grids dug several feet down. Some crouched or squatted. Whatever their position, their focus remained in the dirt. He glanced back at the sprawling log cabin in the distance and presumed that to be the main house.
He’d run into Liam McKade when he was an FBI special agent working in the Jackson Hole area. And he owed the guy his life. Would he see Liam today?
“You seem distracted, Jack. You okay?”
Terra’s voice drew him back to the moment. “Yep.”
They approached the back of two tented domes situated close together. She slowed.
Jack stopped walking. “You’re hesitating. Why?”
“Someone’s talking.”
“Yeah? So?”
A man stepped from between the two tents, followed by a woman. At the sight of the familiar face, shock coursed through Jack.
She shook hands with the man. “Thanks for the interview, Dr. Brand.”
He smiled as if immensely pleased with himself, then his eyes landed on Terra, who instantly stiffened.
“Rae?” Jack stepped forward. “Rae Burke? I can’t believe it.”
Rae’s eyes grew wide. “Jack. Oh my gosh, Jack.” She rushed forward and gave him a hug. Then just as quickly stepped back. They hadn’t known each other all that well but had been in a life-threatening situation together, and that alone had connected them in ways that couldn’t be put into words.
He looked her up and down and smiled. “You look well. What are you doing here?”
Rae turned and smiled at Dr. Brand. “Liam asked me to write up a few articles about the archaeological site discovered here on the ranch, or part of the ranch. Some of it extends into the wilderness area.”
“Liam. How is he?”
“You can ask him yourself.” She gestured behind Jack.
Wearing a Stetson, Liam McKade hiked toward them from across the meadow. Last Jack knew, Liam owned a security business that covered private security for high-profile clients as well as area ski resorts.
“So, you guys are close?”
She held up her left hand and flashed a big diamond ring. “We’re engaged!”
“Oh, Rae, that’s wonderful.”
Liam stepped up and wrapped his arm around Rae’s shoulder and pulled her close. He thrust his hand out to Jack. “It’s good to see you, Jack. Who’s your friend?”
“Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors, meet Liam McKade and Rae Burke.”
Introductions were made all around.
“Jack, everyone’s up at the big house for a get-together,” Liam said. “You and Agent Connors are welcome to join us for dinner. You too, Dr. Brand.”
“You’ve been too good to us already”—Dr. Brand pressed a hand to his midsection—“considering how much food you’ve catered out here completely free of charge. We have a lot of work to do if we want to close up the site before the first snow hits. We’re behind schedule as it is, so I’m going to pass, but thank you for your generosity.” Brand eyed Terra. “Terra and I have some business to attend to. You ready?”
She nodded. “Sure.”
She followed Dr. Brand between the two tents without a backward glance.
Jack needed to be part of that meeting. “I tell you what,” he said to Liam. “Depending on how long it takes us to finish our business here, I’ll pop by the house before we leave.” Liam McKade’s family—brothers Heath and Austin and their wives—had been grateful for Jack’s work last year and had kept Jack company while he recovered in the hospital. “Maybe I should have kept in better touch than I have, but I’ve been busy.”
Liam squeezed his shoulder. “No worries. Looks like God is keeping us connected.” Liam tilted his head toward the site. “Which brings me to my question. Why are you here?”
Without giving away too much information about their active investigation, Jack gave the succinct version. “I should catch up to them.”
“Hope to see you later then.” Liam walked away with Rae, his voice drifting back to Jack. Liam asked Rae how her interview with Dr. Brand had gone.
Jack could see those two were meant for each other. He’d heard a quick summary of their story from Rae. They’d overcome a huge struggle and found their way back to each other.
Their story resonated with him, but he struggled to hold out hope for him and Terra—they were too far gone, and it had been too long. Who was he kidding? Terra probably wasn’t even on the same page as Jack was, or even interested in opening up that book with Jack. In fact, what was he even doing thinking along those lines?
Either way, he didn’t like the idea of her spending time alone with Dr. Brand, a man with whom she had no story. Right.
THIRTY-NINE
Terra had followed Jeremy into what he’d clearly designated as his private yurt. But before she and Jeremy could talk, a lovely young woman peeked inside to ask for his help. Jeremy stepped out with her, leaving Terra inside. She waited at a table where dirt-covered artifacts were laid out next to a box. Jeremy’s crew was obviously packing up the site, preparing for the winter, and then would probably come back next summer.
She stared at the items on the table, the stacked papers and tools, but her thoughts were on Jack and his reaction when he’d first seen Rae Burke. His eyes had lit up, and Terra’s gut reaction had been jealousy.
Jealousy. She needed to come to terms with the fact that she might still have strong feelings for the man or that whatever she’d laid to rest before had not completely died, and his sudden appearance back in her life served to reignite their past. Whatever. She detested the confused feelings wrestling inside her.
“Terra?” Jack called from outside.
“I’m in here.” She lifted the tarp attached to the domed tent, and he spotted her. “Over here.”
He picked up his pace and stepped inside. “Where is he?”
Jeremy entered behind Jack and smiled. “Were you looking for me? I’m here. I apologize. One of my students had a question.”
Terra couldn’t help but wonder if Jeremy was in a romantic relationship with the beautiful woman. She shoved the thought far from her. Not her business. She didn’t care. And interestingly enough, her relationship with Dr. Brand had been more recent than her romance with Jack, and no jealo
usy had surged when Jeremy spoke with the woman who appeared slightly enamored with her professor.
“Did you bring it?” Jeremy asked.
Terra realized both men were staring at her. Special Agent Terra Connors to Earth. She opened her bag and pulled out the box containing the artifact.
Jeremy donned gloves and carefully lifted the corner stone out of the box and placed it on his worktable. He switched on a magnifying light and stared through the lens.
“Terra tells me you might have some special knowledge to assist us,” Jack said.
“I hope I can be of some help.” Jeremy focused his attention on the piece. To her, it seemed he had already made a decision but for some reason was holding back.
“Dr. Brand, Jeremy, worked as an archaeologist for the Army.” She held Jack’s gaze, hoping he would understand her deeper meaning. Jeremy’s archaeological experience spanned the globe. “Plus, as we discussed, I know I can trust him.”
Did she imagine the slightest reaction from Jeremy?
He exhaled slowly as he pulled his gaze from the magnifying lens. “I’m going to need some time to confirm my initial thoughts and provide a general assessment about when and where this originated, but I can say with significant confidence that it’s from the Middle East. If you’ll look closer.”
Terra and Jack gathered in and peered through the wide magnifying lens. Jeremy pointed with a small tool. “These marks are cuneiform inscriptions, or what’s left of them. The ancient Sumerians created this style of writing, so this object—my guess it’s part of a tablet—could have originated in ancient Mesopotamia.”
Jack backed away from the lamp and locked gazes with Terra, a question in his eyes she could easily read. What is an ancient Middle Eastern artifact doing in Montana?
Back in the vehicle as they headed north to Montana, Terra tried to calm her swirling thoughts. Jack had insisted they stop at the main house of the guest ranch for a few moments to meet the rest of the McKade clan. If she was ever going to learn from him what had happened on his last FBI assignment that brought him home to work as a detective, now was that moment. She’d at least gathered that it involved Liam and Rae.
Jack must have been caught up in his own thoughts too. The silence wasn’t comfortable like she had hoped or expected. She reached for the radio, but Jack pressed his hand over hers.
“Don’t.”
“Okay, then. Um . . . I enjoyed meeting your friends, the McKades. And Rae Burke. Want to tell me what happened? How it all went down?” Why it ended in you giving up the job you left me for?
Because that’s what it had been about, hadn’t it? It couldn’t have really been about Jack loving her enough to let her go because he didn’t believe he was good enough for her.
He leaned his seat back an inch. “You first.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want to know the story of what happened between you and Dr. Brand. Oh, pardon me, I mean Jeremy.”
She huffed a laugh. “You know how juvenile you sound right now?”
Jack crossed his arms. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“What, about how juvenile you sound?”
“That’s not what I mean. I meant if you want my story, I’m getting yours. I don’t care if you think it’s juvenile.”
Okay. Well, then. They were getting personal, after all. And she thought she could make the drive without diving into those waters. But she hadn’t wanted to admit that somewhere along the way—maybe when she nearly died in that fire and Jack came to the rescue—she and Jack had crossed into personal territory. Even now, sitting next to him in the vehicle, a satisfying warmth filled her heart and a thrum had started deep in her belly.
How did she escape it? Did she even want to?
Jack cleared his throat. Oh yeah, he was waiting for an answer.
“Look, it’s no big deal. I was on a task force with several agencies when I was working undercover for the National Park Service. Jeremy was our archaeologist. He was the specialist on the team and could assist identifying some unique pieces. We worked closely together on one particular sting operation.” How did she explain without sounding weak? “I . . . something terrible happened.”
Tears surged. She wouldn’t speak until she knew her voice was steady.
“Terra, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”
“No, it’s okay. I want your story, so I’m going to tell you mine. One of the park rangers got killed. Just some crazy person out to end his own life and take others with him. He was speeding through the park when he pulled out an assault rifle and blasted his way through the ranger parked by the road. He bled to death before help could arrive.”
She blew out a breath. “I know you’re wondering what this has to do with Jeremy. I was upset, and so . . . I needed a someone. Jeremy and I turned to each other for comfort. It grew into something more than simple friendship.” She’d let her emotions get the best of her. “Obviously we’re no longer together.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. That relationship never should have happened.”
It was a full five years after Jack had left her utterly broken before she’d gotten romantically involved again. From Jeremy she learned that she didn’t have it in her to fully trust or love. She remained too guarded.
“Why shouldn’t it have happened, Terra?”
He wasn’t going to let it die, was he? “Because we were working together. We were a distraction to each other.” Terra briefly glanced at Jack to gauge his reaction.
Talking about Jeremy reminded her that she and Jack couldn’t have a thing going. Thinking about their past would help rein her in. But there was still . . . something. It wasn’t interfering with this investigation, was it?
“And?”
“And I broke it off, and it got ugly to the point it was difficult to work together and remain professional. That didn’t go unnoticed.” Terra blew out a painful breath. “I was reprimanded, okay?”
“I’m sure Dr. Brand escaped unscathed.”
“He didn’t have anyone to answer to like I did. I . . . I feel like I . . .”
“It’s okay, Terra. Believe it or not, I understand. You feel like you disappointed your mother. As long as I’ve known you, it’s always been about you trying to be as good as your mother. To be a hero.” He sucked in a small breath. “I’m sorry. I hope that doesn’t upset you.”
Relief washed over her. “No. I’m not exactly upset, but you got it wrong.” Should she reveal so much of herself to this man who had broken her heart so profoundly? He was different now. They both were. “I guess it’s no secret that a part of me would love to be a hero too. But Mom gave her life that day. She gave up everything—including me and Owen and Dad.” And a part of Terra resented her for it.
“And you’re not sure you can be so self-sacrificing.”
“Let’s just say that she wasn’t the only one to make a sacrifice.” Terra worked to steady her voice. After all, Mom had died years ago. But Terra hadn’t talked about this in so long. Not even with Alex and Erin—her closest friends.
“So, yes, I work hard so I won’t let myself down, and I can live up to her reputation that way. But as far as what I’m truly afraid of—” She swerved when another car cut her off passing her and laid on the horn. “You want me to pull that driver over?”
“No. I want to hear what you were going to say. We’re not in my county anyway.”
“Okay. Yeah. You’re right.”
“What are you afraid of, Terra?”
“Losing someone else.” In death . . . or in love. Either way, she’d lost enough already. “I . . . I hate the mountain where she died. Mom had gone up to save that guy from the plane crash, and the avalanche killed her instead. I blamed Stone Wolf Mountain for her death. I try to ignore the fact that Gramps named his ranch after it. Now, fast-forward fifteen years, and Jim died on that mountain too. Or at least his body was thrown off a cliff on the mountain. Ever since the day she died, I’ve had dream
s about that mountain killing someone else.” Terra grimaced and swiped a hair out of her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go off.”
Jack touched her arm, sending a gentle, comforting current through her. Jack said nothing, of course, because he couldn’t guarantee that no one else would die up there. All she had left now were Owen and Gramps, and she was so grateful Owen had returned to them alive. Now that she had a semblance of family again, she would work hard to keep them close together. She would move out of her apartment and stay with Gramps permanently. That was it then. She’d made the decision. And she would be more deliberate about keeping Alex and Erin close.
But talk of the mountain and Mom’s death ignited the pain again. And the memory of overhearing Gramps and Dad arguing that night, two weeks after Mom died.
“You can’t just leave her here. She’s your daughter. I can’t raise her for you. I don’t need that kind of responsibility.”
“You’re the best person to raise her. The truth is, Sheridan and I were planning to divorce. Terra would have ended up here with you anyway. Do this for your daughter and your granddaughter.”
“You leave, and you’ll break her heart. She doesn’t need it broken over and over again. If you leave now, don’t ever come back.”
Pain and anger edged his voice.
Terra rushed in and hugged her father, sobbing, hanging on to him. In the end, she wasn’t able to stop him from leaving, and he crushed her.
Alex and Erin were her lifelines not only because of the bond they shared after losing a loved one in that avalanche, but also because Terra had lost so much more. She felt unwanted by her father and her grandfather. But she knew Gramps loved her.
Then she made the mistake of falling for Jack, who left her too.
She’d lost people she loved—by their own choices or by the hand of the mountain.
Either way, why did people keep leaving her?
FORTY
Jack felt like a jerk for asking Terra to share about Mr. Archaeologist. He wished he could somehow make it up to her. He wished he could take his question back. She didn’t owe him an explanation.
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