by Lynn Cahoon
Yet she still had the items in her coat pocket. Maybe it was just her own paranoia of going off into the woods that had her spooked. But as they made it farther up the mountain, Cat kept looking back behind them. Just in case.
Now that they were climbing a hill, the only person Cat could see was Archer. She assumed the rest were ahead of him on the trail. It must be her writer mind that made up stories as she walked, she thought. She was always putting her characters in danger, then upping the ante just as they thought they were clear. It was kind of like they needed to earn their happy ever after. If she was one of her characters, she’d be really mad at her author, especially if something happened to them over the crest of that mountain.
Her heart pounded as she lost sight of even Archer. Cat quickened her pace. She didn’t want to take a wrong turn and get herself lost. That would be embarrassing. As she crested the hill, she didn’t see anyone on the trail. She pushed her walk into a little jog, then as she went around a corner, someone stepped out of the woods and into her path.
She let out a short yelp; then Seth’s arms were around her. “Hey, I thought you’d gotten lost. The claim site is right through this stand of trees.”
Shaking, she looked up into his face, the fear she’d felt as she came up on the empty trail seeping out of her and leaving her weak and tired. “I guess I got a little behind.”
“Come on then. Archer is lecturing everyone about the history of mining in Colorado. The guy knows his stuff.” He put his arm around her as they walked through the trees and into the clearing.
Cat took a couple of deep breaths; then as they rejoined the group, she took her water bottle out and took a few sips. She was almost calm again after the scare. Of course, she wouldn’t tell Seth what she’d experienced. He’d just laugh at her. He was as comfortable here in the woods as he was sitting on a couch watching football.
“What’s really exciting about this claim is it looks like the current miner used a lot of the original equipment.” Archer pointed out a wooden sluice box and a stack of old mining pans near the creek.
“And yet, he still had a modern camp chair and a cooler.” Tristin knelt by the cooler. “Should I open it?”
“This is Chance’s claim so he’s not around to complain.” Seth walked over and squatted next to Tristin. “I say go ahead.”
Tristin opened the dented cooler and held up an empty beer can. “I guess mining was a thirsty occupation. There must be thirty empty cans in here.”
“At least he didn’t just litter. He kept his camp clean,” Jocelyn noted, glancing around the area. She pointed to the side of the mountain. “Is that a cave?”
Cat walked closer and found the small entrance. “It looks like it.” She pulled out her flashlight and shone the beam inside. “It opens up after a few inches.”
Seth was by her side in an instant. “Let’s be careful. Sometimes miners set booby traps on their claims to keep people out.”
Cat glanced around the entrance. She pointed to a broken string in the dirt. “You mean like this?”
Seth followed the string to a branch from a nearby bush. “Exactly like this. But usually, there was some sort of weapon attached. Not to kill, but to warn the trespasser.”
Cat glanced around and, in the dirt next to the cave, she found footprints, drops of blood, and a pocketknife. She stood and stepped away. She tapped Seth on the shoulder and waved him away from the entrance. “Looks like Uncle Pete has a secondary crime site to process.”
By now the rest of the gang had gathered around her. She pointed to the edge of the clearing. “Everyone, go stand over there. Archer, get your photos and we’re out of here. We need to hook up with my uncle before he leaves the cabin.”
“Do you think it’s the same guy who trashed the cabin?” Tristin asked as he pulled Sydney near him. She was videotaping the events.
“If not, it’s a strange coincidence that Chance’s cabin is broken into and then someone tried to get into his claim.” She glanced at Seth. “I don’t understand. He wasn’t making enough from mining to pay even his meager expenses. Why would someone try to steal from his mining claim?”
Seth held back as the rest of the group moved to where Cat had directed them to stand. Archer was still taking pictures of everything. “Unless what the thief was looking for wasn’t just Chance’s gold. Maybe he had something else up here that even he didn’t know about.”
They made their way back to the cabin; this time the group stayed close together and Cat could tell they all felt the unease. A cloud had covered the sun and the trail looked darker, more sinister, and gloomier. When they reached the cabin, Shirley and Uncle Pete were standing in front of a resealed cabin door, talking.
“That was fast. I figured you’d be another thirty minutes at the least.” Shirley stepped off the porch, then frowned. She glanced from person to person, her gaze finally landing on Cat. “Tell us what happened.”
“Someone was at the claim too. They didn’t trash it, like they did the cabin, but Chance had set up a sort of security system on the cave. The intruder didn’t realize it was there and he got a jab with a pocketknife for his trouble.” Cat looked at her uncle. “There’s blood there. Maybe we can find the killer by running DNA?”
“If he’s the one who actually killed Chance, then maybe.” Uncle Pete glanced at the seven people grouped around the clearing. “How much of a mess did you all make? What did you touch?”
Archer raised his hand. “I touched the sluice. And one or more of the pans. And I ran my hand in the creek.”
Cat bit back a smile. Archer was thorough if anything.
“I opened the cooler and touched one of the beer cans. I ran my hand through them and tried to see if there was anything else in the cooler,” Tristin admitted.
The rest of the group stood silent. Uncle Pete asked again, “That’s it? No one else picked up or touched anything?”
“I was watching Archer freak out about the mining stuff. It was pretty entertaining. The dude loves this old stuff.” Brodie shrugged as the group glanced at him. “What? You all were doing the same thing.”
Archer sighed. “He’s right. I did go a little crazy when I saw the claim.”
Jocelyn rubbed her husband’s arm. “That’s okay. We all have things we care about. If I’d walked into a closet filled with Victorian dresses, I would have probably done the same thing. We’re writers, we love the details. And when we find something that we’ve only just imagined before, it makes our thoughts reality.”
“Well put.” Uncle Pete smiled at her and Jocelyn blushed just a bit.
Or it could have been the cold air making her cheeks red, Cat thought. Either way, it was time to pull the hostess card and get them out of here and back to the house, where it was warm and there wasn’t anyone trying to find a hidden treasure. She turned to her uncle. “Can we go home? You know where to find any of us if you have more questions. And it’s getting cold out here.”
“The sun’s starting to set. I need to wait for a sweeper team to come in again. They’re out of Denver, so it’s going to be a while.” He turned to Shirley. “You might as well go back with the group. No need you freezing out here while I wait.”
“I’m staying. I flew from Alaska to spend time with you and although this might not be the experience I expected, at least we’ll be together until the sweepers come. Then you can take me to dinner while you wait for any results.” Shirley sat down at a picnic table, signaling that she wasn’t leaving.
Uncle Pete shook his head. “Strong women. I don’t understand why I’m so attracted to them. Mostly they are just a pain in the rear.”
“I heard that,” Shirley called out, and the group laughed.
Seth slapped Pete on the back. “You and me both, buddy.”
“Hey now, don’t be dragging me into this. I’m the one who suggested going home.” Cat gave her uncle a hug. “Let me know if you need anything. Maybe I could warm up some of Shauna’s soup and send it back up to
you with one of your deputies?”
He lifted his eyebrows. “And you think it would really get here? There’s not a man on my force who doesn’t know how good Shauna’s cooking is. I’m surprised none of them have tried to woo her to marriage.”
Cat laughed. “I think Shauna falls under the strong woman category. Maybe they’re just biding their time until the right moment comes along.”
“Maybe, but anyone who’s waiting for love to just happen is going to be disappointed.” Uncle Pete waved me and the group away. “Go home. I’ll text you when we’re back in town so you won’t worry.”
Cat moved toward the group and the trail that would lead them back to the parking lot. The second hike hadn’t gone much better than the first, except they hadn’t found a body this time. Just evidence of a break-in or two. She thought about Uncle Pete’s last words and turned back toward the cabin. Seth was bringing up the back and she pointed to the cabin. “Just what was he saying?”
Chuckling, he took her arm and turned her back downhill. With an arm around her waist, he kissed the top of her head. “I wondered when you’d respond. I think he was talking about us. How we need to make a decision about us.”
“What about us? Aren’t we happy?” Now Cat was completely confused. Especially since Seth had apparently understood her uncle’s message and it had gone totally over her head.
“I’m happy. You’re happy. But maybe we’d be happier if we took the next step.” He looked down at her and they paused as he caught her gaze. “I’m in this for the long haul. Just wanted you to know that I may be coming with a question soon. I’m not asking at this minute, but, Cat, do you want me to ask?”
Emotion threatened to overwhelm her. For a not proposal, this question was a very big one. She touched his face. Seth, the guy who had always been there for her, even when she turned away from him.
He grabbed her hand and kissed the palm. “We’ve got to get going. You tell me when you’re ready. Because I could do it today, tomorrow, or next year. I know where my future is heading. You just need to know the same thing.”
“It’s not that I don’t love you . . .” Cat wondered if she could explain it. For someone who made her living with words, she seemed to be totally out of them right now.
“Cat, it’s okay. I blindsided you with the question. I’ve been thinking about the past a lot lately. Mostly because of what happened to Chance, I guess. Just know that I’m ready to start our life together, anytime you are.” He started to walk away, but she pulled him back to her.
“You bought me a ring.” When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “Sherry told me that you and Chance went to a jeweler and bought me a ring in Germany.”
“I did. I was planning on asking you when we got to Fort Hood. But we never got there, together.” He squeezed her. “Look, I know this isn’t the right time for this. So just know, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“So, can we go meet up with the rest of the group? They’re probably at the car and wondering if we got attacked by a mountain lion.”
She laughed as they walked forward. “No, they are probably thinking we’ve been taken captive by a bunch of trolls. At least that would be Brodie’s answer. He’s writing fantasy.”
“Trolls?” Seth glanced around the darkened forest. “I could see that. Are you okay?”
Cat leaned into him as they came up on the lot. The group was standing around the car, watching the trailhead. “I’m fine. We’ll have this conversation soon.”
Seth held out keys and jingled them toward the group. “I’m looking forward to it.”
By the time they got into town, the group asked to be dropped off at Reno’s. Brodie climbed out of the car at the restaurant with the two couples. “I’ll be back around six for that group event.”
“As will the rest of us.” Tristin slapped the kid on the back. “It’s time to stop playing around and get our work done. The retreat’s almost over.”
Cat watched as the group walked into the restaurant and then disappeared inside. “They finally bonded.”
“It’s tenuous, but yes. They have brought Brodie into their tribe. The problem is, they don’t have a lot in common with a single, graduate student living on scholarship. He’s barely scraping by and the other four are settled in their lives.” Seth pulled the car out onto the street out of the curbside parking spot.
“I thought you might have to take someone to the airport today?”
“Actually, no. The guys decided that they’re all staying in town for a few days. Did you decide about tonight at Bernie’s? You should come with me if you have time.”
“It depends on if the group wants to do a fireside chat. Jocelyn mentioned that she wanted to get an agent and pick my brain about my process. I don’t think I can help much since I met Alexa during a faculty party at Covington. She was one of Michael’s friends from his graduating class.” Cat glanced at Seth to make sure she hadn’t crossed a line. Sometimes, she felt that Seth didn’t like to even acknowledge that time of her life had even existed.
“But she read your book and sold it. I guess she liked it then.”
Cat smiled at the memory. “Michael didn’t want me to send her the book. He wanted me to write something more literary, then send her a query. Instead, we got talking at the party after a few glasses of wine and she told me how much she liked urban fantasy books. They’re darker than what I write, but magic is part of the world. I took a chance and told her I had a young adult manuscript and about Tori’s world. She asked me to send it to her, and I did.”
“And the rest is history.” Seth squeezed her hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever told you that I’m proud of you and your writing. It’s something that’s just yours. The retreat is kind of your and Shauna’s thing, but the books? That’s all you. I don’t know how you do it, but I’m happy you found your thing.”
“Like you and fixing old houses?” Cat glanced up at the roof as they came up to home. “How are you at roofing? We may need to look at replacing that next year.”
“I’ve already had someone come out and take a glance at it. He says we’ve got another couple of winters, as long as it’s not crazy weather, but yeah, a new roof needs to go on your budget.” He parked the SUV in the driveway and held the kitchen door open for her.
“It’s always something, right? I really hope I sell this new series.” She paused inside the door, laying her hand on his chest. “Would you please read the first few chapters and tell me what you think?”
He nodded. “I can do that.”
Shauna smiled as they came in. “Pete called and told me you all were back on your way. So what happened now?”
As Cat filled her in on the day, Seth excused himself to go to his room. “I’ve got some e-mails to answer.”
Shauna stood at the stove. “Was I hearing things, or did he just agree to read your boot camp novel?”
“We had a short chat on the trails. He seems like he wants to open up about that time with me more.” Cat poured a cup of coffee, holding the cup to warm her fingers.
“Well, will wonders never cease?” Shauna sat down with her own cup. “Now tell me all about what happened on the trails. Pete was a little vague about what you’d found.”
Chapter 17
The trio had just finished eating when the group came back from Reno’s. Sydney met Cat on the stairs. “Jocelyn said we’re have a writer’s meeting in the living room. I’m just running up to grab my laptop. I really need to get some words in today and having a set schedule of word sprints will definitely help.”
Cat grabbed her own laptop from the study and by the time she got to the living room, everyone was there, chatting. A plate of brownies sat on one side of the coffee table and a plate of cookies on the other. Brodie grabbed a brownie and ate it in two bites.
“Hey, I thought you were off sugar this week because of cross-country.” She sat her own brownie on a napkin. She didn’t blame the kid. She couldn’t resist Sha
una’s double chocolate brownies either.
“Coach is just going to have to deal with it. I’m a weak man.” He picked up a cookie from the other plate. “This is my last one, I promise.”
“Until when? Seven?” Archer glanced at the clock. “I’m going to totally call you out when you eat another one, you know that, right?”
“So let’s get this party started. I understand you want to talk about publishing some more.” Cat smiled at Brodie as he leaned back into his chair and ate the cookie.
“Actually, I think you answered my question this afternoon.” Jocelyn opened her laptop. “To bring everyone up to speed, I was wondering if a normal person could get an agent nowadays.”
“A normal person with a kickass project and a can-do personality,” Sydney added. “I think it’s all in how much you want it. Determination is as important as your ability to write, don’t you think?”
The conversation went on for a couple of hours. And, as Archer had predicted, Brodie had eaten more than one cookie during that time. Archer moved the cookie tray away from where Brodie was sitting. “So who’s up for some word sprints? Cat? Do you want to write with us?”
“I would, but Seth invited me to meet his army buddies for a drink this evening. If you all are done asking questions.” Cat glanced around the room.
“Go, have fun. You are too tied to the retreat and us. You need some personal time, even on retreat weeks.” Jocelyn made shooing movements with her hands.
“Besides, if you stay here, we can’t talk about you and that handsome hunk of yours.” Sydney batted her eyelashes at Cat. “And you know we love to gossip.”
“You don’t have to kick me out of the room.” Cat picked up her laptop. “But if you need anything, call Shauna. She’ll be in the kitchen.”
“Maybe you should take her too,” Brodie suggested. “Then with the adults all out of the house, we could have a kegger.”