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“But I am a little curious about it,” he admitted. “I find the timing suspicious, and Luke’s reaction was kind of a red flag.”
“Then why didn’t you want me to keep talking about it?”
“If you push a man like that too hard, it’s counterproductive. He doesn’t like to be challenged or contradicted. I was afraid he’d shut down and kick us out of his kitchen.”
He was probably right about that. She frowned, still trying to make sense of that bizarre visit. “If they’re so against outsiders, why did they invite us there?”
“You got me. Seriously. I have no idea, unless it really was because of your red hair.” He shrugged. “I suppose stranger things have happened.”
“Maybe she thinks we’re related?”
“That’s it. It was a recruitment invite. Want to be a Chilkoot?” He winked at her.
She laughed. “I think I got disqualified the second I mentioned that I was a lawyer.”
“Aww.” He patted her knee. “That’s all right. You’re always welcome out here with the rest of us unworthy non-redheads.”
He still hadn’t answered the question of why he’d wanted to see their place. But maybe she was overthinking it. He might be curious about the mysterious family, simple as that.
But what about the rifle case on the backseat floorboards? Standard practice, in such a wild and remote place? Probably. Maybe people often took their dogs and their rifles wherever they went.
Molly wasn’t generally a trusting person. She couldn’t afford to be, not with the way she’d grown up, and not in her line of work. Everyone lied, in her experience. Clients lied, witnesses lied. The police lied. She didn’t hold it against them. Everyone was just trying to survive, after all. People would do anything to keep their world intact. It didn’t disappoint her when someone lied to her, unless it was one of her close friends.
But somehow, with Sam, she was a little disappointed that he was clearly hiding something. Had she hoped for better from him? Why?
Because he’s interesting. Because he’s attractive. Because I’m drawn to him.
“What’s on your mind?” Sam asked. “You haven’t said anything for five miles, and that’s not like you.”
“You haven’t known me long enough to know what’s like me and what isn’t like me.”
“That’s fair.” He dipped his head, taking no offense. “But you generally seem like someone who’s good with words and who doesn’t hold back.”
True enough. “Okay then. I was thinking that it’s not like you to be dishonest.”
“And you’ve known me long enough to say that?” Beyond the lightness in his tone, she sensed that she’d perhaps wounded him.
“Clearly not. But there’s something going on that you aren’t telling me, and I’m the kind of person who likes to know what I’m involved with.”
“That’s fair too.” He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel as they rounded another switchback. “What if I told you that I don’t really have a choice?”
“That’s mysterious.”
“I’m not trying to be mysterious. I’m actually trying to be as open as I can.” He slid her a sidelong grin. “Which I wouldn’t bother to do with anyone else.”
“Is that supposed to flatter me?” Whether it was or not, it worked. She did feel flattered.
“It’s just the truth. There. See, I’m being honest, just like you know I am.”
That drew a reluctant smile from her. “Well, thanks for being truthful. If at any point you decide that I can be trusted with more than compliments, don’t hold back.”
He nodded, and they dropped the subject. He pointed out a grove of cottonwoods just starting to bud out, and told her about Smoky Lake, where the cottonwoods grew so thickly that the fluffy seeds piled up a foot deep sometime in June.
“If you’re still around, I’ll show you. It’s an easy flight to the east, past two glaciers and a salmon river.”
“How many weird cult families do you pass on the way?”
“Hard to say, they’re a dime a dozen around here.” They shared an amused smile, and she decided he was forgiven for his secret-keeping. Whatever was going on had nothing to do with her—red hair aside. It wasn’t her business.
