Page 69 of All in with the Maverick Montana

“Right,” Josh said. The Stoolers weren’t the chattiest of neighbors as far as Josh was concerned, but they’d always seemed reasonable. Then again, if someone told Josh they were investigating and wanted to poke around his property, he might have gotten weirded out too. “That’s too bad.”

“We were hoping that you might be able to pave the way for us,” Nina said. “You being neighbors and all.”

“What we find there could end up having ramifications for the whole town,” Stanley added.

Ramifications for the whole town? That seemed like a good enough reason to try. Besides, what did Josh have to lose? He had no stake in the game. And if he helped a neighbor in the end… “I don’t know them well,” Josh cautioned. “They’re quiet neighbors. Mostly keep to themselves. So I’m not promising any miracles, but I’ll give it my best shot.”

Nina grinned so wide it made him think of Amy again and his chest ached. “Great!” She clapped her hands together. “You have no idea how much this means.”

Josh glanced down at his sweaty, dusty clothes. “I’m gonna change real quick. Probably better to make a good impression if they’ve already turned you down once. I’ll be right back. Then we have to make a pit stop.”

***

“We did all that for some mac and cheese? I don’t see how this is going to help,” Nina said as they arrived on the Stooler property. It hadn’t changed much since it belonged to the Woodsons from what Josh could remember. There was a large barn at the back of the property and a pair of tall silos and a long, winding drive that disappeared to a massive garage. Josh held a tray of Angela’s mac and cheese in his hands.

“This isn’t just any mac and cheese. This is the best in all of Montana,” Josh said. “Trust me. If that doesn’t convince the Stoolers to let you have a little look around the property, then nothing will. Plus I practically had to sell Angela my soul to get this.” And dodge a lot of awkward questions about where Amy was. Shane had been tight-lipped about Josh’s woes and that had just made Angela more suspicious. She’d given him the look—the same look his mother would have given him if she was in town—and Josh had felt the combined weight of Angela’s disappointment mingle with his own.

“Well,” Nina said, “let’s hope this magic dish does the trick.”

They walked up to the door, with Josh flanked by the Sanchezes, and he felt like a kid again, dragged into one of Shane’s silly schemes. Nina rang the doorbell, and they waited. Josh didn’t know why he was so nervous. A moment later, the door opened.

Mr. Stooler looked back at him, lifting the reading glasses off the end of his nose. He looked past Josh to glare at Stanley and Nina. “I thought I already told you two I wasn’t interested in having people poke around my property.”

“We don’t mean to give you any trouble,” Nina said. “Honest. I’m just trying to figure out what happened to someone I really cared a lot about.”

Mr. Stooler didn’t look convinced by her plea.

“Fifteen minutes,” Josh said. “That’s all we’re asking. Then we’ll be out of your hair. And as a thank-you, I’ve got some of Angela Corey’s mac and cheese here.” Josh lifted the tray, making his offering.

Mr. Stooler’s eyes darted to the tray. “Angela’s, huh?”

Josh bit down on his grin. This dish really was magical.

“Darrel, just let them look around already!” a woman called from inside the house. “What do you care about the rocks at the edge of the property anyway?”

Mrs. Stooler came to the door, two heads shorter than her husband, but with the attitude to make up for it. She took the tray of mac and cheese from Josh. “Thank you. This was a lovely gesture. You didn’t have to do this.” She nodded toward the driveway. “Well, go on and have a look. Take as long as you need.”

Mr. Stooler gave them all a gruff nod. “I’ll come out and join y’all in a minute.”

Stanley tipped his hat. “We’re mighty grateful. Won’t be long.”

They turned and the door closed behind them. “Let’s make it quick,” Josh whispered to Stanley. “In case Mr. Stooler changes his mind.”

They marched off down the driveway, to the very edge of the property line, where large rocks were piled up, some as tall as him. Josh remembered driving past as a kid, watching the Woodson boy climb on them.

Stanley and Nina separated, inspecting the different groupings. Josh stared after them as they started to feel around in the grooves.

“What exactly are we looking for?” he asked.

“We’ll know it when we see it,” Stanley said.

Josh laughed and shook his head. “Sure.” He wandered between the rocks, his mind drifting to Amy. He wondered what she was up to today. How she was feeling. If things with Tru were still status quo. He missed her. He wanted to hear her voice more than anything.

He reached for his phone almost without thinking.

Stanley picked up a long stick and started tapping on some of the smaller rocks, bending close to listen to the sounds.

What would he even say if he called? How are you seemed rather empty when what he really wanted to say was I miss you and I want you.