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I could tell by the look on her face that Stella knew exactly where this conversation was headed and that she was in full command of it. Part of me thought I should offer to leave the room, but there was no way in hell I was going to miss this.
“Ali, do you know that the day before you and Cope arrived, Buck and I hiked to the top of Bachelor Mountain?”
“I didn’t say I doubted you’d enjoy yourself while—”
“Do you know how high that mountain is? The elevation?”
Ali immediately showed signs of agitation. I knew exactly what they were. She’d drum her fingers or tap her foot. Sometimes both. I’d been on her detail, lived with her for several weeks. It had been my job to be aware of what was going on with her. Her foot was tapping a triple beat.
“What’s your point, Stella?”
“I don’t need to answer that.”
“Me overcoming my fear of heights is a lot different than you living out in the middle of nowhere.”
“Wait. You overcame your fear of heights?”
Ali turned and glared at me. “Yes, and that has nothing to do with this conversation. I’m not talking about Stella getting over her fear of wide-open spaces.”
“Buck, can you give us a minute?”
Ali slammed her laptop shut. “I’ll leave.”
I looked at Stella, who motioned for me to follow Ali outside.
“Hold up.”
“Leave me alone, Buck.”
“Can’t do that.”
“It’s none of my business. I won’t stick my nose into it again.”
I took a step forward and touched the tip of her nose with my finger. “Give us the space we need to work this out, Ali. I love Stella and she loves me.”
“You can’t be—”
“Ali,” I warned. “Listen to my words. Stella and I are in love. We have been for a lot longer than either of us probably realized. And before you go spouting off about how long we’ve known each other, I’ll remind you that you and Cope moved a lot faster than we have.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry.”
I put my arm around her shoulders and turned her to look out over the ranch. “I’ll always be your friend, Al.”
Her chin shot up. “I know that.”
“Do you?”
“I just said I did. I need some time on my own, Buck.”
“Actually, you need the opposite. Stella is in there trying to solve her aunt’s murder, and she needs your help. Mine too. Quit being so selfish, get your ass back inside that cabin, and do the right thing.” When I smiled, so did she. I breathed a sigh of relief when, instead of heading toward the cabin she and Cope shared, she went toward Stella’s and mine.
“Thanks for calling me out on my shit, Buck,” she said over her shoulder.
“Anytime, Ali.”
Stella was seated at the table when we came back in, studying something on her laptop.
“Did you reach the attorney?” I asked.
