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“Bullshit.”
“She’s young and pretty.”
“Very funny. You’re not fixing me up. How much do I have to go on?” The last thing I needed was some caustic connection with a tourist no matter how beautiful. I was off women forever.
“Her license plate.” I could swear Gage’s eyes were twinkling. “You can find a needle in a haystack, buddy. But maybe you should get going if you’re going to make it back before dark and before this mysterious snowstorm sets in.”
I stood to my full height, yanking out my wallet. “Now, you owe me big.”
“And I’m certain you’ll collect.”
After tossing the two twenties, I grabbed my keys, expecting him to follow. I was right.
As I usually was.
“Did you hear Houston got on with the Zullies and he’s moving back?” he asked, trailing behind me as I walked toward the truck.
“Why come back? I thought he liked Washington State.” The man was a wildland firefighter, now coming home to work with the smokejumpers in Missoula. He’d been the one out of the six Missoula Bad Boys who’d stated dozens of times that he would never return. It was funny how the group of us who’d been considered rebels in high school were slowly coming home.
“Yeah, I don’t know. Maybe he was homesick. Anyway, Phoenix is having a big party for him in a few days. You could drop by. You’ve been a freaking hermit for months.”
“Saving all those pretty tourists from being eaten by bears. Text me the information. I’ll stop by and see Mr. Washington on the way. This had better be quick and it will be at my going rate.”
“Yeah. Yeah. I heard you.”
I glanced at the sky before jumping in my truck. While it was still partially sunny, my bones told me the storm was going to be a doozy. I’d wanted a beer, to grab a few groceries, some dog food and to head to the cabin, where I’d had plans to hole up for a solid week. Looked like that wasn’t going to happen.
At least I had the dog food or Sam might chew my arm off. If I’d known I was going to be waylaid, I’d have brought him with me. He’d become my tracking buddy the last few months, one big galoot that went with me almost everywhere. At least I always carried a gear bag or the little lady on the mountain would need to wait.
I hauled ass toward the motel, ignoring speed limits like I always did. When I pulled up in front, it was only thirty minutes later, but the second I stepped out, I hissed. I had a knack for telling the weather, and not just from my aching joints given all the abuse over the years. I could smell a storm brewing two days before.
A whopper was headed toward the mountains.
As I headed inside the small lobby, the various neon signs and colorful banners he’d installed in the tiny space assaulted my senses. He was nowhere to be seen, which prompted me to slam my hand on the old-fashioned ringer more than once.
“Hold your fuckin’ horses,” he said gruffly as he sauntered out from the back, grinning when he saw me. “Ain’t you that famous tracker?”
“You know who I am, Bubba. Just tell me about the girl.”
“She’s a real looker. You know the kind with hair the color of a freshly minted penny and when the sun shines across it, every strand sparkles in the light?”
I glared at him, doing everything I could not to punch him in the mouth.
“Oh, yeah. You want to know which trail she took. Right?”
“That would be helpful. And her name as well.”
“Lily Sanborn and she sure reminds me of a flower, but I don’t think that’s her real name.” He scratched his head.
Now he was playing detective. “Why do you say that?”
“You know, you get a feeling. Plus, she paid in cash. I tried to tell her that a storm is brewing but she didn’t seem to care. She had a purpose. You know? Taking a camera with her and all. Those nature lovers.”
That was interesting but we got all kinds in Missoula, including nature lovers who made Montana a destination. Tourists kept me in business, even though I’d been trained for something else altogether. “The hike?”
“Getting there.” As he gave me the information, I quickly realized she wasn’t a typical hiker. She’d left with a camera and light clothing. Time was of the essence. “Thanks, Bubba.”
“She was asking about some woman too,” he said in passing.
