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“So how long have you been doing this . . . this . . . tour guide gig?” Andi leaned back, staring straight ahead with those piercing blue eyes of hers.
There was a certain sound to her voice—was it disdain? Amusement?
“About a year and a half,” he told her. “But it’s more than just driving people around. We do plane trips all the way up to the Arctic Ocean. Hiking and backpacking expeditions in the Brooks Mountain Range. Fishing trips on the mighty Yukon.”
“Really?” She almost sounded impressed. “That’s a little more interesting than just spouting facts while transporting tourists, I suppose.”
“How about you? How did you get into trucking?”
“My dad was a truck driver, so I grew up riding with him in the summers.”
“It’s unusual to see someone like you in this line of work.” Duke tried to choose his words carefully.
“The money is good.” Andi shrugged. “I had a chance to do something different, so I took it.”
“How do you like Alaska?” Duke glanced at her. Despite how she drove him crazy, he was curious about the woman and how she’d gotten into truck driving.
“It’s cold. And dark. And desolate. But once you get past those things, it’s also beautiful. Something about it feels very untouched. Almost primitive . . .”
As her voice drifted, Duke’s thoughts went back to that CB conversation he’d overheard when Andi climbed into his SUV. What had that been about?
There was clearly more to this woman’s story. He was doubtful she’d share what that was, however. Duke only hoped she was okay and stayed safe—and that she didn’t put everyone else in danger.
This area was a rough place for a woman to make a living. That wasn’t to say it wasn’t possible. But considering everything that had happened in the brief amount of time he’d known her, the odds didn’t appear to be stacked in her favor.
“I think Alaska is the greatest place of all time,” he finally said. “I hope it never changes. Besides, you’ve been here in the bleakest part of the year. Wait until the summer. It’s glorious—other than the mosquitoes.”
“I’m sure it is.”
“You plan on staying here after ice road trucking season is over?” He cast a glance at her, keeping his voice friendly.
“I haven’t decided yet. I figured I’ll play it by ear.” She pointed to a sign on the road ahead. “This is where Simmy said to turn.”
“How far off the road did she say his place was from here?” He slowed to make the turn.
“About four miles.”
“It’s going to get a little hilly out here so we’re going to need to be careful.” His grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“It can’t be any worse than Atigun Pass,” Andi murmured as she held onto the armrest.
At least, she wasn’t gripping her gun anymore, Duke mused.
But something about this woman still made him cautious.
Duke hoped she didn’t end up causing him any trouble . . . because he already had enough on his hands as he tried to find Celeste.
chaptertwelve
Several minutes later,Duke pulled to a stop in front of an old outpost.
The small log cabin was built six feet above the ground on heavy pilings. The stilted structure wasn’t unusual in the area, due to the permafrost. The building was nothing fancy, at least not that Duke noticed in the dark.
Lights were on inside the place, and a truck and snow machine were parked beneath the structure.
Smoke drifted from the chimney.
Duke hoped that was a good sign.
