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“It is.” She’d been on most of these roads when she was younger, many of them with Trevor, but hadn’t taken the time to enjoy herself since then. If she had time off, she flew to a tropical resort, but she’d only done that once since starting her law practice. The surrounding mountains were beautiful, and they got even better around Stanley. Plus, they had hot springs. “I’ve got to get out of my office more.”
Trevor chuckled. “Glad I could help.” He closed the map book.
She frowned at him. “This is not my idea of a great trip. A luxury rental in Stanley? Sure. Rooftop tent and pit toilet?” She shuddered. “Not fun.” She’d slept but only due to exhaustion, and her skin itched.
“You used to enjoy camping.” Trevor stirred his oatmeal and took a bite.
“We didn’t have any money, so there wasn’t much choice.” She sipped her coffee. “I might not be rich, but I can pay for a decent bed and bathroom these days.”
Trevor grinned. “Trust me, I got more than enough time sleeping in the rough in the military. I don’t mind it if it’s part of a wilderness trip, but otherwise I’m with you.” His gaze grew intent, and his smile changed into something hotter. “Especially if I’m with you.”
Sam’s heart sped and heat flushed through her. She shoveled oatmeal in her mouth so she couldn’t say anything stupid. But she couldn’t help remembering the days and nights they’d spent together, clinging to each other and promising to never let go.
But he had. She broke his stare, and the oatmeal turned to dust. She forced a few more bites down with lots of coffee, knowing she’d need the calories. Survival had to come before processing emotions.
Trevor fixed them both a second cup of coffee and then packed the stove. Sam left hers to cool, climbing the roof ladder to release the valves on the camping pads. She removed everything that might rub against the bags or pads, like the solar lantern. She climbed out. “Can you help drop the tent?”
“Of course.” He went to the passenger side. “Ready when you are.”
They folded the tent, latching it tight, and cleaned up everything else. After a last toilet trip and a double-check of the campsite, they returned to the highway.
Trevor looked out the passenger window. “Clear right.”
Sam checked left and right, then pulled out. “Definitely not a sports car.”
“No. It’s a tank.” Trevor opened the map book on his lap. “You know, we won’t be able to get into a hotel room until this afternoon. Let’s change the plan. We’ll go to Stanley and check email and phones. Then we’ll keep driving. We can stop at interesting spots along the way, then find a hotel in the afternoon.”
“Okay. Sure. You’re the expert.” Sam watched for deer and elk while gazing at the surrounding beauty. Lovely meadows, green from the fall rains, rocky hills rising beyond, and the Salmon River ran alongside the road. Cars parked at river access points and people in big rubber pants stood in the river, fishing. “I never got the appeal of fly-fishing. Cold water, slippery rocks, it’s usually catch and release—meh.”
Trevor chuckled. “I’m not a fan either, but it can be very Zen. I took a veteran trip a couple of years ago along the Madison River near Bozeman. Mostly, I just floated in the boat and pretended to cast now and then. The guides were cool with that, especially when I helped with rowing and untangling lines. But I’m with you on the slippery footing. It’s doubly difficult when you can’t feel one of your feet.” He shrugged.
“I imagine so.” Although, she couldn’t fully imagine what it was like to lose a leg. Most of the time, she didn’t notice a difference. Trevor took extra care with things like climbing ladders, but a lot of people did. Even clambering across rocks didn’t seem difficult for him, but it might be in the dark when he couldn’t watch his footing.
Eventually, they rolled into Stanley, Idaho. Sam pulled off the highway at a view point, unable to resist the lure of the view. “Those mountains are spectacular. They remind me of the Grand Tetons.”
Trevor nodded. “Like Jackson Hole without the crowds or the overpriced stores.” He glanced at her but didn’t hurry her along.
After she’d gotten her fill, she turned to Trevor. “Ready?” He nodded, and she pulled back on the highway.
Trevor put a baseball cap on, pulling it low over his face, and dropped one on her head, too. “Not ideal disguises, but not bad. Let’s get fuel, then park behind the hotel. We can grab some lunch and check emails and phones.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She pulled into the busy gas station. Trevor jumped out and entered the attached store. She’d be a terrible secret agent; she’d already forgotten they had to use cash.
When he returned, he pumped the gas, waving for her to stay inside, then he got back in. “Park in the lot in front of us. We can get grab and go meals from the grocery. Then we’ll roll behind the big hotel on the other side of the street.”
Sam grimaced. She’d been looking forward to hot food and maybe a soak in the hot springs. Maybe they’d splurge at dinner time. She parked, and they entered the tiny store, getting sandwiches, drinks, and snacks. Back in the Jeep, she drove across the street and parked behind the hotel, ignoring the customers-only sign. The lot was mostly empty, anyway.
Trevor replaced batteries, handing her the phone she’d used previously and plugging his into the vehicle. “Keep it running. I’ll bring up the hotspot.”
“Okay.” Sam pulled her laptop from her bag and slid the battery in but didn’t bother screwing everything tight. She carefully flipped the laptop, holding the battery, and booted it up. Then she checked the phone’s voice mail, but there was nothing. No texts either.
After the laptop booted, she loaded her emails. In her office email, along with the things she expected, an email from “clickitorbesorry_Kerr” glared at her. Squinting, she selected it.
Come back or your parents are dead.
Chapter fourteen
Sam sucked in a noisy breath. As she reached for the touch screen, her fingers shook.
