Evidence of Trust (21 page)

Courage deserted her there on the porch step, as well as during the drive to the trailhead. The hike offered no opportunities either, because they’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm of conversation. Add in a bit of teasing here and there, and some might even call it friendly.

Unfortunately, she was fairly certain her question would flip that switch, so the nerve she needed to voice the words remained as elusive as Joel’s poacher.

They reached Lawn Lake by eleven and ate lunch on the same rock she’d relaxed on yesterday. The trail had been practically deserted, so they were the only two enjoying the scenery until it was time to move on.

She didn’t look forward to this next part and felt her shoulders tense as they continued along the path leading to Crystal Lake. Her attention focused on the side of the well-worn route, eyes searching for any familiar sign from yesterday. She turned back to look at Joel and recognized the view from when the hikers had paused with her for a drink.

“It’s right around here.”

They couldn’t find the prints that’d been on the side of the trail, and she sighed. “When I was headed back yesterday, I passed a group of teenagers on the way up. They must’ve disturbed the tracks.”

“Then it’s good you took pictures.”

Joel widened the search and located the trail a good ten yards into the woods. He worked backwards to the hiking trail, checking the dirt for additional bullets or shells. Coming up empty, he led the way into the forest and they tracked the trail for almost a mile before he halted.

Britt noticed dark spots on a rock, and from there, the trail of blood intensified. Joel pulled out his radio and called the station. She listened as he gave Randy the coordinates of where to send a chopper to meet them. Her stomach knotted at the tension in his voice.

He clipped the radio on his belt and faced her. “I want to give you fair warning, this guy is getting worse. This might not be something you’ll want to see.”

“Thanks, but I can handle it.”

“That’s fine, but please, just give me a minute, okay?”

The fact he asked instead of ordered was not lost on her. She nodded and waited behind as he made his way through some brush before shrugging off his backpack. He pulled out a camera, then started working in a methodical circle to document the scene and preserve evidence before advancing.

When he set the camera aside and motioned her forward, she took a deep breath before joining him. Even with his warning, she wasn’t prepared for the up-close look at the mound of bloody flesh that used to be an elk. The animal had been mutilated and was recognizable only by the velvet-covered antlers on one end. Though it wasn’t nearly as bad as the ram at the overnight camp, stench hung in the air from the start of decomposition.

Her stomach churned, and she had to choke back the bile that rose in her throat. “How could anyone in their right mind do something like this?”

“This guy is not in his right mind.” He looked up from where he was hunched close to the ground. “Now do you understand why I don’t want you out alone?”

Turning away from the gruesome sight, she fixed her gaze on the majestic mountain peaks towering above the treetops. “It’s hard to believe something this horrible happens in a place this beautiful.”

“Believe it.” Anger resonated in the two words. “The evidence is right in front of you.”

“I know. How long ago do you think this happened?”

“Judging by the rate of decomp and the smell, inside of forty-eight hours. Possibly even yesterday morning.”

His grim tone said what he didn’t need to. She’d been too close.

The rhythmic chop of helicopter blades registered and Joel waved his arm as the machine passed overhead to locate a landing site. Silence fell in the forest and shortly after, Randy and the pilot arrived with the required equipment. Dennis Mueller merely nodded in her direction, but Randy stopped in front of her.

A slight frown marred his brow as he set down the cases he held. “Britt, I didn’t know you were here, too.”

“She found the bullet yesterday and led me back up here today,” Joel advised.

“She shouldn’t have to see something like this.” He turned his slightly accusing frown from Joel, and locked his gaze with hers. “You doing okay?”

She nodded, surprised by the intensity of his concern. “I’m fine, Randy, don’t worry about me. You guys just do what you need to help Joel so he can catch this sicko and put him behind bars where he belongs.”

“Brittany’s right,” Joel said. “Let’s get this taken care of so I can get her home.”

Randy nodded, his jaw tight. After a moment, he visibly relaxed, gave her one of his usual smiles, and bent to open the equipment he’d carried in.

Each of the men pulled on a set of medical gloves, and Britt moved off to the side so she wouldn’t be in the way. Pulling out her own camera to pass the time, she wandered in the near vicinity and took some pictures of the wildflowers and interesting moss patterns on rocks. After about a half-hour, boredom won out and she returned to the site to sit on a log and watch the guys work.

Joel stood to stretch a short while later. Muscles bunched in his shoulders and his T-shirt rose just enough to give her a glimpse of his trim stomach. That was not boring.

Without thinking, she raised the camera and zoomed in on just him, with the mountains in the background. His hands paused above his head when he caught her snapping the picture. Lowering his arms, he stripped off the gloves and strode over.

“Sorry you have to wait here through all this. We’re almost done.”

“I’m fine. I like watching you work.”

A corner of his mouth quirked up. “Yeah?”

“It’s an interesting process,” she said, attempting to cover her slip of the tongue after having already exposed her interest with the camera.

“Ah. The process is what you were watching.”

“Of course, what else?” She gave him an innocent smile that meant nothing next to the heat that’d crept into her face.

His chuckle faded to a grin when Randy called him over to look at something. He cast her one last glance before squatting beside the ranger to confer.

Things seemed to have changed between them overnight. She didn’t understand it, but she discovered she liked this side of Joel more than ever. If she’d have met
him
before last night, she’d have begged him to kiss her and share his bed instead of sleeping on the couch.

Which brought back the nagging question of her day. To avoid another round of unanswerable speculation and force her mind to drop it, she took some more pictures around and of the crime scene until Joel said it was time to go.

Once the equipment was stored in the chopper, they climbed aboard and Dennis flew them to the trailhead. It was her first ride in a helicopter, and away from the grisly scene they’d discovered, she was able to enjoy the scenery from above. Gave her camera a workout, too.

After they landed, she said goodbye to the pilot and Randy, then ducked with Joel to jog from under the chopper blades. He walked her the rest of the way to his truck and handed her the keys so she could swap his vehicle for hers back at his place. Randy was going to give him a ride home once they finished at the ranger station.

“Just leave the keys under the driver’s side mat and lock the doors when you leave. I have a spare truck key in the duplex.”

He had to speak loud to be heard over the noise of the waiting helicopter. Even at a distance, the whirling blades kicked up enough wind to make her squint as stands of her hair blew across her face.

“Thank you again for all your help today,” he added.

She shrugged with a small smile. “I didn’t do much.”

“It was enough.” He looked like he was about to say something more. Instead, his gaze dropped to her mouth, then his jaw tightened, and he pivoted back toward the chopper where the other two rangers waited.

Before she chickened out, Britt called his name and reached for his arm. Joel swung around to face her almost as if he’d been hoping she’d call him back.

Just ask the damn question
.

She raised her chin and lifted a hand to hold the hair out of her eyes. “Why didn’t you kiss me last night? I mean, if you knew I wouldn’t want you to stop, why not just kiss me and go from there?”

He stared at her for a long moment, then lifted his arms out from his sides and tilted his head back. “You ask me this
now?
”

“What’s wrong with now?”

His arms fell back to his sides and his eyes met hers. “Because I’m probably going to have to work all night.”

The implication triggered a rush of awareness and disappointment. “Oh. Sorry.”

He laughed. “No you’re not.”

“Yes, I am,” she insisted.

He stepped forward and put his hands on her shoulders, still smiling. “You are, but you’re not, and
that’s
why I didn’t kiss you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You waited to ask until there was no chance of anything happening between us. As much as we both may want this, something is still holding you back.”

She stared at the collar of his T-shirt, stunned by his perception of something she hadn’t even realized herself.

“And that’s okay. I can respect that and wait until you’re ready.” He moved in close and dipped his head down while framing her face with his hands to tilt hers up. “It’ll be worth the wait.”

She wanted to tell him she was ready, but he covered her mouth in a gentle, bone-melting kiss that weakened her knees and saved her from a possible lie. She reached up to grasp his forearms and hung on until he lowered his hands back to her shoulders and ended the kiss.

“Drive safely,” he murmured.

He started to pull away, but she gathered her growing courage and tightened her grip. “What about dinner?”

“I’ll grab something from the vending machine at the ranger station.”

“I meant, you and me, getting something to eat together.”

His words from the other day made him smile, then he gave her hers back. “As friends?”

“No.” With her heart pounding, she lowered her lashes and admitted, “I like your kisses too much to be friends.”

That got her a laugh. The low, husky sound swirled the desire simmering deep inside her.

“Dinner sounds good,” he said. “Tomorrow night?”

She grimaced. “I have to work the ranch cookout and hay rides. Sunday?”

“It’s a date.”

He leaned in to kiss her once more, then backed away and ran in a crouched position back to his ride. She raised one hand to shield her face from the whirling dust and watched until the chopper lifted off.

Chapter 25

Joel picked up his cell and programmed Brittany’s number in his contacts list before placing the call. He looked out at the gathering dusk and glanced at the clock. Eight-thirty. If she wasn’t done with work, he’d just leave a message.

By the fifth ring, he expected her voicemail message. “How’d you get this number?” was definitely not a recording.

Yet, there was a playful note in her voice that made him grin as he leaned back in his chair. “I’ve got my ways.” He liked the new level of familiarity they seemed to have attained.

“It’s on my background check, isn’t it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Mm-hm. I figured.”

“Done with work yet?”

“Almost. Then I’ve got to stop at the grocery store.”

“Imagine that. I was going to go to the grocery store.”

“Well, maybe I’ll see you there.”

“Maybe you will.”

“Bye, Joel.”

He hadn’t planned on such a short call, but couldn’t keep the grin from his face as he replied, “Bye, Brittany.” After hanging up, he noticed Randy at the door. “Heading out?”

“As long as you don’t need anything else?” the ranger asked.

“No, I’m good, and thanks for staying late.”

“Sure thing. See you Monday.”

Joel straightened his desk and locked the office on his way out a few minutes later. At the store, he parked and made his way inside. At the third check-out from the door he spotted Kelly Stevens bagging groceries. The guy had his head down and wore what looked to be a permanent frown. A corner of Joel’s mouth quirked up. Justice. He loved it.

Ten minutes later, everything on his mental list was in the cart except ice cream. If Brittany ended up back at his place either tonight or tomorrow, he definitely wanted to offer her ice cream again. He stood in the freezer aisle and debated the choices.

“Chocolate chip mint,” Brittany said from behind him.

Just the sound of her voice shouldn’t make his pulse race. He opened the door and reached into the case to give himself a moment to breathe. “I was going to try the Magnum bars.”

“Ooh, those are good, too.”

He set the box in his cart and finally turned to face her. She was still in her wrangler work clothes and looked pretty as ever. The welcoming curve of her lips made it impossible to contain his smile and play it cool. “Hello.”