Page 40 of Thunder Pass

She turned back to Kelly. “You know my family?”

“Family is not the word I’d use, but yes, I know about the Chilkoots.”

“No, I mean, do you know them. Who they really are. Their whole story, like how they bought the property when it didn’t even exist on those plat maps.”

“The plat maps.” He snorted. “You two should never have gone to the State. That was your mistake. Please don’t do that again. That’s why your father told me to step in.”

“My father?” Gunnar gripped the dashboard as if it were a lifeline. “Where is he? Why didn’t he come himself if he’s so worried?”

“He’s busy right now. That’s why he sent me.”

“Busy? What the fuck?”

Ruth was afraid that Gunnar might explode right there in the cab of the truck. “Can you tell us what’s going on?” she asked quickly. “Who was tampering with the truck?”

“Someone who doesn’t want you poking around in property records. He ran off when I busted him, so I can’t say exactly who. But if I had to guess, I’d say he was Russian.”

“Russian,” Gunnar said flatly. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I’m not fucking kidding you.” Kelly’s dry tone held a certain amount of irritation. “You’re getting angry at the wrong person. I just saved you from a car explosion.”

That silenced them both, at least for a moment. “So you say,” Gunnar said eventually. “But who are you? Bridget said you were Dad’s colleague. What kind of college? Business, or…”

Ruth could tell that he didn’t want to say CIA or any of their other wild guesses.

“We were in the Special Forces together back in the day. I owe your dad a lot. My life, for one. Look, I can’t stick around. You two watch your backs.” He put his hand on the door handle, but Gunnar reached all the way across the cab and clamped his hand on Kelly’s arm. Ruth shrank back in her seat to give him space.

“Oh hell no,” Gunnar growled. “You’re not leaving until I get more answers than that. Where is my dad?”

Kelly gave a low, dangerous snarl, and Ruth wondered if the only reason he didn’t kick Gunnar’s ass was the fact that she was in his way. Or maybe he knew about all of Gunnar’s sparring skills.

“He’s closer than you think, but I can’t say more than that. It’s not safe.”

“Why not?”

Kelly shook his head again. “I can’t talk about it. I’m sorry.”

“How come you can’t talk about it, but you can follow us and spy on us and steal my truck?” He held up his hand before Kelly could object. “You took it without permission and that counts as stealing.”

“Look, kid. I know you have questions, and that’s fair. But there are national security issues at stake that are much bigger than you. Bigger than all of us.”

“National security?” Ruth gave a soft gasp. “Are we in danger?”

“You will be if you don’t go back to Firelight Ridge. Your father wants you to go home and stay put and forget any of this happened.” He glanced pointedly at Gunnar’s hand, still clamped on his arm. “Wanna let go now, or get your arm broken?”

“No,” Gunnar said simply. “If my father wants that, he’s going to have to tell me so to my face.”

“I told you?—”

“He’s busy, I get it. But we need some answers. If there are things you can’t say, I get that. But we need something. Otherwise we’re going to keep pushing. Right, Ruth?”

Ruth startled. It wasn’t so often that men wanted her to chime in. Gunnar might be the only one who consistently asked for her opinion. “That’s right,” she said. “I don’t think either of us can just go back and pretend that nothing’s different. Besides, if any of this has to do with my family, maybe I can be of some help.”

“No!” Both men turned on her at the same moment. She blinked as she met Gunnar’s angry gaze. “You’re not going to put yourself in any danger,” he said in a lowered voice. “I won’t allow that.”

“You won’t allow that? Allow?” She glared at him, then pointedly turned toward Kelly. “He’s not my boyfriend, by the way, and he has no actual say in anything I do. I’m done with that kind of thing.”

As soon as she spoke those words, she realized it was absolutely true—had been true since she’d left the compound. No longer would she let any man—any other person in general—determine how she thought or felt or acted. Not Gunnar either. She would do that for own self.

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