Page 2 of Kissing My Mountain Man

“It’s going to be life changing. I’m determined to find something that no other researcher has found before—some insight into her incredible life that will set my thesis apart. If I’m lucky, I might be able to get some interest in her biography that I’ve been working on. A more accurate biography.” I hold my hand up to stop her from reminding me once again it wouldn’t be the first book written about Clara.

Bellamy takes her eyes off the road for a second to glare at me. It’s the same look my mom would give me when I’d say something crazy when I was a little kid, like I want to grow up to be a princess or if you make me eat Brussel sprouts again, I’m running away from home.

“Landry—”

“Think about what this could mean, Bell? A fiercely self-sufficient frontier woman who was never beholden a man. Clara Bishop was ahead of her time. I want the world to know everything about her and love her the way I do.”

“I get it.” Bellamy sighs. “I really do. But please, don’t get your hopes up too much, okay? Historians have already researched her, and her story has been told a few times. I don’t want this to crush you if you don’t find something.”

I exhale a big gust of air as if her words have let the wind out of my sails. She’s probably right. I need to get my head out of the clouds. But something deep inside me knows there’s more to my ancestor’s story. I have a driving need to find it. And it’s only fitting that her four-times great-niece finds those answers.

Her words settle between us, making the last leg of the drive a bit tense. But as we pull into a small clearing, the trees open up and I realize it’s the parking area for the ranger station. It’s a small wood structure that looks like it could’ve once been the home of a settler in another lifetime.

My gaze settles on a tall, rugged-looking man as he leans against the porch railing. Suddenly the rapid increase in my heart isn’t only because I’m excited for what this day will bring. This has to be Denny. He looks like a lot like Devrie with his dirty blond hair and angular features. But there’s something rough around the edges in the way his square jaw has a week’s worth of stubble growing on it, and his intense eyes appear as if they’ve seen some things that can’t be unseen.

“Um, Landry, are you okay with going into the mountains alone with him?” Bellamy asks.

The scowl on his face deepens, and I wonder if he’s heard her. He pushes off the railing and jams his fists into the pockets of his jeans. The flannel shirt he’s wearing strains against the thick muscles in his shoulders, and my mind wanders to what he might look like without a shirt.

“You look flushed. Are you okay?” Bellamy asks, pulling my attention back to her.

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “It’s all fine. Devrie assured me that there was nothing to worry about. He’s the best one to get me up and down the mountain safely.”

Bellamy doesn’t take her eyes off him. “He looks angry.”

“Devrie says he’s all bark and no bite. Besides he’s probably just wondering why I’m not getting out of the car,” I say, pulling on the door handle. “Thanks for everything, Bell.”

Bellamy glares at me in the way she does when she thinks I’m not taking things seriously enough. “I can still go with you. He’s not even in uniform.”

If it wasn’t for the fact that he was Devrie’s older brother, that last bit might have given me pause too. But I know that if anything happens to me, then she will make his life miserable.

“You already booked the motel and didn’t pack anything for a hike,” I say, pulling my hiking pack from the backseat. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

Before she can say anything else, I get out of the car and close the door behind me. It’s clear that Bellamy isn’t completely sold on me going but I’ve never been so close to the world I’ve read so much about in Clara’s journals. I can’t go back now.

“I’ll see you soon,” I tell Bellamy with a wave.

She nods but doesn’t take her eyes off Denny, silently warning him that she will hold her responsible if I’m not returned in the same condition she’s left me in.

I swing my arm through one arm loop of the pack and pull it on as I walk over to Denny. “Are you ready for an adventure?”

ChapterTwo

DENNY

When I woke up this morning before the sun, the day was already filled with such promise, and it hadn’t even started yet. Today’s the first day I’ve had off in weeks and I plan on utilizing every minute of it out on the river. Just me, the wonders of nature that will surround me, and all the trout I can reel in.

The sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon as I pull to a stop in front of the ranger station. I grab my thermos off the passenger seat and jump out of my truck. According to the forecast this morning, the weather should cooperate and give me a beautiful day.

I take the steps two at a time up the porch and yank open the screen door. Kit Williams is sitting with his feet up on his desk near the phone with a book in hand.

“Morning, Kit,” I say as I head over to the coffee station and empty most of the pot into my thermos.

Kit glances up from the book and raises one tentative eyebrow at me. “You’re early.”

“Nah, man.” I shake my head and take a sip of the rich caffeinated goodness. “It’s never too early to get out and spend the day on the river.”

He drops his feet to the floor and sits up straight. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

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