Buried Mountain Secrets

TWO

Alex drew Truman to a halt alongside Riley’s and Trevor’s horses on the Pine Ridge Trail. Both men stood off the path, staring at something on the ground with grim expressions. In the waning light, Alex could make out the prone figure nestled among the underbrush at the base of the steep rise.

A steel band wrapped around his chest.

Please, Lord, don’t let it be one of the Gallo siblings.

Taking a deep breath, he moved closer and slowly pushed back the branches.

Short hair matted with blood, a navy jacket, jeans and hiking boots. Definitely male.

Not Maya Gallo. Relief washed through him.

After confirming Riley had taken preliminary photos of the scene with his phone, Alex braced himself and slowly rolled the body over.

Definitely not Brady Gallo, either.

Alex blew out another relieved breath. He was pretty sure he knew everyone in Bristle Township and County, at least well enough for a chin nod, and this man was a stranger. He first checked for a pulse to confirm the man was indeed deceased, and then searched the man’s clothing for identification. There was none.

Alex stood and stared upward at the side of the mountain. Had the man been climbing and fell or had someone bashed him over the head and stashed his body behind the bushes? Was there a killer loose in the forest?

Would Alex find one of the Gallos dead?

Dread clamped a hand around his heart. He hated to contemplate the thought.

He radioed in to let the sheriff know they needed the medical examiner, and then, turning to Trevor and Riley, he said, “Wait here for the sheriff and the ME. I’m going back to the other trail.” He was sure someone had gone through the forest. Maybe Brady or Maya. He had to be thorough in his search.

From her perch on the back of her paint, Leslie took one look at the dead body and gagged. Looking away, she said, “I’ll never get used to that.”

“I’d be worried if you did,” Alex told her. She was an accomplished horsewoman and a hard worker when on patrol but still a civilian. “You go back to the trailhead. I’m returning to the Aspen Creek Trail.”

“You’ll never make the summit before dark,” Leslie told him with worry in her voice.

“I have to check something,” he said. “Let the sheriff know.”

Though concern showed on her face, she nodded. “Be careful.” She turned her horse and moved back down the trail.

Alex urged Truman, as quickly as he dared in the waning light, back to the place where he’d seen evidence that someone had gone off the trail. He dismounted and dropped the reins, letting them hit the ground, a signal for Truman to stay put while Alex made his way through the bushes, following the broken branches and the faint outline of two sets of booted feet.

The dimming daylight plus the canopy of branches overhead made tracking the footsteps difficult, but he didn’t want to break out his flashlight just yet and risk revealing his presence to whoever might be nearby.

A rustling in the bushes a few feet to his left sent his senses on high alert. His heart hammered in his chest. His hand went to his holstered gun. With caution and stealth, he moved slowly forward.

* * *

Fear that her attacker had returned stole Maya’s breath. Praying the bright blue backpack now on her back wouldn’t be a beacon to her location, she hunkered down in the bushes and tightened her fingers around the tree branch gripped between her hands. She kept her head low and prayed for protection.

After she’d hidden behind the tree trunk, she’d heard the assailant crashing about the woods, mumbling and cursing to himself. Then he moved south, back toward the trailhead, no doubt thinking she’d headed in that direction.

She’d started to make her way back to the path when she had heard heavy footsteps coming her way. She’d taken cover here in these bramble bushes.

The woods had gone silent.

Daring to peek out from behind the bushes, her gaze landed first on a pair of dark boots standing on the other side of the shrub she’d hidden behind.

“Come out with your hands up,” a deep, familiar voice commanded.

Deputy Alex Trevino.

This wasn’t her attacker. This was her rescuer. God had answered her prayers. Though why he’d send Alex, of all people, she couldn’t fathom. Wasn’t Kaitlyn available?

Shaking her head at her own idiotic thoughts—who was she to complain about how God answered her prayer—she slowly rose and stepped out from behind the bushes. “Alex.”

He quickly holstered his drawn weapon, for which she was thankful.

He hurried to her side. “Maya? Are you okay?” He gripped her shoulders, visually searching her, his gaze warm and concerned.

She let go of the stick she’d expected to use as a weapon and hugged her arms around her middle as a measure of relief ebbed through her veins. She could only imagine how frightful she must look considering her trek through the woods. And why that should even matter she didn’t know. The only thing that mattered was her brother. “I’m fine. But Brady...” She swallowed back the bile of fear burning her throat.

“What happened to your brother?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t return when he was supposed to this afternoon. I got worried so I came out here. I found his backpack.” She hitched the straps higher on her shoulders. “Someone attacked me from behind, but I escaped and whoever it was chased me into the woods.” She shuddered as the memory flooded her mind.

Alex cupped her elbow and started her walking back toward the trail. A sense of safety and well-being blanketed her, allowing the constriction in her chest to ease a bit.

“Did you get a look at your attacker’s face?”

She shook her head with regret. “No. I think it was a man.” She shrugged. “He had on a hoodie and a weird mask. But he had cold dark eyes.” A shiver slid over her skin. “I’m pretty sure he went south so I waited until I thought the coast was clear. I was working my way back to the trail when I heard you.” She grasped his arm. “We have to find Brady.”

“We will,” he assured her in a voice full of confidence.

She hoped he was right and that Brady was uninjured. What if the maniac who’d attacked her attacked Brady? Brady wouldn’t know how to defend himself. Worry for her brother ate at her, making her limbs shake.

Alex helped her over a root. “We found a deceased man on Pine Ridge Trail.”

She sucked in a sharp breath as panic whirled through her like a tornado. But he’d asked about Brady, so it couldn’t be her brother, could it?

Her thoughts must have shown on her face because Alex threaded his fingers through hers. “It’s not your brother.”

“The man who attacked me?”

“Maybe.” Alex’s voice held a grim note. “Hard to know if you can’t identify your assailant.”

“But who killed him?” None of this made sense. First, she was attacked for no apparent reason and now, her assailant could be dead.

What about Brady? Where was he?

They emerged out of the thick forest onto the trail where Alex’s beautiful horse, Truman, waited. Alex quickly stepped into the stirrup and hoisted himself into the saddle, then reached for her. She grasped his larger hand and let him lift her off the ground. She swung a leg over the back of the horse and settled behind Alex on the horse’s back.

“Set your feet on the back of my calves,” he told her.

She did but wasn’t sure what to do with her hands. She lightly placed them on his waist. With sure movement, he clasped her hands and drew them forward so that her arms wrapped around his middle.

Awareness zipped along her veins. She felt secure and cared for as she hung onto him. The scent of his aftershave mingled with the earthy forest and horseflesh, and teased her senses, making her realize how long it had been since she’d allowed anyone, besides Brady, this close.

If the circumstances were different, she’d have been embarrassed by the close contact. But the situation had her stomach tied up in knots and with every step the animal took, she hurt knowing she was possibly moving farther away from her brother.

Alex kept the horse moving at a slow pace because the forest was now shrouded in darkness. With a flashlight held in one hand, he illuminated the trail. They had gone several hundred feet when Truman neighed loudly and reared back.

“Whoa, there.” Alex expertly controlled the horse. Maya shifted, trying to see what had caused the animal to spook.

Someone careened out of the branches of the tree above them, slamming into her, causing her to loosen her hold on Alex and forcing her off the horse. She hit the ground hard on her shoulder, a fiery pain exploded at the point of contact and radiated down her arm.

Her assailant landed on his feet like a ninja from a movie and grabbed her by the backpack, dragging her toward the forest. Hoping to make it more difficult for him, she went limp. The blinding light of Alex’s flashlight shone on them.

“Halt,” Alex yelled as he jumped off Truman with his weapon drawn and aimed at the man’s chest.

Her assailant let go of her and raced into the inky woods as if snapping dogs were at his heels.

Holstering his weapon, Alex crouched down beside Maya. “Are you hurt?”

“Not sure.” She tried to sit up. Agony ripped through her shoulder. She cried out.

“Don’t move.” Alex stared at the forest and back at her, clearly torn between chasing after the assailant and taking care of her. She wanted to tell him to go find the maniac. But she didn’t want to be left here on the ground alone, either. And she desperately wanted his help finding Brady.

Clearly deciding she was the priority, to which she breathed a sigh of relief, he used his shoulder-mounted radio to call in the situation before he positioned himself behind her to ease her into a sitting position. She gritted her teeth as the movement jostled her injured shoulder. He slipped the backpack down her arms with gentle hands and put it on himself.

“I’m going to lift you and put you into the saddle,” he said. “Do you think you can handle that?”

Grateful for his kindness she nodded. “Yes. I can do that.” And she would bear the pain no matter how much her shoulder hurt.

Coming around to her uninjured side, he wedged one arm under her bent knees and slipped his other arm around her waist. With apparent ease, he lifted her into his arms and stood. She’d always thought he looked strong, now she knew for sure. She wasn’t a tiny woman, measuring five feet seven inches with a figure that could be called curvy, but he didn’t seem the least bit exerted in holding her.

She couldn’t help but notice the five o’clock shadow on his strong jaw and the way his dark brown hair curled at the ends. He really was attractive. She’d noticed before but now... She met his warm brown gaze and a blush heated her cheeks. “I’m sorry you have to do this.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “I’m not.”

What did that mean? She didn’t have time to contemplate his words as he lifted her so she could sit in the saddle. At well over six feet tall, he had no trouble placing her on the horse. Thankfully, she could grasp the saddle horn with her right hand while keeping her left arm bent close to her middle and as immobile as possible.

This time he sat behind the saddle’s cantle, mounting with easy grace. One of his arms slid around her waist holding on to her while he held on to the reins with his other hand.

“If it helps, you can lean back against me.” His voice rumbled from his chest, making his invitation inviting.

When was the last time she’d ever leaned on someone else? For anything? She couldn’t remember.

Slowly, she eased back until he took her weight against his chest, reducing the pressure from her bad arm and shoulder. Tiny shivers of shock and adrenaline slid through her. She took deep, calming breaths. Alex’s warmth enveloped her but did nothing to ease the boulder-size fear for her brother sitting in the pit of her stomach.

They headed down the trail until they reached the trail kiosk. She squinted against the flashing lights of the ambulance and the sheriff’s department vehicles.

Two paramedics rushed forward. With Alex’s help, she was taken from the back of Truman and laid on a gurney. The jostling sent streaks of fiery pain through her shoulder.

As the EMTs carried her to the ambulance, Maya nodded at Riley and his son and was grateful to see her friend Leslie Quinn.

The other woman stepped close and grasped her hand. “We’ve all been so worried about you.”

“Brady?” Maya hoped her friend would have good news.

Leslie shook her head.

Disappointment and fear clogged her chest. A crowd had gathered, and Deputy Daniel Rawlings was keeping the townsfolk back. She searched the throng, praying she’d see Brady’s sweet round face. But he wasn’t there.

“Stop,” she told the paramedics. Biting her lip against the aching in her shoulder, she propped herself up on her good arm. “Alex!”

He stood a few feet away and turned at the sound of his name. He handed Truman’s reins to Chase and strode to her side.

“We have to find Brady. I’m not leaving here until we do,” she told him as she swung her legs over the side of the gurney and attempted to stand. The whole world tilted on its axis and a fresh wave of agony from her shoulder crashed through her but she gritted her teeth and rode it out.

Alex held up a hand. “No. You need to let Jake and Gabby see to your injury,” he said, pointing at the two paramedics.

Fighting through the dizziness, she protested, “It’s getting dark. He’ll be frantic. He doesn’t do well in the dark.” Hysteria bubbled within her. She fought for composure. “I’m going back out there. He’s my responsibility.”

She steadied her feet under her and stood. “You coming with me or not?” She turned to the paramedics. “You can put me in a sling or something but I’m going back up the trail.”

The EMTs looked at Alex whose gaze shot to the sheriff before settling back on her. “I’ll go. But you need to stay here.”

“No, I’m going with you.” Her baby brother needed her.

Alex’s strong jaw set in a determined line. “We can stand here and argue about it some more. But the best thing for Brady is for you to let me do my job and let Jake and Gabby do theirs.”

His chastisement stung, but she understood. If she went up the trail, she’d only slow Alex down. And if she stumbled or fell in the dark, she’d do more damage to her shoulder.

Though it grated on her nerves and her pride, she acquiesced. “Fine.” She sat back on the gurney. A leaf dislodged from somewhere on her and landed in her lap. She slapped it away with her uninjured hand. “Only I’m not going anywhere until you return with Brady.”

She could only hope her trust in Alex was well placed because she didn’t know what she’d do if something happened to her brother.

* * *

Alex shook his head, half exasperated and half admiring. Maya was a fiercely loyal, protective and loving sister. She was also determined and stubborn and so pretty, even with sticks and leaves clinging to her long wavy dark hair and her big brown eyes a little wild with worry. He could only imagine what it would be like to have someone care about him with such devotion. A strange yearning clamored for his attention. He ignored it.

“Chase, find a couple of headlamps,” he called to the other deputy while he led Truman back into the trailer. It was too dark for the horse to attempt the trail.

Within a few moments, Alex and Chase moved to the trailhead. Alex paused. “You go up Pine Ridge Trail. Keep your wits about you.”

“Yes, boss.” Chase saluted and hurried up the trail to the left.

Shaking his head at Chase’s insistence on calling him that, Alex took the Aspen Creek Trail at a fast clip. His headlamp provided a large circle of light on the path. He swung the light into the forest on both sides of the trail, hoping Brady would see the glow and seek the source.

“Brady!” Alex called as he went. He was near the summit when the sound of pounding feet coming at him jackknifed his heart. He sent up a quick prayer that he’d found Brady as he stepped to the side of the path, keeping the glow of his headlamp focused in the direction of the person racing toward him. He rested his hand on his gun.

A man came into view, shielding his face from the light trained on him. “Help,” the man said. “We have an injured hiker.”

Alex moved the headlamp enough to keep the man in the glow but not blinding him. “I’m Deputy Trevino. Your name?”

The man held up his hands. “Roger. Roger Dempsey.” He lowered his hands. “I’m with a group of hikers and we found an injured teenager. He’d fallen down a ravine and twisted his ankle.”

It had to be Brady. Relief and worry mingled, tightening Alex’s chest.

“The others are trying to make a sled or something to get him back up the hill,” the man continued. “But it’s not going so well. There’s no cell service up here. I was going for help. What are you doing out here?”

Ignoring the question, Alex thumbed the radio’s mic on his shoulder and quickly called in the situation. The sheriff promised to send up the EMTs, and Chase responded he was on his way.

“Show me where.” Alex gestured for Roger to take the lead. No way would Alex turn his back on a stranger.

“Right.” Roger retraced his steps.

“Do you know if the teen you found is named Brady?”

Roger drew up short, forcing Alex to step to the side. “Yeah, that’s his name. How did you know?”

“We’ve been looking for him. He didn’t return home when he was supposed to.”

Roger nodded. “That makes sense, considering...”

Alex understood what the man wasn’t saying about Brady’s Down syndrome. It was a part of Brady, but it wasn’t who he was. Alex knew Brady was smart and kind and loved his sister.

They reached the summit and started toward the trail on the back side of the mountain when Roger stopped and called, “Sybil! Greg!”

“Here,” a female voice called back.

“This way.” Roger trudged into the dense forest.

Before following him, Alex relayed his location to the others. Keeping his headlamp trained on Roger, Alex descended into the steep ravine. Finally, they came to a spot near the creek where two women and two men crouched around Brady, who sat on the ground, his hands wrapped around his right ankle. As Alex and his escort arrived, the four strangers stepped back.

Thankful to have found the other Gallo sibling, Alex knelt down beside Brady. Alex positioned his headlamp so that it didn’t blind the young man but rather reflected on the creek water not too far away. “Hey, Brady. I hear you hurt yourself.”

Brady blinked at him, and then a slow smile curled his lips. “I know you. You come to the store.”

“That’s right. I’m Alex. Can you tell me what happened?”

Brady’s gaze bounced away. “Maya’s gonna be so mad at me.”

“She’s worried about you, Brady,” Alex said. “She sent me to find you. What happened?” he asked again.

Brady’s mouth closed, his lips pressed together tight.

A tall woman with white-blond hair and wearing a bright pink down parka touched Brady’s shoulder. “I’m Sybil. I think he may have been coming down to the creek to get some water and fell.”