Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

Can they get off the mountain alive?

Desperate to find her missing teenage brother, Maya Gallo ventures into the Colorado Rockies expecting rough terrain—not deadly treasure hunters. But when she’s caught in their crosshairs, ruggedly handsome mounted patrolman Alex Trevino comes to her aid. The deputy sheriff knows what these bandits are capable of, so getting Maya—and her brother—home safely may be his hardest mission yet

TERRI REED’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on the Publishers Weekly top twenty-five and Nielsen BookScan top one hundred lists, and have been featured in USA TODAY and RT Book Reviews. Her books have been finalists for the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award and the National Readers’ Choice Award, and finalists three times for the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. Contact Terri at terrireed.com or PO Box 19555, Portland, OR 97224.

Also by Terri Reed

Buried Mountain Secrets

Military K-9 Unit

Mission to Protect

Classified K-9 Unit

Guardian

Classified K-9 Unit Christmas

“Yuletide Stalking”

Northern Border Patrol

Danger at the Border

Joint Investigation

Murder Under the Mistletoe

Ransom

Identity Unknown

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Buried Mountain Secrets

Terri Reed

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09495-5

BURIED MOUNTAIN SECRETS

© 2019 Terri Reed

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“Come out with your hands up.”

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.

Shaking her head at her own idiotic thoughts—who was she to complain about how God answered her prayer?—Maya 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.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for joining Maya and Alex on this journey to treasure and love. Both of these characters had to learn to find it within themselves to let down their walls and allow love to be the only treasure worth discovering.

The inspiration for the treasure hunt came from an internet article I read about a real-life cache of gold and jewels buried somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. I was intrigued by the whole idea of hiding a fortune and seeing what would happen. Who would find it? How would they find it? And what would someone be willing to do in order to find it?

I hope to write more books featuring the men and women of the Bristle County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol. I’m fascinated by the lore and the mystique of deputies and volunteers on horseback. For this series, I couldn’t resist setting my stories in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. There’s something so very authentic about the rugged mountains and the people who live there.

I hope you enjoyed this first book, and until we meet again in the pages of another book, may God bless you greatly.

Terri Reed

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

Thank you to my editors, Emily Rodmell and Tina James, for your patience and encouragement through a difficult time. I appreciate you all so much.

Thank you to Leah Vale for your endless support and to my family for your endless love.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

“Maya! Maya!”

The crack of the office door bouncing off the back wall reverberated throughout the hardware and feed store.

At the front counter, Maya Gallo braced herself and gave the customer she was helping an apologetic smile. “Excuse me, Ethan. Apparently, Brady has something to tell me.”

“No worries, dear,” the older gentleman replied and wandered off toward the tack room. There was no pity in his voice, but Maya could feel the empathy and sympathy radiating off of one of Bristle Township’s most stalwart citizens.

Maya’s fifteen-year-old brother, Brady, skidded down the aisle between the bags of goat and backyard flock feed of the Gallo Hardware and Feed. Their parents had opened the establishment shortly after Maya was born. She couldn’t remember a day when she wasn’t in the store. She missed them so much.

It had been ten years since that tragic night when her mother and father were on the road coming down from a day of skiing on Eagle Crest Mountain, Colorado, and hit a patch of ice. The resulting car accident had taken both their lives, leaving eighteen-year-old Maya to raise her five-year-old brother.

Brady’s almond-shaped eyes danced with anticipation as he halted in front of her and Maya’s heart filled with love for her little brother. Though he had Down syndrome, he functioned at a high level and was smarter than most people gave him credit for. He was also a hard worker, opinionated and determined. But, more important, full of joy. A joy that at times broke her heart.

She could guess today’s excitement meant another clue in the “Treasure Hunt of the Century” had been uploaded to the blog of the wealthy and eccentric Patrick Delaney.

Knowing if she tried to stall, he would burst with his enthusiasm. “Okay, what is it?”

“Another clue,” he said, confirming her suspicion. “A piece of a map. I need to hike up Aspen Creek Trail. Can I, please?”

A pang of sorrow and grief hit Maya square in the chest. The trail was on the lower half of Eagle Crest Mountain. The other side of the mountain was where the skiing resort and runs were located. And the road on which her parents had perished.

The urge to remind Brady that finding the Delaney treasure was a hopeless cause rose up strong within her, but she bit the words back. They’d gone down this road so many times over the past few weeks, ever since the peculiar billionaire, who lived on the outskirts of Bristle Township, had put out to the world that he had hidden some sort of treasure somewhere along the Rocky Mountains.

The man hadn’t said where in the Rockies. And considering the mountains ran from Canada down to New Mexico, that was a lot of territory to cover. Towns all along the Rockies were being overrun with seekers of fortune and fame who ate up every clue, and then spent hours and hours searching the canyons, forests, peaks, hills and valleys of the rugged mountain range. Bristle Township and County was no exception.

Not that the townsfolk didn’t appreciate the business the fervor stirred up, but for Maya it was a constant worry. Brady loved puzzles. The more challenging, the better. He’d glommed on to the treasure hunt with both hands.

She glanced at the clock. Just after nine in the morning. If he left now, he’d be at the trailhead in fifteen minutes. She doubted Mr. Delaney had hidden his prize along such a well-used hiking path, but following the clues made her brother happy. Thankfully, Brady wouldn’t be alone out there. Even in the fall when the air turned cool, there were sturdy souls who hiked the trail every day.

“Are you done with class and homework?” He went to classes three days a week at the local high school and worked with a special education teacher. The other two days a week, he did an online course and homework.

“All done. And turned in.” He grinned. “Mrs. Vincetti wrote that I was a rock star.”

He was so eager to learn. It broke her heart that the school couldn’t afford the special education teacher on a full-time basis. But he was excelling at his studies. “What time do you need to be back?”

He thought for a moment. “By lunchtime.”

“Which is?”

He tapped the large round watch on his arm. “Noon.”

“That’s right. So that means you need to be aware of the time to see how far you go in so that you know when to turn around to be back by noon. If I have to worry, we won’t be doing this again.” She made this speech every time.

“I won’t make you worry, Maya. Do I ever?”

Oh, had he. When she’d first started to loosen the reins, letting him have some freedom, she’d known it would be a learning curve for them both. But Pastor Michael Foster and his wife, Alicia, had insisted it was time to let Brady grow up, and Brady’s doctor had agreed.

Because Maya respected and cherished the older couple and Doctor Brown as well, and relied on them for sound counsel, she’d done as they’d suggested and given Brady more control and allowed him to make his own decisions.

But he wasn’t good with directions or managing his time, something they’d been working diligently to change.

This would be his fifth outing seeking treasure in as many weeks. She was pretty sure he understood the concept of time now and knew how to use his compass, but that didn’t stop the little flutter of unease from curling in the pit of her stomach.

For her own piece of mind, she’d filled his small backpack with a first-aid kit, insect replant, sunscreen, reflective thermal blanket, a compass, a walkie-talkie, a cell phone and a flashlight, along with a water bottle and snacks.

“Your house keys?”

Brady unzipped the front pouch and pointed to a set of keys dangling from a carabiner attached to the inside of the bag. A small square wireless tracker covered by a sticker of Brady’s favorite cartoon character hung next to the keys. She had the corresponding GPS tracking device in the office.

“It’s packed and all set to go, Maya.” Brady zipped the pack closed and secured it over his shoulders on top of his blue down jacket.

“Hat?”

He yanked his baseball cap from the pocket of his jeans and secured it on his head. “Okay?”

Her heart squeezed. “Be careful. And stay on the path. No straying.”

With a salute, he ran out the side exit, the echo of his booted feet ringing in her ears.

She hurried to the front window in time to see him pedaling his bike down the sidewalk toward the far end of town where he’d turn onto the road that would take him to the trailhead. He waved to people on the street who waved back.

She touched the glass pane and said a prayer of protection for her younger brother.

A stab of guilt ate away at her. Her gaze lifted to the white snowcapped peaks of the mountains. If she had prayed for her parents that long-ago winter night instead of being angry that she’d been stuck at home babysitting her brother while they went off and had fun, maybe they’d still be alive.

Movement across the street drew her gaze to the tall good-looking sheriff’s deputy lifting his hand in a wave, his dark-eyed gaze locking with hers.

Embarrassment flooded her and she snatched her hand away from the windowpane. She quickly stepped back. Great. The handsome officer probably thought she was flirting with him. Ugh. The next time he came in for tack would be uncomfortable.

The last thing she wanted in her life was romance. There’d been a few men over the years who’d shown interest but she had her hands full with Brady and the store.

To complicate things with a relationship... The thought was overwhelming. What if she fell in love and then something happened to the guy?

She had Brady, her friends and the town. What more did she need?

* * *

At noon, Maya had watched the back entrance, expecting Brady to come racing into the store any moment. At one o’clock, she paced by the front window, her gaze searching the main street of Bristle Township for signs of him. She checked the GPS device. The red dot showed he was on the Aspen Creek Trail. Most likely he’d found something or was digging beneath a bush with no clue how worried she was waiting for him to return.

By two, when the red dot hadn’t moved, dread that something had happened to him set in. She flipped the open sign over, jumped in her Jeep and drove to the trailhead. Brady’s bike was sitting in the bike rack.

Trying to keep her breathing even, she told herself not to panic, even though her heart rate was way faster than normal, making her chest hurt. She checked the handheld GPS device, glad to see the little red dot indicating that Brady was still on the trail but worry poked at her. He hadn’t moved in a long time. Had he fallen and was injured?

The thought galvanized her into action. She hurried up the dirt path. “Brady!”

On either side of the trail, tall aspens and pines grew, their branches spreading out to form a canopy that only allowed intermittent shafts of sunlight to stream through, while otherwise shrouding the path in gloom. The thin air was crisp and a shiver prickled the fine hairs at Maya’s nape.

“Brady! Answer me,” she called out, praying that her search wasn’t futile.

Where were all the other hikers? She could only guess because of the later hour in the day that most had already made their treks up and back down the mountain path. She rounded a bend in the trail. According to the GPS tracker, she should have been right on top of Brady. But the path was empty.

With her breath lodged in her lungs, she searched the bushes on the sides of the trail. A patch of blue snagged her gaze. She dived for the bramble of tangled foliage. “Brady?”

Horror closed her throat. It was her baby brother’s favorite backpack. She tugged the blue backpack from beneath the thorny bush. She hugged the bag to her chest, her heart thumping as fear clouded her vision. Where was her brother?

Had he strayed off the path? Was he hurt and needing help?

She put on the backpack so that her hands were free to push back the low branches as she made her way into the thick forest.

The snap of a branch breaking sent a bird flapping from a tree branch above. Maya’s heart jackknifed as she froze, unsure from which direction the noise had come. “Brady?”

Something hard and heavy slammed into her from behind, sending her sprawling forward on her hands and knees. Dirt and debris bit into her skin. Rough hands grabbed at her. She rolled away, landing awkwardly on the backpack. A hooded person with a strange mask covering their face rushed toward her.

Terror had her rolling again into the bushes. She scrambled to her feet, ignoring the ripping of her jeans on a branch. The hooded figure yanked on the straps of the backpack. Maya delivered a low fisted shot to the person’s gut, knocking the assailant back several steps, enough so that Maya could twist away with her brother’s pack still on and flee into the woods.

She ran as fast as the terrain would allow, dodging branches that scratched at her hands, tore her coat and plucked at her hair.

Behind her, she heard the thrashing of her attacker through the underbrush, quickly gaining on her.

She had to find safety. She darted around a copse of trees and spied a downed trunk. She jumped over it and hunkered down, out of sight.

Please, Lord, protect me. Protect Brady.

Why was someone trying to hurt her? Where was her brother?

* * *

“There’s been another injured treasure hunter outside Denver,” Deputy Kaitlyn Lanz announced in grim irritation.

Deputy Alex Trevino shook his head. “That makes five in the past week.” He rose and headed to the sheriff’s office. Pausing in the doorway, he addressed the older man sitting at the oak desk. “Sir, we really need to do something about Patrick Delaney and his treasure hunt.”

Sheriff James Ryder ran a hand through his silver hair. “If I thought there was something to be done, I’d do it. I’ve talked to Patrick. Mayor Olivia has talked to Patrick. Even the feds have talked to Patrick. The old coot won’t relent. He’s the town’s biggest supporter so there’s only so much pressure we can exert on him. He’s within his legal rights.”

Frustration beat a steady tempo at the back of Alex’s head. “It’s only a matter of time before we have issues here in Bristle Township.”

“Don’t borrow trouble, Trevino,” the sheriff said. “How are your plans for the festival coming along?”

Alex was in charge of the security measures for the upcoming Harvest Festival and parade. “Good. The auxiliary volunteers have committed to patrolling Main Street. Between the volunteers, Kait, Daniel, Chase and me, we’ll have the festival covered.”

“What about the parade?”

“That, too.”

The outer office door to the department banged open. Alex spun, his hand going to his holstered weapon. The other three deputies on duty rose from their desk chairs and took similar on-guard stances.

An older man with wisps of gray hair covering his head and a panicked expression rushed into the station house. Ethan Johnson.

“Mr. Johnson, can I help you?” the station receptionist, Carole Manning, hurriedly trailed after him.

“Come quick,” Ethan said to the room at large. “It’s the Gallos.”

Though he relaxed his stance, alarm threaded through Alex’s veins. An image of a dark-haired beauty rose in Alex’s mind. He’d seen Maya Gallo just this morning standing in the window of the hardware store. Though he didn’t know the woman well, he found her to be pleasant when she helped him with tack and such for his horse, Truman. “What’s happened?”

“I was there this morning, but I had to come back because I forgot to get some bedding for the nests in my chicken coop and the store is closed. Only the door is unlocked. It’s not like Maya to leave the store unattended. Something’s happened.”

The sheriff stepped out of his office. “Now, Ethan, I’m sure Maya and Brady are fine. Maybe they are at the diner having a late lunch or have gone home for the day and forgot to lock up. Let’s not jump to unnecessary conclusions.”

Ethan shook his head. “No, Sheriff. I tell you, this isn’t like Maya. And Brady was all riled up this morning about something.”

“Probably the treasure,” Carole stated with a sage nod. “Brady is big into finding the treasure and a new clue was released this morning.”

Alex glanced at his superior, then back to Carole. “But the clue could be anywhere in the Rocky Mountains.”

“True.” She walked over to his desk and sat at the computer, her fingers flying over the keys. “Here. Take a look at this. Mr. Delaney put up a partial map.”

They all huddled around the desk to look at the computer screen.

“That could be Eagle Crest.” Deputy Daniel Rawlings towered over them at nearly six-three and pointed to a spot on the screen.

“Or it could be any number of mountains from Canada to New Mexico,” Kaitlyn pointed out, flipping her blond ponytail over her shoulder. “There’s no way to be sure that’s our Eagle Crest Mountain.”

“Well, whatever the case,” the sheriff said, “we need to do our jobs and make sure our citizens are safe.” He pinned Alex with a hard look. “Find the Gallo siblings.”

Glad to be put in charge, Alex nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Ethan, let me walk you out.” The sheriff gestured for the other man to leave with him.

“Okay, you heard the sheriff,” Alex said. “Kait, get the Gallos’ home address from Carole and see if the Gallos are there. Daniel, you go to the store and check it out. See if there are signs of a struggle or something that will tell us why Maya closed up early.”

“What do you want me to do?” Deputy Chase Fredrick asked. He was the youngest and newest of the deputies. Medium height and lean with sandy-blond hair and dark blue eyes, he had a boyish face hidden by a well-trimmed, close-cropped beard.

“You’re with me,” Alex told him.

“Got it.” Chase went back to his desk to grab his jacket.

“What are you going to do?” Kaitlyn’s hazel eyes filled with concern and curiosity.

Grabbing his jacket and shrugging into it, he said, “If Brady and Maya are out hunting for treasure, they most likely started at the Eagle Crest trailhead.”

* * *

Alex brought his sheriff’s-department-issued SUV to a halt in the parking lot at the lower trailhead of Eagle Crest Mountain. Chase pulled in next to him in an identical SUV. Alex noted five other vehicles in the lot. His gaze zeroed in on a mountain bike in the bike rack near the trailhead kiosk.

Brady’s bike. The teenager had ridden down Main Street this morning. Alex hadn’t thought much about it at the time. Now it made sense. Brady was trying to find the Delaney treasure. The map that had been released this morning, though pretty generic, could arguably have some similarities to the mountain trail ahead of him. Alex climbed out of the SUV and met Chase at the bike rack.

“What now, boss?” Chase asked.

Alex tried not to flinch at the word boss. He wasn’t the boss. He knew there were those in the department and in town looking for Alex to step into the role of sheriff when the old man retired, which he’d been threatening to do for the last three years that Alex had been on the force.

That the sheriff put him in charge of this investigation didn’t mean anything. Sheriff Ryder usually picked one of his deputies to take point.

The sun hung low in the sky. Shading his eyes, Alex gauged they had only a few more hours of daylight left. “We’ll cover more ground on horseback,” he told Chase.

The Bristle County Sheriff’s Department continued the long tradition of patrols on horseback like many Western states. Comprised of both armed deputies and unarmed civilian volunteers, also referred to as auxiliary members, the patrol provided mounted search and rescue as well as mounted community and forest patrols.

“Get on the horn with Carole and round up as many civilian volunteers available. Then run every license plate here. I’m going home to get Truman,” Alex stated, referring to his horse. “I’ll meet you back here in one half hour. Keep an alert eye out for Maya Gallo and her brother. If they come out of the forest, radio me.”

“Will do.” Chase walked away, already using his shoulder radio to contact the station’s dispatcher.

Alex sped home and in the short time it took him to return to the trailhead, towing Truman in the horse trailer, there were three other civilian volunteers with their horses waiting.

“Riley, Trevor.” Alex shook the father’s hand and then the teenage son’s hand. The Howard men were dedicated volunteers. “Thank you for coming.” There was no mistaking the family resemblance between the father and son. They also had identical quarter horses.

Then Alex shook hands with the third volunteer, local dress shop owner, Leslie Quinn, a pretty blonde with blue eyes. Leslie stared at him warily as she stood beside her sturdy paint sporting pink bows tied to its mane. No doubt for the upcoming parade. “Deputy.”

Alex didn’t know the reserved woman well. She tended to keep to herself when they were on patrol. “Leslie, appreciate you joining us.”

Chase hurried over. Alex gave him a questioning look.

“Two local hikers came down the trail but not the Gallo siblings.”

Disappointment shot through Alex and he realized how much he had been hoping to discover Maya and her brother had already descended the trail. “Did the hikers see the Gallos?”

Chase shook his head. “Claimed not to. I took their contact info.”

“All right, listen up, everyone.” Alex explained the situation to the others. “Okay, there are two main paths to take from here. Riley and Trevor—” he gestured to the Howards “—take the Pine Ridge Trail. Miss Quinn and I will take Aspen Creek Trail.”

Alex mounted Truman, a chestnut-colored sixteen-hand Tennessee walking horse, and headed the horse toward the trailhead, where the father and son pair peeled away while Alex and Leslie took the main trail. A half hour later, Alex held up his hand in a fist, signaling for Leslie to stop. Alex slid off Truman to inspect several broken branches on the right side of the trail. It looked as if somebody had gone crashing through the underbrush.

Before he could move farther into the forest, his radio crackled on his shoulder.

“Alex, you better get over here,” Riley’s voice came through the line.

Thumbing the mic attached to his radio, Alex asked, “What did you find?”

“A dead body.”

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.”

Alex looked at Brady. “Was that what you were doing?”

Brady stared at him for a long moment before saying, “I’m thirsty, and my ankle hurts.”

The other woman moved forward. This one was a brunette, shorter than the other woman and dressed in a less flashy dark jacket. “I’m Claire. We’ve been trying to get him up the hill, but it’s just not happening.”

Claire moved over to Roger. “Thanks for bringing help.”

“They were already out here searching for Brady.”

“You did better than I did,” one of the men standing to the side said. He was just outside the circle of light so Alex couldn’t make out his features. “I got lost but managed to find my way back here.”

“That’s because you have no sense of direction,” the other man, also standing in the shadows, shot back.

Roger made a scoffing noise. “That’s Greg and John.”

Alex eyed the five people surrounding him. Was one of these men Maya’s attacker?

Could one of these Good Samaritans also be a killer?

THREE

The combination of anticipation and restlessness made Maya antsy. Her body fairly vibrated. Maybe from the residual adrenaline of being attacked twice or from the memory of Alex’s arms around her as they made their way down the mountain trail. Whatever the case, she hated being left behind, not knowing what was going on while Alex searched for her brother.

The handsome deputy had radioed in that he’d found Brady and that her brother was injured. But how bad? Injured enough that the EMTs left her in the care of Deputy Kaitlyn Lanz as they hurried up the Aspen Creek Trail with a gurney and their equipment.

A sick feeling in the pit of Maya’s stomach made the worry that much worse. Had Brady broken something? Was he conscious? Terrified?

Dr. Brown had said Brady was progressing admirably, but she feared that today would blast all their hard work to smithereens. She’d been told that one day Brady would be able to live on his own. She knew his independence was possible, yet the thought filled her with anxiety. There were others with Down syndrome who made lives for themselves apart from their caretakers. But Brady wasn’t ready for a life without her. If nothing else, today proved it.

This was her fault. Her heart sank.

She should never have let him go looking for the treasure. She was such a bad parent.

A soft scoff escaped. She wasn’t a parent; she was his sister, but the only maternal figure he’d known for the last ten years. A deep ache throbbed in her heart. She missed their parents so much. It wasn’t fair they’d been taken from them.

The sheriff walked over to her side. “Miss Gallo, how are you doing?”

She reined in her tumultuous thoughts and said, “I’ll do better once I’m able to talk to my brother and make sure he’s okay.”

The sheriff nodded. “I understand. It’s hard when we have someone we love in jeopardy. But you also had your fair share of danger today,” he replied. “Can you tell me about the attacks?”

Was he just trying to distract her? She kept her gaze on the trailhead. Where were they?

“There’s not much to tell,” she said. “The first one happened while I was going up to Aspen Creek Trail, calling for my brother. I noticed the edge of his backpack sticking out from under some bushes.” Her breath hitched, remembering the terror of finding the bag but not Brady. “A few moments later, somebody tackled me from behind.”

“You managed to escape.” There was admiration in the older man’s voice. “Good for you.”

If her friend Leslie hadn’t taught her some self-defense moves, Maya wouldn’t have known what to do. “I ran deeper into the forest and hid until he was gone. That’s really all there is to tell you.”

He searched her face as if he was trying to see into her memory because apparently her words just weren’t getting the job done for him. “Alex said you didn’t get a look at his face, only his eyes?”

“That’s right. He had on a dark hoodie and a mask that had no mouth covering his face.”

“Were his eyes bloodshot? Any indication he was on drugs?”

She arched an eyebrow. “I was a little too busy trying to get away from him to really notice much else. I just remember a very cold expression in his eyes. He cursed a lot.”

“Do you think you’d recognize his voice?”

“I don’t know. He was mumbling so probably not.”

“And the man who knocked you off Truman? Could that have been the same man?”

“I would assume so, unless there are two maniacs running around attacking people.” She shrugged and then regretted the movement. “It happened so fast. I am just thankful Alex was with me.”

“Can you think of a reason why you would be targeted?” the sheriff asked.

A wave of fear crashed over her. “No. I have no idea why someone would want to hurt me.”

Movement at the trailhead drew her gaze. Her heart fluttered with renewed anxiety.

“Here they come,” Kaitlyn said.

Despite the pain in her shoulder, Maya forced herself to a sitting position. Though the paramedics had said her shoulder didn’t appear broken, she would need an X-ray to confirm. It did hurt but not as bad as her heart for her brother.

Finally, she saw Brady lying on the gurney the two paramedics wheeled as best they could over the rough terrain. The panic in her chest eased.

Her gaze zeroed in on Alex, walking a few feet behind Brady. So handsome. So protective. She sent up a quick thank-You to God for sending Alex.

Then she noticed Alex and Deputy Fredrick were ushering five people out of the forest. Who were these people? Had they hurt her brother?

She tried to get off the gurney, but Kaitlyn stopped her with a hand on her good shoulder.

“Stay put,” she said. “They’ll bring him to you. Don’t worry.”

“Kait, this is just torture. I need to be with my brother.”

“Patience,” Kaitlyn murmured.

Maya stifled a snort. Patience wasn’t always an easy virtue.

As soon as Brady was close, she reached out and grasped his hand. “I thank God you’re okay. I was so worried.” Terrified was more like it.

He hung his head in apparent abjection. “I’m sorry, Maya. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

She squeezed his hand. “What happened?”

“I—I fell.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I don’t remember how. I just went tumbling and landed by the creek. I tried to get up but my ankle hurt.”

“Looks like a bad sprain,” the female EMT, Gabby, said. “But like with you, we won’t know if anything is broken until an X-ray is taken. We’ve stabilized his ankle, though.”

Jake spoke up. “We’re taking you both to the hospital.”

Maya winced. She hated hospitals. They brought back memories of the night her parents crashed their car coming down from Eagle Crest Mountain. The smells, the sounds... They tormented her for years afterward.

Alex stepped close and she met his gaze, grateful for his steady presence. “Thank you, Alex, I really appreciate all you’ve done for us.”

“Just doing my job,” he said, though she could see he was pleased by her appreciation, which did funny things to her insides. “I’ll come check on you and Brady at the hospital.”

She didn’t want to admit how much she liked that idea. She felt safe with him around. “What about my Jeep?”

“Why don’t you give me your keys and I’ll bring it to you?” he said, holding out his hand.

“That would be great.” She dug her car keys from the pocket of her jacket and handed them over to him. “Again, thank you.”

He gave her a smile that made her heart flutter in a way that left her a bit tongue-tied.

“Honestly, it was my pleasure.” He cleared his throat and then turned to nod to the paramedics. “Let’s get them to the hospital.”

As Maya and Brady were loaded into the ambulance bay, she held Brady’s hand but her gaze stayed on Alex as he moved over to the group of people that had come down the trail with him.

He’d not only rescued her and then protected her, he’d also brought her brother back to her. Alex was a really good man. Her parents would have liked him.

Too bad she wasn’t looking for a really good man in her life. Or any man for that matter. She had more than enough to deal with as it was with Brady and the store. Putting herself out there for more heartache wasn’t an option.

* * *

Alex looked at the group around him. Since he didn’t have grounds to detain them, the most he could hope for was their willing cooperation. “Okay, people. Deputy Chase Fredrick and Deputy Daniel Rawlings—” he gestured to the two deputies “—will take your information. Are you all staying here in town?”

“Yes, sir. The Bristle Hotel,” the man named Greg offered.

Good. He’d know where to find them if it turned out the deceased had met with foul play. Alex searched each face, wondering if one of these people was a murderer and/or Maya’s assailant. He wasn’t ready to reveal more until the area where the deceased man had been found could be processed in the daylight.

Leaving Chase and Daniel in charge of the five hikers, Alex informed his boss of the plan to question the hikers once he had some more information.

Sheriff Ryder nodded his approval. “You’re doing well, son.”

The praise was nice to hear, even if it made him uncomfortable. He’d never received much encouragement from his own father. Which reminded him, Dad was waiting at home with dinner. He unclipped his cell phone from his utility belt and called his father to let him know he had a few more errands to run before he would make it home. He could hear the disappointment in his father’s voice. It couldn’t be helped. Alex’s priority was the job.

“Kaitlyn,” he called to the other deputy, who was now talking with Leslie Quinn and Riley and Trevor Howard.

Kaitlyn extracted herself and hurried over. “What’s up?”

“Would you be willing to take my truck and Truman over to the sheriff’s parking lot? I need to take Maya’s car to her at the hospital and drive her and Brady home.”

“Sure, no problem. But I can just take Truman home with me. I can put him in one of our empty stalls.”

Kaitlyn owned a large stable where several members of the mounted patrol boarded their horses. “That would be awesome. So much better than him being cooped up in the trailer any longer than necessary.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Also, I don’t think Maya and Brady should be alone tonight. Would you be willing to stay with them?” He’d do it but wasn’t sure how that would go over. Better to have the female deputy stand guard over the Gallos.

“Good idea. I’ll pack a bag and head over after I get the horses rubbed down and fed.”

“Thanks, Kaitlyn.” He handed her his keys and headed for Maya’s Jeep. When he opened the door, the scent of cinnamon teased his senses. He smiled as he climbed into the driver’s seat. Maya liked Red Hots. He’d seen boxes of them behind the counter at the store. She was like that spicy candy. Bold, yet not abrasive. Sweet, but not a pushover. She didn’t tolerate guff from anybody and yet she was kind to everyone, if a bit standoffish.

He started up the Jeep and drove to the hospital. Bristle Township, Colorado, was barely considered a town. More of a hamlet or a village with less than a thousand full-time residents. He could walk from one end of Main Street to the other in a matter of minutes. The “downtown area” consisted of two rows of two-story buildings that housed a variety of shops, restaurants and businesses with the Community Christian Church a focal point at the north end.

The county stretched for miles but the town itself was quaint, rustic even, in some ways. That was what had drawn him to apply for the position of deputy for Bristle County to begin with when he’d left Denver. He’d wanted a simpler life in a place where he could belong.

And he would do anything to protect its citizens.

He parked the Jeep in the designated spot for the sheriff. Inside the hospital, he stopped by the front desk to let them know not to tow the Jeep, then he was given directions to Maya and Brady’s whereabouts. He entered the emergency room to find the siblings on side-by-side gurneys with a doctor and nurse hovering over them. Maya’s eyes widened when she saw him, and the small smile of welcome she gave him sent his pulse skittering.

Brady was more exuberant in his greeting. “Deputy Alex!” He waved. “Come over here and see what they’re doing to me.”

His injured ankle had been wrapped and placed in a walking boot.

“That is some fancy footwear there, Brady.”

“They shod my foot. Like a horse,” Brady said with a grin.

Turning to the doctor, Alex asked, “How are these two doing? Will they be released tonight?”

After looking to Maya for permission to share details and receiving an affirmative, the doctor said, “X-rays show no fractures for either of them. Brady will have to wear the boot for a week and follow up with his primary doctor. Maya’s shoulder will be sore for a while. I prescribed some PT. We will have to wait until the swelling goes down before we can do an MRI to see if there are any tears.”

Alex was glad to hear no bones had been broken. The worry that had been churning in his gut lessened.

“As to your other question, yes, they are good to go,” the doctor finished.

“They have both had pain medication.” The nurse handed him a small bag and a large one. “There’s more here. And here are their personal items.”

Alex glanced inside the large bag to see Brady’s backpack, shoe and Maya’s jacket.

The doctor turned to Maya. “Don’t let the pain get out of control, for either you or Brady. Stay on schedule at least for the first twenty-four hours.”

“Yes, sir,” she said.

“Your chariot awaits,” Alex said.

Two nurses appeared with wheelchairs.

“I get to ride a wheelchair,” Brady said, pumping his fist in the air.

Alex was glad to see Brady taking this all in stride. Alex still needed to question the boy to find out if he’d seen the deceased man and he had some questions about the Good Samaritan hikers. But that would have to wait.

After getting Maya and Brady into the Jeep, Alex drove them to their house, a cute little bungalow on a residential street behind the Community Christian Church.

He helped Maya out to the car. “You sure you can walk?”

She slanted him a chiding glance. “I hurt my shoulder.” She gestured to the sling encasing her right arm. “Not my legs.”

“Just checking.” He kind of wished she’d said she wanted him to pick her up again. He had liked holding her far more than he should have and the memory of her in his arms would stay with him for a long time.

However, Brady needed help so Alex scooped the boy up into his arms, carried him inside the house and placed him on the couch in the living room. Alex stepped back and looked around, liking the cozy feel of the Gallo home with its leather couches, bright throw pillows, a warm colorful woolen floor rug covering cherry hardwood floors and a gas fireplace below a flat-screen television.

One wall held bookshelves and framed photographs. His gaze snagged on a picture of the Gallo family when Maya and Brady were younger. His heart ached for the siblings’ loss.

The yellow-and-red-striped flag of Spain hung proudly on another wall. Off center in the wide yellow stripe was the decorative coat of arms, which reminded him of learning in grade school about Columbus and the New World.

“Alex, Alex!” Brady exclaimed. “Come sit with me.” He grabbed the remote. “It’s time for my show.”

“Can you hold off for a moment?” Alex asked. “I need to ask you some questions.”

Brady blinked at him. “Questions?”

“About what happened on the trail.”

“I already told you.” Brady aimed the remote at the television and turned on the device. An announcer’s voice filled the house as contestants ran through obstacle courses.

Maya touched Alex’s sleeve to get his attention. She gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen. Like the living room, the eating area was cozy and the counter and appliances clean.

Once they were out of earshot of Brady, Maya said, “I tried to get him to tell me what happened on the trail. But he clammed up and wouldn’t look me in the eye. I’ve never seen him do that before. Usually he’s so willing and eager to tell me every little detail of everything he does. This is unlike him. Something definitely happened, but for some reason he doesn’t want to talk about it.”

Alex wondered if the teen would open up if Maya weren’t around. Maybe Brady was afraid he’d get in trouble with his sister. Alex would try again to talk to Brady alone. “How are you doing?”

“I’m okay. Other than the shoulder.” She turned away to busy herself making coffee with one hand. It shook and sent coffee grinds skittering across the counter. She was trying to appear strong and in control, but she’d suffered trauma out on the trail, too.

Unable to stop himself, he grasped her hand. “Coffee is not what either of us need right now.”

She stilled. He expected her to move away, but she didn’t. “Right. Caffeine probably isn’t a good idea.”

He gave her hand a squeeze, then released her. “How are you going to get Brady to his room?”

She frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

“Kaitlyn will be here soon to stay with you.”

Worry lit her eyes. “Do you think I’m in danger?”

He wasn’t sure what to think. “I’d rather be overly cautious and not risk your safety.”

Her gaze softened to tenderness and he clenched his gut. “That’s very thoughtful of you. You’re a thoughtful man.”

Her compliment arrowed straight through him. He wasn’t used to things like that being said to him. “Thanks.” For a moment, he held her gaze, then he cleared his throat. “What can I do to help until Kaitlyn arrives?”

“If you could carry Brady to his bed that would be great,” she said. “You must be beat, as well.”

He was weary, but he wouldn’t let that keep him from helping Maya and Brady. “I’ll rest once I’m sure you’re settled for the night.”

She inclined her head. “I’d appreciate that.”

They went into the living room. Brady had fallen asleep on the couch.

“Let’s not move him.” Maya turned off the television. “There’s a blanket in the trunk in the corner.”

Alex retrieved the blanket, a fuzzy version of the Spanish flag, and spread it over Brady.

An awkward silence filled the space between them as they moved back into the kitchen.

“I take it your family has ties to Spain.” As far as small talk went, it seemed like a safe subject.

“Yes. On both sides. My father’s parents moved to the United States before my father was born. Then Dad met my mom at the University of Michigan when she was there with a study-abroad program.”

“So you have relatives still in Spain?”

She nodded. “Cousins. They live in Málaga. I visited when I was a kid. Someday I’d like to go back.”

“How did your parents end up here?” He sat on the stool.

A smile played at her pretty mouth, drawing his attention. “Dad had an interview in LA so they decided to take a road trip. He was offered the job but they weren’t sure about living in Southern California. On their way back to Michigan, they stopped here and fell in love with the town and the people.”

“It’s a great place to live.” He was thankful he’d taken the job with the sheriff’s department.

“That’s what they thought. They were staying at the Bristle Hotel and heard that people had to drive to Denver or Boulder for their hardware and feed supplies.”

“Ah. They decided to fill that need.”

“Yes.” Her gaze was curious. “What about you? Do you know your heritage?”

“No. My mother was adopted by a single woman who died long before I was born. My dad’s family lived in Alabama, but he left home at eighteen and never went back.”

“You’ve never met your grandparents?”

He shook his head. “I tried looking them up when I was a teen, but I couldn’t find the right Trevinos. No one seemed to know my dad. And he wouldn’t talk about them. I decided it didn’t matter.”

A soft knock sounded at the front door. Alex peered through the peephole. Kaitlyn. He opened the door and held a finger to his lips while pointing to Brady on the couch.

Kaitlyn nodded. She held a duffel bag in her hand. “Where shall I put my things?” she whispered.

“The den.” Maya pointed to a room off the living room. “There’s a bathroom at the end of the hall.”

Kaitlyn walked away, leaving Alex to say good-night.

“I’ll come back in the morning and check on you,” he told her. “Maybe by then Brady will be ready to talk.”

Maya opened the door and smiled at him. “I’d like that. He seems to respond well to you. Good night, Alex, and again, thank you.”

It occurred to Alex he had no way to get home. “Do you mind if I use your vehicle? Kaitlyn took my truck and Truman to her place.” He still had her keys in his pocket.

“Of course you can.” She gave him a generous smile that made him want to linger. He’d always thought she was pretty and nice but he’d never considered...

How was it that he was seeing Maya in a whole new way?

He better get his head on straight. She was a victim of a crime. She might be a damsel in distress today, but soon life would go back to the way things had always been between them. Polite acquaintances.

The thought left him cold.

* * *

Maya leaned against the closed door. It had been strange yet thrilling to have Alex in her house. His concern and care were apparent and appreciated. Had it only been this morning she’d been embarrassed because she’d thought he would think she was flirting with him through the window of the store?

So much had happened since then. And despite the terror and the trauma of the day, she had to admit she was glad to have someone like Alex watching over them.

Brady’s soft snores assured her he was still sleeping.

After Kaitlyn secured the house, making sure every door and window was locked tight, she retired to the sofa bed in the den.

Instead of going upstairs to her room, Maya grabbed another blanket from the trunk and settled herself in the recliner next to the couch. She wanted to be close in case Brady awakened. He’d be scared and in need of her.

She leaned back against the worn fabric, convinced she could still smell her father’s aftershave clinging to the material. That was ridiculous, of course, but it offered her comfort at the end of a horrifying day.

She was just dozing off when a noise at the back door sent the fine hairs on her arms standing at attention.

Holding very still, she listened, trying to discern the sound over Brady’s snoring.

Kaitlyn ran out of the den with her weapon in hand and waved Maya behind her.

Maya’s heart jolted. There was definitely something or someone trying to get in through the kitchen door.

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