Ever Present Danger (4 page)

“Are you getting cold feet, Ivy girl?”

Ivy managed a weak smile. “I’ve always had cold feet. I was just thinking that this would be much easier if my heart were cold, too.”

CAROLYN GRIFFITH STOOD at her bedroom window, her hands tucked in her sweater pockets, her eyes feasting on the jagged peaks of the San Juan Mountains that appeared almost ghostly under a thick blanket of spring snow. Just beyond the split rail fence, the afternoon sun spotlighted the red tail of a hawk as it swooped down on the open range and then flew into the woods, its prey clutched in its talons. The Westminster chimes of the grandfather clock announced it was half past two.

Lord, be with us in the midst of our fears and our hurts and all the unresolved issues. Help us just to love Ivy—and Montana
.

Elam’s voice resonated from the bottom of the stairs and startled her. “A car just turned off Three Peaks Road and is headed this way.”

It took Carolyn only a second to spot a white SUV coming up the steep, snowplowed drive.

She ran downstairs and out to the front porch and stood next to Elam, feeling as though her heart would pound out of her chest. She waved even though she didn’t recognize the two people in the front seat and couldn’t see through the tinted windows on the side.

The Ford Expedition pulled up in the circle drive and stopped. For several agonizing seconds nothing happened, and then the passenger door opened. A skinny little boy climbed out, his
auburn hair thick and straight, his smile tentative.

Montana!
Carolyn felt an unexpected twinge of affection.

The boy turned and reached for a woman’s hand and helped her out. She was short and thickset, hair dark as coal and streaked with white.

So that’s Lucia
.

As Carolyn hurried down the porch steps, Elam on her heels, her gaze set on the third passenger climbing out of the backseat.

“Ivy?” Carolyn stopped, unsure if she had said the name or merely breathed it.

Her daughter looked two decades older and thirty pounds thinner. Her face was pale and gaunt, her lips cracked. Her hair, which once fell past her shoulders in shiny blond tresses, had been cropped and appeared as dull and lifeless as broom bristles. Carolyn was thinking that if she had run into this person on the street, she wouldn’t have known it was her daughter.

Ivy’s gray eyes had the look of a frightened animal and moved from Carolyn to Elam and then back to Carolyn, as if to ask whether she was still welcome or if they’d had second thoughts.

Carolyn opened her arms, and Ivy ambled into her mother’s embrace, neither of them saying anything. In the next second, Elam’s hands were caressing Ivy’s back, and he seemed as unable to talk as they were. Carolyn wasn’t sure how much time passed before she realized a young man was talking.

“Hey, I’m done unloading your bags,” he said. “Unless you need me to do something else, we’re gonna head on to Purgatory, okay?”

Carolyn let go of Ivy and noticed a young man in a red ski jacket standing next to the driver’s door.

“Thanks, Rocco,” Ivy said. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”

“No problem. Be happy, okay?” He nodded at Carolyn and Elam, then got in the car and drove to the end of the circle drive and back down the driveway.

Carolyn didn’t ask why Ivy hadn’t introduced them. She felt a tug on the bottom of her sweater and looked down into a pair of
puppy eyes that looked remarkably like Rusty’s.

“You must be Montana.”

The boy nodded and flashed an elfin smile, minus a few teeth. “Yes, ma’am. And this is my Gramma Lu.”

The woman extended her hand. “I’m Lucia Ramirez. I go by Lu.”

Ivy shook her head and apologized for being so absentminded and finally made the introductions.

“What should I call you?” Montana said to his grandparents.

Carolyn brushed the hair out of his eyes. “What would you like to call us?”

“Well, since—”

“I’d better get the suitcases into the house.” Elam walked over and picked up two tattered duffle bags and headed for the porch steps.

“I can help,” Montana said.

“Suit yourself.” Elam went up the steps and into the house.

Carolyn hoped her face didn’t give away her irritation. “Montana, why don’t you get a couple of the smaller bags and follow me.”

“I’m
very
strong,” he said. “Mom lets me carry the groceries all the time.”

Carolyn heard barking and looked up and saw Sasha racing full throttle up the snowy slope, her tail wagging, a cloud of white powder kicking up behind her. “Oh, no. I hope you like dogs.”

Two seconds later, the Siberian Husky’s front paws collided with Montana’s shoulders and knocked him on his behind, the dog’s tongue swiping his face.

“Don’t be afraid, sweetie—she doesn’t bite!” Carolyn exclaimed. “Sasha, back! Get back!”

The dog ran in circles, then sat in the snow and yelped, her eyes on Montana, her body posed to pounce.

“She’s rambunctious but she just wants to play,” Carolyn said. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

“Nope.” Montana sprang to his feet and brushed the snow off his jeans, then clapped his hands. “Come here, girl. Come here.”

Sasha bounded forward and then backwards, barking all the while, her tail swishing from side to side.

Montana laughed. “I think she likes me.”

“I thought you were bringing in those bags, boy.” Elam stood in the doorway, his arms folded.

“Oh, yeah.” Montana picked up the two largest bags and walked penguin-like over to the steps and up on the porch and went inside.

Ivy picked up the last bag and two sacks of clothes. “You go first, Lu. I’m right behind you.”

Carolyn followed them up on the porch and glared at Elam as she squeezed past him.

“What was that for?” he said.

Carolyn didn’t say anything, certain that Elam already knew the answer.

Brandon Jones walked in the living room and saw Kelsey curled up on the couch, reading a novel. “You’ve been pouting all day. Are you still mad about Buzz’s comment at breakfast?”

“What do you think?” Kelsey Jones turned the page.

“I think it was inappropriate, but that’s just Buzz. He didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Yes, he did. And everyone who overheard his tacky comment knew
exactly
what he was getting at. There’s no excuse for him embarrassing us that way.”

“No one takes Buzz seriously.”

Kelsey sighed. “That’s beside the point. Why didn’t you just tell him to knock it off?”

“I thought it was more important to explain the real reason we were late, especially with so many ears around.”

“Well, after Buzz’s smarty remark about our faces being as red as the Tabasco sauce, I’m sure everyone thinks you made up the whole story about getting a phone call on our way out the door.”

Brandon flopped on the couch next to her. “Sorry. I didn’t think it was that big a deal.”

“Maybe it wouldn’t have been if it were just a one-time comment, but Buzz deliberately makes me blush every time we’re around him. And that off-color remark he made about Ivy was uncalled for. I just wanted to slap him. I’ve never appreciated his innuendos or his off-color jokes or the way he tries to make me feel like a prude because I don’t laugh at his locker-room humor. I put up with it only because he and Maggie were so nice to us when we first moved here. But I’ve had it. His comment today was just too personal and too public.”

“Come on, Kel, you’re overreacting.”

“I don’t want to be around Buzz anymore.” She turned the page on her book and didn’t look at him.

“You’d seriously drop the Eastons just because Buzz is a big tease?”

“No, because Buzz is a big jerk.”

Brandon reached over and took the book from Kelsey’s hand. “Okay, honey. We don’t have to hang out with the Eastons as a couple. Buzz and I can do our own thing.”

“I just don’t get why you put up with him.”

“You kidding? He’s my free ticket to shooting the rapids. I’ve always thrived on adventure. You know that.”

“There’s plenty to do right here at the camp. How much adventure do you need?”

Brandon tugged playfully at her sleeve. “Oh, I don’t know. I still haven’t jumped out of an airplane, gone hang gliding, or tried to climb Mt. Everest. I haven’t been scuba diving or bungee jumping. I’ve never hunted for bear. Raced the Indy 500 or the Iditarod. I’ve never applied for a job as a stuntman or gone out for rugby, or—”

“Okay, okay, I get the point.” Kelsey smiled and leaned her head on the back of the couch, then turned to him, her sleek, dark hair draping her shoulders. “I suppose I should be glad you have a guy friend to do the rough stuff with since I’m never going to enjoy it.”

“But there’re plenty of things you and I do together that are great fun. I love being with you. And for those occasional times
when I need an outlet for this wild and crazy streak of mine, there’s Buzz.”

“Well, at least he’s good for something.”

Brandon moved over next to Kelsey and put his arm around her. “What do you say we go take a ride on the snowmobiles?”

“Now?”

“Yeah. I thought we could ride up to the Griffiths’ house and see if Ivy and Montana made it in.”

Ivy Griffith sat at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of hot cocoa, keenly aware that her father seemed to have disappeared after depositing their suitcases outside the guest rooms in the upstairs hallway.

“Montana and Sasha are getting along famously,” Carolyn said, nodding toward the window.

Ivy looked outside, hit with a sense of déjá vu as she saw her son riding a sled down the same steep hill she and Rusty had favored when they were kids, Sasha romping alongside, yelping playfully.

“Mom, whatever happened to Zeke?”

“That old pooch lived to be sixteen, and then one morning his heart just stopped. Nearly killed Rusty when he couldn’t rouse him.”

“Montana’s never had a dog. None of the places we lived would allow pets without a huge deposit.”
Plus I couldn’t afford another mouth to feed
.

“Well, Sasha has more energy than your father and I ever imagined when we bought her. She loves to roam but never stays gone long. She seems to need a lot of company and affection. Montana will be good for her. How’s the hot cocoa?”

Ivy nodded. “Good. Thanks.”

“Does it seem strange being back in your old bedroom?”

“Yeah, kind of. But I like the room yellow, and the patchwork quilt you have on the bed really looks nice.”

“Thanks. I bought it from Kelsey Jones. She’s about your age
and married to our camp director. I’ll introduce you.”

Ivy looked out at the log buildings nestled among the trees a couple hundred yards down the hill. “It never occurred to me you and Dad would sell off the property.”

“We didn’t. We own the land
and
the facilities,” Carolyn said. “But after Rusty left home, we felt pretty isolated out here. So your dad got the idea to invest in building a camp and conference center. It’s been a wonderful way for us to stay plugged in somewhere without having to be involved in the day-to-day operation. Plus it’s been a real boost to the town’s economy, and we’ve met some of the most interesting people from all over the world.”

“Don’t you ever miss looking out and seeing only land and mountains?”

“The camp doesn’t obstruct our view of the mountains in the slightest, and we have enough privacy. I can’t wait to show you what a beautiful facility it is.”

Ivy didn’t care if it looked like the Taj Mahal. Its presence was intrusive—and a stumbling block to preserving the memories of her childhood.

“You look upset,” Carolyn said.

“Not really. It was pretty dumb of me to think nothing had changed in ten years.”

“A lot has changed in Tanner County, and especially Jacob’s Ear. You’re going to be amazed at the volume of tourists.”

“Is Jewel’s Café still in business?”

“Uh-huh. Your father and I ate breakfast there just this morning. Jewel Sadler still runs it. She’s getting old, but I don’t think the café has changed at all since you left.”

Ivy smiled. “Is that dreadful moose head still hanging on the wall?”

“Unfortunately.” Carolyn took a sip of cocoa. “Honey, do you think you should go check on Lu? If she sleeps much longer she may not sleep tonight.”

“Don’t worry. Lu can always sleep.”

Carolyn moved her spoon slowly back and forth in her cup. “You haven’t told me much about her.”

“Lu lived in the apartment next to mine and knew I was spaced out on drugs and half the time didn’t even know Montana was there. She’d come get him and take care of him at her place. We’ve been through a lot together. Would it be okay if we don’t get into that right now?”

“All right.”

“So why is Dad avoiding me?”

“Avoiding is a strong word. I think he’s cautious about opening his heart too quickly. Your absence has been devastating to him.”

“I get that. But he was abrupt with Montana, don’t you think?”

“I do. But again, he’s cautious about getting hurt again. Give him time.”

“Maybe it was a mistake coming home.”

Carolyn glanced up, her gaze colliding with Ivy’s. “Not if you’re serious about wanting to make things right. We love you. And there’s nothing we want more than to see you happy.”

“I know. I don’t think until I had Montana that I understood how much parents love their kids.”

“It’s pretty amazing, all right.”

Ivy glanced at the calendar that was stuck to the refrigerator with a magnet. “I guess I’ll need to get Montana enrolled in school Monday.”

“Not next week,” Carolyn said. “It’s spring break.”

The doorbell rang.