Page 29 of When the Silence Breaks

And he could get Sarah up that treacherous climb of thousands of feet, come snow or ice or blizzard.

“You said we’d go back to my truck today,” Sarah said. “I need my stuff.”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. The road’s closed. I’m waiting on a call so I can know when it’s safe. We could just replace whatever it is you needed if we have to.”

“Replacing my vehicle isn’t that easy.”

“I promise, we’ll focus on that when we return.”

Arms crossed, sulking, she stared out the window and said nothing. Their trek up the mountain deserved all his attention and focus. After loading up on additional supplies with Maisie at the outfitter’s, he stopped over at Mom’s diner, where he and Sarah grabbed a quick lunch. He didn’t want to give his mother the wrong idea about Sarah and tried to emphasize that she was nothing more than a new client. But Dinah-the-matchmaker’s eyes were bright with hope that he’d be hard-pressed to miss. Ryder would have left Sarah alone in her motel or at his house, but he couldn’t risk it.

Then they hit Good Adventures for technical climbing gear Ryder had in his old locker. He’d avoid the scenario that required that sort of gear, if possible, but he wanted to be prepared. He got his personal harness, carabiners, crampons, and an ice ax—things he hadn’t wanted to check out through the business account because this trip wasn’t official. Sarah thought she was hiring him, but he wasn’t charging her or making her sign papers. She seemed too preoccupied to even notice. He also pulled out his old mountaineering rope, a lightweight but sturdy dynamic line. He’d left it coiled neatly in a bag at the bottom of the locker. Yeah. He should have tossed this rope. He’d seen it last the day Dad died. And just like that ... that day on the mountain slammed him. He would be in no place to go up with Sarah if he let that eat him alive again.

Back at home, he and Sarah started unloading the gear that he would organize into packs and put back in the truck tomorrow. Take them up to the trailhead and start from there.

A call came through his cell.

Just the man he’d hoped to hear from. He’d called Holt earlier and left a message. He glanced at Sarah. “My brother. I need to take this call.”

“Go ahead. I’m taking a break anyway.” She headed for the house.

Weird watching a woman enter his home as if she was the lady of the house. He shook off the image and the warm thought of Sarah at home at his place. He strolled out away from the house so she couldn’t catch wind of his conversation as he stared at the mountain he would hike tomorrow.

He answered the call. “What’s up?”

“Hey, little bro. Mom told me you met someone nice.”

Not what he’d expected to hear, though maybe he should have. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Deny, deny, deny.

“Mom said she had dinner with you last night.”

“You know our mother. She invited someone to dinner. I just happened to be there.”

“And lunch at the diner today?”

News traveled entirely too fast. He wanted to talk to Holt but didn’t like this line of questioning. “So?”

“So, she also said you’re taking this woman up the mountain. Are you?”

“Not that it’s your business, but yes.”What are you doing, Ryder? Youneed Holt’s help here.

“And you think that’s a good idea? You haven’t been on a climb or led anyone out as a guide in too long. Mom’s worried about you.” Translation—Holt was concerned.

Wait. Mom hand-selected this woman for Ryder and invited her to dinner, but now she didn’t want him spending a couple of days with her on the mountain?

“Are you calling on her behalf? Or is there anything more to this inquisition?”

“It wasn’t your fault, Ryder. I’m glad you’re going, finally, but take someone experienced with you.”

“Everyone is booked.” And this needed to be just him and Sarah. No one else needed to be dragged into the danger.

“You called me, though, remember? I’m returning your call, so is there anything I can do?”

“You don’t need to go with me, if that’s what you’re offering,” Ryder said.

“I can’t anyway. I’m in the middle.”

Meaning Holt was in the thick of things and couldn’t get away. “You can at least pray.” There was more at play than a simple climb. How much should Ryder share?