Page 25 of Mountain Man

Beau’s eyebrows shot up. “Birdie Winters?”

“How did you know?”

“They think you’re dead.” He cursed. “Since the snow’s finally let up, they’d planned a search party. They’re heading up tomorrow…to bring down a body.”

Oh God. I felt ill.

Beau shook his head. “What the hell were you thinking?” he said to Hank. “Why didn’t you bring her down two days ago when the tracks started to clear?” He pulled something from his pocket.

“She hurt her ankle. Couldn’t move her,” Hank said.

Beau gave me a once-over. “She’s not favoring it now. Seems all right to me.”

I felt my face heat.

Beau’s gaze came back to my face, then it shot back to Hank and he grinned again.

“Don’t say one fucking word,” Hank growled.

“Wasn’t going to.” Beau held something up. “You’re lucky I have this.” He glanced at me. “Satellite phone. I’ll call, let them know you’re safe and well and coming back…” His brows lifted, waiting for an answer.

“Tomorrow,” Hank said.

I listened as Beau made the call, then he helped himself to leftover dinner and plonked down in one of the chairs around the table.

Hank was quiet, surly, sitting opposite him. I was in the only armchair in the room, by the fire.

Beau looked at Hank and smirked. “If you weren’t so damn stubborn and bought a goddamn phone I wouldn’t have had to come all the way up here. I’m the one that should be pissed, not you.”

“I’m not pissed.”

Beau snorted. “You look pissed from where I’m sitting.”

Hank growled.

Beau laughed.

I sat there, fascinated, watching the exchange. They were so alike in appearance, but that was as far as it went.

“I can see why you’d be annoyed, of course…”

“Beau,” Hank said, warning clear in his voice.

“You must have known I’d show up here when you didn’t arrive home?”

Hanks jaw tightened. “Like I said, I lost track of time.”

“I’ll bet,” Beau said, then his eyes slid to me.

Hank shot to his feet, grabbed his brother by the back of his sweater and shoved him toward the door. “A word. Outside.”

Beau winked at me and let his brother push him out the door. “We’ll be right back.”

7

Hank

Goddamn Beau.