Page 3 of Mountain Reclaiming

“What are the details?” I ask Alana, who reads the call.

“Looks like just a pack out. Thirty-three-year-old female, possible broken ankle. Not a full search, thankfully.” She looks up at Tanner. “We got this, boss. You stay and man the party. Wouldn’t want to disappoint the birthday girl. We’ll have Miss Meyer packed out and delivered to the ambulance before the party’s over.”

My brows furrow as I frown. “Wait, did you say Meyer?”

Alana nods, holding her phone up, screen out. “Yep, says the patient is an Ashlynn Meyer. Why? Know her?”

I squeeze the back of my neck with my right hand and blow out a lungful of air. “I used to.”

She raises an eyebrow at me. “Sounds like a story. You’ll have to share with the class on our way to get her.”

I shrug. “Not that much of a story really. We went to high school here together before I moved away.”

Tanner eyes me with skepticism. “I’m betting there’s more to it than that, but you’re off the hook for now. Better get going. Thanks for handling the call guys.”

“Of course, and tell Maisie happy birthday for us. Presents are already on the pile,” Alana assures him and then turns to me. “I’ll meet you all by the cars. I’m going to check in with Carter.”

I tip my chin in acknowledgment. Her boyfriend, Carter Derricks, is one of the Shadow Mountain Forest Rangers we work closely with. Most of them are here today as well because our offices are in the same building and Maisie’s friends with several of their brood.

Race, along with Jesse Whitelaw, Dakota Hickton, and Braden Meacher, the rest of our recently assembled SAR team, converge with me as we tromp toward our vehicles.

“Jesse and I can swing by the office to grab the trailer,” Dakota offers.

“Great, thanks.” I nod.

“Hey, wait up Cash,” Alana hollers, jogging toward us. “I’m going to catch a ride with you.”

“That works since Dakota offered to get the trailer with Jesse. We can head straight to the trail and up to her. You can do an assessment while we wait for the packboard and the rest of the crew.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she agrees as we climb in my truck.

I shoot off a text to my mom, letting her know I’m out on a call and will check in when I can. It’s strange checking in with her so much again after all the years of limited contact because of my deployments. It also makes me feel a bit like I’m back in high school.

“Which trail are we going to?” I ask, starting the vehicle and maneuvering my way through the rest of the cars parked at Tanner and Ella’s.

Alana arches an eyebrow at me once again. “Didn’t you read the call? Where were you going to go if I hadn’t gotten in with you?”

“Never did look at it since you were reading the details. I would’ve if you hadn’t come along.” I shrug my shoulder. Also, I may have been a bit distracted at hearing Ashlynn’s name.

“She’s a couple of miles up the trail to Echo Lake.”

Well shit, of course she is. I can’t help but wonder what she’s doing up there. I wasn’t even aware she was back in town. Last I heard when I ran into her sister a while back, she was in Chicago doing something with books, like she always wanted.

What does it mean that she’s back and she’s at the place where we used to spend so much time together?

Chapter Three

Ashlynn

The throbbing in my ankle is almost enough to distract me from the embarrassment of having to sit here and wait for the people who are coming to get me. I about died when I texted Paisley to tell her I couldn’t walk back to the trailhead, and she said she was calling the search and rescue team.

The idea of my oversized behind being packed out by other people is enough to make me want to crawl in a hole and die. I told her not to, but as she so kindly pointed out, there wasn’t any other option unless I planned on setting up camp and living out my days here. I seriously contemplated the idea for a couple of minutes because that seemed slightly less mortifying.

But it’s not like she gave me much choice in the matter, which made me regret texting her in the first place. Really, I should be thankful I was able to get a hold of her. I tried calling, but there wasn’t enough reception. Fortunately, there was enough for our texts to go through. If I had been farther down the trail, I’d have been shit out of luck.

So I should count my blessings that if this had to happen, it happened where I could still text for help. But it doesn’t take away the indignity I’m about to experience.

“Ashlynn!” a male voice calls my name.