Buried Mountain Secrets. Terri Reed

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