Chapter 9 #2
Long distance had been his idea. It was the only plan he’d been able to come up with that would keep Sarah in his life while she figured out what she wanted to.
While they both figured out what they wanted to do.
He’d take whatever weekends or days off with her he could get.
In New York. At camp. Wherever they could manage in between.
It wouldn’t be enough for him. Not when he’d gotten used to seeing that blissed out look she got at that first hit of coffee in the morning or the utter hero worship in her eyes when he was the one who provided it.
Not when he’d be spending the rest of the summer working alongside a woman who would inevitably remind him of her at every turn but not be her.
Damn, that was going to suck.
They were almost to Boone’s by the time she made the call. “Hey, it’s me. I’m on my way to Briarsted to meet you. Call me back.” She hung up. “Straight to voicemail.”
“Well, camp’s not the only place with lousy reception up here. Maybe she’s on her way.”
“Hopefully.” But the lip Sarah caught between her teeth said she wasn’t sure she believed that.
Beckett linked his fingers with hers over the console.
They didn’t talk on the rest of the drive. What was there to say? Neither of them was into idle chitchat, and the last thing they wanted to discuss was what was coming. Taryn didn’t answer any of the other calls Sarah made on the way to town.
As he turned onto the main street of town, she blew out a breath.
“I don’t even know what to look for. She was supposed to be flying out here, not driving.
I have no clue if she even thought to reserve a rental car or considered how she was getting here.
As it is, I’ll have to book a train back down to New York.
Chances are, I won’t make it on one today, which leaves the question of where the hell I’m staying tonight. ”
Beckett wanted her back in his bed. But that was hardly practical under the circumstances. “Let’s get out and walk a bit. Stretch our legs and see what there is to see.”
Sunlight filtered through the lush canopy of oak and maple trees that lined both sides of the street.
They strode down the sidewalk, past the red brick and white wooden historic buildings housing boutiques and restaurants and art galleries.
Scents of grilled meat and flowers tickled Beckett’s nose, reminding him that they’d missed lunch for this trip.
It was cute, quaint little town that begged exploration.
But he didn’t think Sarah saw a bit of it.
When they reached the end of the street, she stopped. “She’s not here.”
“You don’t know that. She could be here somewhere.” Though Beckett had his doubts.
She just looked at him. “She’s not here. I know.”
“Is that one of those twin things?”
“Twinsense. Past experience. I just know that this is not like her.” Frustration fully made way for worry now. “I should have heard from her before now. At the very least, as soon as she booked her flights, she should’ve forwarded them to me. What if something happened to her?”
After all his years as a park ranger, Beckett knew well enough that even experienced outdoorsmen could get into trouble in the wild. He didn’t give voice to any of the potential scenarios that immediately popped into his head, instead going into problem-solving mode to keep Sarah calm.
“That seems like something we can find out. Do you have a way to contact the company she worked for? To find out if she really has gotten back from this guide trip?”
“You’re right. Let me think. I don’t know the number directly, but I think I can find it.” She hunched over her phone, fingers flying as she searched for the company’s website. “Ah ha!”
Beckett surreptitiously crossed his fingers as she dialed the number.
“Wind River Adventures. This is Roxanne.”
“Hi Roxanne. I’m hoping you can help me.”
He listened as she explained who she was and that her sister was a guide for their company and she was hoping she could speak to someone who could tell her where Taryn was.
“Of course, I’ll wait.”
A male voice came on the line, much quieter than the first woman.
“Yes, I’m Sarah Meadows, Taryn’s sister.
I’m trying to find out if she returned from the last guide trip she took.
I was expecting to hear from her by now.
” Pause. “She hasn’t?” Sarah’s hand shot out to grab his, and Beckett held on tight.
“Well, has she checked in? Do you know whether she’s okay?
How do you know something didn’t go wrong on the trail? ” Another pause. “Uh huh. Uh huh.”
Sarah sucked in a slow, controlled breath. “I see. Thank you for letting me know. As soon as she returns please tell her to contact me immediately. It’s important.”
The moment she hung up the phone, she dropped her head to his chest. Her voice was slightly muffled against his shirt.
“Apparently they radioed in from the trail asking for an extension. She did evidently ask that her boss contact me, but they got my number wrong and just… didn’t try to reach back out to correct it. They expect her in tomorrow.”
Beckett stroked a hand down her hair. “So she’s not going to make it back in time for the certification tests.
” It wasn’t a question. There was no way she’d be getting back from the trail at some point tomorrow and be able to find flights back east in time to make it all the way to camp first thing in the morning the day after.
Sarah shook her head.
I don’t have to say goodbye yet. The relief that crashed through him at that was enormous, but he didn’t share it.
Sarah straightened, pinching the bridge of her nose. Every line of her body shouted anger and frustration and exhaustion. And above the rest of it, resignation because this was so clearly par for the course for how things worked with her sister.
“Well, that’s…” He trailed off, trying to find some word to describe the situation that wouldn’t be offensive to her sister.
“That’s Taryn. This has been her all our lives. I love her, but half the time, I think she needs a damned keeper.”
And now Beckett understood her perfectionism and insistence on finishing things as he watched the relaxation and freedom Sarah had achieved over the past few days melt away.
“At least she did try to get a message to me, even if it didn’t work. That was something. But what are we going to do?”
He was going to hang on to every last second with her.
That wasn’t what she was asking, though.
“Well, you’re going to take the certification tests.
You’ve flown through all the training and everything I’ve thrown at you.
There is nothing that they’re going to put you through on a test that you can’t handle.
” He tightened his hold on her. “And, on the plus side, we’re going to embrace the fact that we get a little more time together. ”
Sarah cuddled closer, one corner of her mouth lifting. “Silver lining, huh?”
He smiled back, brushing his lips to hers. “The brightest.”