Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Nell stood at the bedroom mirror and fastened the small silver clasp of her necklace. Ryder crossed behind her on his way out of the bathroom, still buttoning his shirt, and reached past her for his watch. Nell inspected the dark green dress she was wearing.
A week ago, Ryder had come back safely from the raid.
That first night, Nell had awakened twice and reached across the mattress before she was fully conscious.
Both times, she had found him warm beside her.
Since the raid, Nell had been on PTO and had been recovering at Ryder’s apartment in Fate Mountain.
Tonight, they were going out to eat at Fate Mountain Lodge. Ryder fastened his watch and then met her eyes in the mirror. He stepped closer and kissed the bare curve of her neck. Nell leaned back against him for a moment, feeling the solid muscle of his chest against her back.
Their overnight bags waited beside the apartment door. Ryder took his keys from the narrow table in the entry, and they left. The road climbed through the trees, offering brief flashes of Lake Fate before the wooded slope hid it again. Then the Fate Mountain Lodge appeared at the end of the road.
Three stories of hand-hewn logs and natural stone rose along the ridge, its upper windows reflecting the last pale light over the water.
The driveway curved upward and opened beneath the lodge entrance.
Ryder pulled into the lot, and they got out with their bags.
Carved bears and eagles climbed the wood around the arched doorway.
Inside, exposed beams crossed the vaulted ceiling, and a stone fireplace spanned the far wall.
They quickly checked in and headed to the restaurant.
Beyond the dining room’s panoramic windows, the lake filled the view.
The western sky still held a wash of gold above the pine-dark ridge, while the water below reflected the deepening blue overhead.
Wrought-iron chandeliers cast warm light over white linen and polished wood.
The ma?tre d’ led them between the tables to one beside the glass.
Nell sat across from Ryder and opened the menu.
For several minutes, they gave their orders their full attention.
The baked brie was an easy choice for an appetizer.
Ryder considered two steaks before settling on the ribeye with roasted potatoes, and Nell chose the cedar-plank salmon with wild rice and roasted vegetables.
She ordered an Oregon Pinot Gris. Ryder chose a Pinot Noir.
After the server left with their orders, Ryder looked out over the lake.
Nell watched the color change on the water.
Their wine arrived. The Pinot Gris was cool and bright.
Silverware clinked on china. A server crossed from the kitchen with a tray balanced above one shoulder.
Other diners spoke in low tones as the sun slipped behind the ridge.
“Hartwell & Moss called this afternoon,” Nell said.
The baked brie arrived before Nell continued. The cheese was soft beneath its browned top, and steam escaped when Ryder cut into it.
“They’re cooperating with investigators. When my PTO is over, I go back to ordinary assignments. I still have to finish my training in Portland, but after that, they’ll let me work primarily remotely.”
Ryder lifted his wine. “To ordinary assignments.”
Nell touched her glass to his and drank.
Ryder asked whether Nell wanted to do anything with the rest of her PTO besides sleep, and she told him the sleep had been the point.
She wanted one morning on the lake trail, breakfast at the diner, and time with him that didn’t have to accomplish anything else.
“Tessa has her own attorney now,” Nell said after a while. “She’s still cooperating, but the attorney is handling contact with the investigators.”
“Good. She needs someone whose only job is looking out for her.”
The recovered records and digital backups were with investigators and prosecutors.
Marla, the man who had tried to burn the cartons, the attackers from Alder House, and the other suspects taken from the property remained in custody.
Nell might still be asked for a formal account of the records she had reviewed.
Beyond that, the case no longer required anything from her or Ryder.
When the entrées arrived, the windows reflected parts of the dining room over the dark lake. The scents of cedar and roasted vegetables rose with the steam from her plate.
“I’m coming back to Portland with you when your PTO ends,” Ryder said. “I can work there until Dom needs me here.”
The server offered dessert while they were still talking about Portland. They ordered one slice of huckleberry cheesecake to share. It arrived with a dark purple ribbon through the filling and tart berries cutting through the rich cream cheese.
“When I can work remotely, I want our home to be here,” she said. “In Fate Mountain.”
Ryder’s expression softened. “I want that too.”
When they finished their meal, they crossed the dining room and went through the double doors onto the patio. Cool air touched Nell’s bare arms as they crossed the stone to the railing.
Below the ridge, moonlight stretched across Lake Fate in a broken silver path. Pines crowded the dark shoreline. Nell rested her hands on the rail. Ryder came up behind her and settled one hand at her waist, his warmth steady against her back.
She stayed there with him until the cool air raised goose bumps along her arms. Then she turned into him. Ryder kissed her. Nell slid both arms around his neck and drew him against her, the stone railing cool at her back and his mouth warm on hers.