Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

Liz and Gloria went inside the cabin, with Zeke chattering in Liz’s arms as Gloria closed the door behind them.

Hannah walked down the front steps and across the lawn to Travis’s side. “She ate two slices of peanut butter pie, drank one soda, and showered, so I guess you can say we made progress.”

Travis smiled. “Definitely.” He tilted his head back and eyed the blue sky and bright sun. “From what Gloria said, warmer weather’s on the way and we’ve made it past the last frost. Thought I’d head back to my cabin and get Joyful Judy in the ground.”

Hannah frowned. “Joyful Judy?”

“The lantana plant Gloria gave me. It survived our drive through the fire and almost a week in that little motel room. Figured I’d find a nice, sunny place to plant it and show it off to Gloria when spring rolls around.” He held out his hand. “Want to help me scout out a place for her to put down roots?”

Hannah laughed. “I’d love to.” She slipped her hand in Travis’s and leaned into him, matching her pace to his as they walked along the dirt path.

It felt good to be outside again, to feel the warmth of the sun on his face and fill his lungs with clean, fresh air instead of thick, ash-laden smoke. They walked over a mile, following the dirt path that led from the three cabins by the ranch’s entrance to the gravel driveway, and then continued on to the main lodge.

The sound of brisk sweeping and heavy thumping echoed across the grounds, and Travis shielded his eyes as he peered up at the lodge’s deck. Red was there, sweeping the floor of the large deck vigorously and stopping occasionally to wipe his brow, while Margaret beat a large rug against the deck railing and waved clouds of dust away.

“I see Red and Margaret are still hard at work,” Travis said. “Gloria mentioned that word has gotten out about us opening up the ranch to those who need shelter and that Margaret received a ton of calls this morning.”

“A representative from the city called, too. They’re collecting donations of food and clothing, and said they’ll send a truck with supplies to us around one this afternoon.” Hannah glanced over her shoulder at the gravel driveway. “That’s not too far away now, so they should be here soon.”

Travis checked his wristwatch. “After I plant the lantana, I’ll head back up here and help Red clean the deck, then unload the truck when it arrives.”

“I’ll help you.” Hannah faced him and took his other hand in hers. “And listen, I . . . I wanted to ask you if . . .”

Travis waited as she opened and closed her mouth twice, preparing to speak, then seemed to change her mind and look away. “Hannah? What do you want to ask me?”

“Nothing.” She released one of his hands and tugged him forward. “Let’s keep going.”

Smiling, Travis shook his head and they continued on, strolling across the field and slowing when they reached the paddock where the horses roamed. Juno and Ruby trotted over to the fence, and the new mare followed their lead and eased her head over the top fence rung for attention.

“You haven’t given her a name yet,” Hannah said.

Travis’s hand slowed on the mare’s neck as he caught Hannah’s eyes on him. “I haven’t, have I? Guess things got out of hand so quickly. . . .” He studied the mare, trailing his palm gently over the black and white markings covering her hide, and smiled as he recalled Zeke’s mispronunciation of the mare’s color pattern. “Besides, I think Zeke’s already given her one.” He rubbed the mare’s neck. “How about it, girl? Oreo suit you? Zeke seemed to like it.”

The mare eased closer and ducked her head for more attention.

Hannah laughed. “I think she agrees.”

After visiting the horses for a few minutes, they walked beside the calm stream and across the bridge, then climbed the steep trail to Travis’s cabin. They circled the structure, checking for damage they might have missed during the first once-over the day they’d arrived.

“Looks like the wind shifted direction right before the fire reached the cabin,” Hannah said, trailing her hand along the wooden porch rail as they walked up the front steps. “Other than some downed trees out back, everything here is sound.”

“Yeah. We were incredibly lucky.” Travis opened the door and stepped inside. “I’ll grab the plant and be back in a sec. I watered it this morning and put it in the sink to drain.”

He went to the bathroom and retrieved the potted lantana from the sink. When he came out, Hannah stood with her back to him by the small desk in front of the window.

“There’s a beautiful view from up here.” She placed her hands on top of the desk and leaned closer, her fingers spreading over scattered sheets of paper.

Heart pounding against his ribs, Travis stopped in the middle of the room and stared, his hands clenching around the potted plant.

In his haste to evacuate during the fire a week ago, he’d forgotten he’d left the letters behind on the desk, and since he’d returned to the ranch, he’d worked such long hours preparing cabins and rooms in the lodge that he’d fallen, exhausted, into bed the past two nights already half asleep. He’d written his last letter to Margaret two days ago, had stowed it in his bag with the bundle of others, and had no plans to write another.

But right there, beneath the tip of Hannah’s thumb, were the words Neil Alden.

Hannah lowered her head and drummed her fingers against the papers. “You know, I was thinking. . . .”

Travis froze, his pulse pounding in his ears and filling her silence. “Hannah?”

She didn’t speak, but her hands balled into fists against the letters.