“Oh, man, tell me you got some of that.”
She nodded. “Wait until you see the pictures. It was awesome.”
Joel appeared in the doorway. His frowning head shake wiped her grin away, and she quickly grabbed a brush. “But I can finish telling you this later. Joel’s waiting.”
“All right. And hey, Jayne and Gina are at the bar, come join us when you’re done.” He left her saddle in the tack room, then swung the door closed as he entered the office. The latch didn’t catch all the way and she easily heard his brusque, “What can I do for you, Morgan?”
“For starters, someone needs to make sure Brittany starts listening to my instructions.”
“I vote you,” Casey quipped.
Her hand froze mid-stroke against Paelo’s ebony hide.
“This isn’t a game,” Joel snapped. “Poachers aside, we’re damn lucky that cougar didn’t attack. She seems to make a habit of going off by herself, and it’s not safe right now.”
She quietly latched the stall and moved closer to the door as Casey spoke again.
“I’ll remind her, but as you’ve figured out, she’s got a mind of her own. Was that it?”
“Not quite.” Irritation colored the ranger’s voice. “How’d you know about that meadow up there?”
“The one above camp? Britt and I found it one summer when we went for a hike. Four years ago, I think.”
“Who else knows about it?”
“I have no idea. I wouldn’t think many do other than the rangers, and the chopper pilots. That area of the park has limited public access and it's not marked on the hiker's map. I’ve taken my wife up there a time or two, but other than that we don’t advertize it or take guests up there.”
“Let’s keep it that way.”
“Sure.”
After a pause, she heard Joel ask, “And you haven’t been up there in the past week?”
The question was casual, but she knew Casey would connect the dots pretty quick. “If I had, Mark wouldn’t have sent Britt and Mitch, would he?”
“You got a time card or something I can verify?”
Silence, a rustling of paper, and then a loud bang that made her jump.
“Let me tell you, Morgan, I grew up here and I resent your implication that I’m involved in something that’s destroying part of our national park. My home. I thought you were just trying to scare me with your little threat the other night, but suddenly I realize you’re serious.”
“Of course I’m serious. It’s my job.”
“No, it’s mine,” Casey ground out. “I applied for an opening in the park just before you came. Ryan told me the job was mine, but then you showed up and suddenly the position is filled and they don’t have money in the budget for a full time ranger and a hot shot investigator.”
“I’m only here temporarily.”
“Believe me, you wouldn’t find anyone happier than me if you caught the bastard tomorrow and left the next day.”
“Good to know.”
The lowered intensity of Joel’s voice appeared to signal an end to their mutual hostility. Britt realized how intently she was eavesdropping and returned to the stall to finish taking care of her horse.
During the next ten minutes, occasional laughter interrupted the low drone of male voices from the office. Just like that and they’re friends? Wow, talk about a slap in the face. Her jaw clenched tight as she stepped into the aisle, swung the door closed and rammed the bolt home.
The scrape of a chair reached her ears, then the office door swung open on Casey’s invitation for Joel to join them for a drink.
She stooped for her camera bag as he replied, “I can stay for one beer.”