6
ALEXANDRA
A lex took over driving because fear for her life overwhelmed her need to suck up, but she needn’t have worried that Orson was going to take offense. He acted like he’d never seen waterfalls or mountains, craning at the views Alex had stopped appreciating years ago.
Every so often, he seemed to realize what he was doing and sat back in his seat, crossed his arms, and glared at the road. But it wasn’t many miles before he leaned forward again, gazing out at the broad sky with its fluffy clouds, snow-capped peaks, and scattered wildlife.
Alex kept up a chirpy, exhausting monologue when he wasn’t any help at all, and pulled over when she spotted Dahl sheep along the mountainside, pointing out the tiny forms. “They look like tiny patches of snow, but if you watch, they’ll move. If you want a closer look, there are binoculars in the glove box.”
He looked like he wanted to say yes but only grunted in reply, so she put the truck back in gear and pulled onto the highway. “We’re coming up on Thompson Pass,” she told him some time later, pulling into the campground for the view. He did use the binoculars then, sweeping the facing glaciers in interest.
“You should see Denali,” Alex told him. “It’s the tallest mountain in North America and worth a side trip.”
He gave an off-putting snort. It was fascinating to Alex to watch him struggle with himself. He was clearly excited to see the wilderness and had a youthful eagerness that was at complete odds with his more usual snarling, scowling demeanor. Every time he caught her watching him, he frowned harder and drew himself up.
“You mean Mt. McKinley?” he asked, sounding cross.
“They renamed it Denali, the Native name, like ten years ago,” Alex said as mildly as she could manage. “It means The Great One.” Should she giggle? Trying to keep up a light, air-headed conversation without pointing out his inaccuracies was frustrating. At least he hadn’t called Tok “Tock” since they’d made contact with the Valdez office. And he didn’t suggest a side-trip to see Denali, so Alex didn’t have to explain that it would add at least a day and a half to an already agonizing journey.
“It’s another four hours to Tok,” Alex reminded him. She didn’t want to rush his sight-seeing, and she was intrigued by the little glimpses of enthusiasm he seemed to be trying to hide, but she also looked forward to dropping her chirpy, bubbly facade and shutting a hotel door on Orson’s smug face.
He stomped back to the passenger side without offering to drive, so Alex slipped into the driver seat and clipped on her seatbelt.
“Music?” he asked gruffly when she forgot to be a tour guide for a while and they had lapsed into silence. The scenery got less epic as they descended down into the broad valley. “What do you like?”
Alex shrugged. “Anything but country.” Oh crap, what if he loves country music? Trying to please him was going to give her a damned ulcer.
“There’s no cell connection,” he grouched.
Sparkle, Alex reminded herself. “There are a lot of areas of the state with no connectivity. It can be a major safety concern.”
She glanced at his profile as he frowned at his phone.
Did he have to be so good-looking? It would be a lot easier to hate him if he was soft and slovenly. But that nose was just the right shape and size on his chiseled face, and every move he made was like music. The muscles in his neck suggested even more treasure beneath the collar of his plaid shirt. He had a mountain man lumberjack look, like he was used to swinging an axe or tossing hay bales.
Dammit, he probably did like country music.
Alex forced herself back to concentrating on the road, only speeding a sensible amount. She was glad when he got his phone seamlessly connected to the stereo and put on an 80’s rock mix that had a combination of favorites and tolerable popular songs.
They pulled off at Copper Center, a quaint little historical town with one of the best pipeline viewing stations in the state. She caught Orson looking longingly at the tourist district as they drove past. “If you’re looking for more excursions, the trip to McCarthy is worth making. Plan on overnighting out there.” And maybe don’t drive yourself , she almost added. That road was even rougher than this one and had more arresting views, tighter curves, and steeper drop-offs. She could see Orson driving straight into the river because he was watching the scenery.
He grunted as they pulled into the pipeline station.
They got out and Alex rolled her shoulders. This was early in the trip, but trying to maintain her charade of cheer was taking its toll on her muscles. She’d have to be mindful about stretching and maybe get up early to go jogging.
She nearly walked into Orson’s back, because he’d come to a stop without warning.
“It’s…so big.”
“That’s what she said,” Alex muttered.