Page 23 of High Country Escape

“Do you have any idea who it could be?” Roxanne asked.

“I have an idea, all right. Dang kids.”

“Children? Who?”

“My nephews were visiting and roaming all over the ranch. I told them to stay away from the tiny houses, but you knowteenagers—they don’t listen. I’ll give ’em a good talking-to and it won’t happen again or I’ll have their hides.”

She supposed those prints could have been made by a teenager. Studying them again, she was sure of it. “I’m relieved it was only your nephews.”

“I’m sorry they upset you like this. If you see any of them down here, you be sure and call me. I’ll deal with them right away.”

He returned to the ATV and settled onto the seat, but didn’t start it immediately. One thing she had quickly learned was that Mr. Lusk liked to talk. “So how are you doing?” he asked. “Are you settling in all right?”

“I’m doing well,” she said. “I really love it here.”

“I heard about the accident with your car. Sounds like that was a close call. You have to be careful on these winding mountain roads. Especially at night. A deer or other animal jumps out in front of you, you try to avoid hitting them and the next thing you know, you’re over the edge. You’re lucky you weren’t killed.”

That wasn’t what had happened, but she was relieved he had landed on this explanation for her accident. “I’ll definitely be more careful,” she said. “The body shop should have my car back to me in about ten days.”

“You be sure you look the car over good before you sign off on the repairs.” He shook his finger at her. “There are too many people around who would try to take advantage of a young lady on her own.”

Let them try to take advantage of me, she thought but only nodded. “Thanks for the advice.”

“Now, this one time . . .”

She resigned herself to listening to a long-winded story when her phone vibrated, startling her. It was probably a junk call, but she was prepared to pretend it was an important workconsultation if it would move Mr. Lusk on his way. She checked the phone screen. Dalton Ames.

“That might be the biggest smile I’ve ever seen from you,” Mr. Lusk said. “That must be a call from someone special.”

“Um, just someone I need to talk to.” She backed toward the house. “It was good to see you, Mr. Lusk. Thanks for stopping by.” She waved, then darted inside. “Hello?”

“Hello, Roxanne. It’s Dalton. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time.”

“No, this is a good time.”

“I think I told you I’m working on some software for search and rescue?”

“Yes. How is that going?”

“I’ve run into a little problem getting the calendar to sync in all the different modules. I was wondering if you’d mind taking a look and seeing if there’s anything obvious I’m overlooking.”

“I’d be happy to help you.”

“Could you stop by my place sometime when you’re free? It shouldn’t take long.”

“I’d love that.” After a week of no contact, she had given up on seeing Dalton again. The idea had disappointed her, even though she had no one but herself to blame for his absence from her life. She had made it clear she wasn’t interested in dating. He had no doubt moved on to someone else.

Except he had called her and asked for her help. She still didn’t want romance, but maybe this would be the way for them to build a friendship of sorts. Another person to anchor her in her new life. “I could come this afternoon, if that works for you,” she said.

“Sure. Make it after four. I should be home by then. I’ll text my address.”

At four fifteen, Roxanne knocked on the door of Dylan’s apartment. She had thought he might live in the large complex of apartments near the river. Instead, Dylan rented a garage apartment off a quiet side street a few blocks from downtown.

“Thanks for coming over,” he said when he answered her knock. “Come on in.”

She followed him into a small, dim room outfitted with a sofa, a well-used recliner and a very large desk with a thirty-two-inch monitor. He pulled a second chair up to the desk. “You can sit here. Would you like some water? Or, I might have a Coke somewhere.”

“I’m fine, thanks.” She sat, and put her purse on the floor by the desk.