Page 20

CASE

Case: Good morning, Beautiful. I know you’re working today but I was thinking about last night and it made me smile. Thought you should know.

Isla: Just on my break and now I’m getting curious looks because I’m grinning like a crazy person. Mom loved the haskaps. And guess what? She went to school with Marty Martin!

Case: That's totally a small town thing. Everyone seems to know everyone in Timber Falls.

Isla: Yep. Why do you think I like mysteries and puzzles so much? When you can’t get away with much, you look for secrets…

Case: I already know you and Birdie got up to mischief as teenagers. Will told us all about the lookout on the town limits where everyone goes to ‘socialize’.

Isla: Of COURSE she did haha. She led me astray, I swear.

I snort as I lean back in my chair, the work in front of me no longer holding my focus.

Case: Hmmm, somehow I think you corrupted each other.

Isla: I plead the Fifth… How’s your day going?

Case: Grumps hasn’t gone wandering again since his little tree farm adventure, so that’s a bonus. Jude swears something has been nibbling in his garden beds at night though so maybe he’s moved to greener pastures–or plants.

Isla: Sounds like you’ve got another mystery to solve up on the mountain.

Case: As long as it’s not a moose. I’ve heard they can be scary when they want to be.

Isla: Nah. They’re harmless unless a bull is in rut or you come across a mama protecting her young. If their hair is standing on end or their ears are back, steer clear.

Case: Good to know.

Isla: I was thinking about the town records thing. I’ve got time Monday afternoon after my shift at the restaurant if you’re still interested.

I’m glad I’m alone in my room because if my brothers saw my grin right now, they’d be merciless.

Case: Are you asking me out on a date, beautiful?

Isla: Sure sounds like it. What do you say?

Case: No need to ask. It’ll always be yes when it comes to you.

Isla: Great, now I’m blushing.

Case: I happen to like making you blush.

Isla: Now I know why you do it so much!

Case: Always. I’ll let you go and enjoy the rest of your break.

Isla: Talk later?

Case: I like our nightly chats. I look forward to them.

Isla: Me too. Watch out for those moose… or is it mooses?

Case: Isn’t Moose both singular and plural?

Isla: Yet another puzzle to solve.

Unfortunately—maybe—for me, I’m still grinning like an idiot when Wyatt knocks on the door frame and wanders in.

“Let me guess. You were either textin’ or thinkin’ about Isla,” he says, leaning against the doorway.

I spin my chair around his way and stretch out my legs. “What makes you say that?”

“The goofy smile. It’s a dead giveaway. I saw it enough back home when the rest of them met their Ones.”

Other than Will, Wyatt is the only other person here to have seen the Call in action. Not for himself just yet–the kid has only just turned eighteen–but his father and the five other owners of Bull Mountain Ranch.

“Can I ask you a question about it? The Call, I mean?”

Wyatt shrugs. “Sure. What do you want to know?”

“Has there been a situation where the other person doesn’t believe in it?”

His eyes widen before understanding fills his gaze.

“Yep. But it didn’t last long.” He pushes off the doorframe and makes his way over to my bed, taking a seat.

“It was Landry and Starchild. He knew about the Call and had a huge crush on her, but she just thought he was shy. Then she went to visit Bear Mountain with her grandmother and overheard them talkin’ about the Call and the mountain choosin’ a soulmate.

Next thing you know, she’s stormin’ into the town’s bookstore and tellin’ Lan that no mountain would ever tell her who to love. ”

“Damn,” I say slowly. “But they’re together now, right?” he nods. “Did she feel it too? Or did Landry win her over?”

A knowing grin appears on his face. “Bit of both. The thing is, if you are hearin’ the mountain’s call, you’ve got to remember one important thing.”

I lean forward on my chair, my arms steepling on my legs. “What’s that?”

“Out of everyone back home who is now blissfully happy with their soulmates, the thing they all have in common is that–no matter how long it takes–the mountain always gets it right. Once you believe that and trust it, nothin’ can stand in your way.

" His expression turns curious. “Does Isla not believe in the Call? I thought you weren’t goin’ to tell her yet? ”

“I haven’t yet, but she did say she doesn’t believe in it. At least the whole ‘soulmates bein’ called to the mountain’ idea part, anyway.”

Wyatt frowns. “Not to state the obvious but she wasn’t called to the mountain. You were.”

My eyes widen. “You’re right. It’s the same with Will too.”

“At the end of the day, I don’t think it matters how your paths cross,” he continues.

Realization hits me. “Just that they cross at all.”

“You got it,” he says, pushing up to his feet and making to leave.

“Don’t tell me you came in here just to impart some of your mountain lore wisdom on me,” I say, shooting him a smirk.

“Nah. Came to tell you I’ve just made more cowboy brew for your mid-mornin’ caffeine fix, and your brothers have called an impromptu meetin’ in the cabin and asked me to come find you.”

“Sure thing. Let me get a travel mug and I’ll meet y’all out there.”

“Already done,” he grins. “It’s on the kitchen counter, along with three others for your brothers. You can help me carry them out there.”

I snort, shaking my head as I quickly grab my phone to shoot Isla one last message.

Case: Duty calls. Apparently, there’s important ranch business to be conducted in one of the cabins we’re fixing up. Have a good day, beautiful.

Putting my phone down, I push up out of the chair to find our ranch hand’s lips twitching. “What?”

“You’re smitten.”

I shrug. “Yep. Not hidin’ it, either. There’s always just been somethin’ about her.”

“And that is the Call. Doesn’t matter if it happens on the mountain or off, it always ends the same.”

I shoot him a confused look. “And how’s that?”

“Just like Will and Birdie. All coupled up and in love . Mark my words, whether Isla believes in the Call or not, she won’t be able to deny your connection or that you were both made for each other.”

“I hope you’re right,” I reply honestly. Now that she’s back in my life, I can’t imagine it without her.

“Watch this space, Case. I give it a month tops. Then you’ll be all googly-eyed and lovey-dovey like everyone else. I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about that any time soon.”

“But you think you will eventually?”

“Oh yeah. I’m hopin’ for it. Willin’ to work the land and do what I love to make sure I’m worthy of the spirit’s appreciation. I saw my parents together, and now Dad with Mags, and all the other couples. It’s inspirin’ and somethin’ I want for myself one day,” he says, his expression softening.

I arch a brow his way. “But not now?”

“Hell no. I’m only eighteen. I’ve got far too much of the world to see.” His smirk tells me it’s not the world he’s talking about.

“You mean the single women of Timber Falls?”

“On that note, we better get goin’,” he says by way of an answer.

Funnily enough, he doesn’t need to confirm it. His dancing eyes as he leaves my room says it for him.

We walk into the cabin ten minutes later, coffee cups in hand.

“You summoned me, your highnesses,” I say as we dish out the drinks.

“Summoned coffee, sure,” Will replies dryly.

I snort. “Some of us still have jobs away from the mountain, brother.”

Sutton and Will share a look. “Why’re you still workin’ for them? You know you don’t have to, right? We’ve got more than enough reserves to tide us over for a while thanks to Gramps, and I–”

“ We ,” my twin adds.

Jude lifts his chin. “Me too.”

Will nods. “OK– we –don’t want you wearin’ yourself out tryin’ to do everythin’ for everyone because you think you’re not pullin’ your weight. I don’t want you to burn out like I did. Believe me, it’s not fun.”

I stare at Sutton who meets my gaze and slowly arches his brow as if challenging me to argue.

“I think we’re all doin’ great so far,” Will continues. “We have our pet projects. We pitch in and help each other to get the chores done. And if you think back to the state of the ranch when we arrived, we’ve made a lot of progress. “We’ve got a donkey–”

“For now , at least,” I mutter, earning a few chuckles from around the room.

Will smirks. “Leave Grumps alone.”

“I will if he leaves my trees alone,” I grumble.

“ Anyway …” Will rolls his eyes. “We’ve also got two steers and more on the way. There’s Jude’s garden beds and greenhouse, the Zen Garden is takin’ shape and your tree farm is planted. When you put it all together, it all adds up.”

My brows draw together as something occurs to me. “Is this an intervention?”

Will shakes his head. “More a meetin’ of minds, makin’ sure we’re all still on the same page. It’s important to acknowledge how far we’ve come considerin’ we’re a bunch of city slickers tryin’ to be Alaskan mountain men.”

“OK…” I reply, still confused. “What has this got to do with me still doin’ consultin’ work?”

Jude looks at me with understanding in his eyes. “We’re sayin’ you don’t have to do it anymore.”

My frown deepens. “What if I want to?”

“Do you?” Sutton asks, bouncing the question back to me.

The problem with being a twin is that they know you. Add in the fact that mine is a therapist and then he proves that sometimes he knows me better than I know myself.

“OK. I don’t. But I didn’t want to let them down. It’s not like they had any warnin’ that I was leavin’.”

“They had months, Case. That’s more notice than most employees give,” Will replies.

Sutton cocks his head. “Is it just them?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said you didn’t want to let your bosses and coworkers down. I’m askin’ if you’re worried about lettin’ us down too,” Sutton presses.

I nod, choosing to focus on my coffee mug instead of the concerned looks I can almost guarantee they’re giving me.