Page 36 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

“What about Avery? I’m sure that would be a lot more comfortable for Katie, and Avery’s a capable hiker.”

“She has to work. And with the upcoming bridge closure, she can hardly afford to turn away business now.”

Cooper bit back an expletive. He had to get out of this. He shouldn’t be alone with Kate, not even for the few hours this hike would take. Not with the thoughts and—dare he say it—feelings he’d been having.

Cooper scratched the back of his head. “I don’t know, man. She should probably just put it off a weekend, then you could go with her.”

“Sunday’s her brother’s birthday—or would’ve been. She’s been waiting months to do this.”

Cooper dropped his head into his hand.Come on, God. Throw me a bone here. I’m trying to do the right thing.

“I’m sure she’d be fine,” Cooper said. “She’d probably rather go it alone than have a virtual stranger along.” He balked at those words. Kate hardly felt like a stranger to him, and he’d be willing to bet she felt the same way. Even more reason to get out of this. “Can’t Avery take off work this one time?”

“Come on, Coop. I’d feel a lot better knowing she had a man along.”

The trail was generally safe, the hikers friendly and supportive. But a while back there’d been a stabbing. A man died and a womanwas gravely injured. Then there were the bears. And the chance of injury. Gavin’s fears weren’t completely unfounded.

Truth was, Cooper wanted to be with her—and that only proved what a bad idea this was. He’d be better off digging a drainage ditch. Ten drainage ditches. Gavin had no idea what he was asking, but there was nothing Cooper wouldn’t do for his brother.

He let out a long, deep sigh. “All right. If she’s okay with it, I guess I’ll tag along.”

“Hey, that’s great. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver. I’ve already loaned her my overnight gear so she’s all set. You’ll just have to pack a—”

“Wait... Overnight gear? This is an overnight hike?”

“All the way up to Max Patch.”

Max Patch. A wave of relief came over him. They could just drive to the mountain, take the short loop trail, scatter the ashes, and be done—few hours, tops. “Oh, that’s great. We could just drive there then and walk up.”

“Coop, it’s part of the journey. Her brother wanted to do that hike—Riverbend to Max Patch—and now he can’t.”

“Right. The journey.”

“She’s had this planned a long time. We already dropped her car up at Max Patch, so you’ll be all set for the return home after... you know, she scatters his ashes.”

Dread swamped him even as guilt pierced his heart. Poor Kate. This had to be awful for her. He’d just have to gut his way through it. He could do that for her, for his brother. Couldn’t he?

“All right. I guess I’ll do it.”

“Thanks, man. You’re a good brother.”

Cooper hoped and prayed he was good enough.

14

Katie handed the server her menu and settled back in the wooden chair, her mind on that nerve-wracking meeting with her mother. The coffee date was one week away, and Katie was both eager and dreading it. What if that path only led to more disappointment and heartache? What if she discovered her mother was happy to leave her children in the past? Katie didn’t think she could handle another rejection.

Across from her Gavin surveyed the specials menu. His dark hair had grown out and flopped over his forehead, giving him a boyish look that tweaked at her heart.

Being a Friday night at suppertime, the Trailhead Bar and Grill was packed. A band was setting up to play in the far corner, and the smell of grilled steak and Parmesan fries hung temptingly in the air.

Gavin leaned forward, elbows on the table. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m just . . . Long day, I guess.”

“And a long weekend ahead.”

“Yeah.”