Page 54 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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“Joseph was a good man.”

I nod.

“The best.”

She wipes her face quickly.

“Then why are people breaking onto grandpa’s property because of him?”

The question hangs in the air.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

I glance toward the barn.

Toward the lockbox.

Toward the flash drive we still haven’t cracked.

Then I look back at her.

“We’re going to figure that out,” I say.

“And until we do…”

I step a little closer.

“No one is touching this family.”

Buddy sits between us.

Guard dog mode activated.

Aspen looks up at me.

Fear still in her eyes.

But something else too.

Trust.

And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.

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