Elizabeth Goddard - Wilderness Reunion

Griffin left the registration desk to stand next to Alice, unsure what to do now. He didn’t want to leave her alone if someone had followed her and she was in danger. Where were her brothers?

“You can stay in the apartment above Wilderness, Inc.” Her words took him by surprise.

“What about your brother Coop? Isn’t that where he lives? Don’t you think you should ask him if I can stay with him first?” Though Griffin didn’t relish the idea.

“He got married. He and his wife, Hadley, live in a beautiful new cabin across town. He’s out on a wilderness-training excursion, and she’s off at an art show. Gray and his wife are gone, too. Wilderness, Inc. is busy in the summer. But the apartment is vacant. We keep it for guests and situations like this.”

Right. Her words served to emphasize what he’d missed since his departure.

“Well, then, looks like I have no choice but to take you up on that offer.”

Disappointment surged in her eyes. He’d made it sound like staying there was a last resort. Well, it kind of was. But it was still an option he was glad to have if it meant that he could stay close and keep an eye on her as she dealt with a possible stalker. And given what he already knew about her situation, he wouldn’t leave her alone.

Still carrying his bag and gear, the day began to wear on him, and he knew it was far from over. She led him to the Wilderness, Inc. offices and inside the house-slash-business, up the stairs to the apartment.

He dropped his bags on the sofa and turned to face her. “Okay, so what’s going on? Why did someone follow you? Who is it, do you know?”

“You first.” Her expression said she was loaded for bear. “I asked you why you came back to Gideon, and you said you’d fill me in on the details soon enough. How about now?”

* * *

Griffin frowned and shrugged out of his leather jacket. Clearly, he wasn’t ready to offer his explanation. But after two years Alice needed answers. She needed closure.

It had taken all of the last half hour for her to regain her composure. To control her anxiety, both over the man following her and over her reunion with Griffin—the shock of seeing him in the flesh.

And now, she wasn’t sure how to tell him what she’d seen in the woods, or if she even should. She’d have to if she were to explain why someone followed her tonight.

But Griffin could give his explanation first.

Earlier, she’d just been glad to have his sturdy, protective form to walk next to in case the man she’d run into in the woods had actually followed her to Gideon, but she reminded herself she could not trust Griffin. He could disappear and leave her hanging.

Alice had always been strong and self-sufficient, but at the moment she felt weak and exposed. She wasn’t sure how to get on top of this apprehension that had followed her out of the wilderness and into Gideon.

But she needed to tell him about what was going on. What had happened. So he wouldn’t be taken by surprise if a bad guy showed up. It’s just...she’d needed answers from Griffin first.

“Well?” she asked.

He frowned.

Would he answer her question or not?

Pulling his professional-grade camera out, he fiddled with it—his attempt at procrastination while he measured his words. And while he took his time answering, she took him in. His shoulders and biceps stretched his polo shirt, and he’d cut his shaggy brown hair to a shorter, crisp cut. He looked good. Too good, in fact, and she was sorry because that made it impossible for her to ignore her attraction to him. She shouldn’t be thinking about his hair or his muscles or how good he looked.

Then his gaze snapped to hers, as if he’d known what she’d been thinking about him.

Alice couldn’t hold his intensity and averted her eyes.

“I’m working with my uncle, Sheriff Kruse,” he finally said. “Going into the wilderness. I’m a freelancer, documenting the increasing use of public lands to grow marijuana and covering the hazards both to the environment and to the public, especially hikers.” His gaze and emphasis intensified on that last word.

Alice sagged. Deep down, she’d been expecting a much different answer. Had she honestly thought Griffin had finally come back for her after two long years? Or that his uncle had notified him of what she’d been through and he’d come running to her rescue? She plopped onto the sofa next to his duffel bag and his expensive camera case. Of course. Of course, he would be here for the action. This had nothing to do with Alice.

Griffin was all about action.

But, wait... “You mean your uncle called you? But why did—”

“I contacted him weeks ago along with other West Coast county sheriffs to let them in on my assignment. Let them know to contact me if they learned of any activity. I want to be there when things go down. I knew I could count on Uncle Davis to let me know if there was activity, but honestly I hadn’t expected to hear from him. Nor did I want this to happen so close to him or...to you.”

Weeks ago.

He’d been on the West Coast for weeks and had made no effort to contact her. Alice let those words sink in but refused to let them hurt. She had obviously thought much more of what they’d had together before than Griffin. And the importance of this situation far outweighed her pathetic actions of the past.

“He called to tell you about the marijuana farm so you could go in with him and film the whole thing?” He’d obviously told Griffin that Alice had been the one to find it, too. “But that’s so dangerous. Those men don’t just have guns. They have automatic weapons. They know their location has been discovered and they’ll be expecting you. They’re going to try to kill you, if they haven’t already moved out.” Alice couldn’t help the dread edging her tone. She didn’t want to go through losing Griffin again, though she’d never had him to begin with.

He blew out a breath, clearly frustrated. “Remember, I was a navy combat photographer. That means I was trained to operate alongside combat units in all military branches. I’ve worked alongside Special Forces, Alice. Documented critical missions. And now? I take on similar assignments, which you already know.” He scraped a hand through his hair. “Why do I need to explain this to you? You know this. But the reason...”

Working up the courage, she finally looked at him. His intense gaze took her in, reading her like always.

“Go on,” she said.

“The reason I came here tonight ahead of Uncle Davis is that I wanted to talk to you first.”

“You want to interview me about what I saw in the woods?”

“Well, that, yes, but I need to explain...about what happened before.” He cleared his throat. “Two years ago.”

Alice squeezed her eyes shut. Pictured herself begging him not to leave. What kind of person lowers themselves to beg? She hated that memory. She’d hated herself for the longest time after that. Still, he’d told her that he would return. And when he hadn’t, she felt all the more pathetic. She’d been worried about him. It took Cooper finding out the real story from the sheriff—that Griffin was still traveling on assignment and was fine. Her brother had to break the news to her like that...she cringed inside at that memory, too. She would never let herself be that vulnerable again.

She got it. He’d only left her the reassurance of his quick return to shut her up.

At first she’d wanted an explanation from him. Now? She wanted to just drop it. “I’d prefer it if we just forget about that.”

“Sure. I think that’s best. But not before I apologize for behaving like I did. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Alice.” He frowned, hesitating as though he struggled with the words. “I’m...sorry.”