Minnie Crockwell - Will Travel for Trouble 03 - Trouble at Glacier by Minnie Crockwell Read Free Book Online Page B

out my camera and took as many shots as I could in the short time that the sky carried the brilliant colors of sunset.
    I appreciate his escort, Ben, but I would have loved to be alone with you to share this , I said silently and with shame at my ingratitude of Rick’s kind offer.
    I am still here with you, Minerva, Ben said. We are together…always.
    My knees weakened at Ben’s tender tone. Would we be together always? Could I spend the rest of my life talking to a ghost? Never touching him? Never seeing him?
    A warm sensation brushed across my cheek. I swallowed hard.
    Was that you? I asked silently.
    Yes, Ben said softly. Do you remember that I touched your cheek once before and you felt it?
    I covered my cheek with my hand and breathed deeply.  
    I remember , I said with a sigh.  
    I do not wish you to burden you with my presence, Minerva. If someday you fall in love, I will leave…if I can.
    No! Don’t go! I almost cried the words aloud. Don’t leave me.
    I panicked at Ben’s words. Who knew what would happen in the future? I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Ben.
    Do not fret, dearest. I am here. I will remain as long as you need me.
    I relaxed and looked out over the lake. The sun had vanished, and twilight descended over the landscape. The mountains stood black against the pale peach that remained of the sunset. The water reflected the pastel colors of the sky.
    “You’ve been quiet,” Rick said.  
    I jumped. I’d almost forgotten he stood near me.  
    “Oh! I’m sorry. I’ve just been enjoying the view.”
    “It is beautiful, isn’t it?”
    “Yes. It’s so serene here.”  
    “That’s a good word for it, I guess.”
    “Well, the lake is serene anyway. Not so much the campground.”
    Too late, I realized how rude that might sound to a campground host.
    “Not that it’s your fault or anything,” I said hastily.  
    “ My fault. Why would it be my fault?” He directed a narrow-eyed stare in my direction.
    “No, it isn’t. The murder, I mean. I just thought I’d offended you when I said the campground wasn’t serene.”
    “Well, that’s hardly my fault now, is it?”
    “No, I know. That’s what I said.”  
    Somehow, this conversation had gone terribly wrong. I’d had a conversation with a boyfriend or two in my day that had gone just this poorly.  
    “I’m doing the best I can here to fill in since my sister had to leave. I swore after my last campground hosting job that I wouldn’t go back to it!”
    I bit my tongue, wishing myself anywhere but standing at the edge of a lake with this suddenly angry man in the growing darkness.
    “What happened to make you say you wouldn’t go back to it?” I turned as if heading back to the campground, and he fell into step beside me.
    “My wife was killed…by a bear.”

Chapter Five
    I stopped short and stared at the older man as best I could in the dusky light.  
    “Your wife? A bear?” I asked.
    “Yes, a grizzly,” he said. He rubbed his forehead. “Happened two years ago. At another park. I swore I’d never go back to work for the National Park System again. But here I am. And it’s happened again!”
    What are the odds of that, Ben?
    In my day, bear attacks were not an unusual occurrence, Minerva, not in the wilderness.
    “I am so sorry, Rick. I can’t imagine how devastating that must have been.”
    “Yeah, thanks. She was hiking alone and she must have scared him.” He took a deep breath. “Rangers knew there was a grizzly in the area, but they didn’t post anything. They didn’t close the trail in time. I blame them.”
    I hesitated to ask further, but I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t exactly lack a sensitivity button. I was just too curious.
    “What park was that?” I asked.
    “Yellowstone National Park. They shot the bear, but that didn’t save my wife’s life. Jackson shot it actually.”
    “Jackson?” I echoed.
    “Yeah, he was assigned to Yellowstone at the time. I was surprised to find him