Josh Read Online Free Page A

report with the park rangers letting them know that you wanted to be left alone, no matter what the circumstances.”
    Feeling something under his boot, he bent down to retrieve the weapon he’d forgotten about until this moment.
    He looked up at her with a quizzical grin. “A plastic spoon?”
    A sly smile teased her lips. “It was all I had time to grab before you stepped in.”
    He managed to swallow his laughter as he touched the speed dial for the ranger station. “Mitch? Josh Conway here. I’ve located Sierra Moore. Yeah. She’s safe. She’s also a very resourceful woman. I’ll let you speak with her.”
    He handed over his phone.
    She kept her gaze fixed on him while she spoke into his phone in that same breathy voice. “Ranger Carver? This is Sierra Moore. Yes, thank you. I’m fine. I’m sorry you felt obligated to send someone to find me. I’ve been so involved in my photography, I guess I neglected to check in.” She listened in silence, then added, “Of course. That works for me. I can be ready to leave here in the morning. I’ll tell him. And again, I’m sorry for causing you any concern.”
    She handed Josh his phone. “I owe you an apology, too. I’m sorry you had to be dragged out in this weather. It never occurred to me that the rangers would be searchingfor me. I can’t say I’m sorry for my”—she couldn’t stop the grin from touching the corners of her lips—“unorthodox greeting. Since I’m alone and unarmed, I needed to take precautions with a stranger invading my space. But I had no right to treat you so badly.” She took in a deep breath. “Ranger Carver suggested that if I have all the photos I need, and I’m ready to leave in the morning, he would feel better if I would make the descent with you. That works for me. That is,” she added, “if you have no objections to having me along.”
    Josh gave a grudging nod of his head. He had to admit that she’d been resourceful when faced with an intruder. The fact that she’d been so quick to apologize to both him and Mitch Carver scored points, as well. Without her apology, he’d have written her off as an ungrateful diva.
    “That’s fine. I’d like to leave at first light.”
    As he opened the flap, Sierra felt the sting of the frigid night air. “It’ll be a tight squeeze, but if you’d like, you can share my tent.”
    He gave her a long look. “I have my own gear.”
    “Even so…” She gave a dry laugh. “Mine’s already assembled and warm as toast. I don’t think I’d sleep very well knowing that I was the reason for you assembling a tent in this weather, in the dark of night. Please feel free to share mine.”
    Josh shrugged. “Thanks. I’ll take you up on it. I’ll get my gear.”
    Minutes later he returned and zipped the tent against the bitter cold.
    He removed his parka before opening his backpack and retrieving a bedroll and an instant cooker. When he pulled out a packet of freeze-dried food, Sierra smiled.
    “Like minds, I see.” She held up her own packet.
    “Chicken or beef?” Josh asked.
    “Beef stew. Why don’t I use mine? There’s enough for two.”
    “Okay. I’ll try it.”
    He used his bedroll for a seat and watched as she dropped the packet into the instant cooker. Within minutes the tent was filled with the wonderful aroma of beef stew, which she divided between her bowl and his.
    He opened a pouch containing squares of Ela’s corn bread and offered some to her.
    While coffee bubbled in his instant cooker, he sat back and enjoyed his first hot meal since taking to the trail.
    Sierra relaxed, displaying a radiant smile. “I really needed some hot food. And that corn bread was an added bonus. Did your wife bake it?”
    “Our cook, Ela.” He returned her smile. “Ela is probably as old as these mountains. She’s been baking corn bread since my grandfather first came to Wyoming. She’s been with us since before I was born.”
    “Us?”
    “My father, grandfather, and two