“This town is going to be overrun,” he finally said with a grunt.

“Not necessarily. This isn’t the film River approved. It’s the better one, but River told us no. She’s determined to preserve your privacy, and she won’t let us edit this in a way that showcases what really happened on that mountain.”

“Looks to me like you did it anyway.”

Jessie shrugged. “River’s footing the bill. She’ll get final say on what gets put out there. But you need to know, this is the kind of thing that doesn’t just happen. This is…special. And if it’s received the way I think it will be received, she’ll be the new rock star of the industry. We all will. Careers are cemented by this kind of film. “She won’t do anything to sacrifice your privacy or destroy your trust.” Jessie looked seriously at Easton. “This is up to you.”

For a long time, Easton sat there, thinking about it. Then finally, he nodded. “If this is what will help her, and if River agrees to it, then do it.”

“Are you sure?” Jessie seemed to need stronger confirmation. “She’s not wrong that pulling this trigger could affect your life. The media will find you, no matter where you are.”

“I’ve got a nice big backyard to go hide in if people get too annoying,” Easton reminded him, jutting his chin toward the mountains beyond.

“True,” Jessie admitted.

They sat quietly for a few moments, then Jessie exhaled a tight breath. “When I went through the Veil, I came out a different man. And not for the better. It’s not fun to get a good look at yourself and realize you aren’t half as brave as you want to be.”

Taking a sip of his water, Easton grunted. “It’s not about being brave. Either it’s in your blood or it isn’t.”

“It’s in hers. I’ve known River a long time, and this was the happiest I’ve ever seen her. This was the life she was meant to have. Too bad she got sucked into being the next biggest film producer in the industry.” Jessie stood, laptop still open in his hands. “It’s a tough life.”

Maybe. Or maybe a life didn’t have to be one thing or another. “Hey, Jessie. Where in LA is she?”

“River? I figured she would have told you.” Jessie shook his head. “She decided it was time to move back home. She’ll still fly out for work when she gets her next job, but our girl’s in Wyoming now.”

“Why?”

“When you lose the love of your life, what else do you do? You go home.” Jessie waggled the laptop at Easton, where it had paused on them at the summit. “Hey, out of sheer curiosity, what did you say to her up there?”