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Chapters (77)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Elizabeth Goddard
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. ONE
  8. TWO
  9. THREE
  10. FOUR
  11. FIVE
  12. SIX
  13. SEVEN
  14. EIGHT
  15. NINE
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. TWENTY
  27. TWENTY-ONE
  28. TWENTY-TWO
  29. TWENTY-THREE
  30. TWENTY-FOUR
  31. TWENTY-FIVE
  32. TWENTY-SIX
  33. TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. TWENTY-NINE
  36. THIRTY
  37. THIRTY-ONE
  38. THIRTY-TWO
  39. THIRTY-THREE
  40. THIRTY-FOUR
  41. THIRTY-FIVE
  42. THIRTY-SIX
  43. THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. THIRTY-NINE
  46. FORTY
  47. FORTY-ONE
  48. FORTY-TWO
  49. FORTY-THREE
  50. FORTY-FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. FIFTY-THREE
  60. FIFTY-FOUR
  61. FIFTY-FIVE
  62. FIFTY-SIX
  63. FIFTY-SEVEN
  64. FIFTY-EIGHT
  65. FIFTY-NINE
  66. SIXTY
  67. SIXTY-ONE
  68. SIXTY-TWO
  69. SIXTY-THREE
  70. SIXTY-FOUR
  71. SIXTY-FIVE
  72. A Preview of Book 2 in the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COURAGE Series
  73. Author’s Note
  74. Acknowledgments
  75. About the Author
  76. Back Ads
  77. Back Cover

The building had a counter and chairs like some sort of short-term waiting area or meeting place. Would he have met someone here in the building if he had landed? He hadn’t been instructed to leave the package here, but maybe he would have received a call with those instructions.

Had someone been waiting here for him to land? He closed his eyes and waited like that would conjure up an image. Who was the person who was supposed to have received the hazardous package?

Had Jim been waiting here for the airplane? Heard the plane, then saw him go down? The crash site wasn’t all that far. Jim had probably driven up the forest road to help Chance. But like Chance, Jim would have hidden the package from authorities, or he might have already delivered it.

Did Jim’s contact kill him?

Too many thoughts fought for space in Chance’s mind and confused him. He shook off the madness and focused.

He couldn’t know if it had been Jim or someone else who had waited on him here. Chance moved around the ancient counter. On the floor behind the counter he found a tiny strip of paper with a phone number written in blue ink. The writing looked masculine, though he was no expert. He folded the slip of paper and stuck it in his pocket. The phone number could mean everything or nothing. Still, his heart pounded as if he’d hit the jackpot.

With a bounce in his good leg, he made his way out of the small building.

The cab was gone.

TWELVE

The next morning, Jack waited in his warm vehicle at the Maverick Trailhead. Terra should be here at any moment, and they would hike up the trail and see what was what. As he waited, he wished he could forget his aunt’s question last night.

Had he made things right with Terra?

Too much time had passed already. They both had moved on. Then why did his aunt’s words gnaw at him? In some ways, sure, he’d moved on. But in other ways, his heart and mind ushered him to the past as if he were still there. It was in the small nuances—the way he reacted to Terra’s smile or her slightest frown. And he’d spent only a few hours with her for the first time in years. This investigation—and his insane desire to somehow “make it right,” as Aunt Nadine had put it—could mean many more hours with her.

Terra’s white SUV pulled in behind him and cut off his thoughts. Thank you, God.

He climbed out, tugged on his jacket, then headed for Terra. The morning was cold, but the day would warm up soon.

“Morning,” he said.

Terra closed the distance, carrying two thermoses. She handed one to him. “Gramps has a special blend. He roasts his own beans, you know.”