The Buried Hours: A Novel by R.S. Grant

Author:R.S. Grant [Grant, R.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2023-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Signe grumbled under her breath when they crossed Tioga Road in the early afternoon. “We could have driven all the way here and then set out.” She knew the reasons that hadn’t been possible, but still, her legs, feet, and back ached for all the miles and elevation gain they’d traversed on foot that could have been covered by car.

“If you stop grumbling, I’ll take you someplace nice for dinner.”

“A Michelin-starred restaurant?”

“Aim lower.”

“In-N-Out Burger?”

“Aim . . . different.”

“Cup Noodles in Yosemite high country?”

“It’s almost uncanny how you nailed it.”

“You said I should be clairvoyant. So what great plans do you have for dinner, considering we’ve lost half our food supply?”

“It’s not about the food. It’s the ambiance. Late this afternoon, we’ll be passing a small lake. How about a swim followed by an early dinner?”

“A swim in a frigid-cold alpine lake?” She wasn’t sure if that sounded good or not. But they had to eat sometime, and maybe the setting would help her forget they were rationing.

They continued on, everything aching as she set one foot in front of the other. Her feet were downright angry at being in the boots again. Her back wanted nothing to do with the heavy pack. Her hips chafed from the padded belt. And her thighs burned from the steady uphill climb.

As her aches and pains added up, she started to think a cold swim might numb her complaining muscles. Plus she’d probably appreciate the weightlessness of water after carrying thirty pounds on her back. Not just uphill, but relentlessly uphill.

Her mind wandered between sore muscles and what lay at the end of the journey, then circled back to Cole’s suggestion she’d dreamed the chains and distorted voice. In the warm light of day, the idea had merit. It would even be logical for her to have dreamed of Jasper’s murder now. He was connected to this as much as her rape was. It was all intertwined.

It was with great relief that Signe finally dropped her pack on the ground by the small lake. The pool was surrounded by tall grasses, the water a flat sheen of clear crystal that reflected the deep blue of the sky. No other hikers were in the area as far as she could tell.

They hadn’t seen a single person since late yesterday afternoon. Not even when they crossed Tioga Road.

“Is the water deep?” she asked as she began unlacing her boots.

“No clue how deep it is, but it’s large enough that I imagine it’s well over our heads in the center.” He pulled off his boots and socks, then rose to his feet and pulled off his shirt. His hands went to the waistline of his hiking pants and he stopped when he caught her stare. “If you’re going to ogle, I get to do the same.”

She shrugged as she pulled off her boots. “That’s fair.” She had no intention of looking away. Cole’s body was quite impressive. He’d clearly worked on his muscles in anticipation of going Hollywood.

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