especially at the higher elevations, we’ll have to walk single file.” She held out her hands, palm up. “We might get some rain, so I hope you all brought some rain gear or ponchos. If not, I have a few plastic ponchos in my pack.”
The group fell in behind Meg as she tromped up the trail. The fallen leaves from the aspens crunched beneath her hiking boots and she inhaled their earthy, balsamic scent. She refused to allow Ian’s surprise appearance to spoil one of her favorite hikes. She hadn’t heard from the man once since their separation three years ago. Not that she didn’t think about him every day of the week.
How could she help it, when each day their son, Travis, looked at her through his father’s green eyes flecked with gold?
Meg took a shuddering breath before stopping next to a clump of aspen. What would Ian do if he found out he had a two-year-old son? Probably shrug it off and return to some God-forsaken part of the globe to protect the citizens of the world. He’d made it clear during their marriage, and after the miscarriage of her first pregnancy, that he didn’t want a family.
Crouching down, Meg scooped up a few pieces of bark and handed them around as she talked about the trees along the first leg of their trail. Ian and Kayla peered at a strip of bark, but Meg knew Ian’s mind was churning, hatching plots and plans. His body almost vibrated with a restless energy—an energy she’d found irresistible when they first met.
The hikers traversed the first mile of the trail, falling into a rhythm and predictability. Several forged ahead of her and others hung back, slowing the group’s progress. She wouldn’t call them the easiest bunch she’d ever led, but then maybe she could blame Ian’s presence for her irritability and impatience.
The German tourist kept close to Meg, peppering her with numerous questions in his slightly accented English. One of the couples dawdled, more interested in each other than the hike—probably newlyweds. Meg tried to suppress her envy. That’s how it had been for her and Ian on Everest. The magnificent scenery could barely compete with their fascination with each other.
Two of the three women in the birthday group kept prodding their companion, who complained loudly about spending her vacation traipsing through a high elevation forest, instead of sitting in front of a bar after an afternoon massage.
Meg nudged the complainer in the side. “You’ll get back in time for a massage, and there are plenty of bars over in Colorado Springs to keep you busy later. And with an air force base, and air force academy, there are lots of military guys in those bars if you like a man in uniform.”
The woman growled, making claws with her fingers, and her friends giggled.
Maybe Ian’s mission had something to do with the Schriever Air Force Base, although another guy in the Prospero unit, Buzz Richardson, was air force, while Ian handled mountain rescue. Was Ian trying to rescue something or someone in these mountains?
Not her problem.
Meg slid her backpack off one shoulder. “Let’s stop here and take a break, get some water. There are some beautiful views of the waterfall from the lookout point. We’ll be hiking to a platform about midway to the top of those falls, for a closer view.”
A few of the hikers staked out some boulders, collapsing on top and chugging their water. Several dropped their packs and wandered to the edge of the trail for a better look at the falls in the distance. The honeymooners massaged each other’s shoulders.
As Meg unhooked her canteen from her pack, Ian sidled up next to her. “Meg, I wanted to ask you about some purple flowers we saw back on the trail. I can point them out to you.”
Meg choked on her water and it dribbled down her chin. She’d have never made it in her sister’s circle, even if she’d wanted that lifestyle. “Describe the flower to me and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“I’d rather show you. They’re not far, and I don’t see any like them in this spot.” Ian raised his brows, probably incredulous, she wasn’t jumping at the chance to discover his mission.
She wanted to tell him to go to hell, but her curiosity trumped her petty need to strike out. “Okay, but I don’t want to leave the group for too long. We need to get moving if we’re going to meet the afternoon train at the top.”
Nodding, Ian tromped ahead, effortlessly traversing the rugged trail, while the other hikers remained sprawled out behind them, still panting from the morning’s exertion. If he knew the terrain, Ian could lead this hike in her place.
If he knew the terrain.
As soon as they rounded the first bend, he grabbed Meg’s arm. “Thanks for not blowing our cover. I had no idea you were leading this hike. The website listed some guy, Richard.”
Ian hadn’t planned on seeing her at all. She gulped. “Richard got sick. I took his place.”
“Can’t pretend I’m happy about it, but I told Kayla we could count on you.”
Even through Meg’s multiple layers and Ian’s gloves, his touch felt like a brand on her arm. She shrugged him off. “I’m guessing her real name isn’t Kayla.”
Ian lifted a shoulder. “I figured you’d catch on.”
“And I figured my ex-husband wouldn’t choose one of my hikes as an opportunity to relive old times.”
“Husband.”
“What?”
“I’m your husband.”
Meg stumbled back, Ian’s words punching her in the gut. The aching pit of emptiness she felt at his words surprised her. Ending her marriage to Ian had broken her heart, but she thought she’d finally recovered. She’d even accepted most of the blame, since she was the one who had changed the rules of their relationship. Seeing him again, and the way his grin tilted up on one side, contrasting with the sharp intensity of his eyes, carved open a hollow space in her heart—one she thought she’d filled ages ago.
One she’d better start filling with something. Anger would do.
She dug her boots into the dirt and squared her shoulders. “What are you and your partner doing on this hike?”
His grin vanished, a furrow forming between his brows. “You know I can’t tell you that, Meg.”
“Blah, blah, blah. Same old crap with you, Dempsey. You’re obviously using Rocky Mountain Adventures for some reason, or you’d hike in here on your own. Why didn’t you just call and ask me? Why’d you have to sneak in here pretending to be a tourist…John?”
He put his finger to his lips. “Not so loud.”
“What if I blew your cover, right here, right now?” She narrowed her eyes at the way his jaw tightened. “I’d be jeopardizing national security or something like that, wouldn’t I?”
“Not only national security, but your own and that of every tourist on this hike.” He cocked his head. “Why so angry, Meg? You’re the one who ended it, although you never did bother filing for divorce.”
Her cheeks burned and she lifted her face to the cool air. “You couldn’t handle a real relationship, one with trust and commitment.”
“That’s
