Read Online Mountain Rampage by Scott Graham - Free Book Online

the deck. “Hey.”
    Janelle, trailing Gregory out the door, came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Chuck. “Gregory called and asked if he could make a house call,” she explained.
    Gregory flipped his blond hair out of his eyes with a toss of his head. “I finished my shift. Figured I’d swing by, make sure Rosie was cool.”
    Chuck’s eyes went from the young doctor to Janelle and back. He addressed Gregory, keeping his voice even. “I take it everything’s… cool ?”
    Janelle spoke first. “I told him she was doing fine when he called.”
    Gregory shrugged. “I got a few hours of shut-eye last night, after you guys left. Usually I go straight home and hit the sack at the end of my shifts.”
    Chuck knew he should say something appreciative. Unlike the doctor, however, he hadn’t gotten any sleep last night. Besides, his appreciation would be expressed through his payment of the medical bill.
    â€œGuess I’ll get going then,” Gregory said when Chuck didn’t speak. The young physician turned and pointed a friendly finger at Rosie and Carmelita, who stood together behind the screen door. “Glad to see you doing so well, Rosie. And you, Carmelita, take good care of your little sister for me, okay?”
    â€œOkay,” Carmelita said with a shy smile before looking at her feet.
    Chuck stood aside to allow Gregory to descend the stairs. When the doctor was well down the drive in his SUV, Chuck climbed the steps to Janelle and summoned a smile. “She’s really doing okay, huh?”
    Janelle rigidly accepted a peck on the cheek. He turned at thesound of pounding feet to see Rosie hurtling herself across the porch at him.
    â€œChuck!” she cried, diving into his arms. “I’m all better now. I’m the bestest ever.”
    Chuck lifted her and settled her on his hip, her legs dangling past his knees. “You are, are you?” He looked to Janelle for confirmation.
    â€œShe slept late this morning,” Janelle said. “She’s been her usual, rip-roaring self since lunchtime. It’s all I’ve been able to do to get her to stay inside and take it easy.”
    Chuck lowered Rosie to the porch and crouched to speak to her and Carmelita, who had trailed Rosie onto the deck. “Why don’t you two rip-roar back inside. Your mamá and I will be along in a minute.”
    Rosie followed Carmelita into the cabin. Chuck tossed his pack on one of the plastic deck chairs arrayed on the porch and motioned Janelle to follow him down the steps. He dropped the truck tailgate and took a seat on it. She hoisted herself up beside him.
    He allowed the quiet of the surrounding forest to sink in, the only sound the call and response of a pair of magpies flitting from branch to branch through the ponderosa trees above their heads.
    Janelle turned to him. “Where do we start?”
    â€œShe’s really okay?”
    â€œShe’s sniffling a little, but it’s pretty much gone, like the doctor said.”
    â€œGregory,” Chuck said, an unintended edge to his voice.
    â€œWe’re talking about Rosie,” Janelle replied, her chin held high.
    The afternoon sun reflected off the tiny jewel affixed to the side of her nose. The gold flecks in her hazel eyes shimmered. Chuck swallowed. God, she was beautiful. The young doctor’s ogling of Janelle last night had lacked any semblance ofprofessionalism—but who could blame him for taking advantage of the opportunity for another look today?
    Chuck took Janelle’s hand in his. “I’m sure Clarence has texted you by now.”
    She shook her head no.
    Chuck stifled a groan. He kept it brief—the tunnel-floor collapse, the appearance of the officer at the mine with the photo of Clarence’s bloody knife, and the suspicion that the blood was human.
    Janelle slid her hand free of Chuck’s as he finished: “The cop said