Sapphire Trails Read online

  “Sounds ominous,” Jay said. “You’re both okay, right?”

  “Yeah,” Guy said. “We’ll fill you in on all the specifics another time. For now, let’s just say it was a formidable case.”

  “We have an offer,” Piper said. “In fact, it’s the reason for our call. We’re inviting you to come visit us at our lodge—Mountain Lake Lodge—for a few days as our guests. We miss the two of you and would love to see you. Any chance that could happen?”

  “Right about now, a few days in Montana sound idyllic,” Guy said. He looked at Claire and started to flash his famous grin, but something held him back from letting it develop fully.

  At once, her eyes sparkled with hope. The half grin was the only sign she needed to see. She whispered, “Let’s do it. Let’s go.”

  Guy thought about the prospect briefly and nodded a cautious assent.

  “We’ll have to get some things in order first, but yes, we accept your invitation,” Claire said. “We’d love to come for a visit!”

  “Excellent,” Jay said. “The rest and relaxation will do you good.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Piper said. “Just let us know what day and time you’ll arrive, and Jay will pick you up at the Kalispell airport. We’ll have a nice room ready for you. Can’t wait. It’s been a few years since you were up our way. In fact, we haven’t seen you since our wedding.”

  “Well, we look forward to it,” Claire said. “I’ll call you back as soon as we can make the travel arrangements and get things at the office ready to be placed on hold for a few days. Thanks again for the invite. It’s really just what we need.”

  Claire hung up and threw her arms around Guy’s neck. “We certainly could use a break from work,” she said. She planted a sweet kiss on his lips. “It’s been a long time since the two of us have had simple, unadulterated fun!”

  “Yeah,” Guy said, feigning enthusiasm. “Time to pull out the old cowboy boots and pack some blue jeans.” Again he attempted his famous grin, but cut it short.

  Today was the first time in months that Claire had seen even a flicker of a smile on his face. Whether his expression was sincere or not, her eyes lit up with promise. If she had any remaining qualms about putting the firm’s investigations on hold for a few days and taking a much-needed vacation, they disappeared on the spot. It was the right thing to do.

  Her mind drifted. When she was brutally honest with herself, she accepted the fact that Guy had never bounced back completely after the episode in Crete. That case had taken unexpected and perilous twists and turns. And Guy did not fool Claire for a minute, no matter how much he pretended that things were getting back to normal. She knew the physical scars on his face were not the only scars remaining. Deep inside, and not evident to the eye, Guy had been damaged—his inner spirit harmed in a great way. And she knew those invisible scars would be there for some time to come. She would press for him to seek professional help again, when the timing seemed right. He would resist, but she would persist. Yet at least for now, they could get away from it all for some much-anticipated days of pleasure and sightseeing. The change of scenery would do them good.

  “Let’s get our files in order,” Claire said. “We have some work ahead of us before we can leave. And we’ll need to figure out what clothes to pack for Montana. I’ll check the weather forecast.”

  Ten days later …

  Tuesday

  Kalispell, Montana

  AFTER MAKING two stops, the flight from Miami delivered Claire and Guy to Kalispell, Montana. It was just after 9:00 p.m. when the plane landed. The airport was both welcoming and clean, and people strolled through the facility, smiling, laughing, and wearing pleasant faces. Everyone appeared relaxed and carefree. What a difference from the always-hectic, ever-congested streets of Miami Beach, Claire thought, where stress was the constant flavor of the day. Within minutes, the two had retrieved their luggage from the carousel.

  As promised, Jay was standing there waiting when they stepped from the Glacier Park International Airport terminal. He hadn’t changed a bit. His hair was sandy, his skin tanned, and his expression warm and filled with laughter. It was good to see their longtime friend.

  All at once, the two investigators were hit with the invigorating scent of fresh pine needles wafting through the crisp mountain air.

  “Aah. Now this is a nice change!” Claire said. She greeted Jay with a huge smile.

  Jay quickly kissed Claire on the cheek and briefly embraced Guy. “It’s good to see you both,” Jay said, donning a straw cowboy hat.

  Claire looked around and assessed her surroundings. “It’s the total antithesis of Miami Beach here. Clean. Clear. Cool. Fragrant. Not crowded. Slower paced. I like it!”

  Jay laughed. “Jump in.” He opened the rear door of his blue Chevy Suburban parked only feet away, and his friends slid in. Then he placed their luggage in the far back of the vehicle. “Yeah, Piper and I really like living here,” he said, taking a seat behind the wheel. “Every day we see the mountains off in the distance, breathe in the pine-scented air, glance out at Flathead Lake, and take in the big sky of this magnificent state. And we never tire of any of it or second-guess ourselves for deciding to leave Florida and head up this way. This environment has always drawn us like a magnet.”

  “I can understand that,” Guy said. “We haven’t been back to Montana in the six years since your wedding, and we’ve never even seen the lodge you built. How long has it been open now? Five years? How have the years passed so quickly?”

  “Got me. The years do seem to fly by,” Jay said. “We can’t wait to show you the lodge. It’s technically located in Woods Bay—Lake County—but its address is Bigfork. Actually, the town of Bigfork is five minutes away, and it sits in Flathead County.” He paused as if in deep reflection. “Even though it’s been a ton of work to operate, neither Piper nor I would want to do anything else. I think we found our niche.”

  Claire’s mind strayed back to the first time she and Guy visited Montana. “Jay,” she said, and then hesitated a moment. “I still remember you on that white horse at your wedding ceremony, and Piper on her white horse, as the two of you rode all along the sidelines of the crowds and joined together up front near the reverend to recite your vows. You stayed on your horses the entire ceremony, until you rode off together … into the sunset.” She relived the entire scene in her mind as she spoke.

  “It really was something, wasn’t it?” Jay asked. “People around here still talk about it.” He paused. “Maybe you guys should try marriage one day soon.” He looked into his rearview mirror for an instant and caught sight of Claire’s expression. He fidgeted in his seat, instantly regretting his words. “Sorry. Sore subject. I forgot. Won’t mention it again. Promise.”

  “No worries,” Claire said. She turned her head and looked out the window next to her.

  A brief uncomfortable silence followed. Then as they traveled the roadway toward Bigfork, the three continued to recount earlier times the quartet had shared. The two couples had been so close before Piper and Jay had surprisingly pulled up stakes and made their move from Miami Beach to Big Sky Country—a relocation taking them three thousand miles away from the Million Dollar Sand Bar.

  Leaving the fast-paced surroundings of the Beach behind for several days of blissful and carefree unwinding appealed to the sleuths in a significant way. Claire became instantly intrigued as she absorbed the landscape of the area. The spirit of the place tugged at her inner being. She closed her eyes. Ancient wisdom of tribal elders who had once occupied this very land whispered loudly inside of her. The place held high spiritual activity, there was no doubt about it. She opened her eyes to again observe those things visible.

  Claire and Guy had agreed to forget about work and the densely populated streets of Miami Beach for these few days away. This was their time to visit with old friends. And hopefully, it was an opportunity for Guy to start to heal. Nothing was going to get in the way of enjoying every single, solitary moment
.

  “Piper’s cooking dinner as we speak,” Jay said. “I know it’s late, and I’m sure you’re starving. We’ll stop by the house first to say a quick hello, if you don’t mind, and we can gulp down a few appetizers Piper has prepared. Then I’ll take you over to the lodge, help get you quickly checked in, and then drive you back to our house for the real meal. Our place is in Woods Bay—only about a mile from the lodge. Sound okay?”

  “Sounds perfect,” Claire said. “I can’t wait to see Piper. It’s been too long. And yes, I’m famished.”

  “She can’t wait to see the two of you, either. And don’t forget, while you’re here, it’s cherry season,” Jay said. “You’ll see all kinds of roadside farm stands offering a variety of locally grown Flathead cherries for sale. Buck a bag. Make sure you stop for some.”

  “I remember those sweet cherries from the last time we were here,” Claire said. “Yum. We’ll pick some up for sure.”

  “We have an old green Land Rover Discovery 4 x 4 you can use while you’re here … so you won’t feel stranded without transportation,” Jay offered. “As I seem to recall, you both like to explore your surroundings, so please feel free to use it all the while you’re here. And above all else, you must use this time to de-stress.” He tilted his head. “We actually make our guests sign a contract when they check in, promising to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Glacier National Park and Big Sky Country. That way, if anyone is tempted to turn on a BlackBerry or iPhone and engage in business, at least they’ll think twice about it.” He chuckled.

  “Thanks for the sage advice, Jay,” Guy said. “The tension level is mighty constant back home with our seemingly never-ending stacks of files. Teetering on the brink of doing more than we can handle seems to be our norm … but you know how that goes.”

  “What else is new, right?” Jay said. He chortled again. “Well, promise me you’ll take long walks, swim in the pool, go horseback riding a couple times, play golf at Eagle Bend Golf Course, eat some good food, and visit an Indian trading post or two while you’re here. And also leave plenty of time to visit with us.” He smiled broadly, revealing the slight separation between his two front teeth.

  Reality was starting to sink in. Claire and Guy were on their own for ten glorious days to do whatever they wished and not be under the thumb of pressing investigations. It seemed too good to be true.

  “How’s the lodging industry doing these days?” Guy asked. “You’ve been at it for a few years now. Is it financially worth the effort?”

  “I must say that overall we’ve done okay. Until the recent downturn in the economy, that is. Now some months are a bit touch-and-go, I’ll admit, but no doubt things will pick up when the economy does a turnaround,” Jay said. “It’s bound to, right?”

  “We’re all hoping for that,” Claire said.

  “Between weddings, receptions, corporate meetings, retreats, special events, and vacationers, we’re hanging in there,” Jay added. “Always could be better, though.”

  “What was that?” Guy shouted out of the blue. He pointed his index finger toward the right-hand shoulder of the road. “I saw some kind of animal sitting in the ditch, in the shadow of the light pole we just passed. Near a sign that said Kehoe’s Agate Shop. Looked like a huge baby something … could have been anything.”

  “Let’s take a look,” Jay said. The tires squealed as he made an abrupt U-turn on the road, traveled a short distance, and then made another sharp U-turn to head back in the direction they’d been traveling when Guy made the discovery.

  Guy watched the shoulder carefully, and before long, he again spotted the creature. “There it is!” He pointed.

  Jay eased the vehicle unto the paved strip along the roadway and came to an easy, full stop. His eyes searched the undergrowth until he, too, spotted it.

  A rotund young bear sat by the side of the road, contently gorging itself on the plentiful wild red berries dotting the surrounding shrubbery. All three locked eyes on the large, round ball of fluff, only feet away from Jay’s Chevy Suburban. As the trio gawked with curiosity at the amazingly heavy baby mammal, the youthful bear glanced upward briefly to sniff the air in their direction. But it looked away just as quickly, having no particular interest in the obvious attention being showered upon it by the onlookers. The animal continued to inhale the tasty morsels. Nothing was going to interrupt the plentiful feast that nature provided the growing cub.

  “Its fur is a light tan color,” Claire said. “I’ve never seen a tan bear before.”

  “Believe it or not, they are actually a subspecies of the American black bear,” Jay said. “They’re called cinnamon bears. Most have brown or reddish-brown fur; hence, the name cinnamon bears. They’re native to this area.”

  Claire and Guy watched in quiet amazement.

  “Not a common sight in Miami Beach,” Guy said, chuckling softly, “as I’m sure you remember.”

  Jay laughed. “They live to be about thirty years old,” he said. “They eat meat and insects, but mainly survive on fruit and vegetation. Oh, and of course, nuts and honey would be a real treat for them.” He smiled as he studied the young bear. “I must admit, though, I’ve never seen one with light-tan fur like this before. It’s really quite a beauty. In fact, people who live out here rarely, if ever, see a regular-colored cinnamon bear, let alone a tan one. Good spot, counselor.”

  “Let’s take a photo,” Claire said. As she reached to pull her camera from a tote bag, the cub turned in the opposite direction and started to waddle off toward some denser greenery nearby. Soon the bear would disappear completely into the concealed shelter.

  “I’ll jump out and call to him,” Guy offered. “Maybe he’ll turn around, and you can grab a quick shot.” He reached for the door handle.

  “Stop!” Jay shouted at Guy. “Don’t even think about it. Don’t do that unless you want the scare of your life! Stay inside this vehicle! Where there’s a young bear, there’s a mother bear. Count on it. Never forget that. And rest assured, she will not take kindly to you approaching her cub. That’s an absolute no-no, always.”

  Taking Jay’s warning to heart, Guy settled back into his seat, feeling a bit foolish he suggested such a bad idea. He should have known better, and he was embarrassed by Jay’s admonition.

  Jay pulled the Suburban back onto the road and set out toward his and Piper’s home.

  “I’ll sleep well tonight,” Guy announced, breaking the silence. “I know that.”

  “Yes, you will,” Jay said. “This mountain air does the trick. Works better than any sleeping pill ever invented.”

  Before long, the three arrived at the Cantrell home, and Piper ran out to welcome her guests.

  “At last you’ve come for a visit. I’m happy,” Piper said. She threw her arms around Claire and gave her a momentary hug. Then Piper grabbed Guy’s hand and shook it warmly. “Come in, please. Welcome to our humble abode.”

  Sipping aromatic, fresh-brewed huckleberry coffee and tasting an assortment of delicious, just-out-of-the-oven appetizers, the couples fell into easy conversation. There was much to catch up on, and minutes passed quickly.

  “Let’s take a walk around the property tomorrow morning,” Piper suggested. “We want to show you all of it in the daylight. But now, you need to check into your room and then get right back here for dinner. Jay will help you.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Claire said. “Those appetizers were fabulous!”

  In no time flat, the investigators had checked into their room and were returning to the Cantrell home with Jay. Once there, Claire and Guy inhaled the delicious aromas emanating from the kitchen.

  “Something smells terrific,” Guy said.

  The delectable and healthful food more than sated the investigators, and it turned out to be the perfect time for Jay and Piper to tell their friends more about the lodge.

  “We’ve put a lot of time and energy into it over the years, and we’re really quite proud of it,” Jay said. “Fol
ks come here from all around to stay with us and seem to truly enjoy it. They hike through the pines, bask in the hot tub next to the outdoor swimming pool, eat great food, visit nearby Glacier National Park, and take in the amazing vistas of the valley by day and the glorious array of stars in the sky by night. They throw their cares to the wind. Literally. Relaxation is what they’re seeking, and relaxation is just what they find here in Montana at Mountain Lake Lodge.” He smiled. “We’ve met interesting people over the years, as I’m sure you can imagine. Many return every single year for a long week or two of total and absolute tranquility, away from their otherwise whirlwind lives back home. We offer an atmosphere of calm and respite from the frenzied world—a chance to step off the merry-go-round for a time. More and more, it seems to be what people crave.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me on that statement,” Guy said, reflecting on everything Jay had just said.

  “Or me,” Claire said.

  “Well, while you’re here, please slow your pace down and do nothing except take pleasure in your surroundings. You deserve some free time,” Piper said. “It might seem strange at first, allowing your muscles to release the tension big-city dwellers carry around. But in a short while, I think you’ll like how you feel. And don’t forget to go into our little town of Bigfork, just two miles down the road. The shopping and restaurants are charming. And you’ll also want to drive to nearby Whitefish one day to mull around. Again, lots of fun stores to browse through. It’s like an old Western town.” Piper smiled widely, exposing her full set of very white teeth. “This will be a vacation you’ll always remember, my friends.” She ran her fingers through her short red hair.

  The couples sat down on the front stoop after eating, breathing in the refreshingly cool evening air and staring in awe at the magnificent streaks of color presenting in the inky nighttime sky. Spectacular pinks and succulent oranges melded together into stunning formations, heralding a beautiful day to come.