Chapter 17 - The Storming of the Gate
Twenty minutes later, the Ouray County Sheriff’s cruiser, accompanied by the county fire engine and Mr. Vance’s truck, arrived at the lodge gate.
Deputy Miller didn't hesitate. He pulled Tyler up from the snowbank, cuffed his hands behind his back, and shoved him into the back of the cruiser.
"Attempted arson, criminal trespass, and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud," Deputy Miller said, tipping his hat to me. "That boy’s going away for a very long time, Rebecca. And his little confession on that camera gives us enough to pick up Olivia Hart right now in Denver."
"What about Evelyn?" I asked, wiping soot from my cheek. "She was at the Miner’s Kettle."
"She was," Mr. Vance said grimly, stepping forward. "Until the magistrate saw those wire transfers. She tried to bolt in her car, but state troopers boxed her in at the highway interchange. She’s in county custody right now, facing felony embezzlement charges."
A profound, bone-deep silence settled over Whispering Ridge.
The sky cleared, turning a brilliant, piercing cobalt blue. The smoke had completely cleared from the garage, leaving behind only the smell of charred wood and pine.
Cole walked over to me, his hands blackened with soot, his jacket torn at the shoulder. He looked down at me, a soft, weary smile breaking across his weathered face.
"You did it, Becca," he said softly. "The mountain is yours. Permanently."
"We did it," I corrected, looking into his eyes. "I couldn't have held this ridge without you, Cole. Without any of you."
Cole stepped closer, the tension of the last four days finally melting away from his shoulders. He reached out with a gloved hand, gently brushing a streak of black ash from my forehead.
"I told you," he murmured, his voice low and intimate. "Nobody takes this sanctuary from you. Ever."
For a heartbeat, the world stopped. The bitter wind ceased blowing. The distant pine branches bowed under the weight of the snow. I felt his breath warm against my freezing skin, and for the first time in my life, I felt completely safe.
May you like
Then, from the bottom of the switchback road, a loud, violent crash echoed through the canyon.
***
