Ghost Canyon (The John Decker Supernatural Thriller Series Book 7) Anthony Strong (popular romance novels .TXT) 📖

reason the old man could have for not liking the Bureau, but then he changed his mind. Chances were that Carlton Miller didn’t like anyone who wore a badge. Decker had met his type before. He was most likely more than a little paranoid, distrustful of authority, and willing to believe any crazy conspiracy theory that came his way. In the end, Decker said nothing. He pulled the door closed and followed Carlton’s directions to the kitchen.

When he entered, Robyn was sitting at a large antique table. Judging from the items spread upon it, the table served as both a place to eat and a place to prep food. Behind her was a six-burner range, a fryer, and a pair of commercial aluminum refrigerators. To her left was a sturdy metal door that he assumed led to a walk-in freezer. He shuddered when he looked at that. The last two walk-in freezers he’d encountered both ended up with bodies in them. Abraham Turner—a.k.a. Jack the Ripper—had kept one of his victims on ice in a London chip shop. Then, only a month ago, he’d carried a murder victim out of a sunken German submarine and stashed him in a similar freezer on a submerged research habitat. Decker wondered if he’d ever look at frozen food the same way again.

“Hey,” Robyn said, glancing up from a magazine that was spread out before her on the table. “You found me.”

“Not before I ran into the other occupant of your little town.”

“Oh. You met Carlton.” Robyn looked apologetic. “It was going to happen eventually.”

“He’s every bit as cheerful as you led me to believe.”

“Isn’t he, though?” Robyn pressed her lips together. “Take a seat. I’ll rustle you up a quick supper. You like omelets?”

“Love them.”

“Great, because we have a lot of eggs, a smattering of cheese, and not much else until I make a grocery run. I wasn’t expecting visitors. I know this is more of a breakfast food, but…”

“It’s fine. Really,” Decker said. “Will the special agents, Barnes and Fowler. be joining us?”

“No. I already fed them. As soon as their plates were clean, they claimed they had paperwork to do and went back to their rooms.”

“And Carlton?”

“He fends for himself. The type of things he likes to eat, I’m not cooking.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Put it this way, he thinks it’s easier to go find a jackrabbit in the desert than visit a grocery store. Claims it’s organic without the price tag.”

“He’s a bit of an environmentalist, then?”

“Yeah, right. Cares so much about Mother Earth that he runs around polluting the desert.” Robyn shook her head. “He has this old military Jeep. A relic from World War Two. It’s a claptrap piece of junk that burns oil like crazy, but he drives it all over going on what he calls Jackelope hunts.”

“You’re not exactly painting him in a better light,” Decker said, bemused.

“Not trying to.” Robyn returned to the table with two plates containing perfectly browned, fluffy omelets. She handed one to Decker and kept the other for herself. She placed salt-and-pepper on the table, then handed Decker a knife and fork.

He took them and cut a piece of omelet. He ate it, nodding with satisfaction, before glancing toward her. “I’m sure you’ve been asked this before, but I have to know. What drove you to come out here and live in the desert with Carlton?”

“Why not?” Robyn shrugged. “I always wanted to start a wedding venue. I ended up owning two thirds of the town and saw an opportunity. We are a stone’s throw from the wedding capital of the USA, after all.”

“I get that,” Decker said. “But it must be lonely, living here all by yourself.”

“Sometimes. That will change when the place is up and running.” Robyn picked at her own food. “To tell the truth, I needed a change. I was in a relationship for the longest time, almost ten years. When it ended, I felt lost. Adrift. I wanted to put some distance between myself and Chicago.”

“I see.” Decker hoped he wasn’t stirring up bad memories for her.

“Still, it’s been a lot more work than I imagined. If I’d known then what I do now, I might have stayed put and rode it out.”

“You’ve had issues?”

“And then some. The buildings were in worse shape than I thought. I had hoped to have the wedding chapel built by now, but as it is, I’ve sunk most of my cash into renovating the hotel. It needed so much more than I bargained for. We’re months behind and way over budget.” Robyn shook her head. “To tell you the truth, I’m a little worried. One more setback and that will be it. I don’t have enough money to keep bankrolling this venture. I’m running on fumes, as the saying goes.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks.” Robyn forced a faint smile. “That’s why the mine tours are so important. I need every dime I can get. Now even that looks like it might not happen.”

“Maybe Carlton could help out.”

“Not a chance. Whatever money he has, he isn’t parting with. He’s made that quite clear.”

“Again, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I got myself into this. Fools rush in, and all that.” Robyn took a deep breath. “Goodness. I’ve only just met you and here I am unloading about my troubles. I should be the one apologizing.”

“No need,” Decker said. “I’m a good listener. Feel free to vent whenever you want.”

“Thanks. You may regret that offer.” Robyn looked down at her food.

Decker shrugged. “I doubt it.”

Robyn looked at him and smiled, and he thought there was gratitude in her eyes, but she said nothing more, turning her attention to her food. Afterward the meal was done, she stood and cleared the plates away then turned back to Decker, all trace of sadness gone. “Fancy the two-bit tour?”

Decker shrugged. “Sure.”

Robyn smiled. “Wonderful. Follow me.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Robyn led Decker from the kitchen and through the hotel lobby. She crossed to the saloon doors and opened them. “You’ve already seen the