Secret of Deadman's Ravine

“I heard a moan. I thought there was someone down there.” Her voice broke. “It was just the wind blowing over the metal of the plane.”

“The plane is in the junipers?” He couldn’t help sounding skeptical.

She looked down into the ravine. “That’s why it’s never been found I would imagine.”

He couldn’t believe the chance she’d taken going down there. But Eve wouldn’t have thought about her own safety if she thought there was someone down there injured.

He had to see the plane and body for himself and that meant going down there. He’d have to be quick. He needed to get her back to her house. He felt badly about putting her through this. But he feared if he had waited until tomorrow, Eve might have changed her mind about showing him where the plane was. Although he couldn’t imagine why.

“Will you be all right up here?” he asked, worried about her.

She slid off her horse, practically collapsing as her boot soles hit the ground. “Leave me some water and your hat. I lost mine. I’ll just rest while you’re gone.”

He dismounted and, pulling down his pack, reached inside for his rain jacket. Rolling it up, he handed it to her. “Put your head on this,” he said, clearing a spot for her on the soft sun-dried earth.

She did as he said without even an argument. He knew she was simply too exhausted to put up a fight today. Eve hadn’t changed. And that’s what made this so painful. He’d been such a fool to throw her over for a woman like Deena.