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rushing waters still flowed. The river followed one side of the road for a while, then it would disappear beneath and suddenly reappear on the other side, as they steadily climbed higher into the canyon.
    She watched the traffic pass on the other side of the twolane road. It was actually a state highway, which ran all the way from Fort Connor up into Poudre Canyon through the high peaks and across the high plains past the little town of Walden. Then it joined with Highway 40 and on into the beautiful resort town of Steamboat Springs.
    Jennifer was right. Kelly needed this break. She’d been working way too many hours lately with Warner’s new project. She needed to insist on having weekends free. Free for her to drive up here by herself sometime alone like she used to. Sit on a rock, stare at the Poudre, and think. She missed that.
    “He what ?” Jennifer exclaimed, startling Kelly out of her relaxed river reverie. “ Who called?” Pause. “Birmingham? I don’t remember talking to a Mr. Birmingham. What did he say again?”
    Kelly turned to watch her friend’s expression. Jennifer was clearly hearing something that concerned her.
    “You’re kidding. Turner’s going to meet him? When? Where?” Pause. “Well, that’s great. I’m on the way up there right now. In fact, we’re only a couple of miles out.” Jennifer exhaled an exasperated breath. “Okay, keep me posted if you hear anything else, Anita.” She flipped off her phone and dropped it in her lap.
    “What’s up? Is there someone already at the property now?” Kelly asked.
    “I cannot believe it.” Jennifer let out a loud sigh. “Anita is Turner’s assistant. She says that some guy with a British accent left a message on the voice mail last night saying he wanted to make an offer on the canyon property. He said he’d seen it listed and photos on the website, and it matched exactly what he’s looking for. He wants to drive up and take a look and said he’d match or exceed any offer on the table.”
    “Whoa . . . that changes things. What happens now?”
    “I won’t know until I’ve spoken with Turner. Anita says this Birmingham guy was going to meet Turner this morning at eleven. So, maybe they’ll still be there. It’s only one twenty.”
    “Should we be barging in?” Kelly asked, slightly dubious.
    Jennifer shot her a look. “I’m the listed agent in this transaction, and my client has just gone behind my back to meet with a potential buyer. You bet we should barge in. I need to know what’s going on.”
    “Okaaaay.” Kelly recognized that look. It was the “don’t mess with me” look. “Man, that other guy must really want this property if he’s willing to up the ante.”
    “Sounds that way. And I’m wondering if he’s an agent himself. Someone has to write up the contract offer. Maybe he’s a lawyer.” She slowed the car. “That’s the turn up ahead to the right. Wait a minute, who’s that?”
    Kelly noticed a blue truck pulling out of the road up ahead. “Is that Turner’s truck? Flag him down, then.”
    “No, Turner’s got a big black one. Maybe that’s Birmingham.” Jennifer looked out the window as the blue truck drove past.
    Kelly glimpsed a middle-aged woman driving the truck. “Guess not.”
    “That looks like Turner’s wife. I recognize her from Turner’s office. It’s right down the hall from ours.” Jennifer slowed down to turn onto the dirt road.
    “Does she work with Turner or something?”
    “No, but they’re in the midst of a messy divorce. She’s been coming into his office regularly to check on the properties Turner’s been selling. Anita’s told me about her. She grills Anita every time she comes in. Apparently she’s convinced Turner is hiding money from her.”
    “Whoa, not good.”
    “You got that right. And it’s really not good that she decided to drive up here while the new client is meeting with Turner. If she went into one of her tantrums, she could kill the deal. That