Read Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) for Free Online Page B

stopped so close in front of her, she thought he intended to knock her down. Her hand reached instinctively for her knife. He stared at her, his emerald eyes blazing with anger.
    “The . . . Madison River Valley. I told you that yesterday,” Sarah stammered. What was going on?
    “This is the Madison River?” he asked, and pointed behind him.
    “Yes.” She shook her head, confused by his behavior.
    “And that’s National Park Mountain?” He pointed at the straight mountain that rose out of the earth across the river.
    “I . . . I don’t know. I’ve never heard it have a name.”
    She was unprepared when he grabbed her by the shoulders.
    “I was here a week ago, digging new steps in a trail on that hillside over there that should lead to the campground behind those trees.” He gestured to the sloping hill behind her parents’ home. “We re-enforced it with split logs. I busted my ass on that project. It took an entire day.”
    “I don’t understand what you’re saying,” Sarah said, squirming for release from his strong grip.
    “Where the hell’s the campground?” he roared. “And the trail, and the ranger station over there?” His chin jutted in an easterly direction, across the meadow.
    “Release your hold on me,” Sarah said firmly. Chase’s face sobered. He dropped his arms.
    “I want to know what the hell’s going on here.” His eyes scanned into the distance. “There should be a road, right over there,” he pointed beyond the river to the east, “with a bridge over the Gibbon River.”
    Gibbon River? How did he know that name? Her father called it the Little Buffalo River. She’d only heard her mother refer to it as the Gibbon River from time to time.
    “There’s no road, and no bridge,” Sarah said. “I’ve lived here all my life. No one is camped in the hills behind the cabin.” Had he injured his head as well? He was talking like a crazy person. She took a step back to put some distance between them. Chase held his hands to his temples.
    “Jesus! What the hell happened to me down in that canyon?” He stared again into the distance, looking for something that wasn’t there.
    “Did you perhaps fall and hit your head?” Sarah offered tentatively. “I can take a closer look to see if there is an injury.” She reached her hand up to touch his head. He brushed it away impatiently.
    “I didn’t hit my goddamn head!” he roared. Grizzly ran up to him and barked. Chase’s loud and angry tone had startled the dog. “Call off the damn mutt,” he growled.
    “Come here, Grizzly. It’s okay.” Sarah slapped the side of her leg, and the dog quit barking instantly, and lowered his head. She looked at the irate man now pacing the yard in front of the cabin. He looked nearly crazed.
    “If you can calm yourself, perhaps we can figure out what it is you are searching for,” Sarah offered in a quiet voice.
    Chase stopped his pacing and turned towards her. His eyes rested on her. He inhaled deeply. “Okay. All right,” he said, his voice sounding calmer.
    Sarah waited another moment. He appeared to be quieting down. “Come inside and sit. I will make coffee, and we can talk.”
    Chase nodded. He followed her back into the cabin, and sat at the table, his head cradled in his hands. The shocked look on his face puzzled her. She rekindled the fire. When the flames burned large enough, she poured fresh water into the kettle to heat. Then she turned and sat across from him at the table.
    “Something happened in that canyon, Sarah,” he said. “Everything’s different. That’s why I couldn’t find the road.”
    “Everything has been the same here. There are no roads.” She tried to reason with him.
    He stared up at her. “Who’s the president of the United States?” he asked suddenly.
    What an odd question. She had to think for a moment, trying to remember any news she’d heard about the Americans. Here in the territories, news was slow to reach them. “I believe his name