Tainted Mountain Read Online Free PDF

around the corner onto the sidewalk, Big Elk and his usual knot of devotees stared at her from across the street. Cole stood between her and Big Elk’s contingent with his arms crossed. Great. She and Scott were afternoon street entertainment like the noon shoot-out reenactment in Tombstone.
    She couldn’t worry about that now. “Scott! What did you mean?”
    He turned around. “I mean I’m done. Finished. Through with Kachina and through with you.”
    She negotiated and worked deals in business, fought daunting court battles, and created business plans to make Donald Trump weep. A modern businesswoman to be sure. Yet Scott always managed to have the upper hand with her. She wouldn’t beg. Couldn’t let herself. “Please, Scott.” Damn it, have some pride . “Don’t go.”
    She could feel the eyes of the crowd on her, sense their interest in her private affairs. Thank goodness her mother, Abigail, was still alive. If not, there would be major grave-rolling-over at this little episode of the Jerry Springer Road Show .
    Scott’s gaze made her feel like a hairy spider crawling across the kitchen floor. “You’re strong, Nora. You don’t need me.” No more shouting and red ears, just a disgusted shake of his head as he turned.
    She watched her husband’s back moving away down the sidewalk, dragging her heart on the pavement behind him.

Five
    Barrett did not like mountain hikes, but he’d learned early on to do whatever it took to keep his family and McCreary Energy safe. If that meant meeting this earth muffin in secret on a mountaintop, then he’d do it.
    While they climbed, Barrett let Scott yammer about protecting the environment and people’s health. As if the bonehead knew anything about saving people. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness probably came next on Scott’s list of talking points.
    Barrett was beyond happiness; pursuing it for himself would be a waste of time.
    Scott strode along the trail ahead of Barrett. “I want you to know I appreciate you meeting me.”
    Barrett thought about swatting the back of Scott’s head. “You said you wanted to talk about groundwater on the Hopi reservation.”
    Scott stopped and waited for Barrett. “Did you know this mountain is sacred to fourteen tribes?”
    I even know why . Barrett stepped around Scott and kept walking.
    Past sixty and overweight, Barrett’s main exercise consisted of riding his champion quarter horses on his ranch. His monthly hiking meetings with Scott stretched his patience as well as his stamina.
    Scott followed closely on Barrett’s heels. “You read the last report, right?”
    The trail rounded a curve and Barrett saw what he was looking for, a sheer drop on the side away from the cliff. A boulder field bottomed out on jagged lava rock 100 feet down.
    Barrett struggled to get his air. Flagstaff sat 7,000 feet above sea level, so they must be at a good 10,000 feet on this mountain. That left little oxygen. He hated the sweat dripping down his jowls and couldn’t wait to get back, to shower and wash the slick film covering his body.
    Scott’s breath sounded soft as a sigh. “We need to go public with this information right away.”
    Barrett saved his limited air.
    â€œI know something this big will impact McCreary Energy.”
    Impact it? You cretin, it would destroy it .
    Scott fidgeted in the silence, as if unsure what to do next.
    Barrett leaned against the cliff wall.
    Scott stared at him, voice incredulous. “You aren’t going to do anything about it?”
    â€œWhy yes. Your lovely wife is going to make snow on Kachina Mountain.”
    Scott shook his head. “But—with these results—that’s not okay.”
    Barrett pushed away from the cliff wall and took a step forward. He spoke quietly. “Making snow is good for business. Making snow will eliminate our little