Crow Mountain by Lucy Inglis

have to , she mouthed.
    â€˜Are you sure she wants to come?’
    â€˜Sure she would!’
    Cal resumed shifting things around in the flatbed. ‘We’ll be sleeping rough, in the back of here.’
    Caleb put a hand on Hope’s shoulder. ‘I bet she’s tougher than she looks. And she doesn’t want to see our finest scenery from some red tourist bus. You can take her up to Polebridge Mercantile for a lookaround. Get me some of those huckleberry bear claws they make up there.’
    â€˜Dad, that’ll add on half a day.’
    â€˜But it’s a fun trip, and you aren’t in a hurry.’
    â€˜What about your mom?’ Cal asked Hope without looking at her.
    Hope was getting more and more embarrassed. None of it had been her idea anyway.
    â€˜I’ll square it away with Ms West.’
    Cal put his hands on his hips and looked at his father for a long time. ‘You’re sure this is a good idea, Dad?’
    Something unspoken passed between them, then Caleb patted Hope’s shoulder. ‘Sure I’m sure! It’ll be an adventure.’
    Cal glanced up at the sky. ‘Can you be ready in an hour?’
    An hour later, Hope brought her bag down the stairs, then thought she should probably take the opportunity to use the bathroom one last time. As she came out she heard voices out on the decking. It was Cal and his father. Cal was rubbing a hand through his chaotic hair.
    â€˜Jesus Christ. Can you imagine what people would say? What her mother would say if she knew?’
    Hope crept closer to the doors.
    â€˜I don’t give a rat’s ass for what people say. It’ll be good for both of you. I can see you like her, even with your grampa’s poker face on.’
    â€˜Doesn’t make a difference if I like her or not, does it?’
    â€˜Take a tip from your pa, you don’t meet so many women in your life that make you sit up and take real notice the way you’ve noticed her.’ Hope’s ears pricked up even further. ‘And she shines fit to light a room when you’re in it. Should haveseen her pretty face when I told her you were going away.’
    Hope cringed. I’m that obvious?
    â€˜She’s sixteen. And British.’
    â€˜What’s that got to do with anything?’
    â€˜Three years and four thousand miles?’
    â€˜All horseshit if you like each other. Look at me and your mother. The truth? We were crazy about each other, but I didn’t know her from a hole in the ground when we got married. That’s worked out pretty well.’
    â€˜For the love of God, Dad—’
    Hope’s heart sank. He really didn’t want her along. She picked up the diary, intending to sit and read until Cal was gone. Then she heard the single wail of a police siren.
    The two policemen they had met in Fort Shaw had pulled up to the front of the house and were getting out of the car. Father and son were already walking forward to meet them.
    â€˜What can I do for you, John?’ Caleb Crow’s voice was harder than Hope had heard it. His relaxed posture had stiffened and suddenly he looked very tall and imposing.
    Officer Jones spoke first. ‘We’ve had a report you’re employing illegals here.’
    Cal stepped forward. ‘Says who?’
    His father shot him a warning look.
    â€˜Now, son, you keep your temper,’ the police chief advised.
    â€˜How many workers do you have here at the moment, Mr Crow?’ the officer asked.
    â€˜Twenty-four. All legitimate. As you know.’
    â€˜What about that little Mexican I seen in town?’
    Caleb Crow rolled his eyes. ‘Jesus has been here for four years. He’s brought in his papers twice.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, maybe he should bring them in again, just to be sure. And that big black fella too, that maintains your vehicles. He’s been in the bar some, I’d like to see his credentials. There’s a whole raft of