Free Above the Bridge by Deborah Garner

of Jake’s ranch. 
    Other than a few bison grazing by the side of the road, dark shadows against the twilight sky, she found the road deserted.  This wasn’t a surprise to her.  She’d learned quickly after arriving in Jackson that the activity was mostly centered in town, much of it directly around the town square itself.  It was only necessary to drive a few miles in any direction to reach some solitude.
    As she continued along, she spotted a faint light in the direction of Jake’s ranch.  It twinkled in the semi-darkness like a star that had decided to appear on stage a little early.  It grew slightly brighter as she approached, but there appeared to be only one window that glowed.  She surmised it couldn’t be much more than one small light.  Perhaps he wasn’t even home.
    To play it safe, Paige parked her car on the side of the road, finding an area that was slightly lower than the roadside fence, allowing her car to stay out of view of the ranch.  She proceeded on foot another hundred yards or so, until she came to a point along the wood post and barbed wire fence that allowed her to see the old farmhouse clearly.  With quiet steps, she approached the fence, bent down a little and peered through.
    A bald eagle soared across the sky, landing on the higher branches of a tree that was about halfway between Paige and the house.  A lone coyote roamed the fields to the east, prancing about and lunging at small rodents and other animals who were about to become supper for the clever hunter.
    Paige eased her way along the fence until she arrived at a point where there was substantial brush on the other side, large enough clusters to hide behind.   There, without giving a second thought to fact that she was trespassing, she slid carefully between two of the fence’s wires.  She moved from one cluster of sagebrush to the next, crouching down to avoid being seen, until she found herself in a location where she had a good view of the house.
    Still only one window held light.  The glow was brighter than it had appeared from down the road and it cast a small area of light out onto the front porch of the farmhouse.  Inside the window she could see the outline of a man’s head from the side, with the face tilted slightly down.  He appeared to be sitting in a chair of some sort, something with a high back.  The light was set behind him, preventing any illumination of his features.  Seeing the familiar red truck parked alongside the house, though, Paige knew it had to be Jake.
    She watched the silhouette of his head move back and forth, turning slightly from side to side.  Perhaps he was just stretching his neck, she thought.  Or he might be working with his hands, maybe whittling some wood or repairing an appliance.  Or maybe he was reading, Paige suddenly thought, remembering all the books he’d been holding at the library earlier that day.  It occurred to her at that moment that he might be researching the area, just as she was.  Maybe he’d come to Jackson Hole for more than just the real estate investment of the old Manning Ranch.  As Dan had mentioned, Jake had family ties to the area going back generations.
    She watched as he rose up, moved away from the window and then returned again, holding something in his hand.  Another book, Paige guessed as he took a seat again in the chair.  He must be looking for something in these books, she thought, watching him reach up to adjust the light.  What was it?  Was it hidden in the past history of the area?  Was it something concerning Jackson as a town right now?  Whatever it was, it had to be intriguing, as he remained in the same spot for some time.
    Paige moved forward, still staying a good twenty yards or so from the house.  She inched behind another cluster of sagebrush, this one fairly thick and wide.  The outdoor light continued to fade as night approached and the view inside Jake’s window grew even clearer.  She remained crouched down,