Chapter 11Columbia Mountain rose out of nowhere, rocky and copper colored, like Oscar remembered except for the radio tower on top. Karen turned the car in that direction. The mountain loomed large ahead as the car sped up.
It rolled past the graveyard on a dusty road. Then they passed the old Goldfield Hotel and saloon. Not exactly a ghost town, but the small grid of empty streets sure seemed that way, like all its people packed up and left that morning.
When a gravel road disappeared on the mountain’s back, Karen parked in rising dust. “Is here okay?”
“I think so. It shouldn’t take long to get to the top. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“Oh, I’m not up to that. I’ll wait here.”
He doubted anyone would notice them. Nonetheless, a precaution came to mind. “If someone asks, the h
