by Kristie Cook
He climbed out of the pit, wrapped a ragged towel around his muddy hips and ran after her. He froze when he rounded the corner and found three separate tunnels. River’s retreating footsteps echoed all around him. It was impossible to tell which direction she’d gone. He couldn’t see more than two feet into any of the tunnels. Was she running blind? Jonathan stopped and looked over his shoulder. The entrance was nothing but a faint glow. “River!”
“Go away.”
It sounded as if her voice came out of the tunnel on the left. Jonathan kept his hand on the wall and took ten steps inside. “I’m not leaving without you.”
“Please, just go back to the ranch.”
Her voice was even more distant.
“There’s no reason to be embarrassed. Come back and we’ll talk about it.” And if he were lucky, maybe they could follow up with more kissing.
He called her name again, but all he heard was his own echo. He counted off another twenty steps then called out again.
No answer.
“Come on, River. You know I don’t like caves.” Jonathan hated reminding her of his claustrophobia, but hoped it would persuade her to come back.
It didn’t. Jonathan turned around. There was no reassuring glow behind him. Nothing but darkness so thick he could taste it. He was suddenly out of breath, as if he’d just completed a marathon. His fingers tingled and curled into his palm. Had he hit a pocket of bad air? Or was this just a panic attack? He had no way of knowing, because the symptoms for both were the same.
Jonathan sank to the ground and put his head between his knees. A draft of cold air washed over him. Cold enough it had to come from outside the cave. He wasn’t going to die.
Suck it up, buttercup. River needs a man, not a claustrophobic wimp. He clamped his hand over his mouth and pinched his right nostril shut with his thumb then focused on controlling his breathing. Once he was sure he wasn’t going to pass out, Jonathan called out to River one more time.
But it was Gabriel that answered.
Chapter Eight
Dangerous Secrets
River ran until she couldn’t see where she was going. Even enhanced vision required some light.
She and Gabriel had explored every inch of this cavern. There were no bottomless pits or sudden drop offs to worry about. But there were plenty of low spots that would knock her senseless if she ran into one. She slowed to a brisk walk and raised her hands above her head.
“River?”
“Go away!” River felt horrible for deserting Jonathan, she knew he didn’t like being underground, but she was too ashamed to face him. Not only had she touched him in the mud pit … she’d kissed him.
“I’m not leaving without you.”
Every tunnel eventually led to the surface, or back to the mud pit. Jonathan was in no danger. “Please, just go back to the ranch.”
“There’s no reason to be embarrassed. Come back and we’ll talk about it.”
River wrapped her arms around her mid-section and hunched forward, as if that could protect her from the sense of shame assaulting her from every angle. She’d been obsessed with the idea of kissing Jonathan ever since he stumbled into her world. She’d tried to deny her growing attraction, but it had only gotten worse, especially after her encounter with the white wolf. She wanted to do a lot more than just kiss Jonathan. Damn pre-merge fever.
She must have been so blinded by her own lust that she’d imagined Jonathan felt the same. She could have sworn he wanted to kiss her, he’d even said as much. But he’d turned as cold and stiff as a block of ice the instant her lips touched his.
River brought a quivering hand to her mouth. Maybe she hadn’t done it correctly. Maybe there was more to kissing than just pressing lips. Or maybe, the only women that initiated physical contact in Jonathan’s world were whores.
That must be it. Tears spilled out of the corners of River’s eyes as she lowered herself to the ground. Darkness enveloped her like a blanket, but she couldn’t hide from the knowledge of what she’d done. She hugged her knees to her chest and tried to remember how to breathe as her shivering intensified.
The sound of trickling water meant she was near the spring house. The pool was too shallow to be dangerous, but it stayed cold enough year round to keep milk from souring; even in the middle of the summer. She was already naked, wet and miserable, she didn’t want to go wading in a pool of near-freezing water. But she’d rather do that than risk running into Jonathan.
She hoped he’d given up and gone home, but he was stubborn enough to wait for her at the mud pit; knowing she’d need to come back for her clothes. What he didn’t know was that she was close to the western exit. It would add an extra mile to the trip, but there was a cleansing pool at the midpoint, so she could warm up.
River felt her way through the labyrinthine corridors of the cave until the glow from the western exit gave her enough light to see. She ran the rest of the way and didn’t stop until she reached the cleansing pool—out of breath and shivering uncontrollably.
The hot water stung her skin like a swarm of hornets. A cloud of grey mud spread out from her body, contaminating the pool. It would take at least two days for the hot springs to completely purge the mud, but at least it would be clean again. River wished it could wash away her shame.
As soon as her shivering stopped, River climbed out of the pool and ran for the house. She’d hoped to make it to her room unseen, but fate wasn’t done punishing her.
Eli met her at the front door.
“Well, well, well … what have we here?”
“Shut up.” River’s shivering returned. The heated porch stones warmed the air, but the way Eli scanned her naked body chilled her to the bone.
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door jamb, blocking the entrance. His smirk raised the hair on the back of River’s neck. “Where’s the outsider?”
River wasn’t about to confess she’d left Jonathan behind. Eli would demand to know why. “Where’s Reuben?”
“In the smithy, finishing that contraption for your one-handed recruit.” Eli curled his lip, as if he didn’t approve of Reuben’s project.
River wished Reuben were closer, but he wasn’t the only one capable of putting Eli in his place. “And Gabriel?”
Eli shrugged. “I imagine he’s at the mud pit.”
“What?”
“He was looking for you when I got here. Reuben told him you’d gone to the mud pit with your recruit. He didn’t seem too happy about it.”
A blue glow flickered behind Eli’s eyes. Apparently, he wasn’t too happy about it either. “Reuben should know better than to let you go anywhere unchaperoned with an outsider. They have no honor.”
River’s cheeks flushed with heat. She was the one that had acted without honor, not Jonathan.
The flickering blue light behind Eli’s irises intensified into a steady glow. “Did that filthy outsider touch you?”
It was dangerous to provoke Eli when his wolf was so close to the surface, but as a trained enforcer, he could tell if River were lying. It was better to keep him on the defensive. “If you’re so concerned about my safety, why is Gabriel the only one searching for me?”
River held her breath as Eli struggled to subdue his wolf. She hoped she hadn’t pushed him too far.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Why are you always so bitchy to everyone?”
“I’m only bitchy to you.” River needed to get inside before she froze to death—or picked another fight with Eli. “Get out of my way … please.”
“Your eyes are glowing.” Eli cocked his head to the side. “Have you felt the pull of your wolf again?”
River planted her palms on his chest and shoved him out of her way. “When I do, you’ll be the last to know.”
Jonathan
“River? Jonathan? Where are you?”
As soon as Jonathan heard Gabriel’s voice, he felt as if he’d been saved from drowning. As if someone had thrown him a
lifeline.
“I’m somewhere in the far left tunnel. But I have no idea where River is.”
“Stay put, I’ll come get you.”
The welcome glow of a hurricane lantern preceded Gabriel into the tunnel. He stopped right in front of Jonathan and held the lantern next to his face. “Why isn’t River with you?”
Jonathan stood up and scratched at the dried mud flaking off his skin. “She got mad at me and stomped off deeper into the cave. Do you think she’s lost?”
“We’ve been playing hide and seek in this cavern since we were kids. She probably took the western exit and is already back at the house.” Gabriel chuckled then turned around and headed back the way he’d come. “Her clothes are still by the mud pit. She must have been pretty mad to leave without getting dressed. What happened?”
Jonathan didn’t dare tell anyone that River had kissed him, not even Gabriel. He clapped him on the shoulder and shook his head. “To tell you the truth; I have no idea what’s going on in that girl’s head. But you’re right, she’s definitely mad.”
Gabriel’s grin split his face. He didn’t quit smiling until they arrived at the mud pit. “Why don’t you get cleaned up. There’s a bathing station around the corner. Pa wants to see you in the smithy.”
Jonathan grabbed his muddy, ragged towel and followed Gabriel’s directions to the bathing station. The premixed water was just the right temperature. It poured out of a wooden trough in a unified stream instead of a shower, but it couldn’t have felt better. He would have loved to spend an hour under its hypnotic flow, but he knew better than to keep Reuben waiting.
***
Jonathan had never been inside the blacksmith shop when Reuben was working so he wasn’t prepared for the blast of heat that sucked the air out of his lungs when he opened the door. The geothermally heated boiler in the back corner whistled and groaned, rattling the pipes. Jonathan wondered if Reuben ever inspected his equipment. There were no gauges to measure the pressure inside the boiler. If a rivet popped off, it would be like firing a rifle in close quarters.
The place looked like a steam-punk nightmare; an accident waiting to happen; but its ingenuity amazed Jonathan. Every metal tool, nail, hinge, bolt and spring used on the ranch was made in this primitive shop. But where had the boiler and pipes come from? It was a chicken and egg conundrum. The boiler powered everything, including the squirrel cage fan blowing a steady stream of air across a bed of glowing coals. An even larger fan super-heated the fire inside a clay furnace. The light from its open door stung Jonathan’s eyes.
Reuben pulled a glowing bar of iron out of the coal bed and pummeled it with his hammer. The clang of metal on metal accented the roar of the furnace. Reuben slid the bar of iron to the end of his anvil and hammered it against the curved point. Sweat ran down his bare chest, staining the bib of his leather apron.
Jonathan shrugged out of his coat and waited for Reuben to finish what he was doing. The last thing he wanted to do was cause an accident.
Reuben turned around and plunged the horseshoe into a barrel of water, sending a plume of steam into the already sweltering shop.
The network of scars criss-crossing Reuben’s back sent a chill down Jonathan’s spine. He averted his gaze. Jonathan didn’t like it when people stared at his stump or the jagged scar that ran from his left armpit down his side and over his hip. But that was nothing compared to the puckered flesh on Reuben’s back.
“Come on in, but don’t touch anything.” Reuben never looked up, so he must have known Jonathan was there all along. The man had a sixth sense when it came to being aware of his surroundings. He would have made a great soldier.
“Gabriel said you wanted to see me.”
“I do.” Reuben’s muscles bulged as he cranked a metal wheel on the boiler. A cloud of steam shot out of the top. The fan’s blades slowed. The coals dimmed. The roar of the furnace faded. Reuben was shutting down the shop. Jonathan’s stomach twisted into a knot. Was he in trouble?
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”
“Come with me.” Reuben got dressed then led Jonathan back to the house and into his office. He didn’t say a word until he sat down behind his desk. “Close the door and take a seat.”
Jonathan grabbed a three-legged stool out of the corner of the room. Sweat peppered his upper lip and dampened his brow. He was definitely in trouble, but what had he done? There was no way Reuben knew that River had kissed him—unless she’d stopped by the shop and told him after running out of the cave. Shit.
Reuben leaned to the side and opened a drawer. “I’ve been working on something that might make life a little easier for you.”
Jonathan arched his eyebrows. “Okay.”
Reuben set a cloth bag on his desk and grinned like a kid on Christmas morning. “Go ahead, open it.”
Jonathan held the bag still with his stump and untied the drawstring. His throat tightened when he realized what was inside, making it hard to speak. “It’s a prosthesis.”
“River told me about the wonderful device you had when she first met you. I’m sure this thing is primitive in comparison.”
When compared to his robotic iHand, it was definitely primitive, but the design was still ingenious. Jonathan traced one of the sinews from the top of the shoulder harness down through a maze of tiny levers, springs and pulleys to the three-pronged, gold-plated pincer. He tugged on the sinew and watched in amazement as the pincer closed. “This is amazing. I don’t know what to say.”
Reuben leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat. “It should help you get your chores done a little faster.”
“I’m sure it will.” Jonathan turned it over to get a better look at the mechanics. Sunlight struck the polished surface of the pincer, shooting golden sparks across the walls and ceiling. “I hope I don’t scratch the gold plating.”
Reuben laughed and rolled his eyes. “What makes you think it’s gold-plated.”
“I know what gold looks like.” Jonathan set it down on the desk and stroked the metal with his fingertips. “The McKnights have been miners for generations.”
Reuben lowered his voice and spoke through clenched teeth. “Do not mention your family.”
Shula had given Jonathan the same warning. “Why not?”
“There are people in our society that hate the McKnights. If they find out you’re here, your life won’t be worth much.”
“Why? What did my family ever do to you guys?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m smarter than I look.”
Reuben frowned as he fought some kind of internal debate. But then he blinked and switched the conversation back to the discussion of gold as if the topic of Jonathan’s family had never come up. “Plating technology requires electricity. Have you seen any electrical appliances since your arrival?”
Jonathan knew he wouldn’t get any more information about the McKnights from Reuben. He’d ask River about it later … if they were still on speaking terms.
“Okay then, if it’s not gold-plated, it must be gold-leafed.”
Reuben smirked and shook his head.
“No way!” Jonathan hefted the device and guessed its weight to be somewhere between eighteen and twenty-four ounces. He cocked his head to the side. At nearly two thousand dollars per ounce that would be … “Holy sh—”
Reuben leaned forward and placed both hands on the surface of his desk, spreading his fingers.
Gabriel’s warning about swearing sprang to the front of Jonathan’s mind. “I mean … wow.”
Reuben nodded once then leaned back in his chair. “Gold isn’t as hard to come by as you might think. And it’s a lot easier to work with than iron.”
“But isn’t solid gold too soft?”
“I have a certain … knack with all metals.” Reuben smiled. “You aren’t going to damage the device.”
“How did you figure this out?”
“You can thank Eli for that.”
“Eli?” Jona
than had a hard time believing Eli would do anything to help him. Not without some ulterior motive.
“He drew out a schematic and explained it to me. The boy has a knack for all things mechanical. Take off your tunic and let me help you put it on.”
Jonathan forced a smile. He didn’t want to owe Eli any favors, but this wasn’t Eli’s gift, it was Reuben’s—and Jonathan did not want to piss off the man that held his fate in his hands. “If you don’t mind, that would be great.”
“If I minded, I wouldn’t have offered.”
Heat blazed across Jonathan’s cheeks. He handed the priceless prosthetic back to Reuben and removed his shirt.
Even with Reuben’s help, it still took a good ten minutes to get the harness strapped on and fitted correctly. The device opened automatically when Jonathan extended his arm and closed when he pulled back.
“Eli added some rather ingenious features. Would you like me to show you?” Reuben reached across the desk with his hand palm up and raised his eyebrows.
“I’m not used to this thing yet. I could accidentally pinch you.”
Reuben smirked at him. “I’ll be careful. Extend your arm.”
Reuben pushed a tiny pin on the side of the device. “Now pull your arm back in.”
The pincer remained open, locked in place by the pin.
“Spend a few days getting used to it and then we can make some adjustments to fine tune it.” Reuben stood up, gripped Jonathan’s shoulder and gave it a brief squeeze. “River would like to speak with you before you retire. She’s in her room.”
Jonathan cleared his throat, but his voice still sounded rough. “Thanks. And uh … tell Eli I’m grateful.”
Reuben laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his chair. “Tell him yourself.”
***
Jonathan knocked on River’s door.
“Come in.” She was sitting on her bed, one foot on the ground, the other tucked under her knee. She’d taken off her vest and unbraided her hair, but she still had her shirt and pants on. She wiped her palms on her thighs and chewed her lower lip. The air crackled with tension.