Heart of the Wild

by Rita Hestand

  "I'm not staying with you, anywhere," she announced without forethought.

  His head jerked up, and his eyes glittered dangerously into hers, a contact she tried to avoid. His smile held her. When Amory smiled, his entire face was lit.

  "Afraid?"

  "Of what? You? Hardly! I didn't walk out; I ran."

  "Interesting. A woman in control of a situation never runs."

  "I wasn't a woman, I was a child. And I'm sure you didn't suffer. But this little scheme won't work. I'll marry Rick with or without his or anyone else's permission. So you see, it's all for nothing."

  "Let's get some sleep. We'll be there in the morning."

  In the morning? Then why had he stopped here? Why hadn't he continued to drive on?

  Did he honestly think she would spend the night in a motel with him? He had to be out of his mind. Surely he wouldn't push himself on her.

  Without thinking, Kasie made a mad dash for the door. She was caught by one big hand and slung helpless against the bed. She shrieked. The bed! Her face went pale.

  "What are you afraid of, Kasie: me, or yourself?" He towered over her, glaring at her as she tried to get up and run for the door again, only this time he threw her on the bed, his body on top. A powerful body that fit hers like a glove.

  "Why you … " She opened her mouth to scream. She had to get away from him, put some distance between them. Lots of distance. Otherwise...

  He clamped her mouth shut with his hand.

  All thoughts ceased as action took over. She bit him, hard enough to draw blood, deep enough to leave a scar. He swore as he jerked his hand away from her. First he glanced at his hand, then her, as though he didn't quite believe what she had done.

  She tasted his blood, and guilt slapped her motionless. She bit back an apology while his expression held surprise.

  "Now look, Kasie, stop fighting me, or you are going to be sorry," he said, reaching into his back pocket. She flinched, when he pulled out a bandanna to wrap his hand.

  His gaze fastened on hers. "My God, what's happened to you, Kasie? I'm not in the habit of hitting women. You were never afraid of me before."

  "You never stooped to kidnapping, before," she retorted. She stiffened and became defiant. Amory wouldn't dare hit her. She didn't care if she hurt him; it was nothing to compare with the hurt she had suffered eight years ago. She couldn't stay in this motel with him.

  "Why did you stop here if we could be there by morning?"

  Amory eased himself away slowly. "Because, I've been working long hours to finish a logging contract, and have had little sleep. And because I spent last night warring over whether I should come get you or not. And because I don't plan on falling asleep at the wheel, and having an accident."

  "I'm not sleeping with you!"

  "I don't think I invited you to."

  They stood up suddenly, staring at each other across the room. Without another word, he grabbed her with his bleeding hand and pulled her out of the room, as though he, too, realized they couldn't stay the night together.

  "Wait…please, I need a shower," She said with hesitation as good sense began to prevail.

  "There isn't time, Kasie. We're leaving. You should have thought of that earlier. We've got to get out of here."

  She realized she had to stall him. Maybe if she stalled long enough, her mother might have the police looking for her. She had to. She couldn't go with this man. Just being in the small confines of this room was too much. Desperation dogged her.

  As he slammed the motel cabin door and left the key in the knob, she tried to make sense of the last few minutes. She had come alive, vibrantly, for the first time in eight years, just being near Chayton Amory again. Being in the same room with him seemed to revive her spirit.

  "You actually think you'll get away with this before someone discovers what you are doing?" she rasped. He practically shoved her into the jeep, and slammed the door behind her. She scrambled to get out; he pushed her back in.

  "I know I will."

  "I can't believe I almost married you."

  "Neither can I!"

  "If you had been a gentleman, you would have let me change clothes."

  "No one ever accused me of being a gentleman."

  "How right you are."

  He hesitated, then a slow burning smile reached out to her. "Except with you," he added. This time his eyes undressed her, warmed her, taunted her. "I was always a gentleman with you."

  Her face paled, "I suppose that was easy for you. You never cared about me in the first place. I was just a naive kid--a tomboy!"

  "You're right about the naive kid, Kasie."

  Return to Contents

  * * *

  Chapter Two

  A few hours later, Kasie found herself standing in front of a rustic structure made of raw logs. Built like an old fort, it covered several thousand feet. Its name stood boldly on a hand-painted sign above the covered porch. "Rosie's General Store." They were just on the outskirts of Eugene near the ever-famous Cascade Mountains. Kasie scanned the region with renewed interest, but there was little to see except the tall, drooping limbs of the Lodgepole pine covered with the white mass of fresh snow. Even the Douglas fir looked like green angels christened white, floating toward earth.

  "I've got a few things to pick up, and we'll see about getting you something warmer to wear while we're at it. It doesn't look as though this snow is going to let up any time soon. And what you're wearing won't work."

  Kasie made a face at him. "And whose fault is that?"

  "Mine. Now, come on."

  Kasie followed him inside. She'd never seen anything like this place in her life. It looked like something out of the old west, complete with pickle barrels and wooden Indians. There were neither painted walls nor shining floors, but all was of wood, and smelled like a green forest. The store carried everything from home-prepared canned goods, to beautiful flowered homemade quilts, hand-signed by the makers. Kasie ran a hand over the quilts.

  A short, round woman, with a bouncy step and a smile wide enough to cross the Willamette River, came up to Amory and threw her arms around him. Dressed in dark navy pants and a red and white striped shirt, she wore a Captain's hat on top her red-gold curls.

  "Chayton, me darlin'. Good to see you. How you been?"

  Amory held the woman by the shoulders, and smiled. He talked with her for several minutes, totally ignoring Kasie. Kasie wandered off, making herself scarce. The thought of running away held temptation, but out in the boon-docks was no place to get independent. She'd wait till she got her bearings.

  Engrossed in the store, she explored. Never had she seen so many different things crammed in one place. Tanned leather items lined one full wall, and the invigorating odor filled the store with an odd mixture of old and new. Saddle gear and fishing equipment came next along the back side of the store. On the opposite side was clothing of all kinds and sizes, household goods, and food. Hard to find items were handsomely displayed front and center. Kasie was amazed to find pure lye and tar soaps, and fresh honey with a honeycomb center. There were homemade ceramics, too. But the most amazing thing of all was the prices. What reasonable prices for such a tourist attraction!

  "Kasie," Amory called before she wandered too far, "I want you to meet someone very special. This is Rosie O'Flannery, owner and proprietor. Also a very good friend of your father's."

  "So, this is John's daughter? My, she's lovely."

  Rosie's blue eyes danced with excitement as she spoke. What an expressive little woman! Her sultry voice and gentle face made Kasie relax a little.

  "Now we know what they mean by the Douglas eyes, huh Chayton? The spitting image of her father. Well, darlin', I hope you enjoy your stay here."

  Kasie's mouth opened to explain, but Amory stepped in quickly.

  "Oh, she's not going to be staying long, Rosie. She's sort of a hostile guest. And very eager to get back home. We only stopped to pick up my supplies, and get her a coat and few things
."

  "Hostile? I don't understand."

  "It's a long story. We won't bore you with the details. Just wanted to pick up my supplies and get a few essentials for her."

  "That's too bad. I wish you'd change your mind. I don't get many visitors here, just customers, mostly, and tourists."

  "Your store is fabulous." Kasie's glance wandered once more.

  "Why, thank you."

  The bell on the front door tinkled, and a customer walked in. Rosie quickly excused herself.

  Kasie's glance strayed to the couple with three little boys that looked half frozen. Obviously they were tourists who hadn't expected this weather, either.

  Amory stood close by. His glance taking her in. "Why don't you try to find some clothes, jeans, sweatshirts, and a coat? And maybe a pair of snow boots."

  "Are you paying for it?"

  "No, your father is."

  Kasie nodded and began searching the aisles. But she kept being distracted by the distress in the young couple's voices.

  "We had no idea it was so bad here. The last we heard was a storm, but not a blizzard."

  "It's unusual for this time of year, really. How far down the road is your car?"

  "About a mile and a half."

  "Goodness, and you all walked? Why don't you come to the fire in the back, and I'll fix you a cup of hot cider," Rosie said, the same friendliness in her voice as she had used with her. Kasie liked her.

  "They can, but I've got to call someone for help. Know anyone who could pull me out?"

  "Hey, Chayton, this fella is stuck off the side of the road in a snowdrift. Reckon you could help him? He's got a half-frozen family."

  Chayton eyed the man and woman at the register. Then he saw the three young boys, all rubbing their mittens together, and blowing their breath into their hands. He bent down next to the smallest one.

  "That's a good idea, but you need to warm up slow, so it doesn't hurt so much. The tingle will go away soon. Why don't you head for the fire in the back? Rosie makes a pretty good cup of hot chocolate, too."

  Kasie didn't believe what she saw. Amory with children. Gentle, kind, talking in a low voice. She'd never imagined--except years ago. Would he be this understanding with his own? It was a side of him she'd never contemplated. Perhaps he had children of his own now, and a wife. She'd never thought about him married.

  "Thanks, Mister," the little boy said.

  "You're very welcome. Now, I better go see if I can help your dad. Why don't you boys take your mother to the fire too, and wait for us?"

  The boys obeyed him with a smile.

  Kasie marveled at his quick action. He hadn't stood around arguing or discussing the problem; he'd just left. Damn, she had to admire him for that, too. Rick would have made an excuse, just so he wouldn't have to tackle such weather. But then, Rick was from California, and not used to such severe weather, she defended him in her thoughts.

  "I don't blame Chayton for being in such a hurry. The radio said this storm wasn't going to let up for a few days, so this could get bad." Rosie led the woman and three kids towards Kasie, and raised her eyebrows at her. "Just warm yourself by the fire. I'll get us something going real quick like."

  "You shouldn't bother," the young mother exclaimed, casting Kasie a curious glance.

  "Nonsense, the boys looked pretty tuckered, and I imagine you could use a little perking up."

  "Thanks. We never expected anyone to come to our rescue. We figured we'd be stranded for sure. We've been forewarned that the mountain people were a bit standoffish."

  Rosie seemed to survey them before answering. "That's true. Most of them are pretty backward. That's because they so seldom see anyone up there. But once you get to know them, they are all like family."

  "It was nice of your husband to help us, too," the woman said, directing her comment to Kasie.

  "Oh--no, he's not my husband."

  "Oh, I'm sorry, I just assumed."

  "It's okay, I'm glad someone could help you."

  After Rosie attempted a quick introduction, she made the boys some hot chocolate, and gave the lady and Kasie a mug of hot cider.

  "Can you get a weather report on the radio?" the woman asked.

  "I'll try. We've had a lot of static, on the old Philco, but after it warms up, it works good as new. I don't know why I don't get a new one."

  Kasie watched with fascination. The radio had to have been made back in the forties, judging from the style. The wood looked unfamiliar, but beautiful. She'd never seen such a big radio. It stood nearly to her waist, and had big speakers on each side. It also had a two-way.

  Rosie tuned the announcer in, while everyone gathered about her to listen.

  "Expecting snow for the next three days, and maybe more. It's an all-out blizzard. People are asked to take precautions with frozen pipes, traveling, and heating units."

  "Oh, my, let's get some extra blankets, boys. Sounds like we are going to need them. Mind if we look around?"

  "Not at all; help yourself," Rosie said motioning to the far wall at the back. "You'll find a lot of emergency stuff back there."

  "Thanks, come on boys."

  "With your father arriving, I'm sure Chayton's anxious to get to the cabin," Rosie said, turning to Kasie once more.

  "Father can wait, just like anyone else."

  "I don't really understand this, honey. I mean, you don't really want to be here, I gather. Chayton doesn't want you here, but your father does?"

  Kasie didn't refrain the sarcasm from her voice, but she didn't mean to offend the woman. It wasn't her fault.

  "Look, you've got to help me, Rosie. Amory kidnapped me against my will, and brought me here to see my father. I'm not at all pleased to be here. I was supposed to be married tomorrow."

  "Married?"

  "Yes."

  "I can't believe Chayton would do such a thing."

  "Of course he would. Anything for my father."

  Rosie watched her, her face changing from one expression of surprise to understanding. "Chayton owes your father a great deal."

  "Yeah, I know they're buddies."

  "Oh, it goes much deeper than that, dearie. Chayton and Tanka Amory are the two nicest people on the mountain, and - except for your father - probably the best liked, too. Give you their shirts off their backs. But it is much more than that. Your father saved Chayton's life, and tried to save his parents the day they drowned. It devastated John, crushed Chayton and Tanka. They were still very young. John took care of those boys. And for years your father has done everything to help support Chayton and Tanka in every venture they've taken. He's their Godfather, you know."

  "Godfather?" Kasie choked on the words. "No, I didn't know. And I certainly should have. I lived with my father for several years, and he never mentioned it."

  "That must have been when the Irish was still alive, Chayton's dad."

  "I didn't know any of this. I never met Amory's parents, although I did meet Tanka. But that has nothing to do with this. And it still doesn't justify his actions. He's a barbarian."

  "You're upset, and naturally so, but—" Rosie's brow rose with condemnation.

  "Of course I'm upset! And…I'm sorry I'm venting my anger on you."

  "Think nothing of it, child. I understand you being upset with Chayton; he's a handful at times. But barbarian? Not Chayton!"

  "I've been called worse," Chayton said, eying her from across the room. He'd come back, and he'd heard!

  Kasie hadn't meant to vent her anger on Rosie, but the past few hours had been too much. Till this very moment she had never realized how very like her mother she had become. But withheld anger exploded inside her. Her life was being destroyed, and no one seemed to give a damn.

  She hadn't expected him to hear her. Hadn't expected to see that strange look in his eyes: a dull, lifeless look; a look of loathing. Perhaps she deserved it.

  The woman's husband came back inside, and after paying for their supplies, they all left, thanking Rosie and
Chayton both for their kindness.

  After half an hour Kasie had picked out a couple of things, and looked around for Amory. He was bent over the radio on the counter, listening to the weather report.

  She wondered if she could wander away without his noticing. Still, the threatening snowstorm didn't invite an escape plan.

  "Sounds like it's going to get pretty rough. You still going up tonight?"