by Rita Hestand
"You kidnapped her?" they both shouted. Ignoring his last question, they glanced from one to the other.
"I suppose," he answered, as his glance met Kasie's head on, "that's the way it looks, yes."
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Chapter Six
Amory stared after the Park Ranger a long time. Then his shoulders slumped, in that decided Amory slump, Kasie mused as he closed the door. She knew the news wasn't good, just by the slump of those big strong shoulders. God, she seemed to read this man so easily.
"Well, that settles that; no one's going to be coming in or out of here for a while. The storm has caused a lot of other problems that weren't anticipated. There's been a washout at the Chambers Creek Bridge just the other side of the ridge. The roads are blocked, trees are down, and there's no sign of the snow letting up for another day or two. We are officially stuck."
Gina waved an exasperated hand in the air. "Great, just great. I've got a flight tomorrow. I know it's my own fault, but I never figured on such weather this time of year. We haven't had weather like this in years. In the dead of winter, yes, but usually not this early."
"We all have our problems, Gina," Amory was saying, his eyes straying to Kasie more than once.
"I'm sorry honey, I should have taken you down yesterday with the rest of the tour party. I was just being selfish, I wanted you with me a little longer," Tanka said, trying to cajole Gina.
"It's not your fault. I just hope I have a job when I get back."
Join the club, Kasie thought miserably. No one was worried about her job. In fact, she had become almost oblivious since Tanka and Gina arrived, not that she minded. After her last encounter with Amory, she welcomed the distraction.
Kasie studied Tanka silently. He had been a reluctant friend once, before Amory announced their engagement, but now he seemed friendlier, perhaps out of loyalty to his brother.
He had the most beautiful sleek, long black hair that hung to his shoulders, and deep set piercing black eyes always carried a smile. His mouth was wide and friendly, and he must have had a sense of humor, for his eyes reflected it with little crowfeet marks. He wasn't tall like Amory, but he was built strong, like a locomotive.
Kasie's eyes flitted from Tanka to Gina. She was all round and softness. Her dark eyes danced all the time, and her raven hair swung a little shorter than Tanka's. But her figure was undeniably all female. She curved in all the right places. Nothing like herself, Kasie sighed, tall, and lanky.
The next day everyone seemed to be stepping on everyone else's toes around the cabin. But the second day started out with more organization. Amory and Tanka were busy most of the morning, and Gina didn't get up till noon.
It gave Kasie time for snooping.
Everything on Amory's desk had to do with logging, the ecology, and forestry. From the quick assessment she made, Amory wasn't doing all that bad. And from all the notes, he seemed quite serious about the ecology, too. Somehow that made her happy. At least that was a point in his favor. Most loggers didn't care about the ecology, at least not to the extent that Amory obviously did.
Strange, but a large figure was scribbled on the pad in big red ink, and out to one side it was marked, "Paid in Full". Funny, but the writing was so different, as though those words were written with emotion, or perhaps relief.
She got a quick idea about his bookkeeping system, and shook her head. Boy, did he ever need an office manager. A computer could do wonders for his books.
She glanced about for reading material, but Forestry Journals were all she found. There was not one good mystery.
Gina finally woke up, stretched and headed for the kitchen almost immediately. They took turns with their baths, and put everything away before the men returned. Kasie literally rejoiced in her first real bath. Amory's idea of a taking spit baths just wasn't enough.
"I'm famished," Gina said, casting her a glance.
"There's some fresh biscuits and bacon on the stove top," Kasie informed her, as Gina put finishing touches to her make-up and hair.
"Great, did you fix this?" Gina asked, as a few minutes later she bit into a biscuit.
"Only in self-preservation."
"That's what I thought, those two out there would just as soon eat beef jerky for breakfast."
"Have you known them long, Gina?"
"I've known Tanka about three years. I met him on a ski trip. He introduced me to Chayton. We've been best of friends ever since."
"You're in love with Tanka, aren't you?"
Gina turned about to look at her, her face screwed up. "Yes, of course."
"He's nice. I just wish he liked me a little better."
"But he does. He's just a little protective of his brother. That's all. He said you are about the only woman that has ever stood up to his brother and won."
"I'm not interested in Chayton Amory. I'm going to be married, remember?'
"So you said. Tanka is the best man I've ever known. Except maybe your Rick Springer, I mean the man is ultra gorgeous."
"Yeah…I guess."
"How long have you known Chayton?"
"I met him eight years ago, when he came down to help my dad on a project. Tanka joined him later."
"Why do you call him Amory? Everyone else calls him Chayton."
Distance! Kasie's mind screamed. "Habit, I guess."
"Tanka tells me you and Chayton almost married. What happened, or would you rather not talk about it?"
Trying to make light of it, Kasie shrugged. "It just didn't work out, is all."
"That's too bad. I think the two of you would make a good couple." Gina didn't ask for details, and Kasie was glad.
"Me? And Amory?"
"Yes."
"Never!"
"I just don't understand why you didn't fall for Tanka instead."
"Chayton had been with my dad longer, working with him. Tanka showed up a lot later. And he didn't like me at all, back then. Probably thought I was a big pest."
"God, I think Tanka is gorgeous, he looks more Indian than Chayton, I think. Direct descendants of Crazy Horse."
"He does have beautiful black hair. I know a lot of women who'd die for that kind of hair. And a very charming smile."
"A lot of us up here are Indian, you know. I'm half myself. On my mother's side. Does Chayton being Indian have anything to do with you not wanting to marry him?"
"Why, no, where'd you get an idea like that?" Kasie whirled to look at Gina.
"From Tanka actually. He said something to that effect. I'm glad. So, are you really going to marry Rick Springer?"
Kasie shrugged again, not so sure of her own answer. "I suppose so. If he still wants to when I return."
"I almost envy you. Aren't you excited?"
"Well, don't envy me. Rick's just a man, Gina. He's only human. And I'd be a lot more excited if my father hadn't insisted on seeing me."
"I can't believe you don't worship the ground he walks on."
When Kasie fell silent, Gina prodded her.
"What's he really like?"
"He's nice."
"No--o. I mean what's he really like."
In bed, she meant, Kasie surmised, sensing a headache coming on. "He's very good."
"I knew it, he had to be. He's so gorgeous. It must be thrilling. Going on tours, and all the fanfare."
One little lie wouldn't hurt. Gina expected her to have gone to bed with Rick, how could she disappoint her? Besides she'd look downright prudish if she told everyone she'd never been to bed with a man.
However, she hadn't expected Gina to blurt it out at the supper table, nor Amory to walk out of the cabin, slamming the door behind him. It was she that should have been walking out with embarrassment.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Have I spoken out of turn?" Gina cried.
Tanka glanced at the door, then at Gina with a frown, "Don't fret, my pet."
After a night of silence, Kasie decided to do something constructive. She hated being idle. One o
f her first projects was to construct a privacy curtain between the kitchen and the rest of the house so that she and Gina could take baths in private. Amory found some worn out blankets, and Kasie proceeded to sew a curtain.
"You sew very well. Never figured you as domestic," Amory said, as he examined her handiwork with surprising appreciation.
"Julia taught me," she blurted out almost automatically. Damn, she hadn't meant to mention Julia.
"Julia?"
"Yes, my nanny."
The expression in Amory's eyes grew serious. "You had a nanny?"
"She lived with my mother."
"Naturally."
"It's not such an uncommon thing among my mother's circles."
"It must have been pretty rough not having a close association with your mother--or your father."
"You learn to roll with the punches, as they say. Both my parents have always been more interested in making money than messing with their inquisitive and mischievous daughter."
He shot her a contemplative look, as though he might be reconsidering her.
But it didn't matter if he sympathized with her or not. She had to get out of here! Then one dreary afternoon, Kasie saw her chance to get away, when a helicopter dropped supplies to the cabin.
She sneaked out the door as Tanka and Gina headed out. They were always sneaking off to some cubbyhole to make out. She tried to catch the pilot just before he took off.
She missed the helicopter.
Kasie let her bag drop to the snow with a crunch, grimacing as the copter and her freedom flew away. Gina and Tanka spotted her, saying nothing, and hurried inside with the supplies.
Chayton wasn't to be seen until she heard someone behind her. She knew who it was, even before she looked. She recognized the sound of his crunching boots, the sound of his thundering voice as it shot through her, and a familiar woodsy odor filled the air. More than that, she felt his presence, his nearness by the way the hairs on the back of her neck pricked when he was around..
"Going somewhere?"
Kasie's shoulders fell with a decided slump. "I--I guess not."
She could feel his eyes on her, feel the flint of his gaze. Why all her senses were alive around this man, she didn't know. Didn't want to know. She only knew it hurt to be with him, and it hurt to be without him.
"Be patient, Kasie, it won't be for much longer."
"It's been over a week now," she reminded him. Her voice almost broke, but she cleared her throat. She had to steel herself against her own emotions. "I don't suppose it has ever dawned on you or anyone else around here, but I do have a life back there. I've probably already lost my job and ..."
"Yes, and Rick?" he finished flatly. "We realize, but maybe it's all for the best. I mean, if the guy couldn't wait a week or two, perhaps your father was right all along. And maybe you've had time to consider whether you really love him."
"Love him?" She whirled about to look at him. That was a mistake, as her heartbeat quickened.
"Well, don't you?"
She flopped herself down on the large case, and folded her arms over her jacket. She wasn't really cold, she had grown used to the climate relatively fast, but the slight hug she gave herself gave her courage to go on.
There was a growing frustration to get out of here, before she fell in love with it and the man in front of her, again. God, was that what was happening? No, she sighed with a heaviness that belied pain, she'd never fallen out of love with Chayton Amory. She had realized it the moment she had heard his voice in that jeep. Still, she had too much pride to admit it to herself. Amory merely wanted to please her father. She wanted independence, and she wouldn't have it with Amory. He was too tied to her father.
Amory hadn't touched her since Tanka and Gina arrived. She supposed she had scared him off.
Damn him for making her care. She suddenly cared what he thought of her.
She glanced up at him sadly, as he lit a cheroot and leaned negligently against a tall leggy pine. Here was a man in his element, at home with nature and God. What was not to love about the man? "I guess it's time we had a little talk."
She could do this. She owed him this much.
A brow shot upward as his eyes fell on her, then looked away. "Oh, something on your mind?"
She could no longer sit still. Instead, she paced the snow, making deep little prints as she went. Funny, but the sinking sensation of snow beneath her feet felt like her heavy heart. How could she tell him? What would he think of her? And why did she suddenly care so much what he thought?
"You aren't going to like what I have to say, Amory. But I'd still like you to listen, anyway. Give me a chance to explain. At least as much as I gave you."
He didn't move, didn't bat an eye. Instead, he waited.
"Okay, here goes." She drew in breath, hoisted a false courage and sat back on the suitcase, her legs out straight, her head hung. "I'm sorry."
She waited till that homed in on him.
"Sorry? For what?"
"I realize now how wrong I was to just walk out on you the day before the wedding. Without an explanation. It was very cowardly of me. I know. And I'm glad I've had this opportunity to apologize. For that, I'm sorry."
There was nothing but silence, a cold silence. He waited.
He still didn't move. But his eyes searched and found hers. There was a sudden new tension between them that hadn't been there before. It was as though her admission brought more tension--instead of relief; a different kind of tension. It was as though she had suddenly let down all the barriers, and bared herself to him. The wind grew chilly. The forest more quiet.
"Well?" She finally beseeched him, "aren't you going to say something? Go ahead, shout, yell at me, get mad, something?"
He shrugged indifferently. "Nope," he muttered, and he started towards the cabin.
Kasie felt numbed. That was it? He didn't appreciate her apology?
Appreciate it? He was throwing it back in her face!
Then she ran to catch up with him, halting him and making him face her. "I said, I'm sorry."
Still nothing.
"You have to admit, you deserved every bit of it. You and my father. It wasn't easy for me, keeping quiet. Especially when I realized what you thought of me."
When he tried to push past her, she jumped ahead again.
"Look, my father had no right interfering in your life like that, practically forcing you to marry me. People should marry because they agree, because they l-love each other. That is, if they love each other."
"If?"
At least he was listening.
"I only brought it up because you seem to set such great store in there being love in a relationship. Why, in this day and age, I can't imagine. I mean, when I heard you talk about your parents, and how they loved each other so much to Tanka, I assumed--I mean ..."
There was a small twinkle in his eyes, but no smile, no other reaction.
"You assumed I believed in love. Real love. Well, you are right. I do. And there lies our problem, because you don't?"
"Not particularly, no. Some people find it, I guess. I think a relationship, a good relationship, can be based on mutual trust and caring for each other. I'm not so sure that true love isn't a fantasy. It's probably an invention of those writers of romance novels."
He cast her a frustrated glance. "Romance novels?"
When he grew silent again, she went on. "So, why don't you start concentrating on getting me out of here? I'm old enough now to make my own decisions. I'm not changing my mind. I'm too independent to listen to him, anyway; he should know that."
Now he stopped. Everything stopped, the wind, the snow, her breath.
Whirling about, he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Believe me, I'd like nothing better than getting rid of you. You've been nothing but a thorn in my side since you got here. But I promised your father a daughter, and he's going to get one! Maybe he can straighten you out."
"Straighten me--" she squawked. Hadn't
he heard what she had said? Didn't he understand English?!
He stood there, holding her like a limp doll, until she stiffened. "Look, I just told you. You've got the wrong girl! I'm not mixed up. I know exactly what I'm doing."