by Rita Hestand
Grey eyes scanned hers like a lazar beam finding its one and only target. "Oh, yeah? Well, I'm not so sure."
Why did those flint-bearing eyes bother her? Why did his touch thrill her, make her blood boil? Why did his touch send warm currents of awareness through her, even through the thick layers of clothing between them? His big hands burned right through to her upper arms.
It was dangerous being this close, dangerous because her heart raced like a locomotive, and dangerous because she wanted to be much closer. God! What was happening to her?
"You deserved it to some degree at least."
"Did I?" He clenched teeth.
Hands of pure steel pinned her against the nearest hemlock, as smoke gray eyes searched hers with a purpose.
She shut her eyes tightly, like a child, but it was to no avail as his lips came down on hers in a kiss so tender and heart wrenchingly sweet that it took her breath away. It was a kiss that immediately changed things between them. And Kasie was shocked to realize how hungry she was for his kisses.
All too soon he wrenched his mouth from hers, breaking the spell he had put her under. "Now, you listen to me."
Things were quickly changing, and Kasie was no longer sure about herself. Something in his hooded expression told her not to push her luck.
He stared into her face.
"The other day you were ready to give yourself to me. Now Gina says Rick is great in bed, a quote from you, no doubt."
The blood drained from her face in shock. She opened her mouth to deny it, but she didn't have to. Her shocked indignation said it for her, and he seemed to nearly stumble in confusion.
"My God, you lied. You little brat!" His words ground at her like Old Blue. "You're such a bundle of twisted nerves, I don't know what you think or feel. Were you going to walk out on this Rick fella, too? Is that the reason for the fishing trips the day before your wedding?"
"No, of course not." But from his look, she knew he was wise to her. "I--I don't know. Maybe."
She let that sink in, with surprise.
"If you'd quit feeling sorry for yourself, you might find out you have a few emotions. Or don't you realize that emotions are what make us human in the first place? I don't want your apologies. That's not what I'm after."
"At least you're finally being honest," she said, choking on her words and darting ahead of him. "You may not appreciate it, but at least I feel better about it now."
He stopped and glared at her. "You're a mixed up little nut, Kasie. You've got stored up bitterness toward a father that feels nothing but love and pride for you. His little tomboy. Oh, yes, you're here for the duration."
"You have no right to talk to me like this," she cried. "You don't understand me, you never did."
Kasie felt an old anger stir within her. She was too close to the truth, and the fact that she was so transparent to Chayton Amory had her cringing. "Look, I don't need this. Go practice your child psychology on someone else. How can you stand there and judge me?"
"I suppose I have judged you. The same way you judged me when I told you I was taking you to your father. Marked me as a yes man for your father, didn't you? You always have. There's never been an ounce of trust between us Kasie, and that's what's wrong."
She didn't say a word, just stared.
"It doesn't matter how much I want your body, or you want my kisses. It'll never work until we can trust each other."
"I don't need your kisses," she huffed. "I don't need anything from you."
"I'll tell you one thing, you sure as hell need something, or someone in your life. You need love so badly you're willing to reach out and take it from a man like Springer. Or like me--isn't that right?" he charged, coming closer.
"You? You weren't offering love," she said with a half laugh, half cry.
"Wasn't I?" Amory's tone changed, softened, "that's rich, coming from you, of all people."
"Well," she said gulping down a breath, struggling for the right words, "that's spilt milk. You obviously want to be rid of me as soon as you can, so why don't you take me to the airport as soon as the roads are clear."
"Like hell, sweetheart, you aren't going anywhere," he boomed as he whipped her around to face him squarely, pulling her against him. She trembled, and he looked her up and down. "Mark my words on the matter."
"But, it's senseless to keep me here," she cried trying to push away, "like--like a prisoner! It's--it's kidnapping. I'll have you arrested!"
Any emotion he might have been feeling was suddenly gone, drained by the cut of her words. He grabbed her wrist, and held her captive. "You could, that's a fact. You've been wanting to do that ever since I picked you up. But let's wait and see what daddy says about it."
"I hate you!" she stomped her foot ineffectively as he released her with a jolt, "I don't need you or him."
His stone cold eyes glared into hers, colder than the snow that enveloped them, "Go right ahead, hate me. I'm prepared for that. Prepared hell, I expected it. But the matter is settled. You're staying."
"I'll make your life hell!"
"Well, sweetheart," this time his words galvanized her to the spot, burning into her like an iron, "you're off to a great start."
Return to Contents
* * *
Chapter Seven
The day the snow broke, Amory had high hopes of the roads clearing and John showing up. But all his thoughts and hopes were doused by a loud thud at the door.
Kasie had run to open it.
Leaning against the frame of the door slumped an injured young man, bleeding.
Kasie yelled for Amory.
He had been out back when he heard her cry out. He rushed around to see her trying to help the young man inside. He helped her carry him inside and laid him on the big bed.
"It's Kyle Gordon, looks as if he ran into some trouble." Amory immediately went to get the first aid kit from the closet, and glanced at Kasie's perplexed face.
Tanka and Gina had been outside, too, and came running in, laughing until they spotted Kyle. Laughter turned to concern as they rushed to the bedside.
"Is he hurt bad?" Kasie asked with concern.
"Bad enough."
Tanka stood beside Amory near the bed. "I'd better go find the doc. He'll need sewing."
"But you can't. I mean, the road's are blocked, how could you get through in this weather?" Kasie tried to reason with him.
Tanka smiled teasingly into her face, tipping her chin with one finger. "You forget. I'm Indian. I can run the distance in less time than it would take you to drive. I'm used to the snows."
Old wives tales, Kasie thought. "Well, at least bundle up properly."
Tanka winked, and smiled down into her face. "Yes, little mother, I'm flattered you care."
Amory shot them a strange look, as though he had just felled a tree, and was watching it fall in the wrong place.
When Tanka left, he pulled Kasie to one side and said very quietly, with a steel edged voice and very little patience left, "Don't play games with Tanka. Gina's my friend; I don't want her hurt. Do you understand?"
Kasie's mouth flew open to protest against his accusation, but he let her go as quickly as he had taken her. Kasie retreated into a near-by corner.
He was so wrong. Kasie confided in Tanka more than anyone in the cabin, but that didn't mean she wanted him. She confided mainly because Tanka was the only one interested enough to talk to her. He was friendly and warm, the kind of person to open up to. The thought that he had misjudged her behavior weighed heavy on his shoulders. Obviously she thought she had found a friend.
It was well into the next day before young Kyle came around.
"Where am I?" Kyle asked, his clear blue eyes rounding on her with no sign of recognition.
"You're at Chayton Amory's cabin. How do you feel this morning?" Kasie replied standing at the edge of the bed.
Kyle tried to get up, but the pain in his shoulder made him wince and lay back. Gina walked towards the bed. "Does that an
swer your question?"
"Why don't you tell us what happened, Kyle?" Amory pulled up a chair.
Kyle glanced about and flushed. "Well, I was hunting, rabbits mostly. The next thing I knew this big black comes barreling out of the woods at me. He was madder than a hornet, and wanted the small keg of honey I always carry when I'm down at the Swanson's place. I had tied it to my shoulder. Forgot all about having it, when I saw him."
Amory smiled knowingly. "That's understandable."
Kyle reddened again, as though he had done something stupid. "I was about to throw the keg at him when a shot rang out. I think it was some dumb hunter thinking he'd bagged a bear. I barely remember heading this way. Ole Blue hightailed it. I don't know who was more afraid, him or me."
"Did you see who did it?" Amory asked sharply.
"No, I didn't get a chance.".
"The rangers put up a wanted notice on Ole Blue so there might have been some target hunters out there. I better notify them, and make them aware of the situation. We don't want this becoming an all out war on Old Blue."
Tanka returned with the doctor. They warmed themselves by the fire first, then the doctor took care of Kyle.
Tanka looked at Chayton. "Okay, brother, what's up?"
"We gotta get hold of the rangers before this turns into an all out war on Ole Blue."
"I agree. I'll get our gear."
Chayton smiled down at Kyle, wanting to reassure him. "You'll be as good as new in a few weeks. Meanwhile you'll have two beautiful young women to care for you here. The doc can get hold of your folks, and they'll be expecting you as soon as you can move about comfortably. But for the time being, just sit tight."
"Let's get you fixed up, young man," the doc said, as he pushed his way through the gathering around the bed.
Kyle glanced at the girls shyly. "I don't remember much."
"You don't have to," Gina said with a grin.
"Umm, I almost forgot. Kyle Gordon, this is Gina Russo and Kasie Moore."
When a big arm fell across Kasie's shoulders, she jumped.
Amory stared down at Kasie with a big scowl on his handsome face. It was the first time he had directed a comment to her in days, much less touched her. "You didn't get much sleep last night, did you?"
Obviously stunned as much by his touch as his cajoling voice, she stammered. "I-I'm alright. I was afraid he might wake up and hurt himself."
"Oh, he's a big boy." His gaze captured hers, and held her spellbound. "You see you get some sleep tonight."
* * *
Dammit, the radio on Sunday hadn't brought John any closer to appearing, and Kasie was as jumpy as a bungee jumper.
He hadn't planned on this being some long extended stay, and wished for both their sakes it was over.
But they were stuck with each other. Amory knew that the only way he would be able to keep his hands off Kasie was to keep her half riled at him. Yet he really didn't want her mad all the time. It was too late for recriminations; he was still just as in love with her as ever. He wanted her, and the longer she stayed, the more danger he was of admitting that love. And if she still wanted to marry Rick Springer, then his admission would be a mistake.
No, the most sensible thing to do was get out of the cabin, and leave her alone. Putting space between them might solve the problem, temporarily.
* * *
Kasie's gaze fell heavily on the axe protruding from an uncut log. With a true sense of dread she picked it up.
"Here goes nothing," she sighed, feeling its weight. It was heavy, and she felt awkward. The enormity of her task lay before her, and the sooner she got started, the better off she would be. Procrastinating wouldn't help.
Like most women, she had never chopped wood in her life. Not even in Girl Scouts. She'd never had to; at home. wood came in prepared cords at the local stores. This could be a nightmare, and a memory she wouldn't want to keep. But she was doubtful she would soon forget it, either.
She slung the axe with grim determination. The hollow sound it made echoed through the dense forest. One sound followed another, until it was rhythmic. It took an hour for her to get the hang of using the intimidating tool. She was beginning to have a great respect for men's work.
Her first batch of wood resembled an awkward bundle of sticks and logs, cut all angles and all shapes, but she didn't care. Wood was wood, as far as she was concerned.
Splinters and blisters were her medals. She plodded onward, making herself finish her task, despite the pain and agony of muscles seldom used. How she felt was irrelevant. This was nothing short of survival, she told herself. Damn Chayton Amory and Tanka for marching off to save Ole Blue, leaving the rest of them stranded with no firewood. Damn his hide for not letting her tag along, insisting her father might show up any time now!
And yet the tension between them had been so thick that neither could tolerate being together another minute. They could torch the cabin with their friction.
Carrying an armload inside, she smiled with satisfaction for a job well done. Perhaps not well done, but at least done.
By nightfall, she surmised that she had chopped enough to last till midday next day. To her surprise and relief, Amory and Tanka trudged wearily back that evening with an exhausted smile on to their lips.
The dread and anticipation of seeing Amory again were gone. Her emotions rioted at his presence, confusing her. A day apart had done them both good.
"Smells good in here," Amory said, as he glanced at the big pot on the stove, then her. His gray, hawk-like gaze confused her.
"It's beef stew." Her voice quivered under his scrutiny.
"Sounds great. I'm glad you felt at home enough to go out and get something from the freezer."
"We were hungry," she said with a shrug, not wanting to make more of it than it was.
"And I see you made a fire. You found the stacks of wood out back, then?"
"Stacks--out back?" There were stacks of wood out back? Why hadn't she thought to look? She had grimly decided after a search of the entire cabin that there was no available wood. Trying not to grimace, she glanced down at her hands, then crammed them into her pockets. She moved hastily away from him.
"No, I didn't. But I managed." She shot Gina a quick look, hoping she wouldn't say a word.
"You didn't find them?" He frowned, then proceeded to drag her hands from the pockets of her jeans and inspect them. With the anger evaporated, his nearness unsettled her.
"My God. What have you done?"
His bark made everyone flinch. .
"You didn't tell me where to look. You said wood had to be chopped daily. I took you at your word," she protested vehemently, as he turned her hands over. His sudden touch made her tremble.
"Damn fool woman!" His hands barely grazed hers, but it was enough to feel the warmth from them. She jerked away. He seemed to measure her response before acting. Her distrust chilled his shadowy glance.
"They are blistered and raw. Do you honestly think I would leave you all here to chop wood for yourself? Come here. We've got to doctor them before infection sets in." His voice mocked, but his tenderness shocked her.
"Don't be silly, it's just a few blisters."
"A few, take a good look." He pulled her with him to the kitchen, where he dug out a black bag from under the sink. "It's a good thing I stock a medicine kit for just such emergencies. The doc's already gone, and you would have been in a fix if I didn't have this. If these were to become infected, you'd have some real problems. Now, sit down and let me handle it."
"It's not necessary," she said, and tried to pull away, but he was having none of that, as he dragged her to the small kitchen table.
As he spread the antiseptic on her hands, she winced then sighed. It was both heaven and hell having him touch her. Still, she couldn't think of a thing to say as their eyes met across the table.
"What happened out there today?" Kasie asked, unable to talk about anything personal at the moment. She wanted to calm her racing heart, th
ink clearly, but his magnetism drew her in.
Amory still rubbed her hands slowly, patiently. His gaze said he knew what he was doing to her, and that he was enjoying it. Then, wiping his hands on his pants leg, he tore off some bandages. When he was satisfied that he had properly taken care of her, he let her go.
She offered him a cup of coffee, but he poured it himself and sat back down, staring into the fire.
"Just scouted the area today, making sure Ole Blue isn't being a bother. Got hold of the rangers to let them know what's going on. They want to try to take Ole Blue alive, and move him to the north country where he really belongs." His voice steadied once more, returning to a softer note. "Although they've tried it once, and they don't usually make an exception and try again."