Wyoming Legend

by Diana Palmer

  “Clumsy,” he teased.

  She grinned. “Sorry. My left foot rebelled.”

  He looked worried. “Not hurting?”

  “Oh, no. It’s fine. I was just awkward. Honest.”

  He nodded. They continued.

  Lost in the joy of the program, she forced herself to stop thinking about Micah. He’d issued an ultimatum. She couldn’t give in. The memory of her parents compelled her to keep going, to win that Olympic gold they’d been so certain she could get. She couldn’t let Paul down by forcing him to find a new partner—not after his one disastrous try to replace her.

  If Micah was that petty, she decided, it was just as well to get away from him. Besides that, he was marrying Lindy the following month. She felt an upwelling of rage and grief. Poor Janey. She would go crazy with Lindy in the house. She’d never be able to continue with skating, because Lindy would insist that boarding school was a good idea. She’d coax Micah into it, and Janey would be one less problem for Lindy to contend with. Next, Burt would go. She’d complain so much that Micah would hire someone to replace him. If he could toss Karina out so easily, nobody else’s job was safe. Dietrich would be sold.

  She swallowed, hard. She was making mountains out of molehills, as her father used to say. Tormenting herself wasn’t helping the situation. There was nothing she could do, to save Janey or herself. Micah was like a steam engine going down a high grade when he made a decision, and he never backtracked. She knew him that well, after only a few weeks.

  She knew the taste and smell and character of him. She loved him. It would wrench her heart from her body to leave him. But he was giving her no choice. He thought skating was a pipe dream. He didn’t think she could skate. But, then, he’d never really seen her skate. Neither had Lindy. They’d been at the rink when she was still learning to get back on the ice. Neither of them knew how well Janey could skate, either. Lindy made fun of the little girl, told her she had no talent. Lindy, who’d won a regional competition, making fun of Karina, who had a gold from the World Figure Skating Championships.

  Well, she’d show them both! She and Paul were not only going to compete at the Olympics, they were going to win that gold medal. She’d work herself to death, risk any injury, to throw that medal in high-and-mighty Micah’s face! Not to mention Lindy’s. It would vindicate her. And Janey would love it.

  “You’re smiling,” Paul noted as they finished their routine, to applause from the other skaters, whom they acknowledged with waves. “Why are you smiling?”

  “Micah and Lindy think I’m having pipe dreams about winning a medal,” Karina told him. “In fact, Lindy rubbed it in my face that she’d won a medal at regional competition!”

  “Wow.”

  “Not that it’s an easy thing, to win a medal of any sort,” she conceded. “But I do think a gold at the Worlds is a little more proof of ability than a bronze at Regionals. Just my little opinion.”

  He hugged her. “It’s a great opinion, and, yes, we are going to win the Olympics,” he chuckled, looking down at her affectionately. “And then I’m going to feature in ice shows for a couple of years while I finish my degree so that I can teach. How about you?”

  “I’ll do the same, so that I can get my own degree in history. Maybe I’ll go on to master’s work, so that I can teach elementary school.”

  He laughed. “I’ll settle for teaching adult education with a bachelor’s. The boys will be in kindergarten next year. I’ll need to be home, or Gerda will never manage enough discipline to keep them straight.”

  “Gerda’s no marshmallow,” she teased.

  “No, but boys are difficult. You’ll find that out, one day.”

  Her face fell. “I don’t want to get married,” she said.

  “Not even to your abrasive boss?” he chided softly.

  She blushed and he laughed.

  “Stop that,” she muttered, moving away from him. “He’s going to get married next month. He and Lindy moved up the wedding date.”

  He winced. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Life is hard.”

  “Then you die,” he chuckled.

  They were recalling famous lines from a retro television show, Dempsey and Makepeace, about an American peace officer who worked in London with a tough female one. They’d watched it on a popular internet site, along with Gerda.

  “Such is life,” Paul said philosophically. He glanced at his watch. “I suppose you have to get your charge home on time tonight,” he guessed.

  “I suppose so,” she said reluctantly. “The boss was furious.” She grimaced. “Somebody who’s friends with Lindy was at the rink last night. She told Lindy that you and I were all hugged up in public, and that you’re married. So the boss thinks I’m helping you commit adultery.”

  “We should tell Gerda at once,” he said with mock fear. “She’ll be furious!”

  She hit him. “Quit that.”

  He laughed. “Suppose I go home with you and talk to your boss?” he asked gently. “You should have just told him the truth.”

  “He wouldn’t believe me,” she said simply. “He wouldn’t believe you, either.” She sighed. “He’s looking for a way to get rid of me, Paul. It comes down to that.”

  “But, why?”

  “I don’t really know. I suspect it’s because Lindy doesn’t like me and Janey does.”

  He sighed. “Perhaps he feels something he doesn’t want to feel, yes?”

  “I don’t know,” she repeated. She searched his eyes. “Without a job, I don’t know how I’ll manage!”

  “You can coach on the side down in Jackson,” he said. “I know two families who are desperate for coaches for their sons and the coaches at the rink are already overwhelmed. They’re wealthy and they’d pay well.” He pursed his lips. “Actually I already told them about you.” He sighed. “I could see how things were going to go. His fiancée hates you.”

  “I noticed.” She brightened. “Thanks, Paul. At least I have a safety net, if I need one.”

  He brushed back her disheveled hair. “Perhaps it will work out.” He smiled. “He might realize his mistake and send his girlfriend out the door.”

  She cocked her head and smiled up at him with soft gray eyes. “Perhaps pigs might fly.”

  He chuckled. “Perhaps they might.” He looked up. “Janey is just through with her lesson. She goes to competition next week, her very first. Are you going with her?”

  “I hope I am,” she said quietly. She had a cold feeling in her stomach about that. Micah had looked at Karina as if she were trashy. If he convinced himself that she was immoral, running around after a married man, he wouldn’t want her around Janey. She was certain that Lindy would help him along with that conviction.

  “Well, we wait and see, yes?” he asked. “Meanwhile, I will practice some more by pretending that you are skating with me.”

  “Get Hilde to skate my part,” she teased. “She’s still very good on skates.”

  “Indeed she is.” He smiled at her. “I’m sorry things aren’t going well for you. I want you to be happy.”

  Her eyes were sad. “The only times I’ve ever really been happy were when I skated. It’s helped me keep going through much worse things than this.”

  He understood. “Then, I will see you tomorrow, yes?”

  “I hope you will. I’ll text you if things go wrong.”

  “You must try to be optimistic.”

  She didn’t answer him. She smiled again, turned, and went to the barrier, where Janey was just taking off her skates.

  “I guess we’d better go home, huh?” Janey asked sadly. “Daddy was in a foul mood. I’m sorry you and Paul won’t get to skate again tonight. You’re so good on the ice!”

  “Thanks,” Karina said, forcing a smile. “It takes a lot of practice.”

  “Don’t let Dadd
y fire you,” Janey pleaded. “I don’t know how I’ll manage if I have to actually live with Lindy. She’ll never let me compete. She’ll convince Daddy that I don’t have the talent.”

  “You do have the talent,” she replied. “Burt will be on your side. Get him to be your advocate.”

  “You can’t leave,” Janey repeated. Tears were welling up in her eyes. “You’re my best friend!”

  Karina pulled her close and rested her cheek on the child’s dark hair. “You’re mine, too, darling,” she said softly. She drew in a painful sigh. “I don’t want to leave. But you have to understand, I can’t give up now. Paul and I have worked too hard, for too many years, to let this chance pass us by. It might never come again. And Paul’s already tried to replace me. You know how that worked out.”

  “I do.” Janey pulled back and wiped at her red eyes. “I do understand, too. It’s not right that Daddy wants you to give up your dreams.”

  “I’m sure he thinks you deserve someone better,” she replied gently. “And you do. I’m going to have to travel to compete.” Her lips made a thin line. “I can’t take care of you and do that as well.”

  “You could take me with you,” Janey said wistfully.

  Karina laughed. “Oh, I’d love to,” she said, and meant it. “But it’s not practical. You’re in school. You can’t miss weeks of it without repeating a grade. I want more for you than that.”

  “Thanks. I guess that was a pipe dream. But you and Paul are magic on the ice,” she added. “I want you to win the Nationals and then come back here and throw your medals at Daddy.”

  Karina smiled sadly. She didn’t mention that she had a gold medal she could throw at him. She wasn’t going to do that. He’d jumped to conclusions and made assumptions without giving a care about Karina’s feelings. She wasn’t going to tell him anything. If she and Paul made it to the Olympics, he could watch them on television, with Lindy and Janey. Then they’d all know.

  As satisfying as that scenario was, it was, as Micah had said, a dream. But it was one within reach and she wasn’t giving up.

  * * *

  WHEN THEY GOT HOME, Micah and Lindy were still snuggled up together on the sofa watching the news.

  They looked up when the skaters walked in the door.

  Janey looked around. “Where’s Dietrich?” she asked.

  “You know that Lindy’s allergic to him,” Micah said curtly. “He’s down at Billy Joe’s cabin.”

  “Oh.” Janey’s face fell.

  “Dogs don’t belong in the house,” Lindy said haughtily. “They’re nasty.”

  “Dietrich is not nasty!” Janey shot back.

  “Go to your room,” Micah said icily.

  Janey looked up at Karina with wet eyes, and Karina grimaced.

  “Don’t look to her for help,” Micah said sarcastically. “You heard me.”

  “Yes, sir,” Janey said miserably. She walked off with her skating bag and went into her room.

  “No need to ask who’s been teaching her how to backtalk adults,” Lindy scoffed, glaring at her.

  “No need at all,” Micah agreed. He kissed Lindy and got to his feet. “In my office,” he told Karina shortly and walked off, leaving her to follow.

  She didn’t look at Lindy on the way. She knew without even doing so that Lindy had a smug, satisfied expression on her face.

  * * *

  MICAH CLOSED THE door behind them. He went to his desk and sat down behind it, slinging his legs up onto it before he crossed them.

  “I gave you a choice,” he said. “Either give up the skating or give up this job. You can’t compete in skating without a lot of travel. Lindy told me that. How are you going to babysit my daughter? You can’t take her with you.”

  “I know that, Mr. Torrance,” she said without meeting his eyes. She looked, and felt, totally defeated. Here it was. The choice. She’d dreaded it since she and Paul began practice.

  It would have been a hard choice after the passionate interlude she’d had with her boss the night before. But now, it was made easier by the fact that he was actually marrying Lindy. Karina couldn’t live in the same house with her.

  She lifted her chin. “Would you rather fire me or just ask for my resignation?” she asked with quiet dignity.

  He glared at her. He hadn’t wanted an easy acceptance. He’d wanted her to deny that she had anything going with her married skating partner. He’d wanted her to fight, to defy him, to refuse to quit. He was disappointed, and he didn’t understand why. He ached for her. He didn’t understand that, either.

  He got to his feet. “It might be better if you quit,” he said flatly. He forced a sarcastic smile. “That way you can’t draw unemployment.”

  “I wouldn’t draw it if I could,” she said simply. “I can work. I’ve worked since I was seventeen.”

  That needled him. She was young and healthy. Of course she could get another job. “Doing what?” he asked. “Waiting tables?”

  “It’s honest work.”

  “What would you know about honesty?” he demanded. He moved toward her and took her by both arms. “You’re helping your partner commit adultery. How ‘honest’ is that?” he asked hotly.

  The feel of his hands made her knees go weak. He could see it. She couldn’t even help herself.

  His hands became caressing, moving up and down her arms as he moved a step closer, so that she could feel his strength, the heat of his body.

  “I’d never have believed you could be so shallow,” he bit off. His eyes dropped to her mouth. “And I thought you were innocent!”

  His mouth came down on hers, hard. It was instant passion, but without tenderness or respect. He dragged her hips against the raging arousal he couldn’t even help, and he hated her for the way his body reacted to her. He wanted her beyond bearing. He was obsessed with her. And she was sleeping with that blond-haired, handsome, married man! It made him furious.

  He was bruising her, humiliating her, with blind need that had no care for her feelings. And she was as helpless as he was. She reached up to his neck, pressing herself against the warm strength of him, moaning softly under his devouring mouth.

  He groaned and lifted her against him. It was like the other time, like flash fire. He couldn’t think past relief. He didn’t want Lindy, who was beautiful and hot as a flame. He wanted this woman, ached for her, and could never have her. She didn’t want a home and children, she wanted to pursue some stupid dream of skating fame while she romanced a married man.

  He knew all that, but he couldn’t resist her. He cradled her against him, his lips softened, became tender. He drew her closer and groaned against her mouth as the need almost brought him to his knees. His eyebrows drew together in an anguish of passion. He forgot her dreams, his responsibilities, everything, as he fought to satisfy a hunger that seemed to have no possible fulfillment.

  He picked her up in his arms and walked to the sofa. He started to put her down, to smooth his body over hers, to have her. If she’d been sleeping with her partner, there was no need to worry about abusing her innocence. She was willing. He was hungry. He could have her, right here...

  She felt the need in him. She knew what he was thinking. She wanted to protest, but it was so sweet, feeling his hunger, his aching passion. She wanted nothing more than to give him what he needed. She loved him more than anything. Right now, if he’d asked her to give up skating and marry him, she’d have said yes without hesitation.

  But before he could say anything, before she could get her fevered brain to work, there was a loud, impatient knock on the door.

  “Micah? Are you ever coming out of there?” Lindy demanded, trying the doorknob.

  Micah and Karina froze for a few seconds, staring at each other in faint shock. But it became apparent that the door was locked.

  Micah was surprised. He didn’t rememb
er turning the key in the door. He looked down at Karina’s swollen mouth and felt the hunger almost buckle his knees. How in the hell had this happened?

  “I’m coming right out,” he told Lindy, raising his voice.

  “Well, hurry up,” she snapped. “I want to get some sleep before you fly me out in the morning! I bought a pretty negligee, just for you!”

  Karina felt shamed, soiled, as the seductive voice on the other side of the door made her intentions clear. She glared up at Micah, who was trying to fight his hunger and failing miserably.

  She pushed at his shoulders, feeling weak. “Put me down, please,” she asked huskily.

  He set her on her feet a little roughly. He drew in a harsh breath, hating his own weakness, and hers.

  “Well?” he asked. “Do you stay or go?”

  She closed her eyes. “I go,” she replied. She looked up at him with anger glittering in her eyes. “I’m not your toy!”

  “No?” he asked with a faint, arrogant smile. “You could be.”

  She backed up a step, flushed and miserable at her own helpless attraction to him.

  He was thinking, too. She had no resistance to him whatsoever. He touched her and she was his. Beyond that, her responses just weren’t those of an experienced woman. Unless her paramour was a lousy lover. She might think she loved him, but she really didn’t.

  While he was trying to sort his muddled feelings, she was walking toward the door, hoping her swollen mouth wouldn’t give anything away to Lindy.

  “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow,” she said, with her back to him.

  “You’ll never win a competition,” he said harshly, angry that she was really going. “Lindy’s forgotten more about skating than you know, and she says you haven’t got what it takes.”

  She turned, her face full of quiet pride. “One day, you may find out what I’ve got, Mr. Torrance. You, and Lindy as well.”

  “Fat chance, Miss Carter,” he chided.

  She only looked at him, filling her eyes with his face, memorizing it, because she was certain that she’d never see it again. “Goodbye,” she said.