by Cate Masters
“Exactly, Hay. We’re helping viewers see another part of the world they’d never have the chance to otherwise. To understand another culture.”
“Now you’re an anthropologist instead of an extreme sports enthusiast?” Hayden blew out a breath. “Fine.”
Not the typical manufactured drama they sometimes churned out for the show. This was real. And she had no response, at least none she cared to reveal to the viewing public. “Sorry, Britt-Marie. We didn’t mean to ruin a lovely meal.”
“It’s delicious.” Gina nibbled some from her fork. Nothing like her usual appetite.
To avoid further insulting her hosts, Melanie forced herself to eat, but couldn’t stomach any more than a few bites. Change the subject. To anything. Buck stayed as tight-lipped as Hayden. “How are your dogs? Ready for another run today?”
“Always,” he mumbled. “They’re troopers.”
Crap. Back to the one and two-word sentences. “They must be. I’ve never seen such hard-working animals. The reindeer too, how they pull sleighs all day.” Could she sound like a bigger idiot?
With a grunt, Edo nodded.
Smart man, staying out of it, but it didn’t help her keep the conversation going. “How far away is the Sami village?”
“An hour.” Buck sliced his stack of three pancakes with mechanical motions, lifting small pastry triangles to his mouth.
Okay then, thanks for the input. She turned to Britt-Marie. “Is there anything we can do for you before we go?”
The woman shook her head. “Nothing.”
The morning had taken a nosedive from which it wouldn’t recover. “I wish I could see your dress after you finish sewing it.” Funny, she meant it. Sadness washed over her because she never would.
“It will be my best one yet.” Britt-Marie beamed at Buck.
His grin had a boyish quality, shy and embarrassed. Melanie imagined him as a kid. The Sami woman’s comment came back to haunt her. Beautiful children together. Buck would have beautiful kids with someone. Not with her.
“I guess we should get moving.” Before Melanie burst into tears. If she started, she might not stop for a long time.
Britt-Marie took hold of the plate Melanie carried to the counter. “If you stop running so fast, you will see more clearly.”
A few months ago, Melanie might have smiled at the woman and forgotten her words. But she knew exactly what Britt-Marie meant. She wouldn’t be able to forget.
* * * *
The world had become a blur, except for Melanie. Buck kept a bead on her at all times. He tried not to watch her, but his senses had attuned to her. He always knew exactly where she was.
Yeah, it sounded creepy, like he’d become a stalker. He’d have liked nothing better than to go about his business as usual. Treat her like she was simply one more client to whom he looked forward to waving buh-bye.
After bidding Edo and Britt-Marie goodbye, he harnessed the dogs by rote. Mushed on autopilot for the hour it took to reach the Sami village. Hardly paid attention to the others after they arrived. He must’ve introduced everyone, because Melanie and her goon squad followed the Sami guide inside the large paddock with part of the herd.
Melanie asked question after question, like some kid whose brain fed on facts. The same way he had when he’d first arrived in Sweden. He couldn’t wait to learn it all. He’d spent months studying the Sami dialect specific to this region. Edo and his family had let him follow them around, patiently explaining the various words, their particular description for each type of snow. Each part of the reindeer. He still couldn’t get over how amazing and intricate the Sami language was. He loved speaking it, even loved making mistakes so he could learn more.
Watching Melanie have the same reaction elated him. How stupid could he get? She would leave in a few days, and he’d never see her again. She’d fly off to some other exotic part of the world. Leap out of an airplane or ride a camel through a desert, or he couldn’t even guess what. She went wherever her job took her, and part of the routine was asking questions. She might as well be an actor, putting on a show the way she did. Everything she did was for her fans. Hadn’t she mentioned them several times already? Spoke as if they sat in the room with her?
I’m nowhere in her sights. Only part of the landscape. Exactly the reminder he needed. A good slap in the face to shake off his googly eyes.
Almost the same effect as Hayden’s grimaces. Every few minutes, the guy shot him this caveman look, like Buck had invaded his territory rather than the other way around. Except the guy carried a state of the art video camera instead of a crude wooden club, though it didn’t help refine him one bit.
The animals must have sensed the high emotion between everyone. The reindeer in the pen scuttled back and forth, avoiding them.
The Sami guide twirled a rope in his hands, and Buck moved closer. Today’s demonstration might be more fun than usual.
In one easy toss, the Sami man lassoed a buck by the neck. Clucking to the deer, he approached slowly and rubbed its neck as he removed the rope. “Would anyone else like to try?”
Please let Hayden volunteer. Buck needed a good laugh.
Melanie stepped up. “I will.”
The Sami guide handed her the rope, and after a brief instruction, backed away.
Voice soft, she coo’d and slowly swung the rope. Concentrating hard on one animal, she eased closer and released the rope. It sailed through the air. Buck held his breath. The deer dodged the lasso at the last moment. His disappointed, “Aw” mixed with hers, and she shot him a look.
“Why don’t you have a go?” she asked him.
He shook his head. “I can play reindeer games anytime. You should try it while you have a chance.”
She hung her head and said something to Gina, then handed her the rope.
Gina promptly handed it to Victor. “Not me.”
Victor handled the rope, seemed to weigh it in his grip. “Sure, I’ll try anything once.” He whirled the lasso overhead and released it, catching the antlers of a nearby reindeer. It tossed its snared head, and when Victor pulled, the lasso tightened. The deer trotted a few steps away, forcing Victor to follow along. The Sami guide reached for the rope, but Victor held on when the animal jerked farther away.
This could get ugly. Buck edged closer. “Easy. Talk to him slow and calm. He’s probably spooked because his antler’s caught.”
The Sami guide closed in from the other side. The reindeer’s eyes bulged with fright.
Buck’s alarm grew. “He’s panicking. Keep him calm.” Two feet and Buck could reach Victor, if needed.
With something like a deep bleat, the deer leapt away, dragging Victor with him.
Shit. “Let go.” Before he panicked the half-dozen other reindeer in the paddock and got trampled. Buck waved his arms overhead and whistled. The frightened tangle of reindeer turned tail and huddled in a far section of the pen.
Releasing his hold, Vic rolled away. Melanie and Gina helped him stand and guided him to the fence. Filming, Hayden whooped. “Finally, some excitement. Yeah!”
Fists clenched, Buck stomped toward him, ready to pummel sense into the asshole. Melanie called, “Buck, don’t.” A glance at her released some tension. He muttered, “Fine.” Is that how they took care of one another? What if Melanie had been dragged instead of Victor? Would Hayden have bothered to help?
Melanie put a hand on his chest. “Vic’s fine. It’s not worth a fuss.”
“This is boring.” Hayden dropped the camera to his side. “I vote we head to the lodge.”
“Stop being rude, Hay.” Melanie spoke through clenched teeth.
Buck did a silent check of the Sami guide, who made a face mirroring his own disgusted thought. “He’s probably right. For once.” He looked to the Sami for concurrence. “We’re done here, right?”
“Yes,” the guide said. “The rest is more of the same.”
“That’s what I’m s
ayin’.” Hayden shouldered the video cam.
“Okay, fine.” Melanie’s disappointment sounded in her voice and showed in her face as she watched the reindeer.
“Come,” the guide said. “My wife has prepared a delicious salmon soup for lunch.”
“Perfect.” She aimed her high-voltage smile Buck’s way.
It sent a jolt straight to his bones and stiffened him in more ways than one. He waited for the others to enter the home. With one last gulp of cold air to wither him, he went inside.
He relaxed when she chatted up the locals, easing his worry about her noticing his over-protectiveness toward her. Soon they were seated at a long table, and the Samis served steaming bowls to the guests. He took a seat at the far end. He was grateful for the foresight when Melanie lifted a full spoon to her mouth and blew, then closed her lips around the food.
Gulp. He knew what he was hungry for. Soup wouldn’t satisfy that appetite.
She chewed slowly, ecstasy clear on her furrowed brow, her pursed lips. “Mm, so good.”
Oh Lord Jesus, save me.
She pointed with her spoon. “I would love to have this recipe.”
Hayden leaned into her. “Have them email it to you. Oops, guess not.”
She shot him a you’re-a-dick look, way too familiar by now.
Buck cleared his throat. “I could email it to you.” What had he said? A thinly veiled attempt to get her email address. Stalk her online after she left. Oh, he could foresee many a lonely night in a Stockholm cybercafé.
Her shocked expression vanished after a few blinks. “Great.”
Buck bet himself ten thousand to one she’d “forget” to write it down before departing for her next adventure.
Hayden hurried them through supper. Before Buck knew it, they stood around the exit putting on their parkas. She extended her hand and approached the Sami host. “You’ve been wonderful, thanks for your time.”
The man bowed his head. “I hope you enjoyed it.”
“Very much.” Her sharp gaze prompted the others to vocalize their appreciation. Hayden grumbled his thanks while Gina and Victor expressed more heartfelt gratitude.
Once outside, she headed for the sled dogs’ enclosure. “I hate to put the huskies back to work so soon.”
“They’re used to it.” Buck matched his pace to hers. “It’s only another two hours of mushing, three tops.”
Bodo caught sight of them first and stood on his hind legs to yip at them. The others joined in. Melanie scratched his belly through the wire. “Hello sweetie.” Lips puckered, she talked baby talk to each in turn.
Buck gulped back a moan and tripped the latch open. The dogs lunged for the gate. He closed it seconds before a repeat of the last escape could occur. “Back up. We’re doing this the right way.”
Melanie slipped past him and led her two dogs out, efficiently harnessing them nearly as fast as he did. “Come on, guys. Don’t stand there. Get your teams harnessed.”
“I’m shooting.” Hayden had the video running.
Gina and Victor managed to get their huskies to the sleds. After Buck harnessed his own, he started back for Hayden’s and bumped into Melanie. “I’ll do it.”
“No, you shouldn’t have to.”
“It’s my job.” Stupid. Buck meant to say he didn’t mind.
“I need the practice.” She clapped gloved hands to the pair of squirming dogs and called them. By name.
She’d memorized the dogs’ names. Huh. Buck secured the sled anchor and double-checked each husky’s harness, then each driver. “Everyone ready?”
A chorus of yesses followed, so he stepped onto his own vehicle and gave the go word. A wave to the Sami and he steered toward the open white space surrounding the village. As before, Melanie pulled her sled beside his. He acknowledged her with a nod and trained his focus ahead. Not easy with Melanie pointing at the tall, snow-laden trees to ooh and ahh. Like they were monochromatic fireworks or something. The excitement of seeing it for the first time was pretty special. He’d almost forgotten. Not that he didn’t still love it, but he traveled through it regularly. Nice to share it with someone who loved it too. If only her colleagues showed the same appreciation.
An hour into the mushing session, and someone yelled, “Whoa. Pull over for a pit stop.”
He braked to slow his team. “Everything okay?”
Hayden jerked his thumb toward the trees. “I need to go.”
“Now?” Melanie winced. “Can’t you hold it?”
Hayden gave her a look of disbelief. “For another two hours?”
Whiner. Buck called, “More like one hour. We’re making good time.”
“I’m stopping.” Hayden pulled back on the harnesses and braked hard.
Sonofabitch. Buck circled his team back to the stopped sled and its yapping dogs. Executing a smooth halt, he leapt off the moment he’d halted and strode after Hayden. “Hey, shithead.”
Hayden glanced over his shoulder. “I’m busy.”
Buck restrained the urge to send the asshole flying dick-first into the snow. “You treat my sled dogs like that again and you’ll walk the rest of the way.”
The guy laughed. “Yeah. Say it again. Into the mike this time.” After zipping up, he brushed past, shoulder knocking into Buck’s.
Buck grabbed his coat and dragged him face to face. “Is the volume up? Because I want you to hear this. Do not be reckless with my huskies. I will yank your mushing privileges so fast, we’ll be a dot on the horizon before you know what’s happened. Understand?”
Hayden jerked from his grasp. “Loud and clear.” He whirled away and stopped short of slamming into Melanie.
She poked at his chest. “No shit, Hay. Mush like you were trained to, or you’ll wait at the lodge until we’re ready to fly back.”
Hayden’s mouth gaped. “Seriously.”
She glared up at him. “You know me.”
“I thought I did.” His steady gaze met hers.
“Let’s go.” She trudged toward her sled.
“The sooner the better.” Hayden shot a nasty look at Buck before lunging for his sled. “Maybe instead of flirting with Dog Man, you could ride with us so viewers can actually see your face. Not that your ass isn’t a great view, but it’s good to mix things up, in case you’ve forgotten that too.”
She sighed. “Keep racking up points, Hay.”
She stayed behind the rest of the way. Maybe to mug for the camera. Maybe to keep an eye on Hayden.
It didn’t lessen Buck’s awareness of her. He tried not to glance back too often, but was glad when the Vakkara Wilderness Lodge finally came into view. He drove to the pole barn beside the main building and put on his business face while they unharnessed each team and stowed the sleds and dogs inside. After he was satisfied his huskies were comfortable in a warm place to rest, clean and secure, he headed for the lodge doors where Melanie waited. “They’re expecting you,” he told her.
She frowned. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“Sure, in a bit. After I—”
“Finish taking care of your dogs.” She nodded. Disappointment crossed her face, and she dragged her gaze away.
It scraped his insides, a sensation that awakened long-dormant parts of him. Buried parts. He shook off the reaction, or tried to. Distance. He needed some to restore his perspective because somehow his focus had skewed entirely to her. For years, he’d kept himself separate from others, physically and emotionally.
Yet he felt her slipping away as she walked up the steps and through the lodge entrance. He wanted to follow. No. Not until whatever hormones flooding his brain had receded. In a deliberately slow pace, he took care of the huskies’ needs. The occasional dip of their snouts into the snow helped keep them hydrated along the way, but they needed water. Tonight, he’d make sure they had plenty of protein. The lodge, like the Sami people, never wasted their leftover food, and Buck would divert some meat to his dogs.
He went to the front desk to check in. Another tour group must have arrived earlier. He didn’t recognize the other half-dozen people.
“Buck Wright? Is it really you?”
Before turning, he knew who addressed him. Dyre something-or-other, the lodge owner. “In the flesh, Dyre.”
The man grasped Buck’s arm with one hand and shook with the other. “We don’t see you often enough.”
Real funny. Exactly what he needed today, another dig. “Our clients asked for the best, so I brought them here.” Arctic Adventures usually skipped the expensive hotel, and if clients opted to stay at the Icehotel, they headed directly there from the Sami outpost.
Dyre’s smile appeared plastic as a mannequin’s. “You are too kind.”
Buck stifled a chuckle. Yes. Yes, he was. “I look forward to our stay. I’ve heard great things about your new chef.”
“Not new anymore. He’s been here six months. I’m glad to hear others are praising his work. He is a culinary artist.”
“Now you’re making me hungry.” And itchy to get away.
Dyre clasped Buck’s shoulder. “You’ll have to wait until seven for dinner. You’re still in time for the afternoon spread. Excellent cakes and cheeses.” He pointed to the low table between the two long sofas in front of the fireplace.
“Excellent.” Buck shouldered his duffel bag. “I’ll be back shortly.” On his way to the front entrance, he kept Melanie in his sights. If he wasn’t mistaken, she did the same, shifting as he walked, still engaging three people in conversation. Must be great to have such social skills. He’d be less agitated if two of her little clique didn’t happen to be male. Very attentive ones with no sense of personal space. Hell, he might end up stomping over there if he stayed much longer. Better to go find his cabin.