by Kim Baldwin
“Great news. When?” She hoped she sounded more enthusiastic than she felt. Though relieved and happy that Maggie and Karson were well enough to leave the hospital, their homecoming also meant her time with Karla was about to end. She was heartsick and didn’t try to hide her feelings. Karla read in her face that the news was a mixed blessing, for her own expression darkened.
The answer she most did not want to hear came through absurdly clear. “They’re filling out the paperwork now. Can you come right away? We can meet you at the airport.”
“Hang on, Lars.” She glanced at her watch and calculated the amount of daylight remaining. If she left right away, and the floatplane was available, they’d get back to Bettles around sunset. “If Skeeter’s plane is good to go, I can be there in three and a half, four hours. If it’ll be much longer, I’ll leave a message at the Bettles Air desk.”
She hated the disappointment that clouded Karla’s face as the news registered.
“Terrific, Bryson,” Lars said. “See you soon.”
“They’re coming home, right? That’s wonderful.” Karla’s effort to smile was only half-hearted.
“But I have to leave now,” Bryson said as she approached the bed. “That part really sucks.”
“I second that.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and took Karla’s hand. “Do you want to come along? Are you well enough to?”
Karla looked down at her feet. “I shouldn’t be doing a lot of walking, and I’d be in real trouble if my feet refroze, but I should go.”
“We can insulate them well, and you don’t have to walk any more than you want to. But isn’t it better to stay here and rest?”
“With Maggie’s BP problems and the baby only days old, I should go along.” Karla squeezed her hand. “Besides, I’m not ready to let you out of my sight.” This time her smile was full and genuine.
“Sounds like you’ve made up your mind.” Bryson gave Karla a quick kiss. “And for the record, I’m not anxious to say good-bye, either.”
They changed into warm clothes, and Bryson handed Karla a pair of Moon boots to wear. The lightweight Italian footwear was the most comfortable choice possible because it was designed to fit several sizes, and was also rated to thirty-five degrees below zero.
“We better take your things,” Bryson hefted Karla’s duffel and threw the strap over her shoulder so it would hang off her back, “since you’ll be staying with Lars and Maggie from now on.”
Karla frowned. “I know they need me, and I’m anxious to spend time with my new niece—”
“But the timing really sucks.”
“Yeah.”
As soon as they hit the porch, Bryson scooped Karla into her arms in their now-familiar way, insisting that she be carried to the Cub.
“This really isn’t necessary,” Karla protested as she automatically wrapped her arms around Bryson’s neck. “I can certainly walk that far.”
“Indulge me.” Bryson gave her a mock-stern look, then kissed her soundly, silencing further arguments. By the time they started down the trail to the plane, she’d once again turned Karla’s insides to mush.
She leaned her head against Bryson’s shoulder. “I’ve never been so spoiled in my life.”
“Long overdue, then, I’d say.”
When they reached the river, Bryson paused at the water’s edge, worry and concern on her face.
“What’s the matter?” Karla followed her gaze to the Cub, which was covered with snow and ice.
“Looks like this will be my last flight out of here for a while,” Bryson said, as she carried Karla across the ice-encrusted shallows to the gravel bar. “My little runway’s getting too iffy for wheels. I’ll have to wait until the river freezes solid and I can use my skis.”
The amount of ice along the bank and around the gravel bar had increased significantly while Karla had been staying with Bryson, and huge chunks of ice floated downstream with the current. “What’re you saying?”
“I won’t be able to get back here.” Bryson deposited Karla into the passenger seat and belted her in. “I can get all of you home in Skeeter’s plane, but then I’ll have to stay in Bettles for a while. Happens every year at this time.”
“For how long?”
“Hard to say. Might be a couple days, might be weeks. All depends on Mother Nature.” Bryson didn’t look any happier about it than she was.
“That’s certainly not welcome news,” she said, dejected.
“I know. Sit tight for a while, I’ve got to clean off the plane.”
It took Bryson forty minutes to clear away the snow and ice, warm the engine, and go through her preflight checklist. All the while, Karla tried to fight off the growing knot of apprehension in her stomach. The skies were clear, but she’d been in Alaska long enough to know that could change in an instant.
“All set?” Bryson knocked the snow from her boots and climbed into the seat in front of her.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Bryson glanced at her in the rearview mirror as she belted herself in and donned her headset. “We’ll be fine. Think about something else. Think about tonight.”
“Tonight? You mean sleeping alone at Maggie and Lars’s and missing you like crazy? Gee, thanks.”
Bryson didn’t respond right away, she was too busy preparing for liftoff. She slowly taxied the Cub to the far edge of the gravel bar and turned around. The distance to the other icy end of the makeshift runway seemed impossibly short to Karla, but Bryson somehow got the plane airborne with only inches to spare.
“I guess I forgot to mention that it’ll be dark by the time we get back to Bettles,” Bryson said once they were at cruising altitude above the mountain peaks. “We’ll all have to overnight at the Den and continue to the lake in the morning.”
“Which means?”
Instead of answering her, Bryson clicked on her microphone. “A2024B Piper to BTT. Skeeter, you there?” She listened for a moment, then continued. “Headed your way and will be there in twenty. Maggie’s been discharged. Can I use the Cessna to pick them up?” After another pause, she said, “Great. And can you do me another favor? Ask Grizz to hold two rooms for us for tonight?” She listened again. “Thanks, Skeeter. See you shortly.”
“Two rooms?”
Bryson grinned at her in the rearview mirror. “Was it presumptuous to think you wouldn’t mind staying with me tonight?”
“Let’s just say you sure know how to keep my mind on something other than where I am right now.”
*
Skeeter’s plane was fueled and ready by the time they reached Bettles, so they were quickly underway to Fairbanks, and for this leg Karla occupied the copilot’s seat again. It was eminently preferable to the setup in the Cub, because she could focus her attention entirely on Bryson instead of the expanse of desolate wilderness outside her window.
“Think Maggie and Lars will mind if I insist on having you all to myself tonight?” Bryson asked. “I’m thinking maybe dinner in our room, a nice bubble bath for two—”
“And then hours and hours of nonstop wild sex,” Karla added with a grin, enjoying the way her words brought a flush of pink to Bryson’s cheeks. “Sounds perfect.”
“I’m trying to fly, here,” Bryson warned. “And you’re definitely hindering my ability to concentrate.”
“I’ll be good,” Karla promised. When Bryson turned to her with skeptical raised eyebrows, she added, in a much more seductive tone, “I’ll be very, very good.”
The cabin was warm enough that Bryson had her gloves off, and her knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering column. “Not helping,” she said, shifting her weight uncomfortably in her seat. “Like I said, you definitely have a heck of a cruel streak inside that luscious exterior.”
“Luscious, eh?”
Bryson glanced her way and let her gaze drift lazily down Karla’s body, though most of it was hidden beneath her thick down coat. “Mmm hmm,” she said, licking her lips. “I can’t
wait to see if you taste as yummy as you look.”
The words warmed her much more efficiently than the heater in the floatplane. “Now who’s being cruel?”
“Truce, then.” Bryson laughed and returned her attention to flying. “For now. Once I get you alone tonight, all bets are off.”
“We’ll see who tortures whom. Just wait.” Their flirting had left them both with excited grins that were impossible to erase. Karla couldn’t remember feeling this profoundly giddy sense of anticipation before, not even with Abby. “Can’t this plane go any faster?”
*
“I can’t believe how much she’s grown in just a few days.” Karla reached over the seat back to offer an outstretched finger to her niece, and Karson wrapped her tiny hand around it. The baby was well bundled up against the cold in fleecy pink pajamas, stocking cap, and a thick quilted infant blanket. Lars had been forced to leave Maggie’s side for the first time the day before to buy the items, along with the newborn safety seat, because they’d left all their baby things at home.
“I think she wanted to leave the hospital as much as I did.” Maggie held up a bright red rattle shaped like a key and dangled it in front of the baby’s face. Karson stared up at it, her distinctive hazel and gold-flecked eyes round. “Can’t wait to get you home and in that new crib your father made for you, little one.”
The plane dropped a couple of feet when it hit a small pocket of turbulence, and Karla clutched at the seatback until it subsided, then turned to quickly refasten her seat belt.
“After I drop you all off tomorrow, I’ll hike home to get the skiff,” Bryson offered as she gained some altitude to smooth out their ride. They’d already relayed the story of Karla’s frostbite adventure, and Bryson had updated Lars on the advanced state of the freeze-up in their area. “I have to pack a bag anyway, since I don’t know how long I may be stuck in Bettles.” She glanced at Karla as she said this, and her eyes were sad.
“Sure you don’t mind?” Lars asked. “I can go with you. Mags will be okay with Karla for a few hours.”
“Not necessary,” Bryson insisted. “No reason for both of us to go. Let’s just hope the weather holds so we can lift off at first light and get the skiff home and out of the water before I have to leave.”
“Appreciate the help,” Lars replied. “Be a bitch to get the boat out by myself, even with the winch. And by the time Maggie’d be able to help, it’d be icebound for sure.”
“Couldn’t be worse timing for our homecoming.” Maggie frowned. “I’d hoped you could spend some time with us, Bryson.”
Karla and Bryson looked at each other with the same isn’t-that-the-truth expression.
“Keep me posted on when the ice is safe, and don’t worry. I’ll fly in first chance I get and stay as long as I can.” She gave Karla a wink the others couldn’t see.
Never in her wildest imagination did Karla think she would wish for a long solid stretch of bitter-cold temperatures. But if that’s what it took to get Bryson back to the bush and in her arms, it was certainly fine with her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Den was noisy with patrons, and most of the gathered locals jumped up when they came in, anxious to see the Rasmussens’ new arrival. Several people also immediately pled for an impromptu performance of the Bettles Band, since all its members were stranded there for the evening, anyway, and everyone was desperate for any form of entertainment.
“I’m game,” Lars said. “It’s still early, and who knows when we’ll get back here.”
“We’re in,” Grizz agreed. “Ellie’s been putting in a lot of hours learning ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ and ‘April in Paris,’ and is anxious to try them out. Bryson?”
Bryson wanted only to slip upstairs with Karla, to pick up where they’d left off and enjoy every moment of their limited time together. But it was hard to say no to the eager faces of her friends. She looked over at Karla, who seemed to sense her inner struggle, because she gave Bryson a shrug and resigned grin that said Go ahead. I understand.
“Okay by me,” she reluctantly agreed. “But it’s been a long day and we need to get an early start tomorrow, so let’s make it just a set or two, huh?”
“That’s the business,” Grizz said. “I’ll get things set up.”
Bryson was about to pull Karla aside for a few words of apology when she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Geneva looking up at her with her familiar come-on smile.
“Hey, there, stranger. Nice surprise.” She wrapped her arms around Bryson’s waist before Bryson could react. “Need a place to sleep tonight?”
The stark contrast between her feelings for Geneva and the woman who’d captured her every waking thought in recent weeks made Bryson suddenly aware of how deeply Karla had gotten under her skin. She was falling in love with her.
Karla was watching the two of them intently from the nearby table she and Maggie had claimed to watch the band perform. It didn’t matter that Karla would be leaving Bettles in a matter of weeks, perhaps forever. Bryson used this opportunity to set the record straight on where her heart resided.
She extricated herself from Geneva’s embrace and faced her with a serious expression. “Gen, you know I think the world of you, right?”
“Uh-oh.” Geneva’s pleased demeanor faded. “Something tells me I won’t like what’s coming next.”
“You’re a good friend, and I hope that’ll never change. But you need to understand—now more than ever—that there’s no chance of anything romantic between us, ever again.” She let her focus drift from Geneva to Karla, knowing that Gen would follow her gaze. As she’d hoped, Karla was still riveted to their exchange.
“Oh. I see.” Geneva’s subdued tone made it clear she grasped that something was different. “Sounds serious.”
“Doesn’t seem to matter that she won’t be here long,” Bryson admitted. “She’s become very important to me.”
Geneva exhaled a soft sigh. “In that case…” She kissed Bryson on the cheek. “I wish you both all the best, Bry. I mean that. She’s a lucky woman.” And with that, she squeezed past Bryson to return to work without looking back.
Bryson started toward Karla and Maggie’s table, but Lars intercepted her halfway. “We’re ready. Ellie wants to start with ‘Someone to Watch Over Me,’ if that’s okay with you.”
“Be right there,” she answered, continuing toward Karla. A handful of townspeople was gathered around their table, congratulating Maggie and oohing and aahing over the baby, so Bryson stooped beside Karla’s chair. “Sorry about this,” she said in a low voice. “Guess dinner in our room is out. Why don’t you order, and I’ll grab something when we take a break.”
“I’ll do that. Just don’t wear yourself out,” Karla whispered close to Bryson’s ear. “I have plans for you later.”
Bryson headed toward the stage with a smile so firmly planted on her lips she couldn’t possibly erase it.
They played a set of jazz standards to wild applause from the audience, none more enthusiastic than the clapping at Karla and Maggie’s table. Bryson wolfed down a quick bowl of stew at their break, but declined Grizz’s offer of a cold brew to go with it. She noticed Karla was sticking to cola as well and wondered if she, too, didn’t want any alcohol to dull their enjoyment of the hours to come.
“Short set this time, guys, okay?” she told the other band members when they returned to the stage. If she didn’t get to touch Karla soon, she’d go out of her mind.
When they announced they were done for the night, the crowd roared for an encore, but by then they were all ready to quit. Grizz and Ellie had orders backed up, and Lars was anxious to join Maggie, who’d taken a crying Karson to their room to put her down for the night.
“You have quite a talented ensemble,” Karla said as Bryson sank into the chair Maggie had vacated.
“We have fun, and fortunately there’s not a lot of competition to judge us by. But it was tough for me to concentrate tonight.”
“Oh? And why’s that?” Karla feigned ignorance, but the impish twitch at the corners of her mouth told Bryson she knew very well where her mind had been all evening.
“Come on, tease,” Bryson said, taking her by the hand to lead her upstairs. “I got Grizz to give us the best room in the house.”
“Something special about it, is there?”
“You’ll see.”
The room was larger than the one Karla had stayed in before and was evidently designed for couples seeking a romantic getaway. Scented candles adorned the headboard of the king-sized bed, and the private bathroom came equipped with a pair of plush fleecy robes and a deep Jacuzzi built for two.
Karla took it all in, noting the special touches she suspected Bryson had arranged: the bubble bath beside the tub and the basket of goodies on the table by the window containing fruit, cheese and crackers, and imported chocolates. Beside it was a bucket of ice containing a bottle of white wine and a half-dozen sodas.
“You approve?” Bryson said from behind her.
Karla turned to thank her for her thoughtfulness, but before she could speak, she was enveloped in Bryson’s embrace, her mouth captured in a searing kiss. Bryson’s hands clutched her ass, drawing their bodies firmly together, and within seconds she didn’t even pretend to speak.
Just as her knees began to buckle, Bryson scooped her up and carried her to the bed.
“Now, where were we when we were so rudely interrupted?” Bryson released her onto the edge of the mattress. Despite Bryson’s light tone, her eyes were undeniably intense as she stood over Karla, her gaze fixed on the soft swell of breasts beneath her sweater.
“I believe we were both naked, for starters.”
“Ah. Indeed we were. It’s all coming back to me now.” Bryson bent to remove Karla’s boots and her own. Then she slowly began to undress, just out of arm’s reach, obviously enjoying the effect of her prolonged striptease on her audience.
Karla found it difficult to draw a deep breath. With each garment removed, her heartbeat accelerated, the drumming in her ears obliterating all other sounds, until finally Bryson stood before her, fully exposed. “You have such an amazing body.”