She washed them carefully before climbing uphill to the camp with her arms full. The climb helped warm up a little and she expected the waiting fire to finish the job.
Cord bent over the fire putting on more wood when she arrived. Both boys sat nearby and Ricky was wrapped in a blanket. His clothes were spread out on the rock directly behind the fire drying.
“Did you fall in, Parker?” Cord stood up to take the fish and Don’s wet clothes from her.
“Not exactly. Let’s get those fish cooking. I’m out of seasoning so we’ll have to be purists tonight.” She got as close to the fire as she could without getting burned.
Ricky helped Cord put the fish on a spit.
Stacey peeled and sliced the roots she had dug and passed them to the boys along with some of the leaves. “They’re better if you eat them together,” she told them.
Cord accepted one leaf and one small slice of the root. Taking a cautious bite, he commented, “Tastes kind of like a radish and raw spinach. It wouldn’t be too bad smothered in Italian dressing.”
Ricky and Don laughed and agreed with him. “The first night back home I want some of mom’s meatloaf, a huge baked potato, and I’ll even eat her green beans,” Don told them.
“Stacey, you’re smoking,” Ricky pointed to her sleeve nearest the fire. Steam rose from her thermal shirt as moisture evaporated in the heat.
“It’s okay. I’m just drying out, but maybe I should move back a little.”
Cord reached over and turned the fish. “Here,” he handed her a cup of coffee. “We’re all sharing. That leaves two packets for morning. Are you sure you didn’t fall in and just don’t want to tell us?” He quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Yeah, how did you get so wet?” Don joined in. “We won’t give you too hard a time if you fell in.”
“If you have to know, I took a bath while I was down there and washed out my clothes,” she confessed as she sipped from the cup then passed it on.
“Man, you females really like that stuff. Wasn’t it freezing?”
“Yes, but I was already wet and cold. I was even more tired of feeling dirty. I figured a little scrubbing and rinsing definitely wouldn’t make it any worse,” she explained.
“A little dirt never hurt anyone, huh, Cord?” Don grinned as he chewed happily on a leaf.
“A little maybe, but I’m beginning to see Stacey’s point after a week’s worth,” he replied as he lifted the front of his sweatshirt and sniffed. “We’re all becoming very—odiferous.”
“In other words, we stink, squirt,” Ricky chimed in. “The loggers won’t have to hear us, they’ll be able to smell us coming.”
They all laughed as Stacey checked the fish then turned her back to the fire to warm that side for a while.
The boys took turns staring across to the other side of the river to see if they could spot lights from the logging camp. They never saw any and finally gave up. “What’s the first thing you want to eat when you get back, Cord?” Don asked.
“An inch-thick steak, fries, Texas toast, and a gallon of iced tea. Add chocolate cake for dessert. What about you Ricky?”
“I can’t decide between pizza and a cheeseburger, but I have to have a strawberry shake. Maybe I’ll have both,” he smiled and jabbed his younger brother with his elbow. With several cans of soda to wash it all down. Your turn, Stacey.”
Stacey closed her eyes and pictured the food she wanted. “A hot fudge sundae with nuts to start. Some barbecue ribs and yeast rolls dripping with honey butter. A huge helping of crab salad, crispy fried okra, and then another hot fudge sundae for dessert. Then cups and cups of gourmet roast coffee.”
“Wait, Stacey. You can’t start and end with a hot fudge sundae,” Don argued.
“Sure I can. I’m an adult. I can eat however I want to,” she retaliated.
“That sounds real adult,” Cord winked at the boys. He got up to move the fish off the spit. He held them up to let them cool before sliding them from the stick.
Rising stiffly, Stacey moved around the campfire to turn the clothes on the large boulder. When she sat back down, Cord handed her a trout and they ate hungrily, picking the meat out with their fingers. The boys halved the last fish and ate more of the greens. Even though they ate in the middle of the afternoon, keeping warm and hiking quickly depleted their resources. It would take days, possibly weeks, to replace the stores of fat they were burning. Stacey knew she dropped several pounds already and assumed the others had as well.
Once they were all finished, Stacey took a spool of cord from her pack, picked up the remains of their meal, and disappeared into the dark. She set several snares on a small rabbit trail and placed the scraps on a rock a good distance from camp.
Cord and the boys were missing when she returned to the fire. The thinner clothes on the side of the huge rock were dry, but the jeans and thick socks would take longer. She folded the dry things then sat down to remove her own boots and socks. Placing the boots on their side with the openings facing the flames, she noticed that the boys’ sneakers were gone. Stretching her cold, wet feet out to the fire, Stacey moaned as the heat began to thaw out her toes.
She felt a light breeze blow over her face and hoped it wouldn’t get colder.
When they returned, the boys were tired and ready for bed. Stacey handed them the dry clothes then they went into the shallow cave to lie down.
Don was back after a few minutes to hand her the thermal bottoms she loaned him. “You can have these. I think I can manage, now. Night, Stacey.”
“Goodnight, Don. If you wake up cold, you can have them back,” she offered.
Cord waited until Don settled back down and then told her, “You should get the other blanket and take off your wet things. I’m going down to the river to clean up a little while I have a chance. I’ll call out before I come back to the fire.”
“Be careful down there. The bank drops off steeply in several places,” she warned.
“I’ll watch it,” he said over his shoulder continuing down the hill.
Stacey slipped quietly into the cave and retrieved the blanket Don spread over the pile of pine needles for her and Cord. Outside she shook it then slipped to the other side of the large boulder to remove her damp clothing. Wrapped securely in the blanket, she used one hand to spread her things in the vacant spots on the rock. The boys’ jeans were finally drying, she found as she turned them again.
Feeling the heat reflecting from the largest rock, Stacey decided to sit down and prop against it. There should be just enough room if she folded her legs and sat Indian-fashion between the rock and the edges of the fire ring. Holding the blanket firmly around her, she sank down onto the ground and leaned back. It was so nice to be surrounded by warmth. Not as good as when Cord held her, but still pretty darn good. Before long, drowsiness overtook her. She dozed with the warmed rock at her back and the fire warming her front.
Cord stopped on the edge of camp after calling out softly. He smiled at the picture she made. The flicker of the firelight cast a soft glow over her face. Her curls were a wild, loose tangle around her face and neck. The blanket hung off her right shoulder and one long, elegant leg lay exposed almost to the top of her thigh. He took a deep breath and swallowed hard before he could move. He should turn, run back down the hill, and plunge into the icy water. But facing facts, he knew it wouldn’t do any good if this sight awaited him when he got back. Not nearly as beautiful as some women he had known, she was infinitely more desirable, gutsy and real, with a unique sexual appeal all her own.
Most women he escorted would rather die than go without their make-up or weekly hair appointment. They wore thousand dollar gowns and screeched if they broke one of their expensively manicured nails. Cord discovered he much preferred Parker’s natural, untamed appearance—especially the way she looked right now.
“Um-hmm,” he cleared his throat loudly, but she didn’t stir. “Stacey—Stacey, wake up.”
She lifted her head to blink at h
im with sleepy eyes. “What? What’s wrong?”
You should go lay down,” Cord tried not to look at her. He didn’t want her to see what was in his eyes or on his mind.
Stacey’s mouth fell open as she took in the sight of the man in front of her. He hadn’t put either shirt back on, but carried them in his hand. His broad, muscular chest glistened in the firelight. Tiny drops of water shone like diamonds as they beaded on his skin. The chest hair he sported, though sparse, was dark and curly forming into a narrow line pointing south. Cord’s skin was taut, sleek, and almost bronze in color.
“Do you ever shave?” The question slipped out without her meaning it to. She had wondered for days.
“Sure, for special occasions, but I don’t grow a lot of facial hair,” he answered and almost groaned in desperation. “Please, Stacey, go to bed.”
“I’m comfortable right here. The fire is nice.” She carefully readjusted the blanket to cover her leg and her shoulder. “Besides, I have to keep turning the clothes so they’ll dry quicker. Why don’t you sit with me?” Stacey drowsily patted the ground beside her.
“I’ll turn the clothes. You’ll be safer in there with the boys,” Cord insisted through gritted teeth still not looking at her and refusing to move closer.
“Safer? What’s wrong, Cord?” Stacey quickly looked around to see what danger he meant. Had he kept something from her?
“Safer from me. I know you have nothing on under there and I want you. I’m trying extremely hard to be a gentleman, but if you don’t want to be made love to, then you’d better go in there away from me for a while,” Cord said in a low, tightly controlled voice. He felt proud of the way he calmly spelled it out for her.
Without a word she stood and headed for the sheltering overhang. Then, having second thoughts, she walked back and stopped just out of reach. “Judging from my response to your kisses, you know I want you too, but I don’t know you well enough. Besides, I’ve always wanted my first time to be in a huge bed in a honeymoon suite with a wedding band on my finger. Night, McConnell.” Smiling a strange little smile, she went into the cave and lay down near the boys.
After a few hours of dozing fitfully, Stacey became cold and needed to move around to keep from getting too stiff. She also wanted to see if her clothes were dry. No way would she risk wandering around in the woods in just a blanket. The fire was still burning. Cord had taken her position against the rock. Probably the whole thing about him wanting her had been a lie to get her warm spot, she decided grumpily.
Even with his eyes closed and half-asleep, Cord knew when she got close to the fire. Her last announcement made it essential he stay away from her. If she had been willing they could have had a relationship, maybe even a long-term affair. But he didn’t do first times and he didn’t do marriage. His line of work wouldn’t allow it and he would not make a commitment he didn’t intend to keep. No security, no structure, and no always for any woman who chose to be with him. He refused to take on the responsibility that would come with Stacey.
Cord didn’t move as she quietly pulled her clothes from the rock then went behind the boulder to change. But he heard every rustle and every whispered curse as she fumbled in the dark. He tried not to imagine her garments sliding on over her creamy, silken skin.
Glad to be in her clothing again, Stacey dropped the blanket on Cord’s chest. “Here. You probably want to dry the rest of your things. Stiff, but dry is definitely an improvement,” she told him as she dropped to the ground to pull on her socks and boots. “I have to walk a bit so don’t take long to change.” Leaving the fireside, she walked quickly away.
Cord stood and shucked his pants and briefs. Wrapping the blanket around his waist, he spread his stuff out to dry. His boots and socks were already partially dried by the fire. Returning to sit and lean against the rock, he was well covered when she returned.
“Can I stay now?” she asked softly. “I’m sort of cold, but I’ll go if you want me to.”
“Stay. I think I can control myself, now,” he replied flatly.
Sitting down across the flames from him and hugging her knees, Stacey stated, “You’re angry with me.”
“No, I’m angry with me.” Cord took a deep breath and wished she hadn’t brought it up. “I don’t usually let things get that close to being out of hand. It won’t happen again.”
“Okay. I’ll try to remember to be more careful, too. The men I’m usually around tend to see me as a—well, a kid sister, I guess. Morris is pretty strict about calling down anybody who gets out of line with me when we’re on a search.”
They sat in silence staring into the flames until Cord asked, “Did you say you’ve dated the ski instructor for a year?”
“Yeah, off and on.”
“And you’ve never been tempted to...?”
“No,” she answered shortly and he saw a pink color stain her cheeks. Then she sighed and decided to explain. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved stories that end happily ever after. From what I’ve seen, women like my mom and my friend, Cathy, who waited for their special man have that. Women who are—freer with their affections and go from man to man, never seem to find the happy ever after type of love. They’re never satisfied with what they have and get bored easily. I’ve seen lots of them come through the lodge over the years. I’m willing to wait. I’m probably like my mom more than I want to admit.” Stacey smiled as she thought of what her mother would say to that admission from her.
Cord raised an eyebrow. “And what if he never shows up?”
“Oh, he will. I’m sure of it.” She laid her head down on her knees. “What about you, McConnell? No plans for someone to have kids with or to hold your hand as you grow old?”
“In my line of work, I probably won’t be around to get old. I’ve learned to take life moment to moment and job to job.”
“But are you really satisfied that there’s nothing more? If you do survive to a ripe old age, you’ll be all alone. I don’t want that,” she pushed up. “I think I’ll try to get some more sleep,” she yawned and went into the cave to stretch out on her bed of pine needles.
Cord couldn’t immediately dismiss what Stacey said. No one in his life cared for his needs except those he paid and the women who came and went. He wasn’t going to let her play with his mind and make him want something he couldn’t have. Family life or even a long-term relationship wouldn’t suit him. But she definitely got under his skin. He wasn’t sure he liked it. As a matter of fact, he positively didn’t like it.
CHAPTER 10
When Stacey woke up, she felt a blanket covering her. Pushing it back, she sat up and saw a little daylight filtering through the trees beyond the boulders. The fire burned low and Cord, now fully dressed, stretched out on the ground asleep beside it. Moving quietly to avoid waking Ricky and Don, she left camp to stretch her legs and check her snares.
After a breakfast of grilled rabbit and the last of the coffee, they broke camp and searched for a spot to cross the fast flowing river. Stacey showed them the slower moving section she found the night before. The water pooled and moved sluggishly before pounding through more rocks farther down. It was probably deeper, but much slower and easier to cross.
“I think you’re right. This is our best bet,” Cord told her.
“Man, those rapids would knock me off my feet. I vote here,” Don agreed.
“I’m in, so to speak,” teased Ricky.
“I’ll go first to check the depth,” Cord told them.
Stacey folded her arms and asked, “Why you? I’m the guide.”
“I’m taller.” The boys laughed at Cord’s reply. “Parker, humor me.”
“Okay.” She gestured with her hand to the water. “Be my guest.”
Cord moved carefully into the water and felt along until he took several knee-deep steps.
“I think this is as deep as it gets.” He glanced back toward her as he took another step.
“You have to watch out for—holes,” Sta
cey finished weakly as Cord’s body sank into the river.
By the time he managed to get to his feet, he stood in waist deep water and he was thoroughly soaked. “You were saying?” he wiped the water from his face.
“If you move to the upstream side of the hole there should be a sand bar. We need to know if it goes all the way around that hole so we can walk on it.”
“Yeah, Cord. Seeing that you’re a little wet already,” Don called out.
Slapping the water with both hands, Cord sent spray showering toward them.
Stacey and both boys yelled and jumped to get out of the water’s reach. Cord managed to locate the sandbar and helped direct them from the middle of the river.
Stacey carefully led the boys, keeping them on the sandbar until they reached Cord. As they passed him, he followed along behind toward the opposite bank.
Once on firm ground, Cord turned to Stacey. “Next time I insist on going first, hit me.”
“Glad to,” she agreed.
Ricky and Don sat down to dump water out of their shoes.
“Man, Cord, you should have seen the look on your face,” Don hooted.
“You better watch it, squirt. You’re still close enough for him to throw you in,” Ricky pointed out.
“Ah, Cord’s too good a sport for that. He knows I’m just kidding—don’t you Cord?” Don peered around carefully at the large man behind him and the other three laughed. “Cut it out, Ricky,” Don ordered as he elbowed his brother.
“Come on guys. We’ve got to go.” Stacey waited while they pulled their shoes back on then led the way up the hill from the river.
Hiking in the direction where they saw the logging road, a very damp Cord once again brought up the rear. They pushed ahead steadily and before noon they reached the logging area. The ground was soggy and too wet for the equipment to work. No one was there. The four of them began following the muddy ruts of the logging road. It circled around the crest of the hill and wound down the other side.
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