Sound of Summer

by Annette Broadrick

  "Do you have time to listen to the unedited version, or would you prefer the encapsulated form?"

  "One of the benefits of life as a would-be hermit is that there's time enough for everything."

  "Well, to begin with, I'm a television actress."

  Adam stiffened slightly. "Oh."

  "Yes, although I realize that up here you wouldn't have the opportunity to see me. I work on a super-spy series."

  Adam lifted his cup to his mouth and sipped the hot liquid.

  "Have you ever read any of Kenneth Clay's Derringer Drake novels?"

  Adam could feel his muscles tightening, but his face showed no expression. "Yes."

  "After the movie was so successful, the powers that be decided to try it as a television series. The author, whose real name is Clay Kenniwick, is a friend of mine and suggested I might want to audition for the part of Derringer's sexy sidekick." She sighed. "Although I was insulted at the time, I wasn't too proud to at least try for the part."

  He looked at her, puzzled, and she laughed. "You see, I've always considered myself a serious actress and never thought to stoop to frivolous entertainment" She shrugged her shoulders slightly. "Funny how the need to eat regularly and the desire for a place to live will coax you away from lofty ideals." She shrugged again. "Anyway, I auditioned and—"

  "The rest is history."

  "Yes. The series went over surprisingly well. We've been filming for three years and now I'm suffering from what Clay calls an acute case of burnout."

  "And it was Clay Kenniwick who sent you up here?"

  There was an almost imperceptible change in his tone, but Selena caught it. She looked at him quizzically. "Do you know Clay?"

  After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. "I've met him."

  "No kidding. Well, it's certainly a small world."

  "Is it?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Isn't it asking a lot of coincidence that Clay should send you up here on a vacation?"

  She looked around the warm and cozy room. "Well, to be honest, he didn't send me here. I had what I thought were clear instructions to the park ranger's headquarters. Obviously I goofed somewhere."

  Adam studied her with detached interest. "I'm surprised Clay was willing to let you go on a vacation without him."

  Selena looked at him. "How long has it been since you saw Clay?"

  "Several years, why?"

  She grinned. "That explains it, then. You aren't aware that Clay's been married for over two years now."

  Adam recalled the circumstances in which he and Clay met They hadn't taken time to compare their marital status, even then. "It doesn't seem to interfere with your, uh, friendship."

  She straightened from her relaxed position. "Clay and I never had the sort of relationship you're implying, Adam, and I resent your implication. Or maybe you know nothing of friendships without sexual involvement"

  He studied the woman sitting there in his shirt and gave her a very seductive smile.

  "Well, let's just say I find it hard to believe that anyone would have a platonic relationship with you. Clay didn't strike me as the type who would settle for that."

  "Just how well do you know him?"

  "We spent several months together a few years ago."

  "Where?"

  "Eastern Asia."

  "For a hermit, you certainly get around."

  "I haven't always been a hermit."

  "Why did you decide to move up here?"

  "I was, uh, recuperating and needed a place that was peaceful and where I wouldn't be disturbed."

  "Well, I'm sorry to have been the one to intrude."

  "I don't mind in the slightest. I'm enjoying your company."

  "Don't enjoy it too much. As soon as it's daylight, I intend to try to get my truck unstuck and find the park ranger." Afraid she'd been unintentionally rude, she hastily added, "I really do appreciate your giving me shelter for the night, though."

  He didn't seem to notice. He appeared to be thinking weighty thoughts, from the rather grim expression on his face. He finally roused himself enough to say, "So Clay sent you up here."

  "You don't have to make it sound like some espionage plot, you know. He merely writes that stuff. He doesn't live it."

  He smiled at her irritated tone. "To be sure." He stood up, stretching to his full height, his arms almost touching the ceiling.

  "I'll get you some bedding. You should be comfortable enough there on the couch for the night."

  Selena nodded, still irritated by his innuendos. Morning couldn't come soon enough as far as she was concerned. The guy had been living alone too long—he was downright eccentric.

  Hours later, Adam lay awake in his wide, comfortable bed, wondering about the beautiful woman sleeping soundly in front of the fire. She could very well be exactly who she said she was. It made sense that she wouldn't use a cover that could be so easily disproved by checking a television series.

  But what was her real purpose in coming up here—alone? Was Clay behind it? Could it be possible Clay had found out he was up here? Adam thought he had covered his tracks better than that. The man Clay knew was supposedly missing and presumed dead. Only one man, his former boss, knew that he had managed to escape—barely—with his life. With his help, Adam had become another person with a whole new background. He had done his best to put his past behind him and thought he had succeeded.

  Could it be a coincidence? Adam turned over on his stomach and buried his head in his pillow. He wished to hell he believed in coincidences!

  Chapter Two

  Selena slowly awoke to the sound of heavy breathing close to her ear. Suddenly, she remembered where she was. She had spent the night in a stranger's cabin—alone with him. Her eyes blinked open in alarm. Duke stood next to the couch, nuzzling her, and she allowed herself a deep sigh of relief.

  Bright sunlight danced around the room in morning splendor. At least one of my wishes came true, she decided with a warm feeling. The weather is cooperating a little better today.

  She sat up, glancing across the room at the bed, but it was empty. In fact, she and Duke were the sole occupants of the place. Her clothes were dry from having hung in front of the fire all night, and Selena gratefully slipped them back on. Although the shirt she'd borrowed had made a warm nightgown for her, she felt more comfortable now that her wearing apparel was back to normal.

  She managed to get the tangles out of her hair with the small brush she carried in her purse, then she decided to search for the hygienic facilities. They were obviously not in the house, and Selena walked over to the door and opened it.

  The view was spellbinding. Majestic mountain peaks seemed to surround the area. The sun picked out the colors in the trees and bushes, emphasizing the green of the early summer. But it was the sounds—the soft chirping of the sparrows, the steady knocking of the woodpeckers, and the scolding of the squirrels—mat disarmed her. The sounds of summer in the quiet of the mountains flowed over her, making the tensions and stresses of her life melt away.

  Clay had been right to suggest a vacation in the mountains.

  But other matters loomed on her list of priorities. Fortunately, Selena spotted a path leading behind the cabin and optimistically followed it. She found a small outhouse sheltered under the trees.

  Outdoor life had certain drawbacks, she decided on her way back to the cabin, but on the whole, she knew she'd enjoy the next few weeks.

  Selena pushed open the door to the cabin, then paused, nonplussed. Standing near the bed and directly in her view was Adam He faced away from the door as he reached for a shirt, and the bright, morning sunlight gave his dark tan a rosy hue. Selena looked intently at his muscular back, particularly at the scar that seemed to glow at his waist as though a highlighter had placed emphasis on the taut muscles there. A long, thin scar creasing his shoulder blade and several indentations across his back gave proof of further damage done in the past.

  He spun around at the sound of the do
or. "Good morning," he said casually, slipping his arms through the sleeves of his shirt.

  Seldom was Selena at a loss for words, but her mind seemed to have blanked out. She had watched makeup men strive for the effect She'd just seen on Adam's back. They had been amazingly successful, because now Selena recognized that these were scars from more than one bullet wound.

  Why would this man have been shot?

  He smiled, the half smile that was becoming familiar to her—a slight lifting of the corner of his mouth. "I made some coffee. Help yourself."

  She seemed to be frozen to the door. Why had she felt so relaxed around him last night? Perhaps because she'd been too tired to care. But this morning all of her fears of unknown assailants came back to haunt her.

  She could feel perspiration on her forehead and moisture on her palms as they pressed against the wooden door. She was much closer to the door than he and drew strength from this rather reassuring knowledge.

  He glanced up from stuffing his shirttail into the waist of his Levi's. "Is something wrong?"

  She shook her head.

  "You don't really need to look as though I intend to hack your body into little pieces, you know. I had all the opportunity I needed last night but decided it would take too much energy."

  She jumped slightly at his comment. Where were all of her acting abilities now, when she needed them? Her attempt at a laugh was a miserable failure. She sounded as nervous as she felt—and no doubt looked.

  Your overactive imagination is doing it again, Selena, she told herself, and you're making a complete fool of yourself

  She forced herself to walk over to the stove, pick up the coffee pot and pour herself a cup, but she kept him in her side vision all the while. "I really do thank you for letting me stay here last night," she managed to say in a light voice. "I think I'll get back to the truck and see about getting it unstuck." She looked over at him and smiled.

  He nodded, wondering what had caused her to become so jumpy all of a sudden. Not that he cared, but he was curious. "Would you like me to come along and help?"

  She studied him for a moment. There was really nothing to be afraid of. He looked at her directly, his eyes calmly meeting hers. He didn't seem to have anything to hide. There could be several legitimate reasons to have the scars on his back. He could have been in the war, for instance. She found the thought reassuring.

  "If you don't mind, I would appreciate your help," she finally answered.

  "Then I suggest we eat something first. I don't like to work on an empty stomach."

  The hike down to the road was much more pleasant in the morning light than it had been the night before. The porous ground had absorbed much of the moisture, and Selena no longer felt threatened by man, beast or nature. However, the roadway still seemed an interminable distance away.

  "You hiked from down here last night?"

  Obviously Adam was just as surprised at the distance.

  "Yes."

  "No wonder you were exhausted when you found me."

  "I'm beginning to realize how lucky I was to find anyone. You don't have many neighbors, do you?"

  He grinned. "None that I know of."

  When they finally reached the road, Selena wasn't surprised that the truck wasn't in sight. But she couldn't decide which way to go to look for it.

  "Do you suppose we should split up, then yell when we spot it?" she suggested.

  Adam looked around the quiet area, the large trees casting mottled shade along the path. "I suppose that would be the most sensible thing to do." He glanced at her. "Try not to get lost."

  "Believe me, I don't intend to take any chances."

  Adam disappeared around the curve of the road and Selena started uphill once more. She hadn't gone very far when she heard Adam's call. "That figures," she murmured under her breath. If she'd gone that way, he would have found the car up here somewhere.

  Selena trotted down the roadway until she saw Adam. He was standing in the middle of the road, waiting for her with a grim expression on his face. She didn't see the Bronco.

  "What's wrong?" she asked, a little out of breath.

  "That's what I want you to tell me."

  He studied her suspiciously.

  She looked up and down the road. Nothing looked familiar. This was another curve in a road full of them. "The truck must be down the road further."

  "Or there never was one."

  She stared at him, wondering if there was something mentally wrong with him as well. "Of course there was. I told you it was buried to the axles last night."

  He waved to the side of the road where Selena noticed for the first time the ground was rutted. "Or you had someone drop you off, so I would think you were stranded."

  "But I'm not stranded. I just got the truck stock."

  "Then why isn't the truck here now?"

  "How should I know?"

  "But this is where you left it last night, isn't it?"

  She stared around in confusion. "I really have no idea. There were no landmarks—it was dark and raining hard. Why don't we keep looking?"

  "Because I don't intend to waste any more time on whatever little game you're playing." He pointed to the opposite side of the road from where they were looking. "That is your suitcase, isn't it? That you so conveniently left to pick up later?"

  Selena spun around and looked to where he was pointing. Her suitcase was sitting by the side of the road—the same suitcase she had left locked up in the Bronco last night.

  Or had she locked it? Hastily she dug in her purse, then in her pockets. No keys. She tried to remember if she had taken them out of the ignition.

  She remembered inching out of the truck, pushing against the door to get out and finally managing to wriggle through the narrow opening. She did not remember taking the keys with her.

  "My truck's been stolen!"

  "Nice try. I wondered how long it would take you to try that one. Now why don't you admit it? You and your friends decided to see how I'd react if you showed up on my doorstep last night, cold and tired. Well, now you know. I hope it was worth all of your efforts." He turned around and started back up the hillside.

  "Wait a minute. You've got it all wrong. I've been telling you the truth. I left the truck here last night. It must have been here, because those tracks show where I skidded off the road. I must have forgotten the keys and somebody came along, got the truck unstuck and stole it."

  "You actually expect me to believe that story?"

  "Well, since it's the truth, yes, I do. Besides, it makes a lot more sense than your theory. Why would I go to all that trouble just to meet you?"

  "You tell me."

  "Look, Adam, I don't know who you are, nor do I care. You may be some famous personality hiding away up here. If you are, I promise not to tell a soul. I'm sorry if your ego is bruised because I didn't recognize you. But I never knew you existed until you answered your door last night."

  They stood on either side of the road, glaring at each other. Adam reminded himself that she was a self-acknowledged actress, and from that recent performance he had to admit she was a good one. Her bewilderment and pathos were very well done.

  "What do you want from me?" he asked quietly.

  "Nothing! All I want is to find my truck and find the park ranger." She looked at him wistfully. "You don't by any chance have a phone, do you?"

  He continued to stare at her without expression.

  "I didn't really think so." She surveyed the area with dismay. "Do you have any transportation that would get me back to civilization?"

  "My Jeep would take you down to the eastern side of the mountain." He eyed her for a moment. "I suppose I could take you to the closest town."

  She smiled in relief. "That would be fine. I just need to get to a phone and report the Bronco stolen."

  "You still insist you don't know how it disappeared?"

  "Yes, I do. Why in the world would you think otherwise?"

  "Lack of trust, perhap
s?" he asked sarcastically.

  "How about a good case of paranoia?"

  They started back toward the cabin in strained silence, Selena carrying her heavy case. Halfway back, Adam reached over and took the case, much to Selena's grateful relief.

  By the time they reached the cabin, Selena was ashamed of her outburst. He'd been kind to her last night—and this morning. There was no reason for her to take out her frustrations on him.

  "Thank you for helping me with my suitcase."

  "You're welcome." He glanced at the horizon, avoiding her eyes, then looked down at her again. "Are you ready to go?"

  "Yes."

  He walked around the cabin. "The Jeep is parked down the hill this way." They hiked for several hundred yards through the trees until they came to a clearing. Selena smiled when she saw the dilapidated Jeep. The poor thing looked as though it should have been put out to pasture several years ago.

  Adam began to curse under his breath and she looked at him in surprise. He walked over to the right front tire and knelt down. Selena realized the tire was flat.

  "What happened?"

  He strode around the Jeep, checking each tire. All four of them were flat. "Your friends were thorough," he said in a tight voice. "They slashed all of them, including the spare."

  * 'Your tires are slashed?" Then she realized what else he'd said. "My friends. What are you accusing me of now?"

  "You're really good, you know that? Shocked surprise and wounded indignation. No wonder you've made it as an actress."

  "Damn you. I haven't the faintest idea what is going on around here, nor why you insist I do!"

  "Because you turned up—and now my tires are slashed."

  Selena stomped over to Adam. "Will you stop blaming me for my truck being missing and your tires being slashed? I have no more idea why this has happened than you do. As far as that goes, you could have some powerful enemies yourself."

  She slumped down on a large rock and looked blankly at the disabled vehicle. Now what was she going to do? Never had she wanted to get away from anyone so much in her life—and never had she been so stranded!

  Adam watched her warily, then he began to study the ground around the Jeep. Whoever had done it was a professional. Although he found one or two slight indentations, there was nothing so clear as a footprint, and he couldn't tell if more than one person had been there.