by Jillian Dagg
"My sister is a department store fashion consultant. My mother looks after home and family. She had no alternative with five children."
"You make it sound as if she was in some kind of trap."
Cally shook her head. “No. Not at all. My mother raised us wonderfully. It's what she wanted."
"Her choice?” He smiled.
Cally nodded, feeling the impact of his smile. It gave her the same tremulous sensation as before. He really was good looking when he smiled. The hard gravelly look he wore on his features most of the time certainly didn't display the thrust of his personality. “And this is my choice."
"I hope this career is a success then,” he said.
Cally caught disapproval in his voice. “You sound as if you feel I haven't made a particularly good choice.” She tried to hide the fact her emotions concerning Luke were undulating in mountainous swoops from sheer mesmerism to scorn.
"I don't like women on the crew, just because they tend to get involved with the men and vice versa. In some ways though, having women present, lessens the edge that can develop between men. Anyway, what I think doesn't relate to the reality. We have to hire women if they apply."
"At least you're honest,” she said with a coolness in her voice. His attitude was as she had expected. His actions over the past four weeks had proved it. She didn't know why the reality disappointed her so.
Luke looked at her. “Yeah, I'm honest. That's the only way to be Creighton."
"I agree with you there,” she said softly.
Luke drove the truck into the parking lot of the Tall Pines Motor Hotel. Tall Pines was beginning to feel like home now. The strip of doors to the motel units accessed by a wood boardwalk, and the restaurant and small store built in the style of a mountain chalet with peaked roofs. Behind the motel was Echo Lake, with picnic facilities and a swimming beach.
When Luke stopped the truck Cally opened the door and hopped down from her seat. She saluted thank you to Luke, the same way she would salute Vince or any other man who drove her. There was no reason why Luke should be treated differently, even if he was the boss. That Cally felt different after the short drive was another matter. She was oddly elated as her heavy boots clomped along the walkway and she dug into her shirt pocket for her room key.
She shared the unit with Loretta but she was surprised to find Loretta already there resting on her bed.
"I thought you would still be at the hospital,” Cally said, pulling the gold hopsack drapes across the window. The interior of the motel didn't quite match the charm of the exterior. Like any motel room, the furniture was mismatched and cheap. But there were two armchairs and a table by the window, where she could write letters or read. Loretta never seemed to do either. TV was her entertainment and she ran up a huge bill of pay-to-view movies. Cally often fell asleep to Arnie or Sly's voice. “How's Rick?"
Loretta heaved herself up on her elbow and brushed aside heavy black curly bangs. “He's okay. He was checked at the hospital, no stitches, and when we came back he went into the restaurant for a beer. So I figure he's cured."
"Great.” With relief Cally stripped off her heavy clothes. She left them in a pool on the floor and slipped an oversize white T-shirt over her head. “Who was driving the grader that went out of control?"
"Karl. He was pretty shaken up, but he was pleased Rick wasn't seriously hurt. He said he'd buy Rick his beer for the rest of the summer."
"That's nice of him,” Cally remarked. “Although he shouldn't blame himself. It was purely an accident."
"Exactly what I told Karl, but he feels it could have been worse and he's been spared as well as Rick.
Karl was pretty jumpy about it."
"Understandable,” Cally told her. “It's frightening."
"It sure was. We were all shaking in the truck. Rick was the one who told us to calm down. Anyway, it turned out okay. So who drove you back?” Loretta asked.
"Stanford."
"Did he speak?” Loretta looked interested.
"Of course he spoke. He's quite nice, almost human.” She grinned. “But we're right. He doesn't approve of women on the crew but he doesn't have any choice."
"That was obvious from the start. I'm not surprised. He's a big macho man. Not that I don't like macho men.” Loretta grinned.
"You wouldn't watch all those action movies if you didn't,” Cally retorted.
"I wouldn't be on a construction gang if I didn't,” Loretta said. “I like my men to be men not wimps."
"Well, Luke is certainly no wimp,” Cally said firmly.
"Did he make a pass?"
"No way. He's the boss."
"That doesn't make any difference.” Loretta picked up her clock, stared at the time, and scampered from the bed. “Go have your shower, Cally. Karl wants us to sit with the guys for dinner tonight. He thinks we should all be one big happy family."
"Did he invite me as well?"
"Yes, he did. That's what he means. One big happy family."
"Well, I suppose I have to then, don't I?"
"Yes. You have to. We've been here for ages and we hardly know the guys. Cally, we're surrounded by men. We should make the most of the opportunity. I'm beginning to bore out."
"But I don't feel we should fool around. It's not good business practice."
"We can at least be friends with them,” Loretta said. “Cally, don't be a prude. Surely you feel attracted to one or two of the men."
Cally didn't want to mention Karl. If Loretta was interested in Karl she didn't want to cause a feud that really had no substance. Cally's interest in Karl was purely aesthetic. She also thought about Luke, but dismissed him. He wasn't a man to be interested in, not in the way Loretta meant. “Can't say I do,” Cally said, rolling clean underwear, a pink cotton shirt, and a pair of white jeans beneath her arm.
"Well, then, dinner will be fun.” Loretta sounded put out.
"I don't mind going for dinner,” Cally protested. “I just don't think we should get too close."
"But think of our chances,” Loretta grinned. “Two women twelve men. Heaven."
"Unlucky thirteen,” Cally reminded her. “You've forgotten to include Stanford in the men."
Loretta made a face. “I don't count him. He's probably married with x number of children, a dog, a house in the burbs, where he keeps his wife barefoot."
Cally felt uneasy about that scenario. “I don't think he's married, Loretta."
"Did he tell you?"
"No. But I get the impression he's not. Vince is the only one married, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he's married. He's a friend of my Dad's. The reason I got the job."
"You never told me that."
"Well, you know, I don't want to feel favored. But now you do, so go get ready."
Cally closed herself in the white tiled room, showered, and dressed in her fresh clothes. She dried her golden hair until it was once more silky clean, and slipped her gold chain with the little “C” initial around her neck. She preened for a moment, liking the deep tan she was getting. Then she gazed at herself more critically. What had Luke seen when he'd looked at her for so long in the truck? Had he seen a woman who attracted him? Or was he married and had he seen her as merely a nuisance, a possible problem on the crew?
Cally returned to the bedroom and pushed her soiled clothes aside for washing into one of the supplied plastic bags. Laundry was handled on a daily basis by the motel staff. Stanford Construction paid all expenses, plus meals.
Loretta had wriggled into extra tight blue jeans. Both women slipped their feet into comfortable sandals, picked up their purses, and walked outside. The sun was still bright but there was a delicious breeze.
They took their time strolling across the paved motel court to the restaurant, making the most of the resonant cooler air.
There were a handful of tourists and single-night motel guests eating in the dining room, but their own gang took up most of the space in the right-hand corner. The room was air-conditioned with dark beams cr
ossing the low ceiling and walls, the floor carpeted deep maroon. Cloths of ruby red draped square tables surrounded by heavy oak chairs.
Cally usually found the atmosphere relaxing, especially when she shared a window table with Loretta.
But tonight, as they drew close to Karl's table, she felt tension stringing across the air.
Rick's straight blond hair framed his face and he looked very pale with a plaster covering his right eyebrow. Karl was holding court, lecturing Rick on how to look out for his safety while working on a construction site.
"Don't you think Rick has been through enough?” Don Tulson said as the two women sat down.
Loretta sat opposite Karl and Cally sat next to her, opposite Don with a spare chair beside her.
Karl only gave the women a cursory smile as he kept on talking to Don. “He might have been killed.
Next time he'll take care."
"You were driving the thing, Persak,” Don said. “You saw him there."
"I didn't see him right away and I've explained the brakes failed. How many more times? Anyway, let's cool it. Rick's survived. How are you girls?"
"We're fine,” Loretta purred.
Cally hated being calledgirls. “How are you feeling, Rick?” she asked, ignoring Karl. He might be good to look at on the outside but she wasn't too sure she liked his personality.
Rick touched the plaster on his forehead and grinned. “Great now."
"No concussion?” Cally inquired about Luke's anxiety.
"No. Luckily."
Karl intervened. “Let's get this show on the road, kids. Order dinner. That's what we're here for."
Luke might be strict and run the crew to his agenda, Cally thought as she decided to order the grilled chicken, baked potato, a side salad, and a large glass of apple juice, but he wasn't bossy in the sense Karl was. Karl took over the situation and relegated everyone to be his followers.
"Is this seat taken?"
Cally was so shocked to see Luke, and even more shocked he wanted to sit beside her, that the menu slithered out of her hands, onto her lap, where she tried to capture it, but it was too glossy. It hit the floor at Luke's feet.
He picked up the menu and placed it squarely on the table in front of her. “Lost something."
My brain, she thought, meeting his smile. “Thank you."
Stacey, the waitress said to Cally. “What do you want?"
Cally gave her order, hearing her voice shake.
"Is that it?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Well, is this seat taken?” A half-smile tugged around Luke's mouth as he repeated the question.
"No.” Cally automatically moved her body closer to Loretta to give him room to sit. She could see interest from the men over the interaction between her and Luke.
Luke lowered himself into the chair. He had changed his clothes for a pair of supple blue jeans, a short sleeved navy knit shirt, and white trainers. Cally felt the same, slightly thrilled, sort of elated, but strangely lighthearted, unreal sensation she had experienced earlier in his presence.
"What's good to eat?” Luke asked her, not bothering to open the menu. He looked instead at the nightly specials written in chalk on a blackboard. “Who's having the chicken?"
"I am,” Cally said. “I had it last week. It was good."
"Then I'll go with the chicken as well, and a large Coke,” he told Stacey.
Stacey liked the men. She gave them all big-eyed blue smiles and wriggled her hips provocatively beneath her pale blue waitress smock. Cally thought she was pretty. Soft really, with blonde hair she wore drawn back from her even features in a pony tail.
Luke shifted in his chair after giving his order and Cally inhaled sandalwood aftershave from his freshly shaved skin. Luke's thigh was merely inches from her own, his bare arm, with its smattering of dark hair, prickled hers when he reached for his glass of water. He wore no wedding ring.
When his pop arrived, he drank from the large glass and said, “That's good,” with a smile in Cally's direction, almost as if they were together. Then he inquired about Rick's injury and looked at Karl. “So how's it going with you, Persak?” he asked. “Not shaken up over the accident, I hope?"
Cally thought Karl seemed a little reserved now Luke was here. He said quite politely, “Well, it was a scare, but I'm recovering with these lovely women sharing our table."
"Yeah, you got a bonus this year, didn't you?” Luke glanced at Cally. “If I were you two women, I wouldn't take anything Karl says seriously."
Loretta fluttered her sooty lashes at Luke and said in a husky drawl, “Don't worry, Mr. Stanford. We can take care of ourselves. Can't we Cally?"
Cally nodded. “Yes. We're fine. Karl's chat runs off our backs like water off a duck's.” She wasn't quite sure why she said what she did, but she just knew with Luke beside her she didn't feel very clear headed.
“We're here to work. Just like all you men."
"We have a feminist in our midst boys,” Luke said.
Cally wished this conversation hadn't begun. “I'm not a feminist. But I believe in equality."
"I do as well, but I'm also aware of the realities,” Luke said. “Men and women have one thing on their minds."
"Well, I don't,” Cally said firmly. “I'm here to work."
Luke raised an eyebrow at her.
Cally was pleased at that moment the food orders arrived. The conversation between Cally and Luke was forgotten in the foray for each person to receive the correct plate of food. Soon everyone began eating hungrily. Cally noticed Luke extended what she thought was ritualistic behavior to eating. He tipped his bowl of salad on the plate alongside the chicken and baked potato. He added salt and pepper and Italian dressing liberally to his salad, then he broke the roll in half and buttered it.
She felt like asking him if he ever rushed anything and just dug in. Like kissing a woman for instance. Her cheeks flamed as she chewed on some chicken. Now what was she thinking? Luke hadn't given her any reason to think that way. Unless the feelings she had experienced in his truck, even now with him beside her, were an indication she was attracted to him.
"Hey, Creighton,” Karl said suddenly when everyone had more or less finished their meal. “Let's have some more noise from your side."
Karl elicited crazy talk, and Cally felt the need to be crazy. Luke was making her feel far too serious. “I was trained not to speak with my mouth full and my mouth has been full the last little while. What do you want me to do? Dance on the table?"
Karl grinned. “Dancing on the table sounds great, doesn't it, guys? We could do with some excitement around this joint. Card games get boring unless we're playing strip..."
"Persak, shut up,” Luke burst out suddenly, startling them all. “There will be nothing like that while we're working here. I hire women to get the job done, as Creighton said earlier. They are not here for your amusement, Karl, and that goes for you women. I've said it before. The men aren't here for your enjoyment."
"What about you?” Loretta asked impudently.
Cally wanted to cringe at the question. Luke's eyebrows were drawn together in a deep frown.
"What about me?” His tone was almost a growl.
"Are you here for our pleasure?"