by Robin Caroll
“Us four give up our comfort because she thinks she’s too good to bunk in the room with us?” Jerry snorted. “You must be kidding. Let loverboy out there stay with her.” His cold eyes snapped to her face. “I’m sure she wouldn’t care too much about resting better then.”
Her heart racing, Katie narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice. “I wouldn’t dare ask you to be inconvenienced.”
Jerry’s fist popped down on the table, causing the wooden legs to creak in angry protest. “I’m already inconvenienced enough as it is, aren’t I, Ms. Gallagher?” His body stance implied a man with a vested interest in chaos and dissention. “And we’re the paying clients here.”
He was right. Katie’s body trembled and she balled her hands into fists. Her chipped nails dug into her palms.
“We’re all put out, Jerry, but you appear to be the only one harping on it at the moment,” Orson said.
Katie used Orson’s shoulder as leverage to draw to her feet. Shadow burst into the room, moving to stand in front of Katie, but snarling at Jerry. The hairs on the back of his head bristled. A menacing growl sounded from down in Shadow’s throat.
She didn’t command the dog to back down. Instead, she met Jerry’s frigid stare with one of her own—the one her brothers swore would freeze hell over.
A shuffling caused her to turn. Hunter’s broad shoulders filled the doorway. He glanced over Katie’s stance before he faced Jerry. “What’s going on in here?”
Her heart lunged. With his eyes squinted and his muscles jumping under his wetsuit, Hunter portrayed every inch a warrior. A protector. Katie wrestled with her independent streak, carrying on a mental battle whether to stand down and let Hunter deal with Jerry, or to remain in charge as the guide and have a showdown with the mouthy investor.
The decision was made for her.
Shadow lifted his head, then tilted it to the side. He barked once, filling Katie with trepidation. In one motion, the dog turned and fled out the shanty. His bark carried from behind the lean-to.
Hopping on one foot, Katie made it to the doorway.
Hunter gripped her elbow. He moved so close she could feel his breath against her ear. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s here. That’s Shadow’s greeting bark.” She hobbled from the building, letting Hunter assist her. A sense of completeness surrounded her as Hunter stayed close to her side. Completeness and security.
Hunter turned his head back to the doorway. “You guys stay here.”
Katie pressed on, following the sounds of Shadow’s barking. Hunter squeezed her elbow until she stopped. Glancing at him, she used her hand to shield her eyes from the offensive rain. “What?”
“Maybe you should wait here. I’ll go see what the dog’s found.”
“Shadow hasn’t found anything—someone’s here. I trust him . . . he’s never wrong.”
Hunter shook his head slowly. “Still, maybe I should check it out first. Just to be on the safe side.”
His words struck home, allowing her imagination to play havoc with her mind. She stiffened. “No. It’s my job as guide to look out for the group. I have to go.”
“Okay, but if it’s unsafe, promise me you’ll let me handle it.”
She wanted to ask how he’d be able to handle an unsafe environment any better than she, but refrained. Nodding, she moved toward the echoes of Shadow’s barks.
As they rounded the back of the lean-to and gained ground up the incline, the dog’s barking became louder, more intense, more insistent.
Katie’s stomach churned. Shadow had found someone. She picked up her hobbling-hop, leaning heavily on Hunter’s support.
They moved to forge ahead, when Shadow bounded back into the clearing.
A crashing through the brush carried on the gusts of wind.
Katie froze while Hunter stepped in front of her, moving into a defensive crouch. His legs spread about two feet apart, planted in the mushy ground.
Two figures stood silhouetted against the incoming rain bands. A wide-shouldered man dressed in a black rain slicker, fumbled into the clearing.
Katie peered around Hunter as the mysterious man rushed toward them. He wore a huge backpack, making him appear even larger. The black hood covered his head and shielded his face, making him look formidable, reminding her of the cartoonish impression of the Deliverer of Death. Her pulse thudded loudly in her head, drowning out the cacophony from the wind and rain.
Shadow rushed to the man, his nub of a tail wagging. Katie stared at her dog as he greeted the stranger. Only whoever approached wasn’t a stranger to Shadow.
Pushing around Hunter, Katie hopped toward the man. Hunter grabbed her elbow, gently tugging her back.
“What happened to your leg?” The familiar voice made her want to jump regardless of the pain as the man pushed back his hood. Christian’s bright eyes stared into hers.
“Christian! Oh, I’m so glad to see you.” Katie let herself be swallowed in her brother’s engulfing hug. She clung to him longer than normal, trembling.
He pulled back and peered into her face. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Fighting back the tears, Katie shook her head and grabbed his hands. “I’ll fill you in later.” She made a playful punch on his arm. “But you. How’d you know where to find us?”
“I’d already called off my trip when Rory told me about the boat and where you’d put in. I figured you’d head to the lean-to.” He shrugged and smiled the boyish grin she loved. “I thought I’d be the good brother and bring you supplies and such.”
“He was so worried about you.” Ariel, a smaller pack affixed to her back, stepped beside Christian.
In Katie’s excitement, she’d forgotten about the second person. Now, the young woman stood with her hand comfortably in the crook of Christian’s arm. Why on earth would Christian bring her? Why not one of the park rangers or a sheriff?
Hunter’s hand on her shoulder startled Katie. She swayed for a moment before Hunter’s strong arm wrapped around her waist. He winked at her, but spoke to Christian and Ariel. “Why don’t we get inside, out of the rain, to catch up? I’m soaked to the bone here.”
Although she appreciated his staunch support, something stunk to high heaven—something she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but it lay there, irritating her under the surface, much like a festering splinter. She needed to figure it out. Soon.
Christian smiled and laid a hand over Ariel’s, who pushed her perfectly manicured hand into the crook of his elbow. Katie allowed Hunter to help her turn and hobble back toward the lean-to. Shadow pranced along in front of the group, stopping every so often to look back, as if checking on Katie.
They crossed the threshold and entered the room. Jerry’s eyes narrowed on Christian and Ariel. Katie leaned against the table, letting her forearms take the bulk of her body weight. She smiled at Carter, who shoved kindling from the rack into the small fire pit. He nodded at her. “We need some matches. I haven’t found any around here.”
Slipping the pack off his back, Christian chuckled. “I have a lighter in here. As well as plenty of food and dry sweatshirts.”
Katie breathed a sigh as her knees buckled. Just having Christian beside her lessened the burden of responsibility that had settled over her shoulders, but she needed to tell her brother of her failure. “A member of our party, Walter Thompson, fell into the river.” She blinked at the tears pooling in her eyes. “He got sucked into a hydraulic and swept into a death cave.” She swallowed.
“Oh, Katie.” Christian wrapped an arm around her and hugged her tight. “We’ll call the police as soon as we get back.” He kissed the top of her head before releasing her.
She hauled in a deep breath, struggling to control her emotions. “I’m assuming Emily came ashore?” She brushed her bangs from her eyes.
“Actually, she’s been sitting off the coast, throwing in rain bands and wind.” Christian unloaded the pack, setting canned goods and supplies on the table. “She onl
y made landfall midmorning. Rain should settle down today and slack up by morning.” He tossed the empty backpack in the corner. “We should be able to start hiking out by noon tomorrow. The four-wheelers are waiting in the parking lot at the top of the hill. We should all be able to make it because we pulled the wagons.”
“Good.”
Carter lit the kindling. Pops and cracklings filled the room. The smell of smoke wafted about, hanging in the stale air like an oppressive cloud. Shadow leaned against Christian’s leg . . . her brother bent down and scratched the dog’s muzzle.
Paul raided the cabinets and lifted an old cast-iron pot they’d dumped cans of stew in. He settled the handle in the hook above the pit.
Katie faced Christian. “So, Steve made it okay?”
“Yep. He and Rory arrived before the rains settled in.” Christian took the pack from Ariel and pulled out a pair of jeans and sweater, along with a bag of candies. He smiled as he plopped them on the table in front of Katie. “I took the liberty of grabbing a spare set of your clothes from the lodge, as well as a bag of those blasted peppermints you can’t seem to live without.”
She grabbed the offering and straightened. “Oh, thank you, Christian. I’m so ready to get out of this wetsuit. All my stuff got lost in the mudslide.”
“Mudslide?” Christian tilted his head and squinted.
“Long story.” She hopped back from the table, gathered her balance, then nodded at her brother. “Get the guys to fill you in on our adventures. I’m going to slip out to the tent and get changed.” Shadow moved to stand by her side. She stroked the dog’s head, then gave the command for him to stay. Shadow sat back at Christian’s feet.
Moving closer, Ariel asked, “Can I help you?”
“Sure, I’d appreciate that.”
The two women crossed the threshold, then headed to the tent.
A fine bead of sweat dotted her upper lip by the time Katie had slipped inside and zipped the tent closed. The trip took more out of her than she’d anticipated. She slumped to the floor, panting with exhaustion.
Ariel handed Katie the dry clothes. “I was disappointed when we had to cancel my group, but I’m glad I was able to help.”
“I’m a little surprised to see you. I’d have thought you would’ve left when the weather turned so bad.” Katie pulled the sweater over her head—it clung to her wet bra.
“I would have except I couldn’t get my flight canceled.”
“I understand that.”
“When Christian said he was coming out to bring supplies and see if he could get your group back, I volunteered to drive the other four-wheeler since that Rory fellow didn’t want to leave the lodge.”
Not with anyone there he wouldn’t. “Well, I’m really glad to see you.” Katie lowered her voice. “And really glad to have another woman out here.”
Ariel smiled and stood by the tent’s flap. “Unless you need me to help you with anything else, I’ll give you some privacy.”
“Thanks.”
After the tent’s flap was zipped once again, Katie worked to pull off the wetsuit. The heavy fabric pushed against her ankle. She cringed and let out a loud moan.
“You okay?” Hunter’s soft voice from outside the tent made her heart quicken.
Did he have to stand so close to the tent? She licked her lips as the memory of his kiss skidded across her mind. “Um, I’m okay,” she called out.
“Just checking. You’re taking quite some time.”
“Hard to get out of a wetsuit with a bum ankle.”
Hunter chuckled. “I can imagine.”
“I’m almost done.” She quickly jabbed her good leg into jeans. The worn, dry denim nestled softly against her skin. Almost sighing in satisfaction and comfort, Katie took a breath, then worked to get her hurt leg into the jeans. She gritted her teeth against the discomfort her movements caused.
“No hurry.”
Despite the awkward position of lying flat on her back and inching up her pants, Katie smiled. It dawned on her that he’d stand out there and wait on her—wait to help her back into the lean-to. His gesture of consideration warmed her frozen toes.
Hunter Malone embodied all the traits of a man she could really fall for—strong, considerate, dependable, and able. All the qualities she’d vowed long ago to hold out for when she’d believed in love. Believed in a happily ever after.
She slipped the jeans over her hips and buttoned the snap, then clipped her fanny pack around her waist, which she quickly restocked with the peppermints Christian had brought. Katie reflected on her and Hunter’s kiss, surmising that surely he felt something too. He didn’t seem the type to trifle with someone’s emotions. Then again, she could never be certain about people. Her own past proved that beyond a doubt.
Struggling to stand, Katie knew Hunter hid something, but what? She’d keep digging at Hunter’s layers until she uncovered what lay beneath the surface. Then, and only then, would she consider her emotions.
Chapter 15
Hunter waited outside the tent, listening to Katie’s light moans as she apparently struggled to get dressed. Had it not been for impropriety’s sake, he’d have rushed in to help her minutes ago.
Katie unzipped the tent and practically fell into his arms, jolting him. He pulled her close, steadying her, but also savoring the feel of her in his arms. The knitted sweater nestled over her curves, the soft yarn rubbing against his forearms as he kept her in the circle of his embrace. Her vivid eyes collided with his.
In the space of a heartbeat, he lowered his mouth to hers. The sweet warmth of her sent tingles down his back. He deepened the kiss, drawing her tighter against his chest. Her heart pounded against his, pulling him in. Her hand fisted at the nape of his neck, her fingers playing in his hair with a gentle yet probing tug. His strength dissipated like morning mist.
Realization tapped his shoulder, as if the Holy Spirit appeared in the flesh. He lifted his head and took a half-step back, but kept an arm circling her waist. Her eyes fluttered open and stared into his. Hunter swallowed, then gave a shaky smile. “I’m getting you all wet again.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh.”
He couldn’t resist—he ran a finger down the side of her face. Her flawless skin felt so soft, his fingers itched to touch her.
“What’s happening here, Hunter?” Her voice hiccupped.
His hand froze, finger settling on her chin, as her question penetrated past his attraction. “What do you mean?” His voice sounded husky to his ears.
“With us, you and me. What’s going on?” Her eyes reflected so many emotions, ones he couldn’t even begin to read, much less comprehend.
“I, uh … Katie, I have these feelings for you.” He ran a hand through his wet hair. “But, we need to get you out of the rain before you get soaked again.”
Her face crumbled in obvious disappointment. Every fiber of his soul wanted to hold her again, to snuggle close and stay there forever. He wished he could reassure her, to insist his feelings were real, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Not while he still had a job to do. So instead, he helped her into the lean-to, all the while sending up prayers.
They entered the lean-to and the enticing aroma of stew filled his senses. His stomach growled. He left Katie at the table and moved to the fire-pit. Carter stirred the bubbling thick broth. Hunter’s mouth watered. “Smells marvelous, Carter.”
The older man smiled. “It’s almost ready.”
Paul helped Orson to his feet. Moving to assist, Hunter grabbed Orson’s other side. “What do you say we get you into some dry clothes?”
Orson grunted through chattering teeth.
Hunter and Paul slipped Orson outside and into the tent. Once the three men changed into dry clothes, they lumbered back into the shanty. Carter spooned generous portions of the stew into bowls as Hunter sat Orson on the floor beside Katie. He grabbed two of the full bowls and passed them to the two injured members of their party. He went to grab a third bowl, and his hand met with
another’s.
Lifting his gaze, he stared at Ariel’s face. Reading her silent request, he gave a slight tilt of his head before reaching for another bowl. She winked at him, then turned to join Christian across the room. He moved to sit beside Katie, but met her icy stare, and his steps faltered. A sinking feeling shot into his gut.
She’d seen his exchange with Ariel.
Swallowing back the strong urge to grab Katie and tell her the truth, Hunter lowered himself to the floor beside Paul. He had to trust God to see him through and prayed she’d understand when it became safe enough to explain.
He closed his eyes and said grace, then lifted his spoon to eat. The sensation of being watched caused him to look up. Across the room, Ariel smiled, almost shyly. He reflexively returned her smile. An almost physical burning sensation ripped into his side. Turning his head, Hunter set his jaw as Katie’s pained expression shredded his heart.
Katie chewed her stew until it had ground into liquid. Each chomp delivered more force than the one before. Now her jaw to ached. Not that she cared. Ariel, who she’d really started to like, blatantly flirted with Hunter—winking and smiling—while seeming to be attached to Christian’s hip. And Hunter had flirted right back, after kissing Katie and telling her he had feelings for her.
Frustration mixed with jealousy clogged her throat. She choked when she tried to swallow. She set down her bowl while she coughed and sputtered.
Paul popped her back. “Are you okay?”
She coughed so hard her eyes watered. Everyone stared at her. She waved off Paul’s hand while gulping in air. Katie lifted her eyes, and Hunter’s probing gaze burned into her. She wrinkled her nose, then pushed the bowl with the rest of her stew toward Shadow. The dog lapped the hot food.
Leaning against the wall, Katie glared at Ariel until the woman glanced at her. Katie hoped her facial expressions portrayed the anger and disappointment churning inside her. She forced every ounce of her emotions into the glare.
Ariel fidgeted, then dropped her gaze to her stew bowl.