The Way Back Home

by Barbara Freethy

  He was surprised at the sudden forcefulness of Keith’s words. The guy seemed so chill and easygoing, but there was an unusual intensity to his expression now.

  “It’s dangerous on the river,” Keith continued. “A man died, and George almost lost his life. You’d think Alicia would realize that it was time to hang it up. I know George is putting pressure on her, but he’s delusional to think he’s going to be up to guiding a raft through treacherous rapids in a couple of weeks.” He gave Gabe a serious look. “I’m hoping you can talk to them about quitting.”

  “I don’t think they’d listen to me.”

  “You have an objective perspective, and they both know how much Rob respected your opinion.”

  “I can’t give them an objective opinion yet. I’d like to know more about what happened last year, but so far, I haven’t found anyone to talk to.”

  “I heard you and Russell Farr got into it at Mullaney’s yesterday.”

  “He was drunk. He said some nasty things about Alicia and her father.”

  “Russell Farr is just one of many people who want to see the Haydens close their doors. I hate the things I hear about Alicia and her dad. It’s tough to take. And I don’t see how she’s going to change public opinion. She just needs to quit and move on. What else can she do?” he added with a fatalistic shrug.

  “She can fight to save her business.” Keith’s attitude was beginning to annoy him.

  Keith shrugged. “I suppose a military man would choose that course of action.”

  A lot of men would.

  “I just don’t think she has anything left to hang on to, and she’s not happy. She doesn’t want to go back out on the water. She’s just doing it for her father. In fact, she was always just doing it for him. She said she never made a conscious decision to go into the business; it was just expected, especially after Rob joined the Marines. She had to carry on for the family name.”

  Gabe wondered if that was completely true. Alicia had been riding the white water since she was a teenager. Three years ago, she’d shown nothing but excitement when she talked to him about the river. Family loyalty aside, a part of Alicia loved the water. Maybe Keith didn’t know Alicia as well as he thought.

  He turned his head as another man approached. The guy was in his late thirties, sunburned, with white-blond hair, stylish sunglasses, and a button-down plaid shirt over some gray slacks.

  “Keith,” he said, extending his hand. “Good to see you.”

  “Mitchell,” Keith replied after shaking his hand. “This is Gabe Ryder. Mitchell Robbins.”

  “New in town?” Mitchell asked.

  He wondered if he had a stamp on his forehead. “You got it.”

  “You look like you do sports.”

  “Some.”

  Mitchell pulled out a card. “I’m with Wild River Tours. We specialize in extreme adventures: river rafting, rock climbing, snowboarding, aerial skiing. You name it, we do it.”

  So this was Alicia’s competitor. “Thanks,” Gabe said, slipping the card into his pocket.

  “Did you get those soccer nets I dropped off at the school?” Mitchell asked Keith. “I hope they were the right size.”

  “Perfect. We set them up on the practice field. Thanks for doing that.”

  “Anytime. Let me know if I can do anything else for you.”

  As Mitchell left, Gabe gave Keith a thoughtful look. “Isn’t that Alicia’s competitor?”

  “One of them,” Keith said with a careless shrug. “He’s a good guy despite the sales pitch. He’s gotten the high school a few deals on sporting equipment. It’s really making a difference.”

  “Alicia thinks he’s trying to drive her out of business. Does she know the two of you are friends?”

  “I’m not trying to hide it, but my dealings with Mitchell don’t have anything to do with Alicia.”

  Before Gabe could continue the conversation, the boys returned with Alicia and the bucket of frogs. Alicia made a point of standing next to Keith, sliding her arm around his waist, her expression a little defiant when it met Gabe’s.

  “How’s Jordan?” Keith asked.

  “Bursting with joy,” Alicia replied. “What are you guys talking about?”

  “Not much,” Keith replied. “I think it’s time to get over to the frog-jumping area.” He tossed his empty snow-cone wrapper into the trash. “Let’s get the boys signed up.”

  “Sounds good,” she said.

  Gabe followed the group over to a wide, grassy area where the frogs would be competing, feeling very much like a fifth wheel. Keith and Alicia and the boys looked like a family, and he looked like someone who didn’t belong.

  What else was new, he thought grimly. He was crazy to think he’d fit in there any better than he’d fit in anywhere else.

  Alicia turned to him as Keith took David and Justin over to register. “You okay?”

  “Fine,” he said shortly, digging his hands into his pockets. “Did you know that Keith and the Wild River Tours guy are friends?”

  “I know Mitchell donated something to the school. He’s been very generous all over town. He has lots of corporate money behind him, and he likes to throw it around.”

  He gave her a thoughtful look. “You don’t like it, though, do you?”

  “There’s nothing to dislike. Keith is a friendly guy, and to be fair, so is Mitchell.”

  “Yeah, but Keith is your boyfriend. Mitchell is your enemy. Those two should not be friends.”

  “It’s not that black-and-white, Gabe. Keith doesn’t see Mitchell as my enemy.”

  “He should. And you can’t tell me you don’t see it that way.”

  “If you’re trying to make me doubt Keith, you’re not going to succeed. He’s not plotting against me. He’s a nice guy.”

  “Maybe a little too nice.”

  She gave him a suspicious look. “What does that mean? You don’t think I deserve someone nice?”

  “You deserve someone who stands up for you, who’d fight to the death for you. Is that Keith?” He moved closer until she was just inches away. He could feel her sudden tension, and everything else around them faded away. He forgot what he was going to say. All he could think about was her soft pink lips and how much he wanted to kiss them.

  Her hand came up to his chest. “Gabe, don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  She stared up at him. “Make me want you again. It’s not fair.”

  He swallowed hard as she walked away. The sway of her hips called to him to follow, but he had to resist. He didn’t want to want her again, either.

  The only problem was … he already did.

  Eight

  Alicia tried to pay attention to the frog-jumping contest but was still shaken by their almost-kiss. It was ridiculous. Gabe should not be able to get to her that way. She’d learned her lesson three years ago. She needed to focus on Keith.

  After David and Justin collected the second- and fourth-place ribbons, respectively, they splurged on cheeseburgers and French fries, followed by ice cream sundaes. The conversation was light and easy, the way it always was when the four of them were together. This was what she wanted her life to be, she told herself again. But she still couldn’t stop looking for Gabe in the crowd. Had he gone home, or was he still hanging around town somewhere? Maybe he’d gone back to Mullaney’s to flirt with Cassie. She certainly wouldn’t turn away from Gabe’s kiss.

  “Alicia?” She came back to reality as Keith gave her a questioning look.

  “Sorry. What?”

  “I’m taking the boys back to my house. Is that okay with you?”

  “Sure, if you don’t mind.”

  “Justin is easy to have around,” he said with a smile.

  “Okay. I’ll look for my dad and see if he’s ready to go home.”

  “It’s good that he’s having fun in town today,” Keith said. “Maybe he’ll realize that he can have a life that doesn’t involve the river.”

  “I doubt that
, but I appreciate your optimism. It’s one thing I like about you.”

  He smiled back. “I hope there’s more than one thing you like about me.” He leaned over to kiss her, and she let her lips linger against his, trying to chase Gabe completely out of her head. But Keith wasn’t one for public displays of affection, and he quickly turned back to the boys.

  “You guys ready to go?” he asked.

  “Be good,” she told Justin.

  “I will, Mom. Do you know where Gabe went? I want to show him my ribbon.”

  “You can show it to him later. I’m sure he’ll be very impressed.”

  After Keith and the boys left, she headed toward the beer garden, where her father and Bill were sharing a pitcher. Her father’s ruddy complexion was glowing, his eyes lit up with more energy than she’d seen in a long time. He probably needed to get out of the house more. Maybe Keith was right; perhaps her father’s obsession with the river would diminish if he had something else to do.

  “I heard from Simon,” her father said with a smile. “He’ll be back next week, and he’s ready to be our head guide.”

  Simon Hunt was a fantastic river guide, and she was hugely relieved to know that he hadn’t gone to Wild River Tours. “What did you say to convince him?”

  “I told him we’d give him a raise.”

  Her heart sank. “And how are we going to do that, exactly?”

  “I’ll take a little less. We’ll find a way. With Simon on board, we can open for reservations.”

  So much for thinking her father was going to be distracted from his goal of getting back on the water. “Are you ready to go home?”

  “Bill said he’s going to make me one of his famous steaks.”

  “I’ll make you one, too, Alicia,” Bill said. “Doris is out of town visiting her mother, so I have the run of the house.”

  “Then I think I’ll leave you two on your own. Besides, I’m stuffed.”

  “Alicia, this is good news,” her father said, as if he wasn’t getting quite the reaction he’d hoped for.

  “I’m glad Simon is coming back, but that’s only going to solve one part of the problem.”

  “You can go a long way, taking one step at a time.”

  She tipped her head. “True. I’ll see you later tonight.”

  As Alicia walked back through the carnival, drops began to fall from the sky, and some of the booths started shutting down. At least the storm had held off for most of the festival. The rain began to come down harder, so she cut through the old barn on her way to the parking lot. Loud voices made her pause.

  “I’m done. That’s it,” a man said. “Just leave me alone.”

  A guy came around the corner so fast he almost knocked her over. He grabbed her arm to steady her, and she found herself looking into the eyes of Kelly’s younger brother, Ian. At twenty, he had grown up and filled out. She couldn’t remember when she’d last seen him—he’d been back and forth between college and home the last three years.

  “Alicia,” he said in shock. “What are you doing in here?”

  “Taking a shortcut. It’s raining outside.”

  “Oh.” He flung a quick look over his shoulder. “I gotta go.”

  He was gone before she could say another word. As she continued through the barn, she wondered whom he’d been talking to, but she didn’t come across anyone else. Walking through the large double doors, she exited into the parking lot, which was almost empty.

  A quick dash in the rain, and she was inside the car, a little wet and feeling oddly unsettled by her encounter with Ian. She’d known Ian since he was a baby. Nine years younger than Kelly, Ian had been a “happy surprise” for Kelly’s parents, and Kelly had loved having a little brother to mother. Alicia had been right there with her. They’d taken Ian everywhere with them—until they got to high school, when having a little kid around wasn’t quite so appealing.

  But today Ian had looked at her through cold, dark eyes, as if he didn’t remember all the times she’d read stories to him or taken him out on the river. He’d looked as if he hated her. The enemy camp grew larger each day.

  With a sigh, she started the car and pulled out of the lot. The rain grew heavier as she got out of town, streaming down so hard she had the windshield wipers going triple time. She slowed down as she turned off the main highway to cut through the back roads. When she put her foot back on the gas, nothing happened. The car began to sputter and kick, shuddering to a stop as she managed to get it over to the side of the road. She stared at the gas gauge in astonishment. Empty? She’d filled it up two days ago and hadn’t driven more than fifteen miles since then. She should have a full tank.

  She tried turning the key again, thinking the fuel indicator was stuck, but nothing happened. Grabbing her cell phone, she called Keith to come out and pick her up. But there was no reception. She moved the phone around but couldn’t pick up a signal, which wasn’t all that surprising since the signal out there was always weak.

  She debated her options. She was on a side road. It might be a long while before anyone came by to help her, especially in the rain. And it was going to be dark soon, not to mention cold, she thought with a shiver. Walking to get help or until she found a cell signal seemed like the best option.

  Looking around the car, she was thankful to see a jacket in the backseat. She grabbed it, stuffing her wallet and cell phone into one pocket. Then she got out and began to jog down the road. There was no signal to be found, and even worse, there was a good chance that the people at the closest house would slam the door in her face.

  Kelly tossed some salt and pepper into her beef stew and inhaled the fragrance with a satisfied smile. She’d decided on the stew earlier, and now that the weather had changed, it was the perfect choice. The restaurant would probably be slow with the festival in town, maybe only the guests staying at the inn, but they would be well fed.

  She looked up as the back door opened and Ian walked in, rain dripping off his hair and clothes. His brown hair had gotten longer since she’d last seen him, and his shoulders seemed broader. He was no longer her little brother, towering over her at six feet two inches. “You got wet,” she said, stating the obvious. But lately, she and Ian seemed to be having trouble communicating. They’d only talked a couple of times since she’d moved to Sacramento, and since she’d come back, he’d made himself scarce.

  “It’s pouring out there.” He took off his jacket and hung it on a hook on the closed-in porch next to the kitchen.

  “Where have you been? Mom was looking for you earlier.”

  He scowled at her as he reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. “I get enough third degree from Mom; I don’t need it from you, too.”

  “I was just asking. And you need to put that beer down. You’re not twenty-one yet.”

  He gave her an incredulous look. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve been drinking since I was fifteen.”

  “Well, you can’t drink here, Ian. This isn’t just your home, it’s a business, and we have a liquor license to protect. So put the beer down.”

  Instead of doing as she asked, he raised the beer to his lips and chugged every last drop. When it was empty, he burped and set the empty bottle down. “Happy?”

  “Hardly. What’s wrong with you?”

  “Me? Everything is wrong with me, Kelly. You’re the perfect child, and I’m the screwup. Haven’t you heard?”

  She’d known he was having trouble at school and that he was on academic probation; she just didn’t know why. “You’re a smart guy. Why don’t you just stop screwing up?”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that,” he said sarcastically, banging through the door into the dining room.

  Nora came in a second later. “What’s wrong with your brother? He just about ran me over.”

  “I was hoping you could tell me.”

  “Well, I don’t know anything for sure, but I’ve heard that he was gambling again at the Indian casino.”

  Her heart sank. Ian had
gotten into trouble with online poker betting when he was in high school, and she thought he’d realized the danger of gambling after she and her mom had spent five thousand dollars bailing him out. “Does Mom know?”

  “Your mother spoils him rotten. She only sees the best in him. You should know that by now.”

  True. Her mother was always an optimist when it came to family. “I guess I can’t really be mad at her for that, since she usually only sees the best in me, too, and I don’t always deserve it.”

  Nora smiled. “How’s that stew coming?”

  “Simmering nicely.”

  “I’m going to run home for a bit. I’ll be back before the rush—if there is one. With the festival going, I expect it will be a slow night.” Nora grabbed an umbrella from the back porch and opened the door.

  It was pouring outside. Kelly hadn’t realized the storm had gotten so bad. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait a few minutes?”

  “I promised Harry I’d get him his dinner early tonight. I’ll be fine. I don’t have far to go, and it’s only water.”

  “Be careful you don’t slip on the pavement. One hip replacement is all I can handle.”

  Kelly shut the door behind Nora and returned to the warm stove to give her pot another stir. The night’s menu was simple and easy. She’d already made a house salad and a Caesar. Vegetables were ready to cook, and there were several loaves of bread ready to be browned in the oven. Nora had made some lemon tarts and triple-chocolate-chip cookies earlier, so dessert was covered. They didn’t offer a huge menu, but the food was always first-rate, and their clientele was often a mix of tourists and locals.

  She had to admit that it was nice to cook in her own kitchen again. In Sacramento, she worked in a busy restaurant with a head chef and two other sous chefs. The menu was large and rather bland, with not a lot of room for creativity, but it was a job and a new life, and she’d made some friends there. But there was no place like home, she thought with a smile as she gazed around the country kitchen.

  A moment later, a knock came at the door. When she opened it, she found Alicia on the step, and she was soaking wet.