“It would,” Carter readily agreed. “The thing is, sometimes the person who doesn’t kowtow to the masses is the brave one. It’s a very hard line to walk. In Bart’s case, though, I’m willing to bet that he’s never been on the side of righteousness. He gets his power from keeping others down, although he would never admit it.
“That’s why he tried to put Ivy in her place over her hair,” he continued. “He doesn’t like women who speak their mind. In his world, a woman is to be seen and not heard. She’s to cater a party and talk about frilly dresses and hats with other women but to keep her nose out of his business. Ivy is exactly the sort of woman who would freak out a man like Bart.”
Jack hadn’t really considered it that way before. “You think he’s afraid of her.”
“Afraid? I don’t know.” Carter slowly shook his head. “I mean, if Ivy were in a position of power to dictate to Bart, then he might be afraid. It’s more that she’s the sort of woman he was taught to avoid. She speaks her own mind, isn’t afraid to get in his face, and has thoughts and feelings of her own. She’s a real person ... and Bart doesn’t think women should be real people.”
Jack was utterly fascinated with the way Carter was laying things out. He found it helpful. “In your opinion, would he hurt a woman he feels steps over the line?”
“He doesn’t strike me as the sort of guy who would lift a finger to do anything,” Carter replied. “He’s in the back of his kayak, only because it’s expected and he would consider himself weak if he were in the front, but that’s the extent of the work he’s put in this trip. I heard him talking to Lily and they’re supposed to be talking about their feelings and filling out information in some relationship workbook and he won’t even do that.”
“He’s lazy and thinks himself above the whole thing,” Damien added. “I don’t think he would put the work into killing someone. He likes money, but a divorce will give him standing with other men – a woman did him wrong and stole from him – so that’s probably more appealing than a murder.”
“That’s pretty much what Ivy said,” Jack mused. “I still don’t like him.”
“Nobody likes him,” Damien agreed. “I mean ... he’s the most hated guy in the group despite the fact that you basically announced over breakfast that you don’t trust anyone. That’s saying something.”
Jack chuckled. “I don’t trust anyone but my wife.”
“And us, right?” Carter winked.
“I pretty much trust you guys,” Jack agreed. “You’re nowhere near the top of my list of people who I don’t trust.”
“Bart is obviously on top of that list,” Damien noted. “Who is right behind him?”
Jack didn’t hesitate before answering. “Tyson.”
“Oh.” Carter’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. “Do tell.”
“I think he’s purposely trying to gaslight us.” Jack refused to hold back. “At the very least, I think he knows more than he’s saying. I don’t like it when people hide things from me.”
“Join the club.” Carter shifted his attention to Ivy. “Are you suspicious of Tyson, too?”
Ivy nodded. “He says too much and Cara says too little. I kind of want to get her away from him to talk to her. She might know something.”
Jack nodded in agreement. “Maybe that will be our mission over dinner tonight.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
ALMOST AN HOUR AWAY FROM THEIR destination for the evening, a loud roll of thunder had Ivy and Jack snapping their heads to the sky.
“Geez.” Jack’s heart rate picked up a notch. “The trees are so close in here I didn’t notice how dark it had gotten.”
Ivy nodded in agreement. Damien and Carter had floated ahead almost thirty minutes before, and as usual, Jack and Ivy were bringing up the rear. “Now I kind of wish we’d been faster about things today.”
“You and me both.” Jack twisted in his seat to study either side of the shoreline. “We have a decision to make.” Even as he said the words, the rain started. “We can tough it out and keep going or try to find some shelter. Which do you prefer?”
“I’m not afraid of a little rain.”
“I don’t think this is going to be just a little rain.”
Ivy didn’t disagree. “The river is going to get rough if we get hit with a deluge.” She’d started scanning the bank as well. “I can most likely handle it but ... .” She left the statement hanging.
“I think we should hit the shore.” Jack was serious as he turned to meet her gaze. “We can set the kayak up in the bushes to help cover us and wait it out.”
The idea held appeal for Ivy. There was only one problem. “We have no way of telling the others that we’re stopping. What if they waste manpower sending out a search party or something for us?”
“That’s their problem.” Jack refused to feel guilty. “They should have someone at the front and back of the group. I don’t think Tyson likes us — me especially — so he opted to stick at the middle of the group in an effort to avoid us. We have to do what’s right for us, and I don’t think struggling with this river during a storm is the best call.”
“Okay.” Ivy immediately started directing the kayak toward the shore, the rain doubling in intensity as she struggled against the current.
Sensing that she was in trouble, Jack used his paddle to help. It was sheer force of will that managed to get them to the shore. Jack was the first out, not caring in the least that his feet would be soaking wet as they waited out the storm. He grabbed the front of the kayak and grunted as he tugged it onto the shore.
Ivy hopped out to help, both of them flipping the kayak and positioning it at an angle so they could climb underneath. The thick trees worked with the kayak and allowed them to find a dry spot on the ground to huddle together. The second they sat shoulder to shoulder, heaving breaths from the exertion of turning over the kayak escaping, a huge bolt of lightning illuminated the sky and caused the ground to rumble in response.
“I think we made the right call,” Jack noted as he leaned with his back against a tree and tugged Ivy between his legs, using them as a buffer on either side of her.
“I’m wet,” she pointed out. “I’ll get you wet.”
“We’re both wet, honey.” He hated how she was shivering and wrapped his arms tightly around her, briefly wondering if he would be able to share more of his warmth if he took off his shirt. She wasn’t the sort of woman who frightened easily, but the trembles wracking her body had his heart constricting.
“Wow.” Ivy was breathless as the rain beat down on the river, her eyes going wide when she got a gander at the increased pace of the water speeding by. “We were smart to get out of the water when we did.”
“Yes, I feel like a genius right now,” Jack agreed, surveying the small area they’d managed to secure. “If either one of us has to go to the bathroom in the next thirty minutes, we’re going to be in a world of hurt.”
Despite the surreal situation, laughter bubbled up and Ivy buried her face in his chest. “Leave it to you to worry about something like that.”
“I’m nothing if not practical,” he agreed, his hand automatically moving to the back of her neck to rub at the tension pooling there. “Are you okay?”
“I’m with you.”
“That wasn’t really an answer.”
“It was. I’m always okay with you.”
His lips curved against her forehead. “That’s sweet. It also makes me wonder if I have enough room to romance you under here.”
Ivy’s eyes went wide. “You can’t be serious. What if somebody comes looking for us and sees ... that?”
He chuckled. “You’re such a prude.” He rubbed his cheek against hers, his eyes returning to the water. The rain practically bounced against the choppy surface of the river, and for a moment he thought he saw something skimming down the waterway. It was gone in an instant, but it left him unsettled. He was just opening his mouth to mention the phenomenon when he felt Ivy stiff
en against him.
“Do you see that?” she asked, breathless.
He followed her gaze, frowning when the same shadow returned. It was difficult for him to ascertain what he was seeing, but after a few seconds of staring, he finally managed to make out the lines of a human shape. “What is that?” He squinted to try to see better. “Is that ... a woman?”
“A spirit,” Ivy replied. “I mean ... it looks like a ghost. Kind of.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “You can see her.”
He hesitated and then nodded. “It’s not like in your dream. She’s not bright. It’s like I can see the edge of her but no features. I can’t make out the specifics.”
“But you can see her.”
“I can. I’m assuming that’s because I’m with you.”
She wrinkled her nose, puzzling out the statement and coming up empty. “Why would that matter?”
“Because you’re the one who provides the magic to my life. You’re the one who has the power and somehow you make me ... see ... what I wouldn’t normally see.”
“Or maybe you could always see and you only allow it to happen now because of me.”
“That sounds unlikely.”
“I think it sounds perfectly reasonable.”
“Of course you do.” He absently kissed the back of her neck, his eyes never moving from the woman on the water. “What is she doing? Is she dancing?”
Ivy shook her head. “She’s standing guard. I mean ... I think she is. She keeps looking at us and then shifting so she could look in all the other directions. It’s like she’s taking care of us.”
Jack really hoped that was true. “Maybe she’ll keep us safe for the entire trip, huh?”
“Maybe.” Ivy leaned back against Jack, allowing him to envelop her in his warmth. “Something is definitely going on here, Jack. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if we’re in danger or if it’s somebody else. Something is definitely going on, though.”
“I know.” He kissed the ridge of her jaw. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“That was going to be my line to you.”
He smirked. “How about we promise not to let anything happen to each other?”
“That sounds like a fine idea to me.”
14
Fourteen
The storm didn’t let up for an hour. The minute it passed, they were up and dragging the kayak back to the water.
“It’s going to be uncomfortable with wet clothes, but we have to do it.” Jack was insistent and didn’t put up a fight when Ivy headed toward the back slot. She was better at steering than him, although he did wonder if his upper body strength might be needed. He figured now wasn’t the time to argue. “We need to go fast rather than we have been, no lazy floating.”
She nodded. “We might be able to cut it down to forty-five minutes or even less if we really hustle.”
“Then let’s hustle.” Jack waited until she was seated to climb in. “The first thing we’re doing when we get back is to take a hot shower ... together.”
Ivy laughed as she pushed them away from the shore. “I love how you’re determined to get romance in no matter what.”
“It is our honeymoon. Romance is the second most important thing.”
“What’s the first?”
“You. Keeping you safe, I mean. That’s always going to be my top priority.”
“Maybe my top priority is keeping you safe.”
He had no problem with that. “That’s why we’re the perfect match.”
She couldn’t disagree.
TYSON STOOD ON THE SHORE WHEN THEY finally arrived at their destination, a radio in his hand. He looked relieved at their sudden appearance.
“I was worried something had happened to you guys.” He waded into the water without prodding. “I have a rescue team on standby. I figured you guys likely pulled off the river and took cover, but I had no way of knowing.”
Jack’s first instinct was to point out that Tyson would’ve known exactly where they were if he’d remained at the back of the pack as he should have but there was no point picking a fight when he had other things he preferred dealing with.
“We did pull over,” Jack acknowledged. “We didn’t think it was wise to stay out with that storm. We found a copse of trees and used the kayak as an umbrella of sorts. It was close quarters, but we managed.”
“I’m glad. I need to call the rescue team off.” Tyson hesitated as he watched Jack and Ivy remove their bags from the water-tight chambers. “You guys are okay, right?”
Ivy flashed a smile that she didn’t really feel. “We’re fine. We just want to get to our tent and shower. Are we in the same location as the other campgrounds?”
“Yeah.” Tyson bobbed his head. He looked conflicted. “This is on me. You should know that. I should’ve been at the back of the group. You guys are good on the kayaks, though — much more prepared than a few of our other couples — and I thought it would be okay. I’m really sorry.”
Even though she knew Jack was suspicious of the man, Ivy found a small dollop of sympathy propelling her to hold out her hands. “We’re fine. Everything worked out.”
“Yeah, well ... I’m still sorry.” Tyson shifted his gaze to Jack. “I mean ... really sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Jack handed Ivy her bag and then pressed his hand to the small of her back. “We’re going to spend the time between now and dinner in our tent. We’re both cold, wet, and miserable.”
“Again, I’m sorry.”
“You can’t control the rain.” Jack urged Ivy forward. “We’ll see you at dinner.” He didn’t speak again until they were at their tent. Once inside, he pulled the front-facing shade down. There was nobody on either side of them so he didn’t bother with those shades.
Ivy was already halfway stripped and heading for the bathroom by the time he caught up with her.
“You’re okay, right?” he prodded, internally chastising himself for not bothering to ask the question sooner. “You’re not traumatized or anything, are you?”
The question made Ivy laugh. “Not last time I checked. I’m just cold.” She turned on the water, extending her hand beneath the spray as it warmed. “I mean ... like really cold.”
Jack didn’t need her to explain why. Even though it was a warm day, the rain had chilled him, too. He stripped out of his clothes and entered first. The showers were small, but they’d figured out if they positioned themselves in a specific way, they could easily fit inside with minimal contorting. He held open his arms so she would go directly to him when she finally shed her pants and shoes.
“I love you,” he murmured as he brought her face to his for a sensuous kiss. It was odd but huddling together under a kayak and watching a ghost stand guard for them on the water had turned into a weird sort of foreplay. All he could think about now was getting his hands on her.
“I love you, too.” Ivy wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him, needing nothing more than a moment of skin-to-skin contact to settle. “I want to talk to that ghost, Jack. I should’ve ventured out in the storm to do it. I was an idiot not to take advantage of the situation.”
He immediately started shaking his head. “I wouldn’t have let you wander out in a storm to talk to a ghost.”
“You’re not the boss of me.”
He laughed. “I would’ve cuffed you to me if I had to. I don’t care who is the boss in a situation like that. It wasn’t safe for you to be out there. You picked up a chill as it is even though you weren’t out in the open.”
Ivy nodded in agreement. “I did. You’re still not the boss of me.”
“Oh, stuff it.” He kissed her again, this time hitting her with a barrage of need that almost rocked her back. “I love you more than anything.” He meant it. “We’ll figure out the ghost situation. Just ... I need you here, with me, right now.”
She rested her hand on the spot above his heart. “I’m always with you.”
�
��Keep it that way.”
THEY CRAWLED INTO BED AFTER THEIR shower, not bothering to dress or dry their hair. They wrapped themselves around one another and drifted off within an instant, only waking two hours later when the sounds of the campground began wafting into their tent.
“Hey.” Jack smiled when he noticed the way her hair had dried. It stood on end, pointing in a million different directions and giving her a ragged look. She was still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “How did you sleep?”
“Hard.” Her smile was rueful. “I swear I was out before you even finished tugging the covers around us.”
“No dreams?”
She shook her head, although she was thoughtful. “No, and I have a few thoughts on that I want to explore at dinner.”
“I very much doubt your ghost is going to join us for dinner.”
“Not with her, although if I get the chance to talk to her again, you can bet I’m going to take it. I want to talk to Tyson.”
Jack made a face. “Why? He’s a jerk.”
Ivy eased back so she could study her husband’s chiseled face. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“I feel as if he’s a jerk.” Jack saw no point in lying. “He shouldn’t have left us the way he did.”
“He apologized for that.”
“We were told that there would be a guide at the front and back of the group,” he insisted. “Cara is always at the front of the group. That means he’s supposed to be at the back. Do you know how the past few days have gone, though? We’re always at the back. He’s in the middle.”
“That’s because he’s not worried about us.” Ivy fought overtime to keep her tone low and even. When Jack got riled up, he often careened off the rails before he could stop himself. She wanted to make sure that didn’t happen today. “You heard him. He knows we can handle ourselves. He’s more worried about Eleanor and Harold. He’s gung-ho, but she’s no help at all. He’s doing all the work, and while he’s thrilled to be doing it, if things get rough for them, they’re going to need help.”
Wicked Honeymoon (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 19) Page 14
