“You love him very much.”
“Yes, I do, and I wouldn’t insult him by giving up my work and waiting around for him to die.” His voice had become husky, and he raked his hand through his thick hair again. “I’ll come back once a week to see him. I’ll get someone to come stay with you, if it should become necessary to be away overnight. Occasionally you may want to come with me. Dad would enjoy that. But we must be very careful to comply with the terms of Charlie’s will. I’ve the feeling that if your Aunt Dora could get her foot in the door, she would be happy to give us some trouble.”
“I’m sure she would,” Molly agreed, then asked, “Will Jim take us back?”
“We’ll take my plane when we go up this time. I’ll have boxes to take and I imagine you’ll want to do some shopping.”
“The only shopping I want to do is at a yarn shop.”
“Knit, do you? Good, you can make me a sweater. Husbands should have top priority.” His voice was teasing.
Molly warmed at his use of the word “husband” and teased back, “If I can find the time.”
“If the weather gets too bad for the ski plane, I’ll have the helicopter come up once a week. It can also come for us anytime Aunt Flo or Ganson thinks it necessary.” He stood and stretched his long frame. “Are you tired?” He reached down to grasp her hand and pulled her to her feet. She had kicked off her shoes; he looked down in surprise. “You are a little thing,” he said, touching the golden hair coiled on the top of her head. “You don’t even come up to my chin.”
“Yes, I’m rather short,” she said, and added before she thought, “but good things come in small packages.”
He threw back his head and laughed. It was the first time she had heard him laugh aloud and the sound was so pleasant that she laughed with him.
“Come on. I’ll show you to your room.” He led the way into a rather long hallway. “This is my room,” he said as they passed the first door. “You use this next one. There are two more bedrooms; my friend, Pat, uses one and my housekeeper the other. She’s away now, but when she’s here, she helps Aunt Flo while I’m away. Oh, yes, Ganson will come down and fix breakfast for us in the morning. After that, you can do it if you want to. We’ve got a well-stocked pantry.”
“I’d like that. I love to cook.”
“I’m glad to hear it. It’s going to be a long winter.”
They walked into a white and gold bedroom with white carpet and white and gold French provincial furniture. It was beautiful.
“This room isn’t used very often.”
Molly went to the large bouquet of white roses on the dressing table. She bent her head to smell the sweet fragrance, then raised her violet eyes to Adam.
“Every bride needs a few flowers,” he said.
“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“And so were you, Molly. No bride was ever prettier. Someday you’ll have a real wedding and all the trappings that go with it.” His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes and his lips. He turned to go. “Your cases are here. There’s a bath through that door. Get a good sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”
He went out and closed the door. Molly remained still for a moment. A feeling of disbelief came over her. Here she was . . . married, and alone on her wedding night. My husband treats me like a little sister, she thought, and it’s just as well, for after all, he didn’t want to marry me.
She was more exhausted than she realized. She slid into the big bed between the silken sheets, but before she went to sleep, his words came back to her. “It’s going to be a long winter.” She sighed. It may be a long winter for him, but she had the feeling it would be all too short for her.
CHAPTER FIVE
MOLLY SLEPT SOUNDLY that night. She had no dreams. When she awoke, she lay on her stomach with her eyes closed and listened for any sound coming from the apartment. After a while she opened her eyes cautiously and looked at her watch. If she got up, now, she would have time for a bath before breakfast. She rolled over and sat up.
Her bare feet loved the feel of the soft carpet as she made her way to the bathroom. The bathtub was a marvel to her; big, square, it would take gallons of water to fill it. She smiled as she thought of the tub at home and the hot water she carried from the reservoir. She bathed, dressed quickly, and left the sanctuary of the bedroom.
In the hall she heard the unmistakable rattle of pots and pans. Cautiously she pushed open the swinging door. Ganson was at the stove and the delicious aroma of frying bacon reached her nostrils.
“Good morning, Mrs. Reneau.”
“Mrs. Reneau? You’re the first to call me that.”
“Yes, ma’am, but that’s your name, now.”
She had expected to be tongue-tied and had worried about her shyness, hoping she would be able to overcome it enough to keep from making a fool of herself for the few days she was here. But it was easier to talk than she thought it would be. She climbed upon a stool near the table where Ganson was working.
“What do you call Adam?”
“Why, I call Adam, Adam.” He grinned at her. “What else would I call that boy? I smacked his butt many times when he was a tadpole. Only one Mr. Reneau in this house and that’s Robert.”
He set two places at the kitchen table.
“If you call Adam, Adam,” Molly said, “you’ll have to call me, Molly.”
“Well, now, that makes sense, Molly. I’ll do just that, but you better go get that lazy husband of yours before the eggs get cold.”
Molly got off the stool. She didn’t want to go to Adam’s room and hesitated before going to the door. It swung open and Adam strolled in. Relief flooded her and the smile she greeted him with was warmer than usual. In cream cotton trousers that clung to his muscular legs and a dark blue shirt laced up the front with cream cords, he looked different from the man who stood with her before the minister yesterday. Her gaze was drawn like a magnet to his face.
“Are you showing her how I like my eggs, Ganson?” he asked with a devilish glitter in his eyes, dropping a light kiss on the top of Molly’s head.
“Too late, they’re ready.” Ganson set two plates on the table and slid two slices of bread in the toaster. “I’ll be back to clean up, or I’ll send one of the girls down. You don’t want me hanging around.” He winked at Adam. “Coffee is ready, Molly.” He left them.
“Molly . . . already! You must have made a hit with Ganson. He can be terribly formal unless he takes a liking to you.”
“He’s nice. Everyone here is. I was afraid I’d be shy and tongue-tied, but they’re all so friendly I forget to be shy.” She poured the coffee and placed the buttered toast on his plate.
“Almost everyone responds to a nice person. Ever think of that?”
“Yes,” she said slowly, thinking of Aunt Dora and her cousins. “But it doesn’t always apply,” and added almost absently, “I liked your father very much.”
“How about his son?”
“I’ll have to think about that!” She was acutely conscious that his dark eyes were on her and her heart began to flutter erratically.
He grinned and Molly wished they could be friends. If she was congenial, if she could be a pleasant companion, he might not resent so much having to spend the year with her.
Adam told her he would be away part of the day. He explained he had arrangements to make due to his coming absence from the city.
“By the way,” he said as if suddenly remembering, “I put some of my things in your room. Ganson would notice right away that we hadn’t spent the night together and think it strange.”
Molly could feel the color coming up into her cheeks, and poured coffee to cover her embarrassment.
Later in the morning when she entered the apartment above, Adam’s father was waiting for her. They had a short time to visit before Ganson came to tell them lunch was ready.
“Shall I push your chair, Mr. Reneau?”
“What did you call Charlie, girl?” he asked rather
gruffly.
“I called him . . . Dad.”
“Then call me Papa,” he said firmly.
She smiled down into a wrinkled face with gentle, almost pleading eyes. “Very well, Papa, but let’s have lunch, I’m starved.” She pushed his chair to the dining room.
Adam returned in the middle of the afternoon. Standing in the doorway of the sitting room, he watched Molly, his father, and Aunt Flo laughing together over an old picture album. His father was talking and suddenly Molly let out a peal of laughter. The old man could hardly keep his eyes from her young face and Adam felt a surge of gratitude. He came across to them and squatted down beside Molly. Her eyes sparkled; her high spirits had brought a flush to her cheeks. She had blossomed astonishingly in the last few days. To her surprise and his, he leaned over and kissed her on her still smiling lips.
“What tales are you telling my wife?” He spoke to his father while still looking at Molly. “It must have been funny.”
“Oh, it was,” Molly said quickly. “I’m surprised you managed to grow up.”
“I wasn’t all that bad.”
“Papa told me some of the good things about you, too.”
He adores her, Adam thought gratefully. Bless you, Charlie!
The days in Anchorage passed quickly and it was time to go. They went to Mr. Reneau’s apartment to say good-bye. They found the old man sitting much as they had found him on Molly’s first visit. He brightened noticeably when they came in.
“We’ll be leaving soon, Dad.” Adam reached down his hand and the frail hand rose up to meet it. “I’ll be back a week from today. Molly will come with me later.”
“I’ll look forward to it, son.” The old man turned his attention to Molly. “Bring her with you when you come. She’s promised to bring me some raspberry jam.” His eyes twinkled.
Molly bent to kiss his wrinkled cheek. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away,” she whispered in his ear.
“Take care of her, Adam. You done good, boy. Real good.” His eyes went from one to the other. “You two will have plenty of time up there in the north country to make me a grandson. See that you get the job done.”
Molly’s face turned scarlet and she dared not look at Adam, but she could hear him chuckle.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Glancing at Molly’s flushed face, he added, “You’ve made Molly blush.”
A silence hung while the two men watched her with amusement.
“You’re wicked. Both of you!” she sputtered.
“Listen to that, Dad. Accusations already.” Adam held out his hand.
“Good-bye, Papa. We’ll see you soon.” Molly kissed the old man’s cheek again and the last glimpse she had of him, he was still smiling.
It seemed strange to Molly to be sitting in the plane with Adam at the controls. He continued to surprise her with the various facets of his personality. By far the nicest thing she had discovered about him was the close friendship between him and his father. She stole a look at him. His lean and shapely hands on the controls of the plane were well cared for, but definitely masculine. His dark hair gleamed in the sunlight, his mouth firm, his chin obstinate. She knew the black eyes could be bitter or sparkle with amusement. He could change his face in an instant from a frown of disapproval to boyish handsomeness. He confused her, yet excited her. They had so little in common, and yet here they were married and on their way home, to her home. How had it happened?
“The trip shouldn’t take over an hour,” Adam was saying. As he spoke his eyes flicked her face and hair, framed by the fur collar of her coat. The wind had ruffled her hair and little wisps of it lay around her face. Her eyes were large and faintly apprehensive.
She looked down at the green landscape of forest and plains. This rugged, beautiful country was her country. She loved it passionately.
“It takes my breath away,” she exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement. “It’s so beautiful . . .” She trembled suddenly, with an unbelievable happiness, and impulsively said, “Don’t hate it too much, Adam. The time will go quickly and you can take Dad’s files, specimens, and anything else connected with your work away with you at the end of the year.” Her voice held an apologetic note.
“I won’t hate it,” he said with an earnest frown. “I’ll get a lot of work done this winter. Besides, if I back out now, my dad would skin me alive.” Again she caught a side glimpse of the warm smile that altered his features so much. “I’d like to invite a friend and coworker out to stay for a few weeks, Molly. He’s in Australia at the present time working on an expedition we plan to make. He’ll be back soon and we’ll work together on the new information we get from your father’s files.” He was looking straight ahead while he spoke. “It will make more work for you, so if you’d rather he didn’t come, say so.”
“I can cook for three as easily as for two,” she replied quietly.
“You’ll like Patrick. He’s companionable, easygoing, but rather a wolf where women are concerned. I’ll have to tell him the circumstances of our marriage. If you agree to have him stay with us, he can use the little room off my room. We can add a table to the one in the study so we’ll both have a place to work.”
It was apparent to Molly he had given this some thought. She glanced at him through her lowered lashes. He was looking straight ahead with calm indifference. The thought of a stranger living with them in the close confines of the small cabin wasn’t pleasant, but she didn’t know how she could refuse the request.
Adam landed the plane on the lake and taxied to the dock. Tim-Two was there waiting to catch the rope and lashed the plane securely. When it was safe for Molly to disembark, Adam held his arms up to lift her down. The warmth of his breath slid across her face as he set her on her feet. It was exciting to feel the strength of his hands on her waist, and she surrendered momentarily to the sensation of being held so close to him. It would be so easy to clasp her arms around his neck and hold him close. The thought surprised her. She gave a nervous little laugh.
“Thank you, sir.”
Her life had changed so much in the past few weeks that it was hard for her to comprehend. She had been married, gained a new father, and come back to her home with a husband who thought of her as he might a younger sister, if he had one. She was determined to make it a pleasant year, one she could look back on with fond memories. One, Adam, too, might fondly recall years from now.
Leaving the men to struggle with the crates and boxes, Molly ran up the path toward the house. Dog came bounding out to meet her. Knowing better than to jump on her, as his great weight would knock her down, he wiggled and twisted and his tail wagged as fast as he could make it go in his pleasure at seeing her. She fell down on her knees and hugged the shaggy head.
“Did you miss me, Dog?” She buried her face in the thick fur. Dog tried to lick her face, but she held him off, got to her feet, and the two of them raced to the house.
Before going to Anchorage for the wedding, Molly and Evelyn had removed all of Charlie’s personal belongings from his bedroom and packed them in boxes which Tim-Two stored in the attic. Molly went to her father’s room. All traces of Charlie were gone. The large pieces of furniture had been rearranged to give more work space. She was glad, now, that they had done this. It was no longer Charlie’s room—it was Adam’s. She went through the bath into her own bedroom, closing the door behind her. It was going to be strange having Adam in the house, sharing the intimacy of the bathroom.
She hurried out of her suit and quickly changed into jeans and shirt. She let her hair down, brushed it vigorously, and formed two thick braids that hung down over her breasts. Looking as young and fresh as a colt, she hurried to the kitchen to put away the supplies being brought from the plane.
Tim-Two brought the grocery boxes and she busied herself arranging the supplies on the shelves. After many weary trips, all the crates were brought up as far as the porch. Adam came into the house wiping the perspiration from his face.
Molly wa
s standing on tiptoes on a kitchen step stool reaching for a top shelf. He came to stand beside her.
“What are you trying to do? Break your neck?” He put his arm around her legs to steady her.
Molly hadn’t heard him come in and was so startled she lost her balance and sat down on his shoulder, her hands grabbing frantically for his head for support.
“You scared me! Adam, put me down, I’m too heavy.” Her squeals and laughter filled the room.
“Too heavy?” He twirled her around the room. “You’re not as heavy as any one of those boxes I just lugged up from the plane.”
“Please! Adam . . . please!”
He went from the kitchen to the living area with her still perched on his shoulder.
“I’ll let you down if you find me a good cold beer,” he bargained.
“Yes, yes, I will!”
He raised his hands to her waist and let her slide down the length of him until her feet touched the floor. Turning her around, he took her two braids in his hands. Then, holding her captive, he looked down into her flushed, laughing face.
“Just thought I’d let you know who’s boss,” he teased.
Laughter bubbled as she looked at him. Adam, in this lighthearted mood, was a man to grab the heart right out of her. Pulses in her body were leaping at his warm, masculine closeness. Her hands were resting against his chest and she forced herself away from him.
“We’ll just see about that.” She danced away from him, trying desperately to keep him from knowing she was trembling from the contact with him.
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