Bait Shop Blues

by Nancy Pirri

  Still, if it came down to that, she knew there wasn’t a thing he could do about Gateway not belonging to her. Any court of law would tell him so. They owned halves and he’d better get used to it and her ideas for change. She had to get the guy out of his box. His ideas of keeping things the same at Gateway were archaic. Besides, they’d drown if they didn’t forge ahead with changes to make the place more appealing to tourists.

  Leif followed her and once they rearranged their gear he slowly started lifting his end of the canoe, ready to portage, but paused when Cassandra picked up her end and dropped it in the mud. It nearly landed on her feet but she’d luckily jumped back in time, avoiding it.

  “Watch it, Cassie-girl or you’ll lose,” he warned.

  She glanced up, ready to view a grin on his face, but found him staring at her with a straight face. All serious. She looked away quickly, wiped her dripping nose on her sleeve.

  Hard hands settled on her shoulders and she found herself staring up into Leif’s thunderous expression. “You’re sick! Why in the hell didn’t you say something?” he barked.

  “It’s just a little cold-flu thing,” she said offhandedly, stepping out of his grasp. “All I want to do is set up camp and crash for the night,” she added. “I’m sure I’ll be better in the morning.”

  “We’re heading into Kenwick, the nearest town. I’m not taking any chances on you coming down with pneumonia.”

  She didn’t argue with him, and suddenly defeat sounded very sweet to her ears. Bending, she picked up the canoe and changed her grip, positioning it over her head to portage. It was slippery as they moved slowly up the muddy bank, biting her lip and trying not to drop it again. She tried changing her grip but then stumbled over a tree root and landed in the mud, face down. Her end of the canoe crashed down on top of her and she shrieked when sharp pains ran through her left arm, neck, and chest.

  The darkness lifted then and she realized Leif had pulled the canoe off her. With his assistance she jammed her palms against the earth, ready to lift herself up but shrieked in pain and collapsed once more. She’d hurt herself somehow. Falling on the muddy ground with the canoe landing on top of her hadn’t helped, of course.

  “What in the hell,” Leif muttered as he squatted beside her. “I’m going to try and turn you over onto your back. I hate to say it but you either sprained or broke something.”

  She frowned as she turned and stared up into his worried expression. She’d never broken a bone in her entire life, although she supposed there was a first time for everything.

  He turned her over and she grimaced and held her breath against the stabbing pain in her shoulder and collarbone, afraid he was right about breaking something. She looked up at him and said softly, “I think my shoulder’s broken.”

  “Don’t even think it,” he snapped. “Kenwick’s a good two miles away, through the forest.”

  He checked her over and she whined whenever he tried moving her arm and pressed on her neck and shoulder. He sank back on his heels with a sigh.

  “I think your shoulder’s out of its socket, not broken.”

  She frowned. “Oh, well, that’s a good thing then, isn’t it? That it’s not broken but out of place?”

  “We’ve got one of two choices. I either set it back in the socket, or we wait and get you to the nearest hospital and have them do it. But I’ll tell you right now you’re going to be in a lot of pain the entire time if we wait.”

  “Why must I go to the hospital? Can’t we find a clinic in the nearest town? What was the name again?”

  “Kenwick. Honey, believe me, there isn’t even a doc’s office nearby. The closest clinic is about an hour away. Let me check it out again to be sure.” He looked at her intently as he felt around her shoulder.

  She bit her lip, tried not grimacing the entire time, relieved when his hands finally fell away.

  “I’m afraid I made an error in judgment. Not only is your shoulder out of joint, your collarbone is broken.”

  She gasped. “How do you know that?”

  “Cause I can feel a bit of a jag—” He paused. “I just know you broke it and I need to get you to a hospital.”

  Cassandra rolled to her good side and proceeded to sit up.

  “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he growled.

  “Well, if I have to go to the hospital, you certainly can’t carry me. My legs are fine so I’ll walk, but I’m telling you now, I’m not picking up that canoe again.”

  Satisfaction tore through her when she saw fleeting admiration in Leif’s eyes as they left the canoe behind. With seeming ease, he carried both their packs, one arm slung around her waist as he guided her along the path through Lake Superior Forest. After a short while, though, she was having difficulty catching her breath.

  “It’s because you’ve come down with a damned cold, and that ball in your shoulder out of place isn’t helping any. I’d set it but won’t attempt it with that clavicle broken.”

  Cassandra sank to the ground and leaned back against a tree. She gazed up at him as he stood there with his hands jammed on his lean hips, his jaw set as he looked away through the forest.

  “Have you had any medical training?”

  “Yes.”

  “What kind? How long ago?”

  “When you’re in my line of work it only makes sense to be certified in basic first aid and CPR. I have both, but I was also an Eagle Scout and learned other types of first aid, besides. I can fix your shoulder, but not without you feeling any pain. The broken clavicle complicates things, though, and I don’t want to make a mistake.”

  “Can it be done, though?

  His nod gave her courage when she said, “I trust you, Leif, and I don’t think you’d make a mistake. Just do it.”

  He shook his head and swiped his wet hair off his forehead. “I can’t.”

  “You can, because if you don’t you’ll have to go ahead without me. I’m in too much pain to walk.”

  ~ * ~

  Leif stared at her, knowing she was right. He knew she wouldn’t make it and he sure as hell couldn’t carry her the rest of the way. He rubbed his hands together briskly and rolled his shoulders. Squatting beside her, he tentatively reached out and took her limp arm in his. With a few short, twisting movements her shoulder slid into place. Cassandra screamed and her lower lip was bleeding from where her top teeth had bit into it.

  He reached for her, cupped the back of her head, and held her face against his shoulder. “There,” he said, “I’m done. Rest a bit then we’ll see if you can make it to town.”

  She lay limp against him and he smelled the rain in her hair, felt her womanly curves in his arms and decided he’d pay for this damned trip for the rest of his life. He was to blame for her injuries. He was the one who’d badgered her into going because of his territorial behavior about a stupid bait shop. After awhile, she was able to move with a bit more ease. Leif was relieved that setting her shoulder eased most of her pain so she was able to make it into Kenwick.

  Leif felt even worse when he saw the tiny emergency center, one of few in the area. It appeared under-staffed, doctors and nurses milling through the place from one vacationer to the next, setting broken bones, and dispensing medication.

  Other than giving Cassie a couple of shots, administering ice to her shoulder, and putting her arm in a sling, there was little the doctors could do about the clavicle. Suspending movement of her arm would aid in repairing the bones. They left the hospital and ambled into a Bed & Breakfast. There was only one room available, with a double bed, but that was fine with Leif. He wanted her close and wouldn’t think of leaving her alone for the night.

  After they’d eaten a light supper of delicious, homemade, chicken noodle soup, walleye that had been fried to perfection, with baked potatoes and hot crusty rolls, he settled her into the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. He moved to the other side of the room, sank into a deep, velvety chair and threw his legs up on an ottoman.

&nbs
p; He hadn’t cared what the room looked like but smiled when, on the way in, Cassandra picked up a brochure at the check-in desk that gave details about the room furnishings and told him how she’d always wanted to stay in a Victorian Inn. All the rooms at the inn had been decorated in Victorian style with beautifully carved cherry wood furnishings. Old fashioned claw-foot tubs and pedestal sinks had been installed in the bathrooms. Each room had been wallpapered in different wallpaper, floral and paisley patterns.

  Damn, the room was too romantic for his taste. He didn’t want Cassie getting any more ideas about getting into bed with him. Again. Last night he’d made a big mistake. She signified ‘change’, of which he wanted no part. He took a pull from his beer and nearly choked at her words.

  “Aren’t you coming to bed?”

  He scowled at her. “This is bed for the night.”

  “You are not sleeping the entire night in that chair, Leif. This bed is plenty big enough for both of us.”

  “That bed’s not big enough for both of us in the condition you’re in, Cassie. Uh-uh. This chair will be just fine.”

  “You don’t find me desirable. That’s it, isn’t it?” she muttered. “That’s why you wouldn’t talk to me all day! That’s why you wouldn’t answer me this morning when I asked what was wrong? You regret our lovemaking, don’t you?”

  “That’s far from the truth,” he snapped. “Far from it,” he repeated, his voice trailing off softly.

  “Then what’s wrong? Did I do something you didn’t like?”

  Leif threw his head back against the chair and closed his eyes. After a while he turned and looked at her. “Don’t you know you’re my fantasy-woman come to life?”

  Chapter Ten

  Don’t say it, Leif. He couldn’t say it! What ever made her think Leif would be different—think differently than any other man she’d known?

  “Why in the hell do you think I’m attracted to you? When your grandfather told me you were a ringer for Marilyn Monroe, I hadn’t believed him, but you are. You walk like her, and talk like her. Hair’s a bit darker but cut short like hers, the way I like it. You floored me, Cassie. Then I started thinking once I got to know you a bit I’d discover you wouldn’t be able to live up to Marilyn and my expectations, but you did that too. Oh, yeah, and then some.”

  He grinned and straightened in his chair. “But I also discovered something even more important. You’re smart. I’ve never been attracted to a smart woman before, until now.” His smile slipped. “Unfortunately, that’s a problem.”

  “Why?” she asked, puzzled.

  “You come into my world and want to change things when Roy wanted things just the way they are. You’ve got the brains to do it, not to mention the money. So, not only were you beautiful and smart, you had money which you’d earned yourself. And that was even more attractive because you hadn’t been born with the proverbial silver spoon.

  “Your grandpa ran Gateway just the way it is all the years he owned it and was satisfied. I’m satisfied. I’ve seen what it’s like to live away from here,” he said, “and I didn’t like it.” He shrugged. “Call me a recluse if you want, it’s the way I feel. I don’t want lots of strangers traipsing through Gateway. I like my solitude.”

  “Tell me the truth.” She hoisted herself up and positioned her pillows behind her. Pointing at her face she asked, “If I didn’t look like her would you still be attracted to me?”

  His gaze flickered over her face and he twisted his lips.

  She boiled inside as she waited for his reply, guessing what it would be. What he finally said astonished her.

  “Hell, yes. You know I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t initially been attracted to you because of the resemblance, but there are other reasons, too.” He looked into the fire roaring there in the hearth. “Like I said, smart women have always threatened me.”

  “Why?”

  He didn’t reply at first but continued staring into the fire. Finally, he turned to her and said, “I wasn’t the smartest guy on campus. I’d wasted lots of years screwing around in my pre-teen years, skipping school, staying home to make sure my ma didn’t drink herself to death.”

  “Oh, Leif,” Cassandra said, sadness filling her voice.

  He snapped, “No pity. I’m proud to say she cleaned up and stopped drinking. She lives at Red Lake Reservation, seventy miles west of here. She’s happy there. Heck,” he said, smiling, “she even has a husband now who happens to be a tribal chief.

  “I went to college because I owed it to your grandpa. He took me in when Ma couldn’t take care of me. Gave me what I needed at the time. I’ll always love him for that, and I know in my heart, he wouldn’t want things to change at Gateway.”

  “Leif. You can’t own a business like Gateway and run it successfully for much longer,” she said, a sad smile on her lips. “It’s the kind of business that will only thrive if we have plenty of tourists, and in order to have tourists, you’ve got to make things attractive. Other bait shops in the area have diversified and changed things…”

  “How would you know?”

  “While I scoped out new wares for the store, I checked out the competition. We’ve got to change things in order to compete. Grandpa wanted the changes.”

  “Did he tell you this?”

  “In his letters, yes, he did. As a matter of fact, he expected them to come, with my help. He just didn’t know how to tell you his feelings. It was his legacy and now it’s yours, and mine. He guessed, and rightly I might add, if things didn’t change, Gateway would die. Is that what you want?” He just stared at her and she added, “It’s my home now and I’m not leaving. I don’t expect to turn Gateway into some huge tourist trap, but to offer enough to attract tourists to keep the place alive and kicking. I don’t think that’s too much to expect. I may as well tell you my intentions for the future. I’m going back to Chicago because I’ve found buyers for my business and condo. Then I’ll be moving here permanently. I’ve agreements from local artisans to purchase their wares for the next resort season. But they require both of our signatures to make them legal and binding. I’ve found a contractor to build four housekeeping cabins, two on either side of the shop to rent out to tourists.”

  He looked at her, fury building in his eyes. “None of this is legal and binding until I agree, which I have no intention of doing.” He rose and headed for the door.

  “Leif, damn it, don’t you walk out on me!”

  She cringed when the door slammed in his wake. Scooting forward she smashed her pillows down then sank back with a sigh, knowing she’d lost the battle. But there was a war to be fought, and she had every intention of winning it.

  While he’d been basking in her grandfather’s love for years she’d missed the chance, due to her father’s stubbornness. But, she reasoned, her parents had loved her while Leif had never known his father, and his mother hadn’t been well—hadn’t been there for him. Then she thought about his lack of a father and understood why he was so attached to Gateway and wanting everything to remain the same; he’d never had that security and constancy in his life.

  Could she blame him for being so stubborn?

  ~ * ~

  Cassandra hated the icy silence in the seaplane as Leif flew them back to Gateway to Paradise. Ever since she’d pushed the envelope, so to speak, he’d stopped talking to her. She was glad that she had the time, though, to think about Leif’s attachment to Gateway. He’d have to learn to trust her and her decisions, which would greatly benefit Gateway. Of course, she had to find a way to convince him, otherwise there would be no deal without his signature.

  The bait shop came into view as they crossed the lake. Cassandra grinned and returned Maxie’s welcoming wave as she stood on the dock. But as soon as Cassandra left the plane, with Leif’s assistance, Maxie scowled and asked, “What in the world happened to you?”

  “I fell,” she murmured in chagrin.

  “Fell, how?” Maxie turned an accusing eye on Leif. “You want to fill
me in on how come you let this happen?”

  Leif frowned. “It was my fault, Maxie. It happened while we were portaging. I think I started walking before Cassie had a good grip on the canoe.”

  Cassandra scoffed. “No, it was my fault. The canoe was slippery and I just lost my grip. You hadn’t started moving yet.”

  Maxie looked at one, then the other. “Okay, now that we’ve established it really was an accident you two can put this crazy competition scheme aside once and for all. We’ve got trouble.”

  Leif asked, “What do you mean?”

  “A letter came from the IRS.”

  “What!” Leif groaned. He looked at Cassie. “Did you ever file the back taxes?”

  Cassandra nodded. “Sure did, but obviously, filing two years taxes at the same time likely was a big red flag to them. The receipts are all here, and in order. Grandpa kept the ledger up to date. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”

  “The envelope is in your office,” Maxie said. “I didn’t open it, but I’m assuming that’s why they’re contacting you—to audit the past years’ taxes.”

  Leif grumbled as he stalked past the women and entered the bait shop. He returned moments later. Cassandra noted he’d already opened the envelope and she waited patiently as he read the letter, then passed it to her.

  “I’ll have to call them tomorrow and let them know I’ll be at the appointment.”

  “You mean we’ll be there,” she said.

  Leif frowned. “So you filed the taxes and paid the fines out of your own pocket, right?”

  “No,” she quickly reassured him. “We had enough money in Gateway’s account.”

  He seemed relieved and replied, “I appreciate it.” He swept her body a long look. “How you feeling?”

  She smiled faintly. “Tired.”

  “Like the doc said, it’s the medication. To bed with you,” he ordered.

  “What a wonderful idea.” Cassandra moved down the hall and into her room.

  Leif heard her door close, then turned to Maxie. “I’m going to the reservation for a few days. Can you manage things here on your own? I don’t know if Cassie will be much help to you.”