Heart of the Wild

by Rita Hestand

  "Yeah, Rosie, I've got to."

  "Did you really kidnap her?"

  "John asked me to go get her and bring her here. I went."

  "Yes, without bothering to ask," Kasie said, hoping she might find a comrade in this woman.

  Rosie's eyes were still alight; evidently she wasn't listening to what was being said. "Well, if John wants her here, he must have a good reason. Course not seeing' your own daughter in so long could be reason enough. I can't believe that woman, sometimes."

  "What woman?" Kasie's brows knitted.

  "Ava, of course. Your mother. Although I reckon I'm speaking out of turn."

  Kasie bit her lip to defend her mother's honor, but realized it could have been the truth. Realizing she had no ally, she clamped her mouth shut.

  "Don't mind me, darlin', I talk too much." Rosie smiled and patted Kasie on the arm. When a long silence prevailed, she smiled and glanced at Chayton. "She's such a delicate little thing, tall but almost frail looking. Nothing to her but height. And would you look at that hair? Have you ever seen anything like that? It looks like satin and silver, the color of it so unusual. Why, it's beautiful, child! Oh, now, don't you go worrying about our Chayton, here. This boy is as good as they come. You've no worry with him. But now, it's your father you best worry about. Now, he's a man to be reckoned with. When he gets something in his head, there's no stopping' him. Course he probably wouldn't be where he is today if he was any other way."

  Kasie's brow shot upward. "Oh, you know my father that well?"

  "Know him? Why child, everyone this side of the Cascade Mountains knows him. Biggest spender in these parts. And one of the nicest, too."

  "Known him long?"

  "Naturally, he's from these parts you know. We went to school together. He's a handful of man, a lot like our Chayton here."

  "I never saw the resemblance."

  "Oh, then you know our Chayton, do you?"

  "I thought I did, once."

  Amory's eyes met hers.

  Rosie blinked, but went on. "So, how did you get here?"

  "We drove."

  "From California, you must be exhausted. Well then, why don't you stay here the night, and go on up in the morning?"

  Chayton stood and paced, glancing out the windows several times before he answered. "Better not, Rosie. If John's already there, he'll be waiting. And if I have to get stuck, at least I'd like to be home."

  "It isn't supposed to let up. It looks like it's going to be a helluva blizzard. Surely John would have stopped by here first, if he was coming."

  "I doubt it, Rosie. He's anxious to talk to Kasie. And this weather is just what I need, to top it off." Chayton's voice rose with agitation.

  "To everything there is purpose," Rosie quoted.

  "Great."

  "It can't be a blizzard; I've got to get back," Kasie wailed aloud as she stared out the window.

  "If you're intending to get up the mountain, I'd be quick about it then, Chayton. It's only going to get worse."

  "It's funny I never met you," Kasie added as Chayton tried to pull her away.

  "I guess. But I've heard a lot about you, through the years. Oh, honey, I've known you're father for ages. He's a good man. Don't be too hard on him. He's been through a lot. When your father and mother married, John rarely came home. Ava dragged him away from his roots. He seemed different back then. But one always comes home to their roots, eventually. And he's a happier man for it."

  "Yeah, well, maybe we should get going before it gets too bad outside."

  "Now, Chayton, darlin', we should make the girl feel welcome. That storm is already a going, and it isn't gonna change things. Have a little heart, darlin', she's bound to be a little emotional since she was to marry. And besides, John would want that. She probably needs a shower and a good rest."

  "Yeah, don't we all. Under different circumstances we'd stay a while, Rosie. But I think we better travel."

  "Why don't we stay here?" Kasie took a shot at persuading him.

  "I thought you were the one in a hurry to get back home."

  "I am, but it does look rather ominous out there."

  "It won't be a joy ride, but we'll make it. We'll get you fixed up, extra blankets and things, and be on our way. Your father may be waiting, and I'm sure you want to go home as soon as possible."

  "Are you taking me home?"

  "I hadn't planned on it. It's your father's idea. He'll take care of that."

  Kasie stared out the big window, and wondered what the storm would bring next. She had a feeling things just weren't going to go her way.

  "Have you taken her to the Inn?"

  "I thought you understood, this isn't a sight seeing trip, Rosie. She's not happy about being here in the first place. I'm sure she isn't interested in sight seeing."

  "No need to get testy with me, young man. You are both exhausted, is all I was thinking of."

  "I know, and I apologize. I'm a bear. Forgive me, Rosie. You don't deserve this. I'm not used to being a bad guy. It doesn't sit right."

  "Apology accepted."

  Rosie set his supplies on the counter. "Promise me you'll both try to behave yourselves, no matter what happens up there."

  "What do you mean, no matter what happens? What could happen?" Kasie asked, eyeing the woman as though she knew something Kasie didn't.

  Rosie chuckled, her entire body shaking with the action. "You are both snowbound, stuck with each other, and waiting for John. Depending on weather and circumstances, a lot could happen. So why doesn't he approve of the wedding? Or is that none of my business?"

  "You seem to know as much as I do about him, maybe more. You tell me," Kasie said.

  "I haven't seen John since he got married. I have no idea what he's thinking. But I know the man, and there's got to be a reason."

  "Yes, he doesn't approve? Obviously. As if that mattered."

  "That's too bad. Well, knowing John, I can only say there must be a good explanation."

  "Oh, there is. He wants to stop the wedding," Chayton added.

  "He wants to ruin my life. Control it."

  "Rosie, I hate to break this up, but we've got to get moving. I've got to finish this up so I can get to work soon."

  Rosie blinked, then frowned. "Oh, dear, then you don't know about losing the Boone account."

  Amory's fist came down on the counter. Something dropped to the floor. Kasie flinched again, but not without notice.

  "Losing it. You're joking, how could we have lost that account? I trusted Tanka to handle the whole affair. That's what I get. I should have known better than to trust my brother. He's such a softie."

  "I don't know really, but Tanka was in earlier today with a ski party, and he said he lost it to ole man Myers."

  "Myers? Now how in the hell could that have happened?"

  "I don't know, darlin', but he said something about him being down on his luck for the past few years and almost bankrupt."

  "That jackass brother of mine let him have it, didn't he?"

  Rosie looked up at Amory with big round eyes of innocence.

  "Probably."

  He downed his cider, and grabbed Kasie by the arm, "Come on, let's go. It's going to be late as it is, when we get there. Have you got what you'll need?"

  "Depends on how long she stays. She's got a change of clothes that should keep her warm, and a jacket."

  "Let's hope it's a quick visit."

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  * * *

  Chapter Three

  Kasie had fallen asleep by the time they reached the cabin. Her head was positioned against Amory's shoulder when he nudged her with his elbow.

  "Hey, we're here."

  She opened her eyes slowly, and took her time moving away from him, finding his warmth inviting. As soon as she realized where she was, and whom she was with, she immediately pulled away from him. Their closeness brought a new tension, as the aloneness of the situation homed in. He stared down at her for a long moment. She s
aw his eyes shining in the darkness, and his slow burning smile, and her heart flipped even though she never let on. Amory didn't smile a lot, but when he did, his entire face lit from within. It was devastating.

  It was too dark to see much further than the windshield. The Jeep lights formed two long columns in front of them. The cabin seemed tucked deep within the dense forest of the Cascade Mountains northeast of Eugene, Oregon.

  She heard Amory swear beneath his breath, and she leaned forward. "Something wrong?"

  For a long moment he didn't answer. His silence made her uneasy.

  She stared out the front windshield. The snow illuminated the entire area, and as he peered ahead of them, a frown knitted his forehead, like ripples in a river. "From the looks of the lean-to and the front door, I'd say we've had a visitor. One we weren't expecting."

  Kasie craned her neck to see out. "Really, who?"

  "Ole Blue--the orneriest mix of black and grizzly bear you'll ever want to encounter."

  Kasie's mouth flew open. A bear! As if things weren't bad enough. Now a bear!

  He shook his head. "I suppose he got wind of that white tailed deer I dressed out last week, and went snooping. Nearly tore the lean-to apart from the looks of it. Knocked in the door a little. Generally, made a mess of things, that's all."

  "Aren't black bears harmless?" she quipped, thinking he was merely trying to scare her, and doing a darn good job of it.

  "Well, yeah, but Ole Blue is not just any black. He's not even a full blood black. Which makes him very rare and almost priceless. That's why he's still around. His father was a Grizzly. An unusual happening, but it does happen. Especially when a Grizzly wanders this far south. He's considered the Rogue of the Cascades. Number two hundred and four, according to the rangers."

  He seemed to be gauging her reactions as he spoke.

  "Number two hundred and four. He has a number, tagged by the rangers. It's just another way of keeping track of them. And Ole Blue definitely has to be kept track of."

  "Why? Is he dangerous?"

  "Most of the bears in the area are marked, but no, not exactly. At least not yet. A few years back we had a large camping party up here. Hunters mostly. One of their wives decided to make the groceries available to him, and he's been frequenting campsites ever since."

  "I'm surprised one of the hunters didn't kill him."

  "Bad shots, I guess. Most of the hunters we get these days aren't professional. Anyway, they figure ole Blue's father must have wandered down from the north country, and finding new land, marked this territory as his. According to the rangers, one of the black females must have decided to stay, because the result is Ole Blue. That makes him a loner around here. Could be reason enough for his cantankerous attitude."

  Amory leaned back in the seat and stretched his arm behind her, a gesture that seemed to come naturally to him.

  Kasie stiffened and frowned till he removed his arm.

  "Sorry. Reflex. I keep forgetting you're not one of those poor, helpless, little, city girls."

  His eyes traveled over her again, this time with appreciation.

  "I've never been poor or helpless."

  "No, I guess you haven't." His eyes stared through the darkness at her. "He's really more of a nuisance than anything. The last few years, he's been the local attraction around here. Kids love him. But he's getting old."

  Emotion seemed to choke his words, but his face hadn't changed.

  "The park rangers, on the other hand, don't think too kindly of his antics. He's a big, lazy ole bear. He doesn't want to hunt for his food anymore. Not when campsites or open cabins will provide him with dinner. And he isn't afraid to explore them."

  "Just what I need, a bear!"

  She felt the power of his gaze on her again.

  "Too bad he didn't know you were coming." He shot her a comical glance. "He'll have to be moved again. Although I seriously doubt it will do a bit of good."

  When she grimaced he continued. "The bear is too old to change his ways now, and this is his home. He's marked it. He'll come back. And…he'll most likely have to be shot."

  "Shot?"

  "Unless Mother Nature takes a hand."

  Kasie shook inwardly. She shouldn't care. But she did. Had he not told her about the bear, only mentioned him, Kasie wouldn't have attached so much importance to the animal. But she had a soft spot for animals, all animals. And to think the bear would be purposely killed made her instantly sad. She identified with the bear's problems. She didn't like being shoved around, either. They seemed to be victims of circumstance.

  Amory got out of the Jeep and came round to her side. Before she knew what he was up to, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the cabin. What kind of game was he playing now, she wondered. Was he merely feeling sorry for her, or trying to put a new and different kind of scare into her. She'd been a pretty tough little cookie all day, but the day was wearing her down.

  Strangely enough, all her nerve ends reacted at once. It could have been caused by the story of the bear, but she didn't think so.

  "What are you doing? Won't you allow me any dignity?" she protested, not fully immune to his woodsy odor, nor the strength within him. She hated to admit it, but she felt rather secure in his big, strong arms. Her hand fell into the opening of his jacket, and she felt the heat of his bare skin through the cotton shirt. She willed herself not to move. A wanting older than time stirred within her. Control; that's what she needed.

  "You want dignity when the snow is knee deep?" He shot her a glacier glance.

  Amory was as primitive as the land around her; born at least a hundred years too late, she decided. A girl could fall for this kind of guy, if she let herself. But then, she knew better, didn't she?

  "Easy, honey," he cajoled, his face amazingly close now. "It's dark, and you don't know your way around yet. It's easier and safer to carry you. Besides, I've got enough to contend with for one night."

  It wasn't what he said so much as the way he said it that stopped her protesting. He was right. They were both tired, and he did have enough to contend with. No use making matters worse. She'd correct him about the "honey" later.

  For a brief minute, she relaxed against him, her head falling against his shoulder. Exhaustion nearly overtook her. It seemed natural to be snuggled against him, as though she belonged here in his arms. Ironically, it was the first time she had relaxed in his presence, except when she had fallen asleep, and nothing bad was happening. The steady beat of his heart seemed to comfort her. A warm bath and decent night's sleep would soothe her over-wrought nerves after such a ridiculous day!

  He set her down near the entrance, reaching for a switch.

  Nothing happened. Again, she heard him swear. He moved away from her, leaving her standing in the dark. She was determined not to yell out to him. She hated helpless women. But seconds later, there was nothing to fear. He pulled two wagon wheels down from the high ceiling, and began lighting the four lanterns mounted on each spoke.

  As the light illuminated the room, her eyes widened with surprise. For a nothingness little place in the wilderness, she had expected a shack, something raw and primitive. But this--this was a far cry from a shack.

  "Amazing!" she said aloud, then reddened when he looked at her. She didn't want him knowing she was impressed. But she was, and she knew he knew. It looked more like a small resort lodge. His place was huge and roomy. Kasie had an instant feeling she could grow to love it here; the trick being not to let him know it under any circumstances. After all, it could have been hers once!

  John hadn't arrived yet, that much was immediately obvious, and Amory drew in a breath with what sounded like frustration. He looked as ill at ease as she felt.

  Kasie couldn't stop looking about, her curiosity growing. The cabin was an oddity, made up of the man's personality. Although it was laid out like a house, there were no walls to separate the rooms. A huge rock fireplace graced one wall. Big tufted recliners were spaced on each side, with
a large genuine bear rug between them. To one side of the cabin was an office space, with a small library, desk and chair. On the other side was the bedroom with a huge four-poster bed. It looked homemade, rustic, and very old.

  "It's a very nice…place."

  The kitchen looked old-fashioned, too, and somewhat smaller. The sink had a pump to one side, and the wood-burning stove looked as old as the bed. The refrigerator, if you could call it one, was so small that she could barely see it from where she stood. A hot plate sat on the end of the counter.