Courtney’s heart sank. As much as she wanted Graham to earn back his self-respect, she couldn’t help but secretly wish he wouldn’t make it through to the second round. And she’d already decided if Graham did lose his thousand-dollar bet to Gil, she would be the one paying the money, and she wasn’t going to argue about it. Besides the fact that Graham was in this contest because of her, he also had credited her debit card when she tried to pay him for the plane ticket and staying at the lodge. She wouldn’t let him get away with turning her money down a second time.
“The ax throw is Gil’s best event,” the taller of the two men said. “He hit the bull’s-eye with all five throws last year. That’s why he’s been the champion for the last four years.”
“Yeah,” the short guy said, “but Gil fights dirty. He almost put that guy’s eye out year before last.”
The men walked off as Courtney’s stomach rolled over.
It totally irritated her to think that this was the twenty-first century and men still felt the need to participate in barbaric rituals that should have been outlawed ages ago. Why couldn’t the final event have been something more civilized? A footrace, for instance, instead of two men willing to slam each other to the ground and punch and gouge and who knew what else in an effort to prove that one man was stronger than the other.
It just didn’t make any sense.
Courtney looked up and suddenly realized there wasn’t a customer left in the store. When she looked toward the lunch counter, Rachel was staring right at her, arms crossed defiantly, one black eyebrow raised in question.
“Well?” Rachel said with a smirk. “Think we should hire an extra employee to help us with all of these customers?”
“People will trickle in and out all day,” Courtney said. “We both need to be here when they do.”
“And between trickles?”
We wait for news that Graham is okay.
“We do what we do any other day, Rachel. We clean, we stock shelves and we keep busy. That’s our job.”
“Well, that just plain sucks!” Rachel declared.
Courtney agreed.
The entire situation just plain sucked.
GRAHAM POSITIONED HIS hands one above the other on the long-handled ax, and the thought crossed his mind that he was glad Rachel hadn’t bought him the wood splitter for his birthday back in May. He also found it ironic, however, that the present Rachel had surprised him with was the reason he was standing in the middle of town square as a contestant in the Woodsman competition now.
“Axes ready,” Snag Horton, with his big gold front tooth, called out as he raised the revolver into the air.
Graham raised the ax above his head.
He didn’t look to the left or the right at his opponents. Nor had he engaged in conversation with anyone after he arrived in the town square.
He’d let Gil do all the talking. And he’d ignored Gil completely when he kept making wisecracks about Graham’s age that caused chuckles from some of the bystanders, and dirty looks from a majority of people who had the strong desire to see Gil get his ass kicked before the day was over.
Mind over matter.
Graham focused on the piece of wood sitting on the stump in front of him. He was looking for the sweet spot, searching for the exact place in the center of the wood that would give him a clean split.
“On your mark. Get set. Go!” Snag yelled and pulled the trigger.
Graham’s ax came down and split the wood in half.
COURTNEY JUMPED UP from the stool at the lunch counter when Mark Barlow barreled through the front door with a big grin on his face. “Graham just won the wood splitting competition,” he said proudly. “And get this, Gil came in third. He barely made it to round two. And, man, was he pissed about it.”
Mark slammed back out the door.
So Graham had won the first round. Gil had lost his thousand dollars. And all Courtney could do was pray Graham didn’t make it through to the next round and the whole thing would be over.
“Big deal,” Rachel said, when Courtney looked over at her. “Dad spends half his life splitting wood. It should have been a piece of cake for Dad to win that round.”
“Speaking of a piece of cake,” Courtney said, suddenly badly in need of comfort food, “there’s still one piece left of that cherry cheesecake I made that you love. Want to share it with me?”
“I can’t,” Rachel snipped. “I have this annoying slave driver boss who insists that I keep busy.”
Rachel marched toward the pool table with her broom.
“Keep being such a witch,” Courtney called after her, “and you’ll be riding that broom by the end of the day.”
“Not funny.”
GRAHAM COULD SEE GIL from the corner of his eye, lining up his five short-handled axes on the table in front of him like a skilled surgeon preparing for a major operation. They were all expensive competition axes; all balanced perfectly, blades sharpened to a gleam, grips on the handles for better precision.
Graham looked down at the five short-handled axes he had lined up on his table. One ax was his own from his storage shed. Two he’d borrowed from Yanoo. One belonged to Fat Man Jack sitting behind Graham in the spectator area—except Fat Man Jack was sitting on two folding chairs to hold his massive frame. And the last ax had belonged to Graham’s grandfather.
His grandfather’s ax was one he rarely used.
But Graham couldn’t think of a better time than now.
In this round, Graham and the other three contestants had drawn numbers to determine in what order they threw. Graham had drawn number one, the worst spot to be in. Gil would go last, meaning Gil would know exactly how many points he needed to win.
Graham focused on the target straight ahead of him, twenty feet away. He already knew Gil had made a perfect score during last year’s competition. So did everyone else. Gil had spent the past fifteen minutes making sure everyone knew about his perfect score.
The umpire signaled for Graham to get ready.
Graham picked up his first ax. When he stepped to the throw line, an immediate hush fell over the crowd.
Graham took aim, drew back his arm and threw.
Cheers erupted when the ax hit the bull’s-eye.
COURTNEY KEPT LOOKING at her watch. It seemed like hours since Mark had come to report that Graham had won the first round.
The bell on the door sounded.
Courtney held her breath.
But a woman with two small children walked into the store. “Do you have a bathroom we could use?”
“Sure,” Courtney said, and pointed to the far side of the store.
“Twenty dollars says they won’t buy a single thing,” Rachel grumbled when the bathroom door closed.
Courtney started to comment, but Clark burst through the front door.
“Graham just won the ax-throw,” he shouted.
Rachel dropped her broom. “Shut the f—front door,” she finished when Courtney’s head jerked in her direction.
“I’m telling you,” Clark said, “the crowd out there is freaking jumping, man.” He held up four fingers. “Four. That’s how many times Graham hit the bull’s-eye.”
“And Gil?” Courtney asked, praying Gil hadn’t advanced.
“Gil only hit the bull’s-eye three times,” Clark said. “And you should have seen him. Threw a fit. He even claimed something was wrong with his target and made the umpire check it. Believe me, Gil did not like coming in second to Graham in his best event.”
Clark grinned and did a wide stir-the-pot hip roll.
“It’s on, baby,” he said. “This competition is on!”
GRAHAM TAPPED the right heel of his boot against the left, and the left heel against the right, freeing the attached spurs from any loose debris. He held his arms out so Yanoo could tighten the halter belt around his waist.
“You could end this now and still accomplish all you need to do,” Yanoo said. “You’ve already hurt Gil’s pride. You’ve wo
n his best event. And you’ve put a big dent in his bank account.”
“His bank account isn’t what I came to put a dent in. You’ve heard the lies he’s told about Courtney. Would you quit now if he’d spread that filth about Hanya?”
“Then you only have to hit somewhere between Gil’s time and the guy in second place,” Yanoo said. “You don’t have to win this event.”
Yanoo ran the leather strap around the thirty-five-foot pole that had been set up in the middle of the town square and fastened the clip to Graham’s belt. Graham took a minute to roll his shoulders and relieve the tension at the base of his neck. He grabbed both sides of the strap, sliding it up and down to make sure it was loose enough to slide up the pole and tight enough to bear his weight.
Gil had already scaled the pole and stopped the timer at the top at nineteen seconds. Twenty-two seconds had been the time for the guy in second place. Both men were younger. But youth wasn’t everything. Determination was.
Graham signaled he was ready.
The gun fired.
Graham took off up the pole.
MARK STAGGERED through the door, out of breath from running. He bent over, his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
“What?” Courtney demanded. “Tell me what happened.”
Mark finally straightened, holding up a finger, still unable to talk. “Graham…” He took in another big gulp of air.
“Mark!” Courtney begged. “Tell me.”
“Graham didn’t win the pole climb,” he finally managed to say. “But he came in second. He and Gil are squaring off now for the wrestling match.”
Courtney whirled around to face Rachel. “You stay here. I can’t take this anymore.”
Courtney ran past Mark and out the door.
Rachel ran out the door right behind her.
Broadway loped off after both of them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
WHEN COURTNEY AND RACHEL reached the town square it was so crowded they couldn’t see a thing. But the loud shouts coming from the circle that had formed to watch the last event told Courtney the wrestling match was already underway.
“We’ve got to get closer,” Courtney told Rachel, taking her hand and starting through the crowd.
“Wait, there’s Yanoo,” Rachel said, pulling Courtney to a stop and pointing in the opposite direction.
Courtney took the lead, tugging Rachel with her as they made their way toward the tallest man in the crowd. When they finally reached where Yanoo was standing, he stepped aside ushering them and Broadway in front of him, where Tiki and Hanya were already standing.
“Unfreakingbelievable,” Rachel said as she slid in beside Tiki.
Broadway whined.
And Courtney gasped.
Graham and Gil were stripped down to the waist, circling each other. Gil’s lip was bleeding. Graham had a gash above his right eye.
Gil lowered his head and charged. Graham took the head butt straight to the stomach. Courtney turned her back, unable to watch.
“Pin him, Dad!” Rachel yelled out. “Pin his sorry ass to the ground.”
“Rachel Elizabeth Morrison!” Courtney exclaimed.
But Rachel was too busy watching her father, who now had Gil on the ground, Gil’s head in a headlock and both of Gil’s shoulders only inches from the ground.
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR the screaming crowd, someone might have heard what Graham said when he tightened his grip around Gil’s neck and brought Gil’s right ear close to his mouth. “Here’s the deal. I can pin you right now and we both know it. Or you can make a public apology to Courtney and keep your title. It’s your choice.”
“Okay, okay,” Gil grunted.
Graham loosened his grip.
Gil flipped over and pinned Graham to the ground.
THANK GOD, IT’S OVER was Courtney’s first thought.
Gil and Graham stood, shook hands and the official overseeing the event stepped forward. Gil waved to the crowd as the official held up Gil’s right hand, declaring him the Tongass National Forest Woodsman champion for the fifth straight year.
Courtney couldn’t stomach watching Gil gloat over keeping his title. She started walking away with the rest of the crowd that was already breaking up.
“Courtney, wait.”
Courtney stopped walking at the sound of her name.
The crowd stopped walking when they saw who said it.
Courtney turned to see Gil heading toward her.
“I owe you an apology,” Gil said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You wouldn’t sleep with me, and it pissed me off. And when Graham told me to leave you alone, that pissed me off. I said things about you that weren’t true. I’m sorry for doing that.”
“Thank you.” But her mind was busy with the realization that Graham let Gil win.
He’d let Gil keep his title in exchange for an apology. And that was the difference between guys like Graham and guys like Gil.
Graham was a real man.
Gil never would be.
Courtney looked across the square. Rachel had her arms around Graham’s neck, giving him a big hug. She started to walk over to join them, then saw Graham was leaving. He didn’t even look in her direction. He just headed off through the crowd.
Courtney sighed and walked the other way. She had just reached the store when Rachel ran up, Tiki and Broadway right behind her. “Am I still sentenced to more boss abuse, or can I go home with Tiki now?”
Courtney knew Rachel already had plans to spend the night with Tiki. “What did your dad say?”
“Dad said it was up to you. He’s going home to take a shower. He said he was done for the day.”
Done for the day.
“Your sentence is over,” Courtney said. “Have a good time.”
Rachel and Tiki headed off.
Courtney looked down at Broadway. “I guess it’s going to be just you and me for the night, buddy.”
AFTER GIL MADE the apology to Courtney, all Graham had wanted was to get away from everyone as fast as possible. He was mentally and physically drained.
He pulled the skiff up to the lodge’s dock, secured the boat and walked up the path, headed straight for the shower. His gash on his forehead hurt like a son of a bitch, but at least his pride didn’t.
He’d done the right thing letting Gil keep his title.
And no one had to know. Graham knew. That was all that mattered.
Walking into his bathroom, Graham stripped before he leaned close to the bathroom mirror, inspecting the gash. But when he stepped back from the mirror, he looked at his reflection for a long time.
And that’s when Graham realized the man staring back at him wasn’t the same man he’d been five years ago. He also wasn’t too weak to admit what he really wanted.
He wanted Courtney.
He’d wanted her from the first time he saw her.
He’d want her until he took his last breath.
COURTNEY KNEW IT was stupid, but she had actually expected Graham to come to the store after he’d showered. The fact that he didn’t was more than a letdown. It was the ending of the final chapter of the going-nowhere saga Beth called Courtney, Hopelessly in Love.
Love from Alaska wasn’t going to happen for her.
She’d been a fool to ever think it would.
Courtney checked her watch and her spirits sank even lower. It was eight o’clock, one hour past the time she usually closed the store. Yet she’d been stupid enough to remain sitting here waiting to hear the bell ring above the door, and to see Graham come walking into the store. Well, the bell wasn’t ringing. And she was tired of waiting.
Two weeks and counting. Her time was running out fast.
And no one seemed to notice but her.
Her quickly approaching departure date reminded Courtney that she still hadn’t talked to Graham on Rachel’s behalf about Peg and Hal’s anniversary party. Rachel even had all of the details already worked out. She would go to Seattle with Courtney, an
d she could return with Peg and Hal.
Courtney would make it a point to talk to Graham tomorrow. Even if it meant going to the lodge to do it.
Courtney walked to the front door, flipped the sign on the door to Closed then locked the front door. That’s when Broadway whined.
“Ten minutes,” Courtney told him as she let him out. “No longer. That’s how long I’ll need to run my bath.”
Courtney closed the door and headed for the spiral staircase, flipping off the downstairs lights as she went. She’d take a long, hot bubble bath, maybe drink a little wine, then she’d get a good night’s sleep.
She deserved it after the day she’d had.
GRAHAM STOOD ON the dock below The Wooden Nickel, relieved to see the downstairs lights were off and the store was closed. He’d been standing here for several minutes now, rehearsing everything he planned to say.
He’d told Courtney once to go home. That what she was looking for wasn’t here. The day he said it, that statement had been true.
But a lot had changed since then.
He loved her. He loved Courtney, mind, body and soul. And tonight he planned to tell her that.
Graham patted his shirt pocket, making sure the small black velvet box with his grandmother Morrison’s pearl and diamond ring was still there. Then Graham took a deep breath and started up the steps with the same determination that had gotten him through the Woodsman contest. Broadway met him on the top landing.
“Wish me luck, boy.”
Graham had his hand poised and ready to knock when the door suddenly opened and Courtney gasped.
“You scared me,” she said, clutching the front of her silky robe together as Broadway trotted inside.
They stared at each other.
“I’ve changed my mind,” Graham said. “And if you tell me it’s too late, I don’t blame you. But I’m begging you not to do that. I love you, Courtney. I love you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. And I love you for staying when I told you to go home. I guess the question is, do you love me?”
Dad’s E-mail Order Bride Page 18
