Take Only Pictures

by Laina Villeneuve

  Of course as soon as she stepped away from the grill, she heard stock crossing the road. She panicked. In all of her preparation, she had not considered what she was going to say to Kristine. She dove out of the camper in time to see the packer’s approach. She looked damn sexy riding up on a spotted horse, a string of horses and mules stretched out behind her. She couldn’t keep her eyes off the figure covered head to toe in dirt from the trail. And Kristine hadn’t even looked at her yet, hadn’t graced her with that exuberant smile that welcomed her each time they saw each other. She could not deny how much she still craved Kristine.

  “Thought your crew didn’t like to be called late for dinner,” she called out.

  “Gloria?” Kristine asked in the dim light, pulling her horse to a stop. “What in the world?”

  “Lovely thing about a camper—it’s mobile.”

  “Lovely thing, indeed,” Kristine said, trying to control the squirrely horse she rode. “He’s anxious to get home. Give me some time to unsaddle? I need to make sure Gabe’s back to put up my stock.”

  “Absolutely.” Gloria was set to return to her task but couldn’t resist watching Kristine continue down the trail.

  “You watching my ass?” she called from the front of the line.

  “I thought those were mules,” Gloria hollered back. She smiled hearing Kristine’s laughter mix with the sound of all of the horseshoes ringing on the pavement, enjoying her ability to draw forth that sound.

  * * *

  “And that, in short, is why there are days I spend the entire time in the saddle thinking about how long it would take to pack my shit and leave,” Kristine said, finally releasing her wadded, crumpled napkin on the table. “Ugh. I’m sorry. I hate to complain about Nard taking my horse, but I’ve had a string of bad days since he stuck me with that Appaloosa horse.”

  Gloria frowned in sympathy. She had enjoyed every minute of Kristine’s account of the problems she’d had with new stock. The details of her job fascinated her, and Kristine’s animated delivery captivated Gloria even more. She found herself staring at Kristine’s mouth trying not to think about kissing her. This, she realized, was why they kept hanging out at the cabin. Without Gabe’s presence, she was more acutely aware of her attraction to Kristine. Without the conversation to distract her, Gloria couldn’t think of a reason not to kiss Kristine. She searched for the topic. “I wondered why I didn’t recognize any of your animals.” Kristine looked relieved, and Gloria wondered if she also felt like the dynamic between them had shifted now that it was just the two of them.

  She leaned back with her beer. “Nard has this thing about big mules, but he’s cheap, so he won’t buy them trained.”

  “I thought Leo bought all their animals from your family.”

  “All the good ones.” Kristine quirked her eyebrow.

  “Of course.”

  “But that’s Leo. The big babies are Nard’s idea, his attempt at establishing himself apart from Leo. It wouldn’t be an issue if he knew how to train them, but he has no idea and would never admit it. He works them ’til they’re real screwed up and then leaves them in the corral as the last option. And these two, Beetle and Bailey…” She grimaced. “They could kill someone with their stupidity. It’s a good thing I wasn’t up on the rock steps by Shadow when Bailey set back the way he did. He’d have pulled Digger straight off the trail. There’s a sobering thought.”

  “Do you run through your head what you’d do if that happened?”

  “Of course,” Kristine said. She drained her beer and stared at it much like she had at the campfire at the beginning of the summer. Finally, she answered, “‘Never quit a wreck’ is what my dad always said.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “Say your horse slips. It’s more dangerous to jump off because you might mess up their balance. They might end up falling right on you.”

  “If you stay in the saddle you have more control.”

  “Exactly. Even if you end up getting thrown, you’re at least going to clear the mess.”

  Gloria nodded, processing. “You guys should call that pair Thing One and Thing Two with the trouble they cause.”

  “Gabe’s going to love that.” She smiled, but her voice sounded distracted.

  “Is that why you took off before? You got fed up with…” she searched for a word to describe what she read in Kristine’s eyes.

  “Partly,” Kristine supplied without answering the question. She stood to clear the dishes.

  Gloria rose quickly, worried that her question had spooked Kristine. She took the plates. “Please don’t worry about the cleanup. I’ve got my system.” They stood so near to each other in the small space that it would have taken nothing to lean forward and capture the mouth that she’d been watching. Kristine surrendered the dishes and sat back down at the small table. Silence filled the space as Gloria took care of the dishes. She was trying hard to maintain the easy conversations that had become the norm when they were with Gabe, and Kristine seemed aware of that too. She glanced over her shoulder to see if Kristine still held a defensive posture and saw her holding a greeting card.

  “You bought one of mine,” she said, meeting Gloria’s eyes.

  “A bunch, actually. I’ve been sending my mom’s letters in them.”

  “I’m flattered,” Kristine said. “This is one of my favorites. I was on one of my first solo spots down to Island Crossing, and my horse had a loose shoe. I didn’t want to risk it on the granite pass, so I was trying to pry it off. These women came up and chatted with me, wanted to know about the animals, about my job. It hit me the minute I saw them that they were a couple. Didn’t say anything, you know, no secret handshake, no rainbow sticker, but there was this energy between them, this sense of happiness that they just radiated. I couldn’t help but feel it. You can’t tell in this shot,” she shrugged, studying the picture of the two hikers on the blasted out trail along a sheer granite cliff, “but I think about that every time I look at it.”

  “It’s funny, but I sensed that about them too, the first time I saw the card. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I sensed that they were together.” She was tempted to add how she had pictured herself happily following Kristine on the same trail and how often her thoughts had been occupied by Kristine when she had been camped at Fish Creek. There it was, again. A patch of silence in which to grow her desire.

  Kristine set the card back down on the counter where she’d found it. She seemed to be grasping for something to say, as if she was safer when her mouth was moving. “All the stuff in the store is so old. I have other pieces with me at the cabin if you need more. It’s not all from here, but you’re welcome to have a look.”

  “I like your work, the angles you find. They’ve got a really personal feel to them.”

  “I used to have my eye on the landscape all the time. Now I find myself drawn to people.”

  Kristine’s words surprised Gloria. She turned, wiping her hands on a dishtowel, studying Kristine, worried that it was her own thoughts that had her reading more into Kristine’s words than she intended. Kristine quieted, too. They stood nearly opposite each other in the small quarters. Gloria wondered if Kristine was aware of her provocative pose. She leaned back against the counter, her elbows bearing her weight. Her long, jean-clad legs stretched out in front of her and crossed at the ankles. Gloria took a deep breath, finding it difficult to keep her eyes off Kristine’s breasts, the fabric of her sweatshirt pulled taut by her posture. She decided Kristine’s last statement needed clarification. “You’re drawn to people in terms of photography?”

  Kristine’s eyes were on Gloria’s mouth when she answered. “Yes.”

  “Not drawn to as in interested in…”

  “No.” Gloria tried to hide her disappointment by turning back to the dishes, but Kristine grabbed her hand, stilling her. “Not to people. Just one person. Just you.”

  Relief that she wasn’t alone in having difficulty managing Kristine’s request flooded
through her. “Good. Because it’s getting harder and harder not to kiss you,” she said, putting a foot on either side of Kristine’s crossed boots.

  “Is that so?”

  Gloria’s breath caught when Kristine took hold of her hips and pulled them to her own. She straightened, surprised by Kristine’s action and needing to see her eyes. The hesitation she usually read there was replaced completely with desire. She waited a few heartbeats, giving Kristine ample time to move away if she needed to, before she leaned forward and kissed the lips that she’d been dreaming about for weeks. She lost herself in the give of Kristine’s lips, in the inviting warmth and softness.

  Kristine’s lips parted, summoning more. Gloria ran the tip of her tongue along Kristine’s bottom lip, smiling at the groan her movement elicited. She tested again and met Kristine’s tongue with her own. With a sharp intake of breath, Kristine pushed away from the counter, standing to reclaim her height advantage. Her right hand swept behind Gloria’s neck, fingers playing with the wisps of hair that had escaped Gloria’s ponytail as she hungrily deepened the kiss.

  “I’ve been thinking about the way that would feel since the last time we stood in a kitchen together,” Kristine said.

  “And?” Gloria said, tilting her chin up.

  “So much better.” Kristine kissed along Gloria’s neck before reclaiming her lips.

  Gloria reciprocated and ran her own hands into Kristine’s thick hair, pulling her closer and losing herself in the rush of pure pleasure as Kristine’s hands explored her contours. She loved Kristine’s playfulness. Her kisses changed quickly, like an unfamiliar trail where every turn brings a new and wonderful view. Gloria felt as if she was running to keep up. Reluctantly, she pulled away to catch her breath. She regretted her decision immediately when she felt Kristine’s hands leave her body.

  She grabbed for Kristine’s hands, holding her put. “Don’t go.”

  “If I stay one kiss longer, I’ll be here all night.”

  “And that’s a bad thing,” Gloria said, wanting Kristine to know she didn’t want to push her.

  “Not bad,” Kristine said. “There are just things…” her voice trailed away.

  “That you’re working on. I know,” Gloria said, when the silence lengthened.

  Kristine nodded, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Trust me, you’re making it very difficult to leave.”

  Gloria grabbed onto Kristine’s belt buckle to make it even harder for her. She ran her thumb across the twenty-mule team printed on it. “What is it with cowboys and their belt buckles? They’re kind of ridiculous.”

  “But sexy…” Kristine purred, kicking up one eyebrow and cocking a hip.

  Gloria laughed at Kristine’s pose and swatted her away. If she wasn’t staying, she didn’t get to tease. Kristine’s eyes grew serious again, and she cupped Gloria’s face with both hands to give her a gentle goodnight kiss. With an audible sigh, Kristine stepped away from Gloria. “Dinner tomorrow?” Gloria asked.

  Kristine smiled. “Absolutely.”

  Gloria watched the cowgirl disappear into the darkness, wishing she could have convinced her to stay longer. But Kristine had proven herself not one to linger. Knowing that had made Gloria feel safe in moving her camper because she knew Kristine would never overstay her welcome. In fact, Gloria found herself wishing Kristine had stayed longer.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kristine fixed a worried eye to the lightning snaking across the black sky. The thick cloud cover almost made the early afternoon look like sundown. It felt like a reprimand for the slip in her resolve. The entire summer had rolled along with bright skies until she gave in to her desire to kiss Gloria. As if the storm wasn’t signal enough, she was also stuck in the backcountry for the afternoon helping Dozer set up his camp above Shadow Lake. He was so sick that morning throwing up repeatedly that he’d barely been able to load up his animals. He had asked Leo to send her in until he had his camp under control. Dozer never asked for help, especially not from her. The feeling she got when she was headed the wrong direction on an unfamiliar trail crept into her belly.

  She carried an empty leather pannier, half of one of the sets they used for packing much of their gear into the backcountry, from the kitchen. She walked by Dozer chopping on an old log to gather wood for his party and listening to the thunk of the ax succeeded by a string of swearing. Suddenly, she stopped, hearing a familiar voice, a voice that zinged a delicious shiver through her body. She closed her eyes remembering the feel of the speaker’s lips against her own.

  “Dozer?”

  The chopping stopped. “Hey, Ms. Fisher. Lookin’ for bears?”

  “Sounded like you were losing a fight, so I thought I’d investigate,” Gloria answered.

  Kristine smiled reflexively and bounded up the last hill to join them. “If I scream bear, will you shoot him in the ass?” she teased.

  Dozer scowled at Kristine. “You going to carry more wood or do some more sissy chopping, Teeny?”

  “Keep calling me Teeny, and I’ll shoot you myself,” she said, snatching the ax from him. She aimed at the log in front of her, trying to avoid looking at Gloria for fear of betraying the guilt and disappointment she felt. It was challenging, as she looked irresistible in her official uniform, her hair pulled through the forest-green cap. The original plan was to get in earlier and be the one to cook dinner for them both, but that was before she’d been sent out to Dozer’s camp. “I’m not exactly sure how late I’m going to be tonight,” she said in what she hoped was an offhand voice.

  “That’s all right. I don’t mind cooking again,” Gloria said with much too much pleasure in her voice. Clearly, she was remembering the advantage she had on her home court.

  “Again!” Dozer inserted. “You and the bear lady, huh?”

  Kristine shot Dozer a look that silenced him. “We’ve got wood to stock, the horses to put up,” Kristine pulled the ball cap she was wearing down on her forehead, wiped her palms on her jeans and swung again at a thick branch in front of her.

  “Tarps to string up,” Dozer wheezed, rubbing at his beard. “But she’ll still beat your ass out traveling without mules or guests.”

  “Fat chance. You underestimate how fast I travel,” Gloria said.

  “Yeah, I’d be hightailing it if I saw Teeny on my trail, too,” Dozer retorted. Before Kristine could insert that she wasn’t chasing Gloria, he growled, “Give me that ax before you chip it all to hell.”

  Kristine loaded up the pannier with her chopped wood, and tipped her chin toward the kitchen, inviting Gloria to follow her. They passed the stock tied in a cluster of trees, unbothered by the storm, heads down, ears pointing at loose angles. Gloria first smelled and then heard the pop of the campfire and stopped short when they emerged at the kitchen Sandy was in the process of setting up. Behind two tables set together in an L, she shelved pots and pans in pack boxes she’d stacked three high. Her produce was neatly arranged in an expanding net shelf hung from a tree.

  “Think you’ll be cooking in the rain tonight?” Kristine asked, dropping the wood by the cooking fire.

  “I hope not.” Sandy dug in a different bag. “Oh, good. Here’s my camp slippers.” She sat on one of the coolers and pulled off her boots to replace them with sneakers. “Where’s Mooch?” she asked Gloria.

  “Mooch?”

  “The ranger we usually run into out here.”

  “Oh, I’m not checking permits. I’m out here collecting samples. Leo said you guys had a bear visit, and the ranger’s reported more encounters too. I want to see if see if it’s one animal or if there’s a high concentration of bears. That might push them to compete for natural food and turn to campers to supplement.”

  “Well, I packed extra chicken for tonight. The ranger always seems to show up right around dinner time.”

  “With the spread you’ve got going, I don’t blame him.” Gloria smiled.

  “Help yourself. Like I said, I’ve got plenty.” To Kristine she said, “Th
ree more bags should get us through breakfast tomorrow, and I can chop for dinner. Usually Dozer won’t let me touch his gear, but he’s sure not up to it.”

  “What’s wrong with him?” Gloria asked. “He sounds like he’s dying.”

  “He says it’s food poisoning. I made him take me up the mountain for dinner in town. Says I’m trying to kill him by not cooking for him.”

  “How many days are you out?”

  “Just five. We’ll do two days here, one at Ruby, then a few at Shadow.”

  “Will he make it?”

  “He’ll be fine. Luckily, this is a base camp. We’ll be here the whole time because this group wants to fish along Shadow Creek.”

  “You need a hand?” Gloria asked.

  “That’s okay,” Kristine replied. “I’ve got it.”

  Gloria shrugged out of her knapsack. “If I hike in now, I’ll be home early enough that I’ll have to do my own work. I don’t mind pitching in.”

  “You sure? If you’re truly game, I’ll show you where Dozer wants the animals picketed.” Kristine grabbed two lashropes, and they tromped back through the trees to where the animals stood. “You really want to give up your head start?”

  Gloria wrapped her arms around Kristine’s waist. “What if my motives are selfish? What if I’m just trying to get you back to the Aspens earlier?”

  Lightning zigzagged through the sky, lighting up the blue of Gloria’s eyes. Her gaze dropped to Gloria’s lips, and she remembered how good it felt to kiss them and how easy it would be to close the distance and kiss her again. She stepped back abruptly.

  “Are you okay?” Gloria asked.

  “Fine,” Kristine lied. Why hadn’t she stepped away last night and kept her focus? “Just thinking of how much work there’s left to do.” She showed Gloria how to loosen the latigo on the cinch and pull the saddle off. Gloria continued while Kristine strung one of the lashropes high between two trees. “I’d better get some more wood to the kitchen. You’re okay unsaddling the rest?” she asked once she’d tied the animals to the picket. She needed to put some distance between herself and Gloria who assured her that she was up to the task. Kristine jogged back down to the kitchen and swiped the pannier, wishing she’d remembered to take it when they went to set up the pickets. She tried to dodge by Sandy unnoticed.