“I can’t help but think my marriage would’ve been saved if I wasn’t home as much as I was,” Jackson said. “She got to know me too well, and then she thought I was—” It was his turn to trail off into painful memories.
“Was what?”
“Predictable.” His voice cracked.
“Predictable?” She laughed. “You’re anything but that. I mean, heaven sakes, I woke up with hammering on my roof at two in the morning and now we’re chasing bears. You’re quite the adventurer.”
Jackson’s smile flowed right into her heart and lasted until they made their way to the entrance of Yellowstone. The line to get in was nonexistent. She sat up taller in her seat as the admittance clerk handed them a free map and pamphlets. “I can’t believe I’m finally here.”
He smiled. “Is this a big dream?”
“You could say that,” she answered. She buried her hand in her purse, fumbling through her pencils, pens, and tissues until she found a flashlight. The day had lightened up, but it still wasn’t bright enough to see the printed word. Twisting the end piece of the flashlight, she lit the pamphlet and thumbed through the pages. “Where are we going?”
“Lamar Valley.”
She unfolded the map, flipping the light over it. “We came in the west gate, right?”
“Lamar is up north and east.”
Her flashlight scanned the red lines on the map. After going over it carefully three different times, she asked, “Where?”
“I thought you’d never ask. Lamar’s right—” He leaned over to point.
She snatched the paper away. “I’ll do it myself,” she said, not liking his condescending tone. She continued to look over the sites for Lamar as Jackson chuckled. Eventually she did manage to find Lamar. “Here it is. Not very big, is it?”
“It doesn’t have to be a big tourist site for bears.” He flipped on a country radio station, the volume low. “Actually, Fishing Bridge used to be a major tourist area. The park’s closing it down. They built it before biologists realized they’d built on a major bear spot.”
“You’d think they would have figured that out before they started building,” Camille said.
“A government agency is a government agency.”
She chuckled. “Isn’t that the truth.”
“Don’t you mean ain’t?” He’d referred to yesterday. A day she never wanted to remember. “Did I offend you?” he asked. “Maybe I should exercise some mince in my language.”
“Mince?”
“Yes, mince. It means to use restraint with words to the bound of decorum,” he said, laughing.
“I deserved that. I was a fool yesterday. You must think I’m the worst oaf you’ve ever met.”
“Oaf? That’s an interesting word choice.”
“I know it’s dated, but it’s the best description I can come up with.”
“You shouldn’t feel that way. We all have bad days.”
“Mine happen to arrive every Halloween and Friday the Thirteenth.”
“Superstition doesn’t explain that.”
She stared at him, and he turned his gaze to her. His brown eyes reflected something she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Anger? Irritation? Hurt? She was unsure and felt tremendous relief when he looked away. “What makes you so sure?” she asked.
“My mom was a fanatic about that stuff.”
“Like how?”
He didn’t answer her for a long time, and when he did, his voice had grown sharp and terse. “I don’t want to talk about it.” That statement chilled the conversation. Jackson must have noticed her discomfort because he said, “Sorry. Just more bad memories.”
“That’s fine.” She tapped the map. “Anyway, I was wondering what some interesting sites are to watch for.”
“We don’t have time to stop.”
“Okay, then, can you tell me what I’m missing?”
“Sure. The biggest thing would probably be Mammoth Hot Springs. They have incredible travertine terraces that make you feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“That pretty, huh?”
“Yeah, and the fact that all the mountains are white. It’s really something when clouds come and settle on them. The old name for Mammoth was White Mountains.”
“Why’d they change it?”
“I don’t know.”
“I bet there were lots of mammoths around this area,” Camille said. “Can you imagine hunting one of those huge beasts? Indians must’ve had nerves of stone. I could never have done it.”
“You’re underestimating yourself. You could do it if it meant feeding your family.”
Mountains loomed around them protectively, and she felt an increase in her pulse from his compliment. In an effort to gain control over the nerves pounding inside her head, she crossed her legs. The map slid. She grabbed at it. “What else am I missing?”
“Nothing.”
With her flashlight, she followed the thin, dark-red line on the map that represented the road they were traveling. “Ah, Sheepeaters’ Cliff. That must be quite a view. Do they think that’s where the Sheepeaters stayed?”
“I don’t know anything about it. I only know I haven’t felt this alive in years.” He guided the car onto the shoulder of the road.
“Are we already there?” Camille asked with a high pitch.
He glanced into her hazel eyes and smiled. His eyes went to her hair, and she wonder if it looked funny or something. “Nope.”
“Then what we are doing?” She pulled her cardigan tighter around her.
“Come on.” He climbed out of the car.
“What’s going on? Is something wrong?” Austin asked, coming from the truck behind them to Camille’s side of the car. His father opened the back door of the car.
“It’s beyond me,” Camille said. “You’ll have to ask your father. He’s acting mysterious.”
“Not that mysterious. Will all of you walk to the pine tree that’s being swallowed up by the fir?”
“I’d rather be shot over there.” Darlene pointed to a tree about four feet in front of the Britain’s car.
“If I have to die,” Austin said, “kill me in front of my truck.”
“Isn’t that obsessive?” Darlene asked. “Wanting to die with your vehicle by your side?”
“Not by my side, behind me,” Austin said.
Jackson set up the camera equipment, smiling as Camille watched.
The group gathered close, Camille standing in the middle with Darlene on one side and Austin on the other where Jackson would join him. He pressed the timer and rushed to stand behind Austin, squeezing his head in between Camille and his son. Camille was looking at him when the flash snapped, and she saw him wink at the camera. “Thank you, guys. Now back to the bears.”
After getting back into the car, Camille asked, “What was that little excursion?”
“I want to remember the trip.”
“You could’ve done it when we got to the site.”
“That’s predictable.”
She laughed. “You’re anything but that.”
Jackson looked pleased. He looked at Camille again and smiled, sending a flush of heat through her body. Maybe she’d also want to have a picture to remember this day.
* * *
When he’d collected his camera material, Jackson flipped on his cell phone so he could check if Maggie had called again. With everything happening so fast, he hadn’t had time to call her back. That was only half true. He could’ve made some excuse and given her a quick call, but he wasn’t sure if he was up for that yet. What would he say to her? He carried his camera equipment into the trunk as he dialed his voice messages, but his cell phone was still searching for a signal. He’d have to try again later. Maggie wouldn’t like it if he didn’t respond soon.
He paused before slamming shut the trunk, seeing Camille standing by the passenger door. She looked exquisite. It would be nice to have just a picture of her alone. She didn’t see him as predictable. She wasn’t
at all like Maggie, and he was enjoying being with her more than he would admit.
He took the shot and winked at her as she blinked in surprise. “I couldn’t resist,” he said.
She flushed, looking even prettier. This, Jackson thought, is working up to be a pretty good day.
* * *
Darlene climbed into the car and slammed the door. “Your dad’s a real creep.”
Austin shot her an irritated glance. He was in no mood for this. “Why do you say that?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know, Mr. He’s-Going-To-Get-Back-Together-With-My-Mom!” She flicked the vanilla scented Christmas tree hanging from the rearview mirror.
“He is.”
“If he loves your mother and plans to marry her again, then he has some nerve carrying on with my mom!”
“Sorry, Ms. Moral Police, but your mom shouldn’t be batting her eyes at him. For heaven’s sakes, she’s old enough to be a mom.” Austin stopped the Christmas air freshener from swinging.
“She is a mom.”
“Proves my point.”
“You have no point. It was your dad who put his arm around her for the picture. And what was all that at the car about not being able to resist taking her picture?”
“I bet she cast a womanly spell on him.” He revved up the engine again.
“Womanly spell?”
“You know what I’m talking about. That spell you girls use as a secret weapon against us poor, innocent men.”
“Well, Mister-Know-It-All, how does it work?”
“I don’t know. I told you it was a secret. All the women in the world have banded together and promised not to tell any male the source of its power.”
Darlene rolled her eyes. “Would you get real? It’s your dad causing the trouble.”
“What’s he done?”
“Like you don’t know. He’s leading my mom on, telling her he’s free when he’s not. If he’s planning to get back with your mom, he has no business taking pictures of my mom and staring at her like a lovesick cow. Hardly innocent behavior if you ask me.”
Austin pressed his foot on the gas and tore down the road.
“What are you doing?” Darlene grasped the dashboard.
“Having a little fun.”
“Come on, slow down.”
“Are you chicken?” He swerved in front of his dad’s car.
“Not in the slightest.” She squared her shoulders. “I can handle anything you dish out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
He pressed on the gas as the truck shifted gears. The speedometer inched up higher as the truck shook. Loud, long honking blared from Camille’s car. Austin looked through the back window and saw their parents signaling them to stop.
“You better let them in front,” Darlene said.
“Calling it quits?” he asked, taking his foot off the gas petal.
“Heck no. I have nerves of steel. I’ll challenge you to a new competition.”
“Like what?” Austin asked.
“Don’t know.”
He grinned. “I’ll find something. But until then, why don’t we call a truce and stop fighting about our parents?”
“Why?”
“’Cause we both want the same thing. We could work together.”
“What is it we both want?”
“For our parents not to get together.” Austin looked at Darlene. She was so hot when she was happy, and when she was angry, with her long hair bouncing, she was completely irresistible. His girlfriend back home wouldn’t like him going to Yellowstone with someone this attractive.
“Deal. What do you have in mind?”
“I’m not sure yet, but we’ll come up with something.”
* * *
“We’re here.”
Jackson’s voice held an anxious excitement, but the words had a different effect on Camille. Panic seemed to swell and bubble inside her. What if they got too close to the bears? What if the bears sensed her fear and it drew them to her like moths to a porch light?
“Their feeding ground is across the gully,” he said. Soothing reassurance seemed to radiate from him.
This startled Camille. His words and looks peered into her soul as though he could read her mind. No, that wasn’t exactly right. He had the ability to connect with her soul, knowing her inner vulnerabilities, and he studied her weakness like a doctor examining symptoms, compiling a prescription for her, as well as treating her with his gaze. He gave her a blend of compassion and harmony.
The combination immediately seeped into her being and relieved her ache, vanquishing her fear and replacing it with subtle calmness. This experience surprised Camille. How could this man could see inside her with such understanding? Did he have a magical ability to see more than the trappings of her physical body? He seemed to break right through all her barriers, making his way around her hurts, flaws, and weaknesses to find her core, her goodness. Respect and honor flowed from him as if he’d found a glorious light, a glorious being, buried inside her. Baffled, Camille stood frozen, struck as a jet of energy hit her. She didn’t reject it as would be her normal impulse. Instead, she accepted the honor and respect he gave her, unashamed.
“Wow!” She thought she heard him whisper. Heat exploded through her, but she was lost and didn’t know how to respond. She ended up not doing anything because at that moment Darlene flopped her arm around her, tugging her forward, straight through a clump of sage.
“Excuse us,” her daughter said to Jackson, “we need to go hunting for the little girl’s room.”
Before Camille could get a word out, they staggered far enough away from Jackson that unless Camille yelled, he wouldn’t hear anything she said. Had she imagined the understanding and compassion she felt from him? Never before had she experienced anything like that. Why had she experienced such a connection with him, of all people?
She wrapped her hand around her daughter’s slender frame, abruptly remembering her earlier concern. “Mind telling me what you were thinking when you told a man who’s old enough to be your father that he’s ‘hot?’”
“What?” Darlene asked, using a sarcastic trill. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed, Ms. Blush.”
This jab caught Camille up short. Her daughter was baiting, trying to redirect her attention. Time to shuffle a sidestep. “Why was Austin driving like a madman? Was he trying to get you killed?”
“Gee, Mom, relax. You’re always overacting. He was just showing off what his truck could do.”
They talked on about young adults and their impulses until they returned to where Austin and Jackson waited for them. A ranger was pointing at a group of trees. “Just saw some grizzlies feeding down in that terrain yesterday. I’m sure they’re still around.”
Camille stepped up to Jackson, watching his reaction. He seemed genuinely pleased to see her. He gave her a sideways glance. Suddenly she was bumped and had to take a step back to maintain her balance. It was Darlene, who had squeezed between her and Jackson. Why would she do that? Normally, she’d be excited to play matchmaker.
“Dad,” Austin said. He squatted several yards away near a clump of pine trees, fiddling with the camera equipment. “I need your help.”
Darlene tugged Camille’s arm. “Mom, why don’t we ditch these two? They have a car. They don’t need us.”
“I thought you wanted to see a bear.”
“I do. I mean for us to leave after we see one.”
“What’s the problem? Did something bad happen between you and Austin? Did he—?”
“Calm down. Nothing bad happened. Austin’s nice enough, but I think we’d have more fun together—just you and me.”
Something wasn’t right. “But I thought you’d enjoy having someone around your age. Not to mention good looking.”
“He’s not that cute.”
“Oh, come on. You were telling me how gorgeous his father was, and Austin looks just like him—only a younger, improved version.
”
Darlene struggled to hide any reaction but failed miserably.
“I can tell you agree,” Camille said. “I’d have better luck on my research if we travel with someone who knows about the place. Let’s stick around for a while.”
Jackson signaled to her. She joined him, and Darlene trudged behind her. When she reached the men, Jackson handed her a pair of binoculars and gave another set to her daughter.
“We’ll be safe, I promise,” Jackson whispered close to Camille’s ear. A shiver spread through her from the faint, warm touch of his breath.
“Hey, Dad,” Austin said, sliding between the two of them.
“What?”
“What kind of film do you want me to put in? The two hundred or four?”
“Two. You know that.”
“Time for bear watching,” the ranger said. “Keep your eyes on the trees.”
“How do you know what to look for?” Camille asked.
“Black spots. They’ll be hunting for pine nuts. A crucial food source this time of year.”
“Why?” Darlene asked.
“It gives them fat for hibernation,” Austin answered.
Camille glanced at Austin, thinking that it wouldn’t hurt to be nice. “You know about bears, too?”
“I’m taking classes from the Yellowstone Institute.”
“That’s right, your father told us,” Camille said. “What kind of classes can you take?”
“All types. Canoeing, mammal tracking, photography, bird calls, the Nez Perce, wolves, history of the park, ecosystem, and, of course, bear watching.”
Camille observed Darlene to see if there was any sign of interest. Her daughter’s face held a blank stare. “Interesting subjects. Do you like them?” Camille asked Austin.
“They’re cool. The best thing about them is I get to learn the things I want and receive college credit.”
“What’s your major?”
“Not sure yet. I’m thinking about business or law.”
“Wow. That’s a long way from those courses,” Camille said.
“I know, but a scientist or ranger doesn’t really rake in the bucks. There’s a cabin at Bill’s Island that I’m going to buy someday. It’s huge. Have you seen it?”
“I don’t know,” Camille answered.
The Superstitious Romance Page 8
