by Tina Gayle
Enchanted, she noted the warrior’s quick pause. His head turned as if hearing something in the distance. A sound only he could hear. Then he continued his battle, and then paused again.
The dancer walked to center stage and dropped to one knee. He laid the swords at his sides and lowered his head as if in prayer. Slowly he lifted his head, his face full of awe. Marohka shared his feelings of amazement. The wonders of love captured his attention. His gaze showed a loving devotion any woman could not help but honor.
He picked up his left sword and offered it to the love of his life. She wanted to reach out and accept it, wishing in her heart she could be worthy of such a love. The warrior laid his gift on the ground in front of him. Tears fell, and she wondered if she’d ever find such a priceless gift.
He reclaimed his right sword, and the dance continued. With each triumph a cry of joy sounded, with each defeat the tip of the warrior’s sword touched the ground. Waves of emotions swept over her.
The dancer did a flip and landed sprawled on the ground. She laughed and felt the joy of parenthood. The warrior laid a knife for each child born beside the sword in the middle of the field. She shared the successes and failures of Zook’s life.
Fascinated by the action and the emotions when the warrior suddenly fell to the ground, she felt every muscle in her body jerk to attention. He lay motionless in the dirt. She wondered about the dancer’s health and started to rise. Stihl’s hand kept her in her seat.
Then it hit her—Zook’s battle was over.
A life lost.
Thoughts of her own death hit her in the gut. Had she achieved everything she’d hoped to? No, her mind screamed. Grief tightened its grip on her chest. She buried her face against Stihl’s shoulder His arms encircled her, drawing her into his warmth.
Cold, so very cold, her heart bled with pain. Tears streamed down her face. They lacked the ability to wash away the loss of someone’s life. Her father’s decision to sell the company pierced her plans for the future. The defeat of not securing her own dream increased her agony. She edged closer to Stihl, needing him in a way she’d never needed anyone else in her life.
“You’ve never seen a warrior’s dance before, have you?” he whispered in her ear.
With a deep breath, she wiped the moisture from her face. “Only when my grandfather died, and then I was little.”
He drew her onto his lap. The people around them stood and folded up their stools. “It’s a very moving experience.”
She raised her head to look into his eyes. “I never cry. I don’t giggle. In the last two days, I’ve done both.”
His smile warmed some of the ice tentacles holding her heart. “Just helping you broaden your horizons.”
“Hey, Lukes, why don’t we step inside?” Cyd’s neon blue hair glistened against the darken sky. “It’s cold out here, and it’ll probably start raining any iton now.”
“I agree.” She stood. “I’ve almost frozen into a solid block of ice.”
They walked across the complex, making their way with the rest of the crowd to the main building.
They entered the rest-din to the dim roar of a room full of people. Every table full, men stood around in small groups talking. At the far end of the room, a line formed for the buffet table, which sat laden with food. The appetizing aroma hit her senses, and her stomach grumbled.
They followed Cyd and wove their way through the room to Upton and Gang’s table. Once there, they found a few available seats.
Gang’s youthful face greeted them. “We were beginning to wonder if you were coming inside.”
“Is it always this crowded?” Cyd asked over the noise.
“No, it’ll settle down once everyone gets some food. The first set of miners will be heading out to the mine soon.” Upton nodded his greeting to someone in the distance.
Marohka didn’t bother to look around. “Where’s Guilio?”
“He’s in a meeting”—Gang glanced at Stihl—“with the other buyer. They’ve been at it a while.”
Stihl changed the subject. “Any word, yet, as to how the fire started in our cabin?”
She peeked at him and wondered if he was worried about his bid. He had seemed confident yesterday.
“The fire team thinks the problem involves the insulation around the fire stone. It was worn.” Gang frowned. “This camp has a lot of old equipment.”
“We’re sending the heating unit to an advisor in Central City. He should be able to tell us what went wrong.” Upton’s gaze stayed on the door.
Stihl frowned. He didn’t like the answer, or the lack of answers he was getting. “I’d like to see the results.”
“I’ll tell Guilio to forward the report to you.” Upton stood. “It looks like the food line is moving.”
* * * *
The room’s noise level dropped to a low hum by the time Guilio walked into the rest-den. Marohka noticed a light spring in his uneven gate, and his wrinkled face broke into a crooked grin. She wondered at the source of his joy, but before she could ask, Upton spoke. “Are you finally finished?”
“Yes, just made the deal of a lifetime.” Guilio slapped Upton on the back. “Sorry, Stihl, but I accepted another offer.”
Stihl shrugged at the news. “Got what you wanted?”
“With a little give-and-take.” Guilio glanced at her, his eyes bright, his voice cheerful. “My prior investors will receive one percent of the mine while I’ll have ten. The rest girlie, is pure gold. Enough, I might add, to retire.”
He sat down. “Your dad, Marohka, will get a buyout bonus.”
“Sounds like a great deal,” Stihl answered.
“He raked me over the rocks,” a voice said from behind Guilio.
She bolted to her feet. “Almon, what are you doing here?”
“I’m the new buyer.”
“You?” Her mind raced with how he could afford to do this type of deal. “How?”
His heated gaze swept along her body. “The same way your mate planned to do it. I seduced investors.”
She stared at him. Her mind forced the pieces together. “Are you also planning to make a bid for Taunton Minerals?”
“Yes. Are you afraid I’ll put you out of a job?”
“No.” She gritted her teeth to keep from reacting to the sinister smirk on his face.
Guilio removed a chew stick from his pocket. “You’d be lucky to get this girl. She can work anywhere.”
“Who are you?” Stihl stood and slipped his arm around Marohka’s waist.
Almon held his forearm out cordially to Stihl. “That’s right. We haven’t met. I’m Almon Pepin.”
They gripped each others forearms in front of her. One tall and broad, the other thin and meek, but she didn’t bother doing an in-depth comparison. More was going on here than the posturing of two men. Something didn’t add up. Almon knew she’d predicted this mine could have the largest deposit ever. He shouldn’t have the right to bid on the mine.
“Let’s sit down.” Almon retrieved a chair from another table and set it between Marohka and Upton.
Unhappy to be anywhere close to Almon, she shifted her chair closer to Stihl.
“You want some food?” Guilio nodded at a server.
“Sounds good.” Almon’s face glowed with his recent victory.
The questions running through her head rang louder than the talk buzzing around the table. How could he defy her father and use his knowledge about the mine to start his own investment group? Her father considered him a trusted employee. What else was he hiding?
Missing pieces fell in place. Government permits were part of his job. Was he the reason for so many delays? He also had access to all the reports, equipment needs, and output goals. Did he sabotage the mine to pick it up cheap? No, that didn’t sound right. If Guilio received a great price, something else had to be in the mix. What?
She focused on Upton’s guilty face. “What else haven’t you told us?”
The talk around the table
stopped. Upton’s gaze darted to Almon. Everyone else turned to her. “What else did you find in the mine?” She stabbed at another link in the chain. “What other resource?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Upton looked at everyone but her.
“Sure you do. I never got the core sample I requested.” She pointed her finger at his chest. “Instead, I received excuses.”
“I sent the sample to your office,” Gang piped in.
“I never received it.” Her gaze shifted to Almon. “Did you?”
Almon’s fingers stroked his mustache. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The cocky fool thought he could hide his deception. Did he think she was blind? She jumped to her feet. “Don’t lie to me. There’s been too many problems with this mine. You and Upton have been behind them all.”
“Now, girly, don’t turn nasty.” Guilio shook his head. “Just because I sold the mine to someone other than your mate, you shouldn’t get upset.”
Steam rising within her, she recognized the burn in her face. She drew in a deep breath and pointed her finger at the two men. “Guilio, these two men lied to you. Between the two of them, they’ve done nothing but cause problems for this mine. Almon is in charge of governmental permits. Upton reviews all reports and directs the dig.”
She turned to Gang. “Didn’t you tell me this morning production has increased now that we’ve started digging at the new location?”
“Yes, but the reports were off,” he said.
“No, Upton was feeding you bad data.” She stared at him. “Right?”
“Marohka . . .” Upton started.
Almon cut him off. “I believe your mate must have warped your brain. I’ve heard sex can do that to a headstrong woman.”
His sly smile lit her fury. She clenched her fists and retreated a step to gain some room to strike. “Wrong. At every point where the things fell apart, either you or Upton were in charge of the process.”
Stihl’s hand landed on her shoulder. “Marohka, you can’t prove anything.”
“Want to bet?” She spat out, angry at the truth. “I may not have proof right now”—she glanced at Upton, then at Almon—“but I’ll get it. As of today, I want you both off this site.”
Almon rose to his feet. “Sorry, can’t comply. I’m one of the new owners. I have a right to be here.”
She surged forward, ready to pound his smiling face with her fist. Stihl grabbed her around the waist. He stopped her forward momentum, and she missed her mark. Almon stepped back untouched.
“Such a temper,” he admonished.
The other men at the table drew back. A few rose to their feet.
“She must be amazing in bed,” Almon continued with a raise of his eyebrow. “I’d love to hear all about it, Stihl.”
“I think you should be quiet,” Upton cautioned and stepped away from the table.
“You better take your friend’s advice.” Stihl shoved her behind him and blocked her path with his shoulder and forearm.
“Don’t worry, Stihl. I can handle Marohka. She would’ve been my mate, if I’d truly wanted it.” Almon’s mustache turned up at the corners, and he offered a sickly smile.
Marohka gagged. “In your dreams.” She fought past Stihl.
“Yes, well, it could’ve happened, but I don’t happen to have a daddy like his.” Almon nodded his head at Stihl.
Almon’s baiting comment dangled in the air, and she swallowed the lure. “What does Stihl’s dad have to do with anything?”
“Oh, don’t tell me you didn’t know?” His grin widened, his teeth showing white under his black mustache.
“I think you’d better shut up,” Stihl snapped.
What,” Almon goaded Stihl, “are you afraid I’m going to tell her your father reserved her for . . .
the . . . last . . . eight years?” He drew out the last of his sentence and stroked his mustache.
The muscles in Stihl’s arm bunched under her hand. “You can’t reserve a mate.”
“Well, most of us can’t, but then our fathers aren’t on the Council of Elders.” Almon sneered.
“But why would he do such a thing?” Her anger at him faltered with this news.
“That’s enough,” Stihl barked.
She looked at him to test the truth of Almon’s words. Stihl’s brief glance at her confirmed his guilt. Almon spoke the truth.
“Really, I’d think she’d want to know she’s expected to save Ridge Rock.” Almon’s gaze shifted to Stihl. “Haven’t you told her about your family’s mine?”
“No,” Stihl whispered, his voice ominous.
Stepping away from him, she glanced between him and Almon, uncertain which represented the bigger cheat.
“Too bad.” Almon’s voice rang with false sympathy. “Poor Marohka, looks like you’ve found another man like your father. He only wants to use your talent to help himself.” His tone mocked her. “I hope you didn’t believe he actually loved you.”
Stihl surged forward. His right hand landed a punch to Almon’s ribs. “You have no idea what I feel for her.”
He towered over his intended victim. Almon stumbled backward and upturned a few chairs.
“Tell me, since you’re so innocent”—Stihl’s words dripped with venom—“were you also involved with Zook’s death?”
“Stihl.” Guilio removed his chew stick. “What would he have to gain by killing Zook?”
“Who knows? Maybe Zook threatened to expose him.” Stihl matched every step the man in front of him took.
The set angle of Stihl’s jaw proved he’d drawn his own conclusions. No amount of arguing could change it. His fist flew through the air to connect with Almon’s face.
Chapter Fifteen
Almon swerved. The blow missed. Stihl recovered quickly and nailed his prey. Almon circled behind a table blocking off Stihl’s attack, but couldn’t halt his progress. He knocked the table over, and it flew out of the way.
The arrogant attitude Almon showed earlier faded, his cowardly colors shining through. “I had nothing to do with Zook’s death. I wasn’t even here.”
“What about the fire in our cabin?” Stihl accused. “Maybe you wanted to get me out of the way?”
“I didn’t start the fire.” Almon retreated and backed himself into a wall. “I just arrived and was down at the corral. Guilio, tell him.”
“Look, Stihl, you don’t have any proof. Anyone could’ve done it.”
The roar in Stihl’s ears and the anger pulsing through his system wouldn’t let him give into the argument. His fist flew through the air landing against the soft flesh of Almon’s face. The hard cheekbone groaned in protest itons before his head snapped back from the impact.
Stihl grunted and followed the force of the blow. His arm reached its limit, and he shifted his weight to add extra power to the strike. Almon fell back against the wall. With his opponent’s exit blocked, Stihl closed in. Aimed for retribution, he drove his hands with precision. Stomach, chest, face, each took their blows.
The man’s crimes ran through Stihl’s mind with each punch. One landed for Almon trying to poison Marohka. Two for her alba-ox plunging over the cliff. Three, four, for the poisonous snake in her bed and starting a fire in their cabin. Stihl added power to his blow for Almon outbidding him on the Trisar deal and killing Zook.
“Enough, buddy. If you keep it up you’ll kill him,” a voice echoed.
An arm tightened around Stihl’s neck. He stepped back. Almon fell to the floor, blood dripping from his mouth and nose.
“I know you’re involved with what’s been happening to Marohka, and if I find any proof . . .” Stihl let his threat hang in the air.
“Better leave the boy alone.” Guilio gripped his hand around Stihl’s arm. “You’ve gotten your piece of flesh. Now you better worry about damage control.”
“He could be behind Zook’s death,” Stihl argued, “or he might be the one who poisoned Marohka.”
“You can’t prove it.” Guilio bit down on his chew stick. “Right now, you better worry about her. She looked very angry when she left.”
Stihl turned and stared at the older man. “What are you talking about?”
Guilio glanced at the door. “If I know Marohka, she’s probably long gone.”
Stihl turned to his friend. “Cyd?”
“I was watching the fight.” Cyd raced for the door.
“Great, why can’t she learn to stay put?”
