She wanted to ask how could he be so strong, but decided against it. This would be their last hurrah, and she hoped to keep everything on an even keel.
"Let's take a break on that rock," she suggested, and he didn't argue.
She retrieved a chunk of cheese, an apple, a dried Italian sausage, and a small, sharp knife from her backpack, then carved slices and passed them to James. He needed the calories after their trek, and everything tasted delicious.
"I like your resourcefulness," he said between bites.
"I brought extra waters too, so don't hesitate to drink up."
A small palm provided shelter from the rising sun, keeping their spot cool. They chatted as they ate, exchanging information in a free and easy manner. Landi seemed completely comfortable for the first time since he'd met her.
"What was going to school at the academy like?" she asked, remembering the bio the announcer referred to last night.
"A whole lot of testosterone!" he joked. "A good experience, but tough too. It prepared me for my service, and I made good friends. One even reminds me of you, Ireland."
"Oh, thanks. I've always wanted to be compared to a sailor," she said.
"Not in those ways, Kumquat."
"Excuse me?"
"Never mind. You mentioned an interest in geology, so why are you taking classes at the Gemology Institute? Wouldn't college be better?"
"Maybe, but I've got to take one step at a time. I'm on the first of a two-year program. After I graduate and find a job, I hope to go back to school part-time—get a real degree. In the meantime, I have a scholarship and a weekend job at the Institute, as well as working for your sister."
"You really work hard, Landi. It's admirable."
"Thank you," she replied, another blush flushing her cheeks.
"So, your sister tells me you dated Kiki. What happened?" she ventured, averting her eyes to the spring.
"Ah, that again. I don't know why everyone keeps bringing that up. It was almost a year ago, and she's moved on with that cowboy."
"The tall, handsome man from the reception?"
"Ugh, he's not that tall. He's only got a couple of inches on me!"
Landi shot him a dubious look. James cleared six foot with room to spare, but Kiki's beau seemed to tower above everyone else.
"We hit it off and spent some time together. Nothing serious. She didn't want me to re-enlist, and I couldn't understand why she wouldn't wait for me. It broke us up."
They both stared at the water and said nothing for a while.
"What would you do, Ireland?" he asked in a low tone.
"What do you mean?"
"If you cared about someone, wouldn't you wait for them if you loved them?"
She risked a glance in his direction. He stared intently at her and held her gaze for a moment. She inhaled a long, slow breath of warm oxygen. It must be approaching noon.
"If I loved a person, I would wait—or follow them."
He flashed her his grin, pleased with the girl's answer.
"Just don't follow a man unless you're married. Guys lie about their intentions all the time, you know."
"So I gather." Landi paused before continuing. "You know, your family has been really wonderful to me. Your dad even came down from Palmdale a couple of times to take me to lunch and check in on me when Katrina had to go out of town for business and I held down the fort."
She lifted an eyebrow in his direction. Her expression revealed there was more to tell.
"And?"
"And I've ridden in your father's car several times. I know the make and model."
Her words hung in the air as James tried to figure out her meaning. Then it dawned on him. She had spotted him watching her with Douglas last night!
"Why, you little minx!" he exclaimed, lunging for her.
Landi tried unsuccessfully to wriggle away while James first tickled her, just like he'd done to Kate growing up, then pinned her to the boulder, her backpack beneath her torso, elevating her chest in a seductive manner in spite of her innocence. His feelings quickly shifted out of the brotherly range. The slow burn he'd been feeling for the girl since they first met exploded into a conflagration.
God, I want to kiss her.
He removed the comb from her head and mussed her hair, allowing waves of luxurious curls to spill over her shoulders and splay across the boulder. Her silky tresses were heaven to touch.
"I don't know if I should kiss you or spank you," he growled.
She giggled as James lowered his head to capture her lips. He'd kiss that smug smile right off her face.
"Underestimated me, didn't you?" she said in a monotone just before his mouth closed on hers.
James froze, startled by her words, then rolled off the girl, who sat up, laughing.
He'd been certain she'd yield. No other woman had ever spurned his kiss. He had underestimated her, in more ways than one, and the thought troubled him.
"Are you angry?" he asked, still reeling from her lack of interest in him and her observation skills—the kind of skills most people learned during special training.
"That depends on why you were there," she replied, matter-of-factly.
"All right," he said, leaping to his feet and pulling her with him. "Show me these rocks you're so in love with!" James waved his arms about in a wild manner as he spoke, regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth. But, he wasn't going to explain his reasons for spying on her and Douglas.
Ireland's expression said it all as one side of her mouth twisted towards her ear and she raised her eyebrows. The girl's mental prowess and powers of observation meant he'd have to be more careful in the future.
After switching back into her boots, she said, "This way, Rockhound," and headed towards one of the piles of stones that lined the canyon walls. Her sarcastic tone revealed she knew he'd fibbed about his interest in fossils.
She stooped to pick up a rock with a pointed end, checking to see how well it fit in her hand, and continued towards the stacks of loose stones. Landi began to work her way up one of the slopes as small pebbles shifted under her feet. Her position proved precarious, and she dropped to all fours, continuing up the hill.
"Here's a good one!" she yelled, glancing over her shoulder.
Jim remained several yards behind, still upright.
She turned over and sat down, waiting for him to join her. She held a round stone in her hand, about the size of a softball, and ran her fingers over its surface. By the time he reached her, he had to resort to crawling on his hands and feet. Gravel-like rocks shifted beneath him and rolled down the incline.
"This is like climbing on quicksand!" he exclaimed.
"It does have its hazards. I've taken several nose dives here. Sit down and take a look at this."
She handed him the softball-like item. He ran his hands over its surface, locating a small notch that fanned out several inches, forming a surface crack.
"What's this?" he said, pointing to the shallow fracture.
"That's the fissure we'll use to split the geode open. Watch."
She took the sphere from his hand and held it against a larger rock. Then, she took the sharp pointed stone she'd picked up earlier and pounded it against the crack. The geode split open with the first hit, revealing yellowish-white crystals within.
Jim's jaw dropped, divulging that he truly was a novice and not the rock hound he'd claimed to be when finagling this date. Landi picked up another, flatter stone and hit it with her makeshift hammer. It split open, revealing the bas relief of what looked like an alien creature.
"This is a trilobite, perhaps worth more than your geode," she claimed, triumph on her face.
He wanted to grab her and kiss her senseless—make her want him the way he wanted her.
"Ahoy!" a voice called.
Back across the stream, a dusty old codger waved, then jumped the creek. He took his straw hat off when he got close to their rock pile.
"Bill? Bill Johnson?" Landi cri
ed with excitement.
Great, another admirer.
"Yep, it's me, Elle," the man said and scrambled up the incline with alacrity.
"How are you?" she asked, standing.
Bill embraced her in a bear hug while James watched. On closer inspection, this skinny desert rat appeared closer to his own age. He looked like Clint Eastwood from his Dirty Harry days.
"James, this is Bill, the brother of one of my high school friends. Bill, this is James, my boss's brother."
Bill Johnson shoved his hand towards Jim, who didn't appreciate the title Landi had assigned him. The men shook. James gave him a quick once-over, his gut tightening at the sight of the man's tall, wiry frame.
So, this is her type.
"I thought it was you I saw hiking up the trail, so I decided to pull over and find out. You're not the only one Henry showed this place off to, you know?"
"I realize that, Bill. I just didn't know you were one he shared with."
"Yep. I miss old Henry. He was quite a gentleman."
"Bill, you won't tell anyone you saw me, will you?"
James watched as Landi placed both hands on her pal's shoulders and pleaded for anonymity. Bill nodded and seemed to know why the girl showed concern. Jim's stomach pinched even more.
"Are you gonna see Hatti?"
"I haven't decided."
The two put their heads together and continued their conversation as if James didn't exist. He made his way back to the canyon floor but stayed within earshot. Most of their talk revolved around rock hunting, their finds, and some local gossip. Was he really the type of man Landi went for?
"You know, Elle, I always had a soft spot for you. If it wasn’t for what's-his-name," he spat the title out with disdain before continuing, "I would have asked you out," Bill confessed.
"Really? I had no idea."
"Well, a girl like you never does. My sister said it was pointless, so I just admired you from afar."
"Oh, Bill. Karen never shared any of that with me. I would have been far better off with you."
James could feel the desert rat's smile even if he couldn't see it. The two continued examining rocks, splitting stones, and laughing over old times for another hour. Jim stewed beneath the shade of a scraggly desert plant and polished off his water.
Finally, they climbed down. He watched as Bill helped Landi to the flat ground of the canyon floor. That billy goat had no trouble on the shifting stones of the rock pile. The two paused for a drink, loaded their finds into backpacks, and forded the spring ahead of Jim. He admired her backside as they walked through the cool passageway, now a welcome relief from the afternoon heat. She had no idea how exquisite she was. He enjoyed watching her long hair swish from side to side across her back with every step, but he felt a twinge of jealousy when Bill draped his arm around her during the easy, downhill stroll. The last two miles in the desert sun were no picnic, and the extra water Ireland packed came in handy.
Billy Goat said goodbye in front of the old pickup he'd parked next to Jim's sports car, now covered in dust. He gave James a hearty shake and hugged Ireland a little too long.
"It was great seeing you, Elle. Don't be a stranger," he said from inside his truck just before he drove off.
Inside his own vehicle, James cranked up the air conditioning.
"Why does he call you Elle?" he demanded.
"L for Landi."
"Oh." Jim paused, uncertain how to broach the next subject. He decided the direct approach would be best. "I heard your friend mention Hatti. Who's that?"
Ireland exhaled slowly and deliberately, but stared straight ahead, not wanting to meet his searching gaze.
"Hatti is my mother," she said at last.
"I'd be more than happy to take you to see her," he said in a low tone.
The girl shut her eyes but didn't answer, so he continued, "my own mother passed away some time ago."
"So did my father," she said, barely above a whisper. "Would you come in with me? I mean, if we stopped by to say hello," she added.
"I'd love to, Landi. Just tell me how to get there."
She opened her eyes, and he recognized worry and stress in her pained expression.
"Straight ahead."
James pulled the car onto the street, went over a hill, and spied several mobile homes scattered to his left and right, each a different distance from the road. They looked like tinker toys dropped by a giant.
"It's the blue one over there," she said without enthusiasm, pointing to a single-wide trailer, painted an odd color.
Ireland never intended to share this part of her life with the Crimshaws or anyone else. However, she now realized all of it formed part of who she was, and if someone didn't like it or couldn't respect her background, then good riddance.
He stopped the car and waited for the cloud of dust to settle before running around to open Landi's door. He sensed tension in the girl as he helped her from the vehicle. They approached the mobile home's door, and he instinctively placed himself between the trailer and Ireland, then knocked.
"Come in," a voice croaked from within.
He turned the knob, and the door popped open. Normally, he'd stand aside for her to enter first, but he went in ahead of her in case any nasty surprises awaited them. An oppressive heat met him head on. He guessed the air conditioning must be broken. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he spotted a plump, older woman seated in a large, dilapidated lazy boy recliner. The chair hogged much of the floor space in the tiny room. A silent television lit the opposite corner.
"Well, this is a wonderful surprise!" the woman struggled to rise from the chair, digging her heels into the attached footrest and gripping the large, padded Naugahyde armrests.
"Don't get up, Mama Hatti," Landi said, walking past James to plant a kiss on the woman's temple.
The older woman ceased striving and sunk back into the seat, a large grin spreading across her wrinkled and sun spotted face.
"I got the checks you sent, Landi. It's so sweet of you to help me."
The girl blushed crimson and stared at the floor until her skin tone faded back to pink. Hatti seemed not to notice.
"Who's your handsome friend?" the older woman asked in a husky voice, coughing between words.
"This is my friend, James. He wanted me to show him Henry's box canyon."
Oh, so I've been elevated from boss's brother to friend.
"You a rock hound like my Landi?"
"No, not like Landi. I'm not that talented," he said.
The woman nodded as Ireland crouched next to her recliner and held her hand.
"How are you feeling, Mama Hatti?" she asked.
"Good as can be expected with this old heart." The woman thumped her chest with stubby, swollen fingers.
It became obvious that Landi's mother was in poor health.
"Is Wilber getting you to the doctor in Needles?"
"Yes, Dear, he does when he can. James, why don't you take a seat? Now, let's talk about you, Landi. How is life in the big city?" she rasped, clearing her throat of phlegm.
"It's good." Landi's voice cracked with emotion. She continued, "I've got two jobs and am doing well in school. In fact, my boss just gave me a raise."
Jim felt certain Katrina had taken his suggestion to heart. He couldn't control the smile that spread across his face, bunching the muscles beneath his cheeks into tight mounds.
"I'm so proud of you, Landi," the older woman said.
"I can't stay long, but is there anything we can do for you while we're here?"
Ireland seemed desperate to help her mom. James noticed an air conditioning unit, quiet in a small window, and wondered if the mute television was also broken.
"No, Dear. It's just good to see you," the woman sputtered between more coughing.
"Have you taken your pill yet?" Landi asked.
Hatti pointed to a tiny table in what must have been the world's smallest kitchen. Landi retrieved a white oblong pill and filled a glass
with water, handing both to the older woman. Ireland watched intently as her mother gulped down the medicine and water, shifting her eyes to the woman's swollen ankles before taking the glass and washing it out in the sink.
"I brought you some things."
Mama Hatti's face lit up like a Christmas tree as the girl removed canned goods from her backpack along with a bedazzled hair band and a pair of turquoise earrings.
"I made these myself at the Gemology Institute just for you, Mama Hatti." Landi helped the woman put on the pretty ear fobs, then lovingly arranged the horseshoe-shaped headband in her hair.
Jim clamped his jaw shut before a horsefly entered. Impressed with the care she showed her mother, he also couldn't believe this slip of a girl had lugged those heavy cans in her bag on their hike. He didn't even remember her sweating, before they entered this inferno of a trailer.
The two women chatted a few more minutes before the sound of a car engine grabbed Landi's attention. She stood up and walked near a small window, peering outside. What sounded like a muscle car slowed as it passed the home, then sped away. The girl appeared noticeably shaken.
A few moments later, Landi took her leave, promising to return soon. As they left the trailer, Hatti raised the volume on the TV, answering his question as to whether the device worked properly. He got Landi situated in the sports car, then he patted his jeans and shirt as a look of alarm spread over his face.
"My wallet must have slipped out inside. I'll be right back," he said, slamming the passenger door shut.
He trotted back to the trailer and disappeared inside. She felt like a sitting duck, there in her mother's makeshift yard. Agitated, Ireland was about to go retrieve James when he appeared again, smiling.
"What took so long?" she asked after he started the engine.
"Oh, somehow, it fell behind the seat cushion. It took me a while to find it."
She felt he lied, but couldn't figure out why he'd need to spend extra time in the mobile home, so she let it slide. Vacillating between trusting James and questioning his motives proved exhausting, and right now, her tank was empty. She reclined her seat and shut her eyes. She dozed until they reached Victorville.
"So what kind of health problem does your mom have?" he asked, seeing her eyes open.
A Calculated Romance Page 6
