by Karen Ward
I make a cooking spit from sturdy green tree branch and put the meat on to cook then retreat to the sleeping bags to rest until the meat is ready. It is getting much colder and the wind has picked up. I expect the storm to be blowing full force soon. I lie down next to a sleeping Dylan and drift into a light sleep.
Dylan is awakened by the wind whistling through the trees overhead. The first thing he is aware of is Skye's body lying next to his on the sleeping bags. Although they aren't touching he can feel the warmth emanating from her. He opens his eyes to see her beautiful face turned toward his with a small smile on her lips. She is lying so close he literally could pucker his lips and touch hers and he has the strongest urge to take her lips with his. It takes every ounce of his self control to resist the urge to kiss her. Clearing the lump from his throat he says, "Skye?"
She opens her beautiful blue eyes and sees her proximity to Dylan. A deep red blush slides across her features.
"Oh!" I move quickly away climbing from the nest and moving to the fire to check on the roasting meat turning the spit to allow the meat to cook evenly.
Turning back to Dylan I ask, "Are you feeling better?"
Smiling, he sits up slowly and answers, "I'm still a little weak but I'm not in too much pain. Thank you for sewing me up. You really did a good job considering that was probably a first for you."
Blushing again, I admit, "You're welcome and you're right. That was my first experience sewing human flesh together. I hope it won't leave too much of a scar. I saw some ibuprofen in the backpack if you need some."
"I would appreciate the ibuprofen, thanks," replies Dylan.
Later as we are eating the meat I prepared, we are chatting companionably about how I learned to gut and skin a wild animal. I tell him how Bear made sure I was able to take care of myself before he left me alone at the cabin. I admit to having learned a number of skills I never dreamed of learning while growing up in Hollywood. I tell him about my childhood, about how my parents protected me from the more public side of the movie business, how I attended all of the exclusive girl schools and did not have to deal with the Paparazzi alone until my father's suicide. Any time I ventured out in public previously I was always escorted by the one and only Barry Farrady.
Curiosity gets the better of him and he asks, "Skye, what exactly was your relationship with Barry? The tabloids always portrayed you two as a couple but I get the feeling from you it was more of a friendship thing."
I think for a minute and then choose my words carefully, "Barry is like the big brother I never had. He saved my life that time, you know, the one that made me afraid. He helped me get through that and I will always be grateful to him. Now that he is married I guess I'll have to find someone else to escort me in public, if I ever decide to go out in public again."
The wind is really howling and Dylan says, "I think we better retire to our little nest. The way the wind is blowing the snow can't be far behind." He throws extra logs on the fire and climbs into the nest.
Lying on his good side in the little nest, he notices that Skye is trying her best not to touch him even though they are lying in an area smaller than a twin bed. He says, "Skye, please don't be afraid of me. I promise I will never hurt you. It's all right if you lean against me. In fact, it would help both of us keep warm, to share our body heat."
Embarrassed I say, "I'm not afraid of you Dylan, just of what our touching might cause to happen."
Dylan patiently encourages, "Turn your back to me Skye." When I obey, he pulls me snugly against his front spooning against him. "See, it's all right. I'm not going to hurt you. Now try to relax and get some sleep."
It takes a long time for the tension to leave my body but eventually after I hear Dylan's deep even breathing indicating he is asleep I drift into sleep myself.
Sometime late in the night, I wake and realize that Dylan is burning up with fever. He is moaning in his sleep and dreaming about someone named Elena. I move away from him and use a flashlight I found earlier in his backpack to dig through it looking for antibiotics but find nothing. I melt some snow on the remains of the fire, wet a rag and bathe his face in the warm water.
The storm seems to be letting up some but it looks like it left at least a foot of new snow. I hope it will pass before morning so Goose can come pick us up. I don't like the fact that Dylan is running such a high fever. I wake him enough to get him to swallow some more ibuprofen and continue to bathe his face and neck in the warm water.
I haven't been able to understand much of what Dylan has been mumbling in his sleep. I gathered that Elena was or is someone important in his life. I don't understand why but that knowledge causes a dull ache somewhere near my heart. I keep telling myself it doesn't matter. Dylan can never be anything to me. I can never let myself get close to any man. Thinking about the night I pause. I did enjoy lying next to Dylan with his arm draped loosely around my waist. I felt safe and it has been a long time since I have felt safe. I am hoping that maybe Dylan will be the one I can depend on to escort me when I am ready to venture back out into the public. Of course that will depend on what Elena is to him.
When Dylan's fever breaks, I throw more wood on the fire and climb back into the nest next to him and cover both of us with another thermal blanket I found in the backpack and drift back into a dreamless sleep.
Dylan comes awake slowly as dawn is breaking. His shoulder is aching and his head is pounding. He becomes aware of the unfamiliar sensation of a warm body curled up next to him and he opens his eyes and recognizes Skye. She is sleeping soundly so he relaxes thinking back over all she told him the night before. She still hasn't told him exactly what happened to make her afraid of men but he has a pretty good idea from things she has told him. She obviously was brutally raped by someone. He would like to get his hands on that bastard and rip him limb from limb. Knowing Barry, the bastard has probably already paid for his sins. She did say that Barry saved her life that time. It warms his soul to know that Skye is beginning to trust him enough to sleep so soundly curled up next to him after what she has been through. He swears he will never do anything to betray that trust.
He needs to relieve himself and take some more ibuprofen for the pain in his shoulder. He sure doesn't want the fever to go up again. He carefully uncurls himself from around Skye and climbs from their warm nest. The bitter cold causes him to immediately start shivering. He puts logs on the fire and coffee on to boil and swallows four ibuprofen tablets. The storm seems to have passed, at least for the time being so he radios Goose to come and pick them up. He also requests that he bring some antibiotics if he can get his hands on some. He remembers Skye waking him in the night to take more ibuprofen and he had been burning up with fever. Goose tells him he will be at the pickup site in a couple of hours.
He kneels by the nest and gently shakes Skye, "Wakeup sleepyhead."
Smiling I stretch and open my eyes, "I'm glad to see you up and feeling better. I was worried during the night when your fever got up so high."
"I must have had a really good nurse because I am feeling better. Goose will be here in a couple of hours. Let's get some breakfast and get this place cleaned up."
After a quick breakfast of oatmeal we head to the pickup site. The going is slow because Dylan is still weak from the loss of blood. Skye has to support him from time to time just to keep him on his feet.
Just as they top the hill to the site, Goose is bringing the helicopter down for a landing. Because he is a medic, Goose demands to see Dylan's shoulder before he will agree to take off for Wyoming. He examines Skye's handiwork, "Wow, good job Skye. Once we get these antibiotics down him and he has some time to rest and build up his strength he should heal just fine."
I am relieved at his words. It doesn't take me long to decide that I like Goose. He helps me into the back seat of the helicopter, shows me how to fasten the seat belt, and gives me a headset so I can hear any conversation. Goose then puts Dylan in the front passenger seat, straps him in, and hands him his
headset.
As they are flying Dylan tells Goose about how I killed the mountain lion in mid-air as it was pouncing on him. Of course he embellishes the tale quite a bit and I am extremely embarrassed. Then Dylan tells Goose how I skinned and gutted the animal and cooked a nice chunk for our dinner last night. I am steadily turning redder as he talks and Goose keeps glancing over his shoulder at me in the back seat giving me the thumbs up sign.
The flight to Barry Farrady's Rock Springs Ranch in Wyoming doesn't take long and as we make our approach Dylan points out the ranch house to me. Looking down, I am impressed with the size of the house.
In the distance I can see the front gate where the usual Paparazzi are lined up on the road. A cold chill runs down my back. Dylan sees where I am looking, "Don't worry Skye. You will be well protected here. Security guards are everywhere. No one gets in here that is not welcome. Besides, I promised to personally protect you, remember?"
As we land, Barry comes out of the house to meet us. Dylan steps out of the helicopter first and sways a little on his feet then he offers me his hand to get down. He wraps his good arm around my waist as we walk toward Barry and his very pregnant wife Melanie. I am sure Dylan is using his arm around my waist to help support himself and disguise his weakness. The gesture does not go unnoticed by Barry. He is very surprised.
As we are approaching, Barry's face breaks into a warm smile and he extends his hands to me. Barry is surprised again when I wrap my arms around him in a warm hug, kissing him on the cheek. He turns to Melanie and says, "Sweetheart, I want you to meet the closest thing I ever had to a baby sister, Skye Reynolds. Skye this is my wife Melanie, our son Eric, my mother Virginia and her husband Bob, and Melanie parents, Mark and Patricia Brentwood. Welcome to our home."
Smiling shyly, I say, "It's very nice to meet all of you. I hope you don't mind my dropping in so unexpectedly."
Smiling warmly in welcome, Melanie says, "It is wonderful to meet you. Barry has been telling us all about you. I hope you will stay as long as you want. Scoot, you are coming for dinner tonight I hope."
"Thank you Melanie, I will be honored," says a smiling Dylan.
Virginia says, "Come on in Skye, and let me show you to your room."
As Virginia, Skye, and the others head for the house, Barry, Dylan and Goose head for the office over the barn. "Well, how did it go?" asks Barry.
"Everything went very well. I was able to get in and remove her from the immediate area without incident. The storm slowed us by one day and that's when the trouble started. You didn't tell me Skye was a regular GI Jane," says Dylan as Goose gives him a helping hand up the stairs.
"What are you talking about?" asks Barry confused as they walk in the office where Pinky and Stump are busy at the computer.
"Let me put it this way, if I ever end up in another fire fight, I want that woman backing me up. She's a crack shot and she can skin and gut a mountain lion with the best of us."
"Are you sure we're talking about the same Skye Reynolds? The one I knew was scared of her own shadow and would barely come out of her room," questions Barry.
"I didn't say she doesn't have hang ups, she does. She has definitely learned some new skills since you knew her. She killed a mountain lion mid-flight with one shot from a 45 as it was pouncing on me. Then she gutted and skinned it and cooked it for dinner. She sewed me up like a pro and spent half of last night bathing me to get my fever down."
"Bathing you? Are you sure you weren't hallucinating?" asks Barry skeptically."How much damage did the mountain lion do? You're all right aren't you?"
"I'm fine, thanks to Skye, or at least I will be. I would have been in big trouble if she was the girl you thought she was Barry. That reminds me. Guess who I met in the flesh up in the wilds of Montana?"
All four former Marines look at him and ask, "Who?"
"Clarence Kincaid. He goes by the name Bear. He is the one that actually saved Skye when she first went to Montana. Her car broke down and he rescued her, gave her a place to live, and made sure she was able to survive off the land," answers Dylan.
No one notices but all of the color drains from Stump's face at the mention of the name Clarence Kincaid. His heart is pounding furiously and he thinks he may pass out. Oh my God! His father is alive ... and living in Montana? He'll have to ask more questions when he can get Scoot alone. No one knows his secret and he is not ready for them to know just yet.
CHAPTER 3
When we walk into Barry's house, I am stunned by the opulence. Living as primitively as I have for the past three years, I feel out of place. I follow Virginia to a downstairs bedroom with adjoining bath that is bigger than the whole cabin had been in Montana. In the center of the room is a huge king size bed draped in a royal blue down comforter. The walls are painted snow white. The windows are covered with draperies in a royal blue and white print in an abstract design. An antique rocker sits in the corner with a light blue afghan thrown over the arm. The adjoining bathroom has snow white marble walls and floors and royal blue towels and accents.
"Here we go," says Virginia. "Barry told us you and Melanie are about the same size so she left you a pair of jeans and a blouse. If they don't fit, let us know and we will find something else. We weren't sure about your shoe size, what size do you wear?"
"Seven. This is so nice, thank you," I reply.
"You're welcome dear. If you will give me all of your sizes, I'll send to town tomorrow and get you more things. I know you will be more comfortable with things of your own."
After washing my hair and rinsing the worst of the grime off my body in the shower, I run the marble tub full to the brim of hot water and bubbles. I lie back in the fragrant water and let the memories of the last two days flow over me.
Dylan, I have never met anyone like him. In addition to being extremely handsome, he is nice and so understanding. He never pushes me about my fears and that really surprises me. He did challenge me to face some of them though. First my fear of being alone in the helicopter with two men I didn't know and then my fear of lying curled up in a man's arms. The best part is I conquered both fears and that makes me proud of myself. I felt so safe when Dylan was lying next to me with his arm draped loosely around my waist. I could get used to that, I am just not sure about anything else that might go along with it.
******
Once all the guys have gone about their business, Dylan tries to clean up but he is having difficulty trying to shower and keep the stitches in his shoulder dry at the same time. He is still weak and the ordeal is tiring him completely. Throwing the soap against the wall he lets out a string of curses.
Stump steps into the bathroom, "Hey Scoot, you need some help?"
"If you don't mind, I do. Any suggestions about how to keep these stitches dry while I shower?"
"Yeah, how about that waterproof tape we keep in the First Aid kit. If we put a bandage over the stitches first, then cover the whole thing with the waterproof tape you should be good to go. I'll get it."
While bandaging the stitches and then covering them with the waterproof tape, Stump asks, "Tell me more about Clarence Kincaid. What did he look like? Was he nice? Did he look mean, you know, like a bad ass?"
Thinking back, Dylan says, "Well, he was as big and as hairy as a bear, maybe six five, very muscular, full bushy beard and long hair in a pony tail. Actually when I first saw him, I thought of you Stump. He looked like a bigger, older version of you with lots of facial hair. If I hadn't gotten the drop on him, he would have scared me spitless.
As soon as I realized Skye recognized him everything calmed down but I don't think the man was ever the least bit afraid of me even though I had my 9MM trained on him. He walked right into our camp like he owned the place. When she reassured him that I was a friend sent by Barry to take her away he calmly threatened to hunt me down and kill me if I hurt her in any way. I believe he would do it too. He's not somebody I would ever want to make mad.
He asked her to write to him and let him k
now she is all right. He told her to send it to General Delivery in Kalispell Montana. He said he would pick the letters up at the post office. Then he agreed to pack her belongings into her car and deliver it to the parking lot at the mall. One of us will have to pick it up and drive it down here. Are you volunteering?"
"Sure, I'll go pick up the car. When do I need to be in Kalispell?" answers Stump, heart pounding at the opportunity to maybe see his father in the flesh.
"He said he would deliver it before the weekend. You have two days to get there. You want Goose to fly you?"
"That would be great, thanks," answers Stump. His heart pounding furiously, Stump can't believe he is so close to finally finding his father. He wants to get to Kalispell as soon as he can and stake out that parking lot.
Stump's idea of using the waterproof tape works like a charm. Dylan is able to get a good hot shower and his stitches stay completely dry. The antibiotics that Goose gave him are working and after a good long nap he is feeling much better. He dresses and heads to the main house for dinner with Skye.
As he is walking across the yard between the barn and the house, Dylan feels unaccountably happy. It has been a long time since he has looked forward to spending time with a woman for anything besides unemotional sex. The truth is he really likes Skye. She is not like any woman he has ever met before and she intrigues him. While she is very feminine and sexy, she is also tough and brave. Granted she has some major hang ups but he knows with patience they can overcome them together. He just has to convince her to try.
His attitude puzzles him some. When did he get past Elena and the banker? What happened to his vow never to fall for another woman? He shakes his head. It doesn't matter. He wants to get to know Skye better and spending time with her makes him happy.
******
When I walk out of my bedroom after a good long nap, I follow the sound of voices to the great room where everyone has gathered for dinner. The jeans I am wearing are a little loose and about two inches shorter than I would like but they fit ok. At least they are clean and the long sleeve silk blouse is surprisingly warm. My stomach is rumbling with hunger and the smells coming from the kitchen are heavenly.
