Mountains Apart

by Carol Ross

  Neither side planned anything for Friday because they both knew the Rotary Club dinner was scheduled for Saturday, and that tended to take up a lot of the town’s time and attention. Emily called that day an open house and invited townspeople to wander in at their leisure and look over the photos and literature. They were surprisingly busy and Emily felt as if the mood in the town was finally shifting solidly—in her favor.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  EMILY AND AMANDA spent most of the day on Saturday, the day of the Rotary fund-raising, dinner at the office. The phones were eerily quiet, though, and email was nearly nonexistent. The whole town seemed to be abuzz with excitement. Emily had intended to run a few errands on her way home only to find signs on the grocery store, the drugstore and the bakery informing patrons that they’d closed early because of the event. The parking lot of the beauty shop, however, was overflowing.

  Emily and Amanda went home to change and freshen up, and then arrived at the VFW hall a few minutes early, but it already appeared as if the whole town had indeed turned out for the event. The highlight of the night, she soon learned, was the fund-raising auction. A long series of tables running along one side of the room contained all the items and/or a description of the item to be auctioned. Community members, clubs and local businesses from all over the borough, and even the state, had made donations. Emily was impressed by the number and variety of goods and services on the roster: everything from exotic vacations and expensive excursions, to fishing and hunting equipment, Native crafts, a brand-new ATV and a gorgeous cedar-strip canoe, which to Emily looked more like a work of art than a boat.

  Emily noted that some of the most enthusiastic pre-auction buzz seemed to be over two guided outings generously donated by James Guide and Outfitter Service. She moseyed over toward the display and picked up a brochure. Her brows raised in surprise as she looked at the retail price of one of his trips. Laurel hadn’t been exaggerating Bering’s success or his likely impact on the community. She had to admit that the wildlife excursions sounded kind of fun....

  “Thinking of taking a boat ride?” the man beside her asked as he gestured toward the photo display.

  Emily looked up and into the prettiest pair of green eyes that she’d ever seen on a man. A quick glance revealed that the rest of him was equally as attractive. “It sounds like a lot of fun,” she said. “Have you ever been?”

  “Absolutely, it’s a blast.”

  “Is it worth the price?”

  “Totally. Bering is the best. The only thing better would be a sightseeing tour in my Cessna 185.” He handed her a brochure.

  Emily introduced herself with an outstretched hand. “I’m Emily Hollings.”

  “I know,” he said, gripping her offered hand. His face held an enigmatic grin. “ Jiminy Blackburn.”

  Jiminy? She repeated silently. You’ve got to be kidding me. It was a good thing the guy was so incredibly good-looking. “Nice to meet you, Jiminy.”

  He chuckled and said, “I know you’re thinking about the cartoon cricket.”

  “Well, I certainly wouldn’t have been crass enough to mention it,” Emily said with a grin, appreciating his candor.

  “Please call me Jim—or Cricket. Most of my friends call me Cricket, and I definitely think we should be friends. Nice article in the paper the other day,” he said, before she could comment. “I bet that got Bering all riled up.” He added a bark of laughter and looked absolutely delighted with the prospect.

  “Thank you. Except that it wasn’t my intention to get Mr. James riled up—what I was trying to do is illustrate to the entire community the benefits of Cam-Field’s proposed presence here.”

  “Hey, you’re preaching to the choir.” He placed one palm flat on his chest. “I’m on your side. And even better,” he said, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper that to Emily felt a little flirtatious, “I’m on the tourism board and the town council. And seriously, I’d be happy to take you up anytime.” He gestured at the brochure she was still holding.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I just may take you up on that one of these days. What are you going to be bidding on tonight, Cricket?”

  “Emily—” he looked aghast “—I most certainly cannot reveal that information.”

  “Oh? And why is that?”

  “Because then you’ll bid it up.”

  “Ah, I see,” she said with a chuckle. “Is that how this works, then?”

  “It is indeed. Just wait and see how cutthroat this thing can be. People end up paying three, four, five—ten times—what these items are worth just to beat out someone else. Two years ago Mayor Calder was bidding on a two-week condo stay in Cancun when...”

  * * *

  BERING WATCHED THE EXCHANGE between Emily and Cricket Blackburn from across the room and heard the warning bell go off in his head. The biggest womanizer in the entire state of Alaska was standing way too close to Emily and undoubtedly plying her with his best lines. Bering felt an unfamiliar pang jab him as he watched Cricket reach out and touch her shoulder. And when he leaned over and whispered in her ear, Bering was overcome with the urge to walk over and scoop Emily up in his arms, and carry her out the door.

  What in the world was wrong with him? He knew very well that she was more than capable of taking care of herself, so why did he feel the need to look out for her at the same time? Emily was tough; he knew that. He only had to think about how she’d bounced back after their first meeting as proof of that. She was also brave, taking on this town like she was—taking on him like she was. She was also clever and funny, and he liked how she constantly kept him guessing what she’d come up with next. She seemed to be making friends right and left if her socializing here tonight was any indication, not to mention the connections that had somehow enabled her to ferret out many of the coalition’s plans.

  All of this combined made him wonder why she couldn’t see this situation in the way that he did. Was her job really that important to her? So much so that it blinded her to what was really important in life? Maybe that was the answer: maybe he needed to show her what really mattered....

  He tensed as he watched his friend slide his hand around Emily’s elbow and guide her over to the next auction table.

  * * *

  EMILY COULD SEE right through the charming and handsome Cricket Blackburn. Although she found him witty and engaging, she deftly sidestepped his invitation to dinner. Even though she had no professional complications with this man, she just wasn’t interested. And from a business standpoint, a quick time-versus-benefit analysis said it would be pointless—he’d already revealed that he was on her side.

  But if she were completely honest with herself, Bering was the real reason for her hesitation. If she was going to spend some time with someone in a manner unrelated to work, she realized, she wanted it to be him. She managed to untangle herself from Cricket’s attentions and was ready to head over to the bar to get a cold drink when she sensed a presence behind her.

  “Having a good time?” A voice tickled the back of her neck as an arm reached around her holding a crystal flute of sparkling liquid.

  Emily smiled and turned toward him, enjoying the pleasant tingle that his presence evoked.

  “Wine?” he offered.

  “Thank you. Bering, I was...” She started to say that she’d been looking for him, but as her eyes swept over him, it was like being blasted by a wave of icy wind. She inhaled a sharp breath. In his tailored slacks and button-down shirt, he looked much closer to the type of businessman she was used to dealing with. And she was suddenly struck by the unsettling notion that maybe he was more like that than she’d realized.

  His hair was still long but he’d somehow managed to tame it, and his face was cleanly shaven. Emily wasn’t all that surprised to see that flinty hardness in his eyes that she’d become familiar with. In her experience, it meant that he was annoyed. Had she finally managed to get to him? Why did that notion cause her concern? It should make her happy, because if
that was the case, it meant that he was worried about the progress she was making.

  “See anything you can’t live without?” There was an edge in his tone that made her uneasy.

  He tipped down the brochure clutched in her hands. She swallowed nervously and tried to muster a playful tone. “There is some really great stuff here. I’m interested in quite a few things, but you certainly seem to be the popular item here tonight.”

  “Is that so?” he answered flatly. “I think I could make the same claim about you.”

  She looked at him quizzically.

  “Be careful with Cricket Blackburn, Emily.”

  “What?”

  “He’s a cad and a womanizer.”

  It wasn’t what she’d been expecting. Emily felt herself grinning with both amusement and relief. “A cad?”

  “Emily, I’m not joking. The man has very little respect for women. Look, if you don’t believe me, ask around.” He gestured around him as if the VFW hall was a courtroom full of witnesses.

  “I’m afraid it’s too late,” she returned soberly.

  Bering scowled down at her. “What do you mean?”

  She shrugged and hoped it looked nonchalant.

  “Emily...” Bering drawled with the same steely tone. “You’re not going out with him.”

  “I’m not? But he invited me on an airplane ride and I already agreed to—”

  “An airplane ride?” he interrupted tightly. “I just bet he did. Well, un-agree.”

  “Bering, I can’t do that. It would be rude. Besides, as I’m sure you already know, he’s president of the tourism board, and if I can swing the favor of the tourism board...”

  “Emily, this isn’t about Cam-Field. This is about you and—” He stopped in midsentence and Emily couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been about to add me to the end of that statement. That thought caused warmth to bloom from somewhere deep inside her.

  “—and I want you to be careful.”

  “Careful? You think he’d hurt me?”

  “No, not exactly,” he said irritably. “We’re getting off the point here.”

  “What is the point exactly? Is he a bad pilot?”

  “No, he’s an excellent pilot. He actually flies clients for me sometimes. But he’s also a womanizer—that’s my point.”

  “You mentioned that already.”

  “Then listen to what I’m telling you.”

  “I’m trying, Bering. But all I’ve heard is that he’s a womanizing cad, which I think is redundant.”

  Bering huffed out an exasperated breath. “Emily—”

  “He said you were a friend of his.”

  “I am.”

  “Can’t wait to meet the rest of your friends.”

  “Emily, he is a good friend of mine. That’s a fact. But it’s also a fact that he’s known for his callous disregard for women’s feelings.”

  “Callous disregard?” Emily snickered through her hand.

  “Emily,” he said again with obvious and forced patience, “I can see that you’re not taking me seriously here, but all I’m trying to do is look out for your best interests....”

  “Is that what you’re doing?” A spike of happiness shot through her as she realized that if he was looking out for her then he wasn’t letting this business get to him like she’d feared.

  He shrugged. “Yes, I’m warning you about him and—”

  “Bering,” she interrupted and to her surprise he stopped talking. She looked around them to make sure no one was listening. She crooked her finger so he’d bend toward her. “What I was going to say before you interrupted me is that all I agreed to do was to give a presentation to the tourism board.”

  Was that a blush she saw rising up his neck? Hmm.

  “Oh,” he said.

  “But thank you for trying to watch out for me. I really do appreciate it.”

  “Um, yeah, I...”

  “Bering, I’m so glad that we can be civil in the midst of all this—”

  “Civil? Emily, I want—”

  The look on his face, the tone of his voice, had Emily holding her breath....

  The sound of Amanda calling out to her took the place of whatever he was going to say. She turned her head and waved, held up a finger to let her know she’d be right there. But when she turned back, his face was a mask of steely composure. She wanted to ask him what he wanted, but she knew the moment had passed.

  “Let me walk you to your seat. The auction is about to start.”

  * * *

  A COUPLE HOURS later, Emily had purchased a haircut (for herself), five swing-dance lessons (for Amanda) and a five-course fish dinner for two from the Cozy Caribou (she was thinking of inviting Bering). And now she was seriously considering bidding on one of Bering’s wildlife excursions. It would make a perfect birthday gift for her brother, Aidan.

  Aidan would like Bering, she decided as her mind wandered toward her half brother, and he’d love it here in Rankins, too. She hadn’t spoken to him in weeks, and she’d only received a few emails, which wasn’t all that unusual for him when he was on one of his research expeditions. But she always missed the contact, and she would have loved to have had him to talk to while she’d been going through this whole ordeal with Jeremy and Franklin.

  Aidan was her only family member that she felt even remotely close to. And they hadn’t even grown up together. He had been raised by his bohemian mother on the southern coast of Oregon. His mother had seen to it that he visited often, for Christmas, two weeks every summer and for the occasional long weekend. Emily had been allowed to visit him in Oregon, too, and one time when she’d been in high school on her spring break. He’d been in college in Hawaii at the time, studying plant life on the Big Island. It had been one of the greatest times of her life: hanging out on the beach with her cool big brother, hiking, snorkeling and playing in the surf.

  She wondered if Bering had ever been to Hawaii....

  He would like it, she decided. With his curiosity about wildlife and his appreciation for nature, it would be intriguing to explore the exotic locale with him. He was sitting at the next table and she tried not to stare when he removed his jacket and placed it on the back of his chair. She recalled him talking about all the things he liked to do in his spare time. She hadn’t even been able to name one thing. How pathetic was that? It made her long to find something she liked to do in her spare time, which would be easier if she ever had any. She did like to draw. That was something. Although...why didn’t she ever have any spare time? Bering obviously juggled a successful business and family and...spare-time-fun activities. Even her stepfather had hobbies. Suddenly Emily felt cheated....

  “Em, are you paying attention?” Amanda was saying in a low voice.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Are you watching this?”

  “No, I’m, uh—I was just, um, thinking...What’s going on?” She tuned back into her surroundings and noticed the heightened murmur of the crowd.

  Amanda whispered, “There appears to be a bidding war going on.”

  “Oh, that’s nice.”

  “Yeah, and it’s over your sketch.”

  “My sketch?” Emily asked, her voice rising several decibels. “Not, the one of the town—”

  “Shh,” Amanda said and then began whispering quickly. “Don’t be mad—promise you won’t be mad?”

  “Amanda!”

  “Okay, okay, someone from the Rotary Club came by last week, right? To solicit donations for the auction. And we, uh, I didn’t even know about it, so I didn’t have anything prepared, but the woman saw it sitting on my desk and, well, she loved it, so I...”

  “Amanda,” she gritted out through clenched teeth. “How could you? It’s not good enough for something like this. I mean—”

  “It is too good enough, Emily. The bidding is going crazy. You should be flattered.”

  “Amanda, I’m going to kill you—”

  “Shh, Emily, shut it. I can’t hear what’s go
ing on.”

  Emily sat back to watch the action unfold. As it turned out, the item was indeed a hot ticket. But she was relieved to learn that Amanda hadn’t donated it in her name, but in Cam-Field’s, and she hadn’t signed the drawing. So she calmed down as she realized that no one would know that she’d done it.

  The bidding continued until the only two remaining bidders were Bering and an older gentleman sitting at a table near the front of the room. Finally the other man raised his paddle for the last time. Bering lifted his hand to acknowledge the cheers and applause. His eyes locked on Emily’s and his face broke into an enigmatic smile. Did he somehow know that she’d drawn it? Emily tried to quell her nervousness and smiled in return.

  Later, after the conclusion of the auction, Emily had gathered her winnings, including her coupon for the wildlife excursion she’d won, and was scanning the room for Amanda when she saw Bering sauntering toward her.

  A hitch of anxiety tightened her chest as she noticed he had the framed drawing tucked under his arm.

  “Did you have a good time tonight?” he asked.

  “I really did,” she said enthusiastically. “It’s been a lot of fun. And wow—what a turnout.”

  “It’s always like this. Rankins has always had a strong sense of community spirit.”

  “What a wonderful way to live,” Emily commented and was startled to recognize how true it was. Her words were similar to ones she’d uttered hundreds of times over the years, but now she felt different as she said them. The magic of the evening had somehow enabled her to really imagine living in a close-knit community like this.

  Because, she realized with a start, for the first time in her life, she’d begun to consider a life outside Cam-Field. Was this honestly something she would like? Community fund-raisers, long hours spent sketching the local scenery and spending time with the most incredible man to be found within a few thousand miles? She almost laughed aloud at the thought. But it couldn’t be any more drastic than the cruise-ship idea she’d been mulling around in her brain. Emily wondered if she was possibly experiencing some type of precursor to a full-blown nervous breakdown. Maybe this was what all the trade magazines were warning about when they referred to executive burnout.