Torrents of Destruction

by Robin Caroll

  He crept back to his seat, marveling that he’d finagled an invitation to this trip. He’d only been on the firm’s payroll for six months, but his ability increased the firm’s profit figure by ten percent, thus one of the reasons for his being on the jet careening toward Gauley River.

  Dropping into his seat, Hunter massaged his temples. A long weekend loomed before him, and if he couldn’t get the information he needed in the next few days, he didn’t know how much longer he could carry on this farce.

  Katie sprawled out on the braided rug laid across the wooden floor in the main lodge, rubbing Shadow’s belly. The dog’s rear leg twitched. She laughed and scratched faster, giggling as his limb moved in time with her fingers. “Good boy.” She rubbed noses with her best friend, then stared at the clock over the mantle. Her group should’ve arrived by now. Outside, the final rays of the sun had long disappeared. Cicadas chirped, announcing the coming rains. The air whipped around the lodge, whistling and whooshing like ghosts in the mist. An eerie sensation seeped over the dwelling—a tension building unforeseen and unexplainable.

  Katie stood, shaking off her sudden unease and moved to the counter. She let her gaze flit back to the reservation log lying open on the gnarled oak tabletop. According to the notation Christian had scribbled, the plane should’ve landed at the small airstrip in Summersville an hour ago. What could be keeping the stiff-shirt desk jockeys? Hopefully, they hadn’t backed out because of the approaching storm. If Gabe said the business needed the income, then they really needed it. She still hadn’t told him about the bank’s call.

  The phone rang. “Gauley Guides by Gallagher.”

  “Just thought you’d like to know the snake problem has been taken care of.” Christian’s voice held a hint of laughter.

  She couldn’t stay at odds with him long. His good humor always wrenched her heart, and the imp knew it. “Good. I’m sure your little co-ed group arriving in the morning will be pleased.” Shifting the phone to wedge between her chin and shoulder, she re-secured her ponytail.

  Christian chuckled. “Don’t know how that mama got in there to have those little rascals.”

  “What’d you do with them?”

  “Took them to the other side of Summersville Lake and let ‘em loose.”

  She gave a snort. “I’m sure the park rangers over at the National Rec area will love you for that.”

  “Just doing my part to preserve the natural wildlife.”

  Katie laughed and shook her head, lifting the end of the pencil to her mouth again. Her gaze fell to the appointment book. “Hey, are you sure you wrote down this time of arrival right? They’re running late.”

  “Maybe they decided to delay takeoff. Or they could have re-routed because of the weather. Who knows with rich dudes?”

  “Yeah.” A gust of wind drew her attention to the windows. Leaves flew by the panes, flipping and twirling. “What’s your take on Emily?”

  “Gabe assured me we’ll be fine to raft. He knows his stuff, Katie. We have to trust him.” He paused, mumbled something, then returned to the conversation. “We’ll get some rain from the storm, sure, but I think Gabe’s right. Especially if Emily loses strength before making land.”

  Headlights pierced the darkness, reflecting in the large windows across the front of the main lodge. Shadow stood and barked twice, his alert notification.

  “Looks like the group has arrived. I’ll drop by your place on my way home.” Katie pointed at the dog, who sat.

  “Uh, I’m heading out, Katie.”

  She flipped the pencil onto the counter. “No you aren’t—you’re on call tonight.”

  “Come on, Katie. I have a date.”

  Even though her brother couldn’t see her, she couldn’t resist scrunching up her nose. “Too bad. I have to take these guys out at first light, so I need a guaranteed a good night’s rest. It’s your turn.”

  Footsteps thundered on the lodge’s front stairs, the wood creaked in objection. Shadow stood again, his canine body quivering as he stared at her with his imploring eyes. Katie shook her head and pointed to the floor. She gripped the receiver. “I’ll be switching the calls to your house when I leave, Christian. You’d better stay home. I mean it.”

  “Fine. Ruin my evening.”

  “Someday, little brother, you’ll understand.” Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

  Much sooner.

  Chapter 2

  Chilly air forced itself into the lodge, hovering over the group like the invisible cape of the grim reaper. Hunter stood behind the other men, his arms crossed casually over his chest, taking stock of his surroundings. The lodge appeared basic, no frills, but clean and comfortable. No dead animal heads peered out from the walls. He let out a relieved sigh—he didn’t like trophy sportsmen.

  “Man, the wind’s biting tonight.” Steve Smith shuddered and rubbed his hands together.

  What were Steve’s ambitions? How had he maneuvered an invitation on this particular trip, after one year of employment? His numbers weren’t even close to Hunter’s.

  Steve lifted his gaze to meet Hunter’s scrutiny. “Aren’t you a little bit cold?”

  Shrugging, Hunter moved toward the stone fireplace. An oversized, framed photo of a beautiful woman graced the space over the mantle. Her honey colored hair lay lush on her shoulders, her sharp blue eyes and intense stare could stir a man’s emotions.

  “Wow, check her out.” Paul nodded toward the doorway. The business tycoon was Lassiter James’ best client.

  All eyes shifted. Jerry Sands jabbed Paul in the ribs and chortled as the hostess moved to greet them.

  Hunter drank in the sight of such exquisite woman planted in the middle of nowhere. Her hair hung down over her shoulder—its tawny color, with sun-kissed golden highlights glistened in the overhead brightness. He cut his gaze to the picture over the mantle, then back to the young woman walking closer. She bore a resemblance.

  She extended her hand to Carter, and Hunter took in her lean, tanned legs. Toned and taut, her skin glistened over rippled muscles.

  “Welcome to Gauley Guides by Gallagher, gentlemen.” Her voice sounded as smooth as her skin looked.

  She drew closer to meet each man in turn. Her tanned face held a spattering of freckles over the bridge of her nose. Angel kisses, Hunter’s mother always called them. Her smile showed a straight row of white teeth, the kind no dentist would dare cap.

  Something about her drew him nearer. Her eyes. Hunter leaned forward, then moved around the men who shoved and angled to introduce themselves to her. Amazing. Her eyes shimmered silvery as the lines spiking through her irises were black, enhancing the depth of crystal blue.

  A dog matched her steps, and almost absentmindedly, her hand stroked the animal’s head—a sign this canine was more than just a pet to their hostess. His heart thumped at the sight of her gentleness. In his profession, he’d seen too many people who were just plain hard.

  “I’m Katie Gallagher. I’ll be your guide this weekend.”

  Taking in a quick breath, Hunter studied the young woman. Her voice came out throaty, husky, yet delicately feminine. Her gaze lit on each man individually, giving the impression of sincerity with each blink of her eyes.

  He swallowed a groan and gave himself a mental shake. He’d come to do a job, and he had no time, nor business, entertaining such ideas of attraction. It was too bad Katie Gallagher had to be so intensely attractive. Hmm. It’d make for a most interesting weekend.

  Katie shook Carter James’s hand, his skin smooth as a placid lake. This man couldn’t do much more than move a pencil around or stroke a keyboard. She gave a mental groan. Just as she suspected—high-powered executives out for a thrill. Would they ever learn? She smiled and nodded at each man in turn, all the while remaining aware of the man brooding at the back of the crowd.

  She gave silent appraisal. Taller than Christian, he had to stand over six feet, and his shoulders were wider than Gabe’s. She pushed down a rush of unfamiliar attra
ction, nodded at a question from one of the men, then let her gaze discreetly slide to study the brooding man once more.

  His strong jaw entertained a five o’clock shadow, and his head full of wavy, dark hair ended just short of his shoulders. A little too long for a regulation accountant hack job. Her heart raced to the speed of a class-five rapid when their gazes collided.

  A shudder coursed through her body. Curbing her overactive emotions, she thrust out her hand to the handsome stranger with eyes dark as the river at midnight. “Katie Gallagher.”

  “Hunter Malone.”

  His calloused hand made contact. She’d never classify this man as a pencil-pusher, not by any definition. Sure, lots of executives spent many hours at a gym every week, but not this man. No, his hands screamed of working outdoors, of blending with nature. Her kind of guy. If this man was merely an accountant, she’d wash every wetsuit the Gallaghers owned by hand—twice.

  “Are you an accountant as well, Mr. Malone?” She pinched her lips together and arched an eyebrow.

  “An assistant, if you will.” He smiled wide, nearly causing her to swoon with his disarming grin. “But the name’s Hunter.”

  Gulping back her high-school-girl-infatuation, Katie nodded and tugged free from his grip. She slipped her hand into her shorts pocket, then addressed the group. “We’ve got your cabin ready. I’m sure you will be very comfortable. You’ll need to get a good night’s rest, as we head out at seven in the morning.”

  Katie grabbed the master key from its hanger, then snapped for Shadow. She snatched the flashlight from its place beside the phone before forwarding the calls to Christian’s.

  Slipping into guide mode, she began the spiel she’d memorized at the age of ten. “My father, the late Michael Gallagher, established Gauley Guides by Gallagher in 1972. Since that time, we’ve added several cozy cabins for our clients, as well as a main lodge.” She smiled and tried to make eye-contact with each man. “One thing our father firmly believed, and a motto we still adhere to, is having a real Gallagher guide in every boat we put in the water.”

  The men mumbled, but no one spoke directly to her. Katie sighed. These guys weren’t interested in anything but bragging about how they survived the Gauley. She clung to the familiarity of the surrounding nature as she led the group out of the lodge and down the gravel trail toward the row of cabins, the Blue Heeler matching her stride. Katie beamed the flashlight on the uneven path, even though the moon’s soft glow peeked through the clouds now and again.

  The familiar scent of wet dirt carried across the air. Katie deeply inhaled the odor she associated with home. She loved everything about the Gauley, even the smells that turned some city folks’ stomachs.

  Tree frogs sang a lullaby barely heard over the rush of the river. Wind gusted, sending dried leaves adrift in its wake. The moon hurried from one dark cloud to another. Her single beam of light shone farther down the trail. Choosing to enjoy the peace of the evening, Katie led the group in silence, not bothering to dispense any additional history. Tranquility laid over the land and water, as always.

  Ka-Boom!

  The sound of the gunshot echoed over the river. Katie froze. Shadow barked, then growled.

  The hairs on the back of Katie’s neck stood at attention as she dropped to a squat. The reverberations from the gunshot continued to ricochet in the woods, its echoes piercing over the continuous roar of the Gauley. Thunder rumbled high in the sky. She spun to face her guests and noticed the men in a crouching position. Mr. Malone crept up beside her.

  “Is this common?” His tone carried authority. His scrutiny roamed the area.

  “No.” Like him, she kept her voice quiet. “We don’t even get sportsmen around here because of the National Recreation area.”

  “Where’s our cabin?”

  Pointing at the structure nestled in the edge of the woods about two hundred yards up and to the right of their present location, Katie laid her other hand on Shadow’s neck. The fur on his back bristled against her palm. “Something’s wrong,” she whispered. “Shadow can sense it.”

  “Let’s get to the cabin.” Hunter motioned for the others to follow, but to keep down. “Lead—I’ll bring up the rear.”

  She made her way toward the building, crouching as she scurried. She reached the stairs, then lifted her foot to the bottom step. A cold hand grabbed her shoulder.

  She whirled, prepared to strike. Hunter shook his head and tugged her back a step. “Give me the key and let me check it out first.”

  His chivalry made her face fan with heat, but she pushed him back with a firm hand. While she appreciated his attitude, she couldn’t allow herself to show weakness in front of clients. “Thanks, but no. This is my property, and I’ll check it out.” Her glance darted over the group. “Everyone stay here, as close to the building as possible, just to be on the safe side.”

  Keeping her fingers wrapped tight around the key, she climbed the stairs to the door. She disengaged the puny knob lock. The door slammed back against the wall. Once she crossed the threshold, Katie flipped on the light-switch next to the main entrance.

  A golden hue of brightness flooded the room—light sprawled over the ceiling. She blinked several times, allowing her eyes to adjust. She snapped twice—the dog appeared at her side. She rubbed his chin and whispered in Shadow’s perked up ears. “Go check it out, boy.”

  The Blue Heeler rushed into the cabin, racing from room to room, then returned to her side, accepting her rub behind his ears.

  Katie faced Hunter, who loomed in the doorway. “All’s fine.”

  He motioned for the others to enter, then followed them inside and shut the door. His hooded eyes studied her. The others in the party all spoke at once—

  “What was that?”

  “Who’s shooting?”

  “Goood Night! Is it deer season?”

  Holding up her hands in a gesture to stop their chatter, Katie plastered on a smile, even though her stomach rolled. “Just a minute. Let me try to answer your questions.”

  Silence filled the still cabin, as if the air had been recycled one too many times.

  She drew in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “Okay. It was a gunshot and no, it’s not open season on anything right now. We’re too close to the National Recreation area.” One of the men opened his mouth, and she held up her hand again to cut him off. “But there are times when some outdoor enthusiasts don’t abide by the posted signs. More than likely, that’s what we heard.”

  “But it sounded so close.” Orson—at least, Katie was pretty sure his name was Orson—said in a shaky voice.

  “I know it did. But keep in mind that over a river, sound carries.” She laid her hand on Shadow’s head, drawing comfort from his muscular body. “I’m going to call the ranger at the recreational area and see what he can find out. I’m sure he’ll know. He’s probably found someone who wasn’t aware he’d crossed onto posted land.”

  “Is it safe to stay here?” Hunter’s eyebrows scrunched.

  One minute this Hunter Malone guy came across as taking charge, and the next he asked if they were safe? He was an enigma. Great. Something else to deal with that she didn’t have time for. If the family business weren’t in such dire straits right now, she’d send them all back to their little private jet. Instead, she sucked in her irritation. “Of course it’s safe.”

  The men grumbled, but lifted their bags and milled about, checking out their lodging. She turned to go.

  Hunter tapped her arm. “Do you really believe it was a huntsman?” He showed no fear like he’d tried to display a moment ago. What was his game?

  She lifted a casual shoulder, studying his face. “Probably. Or someone lost, who fired the gun to help someone locate him. It’s happened before.”

  “Until you find out, is it safe for you to walk outside, alone?”

  She cocked her head to the side. “I’m fine. My cabin is only a few paces down, and my brother’s is right on the way. I’ll stop an
d talk to Christian about it, and we’ll call the ranger from his place.”

  “I’d feel better if you’d let me walk you home.”

  Katie stared into his eyes. She recognized nothing that revealed the real Hunter Malone, so she laughed. “Such a gentleman.” Snapping for Shadow again, she grinned. “I appreciate the offer, I really do, but I have protection. Shadow will see me safely home.”

  At the door, she lifted her voice. “You gentlemen get a good night’s rest. We leave shortly after daybreak. There’s a list on the kitchen table of what you’ll need to bring on the rafting trip. Be sure to abide by the rules as we won’t have room for more than your bedroll. And remember, no cell phones or other electronics. We serve breakfast at six-thirty. Don’t be late.”

  As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Katie had an awkward sensation that someone watched her. Shivering, she pressed her leg against Shadow, his presence strengthening her resolve.

  A thought niggled against her mind as she quickened her pace toward Christian’s cabin—from what she’d witnessed, Hunter Malone could be many things, but an accountant or an assistant to one wasn’t one of them. His quick take-charge attitude came across as reflexive. Just who was Hunter Malone, and what business did he have here?

  She pounded on Christian’s door, then grabbed the knob and twisted, but the door didn’t open. Her mouth gaped. Since when did Christian lock his door?

  The sound of feet padded against the wood plank floor. “Who is it?” His voice came through the wood.

  “It’s Katie. Open up.”

  The lock disengaged with a click, then the door swung open. Christian loomed in the doorway, wearing a tee and sweat pants. His normally shaggy hair looked even more mussed than usual.

  Katie pushed into the foyer and stared at her brother. “What’s with the locked door?” Shadow burst through the opening, sliding on the polished plank floor as he raced around the cabin.