MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN

by Christine Rimmer

  Eden forced a smile and slapped at a mosquito that had landed on her arm. "It'll work out. I'm sure of it." She straightened from the railing and went to pick up the wine bottle. "And let's go inside, okay? Before we get eaten alive out here."

  "Wait."

  "What?"

  "I'll say it again. If you need someone to talk to…"

  "I know, and thanks. But really. Everything will be fine."

  * * *

  When Laurie left at a little after ten, Jared still had not returned. Eden walked her friend out to the driveway and then stood waving goodbye as Laurie drove away.

  When Laurie's taillights had disappeared around the first bend in the road, Eden turned for the cabin. Her breath caught as she saw Jared, standing at the top of the stone steps silhouetted in the light from the kitchen door.

  Her blood quickened in her veins. He must have been waiting, out in the trees, for Laurie to be gone.

  Eden hurried to meet him, all her worries and doubts about where this thing between them might be going submerged in her joy that he had come back to her once more. At the top of the steps, they embraced. When Jared's arms went around her, Eden sighed in pure happiness. He kissed her. She felt, once again, that she'd found her true home at last.

  They went in through the door together and paused, just inside, to share another kiss.

  And then he was waltzing her backward, through the main room to her bedroom. Eden went joyfully, unhesitating, grateful for every moment they might share.

  He undressed her swiftly and brought her down upon the sheets. Eden cried out as he entered her. And then she forgot everything but the feel of him inside her. The world whirled away to nothing. There was bliss, and that was all.

  * * *

  The next several days were happy ones for Eden. It was a golden time. She and Jared were together night and day. She felt that they grew closer as each hour passed.

  He never parked his truck under her tree again. Also, he was careful, though he virtually lived at the cabin with her, never to answer the phone or leave signs of his presence where a casual visitor might detect them. But it wasn't as unpleasant as Eden had thought it might be, because the cabin was isolated anyway. They didn't have to be too sneaky to keep what they shared a secret.

  As they grew more comfortable with each other, he began to ask her questions about the life she'd known before she'd come to North Magdalene. He asked about her parents.

  "They divorced when I was four," she explained. "And both of them remarried, my father once, my mother twice. I have six half sisters and four half brothers, not to mention all the stepbrothers and sisters from my stepmother's and stepfathers' previous marriages. I spent most of my growing up years bouncing between my mother and father. Whichever one of them could handle an extra kid right then, got me."

  "It was tough, huh?" Jared tenderly smoothed her hair with his hand. They were lying in bed early on Friday morning, just a week after they'd become lovers, snuggling and talking softly together as they had yesterday and the day before that. To Eden, sharing these precious moments at the very start of the day seemed like something they'd been doing for years.

  She cuddled up closer to him. "Not that tough," she mused. "I mean, they really did do their job of raising me. I was never hungry, and I was never abused. And I knew that they loved me. I just … never felt like I really belonged, you know?"

  He made a low noise of understanding.

  She continued, "And because no one paid much attention to me, I learned the habit of independence early. I realized that if I wanted to get anywhere in this life, I'd have to get there on my own steam. No one was going to do it for me. I think that's an important thing to learn."

  He grunted. Her head was on his chest right then, and she heard the sound as a low, agreeable rumble against her ear. Then he asked, "What held you back, from men, until now?"

  Eden smiled to herself, touched by how tactfully he was asking her why she'd stayed a virgin until she met him. "Well, it's partly because I've had plenty to do. There's hardly been time for romance. I worked long hours to save my money, so I would be ready to move, or invest, or whatever was required of me when I finally found what I was looking for."

  He chuckled then, a warm, rumbling sound. Eden basked in it and told herself he was a much happier, friendlier person now he had found her.

  "What you were looking for," he playfully scoffed. "To live in North Magdalene and partner up with my father in his tumbledown saloon?"

  She kissed him on the chest, reveling in the way the wiry hairs there tickled her nose. "Exactly. North Magdalene and The Hole in the Wall are just what I'd been looking for. And when I found them, I was ready…"

  "…because you hadn't wasted any of your young life on falling in love, right?"

  "Right. I'd earned the money I needed. And when your father offered me a partnership, I jumped at the chance." Jared's outside arm rested on her waist. She stroked the hard muscles with an idle hand. "Also, in this day and age, a woman has to be careful. Working in restaurants and bars, I've really seen firsthand what not being responsible about romance can lead to. That's why I put the condom machine in the men's room, even though your father ribbed me about it unmercifully. I like to hope that somebody will be saved from an unwanted pregnancy—or much worse—because that machine is there. You see?"

  She felt his nod against the top of her head. "And what else?" he asked. His voice was slightly gruff.

  She knew what he meant. What else had kept her a virgin until the age of twenty-six?

  The answer, of course, was quite simple. He must already know it. Because she'd never found a man she loved before.

  But somehow, her heart balked at giving him the words outright. She'd told him of her love that first night they spent together, but had not said the words since.

  The truth was, she was keeping them back. Somewhere deep in her heart she was waiting, longing to hear the words from him before she uttered them again herself.

  She sighed, thinking that to give all of herself to him in the hope that he could give himself fully to her must include the precious words of love as well. Especially now, when he'd as much as asked to hear them.

  She began, "Because I never—"

  And he cut her off. "Shh." He lifted her chin with a tender hand, and she found herself looking into his steel-and-smoke eyes. "Never mind. I've got no right to ask," he said in a slightly ragged whisper. "Forgive me."

  "But—"

  She got no further. His mouth covered hers. His hand found her breast. She moaned. The kiss deepened.

  She let her body express what she hadn't managed to say in words.

  Later, as she was rushing to finish her hair and makeup so she could get to The Hole in the Wall on time, she decided that she wasn't going to let it bother her that he had stopped her just before she could tell him again of her love.

  They were making progress. She was sure of it. Everything was going just fine. Soon, he would come to her and tell her they didn't need their silly agreement anymore. He would admit that he was through trying to keep their love a secret. He'd want to shout it from the rooftops, just as she had all along.

  Eden realized she was frowning at herself in the mirror. She ordered her face to relax. But inside, she couldn't help feeling anxious.

  She had visited Oggie yesterday. The sweet old coot was getting around part of the time on crutches now.

  True, it would be weeks yet before her partner could work again. But when that time came, if Jared hadn't decided that what he and Eden shared could last a lifetime, then Jared would leave, as he'd always sworn to do. And his going was something she couldn't bear to consider.

  Eden had believed, until Jared came, that she'd found her home in this lovely little town. But now she knew better. Home was where Jared was. And if he left, well, somehow she'd live through it. She was a strong woman, after all. But if he was gone, she'd have to start all over again to find the place she'd sought her whole life:
the place where she belonged.

  Eden caught her thoughts up short. What was the matter with her this morning? Nothing had changed since yesterday. She and Jared were doing just fine.

  But for some reason, she kept remembering the haunted look in his eyes when he'd stopped her from saying she loved him. She kept recalling the ragged harshness of his whisper when he'd said, "Never mind, I have no right to ask." And she kept having the strangest feeling that what she and Jared shared would soon be coming to an end.

  Which was silly. Everything was going along just fine. She just had to stop letting negative thoughts control her, that was all. She smoothed her hair one more time and quickly applied her lipstick. Then she rushed out through the main room to the kitchen.

  Jared was sitting at the table there, drinking his second cup of coffee and reading the North Magdalene News.

  He glanced up as she flew toward the door. "Hey. Don't I rate a kiss goodbye?"

  She went to him and bent to swiftly press her lips to his. As so often happened between them, the brief kiss drew out. Eden sighed and felt his smile against her softly parted lips.

  After a moment, she straightened up and gazed fondly down at him. Her lipstick was on his mouth. She wiped it away with a caressing thumb. "If you keep that up, I'll just have to stay home for the day."

  "You'd never forgive yourself if you did that," he teased, putting his big hands at her waist and looking up at her, his silver eyes gleaming. "You'd lose a day's income, not to mention give customers the idea that they can't depend on you."

  "You're right," she agreed, enjoying the feel of his hands spanning her waist. She idly combed his hair with her fingers. "Consistency is everything."

  He chuckled. "So you're always telling me." He turned back to his newspaper, though he kept an arm loosely draped around her waist.

  "Which is why I'd better get going." She started to edge out of the circle of his arm.

  He pulled her a fraction closer. "Hold on just a second. I want to show you something. Look at this." He pointed at the newspaper, which was spread out on the table in front of them.

  "Jared, I really have to—"

  "Come on, this won't take a minute. Read."

  Eden quelled her impatience to be gone and did as he asked.

  He was pointing to an ad in the News's scanty Classified section.

  Position Sought

  I am dependable, hardworking, 23 years old. Seeking entry-level job in any local company. Fast learner, flexible, will work any hours. Inquire at SANTINO'S BB&V 555-2435. Ask for Nick.

  Jared explained, "I know the Santinos. They're all good workers. Sam hired their youngest son, Marty, over at his gold sales store. He says Marty's the best clerk he's ever had. Now, Nick would be the Santinos' middle son. He's been out of town for a few years, as best I can remember. But it looks like he's back now and looking for a job."

  "So?"

  "So I'll bet he'd make a damn good bartender. And we could really use one more pair of hands around The Hole in the Wall."

  Eden backed away from him just enough that he dropped his arm from around her waist. "We're managing."

  "Just barely," he reminded her gently. "Come on, Eden. You're overworked. You're at that bar up to eighty hours a week sometimes."

  "I like to work, especially when I'm working for myself."

  "I know, but—"

  "Jared, your father handled the place alone for years."

  "Right. And you remember what it was like when you became his partner. Half the time, he was so worn-out, he didn't even bother to go in until late afternoon. He was barely getting by. And look what happened when he shot himself in the foot. If I hadn't been around to cover for him—"

  "I would have managed." Eden really didn't want to hear anymore. The truth was, she'd been planning to hire another bartender next spring, when the busy season started again. And she probably would have hired someone when Oggie hurt himself, if Jared hadn't been there to fill the gap so perfectly.

  With her shrewd head for business, Eden knew that what Jared was suggesting made complete sense. They were bringing in nearly three times the money that Oggie had made alone. And they were often busy four or five nights of the week now. They did need someone to take up the slack. The way it was now, if either she or Jared—or Oggie, once he was back on his feet—got sick, the business was bound to suffer.

  But Eden knew very well what having someone else to help out would mean. That Jared could leave even sooner than she'd thought. And she didn't want him to be free to leave until after he'd decided he wasn't going anywhere.

  "Eden," Jared said quietly. "Just talk to Nick, okay? I know you won't want to pass up the chance to hire someone like him."

  She turned for the door. "I'm late."

  "I'm calling him as soon as you leave. And I'll bring him in around noon if he's willing, so you can meet him. The weekend's coming up, and Monday is Labor Day." They'd already decided to stay open on their usual day off this week, to take advantage of the heavy holiday trade on the last big weekend of the summer season.

  "Unless we interview him today," Jared went on, "we won't have another chance until Tuesday. And if there's anyone else in town who's looking for good help, he'll be unavailable by then. I think we should move on this now."

  "I have to go, Jared."

  He grabbed her hand. "Say yes."

  No, her heart cried. Never! Not until you swear you'll love me forever, and never ever go away…

  "I have to go."

  "Say yes."

  What could she say? He was right. And her heart was breaking in two.

  "All right, fine. Call him, and I'll talk to him today."

  * * *

  Chapter 15

  « ^ »

  Jared brought Nick Santino into The Hole in the Wall at twelve-fifteen that very day. Eden saw immediately that the young man was just what she'd hoped to find when she started interviewing for a helper. He was big and bright and handsome, with a ready smile and a steady hand. And there was a calm levelheadedness about him that Eden found instantly reassuring.

  She told him that the pay would be low to start out, but that they were planning on adding a restaurant in The Mercantile building in the spring. Nick could "grow" with them if he found he liked the work. If he learned about both the bar and restaurant ends of the business, there could very well be a manager's job for him eventually.

  Eden didn't say so, but she had big plans for farther into the future. Grass Valley and Nevada City were nearby, after all. Eventually she intended to open more restaurants in those larger neighboring towns.

  Nick, who'd returned to North Magdalene with the hope of settling down permanently, was eager to start as soon as Eden thought she could use him. They agreed on a salary and that he would begin work right after the holiday. He'd be taught how to open the place first, get his initial training during the day, when things were generally less hectic.

  "I'll meet you right outside the back door then, ten-thirty Tuesday morning." Nick stood up from the table where Eden had led him to conduct the interview.

  "Sounds good." Eden reached across to take the hand he offered. "See you then."

  Nick gave her a nod and turned to go. Eden stared after him until the doors swung shut behind him. She felt strangely at a loss. She knew she'd made a sound business decision.

  And yet she wanted to cry.

  "Hey."

  Eden blinked and smiled at Jared, who had taken over the bar so she could talk to Nick. "Hey, what?"

  "Take a break, that's what. Go on over to Lily's, why don't you, and get yourself some lunch? I'll handle things here."

  Eden never ate lunch out. She'd either bring it to work with her, or call down to the café and have something delivered. She started to decline Jared's suggestion without even stopping to consider it. But then she decided that getting outside on her own for a little while might be an excellent idea right now.

  "Thanks, I think I'll do that." She got up an
d started to go behind the bar to get her purse.

  Jared got it for her. He picked it up and plunked it right down in front of her. "Get lost."

  She took the purse and made a mock-sour face at him. "Yes, sir."

  Out on the street, she made herself walk slowly. She looked around and reminded herself how much she loved this little town.

  Since she was being purposely observant to keep her mind off her vaciliating emotions, she found herself noticing the maples that lined Main Street

  . They looked different than they had just a few days ago. Their leaves weren't quite as green as they had been. They weren't changing yet, so much as fading, like summer, a little at a time.

  Thinking back to last night, she recalled how she'd wanted her sweater the minute the shadows came. Strange, in the space of the week that she and Jared had been lovers, summer seemed to have found its apex and to be fading now toward the autumn of the year.

  The thought saddened her, brought the tears that she was keeping down a little nearer to the surface.

  Oh, what was the matter with her? Somehow, today, everything seemed to speak of changes.

  It was ridiculous. Very little had really changed. She'd hired a much-needed employee. So what? It was something that was bound to happen sooner or later. And it didn't mean that Jared would be packing up his gear and heading out of town tomorrow.

  And yet Oggie was on crutches now. Autumn was on its way. And Jared had stopped her from declaring her love. He'd said he had no right to hear the words from her…

  "Allow me, Miss Parker."

  Eden shook herself and realized that she'd reached the café and then stood there, absorbed in her thoughts, blocking the door.

  She pushed back her self-pitying tears and murmured "Thank you," to Sheriff Pangborn. He pulled back the door.

  Eden sat down in the first empty booth she came to. Heather was there before she even had a chance to look at the menu.

  "Hi, Eden. What are you doing here this time of day?"

  "Your father kicked me out of The Hole in the Wall. He made me take a break."