Freedom to Love

by Carole Mortimer

  She spent an hour after Adam had gone trying to get into the political thriller he seemed to find so interesting. It bored Katy, so she put on the radio, a deep depression washing over her as she heard the report of the shooting of the rogue bear. Apparently it was the first trouble of this kind they had had for years—the bear had been down near habitation foraging for food. It sickened Katy that the animal had had to be shot, and she knew she had to get some air, get away from the confines of the camper.

  She hobbled her way over to the teahouse, feeling hardly any pain in her ankle. She sat with a cup of coffee in front of her, watching the people as they went in and out, going to look at the souvenirs before they had their coffee.

  ‘Mind if I join you?’

  Katy looked up to see one of the coach-drivers standing beside the table she was sitting at, a man of about twenty-four, possibly twenty-five, with blond good looks. He looked pleasant enough. Besides, what could he do to her here? ‘I don’t mind at all,’ she smiled.

  ‘Thanks,’ he sat down. ‘Are you holidaying? Silly question,’ he grimaced. ‘What else would you be doing here?’ ‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’

  ‘Beautiful,’ he agreed, his accent definitely American. ‘I make this trip possibly six, seven times a season, and I never tire of looking at it. We go on the Yellowstone Park from here.’

  ‘That must be fun.’

  ‘If you get a good crowd on,’ he nodded. ‘Otherwise it can be a pain in the—Sorry,’ he grinned. ‘You’re right, it is fun. Are you over from England?’

  Katy smiled. ‘Am I that obvious?’

  ‘Well… ‘fraid so. What do you think of Canada?’

  ‘I love it!’ Her eyes glowed.

  ‘So do I. I’m trying to persuade my girl-friend to move out here when we’re married. She came out with me last trip, it came as something of a shock to her after L.A.’

  ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘Still, I may be able to persuade her yet. Did you hear they got the bear?’

  Katy’s smile faded. ‘Yes,’ she said dully. ‘It seems a shame.’

  ‘It sure does,’ he agreed. ‘Especially when it was the guy’s own fault he got mauled. I heard he was trying to feed it so that he could get a closer photograph.’

  ‘And now the poor bear’s been shot, with a gun instead of a camera. It isn’t right—’

  ‘Katy!’ a low angry voice growled.

  She raised startled eyes, so intent on the conversation about the bear that she hadn’t noticed Adam’s approach. ‘You’re back sooner than I expected,’ she said breathlessly, aware of the fury in his face.

  ‘So it would appear.’ He looked pointedly at the man sitting opposite her. ‘I wondered where the hell you’d disappeared to. Aren’t you going to introduce us?’ He looked at the coach-driver once again.

  ‘I—er—Adam, this is—I’m sorry, I don’t know your name?’ Her embarrassment was acute. The other man couldn’t help but be aware of Adam’s anger, of the challenge in his stance.

  ‘Pete—Pete Fresco.’ He stood up. ‘I hope you’ll excuse me, I can see my party coming back. Nice to have met you, Katy—sir.’

  ‘Sir!’ Adam sat down with a scowl. ‘How the hell old did he think I am?’

  ‘He was only being polite,’ Katy soothed.

  His eyes narrowed to blue slits. ‘What were you doing talking to him?’

  ‘Exactly what you said, just talking. We were just chatting to pass the time. Did you get your photographs?’

  ‘Yes. I got them as quickly as I could so that you wouldn’t be alone too long. I hardly expected you to be sitting in here having a cosy chat with some American.’

  ‘Neither of us had anything else to do.’

  ‘Oh, I see,’ his tone was insulting, ‘so you thought you would pass the time together.’

  ‘Not in the way you mean!’

  ‘Why not? You were willing to give me your all this morning, so perhaps Pete Fresco was going to be given the same opportunity. I doubt he would have turned you down.’

  ‘You have no reason to think—’

  ‘I’m thinking a lot, Katy Harris,’ his voice was grim. ‘I’m thinking that maybe you aren’t so innocent after all, that maybe you lied to me this morning about not being prepared for something like this. I’m also thinking that you’ll continue to sleep with me.’

  ‘I will not!’ she told him indignantly.

  ‘Oh yes, you will,’ said Adam with determination.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  IT was very difficult to walk with dignity when you had a sprained ankle, but somehow Katy did it, standing up to walk out of the teahouse. She limped over to the camper, using the spare set of keys to let herself in. If she knew how to drive she would have done so at that moment, would have driven away and not looked back.

  Adam had insulted her terribly the last few minutes. And he had hurt her too. That he could think, let alone say such things, hurt her unbearably. He didn’t deserve that she loved him, she only wished she could stop such feelings.

  He joined her a few minutes later, obviously not having hurried. ‘It’s no good sulking back there,’ he told her once they were back on the road. ‘Come and sit in the front.’

  ‘I’m perfectly all right where I am,’ she said stubbornly.

  He gave a weary sigh. ‘Come up here, Katy. Don’t make me come and get you.’

  ‘More threats?’ she scorned.

  His jaw became rigid and he leant forward to turn on the radio, ignoring her completely. Katy heard once again how the bear had been shot, feeling suddenly tearful for the animal—after all, it had only been protecting itself. The man was the one who ought to be shot, for his stupidity.

  ‘Katy…?’ Adam sounded unsure. ‘Katy, are you crying?’

  ‘No.’ Her voice was muffled as she hurriedly wiped away the tears.

  ‘You are!’ He sounded incredulous, pulling into the side of the road and switching off the engine. He came into the back to sit beside her, his arm about her shoulders. ‘What is it, Katy?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Is it me?’

  ‘No,’ she denied quickly.

  He gave a rueful smile. ‘I didn’t think it could be, you should be used to my temper by now. So if it isn’t me it has to be the bear.’

  ‘Yes,’ she acknowledged huskily.

  ‘You’re far too sensitive, Katy.’

  ‘That’s better than being insensitive,’ she said resentfully.

  ‘Look, I’m as upset about it as you are, I just don’t show it as easily. I think the man should be horsewhipped. But they had to destroy the bear, they had no choice.’

  ‘I know,’ she sniffed. ‘It just doesn’t seem fair.’

  ‘Life, or in this case death, rarely is.’ Adam stood up. ‘Now come and sit up the front with me. We’re driving down to Maligne Lake now. We can take the boat trip if you like, although I already have those shots.’

  ‘Your girl-friend didn’t destroy those?’ She settled in the passenger seat beside him.

  ‘Ex-girl-friend. She only destroyed three films, Maligne Lake from the shore will be the last. I’m meeting Jud tomorrow to let him know how things are going.’

  Katy gulped. ‘He’s coming back to the camper?’ Sharing with Adam was one thing, staying there with two men was something else.

  ‘No,’ Adam smiled, seeming to read her thoughts. ‘He’s staying with a friend at the moment.’

  ‘A female friend,’ Katy said with certainty.

  ‘How did you guess?’ he taunted.

  ‘It wasn’t difficult,’ she told him dryly.

  ‘I suppose not,’ he smiled. ‘You’ll like Jud, we’ve been friends since university.’

  She might find that she liked him, but she wasn’t sure she would like him knowing she was staying here with Adam. ‘Won’t he think it strange that I’m with you?’ she asked.

  His raised dark eyebrows. ‘As I’m usually never without a female by my side he won’t think
it strange at all. In fact, he tried to provide me with a—a companion, but I refused.’

  ‘Because you prefer to be alone,’ she said with remembered bitterness.

  ‘I was angry when I said that, Katy.’ His tone was surprisingly gentle. ‘You were damned impossible yesterday. I didn’t know where I was with you from one minute to the next.’

  ‘Women are often like that. I would have thought you would know our every mood.’

  Adam sighed. ‘Are you going to be insulting again?’

  ‘Sorry. I—I’m just nervous about meeting your friend, I think.’

  ‘Jud?’ He frowned. ‘He’s pretty broad-minded.’

  ‘But in our case he has no need to be!’

  ‘Doesn’t he?’ Adam asked softly.

  ‘No!’ She evaded looking at his warm blue eyes.

  ‘If you say so,’ he shrugged.

  ‘I—Oh, look, Adam,’ she exclaimed excitedly. ‘Isn’t it beautiful!’

  They were driving slowly over a bridge and to the left was Maligne Lake, the water a clear tranquil blue, the deep green pine trees growing right down to the water’s edge, the surrounding mountains completely covered in snow.

  ‘It is,’ he agreed. ‘Even more so now than when I came at the start of the summer. There’s more snow now.’

  ‘Maligne,’ Katy said thoughtfully as they parked. ‘Does that mean what it sounds like?’

  Adam smiled. ‘It’s called “the valley of the wicked river",’ he confirmed. ‘So named by one of the first explorers here—a woman,’ he eyed her teasingly.

  She laughed. ‘I’m not a Women’s Libber.’

  ‘Thank God for that! Apparently it can be very rough here. The river is deceptively mild to look at.’

  ‘And the lake?’

  ‘Well, they have boat trips up it, so it can’t be too bad. Put a coat on, Katy,’ he advised. ‘It’s very cold.’

  She flashed him a resentful look, but pulled on her anorak anyway. She didn’t like him issuing her orders, although he was proved correct about the climate once they were outside. It was freezing!

  Adam grinned at her expression. ‘Glaciers again,’ he explained.

  ‘I see,’ she shivered.

  ‘Don’t you have anything warmer than that anorak?’

  ‘You know I don’t,’ she snapped.

  He made no reply as they walked over to the low rambling pine building, one of the boats just leaving from its shore. Katy watched as the small craft broke through the clear surface of the lake, sending out ripples to the sides.

  ‘That’s a shame,’ Adam remarked beside her, also watching the lake. ‘There won’t be another trip for an hour or so.’

  ‘I wasn’t going to bother anyway.’

  ‘We have the time.’

  She shrugged. ‘I’m not in the mood for a boat trip.’

  ‘Ankle aching?’ he queried.

  ‘A bit.’

  He frowned. ‘You should have let me check it this morning before you got dressed.’

  ‘No!’ Her voice was sharper than she intended. ‘I— er—I checked it myself. It looks all right.’

  ‘And you didn’t want me near you,’ he derided.

  She hated him for reminding her of this morning. It had been tempting fate for them to sleep together. But last night he had seemed to need her, although this morning he had needed her in quite another way. He had nearly got her too!

  ‘Did I ruin all your romantic illusions?’ Adam was strangely serious, all mockery gone.

  ‘I didn’t have any romantic illusions,’ she snapped.

  ‘Yes, you did, and they’re nothing to be ashamed of. But you would have been ashamed if I’d taken you this morning, and worried too when you realised the possibilities involved.’

  ‘Well, it didn’t happen, so let’s just forget it.’

  ‘I’m not sure I’ll be able to. You—Katy—’

  ‘Adam, is that snow?’ she interrupted excitedly. She felt another cold drop on her nose. ‘It is!’ Her eyes glowed.

  He grimaced. ‘I told you it was cold.’ He hunched over. ‘And now it’s wet too.’

  She laughed. ‘Stop being such an old grouch! Isn’t it lovely?’ she smiled happily.

  ‘Lovely!’

  She gave him an impatient look. ‘I love it.’

  ‘I can see that. I bet you’re one of those people who long for snow at Christmas, too,’ he derided.

  ‘And I bet you’re one of those people who don’t even like Christmas!’

  ‘Wrong—I love it.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘You do?’

  Adam laughed, enjoying her surprise. ‘Yes. I just wish the goodwill could be carried through to the rest of the year.’

  ‘I bet it is for you,’ she said meaningly.

  He lightly tapped her nose. ‘Cheeky!’

  ‘Let’s walk by the side of the lake,’ she enthused. ‘You can take your pictures in a minute.’

  ‘Can I really?’ he mused. ‘How kind of you to tell me.’

  She put her hand through the crook of his arm, their earlier rancour forgotten. ‘Stop teasing me. We’re not in any hurry, we have plenty of time to take a walk first.’

  Close to the lake seemed just as blue, the water sparklingly clear. Katy enjoyed their stroll together, felt all tension leave her. After all, she and Adam still had a week to travel together, there was no point in falling out now.

  They didn’t fall out—but Katy fell in! She had been gazing at the beauty of the lake, not really looking where she was going. Whether her ankle wasn’t as strong as she thought it was, or whether she just lost her footing, she never afterwards knew. All she did know was that she was suddenly sitting in the icy water, wet up to her waist.

  ‘I don’t believe this!’ Adam groaned. ‘My God, you—’

  ‘Not another word,’ she warned fiercely. ‘If you dare to say one word about how clumsy I am,’ she stood up, shivering with the cold, the water flowing off her, ‘I swear I’ll push you in!’

  ‘You could try,’ he challenged, pulling her out and getting a soaking himself in the process. ‘But I’m likely to tan your hide if you do,’ he said grimly.

  Katy walked hurriedly back to the camper, anxious to get off the icy cold denims. Oh, she was such an idiot! She just didn’t know what was wrong with her since she had come to Canada, she was always doing something wrong. And Adam Wild was always around to witness it!

  She pulled the curtains, unconcerned with Adam’s presence as she peeled off the denims. ‘Ugh!’ she groaned, shivering almost uncontrollably.

  Adam didn’t say a word, but moved to turn on the shower, where the steam soon showed the run of hot water. ‘Get the rest of your clothes off, Katy,’ he ordered, pulling out towels to dry her with afterwards.

  ‘I—’

  ‘No arguments,’ he said firmly. ‘You’ll catch pneumonia if you don’t soon get warm.’ He sighed at her reluctance. ‘I’ll wait outside until you’re dressed.’

  ‘But you’re wet too!’

  ‘I’ll live,’ he dismissed. ‘But don’t be too long.’

  The water was very hot, and she stood under it for several minutes. She still couldn’t get warm, so dressed as quickly as she could, still shivering very badly.

  ‘Katy?’ Adam knocked on the door. ‘Katy, can I come in yet?’

  He must be frozen out there! She pulled on her jumper and opened the door. ‘I’ve finished now.’

  ‘Thank God for that!’ He came inside, rubbing his chilled hands. ‘It’s snowing quite heavily now.’

  Katy looked down awkwardly at her hands. ‘I didn’t mean to snap at you just now, Adam. I—I just didn’t think I could take another one of your sarcastic comments. I don’t know how I fell in the lake, things just seem to be happening to me lately,’ she finished almost pleadingly. She could take anything from him but a repeat of the chilling politeness of yesterday.

  ‘Whenever I’m around, hmm?’ he queried softly.

  She gave him a
sharp glance. ‘Yes,’ she admitted reluctantly. ‘There seems to be a jinx on me every time I’m near you.’

  ‘I wonder why?’ he said thoughtfully.

  ‘I have no idea.’ Her voice was much sharper than she had intended. She knew why she did these things when she was with him, it was because she was in love with him. ‘Shouldn’t you get out of your own wet things?’ she changed the subject.

  ‘I think so,’ he agreed. ‘And then we’d both better have a shot of that whisky I gave you the first day out.’

  ‘When I made an even bigger blunder,’ she said dejectedly. ‘Only a first-class idiot could have got in the wrong camper.’

  ‘You aren’t an idiot, Katy.’ Adam stripped off his jumper and shirt, his torso bare and tanned. ‘A little accident-prone, maybe,’ he grinned, ‘but you’re very intelligent. Why didn’t you go in for nursing if you’re that interested in dealing with sick people, and you obviously are?’

  Katy looked away as he shed his own denims, obviously feeling none of her own embarrassment. ‘I didn’t have the right qualifications,’ she mumbled.

  Adam pulled on his dry clothing, not bothering to shower himself. ‘Didn’t you pass your exams at school?’

  ‘No. I—My studies were interrupted, and I—I failed them all.’ She cursed herself for revealing so much, watching Adam’s interest sharpen.

  ‘Why?’ His eyes were narrowed.

  ‘I wasn’t good enough,’ she said lightly.

  ‘Katy!’

  ‘I—I was involved in an accident,’ she told him reluctantly.

  ‘Another one?’ he taunted. ‘I thought you said they only happen when I’m around?’

  ‘This one was different,’ her eyes darkened with pain. ‘A little girl was killed.’

  ‘Killed…? How?’ he queried gently.

  ‘A car accident.’ Her voice broke. ‘She was only seven. She saw one of her school friends across the road and just—just ran out.’ Her shivering wasn’t all due to the cold now. Once again she could see that little girl running joyfully across the road, completely oblivious of the huge lorry travelling at great speed towards her.