Jake's Biggest Risk (Those Hollister Boys)

by Julianna Morris

  Jake leaned on the deck railing, struck by the uncomfortable thought that for all his travels and experience, he might actually be rather narrow-minded.

  Hannah and Danny, with Badger at their heels, came out of Silver Cottage and walked along the shore before taking the northern forest path. They went out every evening, and sometimes he caught faint snatches of their conversation...Hannah telling her son stories about the land and animals and trees, with a sprinkling of Native American legends and myths.

  Jake was about to go back inside when he heard a sharp canine yelp in the distance. Adrenaline shot through him and he hurried down the steps. The Cascades might seem tame to him, but there were dangers. Jake was a hundred yards up the path when Danny appeared, running for all he was worth.

  “Danny, what happened?”

  The kid streaked past without a word.

  Almost at the same moment Jake caught the strong whiff of skunk. His pulse slowed with relief. Getting sprayed by a skunk was revolting, but not dangerous.

  A couple of minutes later Hannah appeared with a miserable-looking Badger, now on a leash. “Don’t get too close,” she called. “Badger darted in and saved Danny from the worst of it, but he got the works, including some in his eyes. It temporarily blinded him.”

  Jake walked ahead of her on the trail, focusing on his gait because it wouldn’t help if he fell and hurt himself.

  At Silver Cottage they found Danny in the outdoor shower between the double garage doors, his clothes in a pile next to him, scrubbing for all he was worth.

  “Now he wants a bath,” Hannah murmured.

  Jake held out a hand to take Badger’s leash. The animal’s eyes were watering and he blinked painfully.

  “That’s nice of you,” Hannah said, “but this is my problem.”

  “I’m helping,” he insisted. “I’ll start with the dog while you take care of Danny.”

  Hannah hesitated for only an instant, then gave him the leash and opened the garage. On shelves along the far wall were rows of tomato juice in tall cans and containers of carbolic soap. Obviously, it wasn’t the first time they’d run into the business end of a skunk.

  With his leg still so unsteady, Jake couldn’t chance lifting the large golden retriever into the outdoor washtub by the shower, but Badger seemed to understand and leaped in with only a small amount of guidance.

  “Mommy, it’s gross,” Danny yelped.

  “I know. Keep your eyes closed and keep scrubbing.”

  She opened several cans of the tomato juice, then turned the water off and poured it over him as the first salvo, while Jake did the same with Badger and began working the juice through the dog’s thick fur.

  “Hey, Danny, I haven’t told you about the time I climbed the Matterhorn when I was fourteen,” Jake said conversationally.

  “I climbed it, too,” the youngster informed him. “Sorta. In the bobsleds at Disneyland.”

  “I’ve never been to Disneyland, but I understand the rides can be scary.”

  “I wasn’t scared,” Danny said stoutly. “And I told Mommy you’re never afraid, not even of a crocodile. Next time I see a bear I’m gonna show him I’m real brave, too. I’ll whack him on the nose and tell him to get out of my way.”

  “No, you won’t,” Hannah said sharply. “You’ll do exactly what I taught you to do.”

  Jake got a sinking sensation. He was in the habit of discussing his hazardous experiences with interviewers who wanted a good sound bite, but he hadn’t thought about how they would come across to a child.

  “Danny, when I told you I wasn’t scared taking pictures of the crocodiles, it’s because I was in a tree where they couldn’t get to me,” he said carefully, “but I would have been scared if I was on the ground with them. I’ve been scared lots of times.”

  The youngster’s eyes opened wide. “Really?”

  “Yes. I’ve done some dangerous things, but it’s to get pictures of places and animals that...uh...people might never get to see for themselves. It’s never been to prove I’m brave or anything. That would be dumb. Do you understand?”

  “I guess.”

  Fortunately Danny was declared de-skunked a short while later and sent into Silver Cottage to get warm, which left both Jake and Hannah to work on Badger.

  “Thank you for that,” Hannah said quietly as they poured more tomato juice on the animal’s fur.

  “I didn’t want Badger to wait,” Jake replied, deliberately misunderstanding. “He was suffering. But he may need to spend a few nights in the garage. The odor doesn’t seem to be getting better.”

  Hannah shook her head. “I can’t do that—he’d never understand. Besides, I think our clothes are contaminated and that’s partly what we’re smelling.”

  Damned if she wasn’t right. “I’m not modest,” Jake said, stripping down to his shorts. He dropped his clothes into the old washing machine in the garage where Hannah had put Danny’s things.

  * * *

  HANNAH’S BREATH LEFT her in a rush. He was really...gorgeous, despite the scars—both old and new—that she was trying not to look at.

  Hell.

  She turned her back and pulled off her own clothes, grabbing an ancient T-shirt of her father’s that she kept on the shelf with the skunk supplies. With a quick flip she pulled it over her head, though her wet skin didn’t let it shimmy downward as easily as she would have liked. Nevertheless, by the time she turned around, the hem had settled below her hips.

  “Spoilsport,” Jake jeered, though he didn’t appear to have been watching. He was working another application of tomato juice into Badger’s fur. “I can’t believe how cooperative he’s being.”

  “I’m sure he understands we’re trying to help. And I know he deliberately got between Danny and the skunk. Good boy,” she praised the retriever. Badger’s tail thumped on either side of the washtub as he wagged it.

  With their contaminated clothes no longer adding to the ambience, a last thorough washing of Badger’s fur seemed to do the trick. A slight odor lingered, but it was livable. Hannah toweled him, still offering praise for his heroism before looking up.

  “Um, thanks for the help. I could have managed, but it was easier with an extra pair of hands. And I also appreciate you being honest with Danny about sometimes getting scared,” she said determinedly.

  Jake finished drying himself off. “No thanks needed. It was the truth. I’m going to jump in the hot tub now. Maybe you and Danny should join me. There’s no better way to get warm.”

  The offer was appealing, but Hannah shook her head. “I should go tuck Danny into bed.”

  “Maybe you could come by yourself...for a little while.” He dropped the towel he was using and gave her a wicked smile. He walked toward Huckleberry Lodge, unconcerned about his near nudity, and she let out a breath.

  She was hardly a virgin to get flustered at the sight of a man’s body, but her pulse was definitely jumping.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  NORMALLY HANNAH COULD relax on Sunday afternoons, but between the adventures with the skunk and being behind on everything else, she had a busy day.

  Her outings with Jake were pleasant over the next few days. He really seemed to listen as she talked about the land and the meaning it held for her...the sense of creation in the volcanically active mountains and the varied plants and animals. Of course, maybe it helped that she didn’t mention healing songs for the land or anything that smacked of metaphysical beliefs.

  Sometimes it felt as if they didn’t agree on a single thing. And that shouldn’t matter to her. She wanted to get married and have more children and to protect her son while Jake just wanted to get back to his wandering ways. But somehow it did matter—maybe because she couldn’t remember ever feeling so drawn to someone.

  Still, Jake had talked seriously
to Danny about fear and bravery and having good reasons for doing something dangerous. It wasn’t that Hannah didn’t believe in ever taking risks, she just didn’t believe in being foolish.

  On Thursday morning the air was fresh and cool following a rainstorm the night before. She ran over to clean the lodge after dropping Danny at his day camp and tutoring Barbi, who’d come out to Silver Cottage early following one of her night shifts. Hannah frowned, remembering how edgy Barbi had been. And she’d seemed on the verge of asking something a few times.

  The cleaning schedule was another thing that was getting shifted around to allow for the photographic outings, along with Hannah’s meetings and the tasks she had to get done for upcoming fund-raisers. Even Jake’s Friday physical-therapy sessions had gotten rescheduled to Thursdays, and she often ended up cleaning at the same time Owen was there.

  “Come in, I can’t get up,” Jake called as she knocked on the door.

  Alarmed, Hannah hurried inside and found him lying on the couch.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I just...” He gestured and to her astonishment, she saw a scrawny adolescent kitten draped across his leg, sound asleep. “Last night I kept hearing something cry. I thought it was just the rain or a strange bird, but I finally walked up toward the main road and found this guy under a bush. He’s exhausted.”

  “Poor thing.”

  Hannah loved cats, and she knelt by the couch to examine the stray more closely. It was a tuxedo cat, black on top with a white blaze on its face, a white belly and tidy white paws—or they would be white once they were licked clean. Right now its fur was still grubby, though she could see evidence that he’d recently attempted to wash himself.

  “He’s mostly skin and bones,” she murmured.

  “Yeah. I fed him milk and a can of tuna I found on one of the pantry shelves. I’ll buy cat food later, along with a litter box.”

  She blinked. Jake wouldn’t shop for himself, but he’d go get supplies for a half-starved cat?

  “You’re keeping him?”

  “Just until he’s stronger and I find him a good home,” he said brusquely. “I couldn’t leave him out there.”

  “Of course not, but he’ll need to stay inside. There are wild animals in the area that would enjoy having him for dinner.”

  “I’ll keep him in.” Jake stroked the cat’s bony head, and its tail twitched in response.

  “I have some things at the house you can use until you get to a store,” she said, standing. “I’ll be right back.”

  At Silver Cottage she collected a cardboard box lid and a bag of cat litter she kept on hand for winter traction, along with several cans of albacore and chicken. Seeming to guess that something was up, Badger followed her back to the lodge. He walked around the couch and Jake glared.

  “Go away.”

  “Badger likes cats,” Hannah said softly. “Watch.”

  The kitten woke up as the dog nosed him, arching its back and spitting, but Badger patiently began licking him from head to toe until the spits turned into purring.

  “He’s a mother hen,” she explained. “I’ll set up a litter box in the laundry room, but you’ll have to teach the cat to use it.”

  “He’s already using some rags in there. How come you have cat litter?”

  “I carry it in the car during the winter to throw under the wheels for better grip in ice or snow.”

  “You ought to have a four-wheel-drive vehicle.”

  She shrugged, not about to explain the realities of living on a teacher’s salary...again. “I’ll start the cleaning. Have you thought about what you’d like to see this afternoon after your therapy session?”

  “Uh, no, but I’ll look at that list you made up.”

  Hannah began collecting the trash around the lodge and noticed the kitten had abandoned Jake’s leg to curl up against Badger’s stomach. Its fur was soaked, but much cleaner.

  “I don’t see why you don’t go to Lower Mahalaton for your therapy,” Hannah said as she wiped the countertops in the kitchen.

  Jake opened the refrigerator and took out a carton of orange juice. “It’s easier to have Owen come here.”

  “For you, maybe.”

  “Hell, I’m paying a premium, including for his travel time. The rehab center comes out way ahead.”

  “It isn’t just a question of money. Driving up to Mahalaton Lake means he doesn’t have time to work with as many patients, and that’s a shame because he’s a great therapist.”

  “I know—my sister-in-law researched it for me.”

  “Is that the one who’s going to have a baby?”

  Jake took a swig of orange juice. “She had it, actually. Matt phoned Monday evening.”

  Hannah turned around. “Boy or girl?”

  “Uh, boy.”

  “And...?”

  “And what?”

  She made an exasperated sound. “What’s his name? How much does he weigh and how long is he? When were your sister-in-law and nephew expected to come home from the hospital...? You know, the usual details when someone has a baby.”

  “Oh. Matt said something about all that, but I don’t remember. The kid’s name is William, I know that much. Named after Layne’s uncle. They’re calling him Will.”

  “You sent her flowers, right?”

  Jake blinked. Obviously, he hadn’t.

  Hannah pulled out the Mahalaton Lake phone book. “Here. If there weren’t any complications, they should be home from the hospital by now. You can arrange for flowers with the local florist shop. Send something really pretty. If Layne is anything like me, she needs to feel special after giving birth. Of course, in her case she’s got a husband, and that’ll help.”

  “Then your husband wasn’t...”

  “He was long gone by the time Danny was born,” she said reluctantly. “Steven didn’t see Danny until he was two. And only a few times since then.” There was no point in pretending her ex was any prize.

  “Then why does Danny talk about his father so much?”

  “Because his friends all have daddies and he wonders if he’s the reason Steven isn’t here. I try to reassure him, but the fear is still there, deep down.”

  “That’s crazy,” Jake said, sounding indignant. “I’m not a kid person and I like Danny.”

  “Emotions aren’t logical. And besides, he brings you our leftovers.” Hannah held up a bag filled with leftover containers that she’d collected to return to Silver Cottage.

  Jake looked embarrassed. “That has nothing to do with me liking him.”

  “He may not know that. You were rude the day you got here, but now you tell him stories...which only started when he began bringing food over.”

  “Crap.”

  “Danny was worried you weren’t getting enough to eat. But in the back of his mind he may wonder if the food is the reason you started being nicer to him. Now, call the florist before Owen gets here, or place an online order.”

  Hannah went across the lodge into the master bedroom and began making up the bed. The place wasn’t as messy as usual, but Jake hadn’t been home as much, either.

  “Hi, Owen,” she called as she headed for the utility area with a bundle of laundry. He’d arrived and was checking the range of motion in Jake’s leg.

  “Hey, Hannah.”

  She filled the washing machine with towels and sheets and automatically began folding a batch of Jake’s clothes that were sitting in the dryer. Then stopped, scowling. She wasn’t doing his personal laundry. Not now, not ever. She’d washed the sweatpants and T-shirt contaminated by the skunk’s spray, but that was different.

  Hmm...the skunk.

  Sighing, Hannah finished folding the clothes. There was nothing dangerous about skunk spray, but helping to scrub it
out of Badger’s fur had gone above and beyond the normal responsibilities of a tenant. She owed Jake a few favors.

  The sheets and towels were tumbling in the dryer when Owen left, and she’d gone into the sunroom to discuss where they were going that afternoon when there was a knock on the front door.

  “Maybe Owen left something,” she said, getting up to answer. But instead it was an elderly couple she’d never met.

  “Is this where Jake Hollister lives?” asked the woman. “We’re his grandparents. I’m Ruth MacDonald, and this is my husband, Dean.”

  “It’s nice to meet you. Please come in.”

  Jake’s grandfather was using a walker for support, and Hannah got them settled in the living room before returning to the sunroom.

  “Jake, your grandparents are here. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald.”

  Instead of looking pleased, Jake scowled. “What in hell are they doing in Washington?”

  “Uh...visiting? They’re in the other room. Let me know if you need anything, I’ll be next door.”

  “Don’t leave.”

  * * *

  JAKE COULD SEE Hannah was confused by his response, but it was nothing compared to how he felt. He’d never even met the MacDonalds. Josie had left home on her eighteenth birthday and never returned—rarely even visiting the States. One of the few things she’d said of her parents was that they’d smothered her with religious dogma.

  He went into the living room with Hannah and saw a woman who resembled Josie, though older, and a man with a deeply lined face. They smiled tentatively at him.

  “Can I get you anything?” Hannah asked, obviously trying to smooth the uncomfortable moment. “Coffee, perhaps?”

  Ruth lifted her hands, then dropped them. “We don’t want to be a bother.”

  “It’s no bother.” Hannah vanished before Jake could stop her.

  “Goodness, you look just like your pictures,” Ruth said following an uneasy silence.

  “Yes...” Dean put a hand on his walker, trying to stand. “Oh, this hip,” he muttered. “Broke it a couple of months ago.”