Читать книгу Every Move She Makes - Jannine Gallant - Страница 10

The early morning sun was just peeking over the hills as Rachel and the girls left Vine Haven. Traffic heading east was light, putting Rachel in a good mood. She sang softly with the radio as the miles passed. In the back seat, Jade and Ivy told jokes, played games and consoled Daisy, who moaned pitifully.

Lark turned around in the front passenger seat and frowned at her sisters who were giggling helplessly at one of Jade’s jokes. “They won’t think it’s so funny when Daisy throws up on them.”

“That’s a cheerful thought.”

“You can’t expect me to be happy. I didn’t want to come on this stupid camping trip.”

“Lark.” Rachel’s tone held a warning.

Her daughter retreated into sullen silence. She’d been sulking all week. After her initial explosion, she was punishing the rest of the family with her long face and dramatic sighs.

Jade leaned forward between the seats. “What’s so bad about going camping, anyway?”

“Everything. When are we going to get there? I’m sick of sitting in the car. We’ve been driving for hours.”

“It’s not too much farther.”

“I still don’t see why I had to come.”

Rachel sighed. “We’ve been through this already. This is a family camping trip, and like it or not, you’re part of the family.”

“Not. Definitely not.”

Jade bounced and squealed. “Mom, this is our exit.”

Rachel drove down a two-lane road lined with pine trees. Here and there piles of dirty snow lay in shady patches. The girls sat quietly, watching for the signpost that marked their destination.

“There it is.” Jade pointed at a weathered sign with the camp’s logo.

The car bumped along a rutted track as Rachel pulled to a stop in a makeshift parking lot.

A battered wooden fence lined the parking area, separating it from a stable and corral. A couple of horses and several mules dozed in the sun. Every now and then one switched its tail to shoo away a fly.

“This rocks. They have horses.” Jade climbed out of the car.

“Do we get to ride them?” Ivy ducked as the dog leaped over the back of the seat in a scramble toward freedom. She ran to the fence. “Look at the donkeys. Aren’t they cute?”

“Actually, they’re mules.” A young man with dark blond hair, glasses and an engaging smile approached, his hand outstretched to shake Rachel’s. “I’m Jason, and you must be the Carpenters. Welcome to Granite Lake Retreat. I’ll be your guide for the hike up to the actual camp.”

Rachel introduced the girls as he made short work of unloading their gear.

“Is that it?” He pointed at the pile of suitcases, sleeping bags and guitar case at his feet.

“Maybe we over-packed.” Rachel frowned. “It looks like an awful lot to carry.”

“This is nothing. You should see the stuff some people bring.”

She glanced down at her dog, who sat nearby keeping an eye on the horses. “Oh, where’s Daisy’s food?”

“It’s right here.” Ivy pushed a heavy burlap sack off the backseat floor. “Jade moved it up here so Daisy wouldn’t eat it while we were driving.”

Rachel smiled at her daughters. “That was smart thinking.”

“I didn’t want her to throw up on me.”

Jason laughed. “That would motivate me. If we have everything, I’ll load your gear onto a couple of the mules.”

Ivy climbed out of the backseat, clutching a dark-haired doll to her chest. “I can’t believe I almost forgot Samantha.”

“Mom, she’s not taking a doll with her, is she?” Lark rolled her eyes. “How embarrassing is that?”

Rachel rested a hand on her youngest daughter’s head. “I don’t mind as long as she carries her.”

“Geez, Lark, she’s nowhere near as big as your guitar.”

“I can’t leave it. I have to practice.”

Their guide smiled at her. “Sometimes at night we sing around the campfire. Maybe you could play for us one evening.”

Lark responded with a shy smile of her own. “I’d like to, but I’m not a professional or anything.”

“Don’t worry. We aren’t picky. Jed plays the fiddle, and you can accompany him. Jed’s the owner of Granite Lake Retreat. He’s a great guy, but be careful.” His grin was teasing. “Most of the single girls fall crazy in love with him before they leave.”

“He must look like his brother.” Rachel grabbed two suitcases and followed Jason toward the corral.

“Do you know Kane?” He turned to look at her.

Her face heated. She hadn’t meant for him to hear her comment. “I met him once.”

“Kane’s great, too. He’s been terrific about helping out. Right now it’s just me, Jed, Hillary and Ozzie, but we have more staff coming before the holiday.”

They made a return trip for the last of the bags, and Rachel locked the car. “Does everyone have their day pack and water bottle?”

The girls nodded.

Jason secured their gear to the mules. “Who wants to lead the second one?”

Jade volunteered. “What’s his name?”

“Dozer. This one’s Mandy.”

“Cool. Are the horses coming with us?”

“No, a man down the road owns them. He boards them in our stable and feeds the mules for us in exchange.”

“Too bad.” Ivy sighed. “I’d love to ride one.”

“I’m afraid we don’t offer trail rides, but don’t worry. There’re plenty of other activities to keep you occupied.”

They followed a beaten dirt path through a thicket of trees out onto an open hillside and walked for a half hour before Jason stopped his mule.

“Check out the view.”

An open vista stretched before them with towering granite peeks and dense conifer forests reaching to the horizon. A crystal clear lake rested at the bottom of the bowl.

“Wow, it’s really pretty,” Ivy called. “Come look at the lake, Jade.”

She handed the lead rope to Rachel and ran over to stand next to her sister. “This is so awesome. Are we on top of a mountain?”

Their guide shook his head. “Not really. We’re on a ridge above the camp. The trail leads down from here.”

“The cabins sure look tiny.” Lark started down the slope behind the others.

“They aren’t very big, just a room lined with bunks and storage space for your gear underneath.”

Lark stopped. “And a bathroom.”

Jason grinned at her. “I’m afraid we don’t have indoor plumbing at Granite Lake. That path at the far end of the cabins leads to the outhouses. We use a lot of lime, so they don’t smell too bad, as outhouses go.”

She gave her mother a horrified look. “You didn’t mention anything about outhouses. What about showers? Please tell me there’re showers.”

“We jump in the lake, right, Mom?” Jade pushed on the mule to get him moving again.

Their guide took pity on Lark. “We have solar showers. The water is pretty warm after hanging in the sun all day.”

“Super. It’s practically five star accommodations.” Lark wrinkled her nose as one of the mules stopped to lift its tail. “Gross. That’s so disgusting.”

“Pee-yew.” Ivy waved her hand in front of her nose. “What do you feed him?”

“Hay and the occasional bologna sandwich. Dozer loves bologna.”

“You might want to think about changing his diet.”

Lark frowned at her sister. “Your doll is going to lose its shoe.”

Ivy screamed and grabbed the dangling shoe. “Thanks. I wouldn’t have liked fishing it out of that steaming pile.”

Jade shrieked with laughter, her braces flashing in the sunlight, and even Lark was smiling as they entered the camp.

A tall man with brown hair, blue eyes and a strong resemblance to Kane jogged up the slope from the lake to greet them. “It sounds like you enjoyed your hike.” He extended a hand. “I’m Jed Lafferty, your host.”

Jason introduced Rachel and the girls to Jed and Ozzie Thompson, a short man with sparse white hair. The cook was probably in his mid-seventies. He shook Rachel’s hand and then went back to the campfire he was tending.

“Kane took some guests on a hike, and Hillary drove into Truckee for supplies. You’ll meet them both later. Kane’s my brother.”

Rachel opened her mouth to say she was already acquainted with his brother but closed it when Ivy interrupted.

“Is this our cabin?”

Jed nodded. “Go ahead and settle in. Ozzie should have lunch ready shortly. I imagine you’re hungry after your hike.”

Jade peeked inside. “Starving.”

“Come out to the central picnic area when you’re ready. That’s where we eat all our meals. Toilet facilities are at the end of this path, and there are a couple of shower stalls over near that grove of trees.” He pointed to a bucket of water by the door. “This is just for washing. We keep a supply of bottled water to drink.”

Jason had unloaded the mules while Jed talked, and both men left them to get organized. Her youngest daughters claimed the upper bunks.

“This is so cool.” Jade climbed up to her bed and bounced on the bare mattress. “It’s comfortable, too.”

“That’s good.” Rachel sat on a lower bunk to test its firmness. “This beats sleeping on the ground.”

Other than the four bunks, the furnishings consisted of a small table with two chairs, an old fashioned basin and water pitcher, a mirror in a copper frame and a lantern, which hung from an overhead hook.

“It’s nice.” Ivy reached up to touch the lantern. “I like this place.”

“The cabin seems functional.”

Rachel smiled at the girls. Their eyes were bright with anticipation. Even Lark had stopped moping.

“Let’s spread out our sleeping bags and then go eat. I’m pretty hungry.”

They stowed their suitcases under the bunks and washed their hands and faces in the basin. After tying Daisy in the shade with a bowl of water and a dog treat, they left the cabin to follow the trail to the area set up with picnic tables Jed had mentioned. A buffet of sandwiches, salads and chips was spread out on vinyl tablecloths. A big tub of iced drinks rested next to the food table.

“It certainly doesn’t look like we’re going to starve while we’re here.” Rachel sat down with her loaded plate.

Jade swallowed a mouthful of macaroni salad. “It’s really yummy, almost as good as Grandma’s.”

“Don’t let your grandmother hear you say that. You’re right, though. It’s very tasty.”

“Ozzie is one heck of a cook. We’ve been eating like kings since we got here.”

Rachel turned around and smiled at the speaker, a young man in his late twenties with long hair pulled back in a ponytail and a scraggly beard. His friend had short, dark hair under a Chicago Cubs baseball cap and brown eyes. They introduced themselves as Chip and Bob.

“Did you just arrive?” Chip asked.

Rachel nodded, wondering how he could possibly eat the Dagwood sandwich without half of it ending up in his beard. “We’re staying for a week. Have you been here long?”

“This is our second day. The place is great. We hiked fifteen miles yesterday, so today we’re taking it easy with a little fishing and lazing around at the lake.”

“We’ll probably go down to the beach after lunch.”

“Mom, that lady over there is staring at you.” Ivy tugged on her arm. “I think she’s trying to get your attention.”

Rachel’s gaze followed Ivy’s pointing finger. A woman who looked to be in her mid-forties with shoulder-length brown hair and an eager expression sat at a table with a man and two teenaged kids. She spoke to them in a low voice before coming over.

“I’m sorry to bother you.” Her smile was uncertain. “I’ve been going mad with curiosity. Were you by any chance on a soap opera a dozen years ago?”

“I was, but I’m surprised you recognized me. I was a lot younger and better dressed at the time.”

The woman shook her head. “Maybe better dressed, but you’re still just as beautiful as you were then.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Mimi Andrews, and that’s my husband, Greg, with our kids, Kevin and Lauren. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ll admit I watched you religiously back when the children were still in diapers.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Rachel took the offered hand. “These are my girls, Lark, Jade and Ivy.”

“You’re all as pretty as your mother. I’ll leave you to finish your lunch. Maybe we’ll see each other down at the lake later.”

Rachel picked up her sandwich after Mimi left. “She seems like a nice woman.”

Lark rolled her eyes. “Another fan?”

Ivy frowned at her sister. “Mom was famous. You’re just jealous because no one knows you were on the show.”

“She was only in a couple of episodes.” Rachel reached for a chip.

“And I was a tiny baby. You’re such a dork, Ivy.”

Jade poked her younger sister. “Hurry up and eat your sandwich. I want to go swimming.”

Rachel frowned. “The lake is probably pretty cold.”

“Who cares? Can I go change into my bathing suit?”

“If you’re finished eating, you may.”

Jade dumped her paper plate in the trashcan and hurried off with Ivy right behind her.

“Don’t you want to go swimming?” Rachel glanced over at Lark.

“Maybe later. Can I go talk to that girl over there? She looks like she’s my age, and if I’m going to be stuck here for a week, I may as well make friends.”

“Do you mean Mimi Andrews’s daughter?”

Lark nodded. “Her mom said her name’s Lauren.”

“That’s right, Lauren and Kevin. Sure, go introduce yourself. I want you to have fun this week.”

“Don’t push it, Mom.”

Rachel grinned. “A mother can dream, can’t she?” She dropped her plate in the trash. “I’ll be down at the lake with your sisters if you need me. And please don’t wander off without checking with me first. I don’t want you to get lost.”

“Or eaten by a bear or kidnapped by an escaped lunatic. I know the drill. See you later.” She hurried off to catch up with the other two kids before they left the picnic area.

The boy was tall and good-looking like his father. Rachel had a feeling he was the attraction, not his sister. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Anyone who could distract Lark from her crush on Rose’s brother earned a gold star in Rachel’s book. Leaving her eldest to her own devices, Rachel headed back to the cabin where she changed into a bathing suit and wrap. She grabbed a towel and a book, put Daisy on a leash and headed out at a fast clip. As they approached the lake, the dog lifted her nose to sniff the air then tugged even harder.

It was warm for mid-June. With the sun riding high in the sky, a quick dip in the lake would be refreshing after their earlier hike. As Rachel neared the dock, Jade jumped in with a splash and came up gasping.

“It’s freezing.” Her teeth chattered. “Don’t be a chicken, Ivy. Just close your eyes and jump.”

Ivy did, then screamed and flailed. Rachel smiled. Maybe she’d skip the swim and settle for a bit of sunbathing. She spread her towel in a patch of sand between two boulders. A perfect spot with a towering pine creating just enough shade to keep her cool, and a spectacular view of the lake shimmering beneath the afternoon sun. The girls jumped in again, their laughter ringing across the water. Rachel sighed. It had been far too long since her last vacation. She could only think of one thing that would make it better.

“Would you like a cold drink?”

Shading her eyes, she glanced up as a shadow loomed over her. Anticipation. Excitement. Delight. A conflux of emotions swirled inside her. Settle down, Rachel. With an effort, she composed her voice, afraid she’d sound like a school girl with a mad crush.

“I’d love one.”

Kane sat on the boulder next to her and opened a small ice chest. “Cola or beer?”

“Cola, please.” She took the cold can then offered a smile.

He opened a beer with a hiss and took a swig. “I recognized you from the trail above. Nobody else has hair quite that color of red. I was afraid I was imagining things.”

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

“Definitely. When did you decide to come up here?”

“Last week. I wanted to get away for a while, so I looked the place up online like you suggested. It appears I made a good choice. My girls are having a great time.”

“Are those two yours?” He pointed toward the dock.

Both her daughters bent at the waist. Simultaneously they dived into the water and came up screaming.

“The taller one is Jade, and the blonde is Ivy. I have a feeling they’re going to disturb the peace around here.”

“That’s okay. Kids should be able to make noise when they’re outside.”

Rachel smiled. “Let’s hope the rest of the guests feel that way.”

“And who is this?” He scratched Daisy behind one ear.

The dog moaned in delight then leaned against him.

“Apparently, your new best friend. Her name’s Daisy.”

“Why isn’t she swimming with the girls?”

“She’s not a big fan of the water.” Rachel stroked the dog’s silky coat. “She has a few hang-ups, but she’s very sweet.”

“I thought you had three daughters.”

His eyes were a clear, beautiful blue as he held her gaze. Her stomach fluttered.

“I do. Lark’s up at camp with a couple of other kids.”

“Blond hair with pink streaks, but still pretty?”

Rachel laughed. “That’s a very good description.”

“I saw her before I came down. She and the Andrews kids were talking to Jed about taking out a canoe.”

“I’m glad she’s found someone her own age to hang out with. My oldest wasn’t exactly looking forward to this trip.”

“You didn’t want to leave her home alone?”

“Not a chance. She got a tattoo a couple of weeks ago along with that awful haircut.”

Kane choked on his beer. “Now I remember why I wasn’t in a rush to have kids when I was married.”

“They’ve given me more than my fair share of headaches, but the rewards are worth it. How can you resist those happy faces?”

Jade and Ivy ran up, their curious gazes on Kane. Water dripped from their hair and bathing suits to form a couple of growing puddles.

“Can we swim out to that big rock and back?” Jade asked.

The rock in question was probably more than a hundred yards from shore.

Rachel frowned. “You can go, but I’m not so sure about Ivy. That’s an awfully long way for you to swim, honey.”

“I can do it. I’m much better than I used to be. Please.”

“I don’t know. If you got into trouble, it would take me too long to reach you. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“That’s not fair!”

Kane touched her knee. “Would you let her go if I swam with them? I came down here to cool off, anyway.”

She glanced over at him and smiled. “Girls, this is Kane Lafferty. You met his brother, Jed, earlier. Are you sure you don’t mind? I imagine the water’s pretty cold.”

“It is, but cold doesn’t bother me. Is that a yes?”

She waved her hand. “Have fun. I’ll watch you from my nice warm spot on shore.”

“Last one in’s a rotten egg!” Ivy took off laughing with Jade close behind.

“Guess I’d better get a move on.” Setting down his beer, Kane followed close behind the girls as they all hit the water.

His head bobbed next to Ivy’s small one while Jade swam ahead in a strong crawl.

Lark made brief eye contact as she came down to the shore with her two new friends. They strapped on life vests and climbed into a canoe, which rocked precariously as they shoved off. Greg and Mimi Andrews settled under a beach umbrella a short distance away, and Rachel gave them a smile and nod. The two young men she’d met at lunch walked by carrying fishing gear. They called out a greeting as they passed. She waved in return then covered a yawn. It was that sort of afternoon. Apparently, Daisy agreed. She flopped down in a patch of shade and let out a groan.

Relaxing under a warm sun, Rachel closed her eyes as she drifted in a languid state between sleep and wakefulness. When a quiver of unease shot through her, she sat up to look around, wondering what had disturbed her. Kane and the girls were swimming back, and Lark was still out in the canoe. Mimi stood knee-deep at the edge of the lake while her husband read a magazine. The two fishermen had disappeared from sight. A scuffling noise sounded behind her. She turned her head as a young boy tore down the path toward the lake. He was followed by a man wearing walking shorts and a tan camp shirt. Rachel frowned. He looked familiar.

Jade and Ivy swam ashore. Shivering, they ran to her, looking for towels.

“Didn’t you bring them down with you?” She twisted and inched sideways to see behind them.

As Kane swam back toward the rock, his strong arms cleaved the water in graceful strokes.

“We forgot.” Jade’s teeth chattered as Ivy huddled close to her.

Rachel returned her attention to the girls and levered to her feet. “The two of you can share mine while I go get a couple from the cabin.”

She hurried up the path. A squirrel chirped at her from the protection of a bush, and a blue jay squawked on an overhead tree branch. Reaching the cabin, she paused to look around. The breeze blew lightly. Nearby, a rock clattered. Rachel peered around the side of the structure. Something moved in the trees up the hillside.

Another camper or an animal—squirrel or bear?

A shiver worked down her spine. Grabbing the towels from the cabin, she headed back to the lake. “Here you go.”

Jade took the towels. “Thanks. We’re going to go lie on the dock and warm up.”

Kane walked up from the water and stopped beside them.

Ivy peeked at him from behind dripping bangs. “Thanks for swimming with me. Maybe we could do it again tomorrow.”

He smiled back. “Any time you like.”

“That was nice of you.” Rachel sat down on her damp towel. “I appreciate it.”

“Swimming with your daughter wasn’t exactly a chore.” He stretched out beside her. “I even swam a couple of extra laps.”

Rachel tried hard not to stare and failed. Kane’s broad, tanned shoulders glistened with moisture. Droplets of water clung to the dusting of hair covering his chest, which narrowed to a damp trail that disappeared inside his shorts. She licked dry lips and took a sip of her lukewarm cola. “I appreciate it anyway.”

“Did you take a nap while we were gone?”

“I was almost asleep when something disturbed me.”

“What woke you?”

“Um, probably a squirrel.”

“You seem a little distracted.” His eyes were bright with amusement as he studied her.

“I noticed your scar.” It was a lame attempt to excuse her fascination with his chest. “Grace told me you’d been shot.”

He ran a finger over the ridge of puckered flesh below his collar bone. “Does it bother you?”

She shook her head. “It’s not exactly disfiguring. Is it painful?”

“Not anymore.”

Kane stretched, and Rachel’s choked on her drink.

He glanced her way. “I should probably head back up to see if Jed needs any help.”

“Will I see you around later?”

“Count on it. We’re planning a bonfire for this evening. I’ll be sure to look for you there. Dress warm. It gets cold as soon as the sun goes down.”

Rachel nodded. “Thanks again for swimming with the girls.”

“I enjoyed it.” A smile tilted his lips. “Maybe next time you’ll shed that cover-up and join us.”

He left before she could answer, and Rachel let out a deep breath. The man was lethal. She fanned herself with her book. His sex appeal quotient was off the charts, and she felt like a walking hormone, which was ridiculous. She was thirty-five and the mother of three, not a sex-starved teenager. She had more than enough on her plate dealing with the girls. Getting worked up over a man was just plain foolish.

Maybe she would take a swim. After her conversation with Kane, a dip in icy water was just what she needed to cool off. Scrambling to her feet, she ran down to the lake and jumped in.