JENESSA REED swung her four-wheel-drive Toyota into Ryan's driveway and turned off the ignition.

What she needed was a hot shower, a ho e-!oo"ed eal and ten hours of slee#. $n that order. %i!"ing u# her haversa!" fro the #assenger seat, she !li &ed out of the van and for a o ent surveyed Ryan's house with rueful affe!tion. The ar!hite!ture, she had long ago de!ided, !ould only &e la&elled Newfoundland E!!entri!. The !ore of the house was s'uare, two-storey and altogether unre ar"a&le, &ut over the years Ryan had added two #or!hes, a sunroo , a root !ellar, a studio where he did fol" art that sold li"e hot!a"es to the tourists, and a !ou#le of &al!onies fro whi!h to survey a view that was far fro ins#iring. So e of these additions had &een #ainted, so e not. Two were as"ew. The overall effe!t e(#ressed #erfe!tly Ryan's innate e(u&eran!e and his total la!" of interest in what his neigh&ours ight thin". '$' ho e,' Jenessa !alled, heading for the &a!" #or!h. The door o#ened. 'A&out ti e,' Ryan gru &led, ta"ing her haversa!" and urging her indoors. 'And e with a new )o& all lined u# for you.' '*h, no,' Jenessa groaned, '$'ve got to re!over fro the last one first.' +e #oured two ugs of in"-&la!" tea fro the #ot that sat all day long on the stove and said unsy #atheti!ally, 'A wild-goose !hase a"es ore sense than tryin' to sight whales in late August.' She had &een guiding a s all grou# of ,er an tourists, who under her tutelage had &agged their li it of Atlanti! sal on and had then re'uested to &e shown whales. '$ drove the entire length of the northern #eninsula, )ust a&out fro-e to death out on the o!ean and was seasi!" twi!e.' Jenessa grinned. '.ut we saw fin whales, hu #&a!"s and #or#oises/so y !lients were ha##y.' '+o#e they ti##ed good.' 'Enough so $ don't need another )o& right away.' '0ou're to eet so e guy &y the na e of 1inn 2arston to orrow night on the late flight. Said he'd e(#lain what he wanted when he got here.' '+ow long does he want e for3' she said in a resigned voi!e. 'Didn't say. 1or!eful "ind of guy/didn't give e u!h !han!e to get a word in edgeways. %lus it was a lousy !onne!tion/he was !allin' fro so e #la!e in $ndonesia.' Anyone who !ould #revent Ryan fro ta"ing his fair share of the !onversation had her instant res#e!t. '$ndonesia...did he s#ea" good English3' she as"ed. She had s#ent ten days in July trying to tea!h the intri!a!ies of fly-fishing to three ad ittedly very handso e &ut unilingual S#aniards. '0eah... he's 4anadian, &y the sound of hi .' '$ wonder why he's !o ing3' Jenessa said. '$ su##ose he wants to !at!h the last of the fishing season... $'ll tell you one thing/he'd &etter not have o!ean-going a als on his list.' She levered the lid off the !an sitting on the ta&le and hel#ed herself to one of Ryan's olasses !oo"ies. '0ou ade these &e!ause you "new $'d &e &a!" today, didn't you3' she added, s iling a!ross at Ryan. +e never hugged her when she !a e ho e, &ut he would a"e sure she had all her favourite things to eat. ',otta #ut so e flesh on your &ones,' Ryan uttered. +e was a s all an, no taller than her five feet eight, and wiry as a fo(, his &eard and hair still showing vestiges of their for er fiery red, his eyes a sna##ing &rown. +e was her one tie to a life that had fallen a#art when

she was thirteen5 Jenessa valued hi &oth for that and for hi self. 1ather-surrogate and true friend/not a &ad !o &ination, and one she "new she was fortunate to have. Ta"ing another !oo"ie, she said with a !aution that in the #ast had often &een )ustified, '0ou did tell this 1inn 2arston that $' a wo an, right3' Ryan dun"ed his !oo"ie in his tea. 'Well, now, not sure $ did. 6i"e $ said, $ didn't get u!h !han!e to tal". This guy's ore used to givin' orders than listenin' to other #eo#le, $'d say.' 'Ryan, $ wish you wouldn't do that to e,' Jenessa !o #lained. '$ hate turning u# at the air#ort when so eone's e(#e!ting a si(-foot hun" of &rawn in a red flannel shirt and what they get is e instead. All you have to do when you're tal"ing to the is use the !orre!t #ronoun/she. *ne short word and that does it.' Ryan and she had had this dis!ussion &efore. 'And lots of the wouldn't hire you then5 you "now that as well as $ do, Jenny. $ "ee#s y outh shut, they get the &est guide this side of ,ander air#ort/and we're all ha##y.' Jenessa rolled her eyes. '0ou're the &est guide this side of anywhere/ ay&e you should go to the air#ort to eet the for!eful 2r 2arston.' '$ taught you everythin' $ "now and $' too old to go !rashin' around in the woods.' +e leered at her. '2ore interestin' things to do round ho e.' Not all his interests lay in the areas of fol" art and ho e i #rove ents. Another of the was the widowed 2rs 2!4arthy, whose le on eringue #ie !ould have gra!ed any restaurant in Toronto. '+ow's ,ra!e3' Jenessa said on !ue. 'She's fine,' he answered airily. 'Want so e ore tea3' oose hide. '$' going to !lean u#,' Ryan's tea, ta"en in any 'uantity, would !orrode a Jenessa said. 'Any essages for e3'

'Ruth !alled. She wants you to go over and see the &a&y after su##er. $t's got a tooth, she said. 4an't see what's so s#e!ial a&out that5 we all got teeth.' '$t's their first &a&y, Ryan5 of !ourse they thin" he's s#e!ial.' 'Not so s#e!ial $ see you Sur#rised, Jenessa sto##ed a"in' any oves to get one.' ean3' ore, idway a!ross the "it!hen. 'What do you

'0ou're #ushin' twenty-si( and $ don't see no signs of you gettin' yourself hit!hed.' She felt a #ang of ingled hurt and dis ay. 'Don't you want e living here any Ryan3' +er eyes widened. 'Are you and ,ra!e #lanning to get arried3'

'4ourse not7 She'd have e #aintin' the &al!ony and owin' the grass5 she li"es things all shi#sha#e, does ,ra!e. And $' not a&out to !hange y ways.' +is &row wrin"led in one of the for ida&le frowns that signified dee# thought. '$n the last five years you've et ore en than a stag has !ows. So how !o e you haven't arried any of 'e 3' She said fli##antly, 'None of the '0ou don't even date 'e 7' 'They're y !lients, Ryan5 there's su!h a thing as #rofessional ethi!s.' Ryan's o#inion of #rofessional ethi!s was &oth &rief and #erilously !lose to o&s!ene. Jenessa added sus#i!iously, 'Are you sure you don't want ,ra!e to ove in here3' +e o#ened the oven door. 'As sure as $ a that if you don't hustle y roast'll &e ruined.' as"ed e.'

Jenessa left the roo , trailing u#stairs to her &edroo , whose &al!ony overloo"ed a !lu # of wind-s!oured s#ru!e trees. Ryan had never &efore i #lied that he even noti!ed her single state, let alone that he thought she should end it. 2ay&e/she &lin"ed at herself in the irror /he wanted to dandle her own &a&y on his la#. $t was the nearest he would get to &eing a grandfather, after all. Ryan3 $nterested in &a&ies3 She had to &e )o"ing. *ddly unsettled, she gathered u# so e !lean !lothes and headed for the shower. .ut three hours later, when she was sitting in Ruth and Stevie's "it!hen with &a&y Ste#hen regarding her unwin"ingly fro sole n, navy &lue eyes, Ryan's re ar" was still on her ind. '0ou loo" very thoughtful,' Ruth !o ented. Ruth's hus&and Stevie was a wilderness guide, li"e Jenessa, and Jenessa had et Ruth through hi . The two wo en had li"ed ea!h other right away, and if Jenessa had a !onfidante it was the tall, &la!"-haired Ruth, whose #ra!ti!ality was leavened with a lively dash of ro anti!is . Jenessa ti!"led Ste#hen under the !hin, trying to get hi to reveal the new tooth, and &lurted, 'Ryan thin"s it's ti e $ got arried and had a &a&y yself.' 'That's natural enough, $ su##ose. 0ou are nearly twenty-si(.' '$' not in y !offin yet,' Jenessa retorted. 'Anyway, $' desire to get arried/ $ never have had.' not li"e you. $ really have no

'0ou s#ent a wee" with 6uis, San!hos and 2iguel and didn't even fantasi-e a&out weddings3' Ruth had invited the three S#anish fisher en to a lo&ster &oil in her &a!"yard, in!luding Jenessa in the invitation as a atter of !ourse. Now as she folded a towel with a de!isive sna# she went on, 'They were awfully sweet, Jenessa, you've got to ad it that.' '$ li"ed the . .ut $ didn't want to !olle!tively.' Jenessa shoo" her head. 'No#e.' '0ou !ould &e so #retty if you )ust #aid a &it of attention to yourself,' Ruth 'When you're guiding a fisher an through a &og, ourned. as!ara isn't a to# #riority.' arry the .' Jenessa anaged a s ile. '$ndividually or

'0ou didn't lust after the /any of the /even the tiniest &it3'

'0ou're not in a &og now,' Ruth snorted, giving Jenessa's )eans and T-shirt a dis#araging loo". '0our !lothes are !lean, $'ll give you that. .ut they're not what you'd !all se(y. And $'d &e willing to &et you !ut your hair yourself last ti e.' 'With y Swiss ar y "nife,' Jenessa ad itted. '$ have another !lient flying in to orrow, so $ won't have ti e to get it !ut &efore then, either. Anyway, Ruth, when you're stu!" in a lodge iles fro anywhere with a &un!h of en, whi!h $ a a fair &it of the ti e, it doesn't see a##ro#riate or sensi&le to go around flaunting your se(uality. A sure way to get in trou&le, than" you very u!h.' '$ don't thin" you "now how to flaunt your se(uality,' Ruth re#lied vigorously. '$ )ust wish you'd go to St John's one of these days and s#end the day in a &eauty salon. 0ou wouldn't even have to go to St John's/2arylou, ne(t door, has )ust !o e &a!" fro a se inar there, so she "nows how to do all "inds of neat new hair!uts. 0our hair is su!h a gorgeous !olour.. .you "now that !herrywood #addle of yours, how it shines when the sun hits it3 That's what your hair's li"e/and you're the only #erson $ "now with green eyes.' Ruth #aused, her head to one side. '2ay&e you )ust haven't et the right an.'

Jenessa didn't thin" it was that si #le. Tou!hed &y Ruth's des!ri#tion, she said hesitantly, '$ "now $ don't fit... $ never have, really. All those wo en's aga-ines with their advi!e on a"e-u# and lovers and !lothes/ $ !an't relate to the at all. $f you want the truth, they s!are e to death. $ su##ose it's got so ething to do with never "nowing y other and growing u# with y dad at S#ru!e %ond/no other wo en there. No other #eo#le, !o e to that.' '$' not eaning to &e !riti!al,' Ruth said hastily. '$ li"e you )ust as you are.' 'That's good,' Jenessa said with an i #ish grin. '.e!ause $' li"ely to stay this way. $' not at all unha##y as $ a , Ruth. $ don't "now how to flirt, that's true, and $' not out #laguing so e an to arry e/&ut $ really li"e y life the way it is. $ love y )o&...how !ould $ ever give that u#3 2arriage and &a&ies "ind of !ri # your style.' 'They're worth it,' Ruth said #la!idly. 'Ste#hen, y du!"ie, s ile at Jenessa.' Ste#hen gave a huge yawn, e(#osing one tiny #earl- white tooth, and let his head #lo# against Jenessa's shirt. She held hi !lose, li"ing his &a&y-#owder s ell and his war weight, yet "nowing that in a few inutes she !ould hand hi &a!" to his other without the slightest twinge of regret. She didn't have any i #ulsion to have a &a&y of her own. *r to attra!t the an who one re'uired in order to #rodu!e the &a&y. .ut it was one thing to a!"nowledge to herself that she didn't fit the nor al so!ietal e(#e!tations of what a wo an should &e li"e, and 'uite another to have &oth Ryan and Ruth, in one day, suggesting that she should !hange her ways. She was fine as she was. .esides, the )o&. So why should she !hange3 Jenessa s#ent the ne(t day washing and ironing the !lothes in her &a!"#a!" and hel#ing Ryan varnish a #ine &en!h for a !usto er fro 2assa!husetts. She !ould have used the ti e to go to 2arylou's and get her hair !ut, &ut so e una!"nowledged strea" of stu&&ornness "e#t her fro doing so. That evening she #resented herself at the air#ort )ust as the #ro#ellor-driven #lane was !oasting toward the ter inal. The sa e stu&&ornness had !aused her to dress in stone-washed )eans and a forest-green shirt with a &usinessli"e leather &elt around her waist. She "new ost of the s all !rowd of #eo#le waiting at the gate5 she was !hatting to Ruth's other and father, who were eeting their youngest son, when the first #assenger #ushed o#en the door. While she'd &een waiting, Jenessa had !on)ured u# a ental i age of the for!eful 2r 2arston8 he'd &e short/short en, in her e(#erien!e, were often aggressive/greying, and would light u# a very e(#ensive !igar as soon as he entered the ter inal. She had often #layed this ga e5 her re!ord of su!!ess was interestingly high. Ten #eo#le got off the flight fro +alifa(. The short ones were wo en, the sole an with grey hair was To y 2a!%herson fro Norris Ar , and the only one s o"ing was Ruth's youngest &rother, a fa!t that would annoy Ruth !onsidera&ly8 Ruth was a refor ed s o"er and dead set against !igarettes. A tall an with a that!h of untidy dar" &rown hair had halted )ust inside the doorway, surveying the s all !rowd with visi&le i #atien!e. +e was wearing a &lue wool shirt, a wellworn #air of )eans and leather hi"ing &oots5 a haversa!" was slung over one &road shoulder. The only thing she had got right, Jenessa thought ruefully, was the aggression. 9ui!"ly she wal"ed over to hi . '2r 2arston3' she said with a #leasant s ile. an wasn't &orn for who she would give u# her

+e did not s ile &a!". '$' tiredness. '$' +is lashes fli!"ered. '$'

1inn 2arston, yes.' +is voi!e was dee#, gravelly with

Jenessa Reed,' she said. 'The guide you hired.' not in the ood for )o"es.'

'Neither a $,' she said !ris#ly, wishing that )ust for on!e she !ould &e ta"en at fa!e value rather than having to )ustify her e(isten!e to her ale !lients. '$' the #erson Ryan re!o ended to you.' '0ou've got that wrong. Ryan said nothing a&out a wo an/&e!ause if he had $ wouldn't have hired you.' 'Well, you did hire e,' she said with another #leasant s ile, although this one too" ore effort. 'And $' very good at y )o&. Ryan &oo"ed a roo for you in the &est otel in town5 $'ll ta"e you there now, if you li"e. *r do you have other luggage3' +e loo"ed her u# and down with an insolen!e that !ould only &e deli&erate, fro her )agged !ro# of toffee- !olored hair to the shiny toes of her leather loafers. '$f $ hired you, $ !an unhire you,' he said. '$'ll get a !a& to the otel/what na e does it go &y3' +is hair was as &adly in need of !utting as her own, she thought in!onse'uentially5 his eyes were a very dar" &lue, re inding her in !olour, if not in e(#ression, of Ste#hen's. The stu&&le of &eard on his !hin was also dar", and there were dar" shadows under his eyes. +e loo"ed, she thought with a faint stirring of !o #assion, truly e(hausted8 it was a long way fro $ndonesia. 'A !a& won't &e ne!essary5 $'ll ta"e you. 6uggage3' '2iss Reed, $ don't thin" you heard e/you've )ust &een fired.' '2r 2arston,' she re#lied with rather overdone #atien!e, 'this is at least the fiftieth ti e $'ve #layed this little s!ene. 4anadians, A eri!ans, Swedes, S#aniards... hunters, fisher en, #hotogra#hers... they all thin" $ should &e a an or they thin" it's e(tre ely funny that $' a wo an. .ut $ !an give you referen!es fro every one of the as to y !o #eten!e. $ do agree with you that Ryan should have told you $' a wo an. $ disagree that that should a"e any differen!e to you whatsoever.' She s iled at hi again. :The luggage !arousel's )ust started u#5 we shouldn't have long to wait. That's one advantage of these short ho#s/the sto#s are &rief. +ave you flown far today3' +is outh tightened. 'Too far to get any en)oy ent out of #laying ver&al ga es. The na e of the otel, 2iss Reed.' She )a ed her hands in the #o!"ets of her )eans. 'Are you 4anadian, 2r 2arston3' As he nodded, she went on, 'Then you surely ust &e aware that in this !ountry you !an't fire so eone &e!ause of his or her se(.' 'So sue e. There's y &ag, and $' sure the !a&&ie will "now the na e of the &est otel in town/in a #la!e this si-e there !an't &e that any to !hoose fro . ,ood&ye, 2iss Reed.' She said !learly, '$ wish you lu!" finding a re#la!e ent. Ryan tried four other outfitters &e!ause he "new $ was )ust !o ing off a )o&, and no go with any of the .' With a tinge of ali!e she added, 'To further enlighten you as to the law, as a non-resident you !an't go further into the woods than eight hundred eters fro the highway without a guide. ,ood lu!", 2r 2arston.' +er !hee"s were #in" with te #er and her shirt ade her irises loo" very green. So ething flared to life in his so &er &lue eyes and )ust as 'ui!"ly was s othered. 'Than" you for your hel#,' he said sardoni!ally. Turning away fro her, he heaved a &attered duffle

&ag off the !arousel and strode toward the e(it. She wat!hed as he !li &ed in the &a!" seat of a ta(i and drove off5 he did not loo" &a!". 1ro &ehind her Ruth's other said, '2y, what a handso e rough-hewn en, don't you, dearie3 4lient of yours, Jenessa3' an... $ do love those &ig,

Ruth's other Ali!e, for all her any good #oints, was the ost avid gossi# in town, and her 'uestion was a &latant a##eal for infor ation. 'E(-!lient,' Jenessa said, trying hard to sound as though it didn't atter in the least that she had &een un!ere oniously fired in full view of several friends and a!'uaintan!es. '+e's done e a favor, a!tually/$ !ould do with a few days off.' She s iled at Ruth's &rother. '+ow are you, Dougie3 Jo& going well3' Ten inutes later she stal"ed into Ryan's "it!hen. +er te #er, far fro su&siding on the drive ho e, see ed to have gathered o entu . +andso e, she fu ed inwardly, throwing the "eys to her van on the ta&le. Rough- hewn. +uh7 Rude, !hauvinisti! and ignorant would &e a ore a!!urate des!ri#tion of 2r 1inn 2arston. Ryan was sitting at the ta&le #ainting a du!" de!oy. 2atters weren't i #roved when he said, after s!anning her features, 'Well, well... loo"s li"e this 2arston fella wo"e you u# a &it /haven't seen so u!h !olour in your !hee"s sin!e you were a "id with sun&urn. What's u#, Jenny3' 'Ryan,' she said, 'don't you ever again negle!t to warn a !lient that he's getting a fe ale guide. A wo an. *ne of the so-!alled wea"er se(. Do you hear e3' As she yan"ed a !hair &a!" and sat down, "i!"ing off her loafers, Ryan dau&ed )ade-green on the teal's wing feathers. 'Wanted a an, did he3' '+owever did you guess3 Did he wait to see y referen!es3 Was he interested enough to as" if $ "new the area he wants to go3 4an a !ari&ou outrun a &la!" &ear3' 'Never "new one that !ould,' Ryan said, his you hit it off.' outh twit!hing. '$t don't sound li"e the two of

'$ ho#e he ends u# with the worst guide in the entire #rovin!e. So eone li"e 6arry, who'll dro# hi off in the woods and then go and get drun". $ ho#e the os'uitoes !arry hi away. $ ho#e he gets treed &y a oose. $ ho#e he falls in a &og in his ni!e leather hi"ing &oots.' 'So what did he loo" li"e3' She i i!"ed Ruth's other, &atting her lashes and si #ering, 'Tall, dar" and handso e. Rough-hewn. That du!" de!oy's handso er than he was.' Ryan gave the de!oy a !o #la!ent a##raisal. '+e sure got under your s"in.' Ryan, she reali-ed &elatedly, was thoroughly en)oying her show of te #er5 she was nor ally a very tolerant wo an, a trait that stood her in good stead in the woods. The last thing she needed was Ryan s#e!ulating why one an had disru#ted her !o #osure, es#e!ially in view of yesterday's !onversation. '$ needed a few days off anyway,' she said, trying to odulate her voi!e. 'We !ould finish #a#ering the "it!hen.' *ne wall had &een #a#ered in the s#ring, &efore fishing season started. ',ood idea... in the eanti e, seein' as how you're une #loyed, you !ould a"e e a !offee. And don't s"i # on the sugar.' 'No !offee unless you #ro ise you'll tell everyone who #hones for a guide that Jenessa and that $' not a an7' ',uess $'ll git y own !offee,' Ryan drawled. y na e is

Raising her &rows/for when had she ever &een a&le to a"e Ryan do so ething he didn't want to do3/Jenessa got u# and rea!hed for the !offee in the !u#&oard.

4+A%TER TW* AT N$NE-T+$RT0 the ne(t orning Jenessa was standing on the se!ond fro the to# rung of a ste#-ladder in the "it!hen. The radio was &laring a la!hry ose &allad a&out a !ow#o"e who had lost his one true love. $t was a war day5 her &rief &lue shorts and ri&&ed vest to# in an eye!at!hing shade of yellow had &een !hosen with !oolness in ind rather than odesty. Dra#ed in wet folds of wall#a#er, she was seriously 'uestioning her sanity. She hated wall#a#ering. Always had. She ight &e e(!eedingly neat-fingered when it !a e to starting a fire fro &ir!h&ar" and shreds of wood in the iddle of a down#our in the forest, &ut when it !a e to straight edges, #lu & lines and re!urring #atterns she was a dud. Ryan had ordered the wall#a#er fro a nature !o #any5 it was re#lete with #artridge, loons and owls on a gloo y green and &lue &a!"ground. She had to at!h the loon !hi!" under her left #al with the one in the #re!eding row/whi!h eant she was going to have to de!a#itate the to# ost row of #artridge. As the old #ine floor&oards !rea"ed &ehind her, she said irrita&ly, 'Turn the radio down, would you, Ryan, and #ass e the "nife3 $f $ hadn't &een in su!h a foul ood last night, $ would never have suggested doing this/and don't say it serves e right for losing y te #er.' A hand rea!hed u# with a yellow-handled "nife. $t was a tanned, s oothly us!led hand with long, lean fingers5 it was definitely not Ryan's hand. With a shrie" of alar Jenessa twisted on the ste#-ladder, whi!h gave an unsettling lur!h. 'You\ What are you doing here3' 1inn 2arston gra&&ed the ladder with his free hand, holding it fir , and said, '1ro all re#orts $ gather you're ore to &e de#ended on in the wilderness than you'd a##ear to &e at the to# of this ladder. Where's your father3' '1ather3' she re#eated idioti!ally. '2y father's &een dead sin!e $ was thirteen.' 'Ryan's not your father, then3 .ut you live with hi 3' he ra##ed. $n the orning light, shaven, his hair shining with !leanliness, 1inn 2arston did indeed 'ualify as handso e, Jenessa thought grudgingly. 2ore than handso e. There was so ething 'uintessentially ale a&out hi 8 he ade her thin" of the #roud stan!e of a !ari&ou stag out on the &arrens. Although he still loo"ed tired out. The "ind of tiredness that one night's slee# did nothing to allay. She said flatly, '2y living arrange ents are none of your &usiness. Now if you'll e(!use e, $'ve got to get this #ie!e in #la!e &efore it dries.' She too" the "nife fro hi with the very ti#s of her fingers, ad)usted the stri# of wall#a#er so that the loon !hi!"s at!hed u# and sli!ed the to# of the #a#er level with the edge of the !eiling. The row of #artridge heads slithered to the floor. .ending, Jenessa #i!"ed u# the s#onge fro the to# ste# of the ladder and started s oothing the wall#a#er flat. 1inn

2arston was still holding the ladder, so !lose &ehind her that as the &allad ended, #redi!ta&ly, at the graveside, she !ould hear his &reathing. She tried to ignore hi 5 when that didn't wor", she waited for hi to say so ething, anything, the silen!e s!ra#ing on her nerves as she &it &a!" any nu &er of 'uestions of her own, none of the #olite. When there was not a single air &u&&le left under the da # #a#er and she "new she !ould delay fa!ing hi no longer, she turned aw"wardly on the ladder and sat down on the to# ste#, her &are feet !urving round a lower rung. This #ut her several in!hes a&ove hi , a #osition she li"ed. She hadn't "nown 1inn 2arston long &ut she already "new she needed every advantage she !ould get. She ight &e aware of her advantage5 it hadn't o!!urred to her that the s ooth !urves of her legs and the shadowed hollow &etween her &reasts were now #ra!ti!ally under his nose. +is fa!e !hanged, arred &y a !yni!is so intense that Jenessa was &ewildered. Then, with a )olt, she reali-ed what he was thin"ing. +e thought she was #osing for hi deli&erately. What was the #hrase she had used at Ruth's3 1launting her se(uality. 6aughter &u&&led in her !hest, so far fro the truth was he, nor did she &other hiding it. Not oving an in!h, she wat!hed as his !yni!is was gradually re#la!ed &y a #u--le ent too o&vious to &e anything &ut genuine. She had "no!"ed hi off &alan!e, she thought, and wondered with a !yni!is all her own how any wo en were a&le to do that. Not any, she'd &e willing to &et. 1ro her vantage #oint she was only a !ou#le of feet away fro hi . +is fa!e, !lose u#, interested her in s#ite of herself. *ver the last few years she had &e!o e fairly ade#t at reading !hara!ter, a!tively trying to develo# this talent as one of her survival e!hanis s in the ale- do inated environ ent in whi!h she wor"ed. $f she a##lied her talents to 1inn 2arston's fa!e, what did she see3 *verwhel ing e(haustion first, an e(haustion ground into the tightly held )aw and dar"shadowed eyes. +e had &een driven un er!ifully for far too long5 and she sus#e!ted that he hi self was the one to have #lied the whi#, for he would do to hi self what he would not allow others to do. 0et there was a for ida&le intelligen!e infor ing his features, as well as the will-#ower she had had a taste of last night. +is eyes, dee#-set, were indeed the sa e navy &lue as Ste#hen's5 however, while Ste#hen's were lustrous with the inno!en!e of the very young, 1inn 2arston's were guarded and wary. +is outh was a fir , ungiving line. She was suddenly visited with the urge to see it s ile. +er survey had ta"en her only a few se!onds. 'Now,' Jenessa said !oldly, '#erha#s you wouldn't ind e(#laining why you wal"ed in this house without "no!"ing and without an invitation3' 'The door was wide o#en and the radio was "no!",' he said. 'Where's Ryan3' a"ing so u!h noise you didn't hear e

'+e went out to the shed to get a ha er and nails. Ryan fre'uently gets waylaid, &ut $'ve no dou&t he'll return sooner or later. Why are you here3' 'What's his relationshi# to you3' '*f the two 'uestions, $'d say 'Would you, now3' '0es,' she said shar#ly, '$ would. 9uite fran"ly, 2r 2arston, after last night $ don't !are if $ ever set eyes on you again.' ine was the ore relevant.'

+e said evenly, not a tra!e of a#ology in his tone, '0ou were right/there aren't any other guides availa&le. *r, to &e a!!urate, there were two, &oth of who $ figured were !a#a&le of guiding e fro the otel to the nearest &ar and no further. 0ou'll also &e glad to "now that everyone $ s#o"e to sang your #raises. Short of Ryan, $ gather you're the &est guide in the area. So $ !a e here to see if $ !ould rehire you. 0ou or Ryan.' '0ou'll have to as" Ryan yourself. $, as you !an see, a 'A thousand a wee", all e(#enses #aid.' Jenessa &lin"ed5 she had never &een #aid that #ay a an3 Two thousand3' u!h in her life. 'And how u!h would you otherwise engaged.'

'$'d #ay hi what $'d #ay you.' +e #aused and added tersely, '$' sorry $ went off the dee# end last night. 2y only e(!use is that $ was )et-lagged and )ust a&out aslee# on y feet.' 'Whi!h is e(a!tly when our true selves e erge,' she said #ro #tly. +is fingers tightened around the ladder. '$' it or leave it.' '*h, $'ll----' The #or!h door sla ed shut and Ryan &ellowed, 'Jenny, we got a visitor5 there was a !a& sittin' out in the yard. Who do you su##ose !a e to see us in a----3 Well, who've we got here3' Ryan, thought Jenessa wryly, did not loo" his &est. +e had a &ase&all !a# )a ed &a!"ward on his head, his shirt was #aint-s#attered and one "nee was out of his )eans. +e was !arrying an un#ainted de!oy instead of the ha er and nails. She said sweetly, 'So eone who wants to hire you as a guide, Ryan. Allow e to introdu!e 2r 1inn 2arston... Thaddeus Ryan.' She sat &a!" on the ladder, her fa!e lit with an a use ent that 1inn 2arston !ould not have issed. Ryan grinned at the other an. '4ouldn't get anyone else, eh3 1igured that's what would ha##en.' 'The )o"e's on e,' 1inn 2arston said tightly. '2ay&e we !ould all have a good laugh and then get down to &usiness.' '*h, Jenessa'll go. She hates wall#a#erin',' Ryan said, #lun"ing the de!oy down on the ta&le. '$ will not7' '1ifteen hundred,' 1inn 2arston said. 'And that's y last offer.' Angrier than she !ould ever re e &er &eing in her life, Jenessa !ho"ed, '0ou see to thin" that this is a&out oney, 2r 2arston/that you !an &uy e. Well, you !an't7 0ou e &arrassed and insulted e in front of a grou# of y friends last night, and nothing you've said or done today has !aused e to forgive you. Now, if you'll "indly let go of this ladder, $'ll #ut u# the ne(t #ie!e of wall#a#er. As" Ryan to guide you/his hide's tougher than ine.' '4an't,' said Ryan. 'Ta"in' ,ra!e to the &ingo so!ial on the wee"end.' There was a s all silen!e, during whi!h 1inn 2arston's ga-e lo!"ed with Jenessa's and Ryan filled the "ettle. +ugging her &are "nees, Jenessa refused to let her eyes dro#. 4onse'uently she was the first to see in her adversary's fa!e so ething that !ould have &een the &eginnings of res#e!t. +e let go of the ladder and ran his fingers through his hair. '+ow a&out if $ ta"e &a!" everything $'ve said so far and start over3 Will you listen3 At least give e a fair hearing3' not going to grovel. 0ou heard y offer. Ta"e

'$

ight,' she said, raising her !hin.

$t was not an overwhel ing endorse ent5 &ut #lainly he reali-ed it was all he was going to get. +e #aused, sear!hing for words. '$ live in a an's world, Jenessa Reed. $t's a tough and dangerous world, and $' at the to# of the hea#/$' the one who gives the orders and $ e(#e!t instant o&edien!e. .e!ause if you don't o&ey you !an end u# dead. $'ve had very little to do with wo en the last few years, and $'ve never had a whole lot of res#e!t for the . So the thought of &eing guided through the wilderness &y a wo an didn't/and still doesn't/fill e with )oy. Although $ was tired last night and less than di#lo ati!, y feelings are the sa e today. $'d u!h #refer you to &e a an.' +e gave her a s ile that was a ere ove ent of his li#s. '$t would also see no !hoi!e/you're the only guide availa&le. So $' as"ing you to re!onsider.' '0ou're honest,' she said slowly, '$'ll give you that.' '$'ve never had u!h use for lying. +onesty saves trou&le in the long run.' A #rag atist rather than a oralist, Jenessa thought. The wor"ings of 1inn 2arston's ind were &eginning to interest her rather ore than she li"ed5 si ultaneously her intuition was warning her to run a ile. She said, '$'ll &e e'ually honest, then. $' not really in a #osition where $ !an afford to turn down a wee"'s wor"5 the winters are long around here. .ut $ won't ta"e a #enny ore than seven hundred a wee", and if we're in a tight s#ot out in the woods and $ tell you to do so ething $'ll e(#e!t you to o&ey me. No 'uestions as"ed. We !an have a lovely argu ent afterwards a&out ale do inan!e/&ut at the ti e you'll do what $ say.' '.e!ause it's your territory.' 'That's right.' She s iled suddenly, a s ile that lit u# her fa!e. '$'ve never lost a !lient yet, and $ don't #lan to start with you.' While he didn't s ile &a!", his fa!e did rela( slightly. 'Eight hundred a wee".' 'Seven.' The "ettle s!rea ed on the stove and Ryan &anged three #ottery ugs on the ta&le. S#ooning instant !offee into the , he said, '9uit fightin', you two. $f you're hell-&ent on over#ayin' her, 2arston, ti# her at the end of the tri#.' +is grin was fran"ly ali!ious. '6et's drin" to the #artnershi#, eh3 *ne thing's for sure/$ dou&t it'll &e dull.' 1inn 2arston turned away fro her and Jenessa s!ra &led down the ladder. So ehow, in the last ten inutes, she had agreed to go to an undis!losed destination for an un"nown length of ti e with a an who set off all her alar &ells. She #ut a healthy dollo# of honey in her ug and wat!hed as Ryan sloshed in the &oiling water. '0ou haven't told e yet where we're going or for how long you've hired e, 2r 2arston,' she said. '$'ve got all the a#s &a!" at the otel. 2ay&e we !ould go there ne(t and $ !an show you5 it'd &e si #ler than trying to e(#lain it here. $ don't have any idea how long it'll ta"e. $ do "now $ don't have any ti e to waste/ $ #ro&a&ly shouldn't &e here at all. So we'll &e oving as fast as we !an.' 'At least tell e if we're going into the interior.' 'That's the understate ent of the year,' he said, his voi!e holding an edge of &itterness. 'Do you have "nee-high ru&&er &oots3' 'Not with e.' 'We'll go to a su##lier in town and get you a #air,' she said. '6eather hi"ing &oots are useless in a &og.' that $ have

'All right,' he said. 1or the first ti e she saw a flash of hu or glint in his eyes. She !hu!"led, &eguiled &y the way it had lightened his features. '$nstant o&edien!e,' she re ar"ed. '0ou learn fast.' '0ou're the only guide availa&le/right3' he said drily. Turning to Ryan, he as"ed, 'What "ind of du!" is that3' Ryan loved to tal" a&out his de!oys and was soon laun!hed on one of his any hunting stories. Jenessa dran" her !offee then #ushed &a!" fro the ta&le. '$' going to !hange5 $'ll &e &a!" in a few inutes,' she said. Ten inutes later, showered and dressed in )eans, a #lain short-sleeved safari shirt and sandals, she was &a!" in the "it!hen, her over-long hair !linging da #ly to her ne!". 1inn 2arston stood u# as soon as she entered. 'Than"s for the !offee, Ryan,' he said. 'Any ti e.' Ryan gave an un!outh !a!"le. 'Don't run fro stouts &ite ya.' a &la!" &ear and don't let the

Jenessa raised her &rows and led the way out of the "it!hen. 'A &la!" &ear !an run fortyfive iles an hour out on the &arrens,' she e(#lained, leading the way to her red van. 'So there's not u!h #oint in trying to run away fro one. And a stout's the Newfoundland version of a deer fly/un!easingly hungry and o&livious to any &rand of fly do#e that $'ve ever tried. They've &een "nown to drive !ari&ou !ra-y in the early su er.' 'Are you trying to dis!ourage e3' otor and 'And tal" yself out of seven hundred a wee"3' she said li #idly, starting the steering the van &etween the #otholes in Ryan's driveway. '0ou don't wor" )ust for oney.'

'$ wor" &e!ause $ love &eing outdoors,' Jenessa said with sudden intensity. '$ !ouldn't &ear to &e !oo#ed u# in an offi!e all day.' '$ suffer fro the sa e #ro&le ,' he said. 'What's your relationshi# to Ryan3' e +is !hange of su&)e!t ade her edgy. '+e was y father's &est friend, and he taught )ust a&out everything $ "now a&out the woods. $'ve lived with hi sin!e $ was si(teen.' '.ut your father died when you were thirteen. Did you live with your three years3'

other for the ne(t

That three years had &een the worst ti e of Jenessa's life. .ra"ing at a sto# sign, she said !arefully, 'Would you &e as"ing e these "inds of 'uestions/#ersonal ones, $ ean/if $ were a an3' '0ou're not.' She !rossed the street, driving #ast a row of s all &ungalows and de!iding that two !ould #lay that ga e. 'Why don't you have u!h res#e!t for wo en3' she as"ed. +e gave a short laugh. 'There are no flies on you, stout or otherwise. .y the way, $ didn't &ring any fly do#e/ ay&e we !ould &uy so e.' '$'ve got lots. The flies aren't that &ad now5 we've had a few !old nights.' She swung round a !orner, aware that he hadn't answered her 'uestion any ore than she had answered his. 'We'll get the &oots fro y friend Stevie5 he's the only one in town who !arries the . +ave you got rain gear, 2r 2arston3' 'As we're going to &e s#ending the ne(t few days together, why don't we go with 1inn and Jenessa3' he said i #atiently.

Nor ally Jenessa #referred &eing on a first-na e &asis. .ut for a reason she !ouldn't fatho , hearing her na e on 1inn's li#s ade her feel as though he was laying !lai to so e #art of her, a #art that was stri!tly her own. 4hiding herself for &eing overly i aginative, she said !oolly, '1ine. Rain gear3' +e nodded. Effi!iently she ran through a list of #ersonal gear he'd need, finishing, 'We su##ly tents and slee#ing-&ags and all the food. +ere we are...Ruth's ho e, &y the loo" of it, &ut not Stevie.' Ruth greeted the !heerfully, !learly i #ressed &y Jenessa's latest !lient. She led the to the roo in the &ase ent where she and Stevie sold a wide array of hunting and fishing e'ui# ent, and #ulled out a sta!" of &o(es. '0our si-e should &e here,' she said to 1inn. 'Try the on and feel free to wal" around outdoors in the .' As he sli##ed his feet into the first #air of ru&&er &oots, Ruth re ar"ed with rather overdone !asualness, 'Jenessa, $ was )ust tal"ing to 2arylou/her ten-thirty a##oint ent was !an!elled5 you should ta"e a run over.' '$ don't have the ti e,' Jenessa said shortly. As 1inn stood u#, she "nelt at his feet, #ressing on the toes of the &oots to see how they fit, her shirt #ulled tight over the sli line of her &a!". 'They see a little s all,' she said du&iously, glan!ing u# at hi . '$f we do any a ount of wal"ing, it's really i #ortant to get a good fit.' With a dire!tness that no longer sur#rised her, he said, 'Who's 2arylou3' 'The hairdresser ne(t door,' she answered re#ressively. '$ thin" you should try a half-si-e larger.' +e did so, and said with a satisfied grunt, 'They feel &etter/ ay&e $ will wal" outside in the , if that's o"ay.' The s ile he gave Ruth would have !har ed the &irds fro the trees, Jenessa thought sourly5 she got the tail end of it as he added, '4o e with e, Jenessa5 you !an #ro&a&ly tell if $'ve got the right ones &etter than $ !an.' She trailed u# the ste#s &ehind hi . +e wal"ed a!ross the front lawn, glan!ed at 2arylou's sign and wra##ed his fingers around Jenessa's el&ow. '$f $'ve got to ta"e to the woods with a wo an, $'d at least #refer her to loo" li"e one,' he said, and steered her un!ere oniously toward 2arylou's side-door. Jenessa's )aw had dro##ed. She sna##ed it shut, dug her heels into the grass and s#uttered, 'What do you thin" you're doing3' ',etting you a hair!ut. 2ay&e she'll do ine at the sa e ti e.' '0ou !an shave your head for all $ !are,' Jenessa stor ed, tugging fruitlessly at his fingers. '2y hair's fine as it is and Ruth's other, who lives right a!ross the street, is undou&tedly glued to the window wat!hing us. This'll &e all over town &y evening.' 'Then you'd &etter sto# struggling, hadn't you3' he said. +e was a good five in!hes taller than she and stronger &y far. Dis!on!ertingly strong, she thought with a 'uiver of unease. 'What do you do for your living3' she as"ed. '$f $' not allowed to as" #ersonal 'uestions, neither are you. 4o e along.' *ne thing Jenessa had learned in her life was when to give u# fighting the odds. ;owing to herself that no atter where she and 1inn 2arston went she'd wal" hi through every &og she !ould find until he &egged for er!y, she stal"ed into 2arylou's &eauty #arlor. 2arylou favored frilly !urtains, !ro!heted ats and artifi!ial flowers5 1inn's &ig &ody loo"ed totally out of #la!e. 2arylou herself was #lu # and #retty, her forget- e-not-&lue

eyes !on!ealing a shrewd gras# of &usiness. With frigid #oliteness Jenessa said, '2arylou, this is 1inn 2arston/$' guiding for hi . +e wants a hair!ut.' 1inn had &een loo"ing around with interest. +e #ointed to a #hoto of a wo an's head that had &een ounted on the wall and said, '4ould you give Jenessa that !ut, 2arylou3' 'Sure $ !ould/it'd loo" real ni!e on her.' Jenessa glared at hi . '+e's the one who needs the hair!ut. Not e.' 2arylou said a ia&ly, '$' free until lun!hti e, so $ !an do &oth of you. 0ou first, Jenessa5 you )ust sit down right over here.' 1inn said e'ually a ia&ly, '$ thin" she !ut it with a ha!"saw last ti e.' Torn &etween fury and a !ra-y urge to laugh, Jenessa said, 'What's the atter, 1inn/ having #ro&le s with your as!ulinity3 ,ot to assert yourself now &e!ause $' the one who'll &e giving the orders on!e we leave town3' 2arylou was swathing her in a #lasti! !a#e at the sin". +e said su!!in!tly, '0ou've got it wrong/you have #ro&le s with your fe ininity. $'ll &e &a!" in a few inutes.' Ryan, Ruth and now 1inn/it was too u!h. .ut 2arylou had turned on the ta# full for!e and 1inn was striding out of the door in his new ru&&er &oots. Jenessa leaned &a!" and !losed her eyes, any nu &er of !lever re&uttals seething in her &rain. She #aid s!ant attention as 2arylou sha #ooed and rinsed her hair, then !o &ed it out and started to !ut. 1inn 2arston had &etter not #ush her too far, she thought dar"ly5 she hadn't signed any !ontra!ts, so she !ould resign any ti e she li"ed and leave hi in the lur!h. +e didn't thin" she loo"ed li"e a wo an. Whatever that eant. *ne thing was sure8 he hadn't intended it as a !o #li ent.

4+A%TER T+REE 2AR06*< !hattered on a&out the #lot twists in the daily soa# o#eras, "ee#ing herself &etween Jenessa and the irror. The &low-drier wafted war air around Jenessa's ears. Then 2arylou &rushed her hair in #la!e, sni##ing a few loose ends with her s!issors. She swivelled Jenessa round to fa!e the irror, saying with i ense satisfa!tion, 'Ever sin!e $ too" that last se inar $'ve &een wanting to get y hands on your hair, love/not &ad, eh3' Stunned, Jenessa loo"ed at the stranger in the glass. +er hair was now ta#ered over her ears, e #hasi-ing the slender length of her ne!" and the sha#e of her eyes with their &rilliant green irises, and &ringing her !hee"&ones into new #ro inen!e5 wis#s of hair, #olished li"e the !herrywood to whi!h Ruth had !o #ared it, softened her forehead and !lung to her na#e. '$t doesn't even loo" li"e e,' she said stu#idly. The door !rea"ed o#en. Then another refle!tion )oined hers in the irror8 the an who was the !ause of this. +e was staring straight at her, dar" &lue eyes eeting green. +e loo"ed, she thought in utter #ani!, li"e a hunter who had !aught sight of his #rey. '6oo"s ni!e, doesn't it3' 2arylou said !o #la!ently. '$ won't !harge you full #ri!e, dear, &e!ause it gave e the !han!e to try so ething new. Did you say you wanted a !ut, 2r 2arston3'

With a #al#a&le effort 1inn dragged his ga-e fro

Jenessa's. 'Just a tri ,' he said.

Jenessa got u#, threw a !ou#le of &ills on the !ounter and !roa"ed, '$'ll &e at Ruth's.' She ran outside and a!ross the lawn, feeling the &ree-e on her &are ne!", and had she &een as"ed she !ouldn't have said what/or who /she was fleeing. $n Ruth's "it!hen she s"idded to a halt. Ruth, Ste#hen and Ruth's other Ali!e were all in the "it!hen5 Ali!e was the last #erson Jenessa wanted to see. $f her &rain had &een wor"ing, she thought franti!ally, she would have reali-ed Ali!e would have rushed straight over to Ruth's on a fa!t-finding ission. Ruth said, 'Jenessa/ your hair is gorgeous!' '2y, y,' Ali!e said !oyly, 'never "new you to !hange your loo"s for a ust &e so eone #retty s#e!ial.' an, Jenessa. +e

Jenessa !ould not &egin to answer this. She rea!hed out for Ste#hen, !uddling hi and #laying with his #udgy little fingers. '+ow's the new tooth, sweetie3' she &a&&led. '$'d love a !u# of tea, Ruth. Stevie's getting ho e tonight, isn't that what you told e3' 'No,' said Ruth, '$ never told you that. +e's not &a!" until ne(t wee".' Ta"ing #ity on her friend, she said fir ly, '2u , why don't you run ho e and fet!h us a few doughnuts to go with our tea3 0ou a"e the &est doughnuts in town.' When Ali!e !a e &a!" a few inutes later, Jenessa was ladling !ereal into Ste#hen's outh and Ruth was deter inedly dis!ussing the lo!al &y-ele!tion. .ut Ali!e was not so easily dis!ouraged. $nto the first #ause in the !onversation she said, '6oo"ed to e li"e you and that handso e 1inn 2arston were having a tiff on the front lawn, Jenessa/$ hear you're going into the woods with hi , though.' She anaged to a"e this latter #hrase sound thoroughly !landestine. '$' yes,' Jenessa re#lied. '*o#s, Ste#hen, we issed that one.' 'After all this ti e/when $'d )ust a&out given u# on you, dearie, $ the truth/$ do &elieve you're finally falling in love,' Ali!e !rowed. guiding hi ,

ight as well tell you

The s#oon dro##ed with a !latter on to the high tray, !ereal s#attered Jenessa's shirt and she said with ore for!e than wisdo , '$' not in love with hi 5 don't &e silly, Ali!e7 +e's a rude, !hauvinisti!, !ontrolling----' She &ro"e off, for 1inn 2arston had )ust o#ened the s!reen door and ust have heard every word she'd said. 1eeling a strong urge to &urst into tears, she wailed, '$ don't "now what's the atter with e/$' never rude to y !lients/it's one of y un&rea"a&le rules... and $'ve got !ereal all down y !lean shirt7 Wall#a#ering would &e &etter than this.' 1inn &eat Ruth to the sin", too" the !loth fro he advan!ed on Jenessa. '+old still,' he said. '*h, no,' she said war ly, '$' '0ou're li"e a hedgehog,' he said. 'All #ri!"les.' :There aren't any hedgehogs in Newfoundland.' 'There's one right here in the "it!hen.' She yan"ed the !loth fro his hand and s!ru&&ed at her shirt. '$' never rude to !lients and $ never go to &eauty #arlors,' she uttered. '$ wish $ "new what was going on here.' 'Do you really not "now3' 1inn said with sudden intentness. She glan!ed u#. +is hair, newly tri ed and entirely !ivili-ed, ade his features loo" all the ore rough- hewn5 she had no idea what he was thin"ing. 'No,' she said. the dishra!" and wet it under the ta#. Then y own shirt, than" you.'

'uite !a#a&le of wi#ing

+e said 'uietly, s#ea"ing to her alone, 'Then $'ll tell you... $ was in Tunisia on!e and $ found an old !era i! #ot &uried &y a dried-u# #ond. The #ot was stained and dirty and filled with ud. So $ too" it &a!" to the !a # and washed it very !arefully and #olished it with a soft !loth/and then $ saw that it had an e('uisite design of tiny green &irds and arsh reeds et!hed all around the li#. $t was very &eautiful.' +e loo"ed at her, his dar" &lue eyes fatho less. 'That was why $ wanted your hair !ut.' A tide of hot !olor swe#t a!ross Jenessa's !hee"s. 1or several se!onds she was literally s#ee!hless. Then she whis#ered, '.eautiful3 Me? 'Jenessa, where have you &een all your life3 0es, &eautiful.' Ali!e gave a sigh of re#letion. '2y, oh, said soulfully. '.etter than Another World.' y, $ wish $'d had y video !a era for that,' she

Jenessa s!ar!ely heard her. 6i"e a wo an in a drea she wal"ed over to the little irror that hung over the sin" and stared at herself. She had no need of a"e-u#, she thought. +er !hee"s were flushed, her eyes shining5 she loo"ed as fully alive as a &rightly !olored &utterfly dan!ing fro flower to flower in the sunlight. .ehind her 1inn said a&ru#tly, 'We'd &etter go. We've got to figure out our route, and $ need so e "ind of ti e fra e so $ !an #hone y !o #any. Than"s for the &oots, Ruth/ !o ing, Jenessa3' Trying to gather her wits, Jenessa dro##ed a "iss on Ste#hen's fluffy hair, hugged Ruth and Ali!e, whose eyes were al ost #o##ing out of her head, and wal"ed outside to the van. Driving gave her so ething to fo!us on, and 1inn said not a word as they !rossed town to the otel. She #ar"ed in front of his unit and followed hi into the roo . The door !li!"ed shut &ehind the . +is luggage was neatly stashed against the wall, the &lue shirt he had &een wearing last night was hanging over the &a!" of one of the !hairs and a &undle of #a#ers and a#s had &een thrown on the &ed. The a#s see ed to steady her5 she "new a&out a#s, "new how to read the and trans#ose the thin lines on the #a#er to the a!tual !ontours of the land. She too" a dee# &reath and said with !o enda&le atter-of-fa!tness, 'Show e where you want to go.' +e sat down on the edge of the &ed, unfolding a a# of the whole #rovin!e as well as two detailed to#ogra#hi!al a#s. 'We'll fly &y heli!o#ter into this lodge,' he said, '$ have !onne!tions with the oil !o #anies, and $ !an get a '!o#ter any ti e $ want one.' 4asually Jenessa sat down &eside hi , one leg tu!"ed under her, following the line of his finger to a la"e well south of the highway. +er eyes widened in dis ay. 4ari&ou 6a"e. *f all the thousands of la"es in Newfoundland, 1inn 2arston wanted to go to 4ari&ou 6a"e. 'The lodge is !alled 4ari&ou *utfitters. Run &y a guy !alled 6loyd 2a!Donald/!alls hi self 2a!5 $'ve already tal"ed to hi . Do you "now the area at all3' '$ "now it very well,' she said raggedly. +e shot a 'ui!" loo" at her. '0ou've &een there &efore3' '2any ti es.' With at least #artial truth she said, '$ used to wor" for 2a!. A !ou#le of years ago. $ don't see why you need e if you're going to his lodge5 he has his own guides.' '$' only using the lodge as a &ase. This is where $ really want to go.' With true in!redulity Jenessa wat!hed his finger ove still further south into a networ" of la"es and still waters that she !ould have tra!ed on the a# with her eyes shut. $n a !ra!"ed voi!e she said, 'That's +il!hey land/what do you want to go there for3'

'0ou're fa iliar with it3' '+e's dead/old 2r +il!hey. +e died si( #ro#erty3' onths ago. Why do you want to see his

'$ as"ed you a 'uestion, Jenessa/are you fa iliar with that land3' She gave a short, una used laugh. '$'ve wal"ed every ridge and &arren, and !anoed every waterway fro 4ari&ou River to $ndian .roo".' And if she had ever hated anyone in her life, it had &een ,eorge +il!hey. 1inn s#read out one of the to#ogra#hi!al well3' a#s. '$t's a huge area5 how !ould you "now it so

The na es on the a# )u #ed out at her. *s#rey 1alls, .eothu!" %ond, Juni#er 6a"e. Na es and #la!es that she had dis!overed as a !hild and loved with all the #assionate intensity of a !hild. To the east lay S#ru!e %ond, where she had lived with her father for thirteen years on a tiny !ove in sight of two tree-!lad islands5 her eyes shied away fro it, for she had never on!e gone &a!" there and now dou&ted that she ever would. She said, hardvoi!ed, 'Why do you want to go there, 1inn3' +is outh tightened. '4uriosity,' he said. er #la!e here 'That's no "ind of an answer7' '$t's all the answer you're going to get. ,eorge +il!hey used to have a su on this la"e/$ want to visit it, and !he!" out the area while $' there.'

'$ wish you'd told e this last night,' she said tautly. '$t would have saved &oth of us a lot of trou&le. 1or reasons that are nothing to do with you, $ !an't #ossi&ly go there.' +is eyes narrowed, the for!e of his will-#ower li"e a &last of !old wind. '0ou'll go,' he said. '*ne of 2a!'s guides will ta"e you in/you'd have to go &y !anoe.' 'Canoe?' '$t's the only way to get there.' '$'ve never &een in a !anoe in y life7' 'A new e(#erien!e for you,' she said ironi!ally. 'Jenessa, in !ase you haven't heard of the , there's a arvellous twentieth-!entury invention !alled a float #lane. $t lands on la"es. This #la!e is riddled with la"es.' '0ou see these !rosses on the la"e3 Those are ro!"s. .ig ro!"s. They don't &other ar"ing all the little ones. %lus there are deadheads in those waters/su& erged logs/fro the days of the log )a s on the rivers. No #ilot in his right ind is going to ris" a float #lane on those waters.' 'We'll ta"e the heli!o#ter in.' 'No !learings. +il!hey's su have ta"en over.' 'A wee", $'d say.' 'Then another wee" to get out/$ haven't got that "ind of ti e to waste.' er #la!e hasn't &een used in twenty years/the alders will

'1or ,od's sa"e7' 1inn e(#loded. '$t'll ta"e days to get in there &y !anoe.'

She shrugged, ta #ing down a i(ture of e otions too !o #li!ated to analy-e. '+ave the heli!o#ter fly low over the land5 that should satisfy your !uriosity. $t'll !ost you a s all fortune, ind you. Although,' she added with a tou!h of ali!e, 'you'll &e saving seven hundred a wee".' '.ut you're saying the '!o#ter !an't land at the su er house.' +e got u# fro the &ed, #rowling round the roo li"e a !aged &ear. '4ouldn't you get there in less than a wee"3' She shoo" her head. 'That's &a!" !ountry... a strong wind !an easily hold you u# for a !ou#le of days. .esides, if your guide has any sense, he'll "ee# you two or three days at the lodge learning the essentials of !anoeing &efore you set out. There's whitewater on so e of those rivers, and you're iles fro anywhere.' +e glared at her. 'So now it's three wee"s7' '1inn,' she said !uriously, 'how long is it sin!e you've ta"en a holiday3' '$ forget.' 'The wilderness has its own ti e s!he e. Dawn and dus", winds and rain... you !an't for!e it or !ontrol it.' '$ don't thin" you understand/$ run a league stuff.' ulti- illion- dollar &usiness,' he sna##ed. '.iger house,' she said e that none of your

'Then go &a!" to it and forget a&out ,eorge +il!hey's su indifferently. +e thrust his hands in the #o!"ets of his )eans. '$t's a wonder to !lients has ever shot you rather than the oose.'

Jenessa laughed, a&andoning their argu ent, &e!ause after all it was nothing to do with her how 1inn got to the old su er house. '*ne or two of the have !onte #lated it, $' sure.' +er eyes were dan!ing, her #ose on the &ig &ed unself!ons!iously gra!eful. 1inn too" a ste# toward her, halted and said levelly, 'E(!use e a inute.' +e went to the #hone, #un!hed a great language un"nown to any nu &ers, eventually said a few #hrases in a

Jenessa, and finally ra##ed, 'Jonah3 1inn here. What's u#3' Jenessa s oothed the a# flat, fighting &a!" a wave of nostalgia for the woods and waters of her !hildhood, and heard 1inn say, '0ou did3 *n the se!ond atte #t3 $t fit the flange3 Then it was worthwhile doing the trial run... When do you thin" you'll #ull out3 0ou'll )oin the in ;ene-uela &y Thursday3 0eah... $' thin"ing of ta"ing two or three wee"s, Jonah. .y the sound of it you're !o#ing )ust fine without e. $f you need anything while $' away you'll have to go via 2oswell's heli!o#ter and a #la!e !alled 4ari&ou 6odge5 the '!o#ter #ilot will "now where that is. 0ou did a fine )o&. ,et .rian to "ee# on to# of all the finan!es, won't you3 *"ay, all the &est.' +e #ut down the re!eiver and turned &a!" to Jenessa. 'What ti e !an we &e ready to leave3' '$' not going7' e. 0ou !an't go &a!" on that.' e &ut $ !an't 'uit3' ean you !an fire '0ou agreed to guide for '0ou

Without e #hasis 1inn said, '0ou wouldn't want e #utting the word round that you &ro"e a !ontra!t, would you3 Even if it was only a ver&al one.' Jenessa got a lot of her wor" &y word of outh. $n a surge of #ure rage she said, '$s this the way you a!t in the &usiness world3 No wonder you ade it to the to#.' '$ do what it ta"es. 0ou're going to guide e to the +il!hey #la!e, Jenessa/$ won't ta"e no for an answer.' +e gave her the faintest of s iles. 'Anyway, $'ve )ust agreed to ta"e y first va!ation in over five years/you !an't let e down now.' With utter !larity Jenessa thought, $ have a !hoi!e here. $ !an stay ho e and wall#a#er the "it!hen. Safe and ordinary and &oring, and if 1inn &la!"ens y na e $'ll survive. *r $ !an ris" going &a!" to the #la!e where $ grew u#. Seeing it fro the #ers#e!tive of an adult. $' twi!e as old as $ was when $ left... $' not thirteen any ore, raw with #ain and filled with fear. 2ay&e the old agi! will have gone. 2ay&e it'll &e )ust another #la!e, nothing s#e!ial. 2ay&e it's ti e $ laid that #arti!ular ghost to rest. 'Why are you so interested in the +il!hey land3' she de anded. 'Are you so e "ind of high-#owered lawyer settling the estate3 Although you don't a!t li"e any lawyer $ ever "new.' 'Not on!e in y life have $ ever !onte #lated )oining the legal #rofession,' 1inn said #ithily. '$ only wish $ understood why that land's so i #ortant to you/why you won't tell e what your !onne!tion is with it.' She !ouldn't #ossi&ly e(#lain it to hi . As she shoo" her head, her green eyes wary, he said, '$'ll as" Ryan.' 'Not if you value living, you won't.' '$'ve ste##ed into so ething, haven't $3' he said slowly. 'So ething #retty you're !on!erned. 2ay&e 2a! will tell e when we get to the lodge.' '2a! will tell you e(a!tly what he thin"s you want to hear/he's a a)or as far as

aster at that.'

'And to thin",' 1inn re ar"ed, 'that $ al ost didn't !o e here &e!ause $ figured $'d &e &ored.' $n one of the swift shifts of to#i! that she had al ost !o e to e(#e!t of hi , he added, 'Are you afraid to s#end two or three wee"s alone with e3' She raised her !hin. '$'ve never &een afraid of a 'There are so e you should &e frightened of.' '0ou're not one of the ,' Jenessa said, and wondered if she was s#ea"ing the truth. $f her &ehaviour of the last eighteen hours was anything to go &y, #erha#s she should &e afraid. 'So what ti e are we leaving3' 1inn re#eated softly. *ne last !han!e to see the land she had roa ed as a girl. To !hoose ris" over safety. .iting her li#, she uttered, 'Ryan will organi-e the gear &ut $'ll have to loo" after the food... $'d say &y four. $'ll tal" to 2a! and tell hi we'll &e there in ti e for su##er.' She was staring down at the a# and issed the triu #h that ra!ed a!ross 1inn's fa!e. +e ade another #hone !all, arranging for the heli!o#ter to ta"e the to the lodge. Then he sat down on the &ed again. 'So, Jenessa Reed,' he said, 'we're on. We're s#ending the ne(t two wee"s together.' The !hoi!e, she had "nown all along, hadn't only &een a she said, 'As e #loyer and e #loyee.' 'We're already ore than that, and you "now it.' atter of the land. +er outh dry, an in y life.'

4ertainly she had never &een so outs#o"en to any of her other !lients. 'That's all we are,' she said stu&&ornly. With une(#e!ted violen!e 1inn said, '$ don't have a !lue what's going on here7 .ut $'ll tell you one thing/ you're totally unli"e any other wo an $'ve ever &een with. Nor, for so e reason, !an $ &elieve that $ only et you last night.' $nwardly terrified, outwardly !o #osed, Jenessa 'ui##ed, '0ou feel as if we've &een arguing forever3' So e of the tension eased in his fa!e. '0ou're !ertainly the ever et.' ost !ontentious wo an $'ve

'.ut you said yourself the sa #le was s all,' she answered gently, and stood u#. '$'d &etter go5 $'ve got a lot to do. $'ll &e &a!" here at 'uarter to four.' 1inn stood u# too, his &ody oving with a la-y gra!e. ;ery deli&erately he held out his hand. '$' glad we're going to &e together,' he said. She !ould not, without adding &ad anners to !ontentiousness, refuse to sha"e hands with hi . Relu!tantly she stret!hed out her own. +is gri# was fir , his #al war against hers. She loo"ed down, in one glan!e seeing the lean length of his fingers with their well-"e#t nails and the dusting of dar" hair on the &a!" of his hand, where the &ones and sinews oved under the tanned s"in. +is wristwat!h with its new leather stra# loo"ed e(#ensive. +is forear was tanned as well, !orded with us!le. Then the faint tang of his aftershave drifted to her nostrils, and underlying it she !aught so ething far ore ele ental and ore #owerful8 the s!ent of the an hi self. She glan!ed u#, her nerves as alert as if she had )ust sighted a fresh &ear tra!" on the trail, her senses a!utely aware of the sound of his &reathing and the war th of his &ody a!ross the s#a!e that se#arated the . She had tou!hed a an &efore, of !ourse she had. .ut never had she felt su!h an instin!tive vigilan!e, so total and instant an involve ent5 with a lur!h of her heart she found herself !o #aring it with the strange &ond that united the hunter and the hunted. %ulling her hand free, her green eyes &ewildered, she uttered, 'Two wee"s !ould &e a very long ti e.' '$t'll &e as long as we need,' 1inn said !ry#ti!ally. =$>ll see you later.' She hurried outdoors into the sunshine, wondering what she had gotten herself into. She had told the truth when she'd said she'd never &een afraid of a an5 even 2a! had never really frightened her. .ut 1inn 2arston was different. Dauntingly different. +e wouldn't ta"e no for an answer. And he thought she was &eautiful.

4+A%TER 1*<R T+E ne(t few hours were he!ti!ally &usy for Jenessa. She drove straight ho e and told Ryan a&out the #ro#osed tri# to the #ro#erty that ,eorge +il!hey had owned. As Ryan raised &ushy white &rows, she warned, '$ don't want to tal" a&out it and $ swear if you so u!h as

&reathe a word to 1inn a&out &a!".'

y !onne!tion with that land $'ll

ove out and $'ll never !o e

This was indeed a dire threat. Ryan sole nly ran a dirty finger a!ross his throat and said, '0ou want e to load u# the two &a!"#a!"s3' 'That'd &e a great hel#. Water ta&lets, flashlights, tents, tar#... you "now what we need, Ryan. The food's going to ta"e a &it of organi-ing5 $'ll head out to the gro!ery store after $ !all 2a!.' She got through on the radio-#hone to 4ari&ou 6odge on the first try. '2a!3 Jenessa Reed here. $'ll &e arriving at the lodge around five-thirty today with a an !alled 1inn 2arston5 !an you #ut hi u# for a !ou#le of nights3' There was a fra!tional #ause. 'So he hired you, did he3 $ didn't have a guide free.' She "new 2a! well5 &eneath the inno!uous words he was angry. 'As you've already s#o"en to hi , then you "now what he wants,' she said !al ly. 'We'll &e !anoeing to the old +il!hey #la!e, &ut $'ll want to &e around the lodge for two or three days first5 he's never &een in a !anoe &efore. Any #ro&le with that3' '+e !an have a roo in the lodge. 0ou !an go in the guides' !a&in.' 'We !an rent a !anoe3' 'A seventeen-foot wood and !anvas.' ',reat. We'll &ring our own food and gear. Than"s, 2a!.' 'See you,' he grunted. 2a! didn't want the there. She'd &et her &otto dollar on it. 2ore under!urrents, Jenessa thought, and for the life of her !ouldn't understand what they ight &e. 0es, she'd turned 2a! down two years ago. .ut they'd et sin!e then and he'd &een at his ost !har ing, as though to show her that he !ouldn't !are less. 1rowning, she started on the gro!ery list. At 'uarter to four she stuffed the last #air of !lean so!"s into one of the side-#o!"ets of her &a!"#a!". Ryan had already loaded 1inn's into the van5 although she hadn't had the ti e to !he!" its !ontents, Ryan had &een #a!"ing for long tri#s ost of his life and wouldn't &e li"ely to have forgotten anything. %addles, life-vests, the Duluth #a!"s with the food... they were all in the van, too. '2ove it, Jenny,' Ryan hollered. She swung the #a!" on her &a!" and hurried outside, and they arrived at the otel at five to four. 1inn was standing outside, his duffel &ag and haversa!" at his feet. +e #ut his gear in the &a!" where Ryan was sitting and sat in the front &eside Jenessa. 'We're late,' he said. 'The heli!o#ter won't go without us,' she res#onded evenly, and swung out into the traffi!. When they got to the hangar, the oil-!o #any heli!o#ter was #ar"ed on the tar a!. Jenessa had et the #ilot &efore, a an in his forties &y the na e of Wally. She introdu!ed 1inn and they started loading gear in the heli!o#ter. 4rou!hed in the rear, she said, '4ould you #ass u# those two !anvas &ags, 1inn3 4areful, they're heavy5 they've got all our food.' 1inn gras#ed the leather handles of the first &ag, levering it u# to the level of the heli!o#ter floor. Jenessa leaned forward to ta"e it fro hi , and as he gave a final heave saw hi gas# with #ain, his features !ontorted. 'Are you o"ay3' she as"ed in 'ui!" !on!ern. +e shoved the #a!" toward her, not eeting her eyes. '0eah... out of sha#e, that's all.'

+e didn't loo" li"e a an who was out of sha#e. .ut she swallowed any other 'uestions &e!ause Wally had &egun his #re-flight !he!" and they were already late. 4arefully she leaned her !herrywood #addle against the #ile of #a!"s and )u #ed down to the ground. 'That's it/ let's go.' Ryan gave her a light #un!h on the ar won't ya3' and said gruffly, 'Stay away fro gone.' souse holes,

Jenessa grinned at hi . '1inish the wall#a#ering while $'

She !li &ed into the &a!" seat and stra##ed herself in. As 1inn eased hi self into the #assenger seat, twisting his &ody in the !onfined s#a!e, another s#as of #ain tightened his features. $f there was so ething wrong, she thought gri ly, he should have told her. She had first-aid training, &ut there were no do!tors where they were going. Within inutes they lifted off the ground. As the houses di inished &eneath the , she ad)usted her headset, a used to hear Wally, as u!h as he was !a#a&le of &eing deferential, deferring to 1inn. Whatever 1inn did, it ust &e &ig league5 heli!o#ters, as well she "new, didn't !o e !hea# and heli!o#ter #ilots were notorious for their inde#enden!e. Then she saw 1inn unfold his a#. '4an you fly e over this island, Wally3' he as"ed. 'There should &e an old house on it.' 'Sure thing,' Wally said easily. 'The &oss told e to ta"e you wherever you wanted to go.' Jenessa didn't want to fly over the +il!hey land. She had !ounted on entering it gradually, ad)usting day &y day to the lands!a#e she loved. .iting her li#, she wat!hed as the town and the grey ri&&on of highway dro##ed away &ehind the , to &e re#la!ed &y the dense green of trees and the #aler green of the &arrens. Within half an hour they had rea!hed 4ari&ou 6odge, its tall windows &oun!ing &a!" the sun's glare. Wally followed the twisting !ourse of the river south, #ointing out the la"es and #onds to 1inn. +er eyes glued to the window, Jenessa saw the white #at!h of *s#rey 1alls and the eandering trail of .eothu!" .roo" with its groves of silver- trun"ed &ir!hes. She had !aught her first trout in that &roo", and had swu with her father in the #ool &elow the falls, the !old water a"ing her s"in tingle... Juni#er 6a"e, 6ittle .og %ond, 4ran&erry 6a"e/one &y one they sli##ed &elow her. Then, in the distan!e, the !ove on S#ru!e %ond glittered in the sunlight. She was too far away to #i!" out the !a&in where she had grown u#. To her horror her eyes !rowded with tears, &lurring the lands!a#e into an i #ressionisti! ha-e of &lues and greens. 1inn turned in his seat. 'Jenessa, do you/what's wrong3' Wally, too, glan!ed over his shoulder. Wishing &oth of the a thousand swi#ing away the tear that had tri!"led down her !hee", she !ho"ed, 'Nothing.' iles away,

1inn's eyes &ored into hers. +e "new she was lying. .ut he'd wait for an e(#lanation, she thought uneasily. Wait as a hunter it3' She nodded, fighting &a!" e otions as "eenly felt now as they had &een when she was thirteen. She'd &een a fool to agree to this, an utter fool. .lin"ing hard, she saw &elow her the shores of the uni aginatively na ed 2iddle 6a"e, with its egg-sha#ed island in the dead !enter of the la"e. As Wally &rought the heli!o#ter lower and the trees too" on individual sha#es and si-es, the angled line of a roof high on the !liffs at one end of the island s#rang into view. 'There,' she said. '0ou !an even see the re ains of the wharf a ong the ro!"s.' ust wait. +e said &rus'uely, '4an you #i!" out the house if we go over

'No #la!e to land,' Wally said !heerfully. 'Too &ad.' 1inn said nothing. +e, li"e Jenessa, was staring at the ground, his )aw set, his fa!e e #ty of e(#ression. Wally &rought the heli!o#ter round, heading north &a!" toward the lodge. Jenessa ga-ed down at her lin"ed hands in her la#, &reathing dee#ly to settle her nerves. With a &it of lu!" 1inn wouldn't re e &er she'd &een !rying5 and 2a! had never &een overly o&servant/he wouldn't noti!e any tra!es of tears on her !hee"s. Wally landed the heli!o#ter with deli!ate #re!ision in the iddle of the !li##ed grass to the left of the lodge and #ulled off his headset. '?ee# your heads low,' he yelled. 'We'll unload the gear in a few inutes.' Jenessa slid to the ground, du!"ing until she was &eyond the rea!h of the rotors. As 1inn )oined her, 2a! !a e striding a!ross the grass to eet the . +is !har , she noti!ed, was very u!h in eviden!e. 'Jenessa,' he said, 'how ni!e to see you again. And you ust &e 1inn 2arston. 6loyd 2a!Donald, &etter "nown as 2a!.' The wind fro the &lades was disarranging his wavy &lond hair. S oothing it &a!", s#ea"ing e(!lusively to 1inn, he went on, '6et e show you to your roo and $'ll loo" after your gear later. Dinner's not until eight, to give the fisher en the !han!e to get &a!", so you'll have lots of ti e for a drin" at the &ar first. $ ho#e you'll en)oy your stay with us.' 'Where's Jenessa staying3' 1inn said a&ru#tly. 1or a o ent so ething less #leasant than !har hardened 2a!'s #ale &lue eyes. Then he said heartily, 'There's a !a&in for the guides in the &a!" of the lodge. She will, of !ourse, )oin us for dinner.' 1inn s iled at her. 'Drin"s are on e,' he said. 'See you later.' What 1inn was saying, of !ourse, was that she also was )oining the at the &ar, whether 2a! li"ed it or not. '$ thin" we should get out in the !anoe for an hour &efore dinner, 1inn,' she said. 'There's not u!h wind and it'll give us a head start for to orrow. Why don't you eet e at the do!" in ten or fifteen inutes3' $f he had sta"ed his !lai , she was now sta"ing hers8 $' your guide5 what $ say goes. 2a! said &luffly, ',ive the guy a &rea", Jenessa5 lots of ti e for that to orrow.' '1ifteen standing. '0es, inutes3' Jenessa re#eated, her eyes as green as the grass on whi!h she was

a'a ,' said 1inn, and win"ed at her.

She "e#t her fa!e straight with an effort and headed &a!" to the heli!o#ter to unload it and say good&ye to Wally. Within fifteen inutes the heli!o#ter had gone and she had the #addles and life-)a!"ets neatly lined u# on the do!", where a dar" green !edar !anoe was oored. The la"e s#ar"led in the sun, the wind was ini al and the do!" was out of sight of the lodge, whi!h eant they !ould #ra!ti!e uno&served. 1inn arrived #re!isely on ti e, his faded )eans and !lose-fitting T-shirt far fro new5 his us!les, Jenessa thought unwillingly, were truly i #ressive. She said, 'We'll wor" for an hour /that'll still give you ti e for a drin".' As if she hadn't s#o"en, 1ir '0ou ight as well tell as"ed, 'Why were you !rying in the heli!o#ter3' +er li#s !o #ressed. '1or #ersonal reasons that are nothing to do with you.' e now as later.'

'$' not going to tell you at all,' she retorted. 'We'll try out the &asi! stro"es on the do!", then we'll #ra!ti!e getting in and out of the !anoe.' '0ou'll tell e,' he re#eated with soft ena!e. Then he glan!ed down at the !anoe. 'The two of us and all our gear are su##osed to fit in that3 $t loo"s as if it'd ti# over if you snee-ed.' '$ #ro ise it won't. .ut to orrow or the ne(t day we'll ti# it on #ur#ose and do so e res!ue te!hni'ues. Try this #addle5 $ thin" it's long enough for you.' She "nelt at the edge of the do!", showing hi the gri# and the &asi! #ower stro"e, all her ove ents unhurried and see ingly effortless. .ut when he too" the first sli!e through the water with his #addle, she saw hi flin!h. '$s there so ething wrong, 1inn3' As he shoo" his head and too" a se!ond stro"e, she #ersisted, '$ noti!ed the sa e thing when you were loading the food into the heli!o#ter.' 'Don't fuss, Jenessa,' he said tersely. '$ !ollided with a win!h a !ou#le of wee"s ago and tore so e us!les. $t's nothing.' 'Now you tell e,' she res#onded with #ardona&le shar#ness. '*n!e we set out we &e #addling ten hours a day/if you're in)ured, $ have to "now a&out it.' '*n a s!ale of one to ten, it's a three,' he re#lied. 'A She stood u#. 'Show e,' she ordered. $ doing this right3' ight

1inn #ut down the #addle and got to his feet. 'We ight as well get one thing straight right now,' he ras#ed. 'A good leader doesn't a&use his/or her/authority.' Then he #eeled off his T-shirt, holding it in one hand. Jenessa gave a gas# of horror. A livid &ruise stret!hed the length of his ri&!age. A &ig #at!h of s"in that had &een s!ra#ed fro his &elly was starting to heal over5 it did not loo" #retty. Another, older s!ar di##ed &eneath the waist&and of his )eans. 'What ha##ened there3' she whis#ered. 'A !he i!al &urn. Two years ago.' Dar" hair funnelled down his !hest to his navel5 as he lifted one hand to ra"e &a!" his hair, the us!les oved s oothly under his s"in. She dragged her eyes away and said the first thing that !a e into her ind. 'Do you wor" on the oil rigs3' '$n a anner of s#ea"ing. $ run a !o #any that fights &lowouts on wells. *il and gas.' +e shrugged. '$t's ha-ardous wor" and so eti es you get hurt.' '$s that why you loo" so e(hausted3' she said &luntly. '0ou see too u!h, Jenessa.' +e #ulled the T-shirt over his head. '6oo", we !a e here so you !ould tea!h e one end of a !anoe fro the other/why don't we get on with it3 $f there's one thing $'ve learned in the last ten years, it's how far $ !an #ush yself. .elieve e, #addling for ten hours is going to &e a &ree-e.' The words !a e out without !ons!ious intention. '$ thin" you #ush yourself too far. And too hard.' 'When $ want your o#inion $'ll as" for it,' 1inn said un#leasantly. 'Sti!" to !anoeing, why don't you3' $' never rude to !lients, Jenessa thought, gritting her teeth. '?ee# the #addle verti!al,' she said. '%lant it a !o forta&le distan!e ahead of you and end the stro"e )ust #ast your hi#5 that way you get the ost #ower with the least effort. This is how you feather the #addle when you &ring it forward again/it !uts down on wind resistan!e.'

She was a good tea!her5 she led hi #atiently and thoroughly through the &asi! stro"es, en!ouraged &y his 'ui!" gras# of the essentials and his retentive e ory. .efore they got in the !anoe, she said with a #erfe!tly straight fa!e, 'We'll start out with you in the &ow and e in the stern. 0ou're res#onsi&le for "ee#ing an eye out for ro!"s and deadheads, &ut as stern #addler $' in !o and... got that3' +e laughed outright. 'Why do $ "ee# getting the feeling the di!e are loaded3' '$'d instantly a&di!ate !o and were we on an oil rig,' she &antered, entran!ed &y how !arefree he loo"ed when he laughed. 1or a o ent 1inn loo"ed around hi at the gently waving &oughs of the )uni#ers that overhung the ruffled &lue of the la"e5 the only sound was the sla# of tiny waves against the do!". '$ !an't i agine two worlds ore different,' he said. 'Whi!h one do you #refer3' Jenessa as"ed, and found herself holding her &reath for the answer. .ut his fa!e had !losed against her. 'As" e that in another wee"... Now, how do $ get into this !anoe without du #ing &oth of us in the drin"3' They #addled for half an hour, then do!"ed the !anoe. '0ou've earned a visit to the &ar5 you're doing fine,' Jenessa said. '$'ll see you later.' 'Aren't you !o ing3' he ra##ed. '$'ve got wor" to do/you're #aying e a hundred dollars a day, 1inn.' '$'ll hel# !arry your gear to the guide !a&in.' She gri a!ed. '$' not going to slee# there/$'ll #it!h a tent &y the la"e. 2a!'s guides have the tenden!y to &e #arty ani als.' :There are e #ty roo s in the lodge,' 1inn said, frowning. '0ou're the guest, $' '0ou'll )oin the e #loyee/2a! li"es to "ee# that distin!tion.' your e #loyer.' e at the &ar, Jenessa/that's an order fro

She rolled her eyes heavenward. '+alf an hour. Don't drin" all the whis"ey.' Thirty-five inutes later she wal"ed into the &ar. She loved its varnished #ine &ea s and tall windows and hated its array of stuffed &ears, ga e &irds and glassy- eyed !ari&ou that dated fro 2a!'s ta(ider y days. *ne of the other guests, a silver-haired 1ren!h !ount who was an avid fisher an, re e &ered her fro two years ago5 he lifted her hand to his li#s and said with a !ourtly &ow, '+ow delightful to see you again, y dear/never have $ !aught a sal on the e'ual of the one you led e to on the E(#loits River. And your hair.. .!har ing.' +e turned to 1inn. '$t gives her the loo" of a !hoir&oy, #ure and untou!hed/wouldn't you agree3' '0ou're an in!ura&le ro anti!,' Jenessa teased. 'No, he isn't,' 1inn said s oothly. 'The an's a realist.' '$ wouldn't !all her untou!hed,' 2a! said with a fero!ious s ile at his for er guide. 'Ru and 4o"e, Jen3' 4on'uering a strong urge to #lant her foot s'uare on 2a!'s '$'ve graduated to so ething ore so#histi!ated sin!e you "new o!!asined toe, Jenessa said, e, 2a!/

$'ll have a ,lenfiddi!h, #lease,' and all the while was aware of 1inn following every nuan!e of this inter!hange. Then three other guests and two ore guides !a e in, one of who had ade a #ass at her the one and only ti e she had stayed in the guide !a&in, the

other of who she li"ed very u!h. She !ontrived to sit with hi at dinner and at nine-thirty, when 1inn was &ent over a a# with two of the other guests, headed for her tent. 1or so e reason Ryan had #a!"ed a three-#erson tent5 while it eant she would have to !arry the e(tra weight at #ortages, it also eant she had lots of roo . She went to slee# to the wailing of a loon on the far side of the la"e and wo"e at dawn to a light rain. The ne(t two days went &y very 'ui!"ly as she !oa!hed 1inn in &ow and stern stro"es and the !ru!ial effe!ts of wind. +e learned fast. +e was also strong and see ingly tireless des#ite his in)ury5 &ut the hours they s#ent outdoors didn't re ove the shadows fro &eneath his eyes or the lines et!hed in his forehead. So ehow in the last few years, Jenessa was ore and ore !onvin!ed, 1inn 2arston had lost the a&ility to rela(. +e'd forgotten how to #lay. +ow to have fun. Sure, he !ould laugh at his own ine#tness when the !anoe went in the o##osite dire!tion to that whi!h he had #lanned5 &ut then he would #ra!ti!e with fier!e !on!entration until he had !orre!ted his ista"e. To 1inn ine#tness eant ineffi!ien!y, and that, she thought, he !ouldn't tolerate. Always, underlying everything they did, she sensed his i #atien!e to &e done with the lessons and to &e on their way, an i #atien!e held in !he!" only &y his for ida&le will#ower. 6ate in the afternoon of the se!ond day, when the !louds had !leared and the sun had war ed the air, she said, '*"ay, we'll do so e res!ue te!hni'ues. .ut first you should "now how to !hange #la!es. +ere we are in the iddle of the la"e and we want to swit!h #ositions. As &ow #erson, you go first. .a!" u# to the iddle of the !anoe and !rou!h down. $ ove forward to the &ow5 when $' settled, you ove &a!" to the stern. 6et's go.' With the agility that she had !o e to e(#e!t of hi , 1inn &a!"ed u# and !rou!hed idshi#s. +olding the gunwales and "ee#ing her weight low, Jenessa ste##ed forward. .ut 1inn was a &ig an. She in!hed round hi , &alan!ing her feet on either side of his hi#s, her hands resting on his &road shoulders. She felt hi tense, the us!les hardening &eneath her fingers. She said lightly, '$t's all right, $ #ro ise we're not going to !a#si-e,' then !rawled forward to the !ane seat at the &ow. 1inn straightened, ru&&ing at the &a!" of his ne!". '0ou thought $ was afraid of falling in )ust then3 That's a )o"e.' She frowned. 'Why else were you so tense3' '1or ,od's sa"e, grow u#, Jenessa,' he said roughly and edged &a!" to the stern seat. $t was not the first ti e in the last two days that Jenessa had sensed an anger toward her whose sour!e had eluded her. Se(, she now thought in a flash of insight. +e's tal"ing a&out se(. +e doesn't li"e it that $' o&livious to hi as a an. That's why he didn't li"e e tou!hing hi )ust then. That's why he told e to grow u#. She hated &oth his anger and the reason for it/&e!ause he was telling her/as &oth Ruth and Ryan had also told her/that she was a isfit. *ut of tou!h with her se(uality. $t was a essage she didn't need to hear again. 1inn 2arston. Es#e!ially fro

4+A%TER 1$;E

?EE%$N, her thoughts to herself, Jenessa re#eated the aneuver of !hanging seats in the !anoe, hun!hing down low in the &ilge. As 1inn edged round her, he anaged not to tou!h her at all. ,ood for you, she thought, and said !oldly, 'We'll ti# the !anoe ne(t and $'ll show you how we'd get it &a!" to shore.' She stood u#, &alan!ing on the gunwales, a sli figure in shorts that &ared her long legs, and &egan &oun!ing the !anoe fro side to side. 1inn used the wrong &ra!e stro"e and with a greedy gurgle la"ewater rushed into the !anoe. +e lost his &alan!e and in a great s#lash went under. Jenessa sli##ed easily into the water and was waiting for hi when he surfa!ed, his wet hair sli!"ed to his s"ull. +e shoo" hi self li"e a dog and too" a !ou#le of #owerful !rawl stro"es toward her. '0ou en)oyed doing that, didn't you3' 'Thought it ight !ool your te #er,' Jenessa said. 'Rule one/hold on to the !anoe and !he!" that your #artner's o"ay.' +e gra&&ed the "eel, his &lue eyes &la-ing with an e otion she !ouldn't have de!i#hered, and snarled, '1or so eone who "nows one hell of a lot of en, you see to &e totally unaware of the ale se(.' She should have #ro!eeded to rule two. 'Don't &e silly,' she flared, '$ wor" with ti e5 of !ourse $' aware of the .' '+ave you ever gone to &ed with any of the 3 A#art fro 2a!, that is.' hi . en all the

.rea"ing her own rule, Jenessa let go of the !anoe and too" a swift stro"e away fro 'That's none of your &usiness.' '<ntil $ et 2a!, $'d have sta"ed a year's salary that you were a virgin.' $nsulted, enraged and, worst of all, hurt, Jenessa !ried, '$ don't see why la!" of it should !on!ern you in the least7'

y virginity or

The water swirling round his !hest, 1inn !losed the distan!e &etween the . '0ou don't even "now that $' a an7' 1ear added itself to all the other e otions !hurning in her &reast. '*f !ourse $ do. <# until five inutes ago $ would have said $ was even &eginning to li"e you.' 1inn's )aw suddenly dro##ed. +e said &lan"ly, '0ou're into wo en/$ never thought of that.' $t too" a o ent for his eaning to #enetrate. So angry that she forgot to tread water, Jenessa swallowed a outhful of the la"e and s#uttered, '$ a not7' A&andoning truth along with the !anoe, she added, 'Just as" 2a!.' 'So you were lovers.. .he's not worth your little finger.' '+ow ni!e that $' !onfir ing your la!" of res#e!t for the fe ale half of hu anity,' she raged, and then saw, to her horror, that while they had &een arguing they had also &een drifting !loser to shore. The !ount, his silver hair glea ing, his fishing-rod in one hand, was striding along the shoreline. Sound traveled over water and the !ount had an e(!ellent gras# of English. 'We have an audien!e,' Jenessa announ!ed with fatalisti! !al . 1inn said an un#rinta&le word under his &reath. 'At least out in the wilderness we'll &e a&le to fight without the whole world #arti!i#ating.'

.iting off her words, she said, '$f you hired e thin"ing $'d s#end the ne(t two wee"s falling all over you, you've got the wrong wo an. $' not the slightest &it interested in you se(ually5 have you got that straight3' '0ou thin" $ need you telling e that3 $' not totally o&tuse, Jenessa Reed.' +e was shouting again. The !ount ta!tfully flailed at so e alder &ran!hes and then s#lashed through the shallows in his hi#waders. $f 1inn and $ haven't already s!ared away every trout within five iles, Jenessa thought with a twinge of hysteri!al laughter, the !ount's )ust finished off the )o& hi self. '6et's right this goddarned !anoe and !all it a day,' she sna##ed. '1ine with e.' They turned the !anoe over, swa it to shore and du #ed out the water, the silen!e &etween the &ro"en only &y so e &rief orders fro Jenessa. Then they #addled &a!" to the do!". Jenessa !li &ed out and oored the !anoe. $' never rude to !lients, she thought des#airingly, and said with a valiant, if not #arti!ularly sin!ere atte #t at #oliteness, 'We'll leave to orrow orning after &rea"fast. +ave your gear all in one &a!"#a!" and ready to go. $'ll see you at dinner.' 1inn un-i##ered his wet life-)a!"et. :The sooner we go, the sooner we'll get &a!",' he grated, turned on his heel and headed for the lodge. She felt ridi!ulously li"e !rying. She trailed &a!" to her tent, shu!"ed off her wet !lothes and hung the out to dry, and loo"ed at her wat!h. Two hours until dinner. She shouldn't &e so effi!ient5 she had a&solutely nothing to do for that two hours. She didn't "now why she was so u#set. $t !ertainly wasn't the first ti e se( had !aused #ro&le s in her )o&, and she was nor ally ade#t at dealing with these #ro&le s. .ut at so e una!"nowledged level fro the o ent she had first seen hi , e(hausted and i #atient at the air#ort ter inal, she had thought 1inn 2arston would &e different. She had &een wrong. She loo"ed at her wat!h again. Three inutes had #assed. She !ould have a hot shower and wash her hair5 it would &e her last shower in two wee"s. .ut the &athroo s were lo!ated in the lodge and she didn't want to &u # into 1inn. She !ould wal" to the headwaters of the la"e and sit and wat!h the ra#ids. She stood u# with sudden energy. She "new what she was going to do5 she was going to &orrow 2a!'s white- water !anoe and run the ra#ids. That would ta"e her ind off 1inn. .y sheer good lu!" 2a! was outside with one of the guests and ade no o&)e!tion to her &orrowing the !anoe. She too" it fro the &oathouse, #addled to the head of the la"e, and #ortaged it along the trail that followed the river's edge. There had &een a fair a ount of rain in August5 #eriodi!ally she leaned the !anoe against a tree and !he!"ed out her !ourse. +alf an hour later Jenessa laun!hed the !anoe in the dee# #ool at the head of the ra#ids. The roar and hiss of tons of water surging &etween the ro!"s filled her ears, and she felt her outh dry and her heart &egin to #ound. .ra!ed against the seat, her "nees s#read wide, she angled the !anoe a!ross the river, see"ing out the ;-sha#ed !hannel that indi!ated a &rea" in the ro!"s, then steering towards it. The !anoe gathered s#eed and #lunged through the ga#, the &ow !utting into the standing waves so that s#ray dashed against her &are ar s. With a wild whoo# of e(hilaration she thrust her #addle into the water in a high &ra!e and forgot a&out everything &ut the seething whitewater of whi!h she and the !anoe were so integral a #art.

Twi!e on the way down she steered into eddies, #at!hes of !al water &elow the ro!"s, where she !ould ta"e a &reath and read the ra#ids to #lan her !ourse. The se!ond eddy was )ust a&ove the final, and worst, stret!h of the river. S'uinting, she saw that there was only one &rea" in the ledge fifty feet away. So e hard draws would ta"e her there, and the haysta!"s of white foa &elow the ledge were no #ro&le . The things to avoid were the souse holes to her left. Ryan had taught her a healthy res#e!t for souse holes. Totally !on!entrated on what she was doing, she didn't see the tall figure of a an !rou!hed on a granite &oulder at the foot of the ra#ids, tension in every in!h of his stan!e. Settling herself ore dee#ly in the !anoe, she stro"ed out into the !urrent, &a!"#addling to "ee# her s#eed under !ontrol a&ove the long ledge of )agged ro!"s. Then the !hannel was right in front of her. With another whoo# of e(!ite ent she steered through it. The &ow of the !anoe !urvetted s"ywards and foa dren!hed her thighs. S!ulling, #rying, &ra!ing, using all the s"ills at her !o and, her &ody fluid and #erfe!tly &alan!ed, Jenessa rode the torrential waters, the !anoe &u!"ing li"e a wild #ony one o ent, sliding slee"ly through the dar" !hannels &etween the waves the ne(t. Then, all too soon, the o#en #ool at the &ase of the ra#ids was ahead of her. With a wide swee# she &rought the !anoe round to shore, ga-ing &a!" the way she had !o e, and let out a #eal of e(ultant laughter. 1ro the !orner of her eye she !aught a fli!"er of ove ent on the land. She swung her head round. A an was lea#ing down the slo#e to the river, gri##ing the &oulders with strong fingers as he went, his long legs as agile as a !ari&ou's. 1inn. +e had &een wat!hing her. +e rea!hed the river's edge, shu!"ed off his de!" shoes and waded into the &u&&le-fle!"ed water, waves ri##ling fro his thighs. Jenessa's !anoe was only fifteen feet fro shore. +is ga-e was trained on her fa!e, on her flushed !hee"s and #arted li#s, where e(hilaration lingered as vivid as sunlight. 6eaning forward, he gra&&ed the #row of the !anoe. 2a!'s !anoe was designed for a(i u aneuvera&ility5 as it ti##ed sideways Jenessa yel#ed, '$f you du # e in the river after $ ade it all the way down those ra#ids, 1inn 2arston, $'ll never s#ea" to you again7' Auto ati!ally he righted it, gri##ing it on either side of the &ow. +is eyes &urning into hers, he said hoarsely, '0ou and $ are ali"e/we're &oth ris"-ta"ers, Jenessa7 0ou need that rush of adrenaline )ust as $ do. Don't you understand3 $'ve )ust seen a side of you $'ve never seen &efore. 6i"e !alls to li"e, Jenessa.' She swallowed hard, her heart&eat thudding in her ears as only o ents ago the roar of water had deafened her. With total truth she said, 'So eti es ris" is a #la!e $ run away to. When everything else gets too u!h.' +er re#ly was #lainly not what 1inn had e(#e!ted. 1rowning, he as"ed, 'What were you running fro 3' 'Who, not what. 0ou, of !ourse.' +e #ulled the !anoe !loser to shore under the da##led shadows of the a#les that lined the river. +is frown dee#ening, he said, ore to hi self than to her, '2ay&e that's why $' here... &e!ause $' trying to sto# running.' Then, &efore she !ould guess his intention, he #lanted his feet a ong the ro!"s, too" her under the ar #its and lifted her fro the !anoe. Weightless in id-air, utterly astonished, Jenessa ade an instin!tive ove to "i!" out and struggle. .ut )ust in ti e she re e &ered his s!arred &elly and &ruised ri&s and let herself hang li # in his ar s. As he #ut her down at the very edge of the water and rea!hed for the ro#e on the !anoe, she !ho"ed, '4ut out the hean stuff7'

+e hauled the !anoe u# on the shore and turned &a!" to her. +is ove ents swift and very sure of the selves, he un-i##ed her life-)a!"et, #ulled it off and tossed it on the ground. Then he rea!hed out for her, his ar s hard around her waist. +e was far ore dangerous than any river, she thought da-edly. 1or this ti e his intention was 'uite !lear8 he was going to "iss her. As if it were ha##ening to so eone else, she wat!hed hi &end his head, and felt the #ressure of his outh on hers. +is li#s were war against her s#ray-da # s"in5 they oved fro her outh to !aress her !hee" and the taut line of her )aw. Sho!" and sur#rise had held Jenessa rigid5 in a surge of #ani! she #ushed hi away. *ne "iss fro 1inn 2arston had !rossed a &arrier that she'd wanted inviolate. +ad needed inviolate. She gas#ed, 'Don't, 1inn/#lease don't. 0ou're !hanging everything and $ don't want that.' +is eyes refle!ting the !hurning &lue-&la!" of the river, 1inn said, '$ wat!hed you !o e down those ra#ids. 0ou !an't fool e/you don't #lay it safe any ore than $ do.' 'There are so e ris"s $ !hoose not to ta"e. ,etting involved with you is one of the 7' She wasn't even sure he'd heard her. +e said urgently, 'Do you "now what you loo"ed li"e when $ waded out to you3 0ou loo"ed li"e a wo an who's )ust ade love... all night long, slowly and thoroughly and with enor ous #leasure.' The wind rustied a ong the leaves, stro"ing Jenessa's da # &ody with its !ool fingers. 1inn's words ade her dee#ly afraid, ore afraid than she'd &een of anything or anyone sin!e she was si(teen. Shivering, she felt ore strongly than ever &efore the huge a&yss that see ed to stret!h &etween her and other #eo#le. She "new the te!hni!alities of how en and wo en ade love5 of !ourse she did. 0et none of 2a!'s "isses or rough fu &lings with her !lothes had te #ted her to ta"e the #lunge into those #arti!ular waters. The e(!ite ent of running the ra#ids, the total involve ent of &ody and ind, the sensation of &eing #oised on the &rin" of danger and the sheer thrill of the des!ent/se( !ouldn't &e li"e that. $t wasn't #ossi&le. '1inn,' she said tightly, 'to orrow we're heading out for two wee"s, )ust the two of us. Alone. $ have to "now you're not going to do this "ind of thing to e. $t'll &e i #ossi&le for e to do y )o& if you're going to &e harassing e all the ti e.' '+arassing you3' he re#eated in a strange voi!e. 'That's how you saw that "iss/as harass ent3' She loo"ed hi full in the fa!e and what she saw there al ost ade her !ry out with distress. +is features were a &attleground where frustration and that all- en!o #assing e(haustion fought for su#re a!y with so ething she would have sworn was #ain5 and only will#ower ta #ed ea!h of these e otions down. +e let his hands fall fro her waist and said evenly, '0ou'd &etter go and get !hanged5 you're !old.' '$' sorry, $ "now $' not li"e other wo en/&ut that's the way $ a 7' '6eave it, Jenessa.' $n a low voi!e she said, 'There are so e waters $ have no idea how to navigate and no desire to e(#lore.' '0ou'll &e 'uite safe with e,' 1inn said with a for al #re!ision that was as !old as i!e. '$ #ro ise you that... $'ll see you at dinner.'

+is wet &ush #ants !linging to his thighs, he started u# the slo#e a ong the granite &oulders. Jenessa lifted the !anoe &a!" into the river and !li &ed in. With long, steady stro"es she headed for the la"e. She had 1inn's #ro ise that he wouldn't tou!h her again. +e was, she would swear, a No atter what it !ost hi . an of his word.

Jenessa showered &efore dinner, dried her !lothes in the generator-#owered a!hine, and at the !ount's insisten!e )oined hi , 2a! and 1inn for dinner. $f she was 'uieter than usual, no one see ed to noti!e. As soon as the eal was over, she went to the "it!hen to !he!" on the food for the tri#. $t was dar" when she finally headed for her tent. She wal"ed soft-footed down the trail through the alders to her !a #site. Ten feet fro the tent she sto##ed in her tra!"s. The s ell of !igarette s o"e drifted to her nostrils and a tiny #oint of orange light glowed in the &la!"ness. '$s that you, 2a!3' she said shar#ly. The dar" &ul" of a an's &ody oved toward her. '0eah, it's &a!"... were you fooling around with 2arston again3' 'No,' she said drily, '$ wasn't. What do you want3' 2a! !a e !loser5 in the light fro his !igarette his eyes ga#ed li"e the &la!" holes in a as". 'Thought you and $ should have a little !hat &efore you headed out,' he said. '0ou "now why 2arston wants to loo" over the +il!hey land, don't you3' Jenessa shoved her hands in the #o!"ets of her &ush #ants, suddenly aware that she was frightened of what she ight hear. '2a!, it's late and $' tired. This'll "ee# until we get &a!".' '*h, $ don't thin" so. $ don't thin" you'd than" 1inn 2arston without telling you )ust who he is.' e if $ let you ta"e off into the woods with e. Too" your ti e getting

2a! was #laying her as a fisher an #layed the fish he wanted to hoo". Refusing to &ite, she said, '$ "now who he is. +e runs a &usiness that !a#s oil-well &lowouts/he flew here fro $ndonesia.' 'That's true enough, $ guess. .ut there's a lot ore to hi than that, Jen.' +er throat was dry, as if on!e again she were #oised at the head of the ra#ids. 'So why don't you tell e, 2a!3 Tell e and get it over with.' '1inn 2arston owns +il!hey's land. +e inherited it.' +er voi!e a thin thread in the dar"ness, she re#eated, '*wns it3 +e !an't7' '$ told you/he inherited it. All four thousand a!res of it. $n!luding the land that used to &e your dad's.' The land that had &een wrested fro her father, that had !aused his death, now &elonged to 1inn. 1eeling as though the ground had shifted under her feet, Jenessa !roa"ed, '$ don't &elieve you7 Why would 1inn have inherited it3' '+e's +il!hey's grandson.' +er &rain s!ra &ling for the solidity of fa!ts, she !ried, '+e !an't &e7 ,eorge +il!hey's daughter was arried to a an !alled Wilfred Ellis/so his grandson's last na e would &e Ellis. Not 2arston.'

'0eah, $ figured that one out, too. So $ !he!"ed u# on hi &efore he got here. See s that at the age of eighteen 1inn Ellis legally !hanged his last na e to 2arston. +il!hey's wife A y /who &y all a!!ounts was a half-de!ent old &iddy, as different fro her hus&and as she !ould &e/her aiden na e was 2arston.' +er head reeling, Jenessa re#eated nu &ly, '1inn is ,eorge +il!hey's grandson... so that's why he wants to go to the old su er house.' 2a! dro##ed his !igarette &utt and ground it into the dirt. +er eyes were a!!usto ed to the dar"ness now5 she saw hi shrug. 'The su er house is where his other !o itted sui!ide... they tried to hush that u#, &ut y dad was the !areta"er there that su er, and he told e what ha##ened. Shot herself with one of her father's hunting guns.' $t was an old story, so ething that had ha##ened when Jenessa was only seven, &ut 2a!'s !allous re!ital still had the #ower to a"e her win!e. 'So 2arion Ellis was 1inn's other,' she whis#ered. 'That's right. ?ind of a strange wo an, a!!ording to Never had u!h use for her son, &y all re#orts.' '+e y dad/not what you'd !all ha##y.

ust have !hanged his na e soon after she "illed herself.' ore than a

'Don't you go feeling sorry for hi ,' 2a! said. '$ &et he inherited a whole lot !hun" of !entral Newfoundland/ he's not hurting. Not one &it.'

Wasn't he3 Jenessa wasn't so sure. She !losed her eyes, the inner dar"ness under her lids e!hoing the outer. The little !ove where she had grown u#, the &ir!h eadows where the oose lay down to rest, the tu &ling waters of the &roo" and the sandy &ea!h where she had learned to swi /1inn owned the all. +e had inherited what his grandfather had stolen. '$ hated ,eorge +il!hey for years,' she said, s#ea"ing ade e sto#/said it was eating e u#.' ore to herself than to 2a!. 'Ryan

:Thai $ wouldn't advise you to get too friendly with his grandson,' 2a! said. She stared at hi , &elatedly trying to thin". '$s that why you told e3' e all this3 To #rote!t

+is teeth flashed white in the gloo . 'Not e(a!tly,' he said. 'Why should $ &other #rote!ting you3 No, $ want to &uy the land fro hi . +e'll &e getting offers fro the logging !o #anies and fro ining outfits too, ore than li"ely. .ut $ want it/it ad)oins y land and it'd give e a ono#oly on this whole area. So e of the &est hunting and fishing in the #rovin!e. $'d &e laughing.' With another ugly )olt in her !hest Jenessa said, '+e's going to sell it3' 'Sure he is/he's got no interest in living in the iddle of Newfoundland5 he !an't run his &usiness fro here. What else will he do with it &ut sell it3 $t's no good to hi .' The words &attered at her !o #osure. 'So what's that got to do with e3' '$ "now how you feel a&out !onservation. Tell hi that if he sells to logging or ining interests they'll destroy the whole area. Whereas $'d leave it &e. 0ou'd li"e that, wouldn't you3' '0ou want e to #ersuade 1inn 2arston to sell +il!hey's land to you3' She gave a short, una used laugh. '0ou don't "now hi very well. No one !ould #ersuade hi to do anything he didn't already want to do.' 'Try, Jen. $ !an get you lots of wor" here in the ne(t few years if $ e(#and into that #ro#erty.'

'A little &ri&ery3' she said wryly. Suddenly atta!"ed &y a des#erate need to &e alone, she said, '$ !an't #ro ise anything, 2a!, you ust see that.' +e ste##ed !loser, his s o"e-laden &reath wafting her !hee", his fingers !losing hard around her ar . :Try, Jen,' he re#eated. '.e!ause if $ !an get you )o&s $ !an ta"e the away )ust as easily. $f $ #ut y ind to it $ !ould go a long way to wre!"ing your re#utation as a guide.' $t was the se!ond ti e in less than a wee" that this #arti!ular threat had &een dire!ted at her. This ti e she had her answer ready. '$'d sue you for slander.' +e said s oothly, his fingers digging into her ar , '$ didn't really want 2arston !o ing here/wanted hi to sell e the land sight unseen. .ut now that he's here $ ight as well use you to get to hi . $t's to everyone's advantage that he sell to e5 you're s art enough to figure that one out. Wor" on it, won't you3' *ne final s'uee-e of his fingers and 2a! released her ar . Jenessa stood very still, listening to the sna# of twigs and the s all rustlings of the alder leaves as he wal"ed away fro her, &a!" to the lodge. She was alone, as only o ents ago she had !raved to &e. She would have given every #enny that 1inn was going to #ay her in the ne(t two wee"s to &e ho e at Ryan's, a"ing hi !offee, listening to hi gru &le a&out the e(or&itant #ri!e of wall#a#er and )ade-green #aint. +ow was she going to fa!e 1inn to orrow3 The fa!e that she had seen as handso e, as!uline, rough-hewn she now saw as ruthless. No one got to &e the &oss of a ulti- illion-dollar !o #any &y &eing &enevolent and altruisti!. +e had inherited ore than land fro his grandfather, she thought si!"ly. +e had inherited !hara!ter, a way of life that a##lauded the a!'uiring of wealth and turned a &lind eye on the way in whi!h it was a!'uired. 6i"e father, li"e son... su&stitute grandfather and grandson, and she had the relationshi# &etween ,eorge +il!hey and 1inn 2arston. .irds of a feather, a !hi# off the old &lo!", tarred with the sa e &rush/the !lin!hes tu &led through her tired &rain. She had to s#end the ne(t two wee"s with 1inn. ,uiding hi through land that she loved and that he would sell to the highest &idder. 6and that eant nothing to hi . +ow would she &ear it3

4+A%TER S$@ JENESSA would have sworn she heard every wave that ri##led on the shore throughout the night, every wail of the loons on the la"e, every rustle in the undergrowth around her tent. 2a!'s dis!losures, otivated, she "new, entirely &y self-interest, had thrust her &a!" into a #ast she had thought she was finished with. $n the dar"ness of her tent she we#t for her father, who fro his own wea"nesses and the s!he ings of a ri!h an had lost everything he loved5 and we#t, too, for the young girl whose life had &een ta"en over &y authorities who, for all their good intentions, had had no understanding of her at all.

The one thing she didn't do was slee#. 1or the other fa!e that hung in front of her eyes the whole night through was 1inn's. The sho!" of dis!overing he was ,eorge +il!hey's grandson had ade her reali-e how dee#ly he had infiltrated her defenses in only four short days. +is i #atien!e, his e(haustion, his rare flashes of hu or, all the !ontrasts of a an not easily read, had interested her fro the very &eginning. 1as!inated her, she thought honestly, staring at the stars through the os'uito netting. +e was unli"e anyone else she had ever et. $f she were really honest, she would ad it that she had !herished the ho#e that she and the wilderness through whi!h she would guide hi would nourish hi in so e way. +eal hi . +e wasn't heading into the wilderness for healing. +e was assessing what #ri!e he !ould get for land that was of no other value to hi . As the slow hours #assed she !ould find it in her to &e grateful to 2a!. She was forewarned. She "new 1inn's otive. She !ould now retreat inside herself, #rote!t herself fro any involve ent with a an who !ould only &ring her grief. At the first light of dawn she sli##ed out of her tent in her tri green swi suit and ran headlong into the la"e. The water stru!" !ool on her s"in. %lunging &eneath the surfa!e, she swa in strong stro"es away fro the shore, relishing the #ull of her us!les and the slide of water along her &ody, feeling the first easing of a tension she had !arried ever sin!e she had seen 2a! waiting for her outside the tent last night. Turning &a!", she dived &eneath the water, the s ooth !urve of her &a!" and the #ale glea of her legs disa##earing &elow the surfa!e. She swa until her lungs !raved o(ygen, &urst u#wards, sei-ed a huge gul# of air and dived again. So she was only a few feet fro the shore when her feet tou!hed &otto and she stood, #anting and swi#ing at the water that strea ed down her fa!e. *nly then did she o#en her eyes. With a strange sense of dj vu she saw that 1inn was &alan!ed on the ro!"s at the edge of the la"e, waiting for her. 6ast night, 2a!. This orning, 1inn. Anger ri##ed through her, sho!"ing her with its intensity. +er feet see"ing #ur!hase a ong the s ooth ro!"s, she waded toward hi , water s#lashing round her an"les. She forgot that he was her e #loyer, forgot that she was !lad only in a swi suit5 in a !li##ed voi!e she said, 'What do you want3' +e waited until she was level with hi . Then he sei-ed her &y the el&ow. +is tou!h turned Jenessa's anger into red-hot rage. '6et go of e7' 'No/not until you've heard e out.' +er eyes widened, for he sounded/and, she reali-ed rather tardily, loo"ed/every &it as angry as she. What right did he have to &e angry3 'Then a"e it fast,' she s#at5 '$'ve got wor" to do.' '*h, it won't ta"e long. Why did you lie to e, Jenessa3 All that fan!y tal" yesterday a&out waters you didn't "now how to navigate and weren't willing to e(#lore/and then last night you invite 2a! to your tent. 0ou and he have &een lovers all along, haven't you3' +is fa!e was s!oured with !onte #t5 the gri# of his fingers was !ruelly strong. That he also loo"ed as if he had sle#t as little as she she ignored. $t was as if ,eorge +il!hey stood in front of her, ruthless ,eorge +il!hey, &elieving the worst of everyone, using &rute for!e to !rush those who o##osed hi . She said with i!y !larity, ',o away, 1inn. $ have nothing to say to you/nothing.' :That's why you didn't want to slee# in the guides' !a&in/ 2a! !ouldn't visit you there, !ould he3' '0ou're as wrong as----'

'Why didn't you let hi stay all night, Jenessa3 Afraid that #eo#le your lily-white i age ight &e sullied3'

ight !at!h on3 That

'0ou don't listen, do you3 $ don't have anything to say to you and $ don't give a da n what you thin" of e/thin" what you li"e. Just go away and leave e alone7' '$ thought you were different/that's what $ thought. $ thought you were honest. $ even thought/don't laugh, will you3/ that you had a 'uality of inno!en!e $'d never e(#e!ted to find. $ was wrong on all three !ounts, wasn't $3 As wrong as $ !ould &e7' '$'ve had enough of this,' she stor ed. '0ou and $ are e #loyer and e #loyee. Nothing ore. 0ou're #aying e a hundred dollars a day to guide for you, and that's what $'ll do. .ut don't e(#e!t anything else fro e/ is that !lear3' +e dro##ed her el&ow. '0ou thin" $'d want anything else3 $ don't ta"e other leavings.' en's

Jenessa should have #i!"ed u# her towel fro the &ush where she had dra#ed it, !overed herself with it and aintained a dignified silen!e until he'd left. '0ou see everything in ter s of se(, don't you3' she said shrewishly. '.ut $ su##ose if you don't res#e!t wo en that's all they're good for.' +is eyes ra"ed her &ody u# and down. 'So e of the aren't even good for that.' She flin!hed, for he had hit her where she was ost vulnera&le. $n her inner ost heart she had so eti es wondered if she e &odied that word frigid that was &andied a&out in all the #o#ular aga-ines5 if, for reasons &eyond her, she was &arred fro e(#erien!ing the #leasures that other wo en see ed to ta"e for granted. The arti!les that s#o"e so "nowingly a&out se( see ed to &e written in a language whi!h e(!luded her, the #arti!i#ant strangers in another land. She had not on!e &een driven to a"e love to a an with all the heart-#ounding urgen!y that the writers des!ri&ed so elo'uently. And Ruth and Ryan were right8 she et do-ens of en, far ore than the average fe ale. So there ust &e so ething wrong with her. She was a isfit. 4old. <seless as a wo an. She said flatly, '+ave your gear on the do!" &efore &rea"fast. Weil leave right after we've eaten.' .ut 1inn was staring at her ar . $n a voi!e she had never heard hi 'Those &ruises- 2a! did that, didn't he3' use &efore, he said, y el&ow &y

'$t's nothing5 $ &ruise easily. Anyway, $'ll #ro&a&ly have &ruises on to orrow.'

A##alled, 1inn dro##ed his hold on her as if her s"in were s!alding hi . '$ don't "now what the hell's the atter with e7 $'ve never &ehaved li"e this in y life- yelled at a wo an, gra&&ed her, fought her as if y life de#ended on the out!o e.' Steeling herself against the na"ed e otion in his fa!e, for she didn't want hi to &e anyone other than a ruthless &usiness an who was #aying her salary, Jenessa said, '$' really not interested in the way you treat wo en. $'ve got wor" to do/would you #lease go away3' +e said 'uietly, '2a!'s not fit to wi#e your &oots, Jenessa. We &oth "now that. $'ll see you later.' As he wal"ed away, the olive-green of his &ush #ants and the green of his shirt &lended in with the alders5 he was soft-footed for so &ig a an. Jenessa let out her &reath in a long sigh. $f 1inn was &ehaving aty#i!ally, so too was she. +ad &een ever sin!e she'd et hi . Two wee"s was &eginning to sound li"e forever.

The first day see ed li"e forever to Jenessa. .efore she and 1inn left the do!", she too" out her a#s and showed hi the route she had #lotted, a <-sha#ed route where they would travel via a !hain of la"es and #ortages to the su er house, and use the river as u!h as #ossi&le on their return, when its !urrent would &e with the . Then they set out. They #addled hard all orning, ate lun!h with a ini u of !onversation and fought a headwind all afternoon. At four the rain that had &een threatening all day started to #atter on the la"e. Two hours later Jenessa yelled forward to the That's where we'll !a #.' an in the &ow, 'See that ne(t #ro ontory3

The landing was tri!"y, &e!ause of ro!"s. .ut 1inn, she had to ad it, had a&sor&ed everything she'd taught hi , and handled hi self with !onsidera&le #ana!he. *n!e they'd dise &ar"ed, Jenessa untied the gear and #assed it u# to hi , her feet digging for #ur!hase in the loose shale. Then they lifted the !edar !anoe u# the &an", turning it &otto u# and tu!"ing the life-)a!"ets and #addles underneath. The #ro ontory was gra!ed &y a stand of white #ines, the ground soft with fallen needles. She said !ris#ly, 'We'll #it!h the tents in that flat area &etween the two tallest trees. 2ay&e you !ould hel# e #ut the tar# u# first5 that'll #rote!t us fro the rain.' The tar#, whi!h was rolled on the very to# of her &a!"#a!", was heavy &ut worth every oun!e of its weight. Within five inutes they had it strung fro the #ine &ran!hes5 it was large enough to #rote!t two tents fro the rain, as well the gear and the !oo"ing fire. 'Tents ne(t,' Jenessa said. '4an you #it!h your own3' 'Sure. Where is it3' '$n the very &otto of your #a!"/you !an get at it with that lower -i##er.' of y #a!". +e loo"ed at her 'ui--i!ally. '$'ve got a slee#ing-&ag and a #ad in the &otto .ut no tent. $ figured you had &oth of the .'

it ust &e there,' she said with &arely disguised i #atien!e. in a &lue &ag/it rolls u# very s all5 you #ro&a&ly didn't reali-e it was a tent.' 'Jenessa, $ too" everything out of the #a!" this tent.' orning so $'d "now where things were. No

+e wasn't )o"ing5 he was telling the truth. +er sto a!h a !old "not, she uttered, 'Ryan/ $'ll have his hide for this7 +e loo"ed after the gear and $ didn't &other !he!"ing.' +er eyes widened. 'That's why he #a!"ed the three-#erson tent for e... this ust &e his idea of a )o"e.' 1inn stated the o&vious. '0ou don't find it funny.' '$ never share a tent with y !lients.' =$>ll slee# on the ground under the tar#.' 'The ground's wet and the wind's #ro&a&ly not going to let u# until dawn/you'd get soa"ed,' she said with furious e #hasis. '*ne thing you !an't afford to do on a long tri# is get your slee#ing-&ag wet.' '$' not going to fall on you in the night, Jenessa,' he said !urtly. with e. . 'This isn't a&out se(, it's a&out #riva!y,' she res#onded e'ually !urtly. 'When $' other #eo#le for one and two wee"s at a stret!h, $ need ti e &y yself.'

+is dar" head &rushing the orange tar#, 1inn drawled, 'Well, $ guess you're stu!" with Do you really thin" Ryan did this on #ur#ose3'

Too u#set to &e dis!reet, she said &itterly, '*h, yes. +e li"ed you, $ !ould tell. And he thin"s $' turning into an old aid. Ti e $ settled down and #rodu!ed a !ro# of &a&ies.' '+e !ertainly is!onstrued the dyna i!s &etween you and onth.' e... +ow old are you3' 'Twenty-si( ne(t

'*ver the hill,' he said. A s all, traitorous #art of her wanted to s ile in res#onse to the glint in his eyes. +ardening her heart, she said, '$'ll #it!h the tent, then $'ll get a fire going.' '$'ll #it!h the tent. 0ou start the fire.' '0ou're #aying e to loo" after you,' she sna##ed. '$ find that a truly insulting state ent.' +e eant every word, she thought, and felt a &lush !ree# u# her throat. Refusing to &a!" down, she said, 'E #loyer and e #loyee, re e &er3 $' the one who's su##osed to do the wor".' 'As $ see to re#eat with &oring fre'uen!y, $ don't have the faintest idea what's going on here/&ut, whatever it is, $ do "now we're in it together. $'ll #it!h the tent.' And Jenessa, who had eant to "ee# 1inn fir ly in his #la!e, went to gather wood. 1or su##er she heated the stew that 2a!'s !oo" had ade, getting out ho e- ade rolls, fresh fruit and date s'uares to go along with it. As she wor"ed around the fire, she "e#t re inding herself of 1inn's ission5 even so, it was e(traordinarily diffi!ult to &e a!tively unfriendly with hi when she was dodging the lea#ing fla es and envelo#ed in swirling &lue s o"e, her nostrils teased &y the deli!ious s ell of the stew. She tal"ed very little while they ate and she insisted on !leaning u# the dishes5 afterwards the two of the hung the &ags of food high in a tree away fro the !a #site to guard against &ears. Then she said, '*n long tri#s $ go to &ed at dar" and get u# at dawn/that way you !an ta"e advantage of the &est #addling early in the orning.' She was standing &y the fire, the fla es dan!ing over her fa!e, the tension in her &ody all too evident. 1inn said, '0ou go ahead5 $' going to sit &y the fire for a while.' Were he as ruthless as she had la&eled hi , he would &e a!!o #anying her into the tent and wat!hing her undress. ',oodnight,' she said aw"wardly and du!"ed under the fla#. She hauled off her &oots, leaving the in the little vesti&ule. Then she saw that 1inn had arranged their gear right down the iddle of the tent, se#arating the two slee#ing-&ags and giving her the a(i u #riva!y #ossi&le in so s all a s#a!e. +is a!tion had &een at the very least ta!tful5 "ind would &e a ore a!!urate word. To her horror Jenessa felt tears !rowd her eyes. 4onfused and unha##y, she #ulled off her rain gear and &ush #ants, folded her sweater for a #illow and snuggled into her slee#ing-&ag in her T-shirt and underwear. The fla es fro the !a #fire were fli!"ering on the &lue wall of the tent5 she wat!hed as the shadow that was 1inn loo ed tall, and heard the fire !ra!"le and s#it as he #ut another log on. The shadow disa##eared as he sat down again. She'd never go to slee#. Not when she "new he would soon &e lying only a !ou#le of feet away fro her. She !losed her eyes, wishing she understood why she felt so high-#it!hed !ry of a 4anada )ay right outside the tent. isera&le/and wo"e to the

$t was daylight. She had sle#t the night through. She hadn't even heard 1inn !o e to &ed. ;ery !autiously Jenessa lifted herself u# on one el&ow and #eered over the edge of her #a!". 1inn's &a!" was turned to her, his &are shoulders rising and falling with the rhyth of his &reathing. +e was using his shirt for a #illow. +is dar" hair was tousled5 she found herself staring at the way it !urled softly around his ears. 2oving with e('uisite !are, she #ulled on her !lothes and !rawled out of the tent, anaging to do &oth without distur&ing hi . As she washed her fa!e and hands in the la"e, she ga-ed around her. The te #erature had risen, whi!h eant they'd #ro&a&ly &e #lagued &y flies, the air was dead !al and the #ur#le !louds hanging low over the hori-on filled her with dis'uiet. They were in for so e &ad weather, unless she was very u!h ista"en. She tra #ed &a!" to the !a #site, lowered one of the food &ags and got a fire going5 when the &a!on was si--ling in the #an and water had &oiled for !offee, she !alled 1inn's na e, rather sur#rised that he wasn't already u#. +e didn't answer5 she !alled hi again, turning the stri#s of &a!on at the sa e ti e. This ti e when he didn't res#ond she !rou!hed down and entered the tent, wondering if he was #laying so e "ind of ga e with her. +e was lying flat on his sto a!h, &reathing heavily as though he was drea ing, his fa!e &uried in his shirt, his ar s flung over his head. The slee#ing-&ag had sli##ed al ost to his waist, &aring an e(#anse of tanned s"in5 the &ruise over his ri&s had faded to a )aundi!ed yellow. +is &ody, she thought with #rofound unease, was &eautifully s!ul#ted. She said loudly, '$t's ti e to wa"e u#, 1inn.' +is head reared u#, the hi out3' us!les &un!hing in his shoulders. 'Ji ,' he gas#ed, 'did they get an's fa!e,

With a hiss of indrawn &reath, for she had never seen su!h anguish in a Jenessa said urgently, '1inn, it's e/Jenessa.'

+e shoo" his head, li"e a wounded !ari&ou that was una&le to flee &e!ause its life&lood was #ouring down its flan"s. 'Jenessa...' he uttered. With the strange sense that he was using her na e to haul hi self &a!" to reality, she said wea"ly, '0ou ust have &een drea ing.' '0eah... sorry.' +eaving hi self u# on one ar , 1inn ru&&ed at his fa!e with his free hand. =$>ll &e out in a inute.' +is fa!e had !losed against her5 she was #er!e#tive enough to see that he hated having e(#osed hi self to her. '.rea"fast's on the go,' she said with false !heer, and &a!"ed out of the tent. The &a!on was on the verge of &urning5 'ui!"ly she oved the #an off the fla es, her &rain whirling. Who was Ji 3 What had ha##ened to hi to &ring that loo" of intolera&le #ain to 1inn's fa!e3 Two things she was sure of8 she la!"ed the !ourage to as" and 1inn wasn't a&out to tell her. <sing a long sti!", her &a!" to the tent, she started toasting a !ou#le of the rolls 2a!'s !oo" had &a"ed. With a r!sson along her s#ine she heard the rustle of the tent fla# as 1inn e erged. +e strode off down to the la"e. When he !a e &a!", !arrying his towel and tooth&rush, she was dusting the eggs with #e##er. 'S ells good,' he re ar"ed.

'$t'll &e dried food soon enough5 we'd &etter en)oy this while we !an.. .eggs over3' '%lease. 4an $ a"e you a !offee3' 'Sure.' %oliteness was &eing used to s other so ething she hadn't &een eant to see, she thought, a!!e#ting a ug of !offee fro hi and #assing hi his loaded #late. 'Ja and #eanut &utter on the log there... hel# yourself.' .rea"ing her own eggs into the #an, she added, '$' worried a&out the weather. We've got the longest #ortage of the tri# today, and the flies are lia&le to eat us alive. We'll &rea" !a # and head out as soon as we !an.' =$>ll do the dishes this orning.' She was 'uite sure there was no #oint in arguing with hi . And how !ould she neatly !ategori-e hi as her e #loyer after what she had seen in his fa!e this orning3 'All right,' she said. '.ury the &a!on fat5 we !arry out all our gar&age and the soa#'s &iodegrada&le.' ,iving hi the nearest thing to a s ile, she finished, '$'ll a"e sure $ dig out the fly do#e.' The 4anada )ays were &a!", &ig grey and white &irds attra!ted &y the s ell of !oo"ing. Jenessa tossed the so e &read s!ra#s. :They !all than whis"ey )a!"s around here. They get ta e #retty fast and they'll steal the food right out of your hand.' The !onversation stayed safely on the su&)e!t of wildlife while they ate5 within the hour they'd loaded the !anoe and were ready to leave. 'Why don't you go in the stern today3' Jenessa suggested. 'We !an always !hange #la!es if a stor !o es u#.' +e grinned at her. '0ou '$'ve got the ean $ get to steer and give the orders3' a#/so $'ll &e telling you where to go.'

'2ay&e,' he said drily, 'that's !alled e'uality.' *ut of the &lue Jenessa wanted to as" hi why he didn't res#e!t wo en, whether it was &e!ause of his other. She also wanted to as" if he res#e!ted her, Jenessa. .ut she already "new the answer to the latter 'uestion8 he didn't. She said &riefly, '6et's go.' They #addled hard for three hours, had a sna!" on a little sand &ea!h where the os'uitoes des!ended on the as soon as they landed, and #addled for another !ou#le of hours to the head of the la"e. The #ortage was nearly two iles long, winding u#hill through the trees, then !rossing a &og that erged into the ne(t la"e. 'We'll have to a"e two tri#s, &ut we'll ta"e a &rea" halfway,' Jenessa said. 'Easier on the us!les that way.' The air was !loyingly war and very still5 the flies were a !onstant tor ent. Sweat stung Jenessa's eyes and tri!"led &etween her &reasts. +er ar s a!hed. +er "nees a!hed. As her &oots s'uel!hed through the &og on the last leg of the #ortage, the &ow of the !anoe &alan!ed on her shoulders, os'uitoes and &la!"flies rose in hungry hordes. The os'uitoes whined in her ears. The &la!"flies !re#t silently into her hair and &it her ne!". ,ri ly she trudged on. Even the longest of #ortages had to end. The stones that edged the se!ond la"e !run!hed under her feet. She and 1inn swung the !anoe down to rest on their thighs, then lowered it to the ground. With a sigh of relief Jenessa untied the &andanna fro round her ne!" and wi#ed her forehead. '$ wish we had ti e for a swi ,' she said. '.ut $ want to get to the ne(t !a #site &efore the weather &rea"s.' 1inn's T-shirt was dren!hed with sweat, !linging to his !hest. '$'ll tell you one thing,' he said, 'you've got sta ina, Jenessa. Sta ina and strength. A good any en $ "now !ouldn't have ade that #ortage.' She s iled at hi no slou!h yourself.' s#ontaneously. 'Than"s,' she said, war ed &y the !o #li ent. '0ou're

+is eyes narrowed. '+old still,' he said, rea!hing out and !rushing a &la!"fly that was &iting her ne!". +is fa!e, unshaven, intent, was very !lose to hers. As he re oved his fingers, she saw with a shiver of su#erstitious fear that they were stained with her own &lood. So ething ust have shown in her fa!e. 1inn said harshly, '6et's get out of here.' The ne(t la"e, whi!h had long &een a favorite of Jenessa's, was full of s all, tree-!lad islands and sheltered !oves. $n one of the they sighted a &ull oose feeding, his long snout &uried underwater as he &rowsed on the grasses growing on the uddy &otto . +e !aught the ove ent of the !anoe al ost instantly, reared his ungainly head with its flat s#read of antlers and s#lashed to shore. $n a !rash of undergrowth he disa##eared a ong the alders. far T haven't see one of those for years,' 1inn said. 'They always loo" to horse ated with an el".' e as though a

She said lightly, 'There's a three- onth hunting season on oose, !ari&ou and &la!" &ears. $t would &e wonderful if this whole area were a wildlife san!tuary.' '0ou'd lose &usiness/you guide for hunters, don't you3' 'Al ost never. $' wor"ing ore and ore with #hotogra#hers and fil !rews/ !onservationists, #eo#le interested in e!otours, that "ind of thing... $n fa!t, y ne(t assign ent in three wee"s is with a fil !rew fro the States. $ love wat!hing ani als intera!t with their environ ent/ u!h ore fun than shooting the .' '6ess and less do $ understand how you a&ide 2a!,' 1inn said tightly. '+e's a hunter to the !ore.' Jenessa swiveled on her seat, suddenly tired of this #arti!ular isunderstanding. '2a! and $ never have &een nor ever will &e lovers. The other night we were )ust- tal"ing.' As she re e &ered what they had &een tal"ing a&out, her eyes flashed green, greener &y far than the trees &ehind her head. '$s that true3' 1inn said slowly. +e didn't &elieve her. '$ su##ose if you don't res#e!t wo en you don't trust the she said !austi!ally. either,'

:The !ount told e you and 2a! had a relationshi# a !ou#le of years ago. +e was very dis!reet/&ut it was 'uite !lear what he eant.' 'Well, the !ount was wrong,' she retorted. '1inn, we've got to get you want to &e in a stor is the iddle of a la"e.' oving. The last #la!e

+is answer was to dig his #addle into the water so that the !anoe surged ahead. Thoroughly out of sorts, Jenessa set a "illing #a!e down the la"e. She'd told 1inn the truth and he hadn't &elieved her. +e'd ta"en the !ount's word over hers. +er father had raised her with a stringent regard for honesty5 the fli# side of that had &een that he had trusted her totally. <nli"e 1inn 2arston, who didn't trust her at all.

4+A%TER SE;EN

JENESSA and 1inn were still an hour away fro the !a #site when the first gust of wind !a e whi##ing over the water, wrin"ling the surfa!e li"e the s"in of an old an. A se!ond gust !hased the first5 the li &s of the s#ru!e trees stirred uneasily. 'We'll "ee# !lose to the lee shore,' Jenessa said, feeling a third &urst of wind !uff her !hee" and flatten her shirt-sleeve to her ar . Waves gathered, inno!ent enough at first, then to##ed with white and s#ewed with foa . Water sla##ed the #row and s#lashed the gear, ro!"ing the !anoe on its a(is. Then the first fat dro#s of rain &oun!ed off the la"e. Within inutes the rain was driving into Jenessa's fa!e, al ost &linding her. She #ut all her strength into the &lade of her #addle, aware with one !orner of her ind of the greater strength of 1inn's stro"es, aware too of all the de ands the day had already #la!ed on &oth of the . The last fifteen inutes were #ure night are, her us!les s!rea ing with tiredness, her &ody !hilled des#ite the e(er!ise. .ut finally, !alling instru!tions to 1inn over her shoulder, she eased the &ow of the !anoe into the !ove where they were going to !a #. Angry waves washed the little &ea!h, whose sand was #itted fro the heavy rainfall. The leaves of the &ir!hes and alders rattled in the wind. +o##ing out of the !anoe, Jenessa #ulled the &ow u# on the &ea!h, and steadied it while 1inn !li &ed out. As he !a e level with her, she saw that his !lothes were #lastered to his &ody. +is hair !lung to his s!al#, rain running down his fa!e as if he'd &een swi ing rather than #addling. <ne(#e!ted laughter gathered in her !hest. '1inn, do $ loo" as awful as you3' +is teeth glea ed white. 'Do you "now what $'ve )ust reali-ed3 $' #aying a hundred dollars a day for the #rivilege of &eing soa"ing wet, dog-tired and starving hungry. $ ust &e out of y ind.' She was laughing in earnest now, #eals of hel#less laughter. '$ )ust #ut was worth at least two hundred.' 'The way y shoulder us!les feel, you should &e #aying e.' y rates u#/today

A wave washed over her &oot, the undertow tugging the sand away &eneath her heel. She glan!ed down and saw to her horror that the !anoe was floating &roadside to the waves, in danger of swa #ing. She lunged for the #row, hauled the !anoe &a!" u# on the &ea!h, and gas#ed, '$ !an't &elieve $ )ust did that/you never let go of a !anoe until it's #ro#erly &ea!hed. 0ou should fire e for that #ie!e of !arelessness.' 'Well,' said 1inn. ';ery interesting/so you are !a#a&le of negle!ting your )o&.' 1or reasons &eyond her, he loo"ed e(tre ely #leased with hi self. Raindro#s stinging her !hee"s, she said tartly, '0ou wouldn't &e loo"ing so ha##y if all our gear had ended u# in the la"e. $t's going to &e dar" in half an hour/we'd &etter hurry.' They unloaded the !anoe and u#-ended it in the &ushes well away fro the water. Then Jenessa led the way through a dense, shadowed thi!"et of alders, whose &ran!hes !aught on her #a!" and whose roots ade her stu &le for a foothold. 1ro &ehind her 1inn grunted, '$ #resu e there's a #ur#ose to this3 *ther than aso!his , that is.' 'Trust )ust that. e,' she said, and with an illogi!al #ang "new how strongly she wanted hi to do

1inn said nothing. 1ive inutes later the alders ended. S#read in front of the was a grassy eadow s#rin"led with wild flowers and tall, white-trun"ed &ir!hes. Jenessa trudged through the "nee-

high grass, already feeling the wind lessen its &ite. Ahead of her loo ed a huge out!ro# of slate, to##ed &y trees and shru&s. See"ing out a well- re e &ered !ro# of &ir!hes, she eased her #a!" to the ground. 'We'll &e as sheltered here as anywhere,' she said. '0ou sure do "now this area,' 1inn said a##re!iatively. '$t's a &eautiful #la!e, Jenessa.' She had last visited it when she was twelve. '6et's get the tar# u#... then we'd &etter gather so e wood &efore it gets too dar" to see what we're doing.' With her a(e she !ho##ed down a dead s#ru!e tree, while 1inn dragged fallen &ir!h &ran!hes under the tar#. As she was sawing the trun" of the s#ru!e into anagea&le !hun"s, he gave a sudden e(!la ation of #ain. '*u!h/$ stu&&ed y toe7 +ey, Jenessa, there's a fire#la!e already set u# here, a whole ring of ro!"s.' She let the saw fall, wal"ed over to hi and in silen!e stared down at the !ir!le of stones. +er father had &uilt the . +e had &een an austere an, little given to fun. .ut the last ti e they had !a #ed here he had #rodu!ed a &ag of arsh allows, an un&elieva&le treat. They had toasted than in the !oals until the outsides were a golden- &rown and the insides had elted into a s ooth, white !rea , deli!iously sweet. Si( onths later he was dead... Di ly she &e!a e aware that 1inn was gri##ing her &y the shoulders. 'What's wrong3 1or heaven's sa"e, tell e what's wrong.' She stared at hi , her eyes haunted &y that old grief. 1inn didn't loo" at all li"e the an who had &een res#onsi&le for her father's death. .ut he was that an's grandson, &one of his &one, flesh of his flesh. With a dee# shudder she #ulled free. 'Nothing,' she uttered. '0ou've &een here &efore5 $ "now you have. With 2a!3' That he !ould &e so wrong was leave it, #lease.' ore than she !ould &ear. 'Don't, 1inn,' she &egged. 'Just

'0eah/&e!ause honesty is so ething we're avoiding li"e the #lague, you and $,' he said in a voi!e raw with frustration. '6et's get the fire going. Then you're going to sit &eside it while $ #ut u# the tent and find you so e dry !lothes. $'ll !oo" su##er/you'll wat!h. Do you hear e3' '$---' 'And don't argue7' 6aughter welled u# in her !hest again, the "ind of laughter that hovered on the very &rin" of #ain. Su&duing it, she said ee"ly, 'All right.' +e loo"ed fier!ely #rote!tive. Jenessa, who #rided herself on her inde#enden!e, was not used to &eing #rote!ted. She had #rote!ted her father ore than he her, and Ryan had always had a tenden!y to #ush her out into the world rather than shelter her fro it. As the fla es s#ewed u#ward, 1inn dragged a log over for her to sit on. +is hands #ressed on her shoulders with the sa e #arado(i!al &lend of gentleness and for!e. '0ou're going to sit down and let e loo" after you,' he said with a !roo"ed s ile. 'No atter how diffi!ult it is.' The rain &eat on the tar#, the &ir!hes rustled in the wind and the lea#ing fla es ade the surrounding dar"ness all the ore i #enetra&le. She said, with no idea where the words !a e fro , '$ don't understand you at all.' '0ou thin" $ understand you! Sit, Jenessa/$'ll find you so e dry !lothes.' She san" down on the log, s#reading her hands to the fire's heat, ga-ing into its vivid, e#he eral &rillian!e as though it !ould tell her what she needed to "now. After 1inn had #it!hed the tent, she !hanged into dry !lothing, to##ing the with a soft flee!e )a!"et. +e had

a line rigged for her wet gar ents, and was already heating water for tea. .y the ti e she'd hung u# her !lothes he was ladling !hili into a #an, his ove ents neat and effi!ient. She hun"ered down &eside hi and rested her fingers on his wrist. '1inn, $ thin" you should get !hanged/you !an get hy#other ia &y staying in wet !lothes.' +er fingers were still !old. +e !las#ed the in his, letting his own war th war her, and said in a low voi!e, 'That's the first ti e you've ever tou!hed e. A#art fro sha"ing hands with e at the otel.' $nto her ind flashed the i age of his &are &a!", its !ontours &oth li"e and yet utterly unli"e her own. Would it have &een as war as the fingers !urled around hers3 1looded &y the sa e #rofound unease that she had felt in the tent, Jenessa tugged her hand free. '$ was worried a&out you, that's all,' she said, and wat!hed hi ta"e her words at fa!e value. '$ )ust wish---' he said violently. '+ell, what's the use3 $'ll &e &a!" in a inute.' When he !a e &a!" she handed hi a ug of hot tea. The !hili was &u&&ling gently on the etal grill and she had wra##ed the last of the rolls in foil to heat. 'After today we have so e very strong !urried &eef,' she re ar"ed, 'then it's dried food and whatever fish we !an !at!h.' 'So $'d &etter en)oy the !hili, is that what you're saying3' '0ou got it.' She si##ed her tea, feeling war and dry and !o forta&le. 'This &eats #ortaging5 that's the trou&le with !edar !anoes/they're heavy. .ut $ love their lines.' They !hatted a&out !anoes and orienteering as they ate, as though &y an uns#o"en agree ent a tru!e had &een !alled on any in!endiary su&)e!ts. *r, Jenessa wondered, was their new !a araderie si #ly the result of having survived together the trials of the day3 The answer didn't see very i #ortant. 6etting herself en)oy 1inn's undou&ted intelligen!e, laughing at his wit and arguing a i!a&ly with so e of his o#inions, she rela(ed into the sheer #leasure of his !o #any. After sto"ing u# the fire, they did the dishes, &y whi!h ti e Jenessa was o#enly yawning. 'Don't ta"e it #ersonally,' she ga#ed. '0ou're far fro &oring. .ut it see s a very long ti e sin!e $ got u# this orning.' 'Slee# well,' he said !asually. '$' going to stay here for a while.' '$/than" you, 1inn,' she said !lu sily. The firelight threw oving shadows over his fa!e5 his s ile was singularly sweet, tou!hing so ething dee# within her. 'No #ro&le . *ff you go.' +e had stashed their #a!"s, whi!h were very wet, in the vesti&ule of the tent. .ut the slee#ing-&ags were still #la!ed a !areful distan!e a#art. Jenessa undressed, !urled u# in the soft folds of down and fell aslee#. She awo"e to the wind fla##ing the walls of the tent. $t was still dar", a dar"ness #ier!ed u# &y the glow of the !a #fire. The illu inated dial of her water#roof wat!h told her it was al ost an hour #ast idnight. Rolling over, she saw that the other slee#ing-&ag was e #ty8 1inn was still u#. She had gone to &ed three hours ago. What was he doing3 Sliding out of her &ag, she !re#t to the entran!e of the tent, where the wind &rushed her s"in with its !ool fingers. 1inn was still sitting on the log, in #rofile to her. +e was hun!hed over, his head &uried in his hands, his el&ows resting on his "nees.

The long !urve of his s#ine e(#ressed &oth des#air and defeat/feelings that stru!" Jenessa to the heart, for in her life she had "nown &oth inti ately. 1inn, she "new, would not than" her for o&serving su!h #rivate e otions. 0et she was !ons!ious of a strong urge to wal" over to hi , to ru& the tension fro shoulders and hel# hi &ear whatever was atta!"ing hi . The last thing he loo"ed was ruthless. As 'uietly as she !ould she &a!"ed into the tent again. +er slee#ing-&ag was still war 5 she huddled into it, feeling hel#less and unha##y. %erha#s it was grief she had seen, grief for the an !alled Ji . That very day a !ir!le of stones had !alled u# her own grief for her father. .ut she hadn't shared it with 1inn5 so what right did she have to intrude on his3 None whatsoever. 1lat on her &a!", her eyes wide o#en, she wat!hed as the fla es san" lower and lower. There was a sudden hiss of stea as 1inn du #ed water on the !oals. Turning her &a!", she &urrowed her fa!e in her sweater )ust as he !rawled into the tent. She tried to &reathe naturally, as though she were aslee#, and heard the s all inti ate sounds of a an undressing in the dar"ness. The -i##er on his slee#ing-&ag ras#ed. Then there was only the voi!e of the wind in the night. Eventually Jenessa fell aslee#. 1ro long ha&it she wo"e at dawn, and was instantly awa"e. The tent walls &ulged and flattened and &ulged again as the wind gusted through the trees5 the &ir!h leaves gossi#ed, &usy- tongued, and the tar# rattled self-i #ortantly. She and 1inn wouldn't &e going anywhere today, she thought, already dreading a whole day s#ent around the !a #site in his !o #any. What would they tal" a&out3 What tas"s !ould she invent to fill the long hours fro dawn to dus"3 Restlessly she turned over, then re!oiled with instin!tive haste. $n the night 1inn had rolled off his insulated slee#ing-#ad5 he was s#rawled only in!hes away fro her. +is head rested on his ar , while his &are !hest rose and fell with the slow rhyth of his &reathing. +is eyes were !losed. Jenessa lay still, her own &reath !aught in her throat. *ften enough she had heard the eu#he isti! #hrase 'slee#ing together'5 until now she had never a##lied it to herself. 0et here she was, literally fa!e to fa!e with a an who had s#ent the night at her side. Ruth and Stevie sle#t together, in the &ig &ed !overed with the green and white 'uilt that Ruth's grand other had stit!hed in a #attern traditional to the Newfoundland out#orts. .ut Ruth and Stevie also ade love in that &ed. An entirely se#arate a!tivity, or so Jenessa had always thought. Now, as she studied 1inn's fa!e feature &y feature, her tidy little !ategories &egan to fall away. +is fa!e, aslee#, was of !ourse still his fa!e. 0et there were very real, if su&tle differen!es &etween what she saw now and what she was a!!usto ed to seeing. +e loo"ed younger, for one thing. 0ounger and/she sought for the right word- defen!eless, that was it. Awa"e, he hid &ehind &arriers that allowed her so far and no further. Aslee#, she reali-ed with a #e!uliar a!he of her heart, he drew her to hi rather than #ushed her away. The rela(ed !urve of his outh fas!inated her. +is fingers, loosely !urled, were al ost tou!hing the sweater she was using as a #illow5 she !ould see the steady thro& of the #ulse in his wrist and the &lue veins that eandered u# his ar . +is &ody hair was al ost &la!", his

s#ringing fro his forear , furring his dee# !hest. There was a white, indented s!ar &elow the hollow of his !ollar&one. Within her a s all tre &ling &egan, li"e the 'uivering of as#en leaves in the lightest of winds. +er ove ents as un!ertain and as wary as those of a !ari&ou !alf new&orn a ong the as#ens, Jenessa stret!hed out her hand and rested a single fingerti# on 1inn's wrist. The &lood #ulsed slowly and #owerfully against her s"in, the very voi!e of his heart. +er own #ulse lea#ed to eet it and a flush !re#t into her !hee"s. She let her fingers wra# around his wrist, en!o #assing it, feeling through every nerve in her &ody the hardness of &one and the heat of his s"in. S all enough sensations, yet they felt astoundingly, un&elieva&ly inti ate. +e stirred very slightly, a"ing a tiny sound in his slee#. She snat!hed her hand &a!", s!ar!ely &reathing, waiting for his eyes to sna# o#en and all the &arriers to reassert the selves, driving her away. Then, al ost i #er!e#ti&ly, he san" &a!" into the de#ths of slee#. +er 'ui!"ened heart&eat was li"e that of a frightened &ird. She !ould have rolled over and sought slee# again5 she !ould have got u#, ta"en her !lothes and left the tent. $nstead she felt her hand, of its own volition, drift a!ross the s all s#a!e that se#arated her fro 1inn and !urve itself around his ri&!age. Again there was the tautness of &one and the war th of flesh under her #al . A flesh, Jenessa thought in !onfusion. .ut not )ust any an's8 1inn's. an's

A &ittersweet a!he &losso ed to life &etween her thighs. .losso ed and s#read and grew in its de ands, its an!ient i #ulsions. As the &lood thro&&ed through her veins, Jenessa's eyes widened in true sur#rise. $ want hi , she thought, and heard the three s all words e!ho and re-e!ho in her &rain even as they were surging through her &ody. $ want to a"e love with 1inn... $ want to he with hi and learn what his &ody feels li"e !lose to ine. $ want to &e initiated/guided &y hi / into that ysterious land where a an and wo an !o e together in the a!t of love. $ &elong, she thought da-edly. $' not a isfit any ore. $ understand now why Ruth's fa!e is lit u# the orning after Stevie !o es ho e fro a long tri#. .e!ause $ want the sa e thing to ha##en to e. +er li#s !urved in a )oyful s ile. All those years of feeling li"e an out!ast had vanished, dissi#ated &y the !loseness of one an's &ody. She felt li"e singing. She felt li"e dan!ing under the &ir!h trees where the wind whistled through the grass. She also felt, she ad itted with an honesty that ade her &lush, li"e !losing the distan!e &etween her and 1inn so that they lay &reast to !hest and hi# to hi#. What would that feel li"e3 1inn uttered so ething under his &reath, shifting restlessly. Jenessa drew her hand &a!", terrified that he would wa"en and as" her what she was doing, holding her &reath as he stret!hed, the us!les #ulled taut over his &elly. Then, the slee#ing-&ag ru!"ed around his waist, he rolled over, sighed and lay still again. With a s#as of agony that was as shar# as it was a&surd, Jenessa felt as though she had &een e(iled, driven fro a #la!e she had s!ar!ely &egun to e(#lore. 6eft alone again/as all her life she had &een alone, she reali-ed with #ainful truth. Although her father had raised her with #un!tilious !are, he had rarely e(#ressed his affe!tion overtly, and Ryan, a &a!helor &y !hoi!e, had &een #erfe!tly ha##y adding roo s to his house and !arving du!" de!oys &efore she had arrived on his doorste# at the age of si(teen.

She didn't li"e the tenor of her thoughts. The !onfines of the tent suddenly see ed !laustro#ho&i!, and 1inn's !loseness was a threat rather than a sour!e of #leasure. Waiting until she was sure he was sound aslee# again, she ru aged for her toilet arti!les in her #a!", #i!"ed u# her !lean !lothes and snea"ed out of the tent. Des#ite the wind the air was war er than it had &een last night and she &adly needed a &ath. $n daylight she found an easier #ath through the alders to the &ea!h. The waves were high, too high for safe !anoeing, and it was an a!t of !ourage to stri# off her !lothes and #lunge into the !ool waters of the la"e with her soa# and sha #oo5 she du!"ed to rinse herself off and waded to shore. As she s!ru&&ed herself dry, she found herself loo"ing down at her &ody with new eyes. A wo an's &ody. .ut what would 1inn thin" of it3 +er only standards of !o #arison !a e fro the aga-ines that so inti idated her. She didn't have the &ig &reasts of a ovie star. She wasn't s"inny li"e the slee", aloof odels who were gar&ed in outfits that would have &een useless in the woods. +er toenails weren't #ainted. She wore no )ewelry. She did have a re!ogni-a&le hairstyle, she thought ruefully, starting to #ull on her !lothes. .ut what did it atter3 $f she had awa"ened to her se(uality in the tent &eside 1inn, she had also &een shot through with terror at the #ros#e!t of hi dis!overing how she felt. Nothing was going to ha##en. Nothing. The last thing she wanted hi to see was the !hange in her. She tre""ed &a!" to the !a #site, ade another tri# to the la"e for water and started a fire. She was s#litting "indling with her hat!het when 1inn e erged fro the tent, #ulling on his shirt. With a huge effort Jenessa dragged her eyes away fro the flat #lanes of his &elly, and said in a voi!e that sounded horri&ly s#rightly, ',ood orning.' Although he shot her a dis!on!ertingly shar# glan!e, all he said was, 'When are we leaving3' 'We aren't. The winds are forty "ilo eters an hour and the ne(t la"e is far than this one.' 'So what are we going to do3' 'Nothing.' 'Jenessa, we !an't sit here for a whole day7' ;oi!ing so e of her own frustration, she said, '1inn, we !an't arrange nature to suit ourselves.' 'What in heaven's na e will we do all day3' She wished she had the answer. 'Sit and s ell the golden rod,' she said fli##antly. '*h, for ,od's sa"e7 $ !an't ta"e forever for this tri#/ there's a real world out there and it has ore i #ortant things on its ind than the way the wind's &lowing.' 'This is the real world,' Jenessa said, her green eyes o#enly unfriendly. 1inn was doing u# the &uttons on his shirt, the ove ent of his fingers )er"y with i #atien!e. 'Don't &e ridi!ulous/the wilderness is es!a#is , #ure and si #le.' *nly an hour ago Jenessa had fantasi-ed lying in 1inn's ar s. She ust have &een out of her ind. 'This is as real as the world gets,' she sna##ed. '$f you !an't handle it, that's your #ro&le .' +e ste##ed !loser, his irises al ost &la!" with anger. 'Just what do you ean &y that3' ore e(#osed

'0ou're s!ared to death you ight !o e fa!e to fa!e with yourself out here7 .e!ause there's nowhere to run, is there, 1inn3 No distra!tions, no ulti- illion-dollar !o #any ta"ing every inute of every day of your life. No tele#hones, no eetings, no oil-wells. There's only wind and water and trees and your own thoughts to "ee# you !o #any/and you !an't stand that. That's what $ ean.' '0ou !ouldn't &e ore wrong7' 1inn's fa!e. $n a strangled voi!e he said, 'Who told you a&out orning She said very 'uietly, 'Who's Ji 3' The !olour drained fro Ji 3'

Already regretting her 'uestion, Jenessa stood her ground. '0ou did. 0esterday you were drea ing, and said his na e.'

'And ever sin!e you've )ust &een waiting for the !han!e to &ring it u#,' he a!!used, hun!hing his shoulders and )a ing his hands in the #o!"ets of his )eans. +urt, she !ried, '$ wasn't7 .ut you !an't run away out here, 1inn/that's what the wilderness does5 it ta"es away all the distra!tions and lets you listen to the silen!e.' '+ow #oeti!,' he sneered. 'Don't tell e you're not into es!a#is , Jenessa Reed. 0ou're nearly twenty-si( years old and o&livious to your own se(uality/$ !all that running away.' $t hardly see ed the ti e to tell hi that only an hour ago she had sto##ed running. '$ wish you'd tell e who Ji is,' she #ersisted. '2ay&e it would hel# if you tal"ed a&out hi .' 'Why don't you )ust ind your own &usiness3' And what re#ly !ould she a"e to that3 E #loyees weren't su##osed to tell their e #loyers to go to hell. ,laring at hi , she said, '$' going to !oo" the last of the &a!on and eggs. 4offee or tea3' '4offee. Are you really serious that we !an't go anywhere today3' ',o ta"e a loo" at the la"e,' she said, e(as#erated. ',uides are dis!ouraged fro their !lients. 2ore's the #ity.' drowning

A relu!tant s ile tugged at 1inn's li#s. '0our eyes are the sa e !olour as the &ir!h leaves when you're angry,' he said. The s!ul#ted line of his outh fas!inated her, and she had always found his s ile irresisti&le. '0ours are li"e stones,' she &lurted with ore a!!ura!y than ta!t, and &ent to #ut a log on the fire. The fla es li!"ed hungrily at the wood and 1inn, as she had re'uested, the alders to loo" at the la"e. ar!hed toward

$t was only seven-thirty. Twenty-four hours to go, she thought, and wondered how in the world she was going to get through the day.

4+A%TER E$,+T .REA?1AST was eaten largely in silen!e. Afterwards 1inn set out to gather ore wood, and as she washed the dishes Jenessa heard the steady thun" of the a(e rever&erating a ong

the trees. 1inn wasn't a&out to s ell the golden rod, she thought &itterly. +is restlessness see ed to have infe!ted her8 she reorgani-ed the food &ags, rinsed out so e !lothes and swe#t the floor of the tent, #la!ing the slee#ing-&ags as far a#art as she !ould. .y now 1inn had sta!"ed a neat #ile of logs &y the fire#la!e. '$' going for a wal" along the shore,' he said. She wat!hed hi stride away &etween the trees. +e hadn't suggested that she go with hi . +ating herself for inding, she settled herself on a log &y the fire and o#ened the one &oo" she had &rought. Ruth had loaned it to her, re!o ending it as a good read. .ut the !hara!ters see ed to s#end an awful lot of ti e ta"ing off high-!outure !lothes and, in various adulterous !o &inations, !li &ing &etween satin sheets5 the gra#hi! des!ri#tions of what went on &etween those sheets ade Jenessa even ore restless. She had never done any of those things. .ut her i agination see ed to have s#rung to life along with her &ody, and all too well she !ould #i!ture doing the with 1inn. 2ay&e Ruth had re!o &ring a te(t&oo" on forest ended the &oo" on #ur#ose, she thought !rossly. Ne(t ti e she'd anage ent.

She ade tuna sandwi!hes with #ita &read for lun!h, ate alone, and was )ust starting to worry a&out 1inn when he a##eared through the alders. '0ou've &een a long ti e,' she !o ented non!o ittally. +e sat down and too" the sandwi!h she held out to hi . '0ou'll laugh if $ tell you what $'ve &een doing.' +is lean fingers !las#ing the sandwi!h ade her shiver with inner awareness. No satin sheets here, and no !outure !lothes either, she thought with a tou!h of des#erate hu our. She was in a &ad way when a an eating a tuna fish sandwi!h ade her feel li"e )u #ing on hi . '$ won't laugh.' 'There's a !ove half a ile fro here that's in the lee of the wind. $ sat on a ro!" and wat!hed the water. There were tad#oles there, &ig ones/#otential &ullfrogs, $ su##ose. *ne of the had a tail li"e ri&&on and two &a!" legs with #erfe!tly for ed feet. No front legs yet, &ut you !ould see the )ust &eneath the s"in, and $ found yself wondering how they !a e out.' +e too" a &ite of the sandwi!h and gave a dry laugh. 'Never thought $'d find yself !urious a&out &ullfrogs.' +e loo"ed rela(ed in a way new to her. The us!les in his throat oved as he swallowed5 she wat!hed the , wondering what it would &e li"e to slide her li#s down the !orded tendons. $n !o #arison to so e of the se(ual gy nasti!s des!ri&ed in Ruth's &oo", it was a relatively ild a &ition, yet it filled her with a wild, sweet longing. 'What's the atter3' 1inn said shar#ly. 'Nothing7 $/$ was getting worried a&out you, that's all.' '0ou loo" "ind of )u #y/#erha#s you should go and wat!h the tad#oles.' She s!ra &led to her feet. '$ thin" $ will go for a wal",' she said. 'See you later.' +e fingered his !hin. '$'ll shave while you're gone.' Jenessa too" off as though a &la!" &ear were on her trail. She tra #ed along the ro!"y shore, feeling the wind !ool her !hee"s. She had to settle down. She !ouldn't s#end the ne(t two wee"s wanting to tear the !lothes off 1inn's &ody every ti e he !a e within ten feet of her. $t was ridi!ulous. She'd never &ehaved li"e this &efore. Never. 2ay&e there were advantages to &eing a isfit.

She wal"ed hard for well over an hour. Then she turned &a!", ta"ing her ti e, in no hurry to fa!e 1inn again. $f he had dis!erned/and &een unflattered &y/ her total la!" of any se(ual res#onse to hi u# until now, would he not also re!ogni-e the !hange in her3 And if he did, how would he a!t3 1lights of i agination were one thing. $n a!tuality she was in no hurry to find out. She !a e round the last &end, where the trail led through the alders. Three !ari&ou/a stag and two !ows/were swi ing away fro her toward the iddle of the la"e. 1inn should see this. She du!"ed into the alders, running, her feet dodging roots, her hands gra&&ing for holds a ong the &ran!hes. She was at the very end of the trail, )u #ing to avoid a ud #uddle, when she saw a #air of large ru&&er &oots right in front of her. With a gas# of dis ay, her o entu !arrying her forward, she thudded into the an who had )ust entered the trail. +e dro##ed the etal #ot he was !arrying and wra##ed his ar s around her to "ee# her fro falling. +e was &are-!hested. As i agination and reality fused, Jenessa was flooded with a host of sensations, so e of whi!h she !ouldn't have &egun to i agine, so far were they fro her e(#erien!e. The hardness of his !hest, &ruising the &ridge of her nose. The ras# of his &ody hair under her !hee". The strength of his ar s around her ri&!age and the dig of his fingers in her s#ine. She !losed her eyes, the &etter to savor his war th and solidity, her &ody as fluid a !urve as the grass in the wind. +is s"in s elled !lean and indefina&ly as!uline5 without even thin"ing how he ight inter#ret her a!tions, she ru&&ed her !hee" against his !hest and flattened her #al s on his &a!". 'Jenessa,' 1inn whis#ered hoarsely. 'Jenessa...' +e raised her !hin with one hand, his eyes widening at the ra#t delight in her fa!e. Then, al ost instantly, they dar"ened with #ur#ose. '0ou don't "now how often $'ve wanted to do this,' he uttered, and lowered his outh to hers. Jenessa ight &e ine(#erien!ed, &ut she was &y no eans i #er!e#tive. .eneath the &eginnings of 1inn's "iss there was real hunger5 his &rief restraint gave her the ti e to feel to the fullest an answering surge of #assion whose intensity was unli"e anything she had ever felt &efore. She had no training in !oyness or su&terfuge5 she allowed her hunger full rein, and felt the sho!" run through his fra e. Then his li#s were roving hers, teasing the o#en with the fier!e i #atien!e so !hara!teristi! of hi , and she felt the first tou!h of his tongue. With a s all sound of #leasure she let her hands slide u# his s#ine, her fingers &urying the selves in the sil"y hair at his na#e. +e strained her !loser, until the softness of her &reasts was !rushed to his !hest, and his "iss dee#ened. Di--ily she wondered how she had lived this long without ever sus#e!ting that su!h #leasure lay in store for her. +er tongue dan!ed with his even as his hands roa ed her &ody, tra!ing the swee# of her s#ine and the slender lines of her waist. Then he drew her hi#s against his, and with true wonder she felt the hardness of his ere!tion. %ulling &a!" a little, she whis#ered, '$ did that to you3' 1inn gave an e(ultant laugh, drin"ing in the flush high on her !hee"&ones, the &rillian!e of her eyes and the softness of the li#s that he had laid !lai to. '$ndeed you did/do you wonder3' +er #eal of laughter !li &ed with his. She said artlessly, '*f !ourse $ do. $'ve never felt li"e this &efore, 1inn/never7 $t's wonderful5 $ love it.'

'0ou ean that, don't you3' he said slowly. 'Whatever's ha##ened, Jenessa3 0ou've a!ted li"e a sti!" of wood around e u# until now/what !hanged you so suddenly3' $t never o!!urred to her to he. +er flush s#reading, she said, 'This orning when $ wo"e u# you were lying so !lose to e that/$ don't "now how to e(#lain it. $ guess you loo"ed li"e a an who !ould sit and wat!h tad#oles rather than so eone who was the owner of a &ig &usiness. $/$ )ust "new $ wanted you, that's all,' she finished la ely. 'Did you tou!h 'Well... yes.' 'So $ wasn't drea ing...' With a #ri itive edge of triu #h in his voi!e that &rushed her with unease, he said, '4o e here.' '1inn, $----' +is "iss #revented her fro saying anything else/a "iss that ade her head whirl and her &ody !la or for ore. .efore she !ould totally lose !ontrol, she gas#ed, 'We !an't----' '$ want to a"e love to you. +ere and now.' +e nu--led at her throat. 'Well, not right here /in the tent.' +e loo"ed so sure of hi self, so !ertain that she would !a#itulate. '$ only ago5 we !an't----' et you a wee" e3' he flashed.

'That's got nothing to do with it,' he said for!efully. '$f you were a little ore e(#erien!ed, you'd "now that this "ind of se(ual !he istry doesn't ha##en often and that we'd &e fools not to ta"e advantage of it.' '.ut $ a ine(#erien!ed and----' '$'ll fi( that,' 1inn said. Jenessa was &eginning to get angry and !ouldn't have said e(a!tly why. 1u &ling for !larity, she said, '$' not a !o odity on the sto!" ar"et that you &uy when the #ri!e is right... $' a #erson. With feelings. $' not even sure you li"e e, 1inn/only two days ago you were a!!using e of a"ing love with 2a!.' '$'ve !hanged y ind. $ don't thin" you did.' ight have told e. Anyway, we !an't a"e love 'Just li"e that3' she said indignantly. '0ou /$ ight get #regnant.' '$'ll fi( that, too.' '+ow3' she said &lan"ly. 'The usual way, Jenessa/$ went to the drugstore &efore we left.' '0ou ean you "lanned this3' +e said irrita&ly, 'Sto# #utting the worst inter#retation on everything $ say. The first ti e $ saw you, there was so ething a&out you that attra!ted e. $ was #retty sure two wee"s in the woods with you would in!rease, not de!rease that attra!tion. So $ !a e #re#ared.' +e shrugged. '$' no ore an(ious to #rodu!e offs#ring than you are.' +is language redu!ed what she was feeling to the lowest !o on deno inator. Jenessa #ulled away fro hi , gra&&ing at a &ran!h for &alan!e. '0ou ight have &een attra!ted to e, &ut you didn't li"e e.' With sudden intuition she added, '$ don't thin" you li"e wo en at all... li"e the any ore than you res#e!t the .' '$' sorry $ ever said that7'

The words out &efore she had ti e to thin", she as"ed, 'Were you ever sto a!h !len!hed. '*r are you arried now3' +e ra"ed his fingers through his hair. 'No. *f !ourse not.' '+ow old are you3' 'Thirty-five.'

arried3' +er

'Then there's no of !ourse a&out it,' she retorted, ri##ing a #ie!e of &ar" fro the &ran!h. Desire had died in her, leaving her tense and on edge, and very u!h &a!" in the world of reality. 0es, 1inn's other had !o itted sui!ide when 1inn was still a teenager5 &ut that would have &een !ause for #ity, surely, not disres#e!t. And she, Jenessa, wasn't su##osed to "now a&out it, any ore than she was su##osed to "now that he owned the very ground they were standing on. The etal #ot was wedged a ong the alder trun"s at her feet. 'Were you going for water3' she as"ed at rando . '0eah... until you ran into do.' e. $t's ti e you sto##ed running5 you "now that as well as $ ing a!ross the la"e. $ wanted you to see the .' e, Jenessa. Now.'

'There were three !ari&ou swi

1inn said levelly, '4o e to &ed with

+is voi!e was dis#assionate. .ut his eyes &urned into hers, dar" with #ur#ose, and un!ons!iously she swayed toward hi , the very &eat of her &lood e!hoing that #ur#ose. .ut this ti e a s all #art of her &rain stayed deta!hed fro desire5 it saw triu #h flare in his fa!e, and shouted her a warning. '+ow !ould you have &een attra!ted to e when you didn't even li"e e3' she de anded. '0ou're u#set &e!ause $ went to the drugstore, aren't you3 Nothing very ro anti! a&out that, $ agree. .ut $'d argue it shows ore res#e!t for you than if $ fell on you in the wilderness without a thought for the !onse'uen!es.' $t was a strange o ent to re e &er how Stevie/ sturdy, inarti!ulate Stevie/had &raved a lingerie store in a St John's all &e!ause Ruth wanted a la!y &la!" nightgown for 4hrist as. Jenessa said, 'We don't love ea!h other.' :That's another ro anti! falla!y,' 1inn said i #atiently. '1ifty #er!ent of the !ou#les who swear undying love at the altar end u# in the divor!e !ourts. S#are e that one.' +e was i #lying that she was &oth naive and ignorant5 and he !ould &e right on &oth !ounts. '0ou sound so !old-&looded,' she !ried. :This &oo" Ruth loaned e... the !hara!ters get in and out of &ed with as little thought as if they were !hanging their so!"s. There has to &e ore to it than that7' '$ don't &ehave that way/never have. $t's &een a long ti e sin!e $'ve &een with a wo an.' '*h,' Jenessa said, her fa!e &rightening, '$ see. Then you're li"e a stag !ari&ou in the rutting season/it's &een a year sin!e he ounted a !ow, so there's nothing #arti!ularly su&tle a&out the way he &ehaves.' '$' not a godda ned !ari&ou/$' a an7' 1inn e(#loded. '0ou have to &e the argu entative wo an $'ve ever !o e a!ross.' '0ou ean $' not falling flat on y &a!" after one "iss.' ost

+e "i!"ed at the nearest alder, his &oot !hurning u# ur"y waves in the #uddle. '$ wouldn't re!o end you do that here,' he said sar!asti!ally. '.ut $' getting the essage/the answer's no. $' going to get water, Jenessa/&ut we're not finished with this.' She didn't su##ose they were. Whi!h didn't a"e her feel any ha##ier. As 1inn disa##eared down the trail, she wandered &a!" to the !a #site. +is towel and shaving "it were sitting on the log5 he had &een, she reali-ed &elatedly, !leanshaven. The &etter to "iss you, y dear, she thought, and wished she had never sighted the three !ari&ou. 6eaving hi a note on the log, she too" a !ontainer and went to #i!" &lue&erries. She li"ed #i!"ing &erries5 it was a very soothing a!tivity. When she !a e &a!", 1inn was !ho##ing "indling. +e was, she was glad to see, now wearing a shirt. She said !asually, 'Sal on #asta with &lue&erry !o&&ler for dessert5 how does that sound3' +e straightened to his full height, the hat!het &alan!ed in his right hand. 'Jenessa, $' not going to let you a!t as though you never "issed e. $t ha##ened and we're not going to #retend it didn't.' Ruthless, she thought with a shiver along her s#ine. As ruthless as the grandson of ,eorge +il!hey would have to &e. With a re&ellious lift of her !hin she said, '0ou're right/it ha##ened. %ast tense. Whi!h is where it &elongs.' +e ste##ed !loser. She !lut!hed the !ontainer of &lue&erries to her !hest, saw hi &end his head and felt his li#s &rush hers. The shiver ran along her nerves this ti e, as ruthless in its own de ands as he was in his. She flared, '$' not going to slee# with you or go to &ed with you or a"e love with you/whatever words you want to use. $' not going to7' 'We'll see a&out that,' 1inn said. 'We'll &e together at least another ten days. And nights.' Jenessa loo"ed at hi in silen!e. +e was stronger than she5 she "new that already. Stronger, heavier and infinitely ore e(#erien!ed. .ut she was da ned if she was going to show ,eorge +il!hey's grandson that she was afraid of hi . %utting the #ot of &lue&erries !arefully on the grass, she said, 'Would you rather have dried #eas or fresh !arrots with the #asta3' '4arrots. $t's your own life you're li iting, Jenessa.' That she had already thought of that didn't hel# at all. '0ou sure don't li"e having a wo an turn you down.' With a fli!" of his wrist he flung the hat!het at the log. The &lade &it into the wood, the handle 'uivering. 'No, $ don't,' he said savagely. 'Not when the wo an's you.' +er heart gave an un!o forta&le lea# in her !hest. 'Don't give or res#e!t e, re e &er3' e that line. 0ou don't li"e

'$ don't "now how the devil $ feel a&out you,' 1inn snarled. +e #i!"ed u# the &ig a(e and &egan s#litting the &ir!h logs lying in the grass, every ove i &ued with violen!e. Whatever he felt, it wasn't indifferen!e, Jenessa thought, and !la #ed her tongue down &efore she !ould outh the words. She &uilt u# the fire and &egan asse &ling the ingredients for the dessert, and the whole ti e while she was !oo"ing and eating and !leaning u# afterwards she was aware of hi wat!hing her. She lit the #ro#ane la # and read ore of her &oo", and at ten o'!lo!" said with an artifi!ial yawn, '$ thin" $'ll hit the sa!".' '2e too,' said 1inn. %ani! flared in her &reast. 'Don't loo" li"e that,' he ras#ed. '$' into you denying what ha##ened &etween us earlier today, either.' not into ra#e. .ut $' not

She turned the la # off, doused the fire and &y the light of her flashlight !rawled into the tent, 1inn on her heels. The tent had never see ed so s all nor 1inn so large. Nor, she thought honestly, #ulling off her so!"s, her own feelings so a &ivalent. Dragging her sweater over her head, she folded it for a #illow, then twisted to #la!e it at the head of her slee#ing&ag, the flashlight illu inating the tautness of her T-shirt a!ross her &reasts. A 'uality in the silen!e alerted her to what 1inn was seeing. .lushing s!arlet, she said in a strangled voi!e, ',oodnight,' and turned off the flashlight. .ut as she struggled with her &ush #ants in the dar"ness, then slid into her slee#ing-&ag, the e otion that #layed itself through her &ody was not fear, e &arrass ent or anger, or even se(ual frustration/nothing that she would have e(#e!ted. $t was !o #assion. 1or the loo" she had !aught, fleetingly, on 1inn's fa!e had &een that of a an in e(ile. A an who for a long ti e had &een &anished fro what his heart, at its dee#est level, !raved. She didn't understand the sour!e or the intensity of that loo". She did "now it was real. During the night the wind !hanged dire!tion, &ringing sunny s"ies and a tailwind the ne(t orning as Jenessa and 1inn #addled u# the la"e. The two #ortages were short and they were early rea!hing the #la!e she wanted to !a #, a s all #lateau on the &arrens edged with granite out!ro#s and low hills. 'To orrow we start out the day with a #ortage/short &ut stee#,' she said as they hauled the !anoe u# on the shore. 'There's a waterfall only a half a ile fro here !alled *s#rey 1alls5 you !an shower in it if you want.' While 1inn went off to loo" for wood, Jenessa #it!hed the tent in a !ir!le of )uni#ers whose feathery &ran!hes swayed gently in the &ree-e. She #lanned the evening eal and &uilt a fire #it and rolled over a !ou#le of ro!"s for her and 1inn to sit on, and still he hadn't !o e &a!". She !ouldn't hear the whine of the saw or the thwa!" of the a(e. 1rowning a little to herself, she ade her way through the )uni#ers and s#ru!e trees to the edge of the &arrens, treading soft-footed &y instin!t. She saw 1inn first. +e was !rou!hed on the fringe of the trees, ga-ing out over the &arrens, his hands loose on his "nees, his fa!e intent. The a(e was lying at his feet. With e('uisite !are she in!hed forward and saw what he was wat!hing/a s all herd of !ari&ou not fifty yards away, u#wind fro the , gra-ing on the li!hens. The stag was in his #ri e, his antlers swee#ing forward over his dar"-furred u--le and &a!" over his #ale, #owerful shoulders5 the !ows were slee" and healthy, their hooves !li!"ing as they ranged over the hu o!"s. ;ery slowly she san" down &eside 1inn, sensing hi ta"e in her #resen!e. The herd !a e !loser, until she !ould hear the ani als !hewing and see the se#arate hairs on the &ull's ruff and the li'uid dar"ness of his eye5 the sunlight glea ed on his flan"s. An hour #assed. The sun san" in the s"y, &athing the &arrens in a soft gold light. A flo!" of !hi!"adees foraged in the s#ru!e trees ne(t to 1inn, !hattering &a!" and forth to ea!h other. +igh in the s"y an eagle tra!ed &ig, la-y !ir!les, then slo#ed off into the hills. The !ari&ou had &een oving steadily to the south, and finally the last of the a &led out of sight. Easing out the stiffness in his "nees, 1inn got to his feet. +e s iled at Jenessa, his fa!e #ea!eful and unguarded. '.eautiful !reatures/$'ve never seen the so !lose &efore.' :They're in good sha#e this year.' 6a-ily he stret!hed his shoulders. '$ left a #ile of wood &a!" there in the &ushes... $'d &etter find so e ore.' 'No hurry,' she said tran'uilly. '$ love the &arrens5 you !an al ost hear the silen!e, !an't you3'

1inn hesitated. Then he said, '$' sorry a&out last night, Jenessa. 0ou stunned e when you "issed e in the alders... "no!"ed e sideways. So $ #ushed you too hard and got angry when you didn't !oo#erate. $ "new it at the ti e &ut $ !ouldn't see to sto#.' The last thing she had e(#e!ted fro hi was su!h a straightforward a#ology. '0ou're forgiven,' she said, and "new her lightly s#o"en words for the truth. +e hesitated again. '0ou're a virgin.' +er lashes fli!"ered. 'Ana!hronisti! of e, isn't it3' +is ga-e lingered over her sli figure, gilded &y the setting sun. 'Nothing's !hanged/$ still want you. .ut $ ight as well tell you that arriage has never &een in y &oo"s, any ore than falling in love has &een. They're not for e.' Jenessa had never thought they were for her, either. .ut until 1inn had "issed her yesterday she had so eti es wondered if she was ase(ual, so totally out of tou!h had she &een with that side of her nature. 0esterday she had dis!overed that she was not out of tou!h at all. So #erha#s love and arriage were no longer out of rea!h, any ore than se( was. .ut not love and arriage with 1inn. +e had )ust ade that very !lear. +er &row furrowed in thought. She had often wat!hed !ari&ou ate in the autu n out on the &arrens8 &rief, #owerful and instin!tual !ou#lings, ale )oining to fe ale with a natural and wild &eauty. 2ay&e that was what 1inn was to her. A ate. A ate who would then go his own way, and she hers, as was the way of the wilderness. Sunlight and shadow &arred his fa!e. Whi!h an was he3 The an she saw now, a #roud an, still reti!ent in his honesty.. .or the an she had seen last night, harsh, angry and de anding3 Trou&led, she ur ured, '$ "now so little a&out you.' +e ran his fingers along the green s#rings of a )uni#er, then loo"ed out over the &arrens and the gently rising hills. '$ own all this,' he said a&ru#tly. 'All the land we'll see in the two wee"s we're together/it's ine.' Again he had sur#rised her. With inherited it fro your grandfather.' at!hing honesty she said, '$ "now/2a! told e. 0ou

1inn gri a!ed. '0ou want e to "ee# it as a wildlife san!tuary. 2a! wants to &uy it as a hunting reserve. 1orestry !o #anies want it for the trees, and ining outfits for the inerals. $ was dead sure of one thing when $ !a e/$ didn't want it.' Dry- outhed, she said, 'And do you still feel that way3' +e said wryly, '$ never too" the ti e to wat!h tad#oles/or !ari&ou/until $ !a e here. Whatever that eans.' 2oving his shoulders restlessly, he added, '$' going to get ore wood &efore it gets dar".' '$'ll !arry &a!" what you found and start a fire.' +e led her through the trees to a tangled hea# of dead &ran!hes, hel#ing her load the in her ar s. Then, as she was standing there fully laden, he said, ',ot you, Jenessa,' leaned forward and "issed her, a "iss of leisurely and deli&erate sensuality. This ti e Jenessa "new what to e(#e!t and re!"lessly et hi halfway, their ouths !linging together for long o ents dining whi!h, for Jenessa at least, ti e see ed to sto#. When he finally oved &a!", she was tre &ling fro head to foot. %i!"ing u# the a(e, flashing her a s ile, 1inn said, 'See you later.'

$nfuriated, she de anded, 'A $ the only one who feels as if $'ve &een !harged &y a whole herd of !ari&ou3 That the sun's !o e out after si( wee"s of rain3' 'Darling Jenessa, if that #ile of wood weren't in the way, you'd "now #re!isely what you do to e. Don't &urn the su##er, will you3' 'Darling Jenessa'... 2outh hanging o#en, Jenessa stared after hi as he disa##eared through the trees. The wood was heavy. She trudged &a!" to the !a #site and started su##er.

4+A%TER N$NE T+E ne(t orning Jenessa wo"e at first light. There was not a &reath of wind. A hot, sunny day, she thought, &urying her fa!e in her slee#ing-&ag. 2os'uitoes. .la!"flies. Three #ortages. 2ay&e $'ll go &a!" to slee#... ',ood orning,' 1inn said. She raised her slee#-flushed fa!e, her hair tousled. +e was leaning on one el&ow wat!hing her with su!h o#en #leasure that her heart s"i##ed a &eat. '+ello,' she uttered, ru&&ing her eyes. 'What's on the agenda for today3' '$' going to have a 'ui!" shower at the waterfall. Then we should leave right after &rea"fast5 we've got 'uite a way to go today.' Today they would !o e within ten iles of the &oundary of what had on!e &een her father's #ro#erty. .ut she wasn't going to tell 1inn that. '$'ll go with you/to the waterfall, $ '$' ean.' going to shower,' she re#eated. '0ou !an't7' u!h to do with safety,' Jenessa said vigorously.

+is eyes dan!ing, he said, '4old water dis!ourages #assion/you'll &e 'uite safe.' '$ don't thin" this has 'Shower with a friend and save water.' 'An ad ira&le senti ent that doesn't a##ly to waterfalls.' 'We're wasting ti e arguing.' *#enly laughing at her, 1inn added, '$ ight get lost if $ try and find the waterfall on y own. And you shouldn't let e swi alone/$ &et &oth those rules are in the guide hand&oo".' A des#erate shyness was urging her to stay at the !a #site and have &rea"fast ready for 1inn when he !a e &a!" fro the waterfall. ,ra&&ing for her &ush #ants, Jenessa hauled the on inside her slee#ing-&ag, an a!tion she "new was truly silly when in ten inutes she ight &e stri##ing everything off in front of hi . She un-i##ered the &ag, gathered her toilet arti!les and !lean !lothes and said #eevishly, '6et's go.' A !learly de ar!ated ani al trail wound through the woods toward *s#rey 1alls. Jenessa led the way, wal"ing very fast, the roar of the waterfall growing louder and louder. The trail soon e erged &eside the #ool at the &ase of the falls. 1inn said softly, '+ow &eautiful...' At the far side of the #ool, fro a thirty-foot dro#, water swe#t over the &oulders, s#ewing white foa that was shot through with the deli!ate hues of a rain&ow. *n the near side ledges of ro!" s#lit and gentled the for!e of the water5 gra!eful ferns overhung a series of !as!ades as

white as snow. Tall fir trees en!losed the falls, #un!turing the de#thless &lue of the s"y5 the sa e &lue shi ered on the surfa!e of the #ool. $t was indeed &eautiful, as &eautiful as she re e &ered it. She said &rus'uely, '$' sur#rised you haven't had any offers fro the #ower !o #any. They !ould &uild a da here. 4on!rete and steel, right u# your alley.' 'Don't, Jenessa/not here.' 'What/a &usiness en letting senti ent get in the way of #rofits3' she o!"ed. going to 'Than"s for re inding e,' he retorted. 'Sin!e $ ha##en to own this waterfall, $' have a shower in it. 0ou !an do what you li"e.' '%ulling ran" on e, 1inn3' she flashed. doing. ,o &a!" to the !a # and a"e &rea"fast, why don't e.' '0eah, that's e(a!tly what $' you3'

Tossing her head, "nowing she was &ehaving disgra!efully, Jenessa said, '2a"e

+e advan!ed on her, #ulling his T-shirt out of the waist&and of his )eans, his outh a thin line. .efore he !ould tou!h her, she said in a rush, '$' s!ared to death5 that's why $' &eing so &it!hy.' 1inn sto##ed in his tra!"s. Then he ran his hands a!ross the width of her shoulders, where the us!les were &un!hed with tension. '$n a&out three inutes the os'uitoes are going to find us, and $ !an't i agine that a"ing love on a ro!"-ledge under a waterfall would &e an e(#erien!e you'd en)oy. 0ou're as safe as you !ould &e, Jenessa.' +is voi!e roughened. '$ guess this wasn't su!h a great idea. $ )ust want to see you na"ed, that's all.' Just, she thought !ra-ily. As if it were nothing at all. 'We have to get on that flat ledge that's level with the #ool,' she uttered. 'The water only dro#s a&out ten feet there.' With none of her usual agility she !rashed through the &ushes toward the ledge. When she !ould go no further without a!tually ste##ing on to the wet ro!", she turned to fa!e 1inn, as #ani!-stri!"en as an ani al at &ay. '$ !an't do this,' she wailed. '$' not so#histi!ated li"e the wo en in Ruth's &oo". $'ve never...' +er voi!e died away, &e!ause for on!e 1inn loo"ed at a loss. '0ou're terrified, aren't you3' he said flatly. '$ didn't ean to frighten you/it's the last thing $ wanted to do. $'ll have a 'ui!" swi in the #ool, then $'ll go &a!" and start &rea"fast while you shower... o"ay3' Ta"ing her silen!e for !onsent, he #ulled his T-shirt over his head and "i!"ed off his &oots. Then he un&u!"led his leather &elt and rea!hed for the -i##er on his )eans, his hand &rushing the white s!ar on his &elly. $ am running away, Jenessa thought. Running &e!ause this is un"nown territory and $ !an't guess its dangers. .ut if there are dangers, there ight also &e rewards. Do $ want to run fro the too3 Ta"ing a dee# &reath to give herself !ourage, she #ut her haversa!" on the ground and too" off her own &oots. Then she undid her &ush #ants and let the slide down her hi#s, ste##ing out of the . 1inn sei-ed her &y the wrist. 'Jenessa... what are you doing3' +e !ould see what she was doing, and he was not a stu#id said. an. '$'ve sto##ed running,' she

'0ou've got guts,' he said slowly. '2y ,od, you've got guts.' 2olding her shoulders in his hands, he "issed her #arted li#s, a &rief "iss that in its !areful la!" of de ands &oth a!"nowledged her fears and did its &est to allay the .

4onne!tion, Jenessa thought di ly. Tou!h. That was what she had needed. She wra##ed her ar s around 1inn's waist and rested her !hee" on his !hest, feeling the roughness of his &ody hair, already fa iliar to her, and the heavy #ounding of his heart. 'That feels &etter,' she said. +e #ushed her away a little so that he !ould see her fa!e and said with a !at!h of laughter, '$ wonder if $'ll ever &e a&le to anti!i#ate what you'll do ne(t3' Then, as naturally as if the two of the had done this any ti es &efore, he drew her T-shirt over her head. She hadn't &othered with a &ra. +er &reasts, s all, high-#ointed and fir , shone li"e sil" in the early orning light. 1inn said hus"ily, '0ou're ore &eautiful than $ !ould have i agined.' Standing a little taller, Jenessa said artlessly, 'Really3' 'Really.' ,rinning, he added, '+owever, a !old shower is definitely &e!o ing i #erative, and there's a os'uito hovering round your left ear. 6et's go.' With an ease she wouldn't have thought #ossi&le a few inutes ago, Jenessa slid out of her &i"ini #ants. 1inn's )eans and &riefs had )oined his T-shirt on the ground5 for a o ent, forgetting the os'uitoes and her own shyness, she ga-ed at hi in silen!e. +is &ruised ri&s and dee# !hest ta#ered to narrow hi#s and long legs i &ued with a lean strength. 1lushing a little, she saw that he did indeed need a !old shower. $t was one thing, she thought, to have seen #hotogra#hs of ,ree" s!ul#tures, another to have a an of flesh and &lood standing na"ed in front of her. +er green eyes very !lear, she said, '0ou're &eautiful, too.' Again, 1inn loo"ed ta"en a&a!". +e was not nor ally a an who la!"ed for words5 as if he needed ti e to !olle!t his thoughts, he sla##ed at a os'uito that had landed on his shoulder, then too" her &y the hand. .ut what he did say was #ure anti!li a(. ',ot your soa#3' She sto##ed to get the tu&e of soa# fro her haversa!" and followed hi out on to the ledge. The ro!" was sli##ery. She in!hed forward until the s#ray was stri"ing her ar . $t was !old. She gave a tiny shrie" of dis ay and tugged &a!" on 1inn's hand. '$t's free-ing7' +e was standing full under the water, whi!h had #lastered his hair to his s!al# and was running in rivulets down his !hest. Raising his voi!e over the !onstant roar of the falls, he said, '$t's invigorating. %ass e the soa#.' +e didn't loo" li"e a an eaten u# &y #assion. She wat!hed as he lathered his hair, the &u&&les sliding down his ri&s and hi#s in a way that se!retly fas!inated her. 2ay&e she was the one who needed the !old shower, she thought. Not 1inn. Then he fli!"ed his hair out of his eyes and #assed her the tu&e of soa#. 'Wash y &a!"3' Jenessa slathered her #al s with soa#. +is s"in felt !old as she s oothed the #lanes of his &a!" and tra!ed the long indentation of his s#ine to the taut &utto!"s. She didn't feel !old. She felt al ost faint with desire. +e turned round and saw her fa!e. *n!e again, Jenessa thought, he loo"ed as though the ground had shifted &eneath his feet, throwing hi off &alan!e. $n silen!e he too" the soa# fro her, s'uee-ed so e on his #al s, then let his hands slide over her &reasts, her waist and her hi#s5 she swayed toward hi and suddenly they were "issing ea!h other with raw hunger, o&livious to the dan!ing white s#ray and the sunlight glinting off then- wet, entwined &odies. When 1inn finally released her, the #ulse was ra!ing at the &ase of his throat and Jenessa was sha"ing. '0ou're !old,' he said hoarsely.

She shoo" her head, wordless. Stro"ing her ra#t fa!e, down whi!h dro#lets of water tri!"led li"e tears, 1inn uttered, 'We'd &etter go &a!"... you should dry your hair.' +e had done nothing she hadn't wanted hi to do, and he was saying, indire!tly, that this e#isode was over. That they would #ut on their !lothes, go &a!" to the !a #site and &egin the nor al routine of the day. Jenessa "new one thing with a&solute !ertainty8 she didn't want it to &e over. So ething that felt so right and so inevita&le should !ontinue to its natural !on!lusion5 she was sure of that. .ut what if he didn't feel the sa e way3 She said, '1inn, do you want to a"e love to e3' and felt her heart sla ing against her ri&s as she waited for his re#ly. +e lifted her fingers to his outh, "issing the one &y one. '$ want that ever wanted anything in y life,' he said roughly. '.ut----' ore than $'ve

+is fa!e, as unguarded as she had ever seen it, loo"ed as if he had )ust &een given a gift that he hadn't anti!i#ated re!eiving/a #erfe!t gift of in!o #ara&le value. Tou!hed to the heart, she said with atte #ted lightness, 'The tent would &e ore !o forta&le than here.' 'Are you sure a&out this3' '2ore sure than $'ve ever &een a&out anything.' Afterwards she was never entirely !lear how they got the selves and their !lothes &a!" to the !a #site. 1inn had wra##ed her in a towel5 she did re e &er that. And the first thing he did, after s#reading his slee#ing-&ag flat so that it was &ig enough for &oth of the , was to ru& her hair dry. She was "neeling &eside hi 5 when he had finished, he said so&erly, 'Are you still sure, Jenessa3' She too" the towel fro hi and s!ru&&ed at his s!al#, her &reasts &oun!ing5 stro"ing a da # strand &a!" fro his forehead, she rea!hed u# and "issed hi . +er li#s were !ool and tou!hingly ine(#erien!ed. .ut there was no ista"ing the #leasure she too" in the "iss, or her willingness to learn. +e drew her down on the slee#ing-&ag, throwing one thigh over hers as he gathered her into the !ir!le of his ar s. '$ want you always to re e &er the first ti e you ade love,' he said 'uietly. 'There's no need to &e frightened/$ wouldn't hurt you for the world.' +e was in so any ways a stranger to her, this &ig an with the dar" &lue eyes, yet Jenessa "new she trusted his words i #li!itly. As she lay there &eside hi , she was aware of hi setting hi self to #lease her, wat!hing her every res#onse, listening for the !at!h in her &reath, her first s all oan of #leasure, doing nothing until he was sure she was ready for it5 and all the while she herself was &eginning to learn the feel, the weight, the generosity and the lightning-swift res#onses that were his essen!e. She lost all tra!" of ti e and #la!e5 the only realities were the &urning heat of 1inn's &ody and the fier!e i #ulsions of her own. When he first let his fingers drift &etween her legs, #laying with her until she shuddered with delight, she !ried out his na e in sheer wonder ent, ar!hing toward hi in the oldest of invitations. She was as sli!" as if she were still i ersed in the waterfall5 he rea!hed for the s all foil #a!"et &eside the slee#ing-&ag, then guided hi self into her, his weight on one el&ow, his eyes wat!hful. Jenessa gave a tiny gas# of #ain, &iting her li#, and felt hi draw &a!". This whole e(#erien!e was new to her5 &ut she had sensed ore than on!e the iron !ontrol 1inn was e(erting over his own res#onses the &etter to #lease her. She said strongly, 'Now, 1inn/ #lease,' and oved her hi#s &eneath his with instin!tive, if un#ra!ti!ed s"ill. +e oved dee#er and she saw his fa!e !onvulse in that ingling of #ain and #leasure that had &een driving her further and further into the un"nown ever sin!e 1inn had first lain &eside

her. To &e filled &y hi suffused her with an ele ental hunger so new to her and so overwhel ing that she #ulled hi down on to# of her, 'uivering li"e a too taut wire. +is rhyth s &e!a e her rhyth s, drawing her !loser and !loser to the stor 's heart. 6etting go of everything &ut &lind need, she felt the rhyth s &e!o e her, gathering her and whirling her in a wild dan!e and then dro##ing her into the utter !al that was the very !enter. .ut that was not all. 1ro that !al she heard 1inn's harsh, ra#id &reathing and heard her na e flung fro his li#s as dee# within her his &ody found its own release. +e hung his head, gas#ing for air, his !hest heaving. There was a sheen of sweat on his forehead, and it was that one s all detail that filled Jenessa with a dee# and a&iding tenderness. She #ut her ar s round his shoulders. +is heart was ra!ing against her &reast, and as he oved on!e ore within her she held hi as !losely as she !ould. She had learned so u!h a&out hi , she thought. +e had given her the &est that was in hi 5 that she had &een afraid of hi earlier this orning now see ed a&surd. %erha#s a"ing love was a way of dis!overing what a an was really li"e. '1inn,' she whis#ered, her &reath wafting his !hee", 'than" you...' +e raised his head. 'Are you all right3' She gave a throaty !hu!"le. ';ery 'Never &etter.' As he levered so e of his weight off her, she !lut!hed hi to her. 'Don't go... not yet.' '$'d li"e to stay here forever,' 1inn said5 then his eyes widened as his words, with all their i #li!ations, stru!" ho e. The tenderness she had felt shifted to an e otion ore !o #le( and !o #elling, an e otion as dee# and ysterious as the #ool at the foot of the waterfall. 1inn was #art of her now, Jenessa thought with a s#ringing )oy. They !ould never wholly &e se#arated, no atter what ha##ened. She said in a rash, 'Do you "now what this was li"e for e3 $t's as though we swit!hed roles. 0ou guided e into a new territory. 0ou "new the way, $ didn't. $f you were in a hurry, $ never "new it, and if #erha#s there were #la!es you ight have wanted to go you held &a!" if you thought $'d li"e other #la!es &etter.' +er voi!e gathered strength. '0ou ade sure $ didn't stu &le over any ro!"s or fall off any !liffs. .ut, ore than that, you showed e all the &eauty there was to &e seen as we traveled together. Su!h &eauty as $ !ouldn't have i agined.' She had run out of words. +is eyes, so !lose to hers, were li"e dar" #ools the selves5 she had no idea what he was thin"ing. As he ru&&ed a hand a!ross his forehead she saw, with another of those #angs of e otion that see ed to elt her soul into tenderness, that his fingers were not 'uite steady. +e said in a voi!e new to her, '$/ than" you, Jenessa.' +is outh twisted. '0ou have this "na!" for "no!"ing e off &alan!e.' '$ don't ean to,' Jenessa said in 'ui!" distress. +e ran a finger the length of her lower h#. '$t's o"ay.' Then he added with a faint s ile that didn't 'uite rea!h his eyes, '.ut $ do have to ove.' As the heat of his &ody was lifted fro hers, she felt &ereft. Then he went outside, leaving her with e otions as tangled as a thi!"et of alders. What did this new tenderness ean3 Was it love3 *r gratitude3 *r, ore #rag ati!ally, se(ual satiation3 She had no e(#erien!e to fall &a!" on, no guidelines in this land where she and a an had )oined in the ost inti ate way #ossi&le. u!h so. And you3'

She also felt, she reali-ed, e(tre ely hungry. Dis!on!erted that su!h an ordinary !on!ern !ould o!!u#y her, she #ulled 1inn's slee#ing-&ag around her for !o fort. The tent fla# rustled and 1inn !rawled &a!" in. ?neeling &eside her, he said, '$t's ninethirty. We should get going.' 'We should,' she groaned. '$ !ould &ring you &rea"fast in &ed.' 'That's !ertainly not in the guide hand&oo".' She didn't want to get going. She wanted to stay and a"e love the whole day through. .ut 1inn had retreated fro her in a way she !ouldn't have defined &ut that was, nevertheless, very real. '*ne "iss, and $'ll get u#,' she added with la-y !hallenge. +e laughed. '0ou "now darn well if $ "iss you that we'll &e here all day. 4offee and oat eal for &rea"fast3' $t was on the ti# of her tongue to as" if it would &e so terri&le if they stayed all day. After all, he was the one who had said he would li"e to stay here forever. .ut her new vulnera&ility so ehow #re!luded the 'uestion. She wasn't, she thought honestly, ready to &e turned down. $t would hurt too u!h. +er lashes fli!"ered as her thoughts !arried her forward. Their love a"ing had &een earthshattering for her. .ut #erha#s 1inn, a!!usto ed to ore so#histi!ated #artners, had &een &ored. +is fingers had &een tre &ling5 he !ouldn't have &een &ored. Tre &ling fingers were a #hysi!al res#onse and 'Tea and oat eal for en were #hysi!al !reatures. e,' Jenessa said with an artifi!ial yawn. '$'ll &e right out.'

1inn had #ut on a #air of )eans while he'd &een outside. De!iding her nudity gave hi an unfair advantage, Jenessa "e#t the slee#ing-&ag tu!"ed under her !hin and waited while he #ut on a !lean shirt and found a #air of so!"s in his #a!". The sight of his lean fingers- fingers that had drawn fro her res#onses she hadn't "nown e(isted/#ulling the wool so!" over his foot filled her with a hel#less yearning. $' not in love with hi . $ !an't &e. $ !ouldn't have fallen in love )ust li"e that. S!ared that her fa!e ight give her away, she &urrowed into his slee#ing-&ag, and !aught fro it the elusive s!ent of his &ody. $ do love 1inn, she thought. $t's not logi!al and it doesn't a"e sense. .ut $ do. $t was a relief when he left the tent to start a fire. She got dressed 'ui!"ly, tidied u# their gear and dragged it outside, and &usied herself ta"ing the tent down. She dran" her tea and ate her oat eal li"e a wo an in a drea . .ut when 1inn a!!identally &u #ed into her as she was drying the dishes, the drea fell a#art. She loo"ed u# at hi , her green eyes li'uid with e otion. +e fro-e to the s#ot, still !lut!hing her el&ow. 'Jenessa, $/loo", there's no easy way to say this. Don't !onfuse se( with love/there's a &ig differen!e.' An a&yss had o#ened at her feet. Jenessa !roa"ed, '0ou '0eah... &ut $' 'We not in love with you.' ade love to e with feeling.'

ade love#' she re#eated des#erately. '+ow do $ se#arate the 3'

+is fa!e hardened. '$n ten days $'ll &e gone fro here. *ff to ;ene-uela. And you've got a fil !rew you're res#onsi&le for, and all your other !o it ents. *ur lives will #art/they have to. $ wouldn't have tou!hed you if $'d thought you hadn't understood that.'

Ruthless, she thought with a shiver. .ut how !ould su!h ruthlessness !oe(ist with the sensitivity with whi!h 1inn had initiated her into the a!t of love3 %erha#s the a!t of love had truly &een an a!t. '0ou !an't have inti a!y without feelings,' she !ried, and wondered who to !onvin!e, 1inn or herself. 'They're feelings of the 'They don't last3' 'They're real at the ti e. That doesn't 'Then we'd &etter get ean they have to go on forever.' '$ hate this !onversation,' Jenessa said in a low voi!e. oving... you said we had a long way to go today.' to. 'Now who's running3' she de anded, and &egan shoving the dishes in the Duluth #a!". 1inn didn't answer. Not that she had e(#e!ted hi She had learned so ething else &y didn't love her. a"ing love with 1inn, she thought unha##ily8 that he o ent,' 1inn said. she was trying

4+A%TER TEN JENESSA'S #redi!tions when she had first wo"en that orning turned out to &e all too a!!urate. $t was a hot, windless day and the flies/in!luding the vora!ious stouts/were out in droves. Des#ite that, she and 1inn ade good ti e. They #ortaged u# the side of the waterfall, neither one of the referring to what had ha##ened there5 they travelled a !hain of three la"es, their &lades sli!ing the water in su!h #erfe!t unison that the !anoe oved swiftly over the s#ar"ling &lue water. They ate lun!h as they went and tal"ed al ost not at all. Whi!h gave Jenessa far too u!h ti e to thin". They rea!hed the !a #site well &efore sunset. She had &een there twi!e with her father and Ryan, and it had !hanged very little. The la"e was still edged &y tall grasses that rustled in the slightest &ree-e5 flo!"s of &la!" du!"s and green-winged teal &urst into the air at their a##roa!h, wings whi!"ering. Trout were )u #ing for flies, leaving little !ir!les of ri##les on the #la!id water. As soon as they had landed, Jenessa said, '$' going to see if $ !an !at!h our su##er.' 1inn nodded. '$'ll set u# the tent and loo" for wood.' She landed two fine s#e!"led trout in short order. 1inn then stri##ed to his shorts and dived into the la"e, and as she !leaned the fish she wat!hed hi swi to the nearest island and &a!", his &ody sli!ing through the water with #re!ision and fier!e energy. The energy of se(ual frustration &e!ause he "new he wasn't going to again3 *r the energy of re orse that he had3 a"e love with her

2i(ing tea-&is!uit dough with a&sent- inded s"ill, she wondered why, if she'd waited until the age of nearly twenty-si( to fall in love, she'd !hosen a an as diffi!ult and ina!!essi&le as 1inn. The ain reason she'd gone out with 2a! had &een his suita&ility8 the

sa e o!!u#ation and s"ills and &a!"ground. .ut she'd never &een in any danger of falling in love with 2a!. *h, no, she'd waited for 1inn 2arston, who lived anywhere fro $ndonesia to ;ene-uela and didn't want anything to do with love and arriage. 1inn waded into shore, fli##ing his wet hair out of his eyes and hit!hing at the waist&and of his shorts. +er flour-!oated hands went sla!". She ust &e in love8 she was hurting too u!h for it to &e anything else. .y the ti e he'd dressed and hung u# his wet towel, Jenessa was #re#aring wild ri!e to go with the trout fillets. 'Su##er will &e half an hour,' she said. '$f you wal" along the shore, you ight see the river otters/ they have tunnels in the &an" further down.' '*"ay, $'ll do that.' She !ouldn't &ear hi near her and she was furious with hi for leaving. +ow's that for logi!3 she thought #ettishly, #utting the #ot of ri!e on to &oil and rea!hing for the a(e to s#lit ore wood. 1orty-five inutes later the fillets were fried to a #in", !ris# #erfe!tion, the tea &is!uits had risen lightly in the #an and the ri!e was stea ing in the #ot. 1inn, however, hadn't !o e &a!". $t had &een a very long day for Jenessa, &eginning in &liss and #lu eting to isery, and &riefly she !onte #lated eating without hi . .ut then her training reasserted itself. 1inn wouldn't alar her &y #ur#osely &eing late. %erha#s he was a&sor&ed in wat!hing the otters and had forgotten the ti e. She !arefully #ushed the frying #an to the edge of the grill and headed out along the shore. The s"y was ri&&ed with gold and a#ri!ot5 the trees were gathering the dar"ness into the selves. A #air of loons wailed &a!" and forth &ehind the island, their eerie !ries the very voi!e of the wilderness. $f she shouted 1inn's na e, she ight frighten the 5 sure-footed, she followed an old oose trail along the la"e's edge, longing for the tran'uility that su!h &eauty nor ally &rought her. As she rea!hed an untidy !lu # of s#ru!e trees that had &een sa#lings the last ti e she saw the , she sighted the otters swi ing offshore, leaving ;-sha#ed wa"es on water dau&ed with gold and a#ri!ot and #alest &lue. Although they were &ig, thi!"set ani als, they wove a&ove and &elow the surfa!e with a slee", sinuous gra!e. They loo"ed a&solutely at ho e, she thought. $t was hard not to &elieve that they were ha##y. To her !onsternation Jenessa reali-ed she was !rying, slow tears that hung on her lashes and !re#t down her !hee"s. <ntil yesterday she had &een li"e the otters, doing what was ost natural to her in an environ ent that was ho e. .ut yesterday had fra!tured all that she had #reviously ta"en for granted. A twig sna##ed and the s#ru!e &ran!hes rustled as so eone #ushed against the . $t was, of !ourse, 1inn. +e had &een wal"ing hard along the trail and &arely sto##ed hi self fro !annoning into her. +e was &eing so !areful not to tou!h her, she thought &itterly, and dashed at her eyes. 'Su##er's ready,' she said, and stared straight at hi , refusing to a!"nowledge her tears. A us!le twit!hed in his )aw. '$ was wat!hing the otters and forgot the ti e,' he said for ally. They ar!hed &a!" to the !a # in single file. The trout fillets were deli!ious. ,a-ing into the fla es, Jenessa re e &ered the five-#ound trout her father had !aught the last ti e they were here5 Ryan had fried it in a !run!hy whole-wheat &atter and had told than tall tales a&out &ears as the fire had died to a #it of glowing e &ers... s!ar!ely an hour after she'd gone to &ed she'd had a lurid night are a&out &eing torn to #ie!es &y a huge &la!" &ear.

$t was dar" &y the ti e they'd eaten. Jenessa lit the #ro#ane la # and said tersely, '$'ll !lean u#.' 1inn too" out a &oo"/a te!hni!al anual to do with oil rigs, she noti!ed5 no novels for 1inn/and #ro##ed hi self u# to read. When she'd finished the dishes, she wandered down to the shore. The !lustered stars loo"ed !old and distant, the thin sliver of oon false in its #ro ise. The te #erature was dro##ing fast and the air stru!" !hill on her fa!e. She wal"ed &a!" toward the fire, #i!"ed u# her &oo" and tried to !on!entrate on intrigues and e otions that eant nothing to her. 1inally 1inn stood u#. '$' going to !all it a day,' he said. '$ want to finish this !ha#ter,' Jenessa re#lied with !o #lete untruth, not loo"ing u#. She sensed hi wat!hing her. Every nerve in her &ody s!rea ing with tension, she fli##ed a #age. Then he turned away, too" off his &oots in the vesti&ule of the tent and !rawled inside. She wasn't going anywhere near that tent until he was aslee#, she de!ided gri ly, and added another log to the fire, wat!hing the s#ar"s whirl u# into the dar"ness, wishing she were ten years old again, wishing she were anywhere &ut where she was. The log &urned down5 she added another and then another. The oon !li &ed in the s"y. A horned owl &ar"ed on the other side of the la"e, and fro the faraway hills a se!ond owl answered it. Although Jenessa was tired and !raved slee#, her nerves were twit!hing and the thought of lying in the tent listening to 1inn's slow &reathing was ore than she !ould !onte #late. She drifted into a da-e, al ost hy#noti-ed &y the thro&&ing orange heart of the fire. +er head fell forward to her !hest. Jer"ing herself u#right, she thought, This is !ra-y5 $ !an't stay u# all night... and heard, fro the tent, a an's voi!e !ry out in anguish, 'No...no7' The hairs rose on the &a!" of her ne!". $t was 1inn5 he was drea ing. She rose and too" two 'ui!" ste#s toward the tent. Then, although it went against every instin!t in her &ody, she retreated and san" &a!" on the ro!" again. 1inn didn't want her hel#. Didn't want it or need it. +e had ade that all too !lear. She thrust a log on to the fire. As the fla es !aught at it greedily, 1inn &lundered out of the tent, &lin"ing in the orange light. +e was na"ed save for his &riefs, and for a o ent, at the sight of her, na"ed sho!" showed in his fa!e. $n a voi!e ras#y with slee# he de anded, 'What are you doing u#3 $ thought you were aslee#.' '$'ve &een reading.' $n o#en !hallenge Jenessa added, '0ou had a &ad drea .' A shudder ran through his &ody. Wanting hi , hating hi , yearning to !o fort hi , she #la!ed another !hun" of &ir!h in the iddle of the fla es and said, 'Why don't you #ut so e !lothes on, 1inn, and then tell e a&out it3 $t's #retty hard to #retend nothing's wrong when for two wee"s we're sharing the sa e slee#ing #la!e.' 4ongratulations, Jenessa, she thought drily, you didn't say we're slee#ing together. She wat!hed as 1inn !rossed &arefooted to the fire and !rou!hed down &eside her. 'Why, Jenessa3' he said with dangerous 'uietness. 'Why do you want to "now3' She &lan"ed out the al ost overwhel ing need to #ut her hand on his shoulder. 'That's twi!e you've wo"en with a night are. When $ was little if $ had a &ad drea $'d tell y dad a&out it, and it never see ed 'uite so s!ary afterwards.' '$ have trou&le seeing you as a father su&stitute.' 'Red herring, 1inn.'

'0ou're so right.' +e glowered at her. 'So who do you tal" to now when you have a night are3' 'No one...!an you i agine Ryan doling out sy #athy &e!ause you had a &ad drea 3' $n s#ite of hi self 1inn s iled, the firelight glan!ing over his fa!e. 'Not really... $'ll &e right &a!".' She #ut a #ot of water on to &oil and gathered the a"ings for tea. 1inn !a e &a!" out, shoving his shirt into his waist&and. Without eeting her eyes, he sat down ne(t to her, too" a dee# &reath and said ra#idly, 'Three years ago a young fellow !a e to wor" for e/ Ji .utler. $ li"ed hi fro the start. +e was intelligent and strong and he had that si(th sense that's invalua&le &ut that you !an't instill in #eo#le who don't have it.' +is voi!e slowed. 'We don't have &ig !rews at &lowouts, and you s#end a lot of ti e together... $/$ guess Ji &e!a e the "id &rother $ never had.' 6ost in e ory, he ga-ed into the fire. 'We were wor"ing in horrendous !onditions at a gas-well &lowout last A#ril/it had &een out of !ontrol for nearly a onth. ,asoline everywhere, one s#ar" and the whole thing would have gone s"y-high. Deafening noise. 1ree-ing te #eratures. And hydrogen sulfide gas that's lethal over seven hundred #arts #er illion.' +e shifted on the ro!". 'Ji inhaled the hydrogen sulfide. Died instantly.' '$' so sorry...' Jenessa said hel#lessly, wishing she were wiser, sear!hing for so ething to say that wouldn't sound &anal. '$t should have &een e. Not hi .' Sho!"ed, she &lurted, '+ow !an you say that3' As if he were e(#laining the o&vious, 1inn said, '+e was a lot younger. +e had a girlfriend. +e had all "inds of #ossi&ilities ahead of hi .' 6i"e a hunter who "new the #rey was round the ne(t &end in the trail, Jenessa was a!utely aware of &eing very !lose to the ystery that was 1inn. Treading !arefully, she said, 'There's nothing ahead for you3' '$'ve already told you $' '0ou haven't told not into love and arriage and raising "ids,' he said i #atiently. e why, though.'

6ifting the lid fro the #ot of &oiling water, 1inn threw two tea &ags in. '$n the drea $ "now what's going to ha##en to hi , and $' trying to get to hi to warn hi . .ut he !an't hear e over the noise, and y &oots are ired in ud and gas so $ "ee# sli##ing and falling....' +is s ile was irthless. '$f $' lu!"y, $ wa"e u# then. $f not, $ see hi fall and $ "now $' too late.' 1orgetting all that had ha##ened in the last twenty- four hours, Jenessa rested her hand on 1inn's wrist with the si #le desire to !o fort hi . '$' sorry Ji 's dead. .ut it wasn't your fault.' With his other hand he tra!ed a &lue vein a!ross the &a!" of her hand. '$t should have &een e,' he re#eated. fro Everything that Jenessa's life had stood for negated that state ent. She said, s#ea"ing a de#th she hadn't "nown she #ossessed, '4o e to &ed with e, 1inn. Now.'

+is eyes, dar" as night, see ed to loo" straight into her soul. '.e!ause we're alive and he's dead...'

'$ wish we !ould !hange that/&ut we !an't.' She &it her li#, feeling his wrist war &eneath her fingers. '$ !an't e(#lain it5 $ don't have the words. $t's not the ti e for words/$ )ust want to &e !lose to you.' +e stood u#, #ulling her to her feet. S o"e swirled around the . The owl hooted, !loser this ti e, and the river grasses whis#ered se!retively in the dar"ness. ?ee#ing one of her hands !las#ed in his, 1inn led her to the tent. +e s#read his slee#ing-&ag flat. Then they fell on ea!h other, dis!arding their !lothes with franti! haste until &are flesh lay against &are flesh, war th against war th, #ulse against #ulse, in an affir ation of all it eant to &e alive. That was how it &egan for Jenessa. .ut this was 1inn whose &ody was wra##ed around hers, who /wisely or unwisely/she loved. With innate generosity, and !alling u#on everything she had learned fro hi the first ti e they had ade love, she o#ened to hi as if she were one of the water lilies whose #etals s#read to the sun. With her li#s and hands she roa ed his &ody with a freedo that last ti e she had &een too shy to !lai . 2ade even &older &y the di , fli!"ering light fro the fire, she gras#ed the thro&&ing !enter of his aleness, then straddled hi and let herself &e i #aled u#on it. As she leaned forward, a!hingly aware of the e!stasy of &eing filled &y hi , he too" her &reasts in his hands, stro"ing the until waves of #leasure &ro"e over her. Then, ta"ing her &y the hi#s, he oved strongly within her. $t was a fier!e and #ri itive love a"ing, without words or the need for the . Jenessa at!hed hi gift for gift and de and for de and, and when their rhyth s fused into a single wave that tu &led and &ro"e on the shore she "new that that syn!hroni!ity had &een inevita&le fro the start. The harsh #anting she !ould hear was her own. +er own and 1inn's, )oined. She !urved over his &ody, !olla#sing on to# of hi , and as his ar s wra##ed around her, holding her !lose, she gave a dee# sigh of re#letion. Within se!onds she was aslee#. And if 1inn stayed awa"e, war ed &y her weight as he stared u# at the roof of the tent, she never "new that. Daylight !a e soon. Too soon for Jenessa. She lay still, feeling 1inn's &reath stir her hair. +er &a!" was !urled into his !hest and she wanted to stay there forever. Although he was sound aslee#, she reali-ed with inward a use ent that he was very ready to ravish her. Whi!h would not, she ad itted to herself, &e at all against her wishes. At so e #oint in the night he had ta"en her slee#ing- &ag and s#read it over the two of the . She #ulled it u# to her !hin. She didn't want 1inn to wa"e u#. Would he regret what they had done3 Would he #ush her away, as he had yesterday3 She !ould wait for those answers, she thought, and let her lashes drift to her !hee"s. $t see ed only inutes later that 1inn stirred &eside her and Jenessa was awa"e again. .ut &y the loo" of the sun at least an hour had #assed. She stret!hed with la-y gra!e, lay &a!" against his !hest and loo"ed over her shoulder at hi . ',ood orning.' +e said 'ui--i!ally, '0ou loo" very #leased with yourself.' She loved the ras# of his &ody hair against her &are &a!". '$ !ould get used to this,' she said with an i #udent grin. 'What's for &rea"fast3' '6et's !all Roo Servi!e.' '$'ll have fresh #a#aya )ui!e with al ond !roissants and 4olo &ian !offee,' she said #ro #tly. '6ots of whi##ed !rea on the !offee.'

'No straw&erries in !ha #agne3 No o elet with fresh !hanterelles3 4o e on, Jenessa, live a little.' She loved it when he laughed. Twisting to fa!e hi , she said with need a shave.' '0ou tal" too u!h,' he growled, and !losed her outh with a "iss. ur ured, 'Add eggs $t was a very !o #rehensive "iss. 4at!hing her &reath, Jenessa hollandaise.' o!"-sternness, '0ou

'Don't li"e 'e .' $n the sa e voi!e he added, 'Do you have any idea what we're doing here3' 'En)oying ourselves3' she suggested, running her fingers down his ri&s. 'A#art fro 'No. .ut feels right.' that, Jenessa,' he said wryly. ay&e we shouldn't worry a&out it right now. 2ay&e we should )ust go with what

4a#turing her hand, he said, '$f we do that, we'll &e here all day.' She said #ertly, 'Sounds good to e.' +e &uried his fa!e in the soft line of her throat. '$ ight &e every "ind of a fool, &ut $ thin" we should get on our way. $ need to get to the su er house, Jenessa5 it's i #ortant to e.' 'So there's a reason you're so i #atient,' Jenessa said thoughtfully. '$t's not )ust that you're a ty#i!al &usiness an who's always in a hurry.' 'Right,' he said with a tou!h of irony. 'Although $' '$ noti!ed.' 'So eti es you noti!e too u!h.' '$'ve noti!ed that your ri&s loo" &etter,' she re ar"ed. +e lifted his head. '$ didn't tell you the whole story last night... there was a se'uel to Ji 's death.' %laying with the he of the slee#ing-&ag, he went on, '$ went to his funeral, did everything $ !ould for his fa ily- then $ went &a!" to wor". $ndonesia this ti e. +eat and hu idity li"e you wouldn't &elieve, and all "inds of te!hni!al hit!hes. .ut $ !ouldn't get hi off y ind. So $ got !areless/ ade a ista"e $'d have fired anyone else for and that !ould have had disastrous results. 6u!"ily $ was the only one who got hurt. .ut it sure #ut a s!are in e... Jonah, who's y se!ond-in-!o and and who's &een with e for years, told e flat out that $'d &etter ta"e so e ti e off. When Jonah tal"s that way, $ listen. Whi!h is why $ !a e to Newfoundland in the first #la!e.' '0ou told e you hadn't had a holiday for five years...' '$ haven't had a #ro#er &rea" in the last ten/sin!e $ started the !o #any. $t's a !o #etitive field and $ wanted y !o #any to &e one of the &est.' +e shrugged. '$'ve wondered in the #ast few wee"s if $ shouldn't ta"e ore of an ad inistrative role and leave Jonah in !ontrol of the field wor"5 he's very !a#a&le. .ut $'d #ro&a&ly iss the e(!ite ent.' :The edge of danger,' Jenessa said shrewdly. :There's nothing li"e the silen!e that falls when you !a# a &lowout,' 1inn said. '$t's tre endously satisfying wor", and yeah, it's dangerous. .ut there are dangers in what you do, Jenessa. $ wat!hed you go down the ra#ids. And you !ould &e in &ad trou&le if you wal"ed headlong into a &ear.' that, too.'

'$ sur#rised one on!e,' she !onfessed. '$ was alone, too. This &ear and $ stared at ea!h other for what was #ro&a&ly five se!onds and felt li"e a lifeti e. $t too" two ste#s toward e, sniffed the air, then shuffled off the other way. .ut it's only ha##ened on!e in all the years $'ve &een in the woods.' 'We &oth love our )o&s,' he said. +is words hung in the air. Don't get atta!hed to e, was that the warning3 she wondered. *r was it a si #le state ent of fa!t and she was &eing overly sensitive3 She said, '$ wouldn't give u# ine for anything.' +is lashes fli!"ered. Starting to #ull on his !lothes, he said, 'Why are !orner and y so!"s in another3' y )eans in one

+e was deli&erately side-ste##ing the !hallenge she had thrown at hi . '.e!ause we were &oth in a hurry last night,' Jenessa said, her voi!e uffled as she #ulled her sweatshirt over her head. '$ didn't drea so e of the things you did to e3' 'Des!ri&e than and $'ll tell you,' she re#lied naughtily. 1inn !hu!"led. '$ ight e &arrass &oth of us.' Then, as he rea!hed into his #a!" for a !lean T-shirt, he added in another voi!e altogether, '2y ,od, Jenessa/we were in so u!h of a hurry last night, $ didn't ta"e any #re!autions. +ow in hell !ould $ have forgotten3 $'ve never done that &efore.' She didn't want to &e re inded that there had &een other wo en in his life. Sounding artifi!ial even to her own ears, she said, '$ didn't even thin" a&out it.' 'Then you'd &etter start/the last thing $ need is a #regnant wo an on Suddenly furious, she said, '0ou don't have to worry on loo" after yself. And the &a&y.' y hands.' y a!!ount. $f $ get #regnant, $'ll

+er !hee"&ones were flushed with anger. +e too" in the &rilliant green of her eyes and the sli length of her legs as she yan"ed on her &ush #ants. 'Ryan notwithstanding,' he said, '$ sus#e!t you've often had to loo" after yourself.' 'Don't you go feeling sorry for '.y e. Where the dev!l are y so!"s3' y #illow,' 1inn said &landly, #assing than to her. '+ow did they get there, Jenessa3'

She !ould re e &er in gra#hi! detail e(a!tly how they got there. S!arlet-!hee"ed, she snat!hed than fro hi and u &led, ',o a"e straw&erries in !ha #agne. *r sli!e the #a#aya. Just get out of y hair7' +e twea"ed a strand of it, o#enly laughing at her. '$ !an't i agine &eing &ored with you,' he said. 'Would you &e satisfied with oat eal3' 6etting her eyes wander the length of his &ody, she said sweetly, 'The longer $ s#end with you, the ore e(oti! y tastes are &e!o ing. *at eal see s #retty &oring.' 'At the ris" of sounding !on!eited, $ !ould give you so ething that wouldn't &ore you. .ut you'll have to wait until tonight.' +e grinned at her, &a!"ing out of the tent. '$n the eanti e $'ll add raisins and a##le to the oat eal.' Jenessa, left alone, dis!overed that #ara ount a ong the fer ent of e otions in her &reast was ha##iness. She &rushed her hair, too" out her tooth&rush and tooth#aste and went outside.

4+A%TER E6E;EN $T SEE2ED as though nature had !ons#ired to give Jenessa and 1inn a #erfe!t day. The sun shone fro a !loudless s"y, the &ree-e was )ust enough to "ee# the flies away, and they saw two oose, five !ari&ou and a #air of golden eagles. Their !a #site was on a s all island with a white, sandy &ea!h. They swa , they ade love &efore su##er and again when they went to &ed, and as Jenessa drifted off to slee# in the !ir!le of 1inn's ar s she reali-ed she had never "nown &efore what #erfe!t ha##iness was. She wo"e at dawn. 1inn had turned away fro her in the night5 she rested her !hee" against the s ooth #lane of his &a!" and felt a "not of tension in the #it of her sto a!h. She "new e(a!tly why it was there. Their !a #site tonight was less than two iles fro her father's log house, the house where she had lived until she was thirteen. She wanted to !a # early enough so that she !ould go and see it. Was she going to tell 1inn her #lan3 Did she want hi to go with her3 *r was she &etter to go on her own3 The solidity and war th of 1inn's &a!" see ed to o!" her. 0es, he and she had ade love and fallen aslee# in ea!h other's ar s, &ut they had not on!e tal"ed a&out their feelings for ea!h other as they'd lain together5 in the a!t of love they had e(!hanged no words of love. And why did she "ee# ho#ing that they would3 1or 1inn their affair was very u!h one of the o ent. +e had told her as u!h. $f she shared the visit to her father's house with hi , she was revealing a huge #art of herself. And for what3 With the uns#o"en wish that he would do the sa e3 +e had ta"en/and she was &eginning to hate the word/#re!autions last night. Why was he so dead-set against falling in love3 4ould it &e anything at all to do with his i #atien!e to get to the su er house where his other had died3 Too any 'uestions, she reali-ed, and not enough answers. Easing her &ody away fro 1inn's, she gathered u# her !lothes, not &othering with a swi suit, and hurried down to the la"e to have a swi . 4louds da##led the s"y and the wind had shifted5 there would &e rain &efore evening. She swa &a!" and forth for #erha#s ten inutes, !hurning u# the water in a futile effort to dissolve the tension in her &elly, then headed for the shore. 1inn was standing at the la"e's edge with one hand &ra!ed against the tru!" of a silver &ir!h, wat!hing her. Although the "not in her sto a!h tightened at the sight of hi , she loo"ed outwardly !o #osed as she #i!"ed her way a ong the ro!"s and &ent for her towel. Dro#lets of water tri!"led down her &ody. +e said harshly. '$ "now you so well and yet $ "now nothing a&out you.' '$ don't thin" you want to.' '$t's &etter that $ don't7' he said violently. '.etter for &oth of us, Jenessa.' So she had her answer. She would go alone to the log house &e!ause 1inn didn't want any ore of her than he already had. She said !oolly, '$'d really #refer that you not s#ea" for e, 1inn,' and started #ulling on her !lothes over her da # s"in. '0ou never let u#, do you3' he said un#leasantly.

0esterday she'd &een !onvin!ed that su!h #erfe!t ha##iness &y its very nature had to last. She'd &een a fool. 'Do we have to start the day off &y fighting3' she &la-ed. She hauled her sweater over her head and stal"ed #ast hi , her wet towel dangling fro her hand. +is answer was to swing her round &y the el&ow and "iss her full on the li#s. As his outh oved against hers his rage and hunger were !learly to &e read, &ut &eneath the Jenessa would have sworn there was des#eration. She #ulled free, not wanting that "nowledge. $f he was to &e the ene y, then let hi &e that and nothing else. She !ouldn't !o#e with his a &ivalen!e any ore than she !ould handle her own seesawing e otions. 6oathing how #etty she sounded, she sna##ed, '$ do wish you'd shave &efore you "iss and ar!hed toward the tent. e,'

She ade &lue&erry &anno!" for &rea"fast, along with sli!es of fresh orange and stea ing hot !offee. As they sat on o##osite sides of the !a #fire, 1inn ate in silen!e, although it was the silen!e of thought rather than of anger. Adding sugar to his ug, he said une(#e!tedly, 'Do you "now what $ li"e a&out you3' Jenessa nearly !ho"ed on her !offee. Su##ressing a re#ly that verged on the o&s!ene, she uttered, '$ !an't i agine.' '0ou don't give u#. 0ou don't dissolve into tears when $' angry, or #retend you're feeling fine when you're feeling lousy. And you're a real fighter/you give as good as you get5 $ li"e that.' +is s ile was !roo"ed. '%lus, of !ourse, you're a su#erlative !oo".' 'Why do we have to fight at all3' she &urst out. 'When $ figure out the answer to that one, $'ll let you "now. Want so e ore !offee3' She held out her ug. $f she were a fighter, wouldn't she invite 1inn to go to her father's house with her3 :There's ore &anno!",' she said #olitely. '$t won't "ee#.' They were on the water &y nine, and at eleven-thirty it started to rain. They #ut on their rain gear, sna!"ed on !heese and !ra!"ers and "e#t #addling. A Stillwater led into the ne(t la"e. Along its eandering shores #ur#le asters and golden rod were assed a ong the fluffy #in" flowers of #ye weed5 lily #ads s!ra#ed the underside of the !anoe. .e!ause the water was shallow and they were traveling slowly, they sur#rised a &eaver swi ing toward its lodge of #iled sa#lings5 the warning sla# of its tail was li"e the !ra!" of a &ullet. Around the ne(t &end du!"lings were #ee#ing in the reeds as raindro#s s#lashed an a!!o #ani ent on the water. The se!ond la"e was si( iles long and the wind had freshened. Jenessa was #in"-!hee"ed with e(ertion &y the ti e they rea!hed the far end, where she #lanned to !a #. The eadows that had &een there thirteen years ago were now dotted with deli!ate young )uni#ers and s'uat s#ru!e trees5 when she finally found a flat area where they !ould an!hor the tar#, i #atien!e was tugging at her nerves. .e!ause they had eaten very little lun!h, she had an e(!use for an early su##er. She re!onstituted a #a!"age of dried stroganoff, with a##le #an!a"es for dessert5 as soon as they had eaten, she said to 1inn, 'Do you ind !leaning u#3 $ need to stret!h y legs... That's the trou&le with !anoeing/great for the &i!e#s &ut no good for the ha strings.' While she'd tried very hard to sound !asual, she wasn't at all sure she'd su!!eeded5 she should have ade a ha&it of going for an evening wal", she thought, angry with herself for not #lanning ore ade'uately in advan!e. 1inn shot her a "een glan!e. '0ou e(er!ised this orning when you swa .' y )o& is 4ursing herself for ta"ing that swi , Jenessa answered lightly, 'A &ig #art of "ee#ing fit. $ won't &e that long, o"ay3'

Ta"ing his silen!e for !onsent, she got u#, #ulled on her rain )a!"et and wal"ed #ur#osely away fro the !a # through the )uni#er trees. 1ortunately the rain had let u# a little, otherwise he ight have &een even ore sus#i!ious of her sudden desire for e(er!ise. As the taller trees envelo#ed her, she ris"ed a 'ui!" loo" &a!" over her shoulder. 1inn was still sitting &y the fire, his hands !u##ing his ug, his ga-e trained on her. She gave a little wave, oved out of sight and lengthened her stride. $t was a four- ile round tri# and she wanted to s#end so e ti e at the house when she got there. Rain hung li"e teardro#s on the #lu ed &oughs of the )uni#ers, and the s#ringy &ran!hes of la &"ill whi##ed at her "nees. The ani al trail she was following wasn't the ost dire!t route to the !ove where she had lived, &ut it was easier than #loughing through the undergrowth. *!!asionally ta"ing out her !o #ass to !he!" her &earings, she strode on. The "not in her sto a!h now felt as &ig as a &oulder. She shouldn't have eaten so u!h stroganoff. .ut her a##etite was nor ally good, and 1inn would have wondered if she'd only #i!"ed at her food. A ro&in flew away in a whirr of wings. A whis"ey)a!" s!rea ed at her fro the to# of a &ir!h tree. She !a e to the &ig ro!" where she had often drea ed away a su er afternoon as a !hild, then a ong the #ointed s#ru!e trees on the hori-on saw the tall, twisted trun" of the dead #ine that stood only a hundred feet fro her father's log house. +er heart&eat 'ui!"ened5 #i!"ing u# s#eed, she darted along the trail. To her ears !a e the &ur&le of the &roo" that !ir!led the #ine &efore it e #tied into the !ove. The &roo" had long &een one of her i aginary #lay ates, for she had grown u# without the !o #any of other !hildren. Where there had on!e &een a !leared #ath along the &roo" there was now a tangle of alders. Not !aring how u!h noise she ade, Jenessa #ushed her way through it. The &roo" itself hadn't !hanged5 with a lea# of re!ognition she saw the oss-!overed ro!" where warty &rown toads had always lived, and &elow it the #ool where on!e she had sur#rised a !ow oose with her day- old !alf. The &roo" s#read itself over the stones on the shoreline of the !ove. The la"e hadn't !hanged either, she thought. The islands were the sa e, one sha#ed li"e the rounded &a!" of an otter, the other &lunt-nosed as a turtle. The !hain of &la!" ro!"s where she had learned to swi was the sa e as well. Al ost with relu!tan!e ho- eyes traveled along the line of ro!"s toward the swee# of sandy &ea!h a&ove whi!h her father had &uilt his house. She wanted to see s o"e rising fro the !hi ney, she thought with #ainful truth. She wanted to hear the ring of her father's a(e in the wood#ile and the e!ho of her own voi!e !alling hi in for dinner. She wanted that to &e the sa e, too. +er &row furrowed in #u--le ent. She !ouldn't see the house. +ad the trees grown so u!h that it was hidden fro view3 They ust have, although years ago her father had !ut down all the a#les that had restri!ted his view of the la"e. She started running along the shore, her &oots s"idding on the sli##ery stones then sin"ing in the sand, and the thud of her heart in her ears was li"e the thud of a dull a(e on wet wood. She was !loser now. The ossy roof, the stone !hi ney, the rounded logs so neatly not!hed at the !orners... none of the was there. 1ranti!ally she !la &ered u# the &an" &etween the two )uni#ers that she had #lanted when she was seven/and sto##ed dead. The house had &een &urned to the ground. With a whi #er of dis&elief she saw !harred, rotting logs lying end over end5 a few still !lung to the !orner #osts, light shining through their angled ri&s. She !re#t !loser. There,

s#lit &y the heat, was the &la!"ened doorfra e5 shattered glass fro the windows lay in dia ond- sha#ed #ie!es a ong the logs. *nly the !hi ney, &uilt of ro!", stood inta!t. 6ightning... the house had &een stru!" &y lightning. Then, li"e a &low to the !hest, she reali-ed what was issing. There was no sign of any of the furniture, of the &oo"s that had lined the walls, of the &one !hina that had &een her other's and that had &een "e#t in the tall ar oire in the !orner &y the !hi ney. They had &een ta"en away, she thought si!"ly. Stolen. The fire hadn't &een !aused &y lightning. $t had &een set. *ther details for!ed the selves u#on her. ,rass, tall and ran", swathed the ruined wood and thrust its way &etween the s!or!hed floor&oards. Alder &ushes were flourishing a ong the fallen logs. Nature was re!lai ing its own, she reali-ed with a sta& of agony. $n a few ore years there would &e nothing to show that a an and his daughter had lived here for thirteen years. 1ro &ehind her she heard the sound of footste#s. +er throat !losed in terror. $f she turned around she would see the ghost of her father, !o e &a!" to the !ove now there was so eone to share the s!ene of so u!h dese!ration... 'Jenessa,' 1inn said, 'it's e5 don't &e afraid.' A real an. Not a su#ernatural visitation. A real an, who she had ore reason than ost to "now was ade of flesh and &lood. $n a flash Jenessa's terror was usur#ed &y an u#surge of su!h rage that, again, she was frightened. Ta #ing the rage down, she turned around. 1inn was standing thirty feet away fro her, his hands in his )a!"et #o!"ets, his ga-e intent on her fa!e. 1eeling na"ed to hi in a way that was new to her, and that she a&horred, she said tightly, 'What are you doing here3' '$ followed you.' '$ see that. $ want to "now why.' '.e!ause, for the first ti e sin!e we've wanted to "now why.' et, $ thought you were deli&erately lying to e. $

'$ lied to you &e!ause $ didn't want you here. $ would have thought that was o&vious.' +e wal"ed !loser, his &oots !run!hing in the !oarse sand. 'Whose house was this3' '2ine, of !ourse/and '$ wondered.' 'Now that you've satisfied your !uriosity you !an go &a!" to the !a #. Where you &elong.' With one hand he indi!ated the hea# of wre!"age that had on!e &een a ho e. 'Who &urned it down3' +er nails dug into her #al s. $t was the 'uestion that had hovered on the edge of her !ons!iousness ever sin!e she had seen the first signs of the da age, &ut the answer had never &een an issue. '0our grandfather,' she said. 'Who else3' 'This is his land,' 1inn said evenly. 'Why would he destroy so eone's house3' $n a sta!!ato voi!e she re#lied, '$t &e!a e his land when $ was thirteen/he stole it fro y father. Who died of a heart atta!" as a result. %erha#s your &eloved late grandfather didn't y father's. Didn't you guess that3'

want the eviden!e of what he'd done to re ain standing. $' house to the ground out of re orse.' '0ou hate hi .'

'uite sure he didn't ra-e the

She nodded, her eyes as hard as glass. '$f ever $'ve hated anyone in +il!hey.'

y life, it's ,eorge

6ater she was to re e &er how 1inn ade no atte #t to argue his grandfather's inno!en!e. $n a tone devoid of e otion he as"ed, '+ow u!h land did your father own3' 'Nearly seven hundred a!res. $t ni!ely rounds off the #ar!el that was your grandfather's.' She al ost s#at the words at hi . :That you now own.' '0ou didn't "now the house had &een destroyed.' 1or a horri&le o ent Jenessa thought she was going to lose her !ontrol and wee# in front of hi . Steeling herself against &oth #ain and tears, she said, '$ haven't &een here for nearly thirteen years. No, $ didn't "now.' '$' sorry you had to find it li"e this,' 1inn said. She didn't want his sy #athy any ore than she wanted his #resen!e here. And not for anything was she going to tell hi that she'd !o e here ho#ing to ta"e away one or two of her father's favorite &oo"s. '+ow did y grandfather get the land3' She swallowed, trying to ease the tightness in her throat. '2y father !olle!ted rare &oo"s and a#s/it was his #assion. 2y other died when $ was &orn, and $ su##ose that was where he #ut all his energy... into that, and &ringing e u#.' She &it her li#. '0our grandfather offered y father an e(tre ely rare edition of so e old 1ren!h a#s of Newfoundland. $t was a #ri-e, the #earl for whi!h one sells all the other #earls. .ut y father !ouldn't afford it. So your grandfather loaned hi the oney, a long-ter loan, he said, and y father !ould gradually sell off so e of his other &oo"s to #ay hi .' +er voi!e had wavered. 1inn said flatly, 'So $ su##ose y grandfather fore!losed.' She nodded. '2y father was sho!"ed, &e!ause he'd trusted your grandfather's word... Now that $' an adult, $ reali-e he was naive a&out the ways of the world after living for so long away fro it. Anyway, he and $ set off in the !anoe to go to ,ander... he "new he !ould !onta!t any nu &er of dealers who'd &uy the a#s fro hi so he !ould #ay off the loan. That evening he lo!"ed the a#s in Ryan's old tru!" when we went inside a restaurant to eat and use the #hone. When we !a e outside so eone had &ro"en the window and stolen the . 2y father "new what the loss of those a#s eant/the loss of everything he held dear. +e had a heart atta!".. .Ryan and the a &ulan!e drivers !ouldn't revive hi .' +e had fallen, she re e &ered with another sta& of #ain, as a tall tree fell to the "illing &low of the a(e- slowly and irrevo!a&ly and with utter finality. No re#air #ossi&le, no going &a!" to the way things were. 1inn's voi!e &ro"e into her thoughts. '0ou &elieve y grandfather stole the a#s.' '*h, yes. $ have no #roof. .ut who else would "now enough to ta"e a &rown #a#er #a!"age fro an old 1ord tru!"3' 'And what ha##ened to you after that, Jenessa3' She said &riefly, '$ was sent to live with y father's sister in 4orner .roo". $ wanted to live with Ryan/&ut the authorities didn't thin" it was fitting for a thirteen- year-old girl to &e living with a &a!helor who in those days was so ething of a re#ro&ate.'

'What was she li"e3' 'Aunt ,ladys3 She didn't want e. And for the first ti e in y life $ had to go to s!hool. $ didn't have a !lue how to dress or what to say or how to &ehave. ..and, &e!ause $'d always had the free rein of y father's &oo"shelves, $ "new far ore a&out so e things than the other "ids, and a&solutely nothing a&out the things that !ounted8 #o# stars and television and how to flirt.' 6ost in the #ast, Jenessa ade a hel#less gesture. 'They were the three worst years of y life. *n!e $ turned si(teen $ left Aunt ,ladys and went to live with Ryan.' '$t's a !redit to you that you survived an u#&ringing li"e that/isolated with your father and then thrust as an adoles!ent into a totally hostile environ ent. No wonder you were out of tou!h with your se(uality.' '$ was terrified of the &oys at s!hool/they used to gang u# on e &e!ause $ was different. $ was always a fighter, &ut $ was no at!h for si( or seven &oys all &igger than e.' A raindro# #lo##ed on her nose. With a tiny sho!" she !a e &a!" to the #resent, to the an with the dar" &lue eyes who was &oth her lover and the owner of all that on!e she had loved. '$ hardly ever tal" a&out those three years,' she said dis issively. 'What's the #oint3' 'E(or!is ,' 1inn said &luntly. 'Did they ra#e you, those &oys3' '*h, no.' Jenessa s!uffed at the grass with her &oot. '.ut they used to laugh at y !lothes and a"e fun of y figure, and so eti es they'd tou!h e in ways that ade e feel dirty all over... so $ su##ose $ grew u# thin"ing $ wasn't u!h good as a wo an. That in so e funda ental way $ didn't fit.' +ad she &een loo"ing at 1inn she ight have reali-ed so ething8 that, while there was genuine !o #assion in his fa!e, &ehind it he was thin"ing furiously. '0ou loved your father,' he said. 'And he loved you.' She nodded, digging at the roots with ho- heel. '$ never "new y other so $ never really issed her. 2y father wasn't a an to ver&ali-e his feelings &ut $' sure he loved e... $ was lu!"y that way. $ was free to roa the woods and as" hi anything $ needed to "now... Not any !hildren grow u# with su!h freedo .' 'So that's why you "now the area so well.' 'We !a #ed at every one of the sites where you and $ have stayed.' '0ou love the land/the whole area we've !overed.' Sur#rised that 1inn even needed to say this, she glan!ed u#. '$ grew u# feeling as though all of it was ine. $ "new it. $ understood it. *f !ourse $ loved it.' 'And you still do.' Too &efuddled &y all the e otions she had gone through in the last half-hour to have any idea where he was headed, Jenessa nodded again. '2ore than ever, $ guess. .e!ause now $ realise how vulnera&le it is to what we !all #rogress.' As if that was all he had needed, 1inn said in a voi!e as shar#-edged as slate, 'That's why you were so an(ious to guide e here, isn't it3 .e!ause you want the land and $' the one who owns it now. ,et to e and you've got the land.' +is words stru!" her as hard as if the rain had suddenly !hanged to #ellets of i!e. '*f !ourse not7 That's nothing----' 1inn's li#s thinned into a fero!ious s ile. 'That's why you '$t is not\ 1or heaven's sa"e, 1inn----' ade love to e.'

She ight )ust as well not have s#o"en. '$t all fits together so neatly,' he grated. '0ou've got two wee"s to a"e e see the land the way you do, two wee"s to sedu!e e. Sedu!e e in ore ways than one. So you a"e love to e &y a waterfall so &eautiful that $ !ouldn't #ossi&ly &e !rass enough to allow it to &e da ed. $n the na e of #rogress, to use your words.' +e #aled, his fists !len!hed at his sides. '.ut there's ore, isn't there, Jenessa3 0ou didn't anti!i#ate $'d do anything as #ra!ti!al as going to the drugstore. .ut $ did. So the night $ told you a&out Ji you ade sure we were in su!h a hurry that &irth !ontrol was the last thing on y ind. 0ou ight &e #regnant right now, ightn't you3 $s that what you're ho#ing3 So that then $'ll arry you and you'll really own the land3 $s that what you were ai ing for, Jenessa3' .attered &y words that had a horri&le logi! and were totally untrue, Jenessa said in!oherently, 'No, $ never thought that... you're twisting everything5 it was never that way.' 'And to thin" that $ was nearly ta"en in &y you. .y your &ig green eyes and your &eautiful &ody.' +e gave her a loo" of searing !onte #t. '$ thought you were honest. $ thought $ !ould trust that honesty. $ sure let y hor ones get in the way of y &rains, didn't $3 0ou've ani#ulated e fro &eginning to end.' +er nails digging into her #al s, Jenessa threw all her energy into one last atte #t to stave off a night are worse than any she had ever drea ed. 'What you're saying si #ly isn't true,' she said unsteadily. '$' the wo an you've sle#t with, 1inn/$ ade love to you &e!ause $ wanted you. 1or yourself. $t was nothing to do with the land.' '$ don't &elieve you,' he said. Two ravens !roa"ed at ea!h other fro the trees, then fla##ed their way a!ross the !ove. .irds as &la!" as the sodden &ea s of her father's house. As &la!" as 1inn was #ainting her... A little while ago Jenessa had thought the dis!overy of the ruined house was ore than she !ould &ear5 she now dis!overed that #ain !ould en!o #ass every !ell of her &ody, i o&ili-ing her in its !lut!hes. +er &rain struggled for words to re#udiate all 1inn had said, &ut her heart was !rying out another essage, one devoid of ho#e. She said in the dead voi!e of des#air, '$ !an't argue with you any ore/$ won't. There's no #oint. $f you !an thin" that of e, &elieve that $ !ould a!t that way, how !ould $ !onvin!e you otherwise, )ust with words3' '0ou !an't/&e!ause a!tions s#ea" louder than words.' She had had enough. 2ore than enough. +er nails digging into her fists, she &a!" to the !a #, 1inn. $ need to &e &y yself for a while.' uttered, ',o

'So do $/&elieve e,' he said with savage e #hasis. 'We'll get to the su er house to orrow. After that $ want to head &a!" to 2a!'s lodge as fast as we !an. $ don't !are where we !a # or how tired we get/all $ want is to see the last of you.' Even &efore 1inn had disa##eared a ong the trees, tears were &lurring Jenessa's vision. She let the slide down her !hee"s, where they ingled with the rain. 2oving as stiffly as an old wo an, she sat down on one of the !harred logs and !losed her eyes.

4+A%TER TWE6;E W+EN Jenessa arrived &a!" at the !a #site that night it was dar" and 1inn had already gone to &ed. She #ulled her slee#ing-&ag outside, "nowing she !ouldn't #ossi&ly share the tent

with hi , and lay there listening to the raindro#s #atter on the tar#. To her sur#rise she did fall aslee#, although it was a slee# haunted &y drea s whose details she !ouldn't re e &er the ne(t orning &ut whose ood of fore&oding rested heavily on her. $t was still raining, a steady dri--le fro a dull grey s"y. .rea"ing !a # was down to a routine &y now, whi!h eant that she and 1inn didn't have to tal" to ea!h other. She too" the &ow of the !anoe and set a hard #a!e u# the la"e. There were two #ortages, the first short &ut with a stee# !li &, the se!ond winding through a &og where the os'uitoes were not noti!ea&ly dis!ouraged &y the rain. Jenessa had &een tired &efore she started out. The ud su!"ed at her &oots, a"ing every ste# twi!e as hard, and the thwart of the !anoe dug into the &a!" of her ne!", &ut not for anything was she going to suggest a rest. She trudged on in a fog of isery, only wanting the day to &e done. The la"e that was their final destination was edged &y &ir!h eadows and low hills5 there was an island in the !enter of the la"e with granite !liffs at one end. ,eorge +il!hey had &uilt his #alatial su er house on those !liffs in su!h a way that its windows loo"ed out over the vast swee# of land that had &een his. Jenessa had &een there only on!e/the visit where her father had first seen the old 1ren!h a#s. As the island !a e in sight and she saw the &lan" windows of the house high on the !liffs, she wished #assionately that she had never set eyes on the an whose grandfather had regarded this as his "ingdo . She said, 'The do!" should &e &ehind that #ointed ro!".' 1inn had &e!o e a ore than ade'uate !anoeist in the last ten days. +e steered toward the rotting ti &ers of the do!", whose u#rights #rotruded fro the water li"e &ro"en teeth. Jenessa !li &ed out, lashing the &ow to the only #ost that had &een !reosoted. 1inn oved forward in the !anoe and ste##ed on to the shore. The rain had gentled to a fine ist. The trees stood as silent as sentinels, a thi!"ly !lustered &arrier to whatever se!rets the island held. The #la!e had, Jenessa thought with a !hill along her s#ine, that indefina&le air of desolation of so ewhere on!e inha&ited and now deserted. 1inn said !oldly, '$ don't want you around while $' !he!"ing out the house.' '1ine &y e,' she said. The &oughs of a venera&le s#ru!e s#rang &a!" into #la!e after he #ushed his way #ast the and vanished fro sight. Jenessa sat down hard on the nearest ro!". She was still &eing #aid one hundred dollars a day. She should find a !a #ing s#ot and start a eal5 that was what she was &eing #aid for. She la!"ed the energy or the desire to do either one. Eventually she got u# and ade a 'ui!" re!onnoiter of her surroundings. The island was not that large. She found a level area near the heli!o#ter #ad, whi!h was now overgrown with shru&s, ade several tri#s with all their gear, #ut u# the tar# and ade a #it for a fire. Then she too" the a(e and went in sear!h of wood. A dead a#le !aught her eye. $ts &ar" was worn away, it's shar#ly angled lower li &s &are of s aller &ran!hes. <sing her a(e, she !ho##ed at the trun" and within inutes it thudded to the ground. To her sur#rise a shar# !latter, as though a etal ug had stru!" a ro!", !a e fro &etween two of the &ran!hes. 4urious, Jenessa &ent to loo". A re!tangular flat tin, whi!h loo"ed as though it had &een wedged in the ; &etween the &ran!hes, had fallen fro its ni!he, hitting a !hun" of granite as it landed. $t was rusty, so rusty that she !ouldn't o#en it. $t had &een a to&a!!o tin, she de!ided. $t felt too heavy to &e e #ty. 2ay&e 1inn as a &oy had stashed it in the a#le tree, and then forgotten a&out it.

With a shrug she #ut it in one of the lower #o!"ets on her &ush #ants, !losing the ;el!ro so she wouldn't lose it. Then she too" her saw and started re oving the li &s one &y one, a tas" that was so soothing in its re- #etitiveness that the tin sli##ed fro her ind. After she'd !arried the wood &a!" to the fire #it, she s#lit so e for "indling, and with &ir!h &ar" and s all twigs started the fire. The tiny fla es that !lut!hed at the &ar" were oddly !o forting. She o#ened the Duluth #a!"s, de!iding on !urried !hi!"en and ri!e for dinner, and went down to the la"e for water. She needed a !u# of hot tea. What she really needed was at least three shots of whis"ey/straight u#, she a ended with the first tou!h of hu or sin!e yesterday evening. While the eal was !oo"ing Jenessa #ut u# the tent and s#read so e heavy #lasti! under the tar# for her slee#ing-&ag. She didn't !are if there was a hurri!ane5 she wasn't going to slee# within twenty feet of 1inn 2arston ever again. She fought down the desolation that that #ros#e!t !aused her. 4oo"ing was also a soothing a!tivity. .ut when everything was ready, there was no sign of 1inn. +e'd told her to stay away fro the house5 her outh set utinously, she started off through the trees toward the granite !liffs. The house was ade of S!andinavian !edar with a slate roof and two huge granite !hi neys. 1ro lo!al ru or Jenessa "new ,eorge +il!hey had !losed it u# after his daughter's sui!ide5 des#ite that, it loo"ed solid enough to stand e #ty for a very long ti e. $t was i #ossi&le for her not to !ontrast its i #osing &ul" and tall windows with the !harred ruins of her father's log !a&in. 0et so ehow she !ould !on)ure u# no rage today, no energi-ing surge of hatred. ,eorge +il!hey was dead now, as was his daughter and her own father. What use was hatred3 She !ouldn't hate the old an any ore than she !ould &ring herself to hate 1inn, she thought with un!o forta&le honesty. $t would &e &etter if she hated 1inn. $t would a"e ore sense. +ow !ould she still love a an who had su!h a distorted view of the "ind of wo an she was3 The ain door of the house o#ened on to a wide de!", and stood a)ar. She shouted 1inn's na e as loudly as she !ould. Nothing. She !li &ed the 'uarried-stone ste#s to the de!" and yelled his na e again. Dee# inside the house a door sla ed. '1inn7' she !ried, and heard heavy footste#s !o ing down a wooden stair!ase two ste#s at a ti e. 1inn shoved the door wide o#en. +is hands were filthy and there were strea"s of gri e on his )eans and shirt. +e loo"ed li"e a an driven, she thought, and wondered what he had &een doing. +e also loo"ed as if he was in a towering rage. Ru&&ing his #al s down the hi#s of his )eans, he snarled, 'What are you doing here3' $n a glorious flood of adrenalin that swe#t aside !aution and restraint, Jenessa lost her te #er. 'Don't you dare s#ea" to e li"e that7' '$ told you to stay away7' 'Dinner's ready,' she said tautly. 'That's what $' '$'D &e another hour. Eat without hear3' doing here.' e, do you e. And don't !o e &a!" here loo"ing for

'Do you "now what3' she seethed. '$ rue the day $ ever drove to the ,ander air#ort to eet you. $'ve et ore than y share of rude and ignorant en in y day, &ut you ta"e the !a"e /it's a toss-u# who's worse, you or your grandfather. $ really don't give a da n if you ever !o e for dinner.'

Standing as she was on the de!" against a &lurred &a!"dro# of silver water and hills that faded into the ist, she &la-ed with energy. +er eyes s#ar"led li"e e eralds5 her li#s were #arted, her !hee"s flushed, her hair tousled into da # !urls. 1inn too" one ste# toward her, then )a ed his hands in his #o!"ets. '$'ve never stolen anything in y life, so don't you !o #are e with y grandfather. And $' not a &orn ani#ulator the way y other was. 6i"e you----' Too angry to wat!h her words, Jenessa interru#ted, '$' not li"e your young son $ wouldn't !o it sui!ide/that's an awful thing to...' other. $f $ had a

+er voi!e died away. The anger had drained fro 1inn's &ody, leaving his fa!e wren!hed &y far ore !o #le( e otions as he sagged against the doorfra e. $n true !o #un!tion she !ried, '1inn, $' sorry5 $ didn't ean to----' $n a dead voi!e he said, 'Just go away and leave dar".' e alone, will you3 $'ll &e &a!" &efore

She turned and stu &led down the ste#s. When she rea!hed the edge of the trees and loo"ed &a!", the tall windows, as &lan" as the eyes of the dead, were all that she !ould see. 1inn was gone, swallowed u# &y the house as if he didn't e(ist. Although she had no a##etite, Jenessa for!ed herself to eat. She then sat idly &y the fire, feeding it da # wood that it devoured with tiny hisses of stea . .e!ause the s"y was over!ast, night !a e early, &lan"eting the trees softly and i #er!e#ti&ly in dar"ness. She ade fresh tea, straining her ears for the sound of 1inn's a##roa!h, and was finally rewarded when he stu &led into the !learing where the orange &la-e of the fire held the dar"ness at &ay. +e loo"ed so e(hausted, dirty and dis!ouraged that Jenessa "new he was at the end of his tether. She said 'uietly, 'Sit down, 1inn.' She #oured war water into a &owl so that he !ould wash and gave hi the soa# and a towel, wat!hing as he slui!ed his fa!e and s!ru&&ed at his gri y hands. Then she served his food, #assing hi his #late and #ouring hi a ug of tea. +e said drily, '+ea#ing !oals of fire, Jenessa3' 'That isn't y intent.' Shooting her a 'ui!" loo", he said, 'Than"s, it loo"s good.' +e ate ravenously and gul#ed down his tea. Then, ru&&ing at his forehead with the &a!" of his hand, he loo"ed around hi as though he wasn't 'uite sure where he was. +is eyes lit on the tent, then on the #lasti! where she had #ut her slee#ing-#ad. +e flin!hed as though he had &een stru!". $t was a strange o ent for Jenessa to re e &er a #u##y Ryan had &rought ho e years ago5 it had &een istreated, and the slightest ove ent in its dire!tion had ade it 'uiver as though it were a&out to &e "i!"ed. She thought 'uite !learly, $ don't "now what ha##ened to 1inn u# there in the house. $ do "now he !an't ta"e any ore. She o#ened her outh with no idea of what she was going to say. .ut &efore she !ould s#ea" 1inn said a&ru#tly, '$ want out of here.' +e was telling her nothing she didn't already "now. She glan!ed at her wat!h. '$t's #retty late. $f we get u# at dawn, we !an leave here in less than----' '$ !an't stay here. *n this island.' She frowned. '0ou ean you want to !a # so ewhere else3' As if she were &eing #arti!ularly slow-witted he said sar!asti!ally, '0eah, that's what $ ean.'

'$t's #it!h-dar", 1inn. And $ don't "now the shores of this la"e that well. We !an't )ust----' '$' not a"ing s all tal" here, $ ean it/$' not going to s#end the night on this island. And if $ have to #ull ran", $ will. $t's an order, Jenessa. We're leaving here as soon as we !lean u#.' She !ould have argued &e!ause, as the guide, she had the final say. .ut there were dee# lines of strain around 1inn's outh and he had )ust s#ent the &etter #art of three hours in the house where his other had "illed herself. Again she re e &ered the ongrel #u#. '$ su##ose we !ould !ut a!ross the la"e and "ee# to the shore until we get to the &ir!h eadows,' she said. 'We should &e a&le to find so ewhere there to !a #.' Easy enough to say, not as easy in #ra!tise. .e!ause the !louds had as"ed the oon and stars, the dar"ness was thi!", without relief. Jenessa sat in the &ow of the !anoe with a flashlight, warning 1inn of ro!"s and deadheads as they s"irted the shoreline. The la"e glea ed &la!"5 the soft gurgles of 1inn's #addle sounded sinister and the overhanging &oughs of the trees were li"e ar s rea!hing out for the as they #assed. *n the side of the hill a thin s!rea #ier!ed the night as an owl #oun!ed on its #rey. The &eat of the &ird's wings whi##ed through the trees. Jenessa shivered, !lut!hing the flashlight. 6ife and death were integral to nature, she had always "nown that, &ut all of a sudden she longed to &e !urled u# in the war th of her slee#ing- &ag with this inter ina&le day #ut to rest. Although their #rogress was slow and it was a fair- si-ed la"e, eventually the #ale trun"s of the &ir!hes &e!"oned to the fro the slo#es. Reeds dragged against the sides of the !anoe, then the &ow &u #ed into the &an". Jenessa got out, swinging the light in a wide ar!. The slo#e was stee#er than she had thought. The only ground anywhere near level was &eside the la"e5 &ut there were no trees there to an!hor the tar#. '6et's get the gear unloaded and the !anoe u# on land/then we !an figure out where we're going to !a #,' she said. Tri##ing over ro!"s and roots, sliding into udholes &etween the !lu #s of grass, they anaged to du # their gear and u#-end the !anoe. Then Jenessa too" off u# the slo#e, sear!hing for the s all area of level ground that the tent re'uired. The hillside was uneven and dotted with &oulders5 fro &elow her, 1inn, who had ta"en out his own flashlight, !alled, '$t's flat enough down here.' She tra #ed down to '$t's only a light '$f $' eet hi . 'There's no #la!e for the tar#,' she said. atter3' atters.' ist/does it

going to slee# outdoors, it

+is eyes li"e &la!" #its, 1inn said, &iting off his words, '0ou don't have to worry a&out sharing the tent with e/$ won't lay a finger on you.' $f this was how love felt, why did all the aga-ines #raise it to the s"ies as though it were the ost desira&le state a wo an !ould a!hieve3 '6et's get the tent u#,' Jenessa said in a dead voi!e. 1ifteen inutes later she was !urled u# in her slee#ing- &ag, where she had longed to &e. 1inn was undressing &eside her5 every nerve in her &ody !ried out for hi . +e thin"s you're a greedy little liar, she told herself fier!ely, lying wide-eyed in the dar". +ow !an you desire a an who thin"s so little of you3 +e slid into his own slee#ing-&ag5 he didn't say goodnight. She lay rigidly on her &a!", willing herself to rela(, #raying for slee#. .ut the ore she wished for it, the ore it eluded

her. Too u!h had ha##ened in the last two days... The i ages flashed through her tired &rain, one after another, fro the &la!"ened ruins of the house where she had grown u# to the defeated slu # in 1inn's shoulders when he had !o e &a!" fro his grandfather's house. She ust have fallen aslee#, &e!ause suddenly she was sitting &olt u#right and it was daylight and 1inn was dragging his #a!" a!ross the floor of the tent. She ga#ed at hi , her thin T-shirt !linging to her &reasts, her li#s soft with slee#. +e said !urtly, 'Sorry/$ didn't ean to wa"e you.' +er tongue felt thi!". 'What's the ti e3' 'Eight-thirty.' She groaned. 'We should have &een on our way an hour ago.' 'We've got so e granola &ars and oranges/why don't we s"i# &rea"fast and get oving3' +e was #ulling on his shirt, the us!les ri##ling over his ri&s. She averted her eyes. $f the way she felt right now was anything to go &y, the sooner they got &a!" to 2a!'s the &etter. '*"ay,' she said, trying to sound #ra!ti!al and in !ontrol. 'There's so e whitewater today... nothing too diffi!ult &ut $ thin" $ should &e in the stern.' $f they too" advantage of the !urrent of the river and if the weather held, they !ould rea!h the lodge in four days, Jenessa thought, &undling her &ush #ants into her #a!" and !hanging into lighter nylon trousers that dried ore 'ui!"ly. She !ouldn't thin" &eyond that. The #ros#e!t of leaving 1inn at the air#ort was ore than she !ould i agine. At three that afternoon she ade a 'ui!" de!ision that they should #ush on, #ast the !a #site she had tentatively sele!ted. The &ree-e was with the and the rain was holding off. .esides, 1inn was ore than )ust !o#ing with the river runs/he was a!tively !hallenged &y the , o&eying her shouted !o ands with instin!tive s"ill and o&viously understanding their logi!. So it was late when she steered toward a s all #eninsula on a la"e !u##ed &y gently rising hills. As they hauled the gear u# and &ea!hed the !anoe, she reali-ed how tired she was. Surely she'd slee# &etter tonight5 she had to5 she !ouldn't go on li"e this. 6eaving 1inn to !lear away so e shru&s and #it!h the tent, she went to get wood. $t wasn't the iles she had #ut on her #addle that had so e(hausted her5 that wasn't the #ro&le , she de!ided as she #i!"ed u# !urls of &ir!h &ar" fro round the trees, her eyes !onstantly on the loo"-out for a dead tree she !ould !ho# down. The #ro&le was 1inn. .e!ause she was sitting in the stern of the !anoe, all day she had had to wat!h his &ig &ody oving with lean e!ono y, the strong thrust of his ar s, the twist of his torso as he fought the river !urrents. She wanted hi #hysi!ally, there was no 'uestion of that/"nowledge that along with the dull a!he in her &elly ade her feel so ehow di inished. .ut at a u!h dee#er level she yearned for hi to see her as she was, not as he thought she was. $ #ossi&le. .e!ause ever sin!e she had and that hadn't &een enough. et hi she had never &een anything &ut herself,

She hea#ed so e fallen &ran!hes with the &ir!h &ar" as she sighted a !ou#le of dead s#ru!e. S#ru!e wasn't the &est wood to &urn, &ut it would have to do. 1inn des#ised her. Thought she had !heated hi fro the very day she had et hi . +er eyes fil ing with tears, she swung the a(e against the &ase of the trun". 4hi#s flew out and the tree sagged to the ground. She !ut down the se!ond s#ru!e, lo##ing off the lower &ran!hes, wishing she !ould !o e u# with even one strategy that ight !ut through the i #asse in whi!h they were tra##ed.

The a(e stru!" a "not, glan!ed off it and &it into the soft flesh at the &ase of her thu &. $n startled dis&elief she saw dro#s of &lood well fro the !ut and dri# down her wrist. She dro##ed the a(e and fu &led for a tissue in her #o!"et, and as she #ressed it to the !ut felt the first &ite of #ain. The tissue stained red instantly. Auto ati!ally noti!ing where she had left the fallen s#ru!e, she hurried through the trees to the !a #site. The tent was u#, there were two #ots of water sitting on the ground, and 1inn was hun"ered down !onstru!ting a fire #it, his &a!" to her. She said, '4ould you get the first-aid "it, 1inn3 $'ve !ut yself.' +e whi##ed around and stood u# in one s ooth otion, his eyes flying to the s!arlet tissue #ressed to her thu &. Without a wasted ove ent he lo#ed to her &a!"#a!", undid the &otto !o #art ent and #ulled out a #lasti! &o(. After washing his hands in the nearest #ot of water, he unwra##ed a &ig gau-e #ad. '2ove your fingers,' he said. As she o&eyed, he fli!"ed the &lood-soa"ed tissue off and #ressed the gau-e against the long gash in her flesh. 'Did you do that with the a(e3' he de anded, and without waiting for an answer added. 'What in hell's teeth were you thin"ing of3' '0ou,' she said. +is dar" &lue eyes were tur&ulent with e otions she !ouldn't #ossi&ly have la&eled. 'Are you saying your stu#idity was y fault3' The !ut was thro&&ing and Jenessa didn't need hi telling her how stu#id she'd &een. She already "new that. 'No,' she said &aldly, and #rayed she wouldn't hu iliate herself &y &ursting into tears. 1inn glan!ed at her. She was #ale, her )aw rigid against the #ain5 the falling light shadowed her eyes. +e uttered, '$ shouldn't have said that... $' sorry.' $t was the first inti ation in what see ed li"e a very long ti e of the an who had ade love to her with su!h &liss. $ won't !ry, $ won't, she thought, and saw a tear #lo# on to the &a!" of his hand. 'Jenessa/don't,' he said hoarsely. '$t hurts, that's all.' Easing the #ad away, he said, '$t's a !lean !ut, and not as dee# as $ first thought.' +e gave her a wintry s ile. '$'ve had first-aid training &ut $'ve never had to stit!h anyone u#/&e glad you're not the first one. +ere, sit down on this ro!" and "ee# the #ressure on it. Where's the tree that !aused the da age3' She gave hi dire!tions, glad enough to sin" down on the ro!" &e!ause her "nees were tre &ling. She was lu!"y. $t !ould have &een a lot worse. A new rule to add to the guide hand&oo", she thought ruefully8 never travel with an estranged lover. With an effi!ien!y that didn't sur#rise her in the least, 1inn !a e &a!" with the wood, started a fire and #ut water on to &oil. +e then #ut anti&ioti! !rea on the !ut and &ound u# her hand. After he had given her a ug of her&al tea, he started su##er. Jenessa si##ed the int tea. $t was !o forting, as was the heat of the fla es. .ut after that single out&urst 1inn had treated her as i #ersonally as a !han!e- et stranger, and neither tea nor fire !ould elt the !old lu # lodged so ewhere in the vi!inity of her heart. She ate everything on her #late and five inutes afterwards would have had diffi!ulty relating what she had swallowed. 1inn said with !hara!teristi! a&ru#tness, '$s your hand hurting3'

Too stu&&orn to lie, she said, '0es.' '$'ll !lean u#/you go to &ed.' Tears were #ainfully !lose to the surfa!e again. $' !ra!"ing u#, Jenessa thought wildly, and wondered what had ha##ened to the !o #etent, deta!hed wo an she had always #rided herself on &eing. ',oodnight,' she u &led, and #ushed herself u# fro the ro!". 'Will you need any hel# with your !lothes3' She win!ed. 'No, than"s.' +is outh tightened. '$ ho#e you'll slee# well,' he said stiffly, and thrust another log into the fire. The fla es dan!ed over his fa!e, so fa iliar to her, so !losed against her. Jenessa hurried to the tent and !rawled inside. $t was a relief to &e alone. She struggled out of her outer gar ents and eased herself into her slee#ing-&ag, !u##ed her sore hand to her &reast and !losed her eyes. 6i"e a dead weight slee# fell on her, s othering her in its thi!" folds.

4+A%TER T+$RTEEN JENESSA wo"e as the first light of day illu inated the interior of the tent. When she o#ened her eyes, she was loo"ing straight at 1inn, his irises so dar" a &lue as to &e unreada&le. Wondering if she was drea ing, she rea!hed u# to ru& her fa!e, felt the !len!h of #ain in her #al and "new she was indeed awa"e. $n the night she had turned over to fa!e his side of the tent. +e was lying on his &a!", half #ro##ed against his #a!", his hands lin"ed &ehind his head. +e had &een wat!hing her while she sle#t, she reali-ed in a flash of fury. +e des#ised her, yet he !hose to stare at her when she was at her ost vulnera&le. '+ow's your hand3' he as"ed in a voi!e as unreada&le as his fa!e. She fle(ed her #al . '1eels o"ay. 6et's get 'No,' she said in a &rittle voi!e, '$ don't. $' oving.' as an(ious to get to 2a!'s as you are, 1inn.' '0ou don't thin" we should ta"e a day off3 ,ive the !ut a !han!e to !lose over3' 'Although s!ar!ely for the sa e reasons,' he sneered. +er &rain felt heavy, and slee# see ed to have done nothing to re ove a &one-dee# e(haustion. '1or e(a!tly the sa e reasons/$ want this !harade over, too.' She !ould have said, $ !an't wait to see the last of you. .ut it would have &een utterly untrue. 'Tell e so ething,' he said with deadly 'uietness. 'Was the love a"ing a !harade for you, Jenessa3' +er #ride de anded that she lie. $t was #ride that had ena&led her to survive the terrors of the s!hoolyard all those years ago5 she "new its value only too well. .ut she wasn't fourteen any ore. She was twenty-five years old, fa!e to fa!e with the one an who had !alled her to

full wo anhood. The !ost of that e ergen!e had &een high. .ut, no atter what ha##ened, having et 1inn she would never see the world in the sa e way again. Jenessa #ushed herself u# on her el&ow, feeling at a disadvantage lying on her side, and said, 'Not for e, it wasn't a !harade. Was it for you3' +e twisted to fa!e her, the #ale light falling softly on the hollows and #lanes of his !hest. 'Do you "now how $'ve felt ever sin!e $ et you3' he said violently. 'As though $'ve &een dro##ed in the wilderness without a !o #ass or a a#, no &earings at all... and left to find y way out as &est $ !an.' +er heart &eating as ra#idly as if she'd &een running rather than slee#ing, Jenessa said steadily, 'When you're lost in the woods, you loo" for the #ath of the sun. 0ou loo" for the osses on the south flan"s of the trees... there are always signs.' 'And what if you don't trust those signs/if nothing in your life has given you !ause to trust the 3' '$f you're truly lost, you have to trust the . They're all you've got.' '0ou a"e it sound so easy/too easy,' he said with the sa e re#ressed violen!e. 'And no, Jenessa, it wasn't a !harade for e either.' 1or a o ent &etween the hung all the e ories of their shared #assion. <n!ons!iously Jenessa ade a s all #leading gesture with her &andaged hand. 1inn said levelly, 'Whi!h would hurt your hand less/#a!"ing u# or !oo"ing &rea"fast3' +e had retreated again. '.rea"fast,' she said. As she ade &u!"wheat #an!a"es and !offee, her !ut &othered her ore than she would have ad itted. The eal over, she dried the dishes that 1inn washed, then he said, '$'ll re&andage your hand.' The wound loo"ed !lean, although as 1inn gently #ressed the surrounding s"in she !ouldn't hel# flin!hing. +e said, '$'ll #addle in the stern today5 that'll a"e it easier for you.' '0ou !an't/we've got a long river run.' '*ne thing $ sure trust is your stu&&ornness7' $n Jenessa's &reast all the tensions of the last three days !oales!ed into rage. '0es, y hand's sore and yes, if things were different there's nothing $'d li"e &etter than to s#end a day around here,' she e(#loded. '.ut they aren't different/a!!ording to you $ ani#ulated you fro the start to get y hands on your grandfather's land. 0ou !an do what you li"e with the land, 1inn 2arston/ a"e an a use ent #ar" out of it, !ut down every tree and #ave it fro end to end/$ really don't !are. Just let's get out of here7' '$t !an't &e too soon for as though it were #oison. e,' he snarled, ta#ed the &andage in #la!e and dro##ed her hand

Within ten inutes they were on their way. The freshening &ree-e was a headwind. Jenessa #addled hard all orning and &y the ti e they sto##ed for a sna!" lun!h had a heada!he that was #ounding in turn with the thro&&ing in her #al . They had negotiated three sets of riffles that orning5 in the afternoon the river dee#ened, the !urrent oving with de!e#tive #la!idity &etween &an"s of tu &led granite. 4o ing round a &end they sur#rised two !ari&ou in idstrea 5 Jenessa steered for an eddy, and she and 1inn wat!hed as the ani als s#lashed toward a gravel &ea!h and trotted with their high-"need gait out of sight through the trees. %ave the land fro end to end, she had said. Who had she &een "idding3

1or another three iles the river !ontinued its gradual des!ent. Then, as they rounded another &end, they heard the dull roar of ra#ids and saw a !loud of s#ray hanging over the dar", serrated line where the river disa##eared fro sight. Well u#strea fro it, Jenessa headed for the shore. *n!e they'd landed she said, 'We'll have to #ortage these ra#ids. .ut $ thin" we !an run the ones &elow the ... it's a two- ile stret!h.' The #ortage to !ir!u vent the ra#ids was stee# and diffi!ult. As she and 1inn gri##ed the gunwales and lowered the !anoe &a!" in the water, he ra##ed, '0our hand's &leeding again/ it's soa"ed through the &andage. 0ou'd &etter let e loo" at it.' +er te #les were &eing s'uee-ed in a vise and she !ouldn't &ear the thought of hi tou!hing her. '$ don't see why you're so worried,' she flashed. '0ou hate y guts, 1inn, ad it it.' Not waiting for a re#ly, she loo#ed the #ainter round a tree and &ent to #i!" u# the nearest #a!". '6eave those, $'ll get the ,' 1inn sna##ed, #ulled her u#right and "issed her full on the li#s. The sho!" ran through Jenessa's &ody. She re e &ered it all so well8 the strength of his ar s, the solid wall of his !hest, the war th of his outh against hers. 1ighting the e ories, she thrust herself &a!"ward and gas#ed, 'Don't you ever dare do that to e again7' 'At least that was real.' She had no answer for hi , wasn't even sure she "new any ore what was real and what was/to use her own word/!harade. She stood &y utely as 1inn reloaded the !anoe, waited while he settled hi self in the &ow, then !li &ed in the stern and #ushed off, already &usying her ind with the !ourse she'd steer. Everything went s oothly for the first do5 they were, ile and a half. 1inn had a natural gras# of what to

Jenessa thought unha##ily, #addling very u!h as a tea . They eddied out so that she !ould !he!" the last run of the ra#ids, where the water slid as slee" as an otter's &a!" &etween the &oulders. Then they steered &a!" into the !urrent. She &a!"#addled and &ra!ed until the !hannel o#ened in front of her. $n a hard #ower stro"e she dug her #addle into the water. .ut the &lade stru!" a ro!" hidden &elow the surfa!e5 the sho!" ra!ed through the shaft and along her ar to her in)ured #al , &losso ing into a #ain so sudden and so fier!e that the #addle was wren!hed fro her gras#. She gra&&ed for it and over&alan!ed, the river rushing u# to eet her. $nstin!tively she "i!"ed herself free of the !anoe. Then water filled her ears and her nose and her outh5 she was drowning in a sea of &u&&les. A ro!" stru!" her hi# with &ruising for!e. Again Jenessa instin!tively did the right thing. 1eet first with the !urrent/a lesson her father and Ryan had dru ed into her ever sin!e she had &een old enough to &e in a !anoe. She surfa!ed, gul#ed for air, and saw &lue s"y and white !louds swing overhead. Too late, she also saw that she was &eing driven straight toward a rough-edged !hun" of granite as &ig as a &oatshed. She lunged sideways in a des#erate effort to avoid it, felt the ro!" hit her foot and s!ra#e her flesh fro an"le to "nee, and was thrust into the swirling waters of the eddy that ri##led toward the river&an". 4ho"ing, she surfa!ed again, fighting for air. The eddy was dee#, overhung &y an an!ient a#le tree whose to# ost leaves were already stained s!arlet. She sei-ed one of the lower &ran!hes and loo"ed &a!" over her shoulder. 1inn had turned in his seat so that in effe!t he was now #addling fro the stern. With a series of #owerful draws he was #ulling the !anoe into the eddy. +e was safe, she thought

da-edly, with a relief so strong she al ost forgot to tread water. 1ro the instant she had ti##ed out of the !anoe she had &een terrified that 1inn ight have !a#si-ed and drowned. +e drove the !anoe toward her, sto##ed it in a swirl of s#ray and said )aggedly, 'Jenessa/ are you all right3' She felt &ruised and !old and hu iliated. '0es,' she said. '0ou s!ared for the &an".' e out of ten years' growth.' +e loo"ed around. ',ra& the gunwale. $'ll head

2ee"ly she did as she was told. +e landed the !anoe, tied the #ainter around the a#le tree and "nelt to hel# her u#. +er leg didn't want to su##ort her.. .wouldn't su##ort her. +er eyes widened. '$/$ !an't stand u#,' she stuttered. 1inn gras#ed her under the ar #its and, with a strength that afterwards she would arvel at, heaved her u# over the ro!"s and away fro the water. After he had #ut her down on a !ar#et of s#ringy needles under a white #ine, he !rou!hed &eside her. +er nylon trousers had ri##ed as easily if they were ade of #a#er. .lood and river water were strea ing #in" down her shin. Jenessa said in dis ay, '$' a disaster area/how !ould $ have &een so stu#id3' 'Stay #ut,' 1inn ordered, 'while $ get the first-aid "it.' .etween one o ent and the ne(t as she sat alone in the little !learing Jenessa &e!a e aware of #ain. $t started inno!ently enough with a shar# twinge as she shifted her "nee5 her !ut hand was thro&&ing again, she reali-ed, and she had ruined a #air of #erfe!tly good nylon #ants. The twinge didn't go away5 rather, it gradually s#read and intensified, until her whole leg fro "nee to an"le was &urning as if it were on fire. 1inn dro##ed to his "nees &eside her. +e eased the tar# under her so that she wasn't sitting on the da # ground, too" one loo" at her white fa!e and said, '0ou've got to get out of those wet !lothes.' +e #ulled a towel and so e dry gar ents fro her #a!", re oved her life- )a!"et and swiftly hauled her dren!hed sweater over her head. +er s"in was !overed in goose&u #s, her ni##les tight. Jenessa too" the towel fro hi , hating her na"edness, wanting only to hide it fro hi , and, &e!ause she "new hi so well, saw his instant reading of her otives. +is eyes dar"ened. With s!ant !ere ony he dragged a dry sweater over her head and wra##ed a )a!"et round her shoulders. '0ou'll have to !ut y trousers off,' she said faintly. '.e !areful/it hurts.' 1inn was very gentle, for whi!h she was grateful. When her trousers were lying in a sodden hea# on the tar#, he said, '0ou're not &leeding that u!h/&ut there are little fla"es of i!a fro the granite !aught in the s!ra#e. $' going to &oil so e water, and then $'ll have to !lean it as &est $ !an.' She nodded, "nowing that she would have done e(a!tly what he was suggesting. She !ould hear herself &reathing in shallow gas#s, and she felt very !old5 as if he had read her ind, 1inn too" off his flee!e shirt and !overed her thighs, then s!ra &led &a!" down the &an" and got the rest of the #a!"s, whi!h he sta!"ed &ehind her as a wind&rea". '$t'll ta"e e a few inutes to get wood,' he said, '+ang in there, Jenessa.' +is shirt !arried the war th and s!ent of his &ody5 she rested her forehead on it, &iting her li# against the #ain. When 1inn !a e &a!" to the !learing with an ar load of wood, her shoulders were rigid with the effort not to wee#. +e ru aged in the first-aid "it, found a s all &ottle of #ain-"illers, and ade her ta"e one. '0ell or s!rea if it'll a"e you feel &etter,' he said gri ly. '0ou don't have to &e a stoi!.' Then he &uilt a fire and #ut so e water on to &oil.

All this too" ti e. The !odeine ade Jenessa feel di--y and si!"5 she drifted into a da-e where the lea#ing fla es and the &urning in her leg were one and the sa e. While he waited for the water to &oil and then to !ool, 1inn set u# the tent to one side of the !learing and s!outed for ore wood. Eventually, after he had s!ru&&ed his hands, he said, 'Why don't you ta"e another #ill, Jenessa3 This is going to hurt.' 'They a"e e feel worse,' she uttered. '$'ll &e o"ay.' Although 1inn was e('uisitely !areful, he did hurt her. She &uried her fa!e in her ar s and dug her teeth into her wrist, not 'uite a&le to su##ress tiny, ani al-li"e sounds of #ain as he !leaned the dirt fro the wound. 1inally she felt hi a##ly #ads !oated with a !ool anti&ioti! !rea , and ta#e the in #la!e. $n a voi!e she hadn't heard hi use &efore he said, '$t's done.' When she loo"ed u# his eyes fell on her wrist, where the the s"in. '1or ,od's sa"e, sweetheart,' he uttered. ar"s of her teeth had indented not,'

+e was white a&out the outh, &eads of sweat tri!"ling down his forehead. 'No, $' Jenessa said, her voi!e a thin thread. '0our sweetheart, $ ean. 0ou hate e.' 1inn swi#ed at his forehead5 his fingers were not 'uite steady. 'The last ten away with any #retensions $ ight have had toward hating you/&elieve e.' '0ou ight not hate e/&ut you still don't trust e.' +e loo"ed straight at her. '$f $ don't trust you, then $ !an't trust the ground $'

inutes did

"neeling on.'

The intensity of his ga-e distur&ed her dee#ly. S oothing the tar# with her fingers, she &urst out, '$ !ould have drowned &oth of us &a!" there/$'d never have forgiven yself if anything had ha##ened to you, 1inn.' '0ou're !hanging the su&)e!t.' +er nostrils flared. '$ don't have the energy for another fight.' +e said with so e of his old i #atien!e, '*"ay/so you ade a ista"e out there in the river. 0ou're hu an, not #erfe!t, Jenessa, and we all a"e ista"es. $ ade one the day $ hurt y ri&s at the &lowout. And if anyone's res#onsi&le for what ha##ened today, $ a /$ "now what $'ve #ut you through the last few days. $ ay &e out of tou!h with y feelings, &ut $' not totally &lind.' Jenessa's heart was &eating in thi!", heavy stro"es. She your wet !lothes.' u &led, '0ou should get out of

'0ou don't have a !lue what $' trying to tell you, do you3' As 1inn #ushed her hair &a!" fro her forehead, there was still the lightest of tre ors in his fingers. '$'ve &een "idding yself for days, Jenessa. $ don't hate you. $ love you.' Jenessa &lin"ed, trying to #ush away the ists of #ain and !odeine. '$'ve "no!"ed out and $' drea ing,' she 'uavered. '*r else $'ve died and gone to heaven.' She wasn't even sure he'd heard her. '0ou've got to &e real. *r nothing's real.' With !onsidera&le effort Jenessa held on to her train of thought. 'Did you say you loved e, 1inn3 *r a $ delirious3' 'That's what $ said.' She dredged u# a vestige of her nor al energy. '0ou don't loo" very ha##y a&out it.' 'After the way $'ve treated you3 No wonder you !an't &ear for e to "iss you.' yself

1inn loved her... loved her. 1eeling as though she was floating a&out three in!hes a&ove the ground, Jenessa announ!ed, '1or an intelligent an, you !an &e #retty stu#id so eti es. $ love you too.' '$ "now $ !an't e(#e!t/what? She said it a se!ond ti e, ore loudly. '$ love you/ that's what $ said.' $n the novel that Ruth had loaned her, 1inn would now have enfolded her in his ar s and !arried her to the nearest satin-sheeted &ed. $nstead he said &lan"ly, 'Why3' The !odeine, !o &ined with re'uited love, a##eared to have re oved any &ra"es on Jenessa's tongue. 'That's a 'uestion $'ve as"ed yself 'uite often in the last few days.' She s!owled in thought. '.e!ause you're you, $ su##ose. $'d &e the first to ad it y e(#erien!e is so ewhat li ited, &ut it see s to e that you learn 'uite a lot a&out a an when you a"e love with hi . $ guess $ really li"ed what $ learned a&out you, 1inn. $ "now $ li"ed the things you did to e.' +er s!owl dee#ened. '$ hated it when you said love a"ing had nothing to do with love. And $ hated it even worse when you a!!used e of leading you on to get y ra#a!ious little hands on your inheritan!e.' '$----' 'Why did you do that, 1inn3 Why did you thin" the a&solute worst of e3' She eased her &a!" against the nearest #a!", gri a!ing as she )arred her leg, "nowing the 'uestion itself and its answer were all-i #ortant. 1inn hesitated. '$'ve never tal"ed to anyone a&out this,' he said. '$ never let anyone !lose enough so that $'d have to.' '0ou've got to now. .e!ause you !an't say you love whenever things go wrong.' e and then thin" the worst of e

As though a da had o#ened so that all the water gushed out, 1inn said, '$t goes &a!" a long ti e/to the way $ was &rought u#. 2y other never wanted e or loved e fro the day $ was &orn, and $ never "new why. As a little &oy $ tried everything $ !ould thin" of to a"e her love e. As an adoles!ent $ re&elled in !lassi! and $' sure 'uite un&eara&le fashion, and as soon as $ turned si(teen $ left ho e and stru!" out on y own. 1our onths after $ left, she !o itted sui!ide/in the su er house----' +e &ro"e off, staring into the dan!ing fla es. Jenessa sat very still, terrified of &rea"ing into his train of thought. '$'ve !arried the guilt for her death with e ever sin!e,' 1inn said in a low voi!e. '2ay&e she did love e after all, and )ust !ouldn't e(#ress it... and when $ left she fell a#art. Now that $ loo" &a!" as an adult, $ thin" she #ro&a&ly suffered fro de#ression ost of her life. 2ay&e y leaving was what ti##ed her over the edge.' +e stirred the !oals with a sti!", wat!hing the #ulse and glow. 'Whatever the reason, $'ve "e#t y distan!e fro wo en all y life. *h, $'ve had the o!!asional affair over the years, as long as the wo an was no ore interested in !o it ent than $ was. .ut until $ et you $ never figured $'d fall in love. Didn't thin" $ "new how. Whi!h is no dou&t why $'ve &een fighting it/and you/ever sin!e we et... 0ou s!ared e out of y wits.' +e loo"ed straight at her. 'And if so e of y ethods were less than honora&le, that's a easure &oth of y fear and the de#th of y love.' As if it was the ost natural thing in the world Jenessa sagged against his shoulder and felt his ar s go round her. '$' sorry your other died li"e that,' she whis#ered. '.ut it !an't have &een your fault, 1inn.' '$'ll never "now that. .ut $ do "now so ething/"now it in y &lood and y &ones. $ love you. $t wasn't until $ had to hurt you a few inutes ago that $ reali-ed )ust how u!h... and what a fool $'d &een to try and run away fro you.'

Jenessa gave a sigh of ha##iness. '$ never thought $'d hear you say those words.' ;ery gently 1inn lifted her fa!e fro his shoulder and "issed her, a "iss unli"e any other he had ever given her &e!ause it &reathed of the way he felt. Although her green eyes were shining, Jenessa was still very #ale. '+ow are you feeling3' he said. 'Awful,' she re#lied with a da--ling s ile. 'And awfully ha##y.' '.ed for you,' 1inn said. 'Then $'ll a"e you so ething to eat.' With a grin that tou!hed her heart he added, '*ne slee#ing-&ag, so $ !an hold on to you all night.' +er own s ile was wo&&ly. '$n Ruth's &oo" we'd now whole night through.' +er eyes filled with easy tears. 'Do you really '$ want to arry you. $f you'll have e.' outh. ean that3' a"e ad #assionate love the

1inn said very 'uietly, 'We've got the rest of our lives for that, Jenessa.'

'*h, yes,' said Jenessa, and #lanted a "iss so ewhere in the vi!inity of his

When Jenessa wo"e u#, it was still dar" and she was !urled into 1inn's !hest. 1inn loves e, she thought, feeling as though the sun had suddenly risen in the !onfines of the tent and she was &as"ing in its heat. 1inn wants to arry e. This is what feli!ity is li"e... $ never "new. At a ore undane level, her leg hurt. 1eeling his &reath stir her hair, she snuggled a little !loser. 1inn and $ are going to get he'd have #ro#osed to arried... $f so eone had told e yesterday e, $'d have told the they were !ra-y. orning that &y evening

Aren't you the one who's !ra-y3 a little voi!e whis#ered in her &rain. $f you arry 1inn, you'll have to leave Newfoundland. 6eave the )o& you love and the !ountryside that's &een your life&lood ever sin!e you were &orn. And 1inn will &e traveling all over the world, wherever his )o& ta"es hi ... how will you li"e that, Jenessa3 $t's a very dangerous )o&, too. 2u!h ore dangerous than yours. She lay still, hating the insidious little voi!e, yet una&le to dis!ount what it had said. She hadn't even !onsidered the #ra!ti!al as#e!ts of arriage last night5 she had &een too ha##y. She didn't want to !onsider the now. 0et there they were, ines!a#a&le. 'What's wrong, Jenessa3' 1inn said softly. She gave a guilty start. '$ thought you were aslee#.' '$s your leg hurting3' 'Will $ have to leave Newfoundland3' she &lurted. 'And 1inn.' y )o&3 $ don't want to do that,

+e !hu!"led. '$ wondered when you'd get around to that. After you went to slee# last night, $ started figuring out the logisti!s of how we're a!tually going to anage to live together. .e!ause $ want you in y &ed as any nights of the wee" as #ossi&le. What with !o #uters and fa( a!hines y offi!e !an &e anywhere in the world, as long as $' near an air#ort. +ow a&out +alifa( or St John's in the winters and ,ander in su er3 That way you !an "ee# on guiding for as long as you want to. $'ve de!ided $' going to ta"e on ore of an ad inistrative role in y !o #any, too, whi!h will ease the a ount of traveling $ do.' 'Don't you need the danger3' Jenessa said dou&tfully.

'$ don't thin" $ will nearly as were right a&out that.'

u!h as $ used to. So e of it was #art of running away/you

+u &led, she added, '0ou sat and wor"ed all that out last night3' This ti e 1inn laughed outright. 'Wonderful how su&li ated se( !larifies the &rain.' She nu--led his !hest. '$ #ro ise it won't have to &e su&li ated for long.' '9uit distra!ting e, wo an,' he growled, '&e!ause $ haven't finished/$' y grandfather's land to you. As a wedding #resent.' She #ushed &a!" so that she !ould loo" into his eyes. '0ou do trust 'That's what that eans... that you really do trust e.' '6ove's all or nothing, isn't it3 $'ve learned that they all go together.' going to deed

e,' she said sha"ily.

u!h sin!e last night. 6ove, trust, res#e!t/

'$'ll turn the land into a wildlife san!tuary, if that's o"ay with you.' 'Never did li"e the idea of 2a! &lasting away at the !ari&ou... +ow's your leg3' 'Sore/and nature's !alling,' she ad itted. +e ru aged in her #a!", tossing her a #air of &ush #ants. As she eased the over her &andaged leg, so ething hard &u #ed her "nee. %u--led, she felt in the #o!"et and retrieved a s all, rusty tin. '*h, $ re e &er this,' she said !asually. '$t fell out of the a#le tree $ !ut down &y your grandfather's lodge/$ eant to as" you if it was yours.' 1inn was staring at the tin as though it ight &ite hi . 'The old &ran!hes... of !ourse,' he whis#ered. 'Why didn't $ thin" of that3' a#le with the for"ed

Jenessa handed it to hi , then, &odily needs ta"ing #re!eden!e over !uriosity/for the tin had !learly &rought &a!" e ories of his &oyhood/she #ushed her feet into her snea"ers and very !arefully !rawled out of the tent. The s"y was the #ale !rea of dawn, and a s#ider had !onstru!ted a we& of astounding, dew-s#rin"led &eauty &etween two #ine &ran!hes. The river ur ured &etween the trees. 1inn and $ love ea!h other, Jenessa thought with an u#rush of )oy, feeling as though the orning had &een !reated afresh )ust for her. $n a &urr of wings a !hi!"adee flew into the tree. As the we& ro!"ed gently, the dew !aught the first rays of the sun, s#lintering into all the hues of the rain&ow. The #ine needles had never loo"ed so green or the &oughs so gra!eful5 the air s elled of fallen needles and resin and the dan", ri!h s!ent of the river&an". A se!ond !hi!"adee )oined the first. ,littering &a!" and forth, they flitted a ong the &ran!hes. Now that 1inn and $ are together, $' ore truly a #art of this world that $ love, Jenessa thought slowly. $'ve found y ate, the an who !o #letes e. And one day $ ho#e $'ll give &irth to his !hild, as is the way of nature. Joy was lingering in her fa!e when she edged &a!" into the tent a few the sight of 1inn's fa!e drove it away. 'What's wrong3' she said shar#ly. inutes later. .ut

+e loo"ed stunned, al ost as though so eone had )ust hit hi over the head. 'The tin,' he !roa"ed. '$t had a letter in it fro y other. She used to do oil #aintings while she was at the su er house, and there was one on her &edroo wall of that a#le tree/&ut $ never ade the !onne!tion and thought to loo" there.' '6oo" for what3' Jenessa as"ed in !onfusion.

'That was why $ wanted to go to the su er house,' he said i #atiently. 'To see if she'd left any "ind of a essage for e, e(#laining why she never loved e, why she "illed herself. $'d already gone through all y grandfather's #a#ers and found nothing. So the house was y last ho#e. And, of !ourse, $ found nothing there either, even though $ sear!hed high and low.' 1eeling her way, Jenessa said, 'So that was how you got so dirty that day... and why you wanted to leave the island even though it was dar".' +e held u# two sheets of note#a#er, !losely written in a !ra #ed hand. 'She wrote it ah down. The truth. 2ore for her own salvation than for ine, $ thin"... &ut now at least $ "now.' 'What does it say3' 1inn too" a dee# &reath. '$ always "new that y grandfather was a tyrant, an o##ressive, angry an. 2y other/his only !hild/was a girl to start with, not a &oy. So she was a disa##oint ent fro the &eginning. .ut all her life she tried to #lease hi , even to arrying the an her father !hose for her. .ut then she disa##ointed hi again. As the years went &y she had no !hild, no &oy to &e an heir to all that y grandfather had a!!u ulated ... Do you "now what he did, that wi!"ed old an3' Jenessa !ouldn't &egin to i agine. Not waiting for her to answer, 1inn went on, '+e sent her and y father away for a year, ostensi&ly on &usiness. .ut he'd arranged for an ado#tion there/ e/and when they !a e &a!" he ade her say $ was her own son. So $ was for!ed on her, the truth s othered for the sa"e of a##earan!es and y grandfather's overweening #ride. No wonder she never loved e.' Jenessa frowned. 'Why did she go along with it3' 'She was terrified of her father. All her life. So she never dared to defy hi o#enly. $nstead she &uried all her anger...the !lassi! !ause of de#ression.' 1inn s oothed the #ages of the letter with one hand and went on in a !ra!"ed voi!e, 'She as u!h as says here that her life never had any eaning. .ut she waited to "ill herself until $ was gone. She didn't do that to e while we lived under the sa e roof.' 'The #oor wo an...' Jenessa said with instin!tive sy #athy. A sheen of tears in his eyes, 1inn said, '$ wish she hadn't ended it. $ wish she and $ !ould have et as adults and tried to sort so e of this ess out. Who "nows3 2ay&e we !ould have grown to love ea!h other.' Jenessa rested her hand on his wrist. '$s she the reason you didn't res#e!t wo en3' 'She never stood u# to y grandfather. Never fought hi . Never said no. Just on!e in her life $ wanted her to tell hi off. $nstead she tried to get what she wanted !overtly, using de!eit and su&terfuge and ani#ulation/all the things $ a!!used you of.' +e loo"ed u#. '1ro the day you and $ et you sure "new how to say no. 0ou des#ised e for offering you fifteen hundred dollars a wee"5 you !ouldn't &e &ought or ade to do anything you didn't want to. .ut when $ found out a&out your ties to y grandfather's land, $ slotted you right alongside y other and figured you'd &een de!eiving e fro the start.' +e gri a!ed. '$ was wrong/ !ouldn't have &een ore wrong. $t sounds futile to say $' sorry...&ut $ a .' '$ do understand,' Jenessa said. Still trou&led, she added, '%erha#s your other was glad when you left, 1inn. ,lad that you hadn't su!!u &ed to your grandfather's way of life, &ut were !arving out your own.' '0eah,' he said wryly. '$n a &usiness that was so dangerous that $ )ust a&out "illed &usiness where $ didn't ta"e a #ro#er holiday in ten years.' '$t will &e different now,' Jenessa said with dee# !onvi!tion. yself, a

1inn nodded. 'Different &e!ause $'ve learned fro you a&out the #ower of love. A lesson $ needed, although $ was the last one to reali-e that. 0ou see, we always fought, y grandfather and $, fro the day $ was old enough to defy hi .' +e gave an una used laugh. '+is will says it all. +e left e a #ar!el of land he ust have "nown $'d see as useless. +e didn't leave e a !ent of his oney. All along, $ reali-e now, he "new $ wasn't his true grandson. $ wasn't #art of the &loodline, a real e &er of his fa ily.' So it wasn't only her father's life that ,eorge +il!hey had ruined, Jenessa thought, a##alled. +e had done the sa e for his own daughter5 and even fro the grave he hadn't forgiven his ado#ted, errant grandson. '$t's ironi!, isn't it,' 1inn said, 'that his will led #ossi&ly have re!eived.' Tears in her eyes, Jenessa 'The only gift worth having,' said 1inn. e dire!tly to you3 The greatest gift $ !ould

ur ured, :The gift of love.'

E%$6*,<E 1$;E wee"s later Jenessa was hurrying down the stairs that led fro her &edroo to Ryan's "it!hen. She was going to &e late5 it had ta"en her longer to get ready than she'd thought. $n the doorway she halted, suddenly shy. Three #airs of eyes fastened the selves on her. 'Jenessa,' Ruth &reathed, 'you loo" terrifi!7' .a&y Ste#hen waved his ar s in the air, &ur&led so ething in!o #rehensi&le and gave a &ig grin5 his #in" gu s now &oasted three shiny new teeth. Ryan #ut his fingers in the !orners of his outh and whistled loudly and un!outhly. '0ou've sure #ulled out all the sto#s,' he said. '%oor guy doesn't have a ho#e. 0ou forgot to do u# your shirt, though. And what's wrong with your s"irt3 Did they run out of thread when they were sewing it u#3' 'Shut u#, Ryan,' Ruth ordered5 'it's a very se(y s"irt.' The s"irt in 'uestion was !alf-length, &la!" and sli - fitting, the front and &a!" sea s s#lit to well a&ove Jenessa's "nees. +er teal-green sil" shirt &ared her throat. The long gold !hain 1inn had sent fro ;ene-uela for her &irthday glea ed &etween her &reasts, while the earrings he had ailed fro New 0or" twin"led &elow her new hairdo. She was wearing #olished &la!" leather &oots and sheer &la!" hose5 her in)ured leg had healed over. 'Do $ loo" all right3' she said an(iously. '1a&ulous,' Ruth sighed, and for a ro anti!.' o ent sounded )ust li"e her other. 'This is so

Ryan #i!"ed u# his &rush and di##ed it in the #aint !an. 'Not &ad,' he said gruffly. 'Not as good as this &ird's goin' to loo" when $' done. .ut not &ad.'

Jenessa glan!ed at the !lo!". '$'d &etter go, or $'ll &e late.' She dro##ed a "iss on Ste#hen's soft head, hugged Ruth and ruffled Ryan's hair. 'Don't stay u# for e,' she said with a tou!h of insou!ian!e. '$ don't "now what ti e $'ll &e ho e.' '$' not e(#e!tin' to see either one of you &efore &rea"fast,' Ryan said, #ainting the du!"'s &ill dull orange. Jenessa &lushed, Ruth said, '*ff you go in !ase the #lane's early,' and Ste#hen waved &oth his fat little ar s at her. Jenessa wasn't used to driving in elegant leather &oots. .ut she ade it to the air#ort without isha# and #ar"ed the van. The #lane was already ta(iing down the runway. She hurried inside, her heels !li!"ing on the floor. The dour old !o issionaire, who she'd "nown for years, did a dou&le ta"e when he saw her then a!tually #rodu!ed a s ile. A ong the s all !rowd waiting for the #lane two of her friends didn't re!ogni-e her right away. 2ay&e 1inn won't re!ogni-e e, she thought, her sto a!h !ra #ing with nervousness. She should have worn her &ush #ants and her ru&&er &oots. .ut he still loved her. *r he had two nights ago when he'd #honed her fro New 0or", where he was !losing out one of his offi!es. They hadn't &een a&le to tal" for nearly two wee"s while she'd &een out on the &arrens with the fil !rew5 it had &een the longest two wee"s of her whole life. The louds#ea"er announ!ed the arrival of the evening flight. Jenessa !lut!hed her new leather #urse to her side and wished her heart would sto# trying to #u el its way out of her !hest. Through the o#en door fro the runway strode a tall, dar"-haired an in a grey &usiness suit, !arrying a leather &rief!ase. +e loo"ed around i #atiently, an i #atien!e she re e &ered all too well. Then his eyes lit on her, ta"ing in every detail of her a##earan!e. Rooted to the s#ot, Jenessa ga-ed &a!". +e was a stranger, she thought in #ani!, this wellgroo ed an in his i a!ulate suit with its tailored shirt and sil" tie. A stranger as seven wee"s ago he had &een a stranger. Then 1inn !losed the distan!e &etween the and she saw that his irises were the sa e dar" &lue, the e(#ression in the sending a ri##le of anti!i#ation along her s#ine. +e #ut down his &rief!ase. 'Jenessa...$ didn't thin" you !ould #ossi&ly &e ore &eautiful than $ re e &ered you,' he said, and &ent his head to "iss her. +is li#s, the !lean as!uline s!ent of his s"in, the strength of his ar s/they were all the sa e, Jenessa thought in dee# relief, and "issed hi &a!". $t was a long and thorough "iss that ade nonsense of the Against her hair 1inn ur ured, 'Not a tra!e of wood s o"e.' She !hu!"led. '$ should ho#e not/$' 'Still love '*h, yes.' +e "issed her again with a very satisfa!tory degree of #assion/rather ore #assion than was suita&le for an air#ort ter inal. '$ love you too. $ very u!h want to show you how u!h $ love you. $ &oo"ed a roo in the &est otel in town/will Ryan ind3' 'Ryan isn't e(#e!ting us until &rea"fast.' 'We ight a"e it &y then,' 1inn said. '%roviding it's not an early &rea"fast.' '$ don't thin" it'll &e too early... he has si( de!oys to finish tonight.' e3' onth they had s#ent a#art. e fro Te(as.'

wearing the #erfu e you sent

',ood,' said 1inn. '$ want you to

yself for at least twelve hours.'

1ifteen hours had #assed &y the ti e Jenessa and 1inn wal"ed in the &a!" door at Ryan's, and the si( de!oys were already #a!"ed in a shi##ing !rate. .ut Ryan had only )ust #ut the !offee on to &rew. '1igured you wouldn't get here &efore eleven,' he leered. 'What's that ro!" on your finger, Jenny3' $t was a &eautifully !ut e erald in an intri!ate gold setting. '2y engage ent ring,' Jenessa said. '.out ti e,' Ryan said. 'Already had Ruth's u on the #hone this orning wantin' to find out what's goin' on. $ told her $ was #lannin' on wal"in' you u# the aisle &efore 4hrist as5 that's what $ told her.' 'That's too long to wait,' said 1inn. '0ou'll have to &uy a new suit, Ryan,' Jenessa threatened. 'And have a hair!ut.' Ryan gave a rude snort, #ut a #an of ight as well !all this lun!h,' he said. uffins in the oven and got out the !offee- ugs. 'We