White Water Passion. Dawn Luedecke
ended up sounding like chickadees in springtime, but at least everyone could tell what was happening.
“Mr. Smith said to tell you same as last time. You are responsible for the Devil May Cares,” Simon said.
Garrett turned to Beth, and that same breathless feeling she often felt when he looked at her fogged her brain once more. He shifted on his feet and drew closer. “Be warned, nothing happens within the ranks of my men that I don’t know about.”
“I’ll wager you’re an extremely hospitable captain,” she teased. He simply stared until the moment grew uneasy. Like a child in the midst of a scolding, she dropped her gaze to study the mud on the toe of her boots. Perhaps she should tamp her enthusiasm down a bit. “Warning acknowledged.”
“We need to build your strength so you will be physically able to take on the river should you fall in. If something happened to you…” He left the words hanging, but his face read like a blank slate, impossible to cipher, and quite boring. The more she got to know this side of Garrett, the less her fantasies about him enticed her, but then there were those fleeting moments when his eyes softened and she wished he’d let her into his good graces. Not that she deserved his respect after the stunt she pulled, but it was for a good cause. Soon enough he’d see her way of thinking. He moved a fraction closer and all she could concentrate on was his words.
“Each morning after breakfast, you will meet me near the lake until the river run. Be prepared to train.”
She gave a slow nod and stared deep into his ever-changing hazel eyes. He held her gaze for a few moments, before giving a slow blink, and turning away. She let go of the breath she’d held during that moment. With one simple look he could rein in her enthusiasm and make her want to follow his every direction—something she wasn’t used to doing. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice.
With a frown and a shake of his head, he turned to her brother. “What else did Paul say to you?”
Simon flashed a toothy grin and straightened up with pride. “John’s gone this year, so I am foreman of the Missoula camp.”
Garrett’s shoulders relaxed and the furrow of his brows lessened. He slapped her brother on the shoulder. “This job has truly turned into mud if you’re in charge.” Garrett lifted his head in a silent salute. “Seriously though, the job couldn’t have gone to a better leader, Simon. Well done, my friend. You deserve it. You do good work.”
Simon nodded. “I’ve got to get the mail car emptied and deliver the letters to the long-term camps before they leave. Can you show Beth…er, Brent, around?”
“I need to have a quick word with Paul, and then she can follow me about camp.” Garrett slapped her brother on the shoulder while he walked past. Beth couldn’t help but watch the easy way he communicated with the lumber mill big bug—the man in charge. He smiled and shook hands with Paul, comfortable in the role of leader. This was the man she’d seen on the street the other day, the one she couldn’t help but admire. A true leader of men.
After a few minutes, Garrett returned and gave her brother a stiff nod. With a quick show of gratitude, Simon shuffled off, leaving her with the feeling that she wouldn’t see him again until nightfall.
Garrett glanced down at her and his mood changed. The smile on his face faded. He cleared his throat, and shifted from one foot to another. A different person than the one who bantered with her brother, and she suspected the other men in camp. She would tolerate his gruffness for the chance to help the people of Bonner and her beloved, yet grumpy, brother. She needed to focus anyway, and find out who had been on the platform that day, hidden around the corner from where she’d sat waiting for Simon.
Garrett motioned for her to accompany him as he made his way through the camp.
Beth smiled and followed. The care he took with each person they encountered was vastly different from the arrogant spirit he showed toward her. He was friendly and caring. Why couldn’t he treat her the same? What was it about her that he despised so much?
After visiting with a rough-looking young man with teeth like a mule, Garrett threw her a quick look and turned to the path before them as they circled the camp.
“I find your shrewd smile unnerving. Should I be worried?” The corners of Garrett’s lips twitched as if he held back a smile. His face and posture showed haughty indifference, but those brief tells gave her a deeper insight into who he was—the man he didn’t want people to see, or at least didn’t want her to see.
“Not at all, I was simply admiring how easy you are with your fellow loggers.”
“I have known them for years and feel obliged to ensure they are well taken care of.”
“Are they all Devil May Care boys?” She studied a young boy busy splitting wood and paused. If Garrett wasn’t so keen on walking the camp, she’d stop and help the kid. What an awful existence to be small, yet have the responsibilities of a man. Life was rough up here in the camp.
“No, they are not all rivermen.”
“Why do you feel the need to watch over all of the men in camp? Don’t they have leaders?”
“Yes, but they are also my friends. And I am the leader of the Devil May Cares”
“How considerate,” she paused, and then slid him a sly grin. “Do you always accentuate your words in such a way?”
“Good speech is an essential part of good leadership. A leader cannot expect his men to follow orders if they can’t understand him.”
“True, but don’t your men get tired of trying to understand you? I thought loggers were usually jaunty and easygoing. You on the other hand, are not.”
He held out his arms to direct her to the center of camp, but the lines on his face grew severe once more. Her words had made a mark on the man. Instant regret niggled in her chest. Although his attitude today had been less than hospitable, some might argue he simply held a reserve where she was concerned. Which was understandable seeing as she’d blackmailed her way into his life. He didn’t deserve such harsh words from her.
A boy she’d never seen before trotted up to them, and held out an envelope. “Message for you, Garrett.”
Garrett took the paper. “Thank you.”
“Who’s that?” Beth watched the boy disappear along the same trail some of the lumberjacks had taken earlier that day after they’d jumped off the train.
“One of the cook’s boys from the Bonner camp.” Garrett opened the missive, and read it. He pinched his lips tight, and tucked the note into the inner breast pocket of his jacket. Whatever was on the note didn’t make him any more agreeable.
“If you’ll follow me.” His movements were rigid and his face unreadable once more. He turned off the path. “You can take the first week to help the cook. We all do it. Best to get it out of the way so you can then concentrate on learning the river rules.”
“You said I would help the cook if I misbehaved. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“It’s not permanent. It’s an extra duty everyone here does.” He patted his jacket pocket where he’d stuck the letter. “I have something I need to attend to, and I need to figure out the best way to bring you into the river crew. Having you help Aunt June for the first few weeks will give me some time to do so. You’ll still get to train with us, but you’ll also be helping the cook. Take care, though—Aunt June can’t keep secrets. What you say to her will be made known to the entire camp.”
What he said made sense, and if it would help her cause, she’d do it without argument, and shield her secret. She needed to grit her teeth and bake a blasted apple pie…or whatever the cook had planned for the evening. Damn it. “So you make the cook rotation as well? You must be very important to everyone in camp, not just me.”
“I am no one of great consequence, but I have a good rapport with the cook. Everyone calls her Aunt June. She is my