Jenny Cussler's Last Stand (29 page)

A pair of brown hands steadied her shoulders as she almost barreled into Clint. He allowed his hands to linger, their warmth searing through her blouse...or so it seemed to Jenny at the moment.

She balanced the liquid in her cup and looked up into his beautiful dark eyes.

“Good morning, Jenny.” He lowered his voice and leaned toward her. “You smell wonderful.”

Jenny’s eyes were locked onto his.

“I’m so glad to see you,” she blurted out. “I missed you.”

Clint’s hands tightened on her shoulders.

“It has been a long time since we’ve seen each other, hasn’t it? I missed you, too.”

The kitchen had fallen silent, and Jenny tore her gaze from the hypnotic look in Clint’s eyes to see that Sandra and Susie had stopped to watch them openly. Clint followed her eyes.

“Good morning, ladies,” he said, as he dropped his hands with visible effort and stepped around Jenny to pour himself a cup of coffee. “I’ll see you outside in a minute,” he said to her out of the corner of his mouth.

Jenny nodded and pushed open the creaking door to slip outside. She could hear Clint talking to Susie and Sandra.

“So, what’s for breakfast?” he asked.

Jenny couldn’t hear the answer as she descended the steps. She wondered if he were really interested in breakfast or whether he knew their tendency to gossip and was trying to throw them off the scent of a good story.

“Well, there you are,” Kate said as she sauntered up to the dining hall. “How did you sleep?” she asked.

Jenny’s face flamed. She could feel the heat. No need to look in the mirror. There was no point in trying to hide anything, and Kate’s expression told her so.

Kate’s smile broadened into a grin, and she nodded.

“I see,” she said. “Well, good for you two.” She turned to ascend the stairs. “I’d say tell me all about it, but I’m sure you will when you want to...if you do.” Kate reached for the door just as Clint pushed it open.

“Good morning, Clint,” she said with a knowing lilt in her voice as he stood back to let her enter.

Jenny rolled her eyes and shook her head at Clint as he looked at her above Kate’s head. He shut the door behind him with a wry smile and descended the stairs to come to Jenny’s side.

“No, I didn’t tell her. She could read my face, I think. I wonder if everyone can.” She turned to look toward the campfire.

“I don’t mind,” Clint said with a laugh in his voice. “I’m feeling quite bold. It took all I had to keep from telling those busybodies, Susie and Sandra, that I’m in love.” He shook his head with a broad grin. “The only reason I didn’t is because I wasn’t sure how you would feel about it.”

Jenny’s heart jumped at his words. She would have gladly flung her cup of coffee to the side and jumped into his arms if she didn’t worry about what might happen to him.

“Won’t you get in trouble, Clint? You know, fraternizing with the camp attendees?”

Clint looked over her head toward the growing number of people congregating down by the community fire in anticipation of the breakfast bell.

“Honestly? I could care less what anyone says,” he said as he returned his soft gaze to her face. “This isn’t a paying gig, and I volunteer here. While I usually try to do the right thing...show up at class on time...be patient with people who complain because this isn’t a resort...I can’t help it if I fell in love.” He reached out as if to touch her and then pulled back with a wry smile. “However, I can certainly understand if you’re not ready to shout it from the rooftops. This is a small community, and two people falling in love at camp is bound to raise some...uh...discussion.” He threw a quick glance toward the growing number of people down by the fire again. “Will this be a problem for you?”

Jenny shook her head. “Not the gossip, no,” she said. “But—”

“What’s this about gossip, you two? My guess is there will definitely be plenty of gossip,” Kate said as she strolled up. “But neither one of you is married, so who cares?”

“No, we’re not,” Clint agreed with an appreciative smile in Kate’s direction. “Thanks for the level head, Kate.”

Jenny nodded with a faint smile and was about to respond when Gary Ward approached.

“Good morning, everyone.” He rubbed his hands together as if to warm them up. “I sure wish they’d ring that breakfast bell. I’m starving.”

He gazed at the group with seemingly benign and casual interest, but Jenny thought his lips tightened when he spoke to Clint.

“Hey, Clint, I wonder if I could talk to you for just a few minutes. Some group stuff.”

Clint threw Jenny a look over Gary’s head with a faint lift of his eyebrow.

“Sure,” Clint responded with an unreadable face as they moved off.

“Uh-oh,” Kate said. “That didn’t sound good. Group stuff, my foot,” she said.

Jenny exhaled, unaware she’d been holding her breath.

“I’m glad you’re not pretending nothing is going to happen, Kate. I didn’t think this would go unnoticed.”

“Well, Clint is a big boy, Jenny. He knows what is expected here, and whether he has crossed any lines. I’m sure everything will be all right.” She chuckled. “I mean...can you imagine someone trying to tell him what to do?”

Jenny’s worried expression lightened for a moment, and she gave her head a rueful shake.

“No, I can’t. I really can’t.”

“Well, except for you,” Kate added as the breakfast bell rang. She turned toward the dining hall.

“What? What do you mean by that?” Jenny retorted.

“Nothing bad,” Kate laughed. “Just that from the looks of it, that guy would do anything you wanted him to, I swear!”

Jenny was about to disagree, but Brad and Tim approached to stand behind them in the line formed outside the dining hall door.

She looked behind her for Clint but couldn’t see him.

Her ears felt like they were burning, and she wanted to see him again to find out if everything was all right.

Chapter Twenty

Clint narrowed his eyes as he regarded his long-time friend, seated on an upended log behind his cabin.

“What I don’t get is why you think this is your business, Gary,” Clint said as he lounged against the wall of the cabin. Trying to control his anger, he wasn’t nearly as relaxed as he appeared. “Did the elders say something about it?”

Gary shook his head. “No, I’m not sure anyone has noticed but me. It’s just that I’ve known you for a long time, and I know when something is up.” Gary’s eyes flickered for a moment. “And you haven’t been in your cabin for the last two nights.”

Clint couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

“Nope, you’re right, I haven’t, although I think it’s pretty strange that you’ve been checking up on me.”

“I haven’t been checking up on you, brother,” Gary said with tight lips. “I stopped by late the other night to talk to you about something...I can’t remember what, now, and I saw you heading into camp this morning...right behind Miss Cussler.”

Clint’s lips were as tight at Gary’s.

“And?”

“And you know we’re not supposed to be messing around with the camp attendees.” Gary paused. “I mean, it’s not like we’re in high school here, but—”

“No, we’re not,” Clint interrupted as he recrossed his arms. “Although you seem to think you’re the principal. I’m not breaking any laws.” He knew he should offer Gary some sort of explanation, tell him how he felt about Jenny, but in his anger, he resisted.

Gary jumped up in exasperation. “Well, I thought you didn’t even like white women. After what happened in college and all.”

Clint raised an eyebrow. “Are you serious? Is this about race?”

Gary’s face drooped, and he hung his head for a moment.

“No, I’m sorry, man. That was low.” He raised his head to look at Clint. “What’s going on, man?”

Clint watched his friend’s shamed face and relented.

“Love,” he said simply.

Gary’s eyes widened. “Love?”

Clint nodded. “I think I’m in love.” He shrugged his shoulders with a wry smile. “I’m not quite sure how it happened, or what will happen in the future, but I’m pretty far gone.”

Gary sank back onto the log and stared at Clint with consternation.

“So, what now? You guys call each other? She comes to live here? You go there? Have you given that any thought?”

Clint’s eyes narrowed again, but he saw the concern on Gary’s face. Another problem with living in a small town or on a reservation—everyone cared about you.

“I don’t know. I think about the future all the time, except when I manage to avoid thinking about it. Jenny and I really haven’t talked about it. This thing is pretty new.”

Gary stood up again and came to lean on the side of the building next to Clint. Together, they surveyed the small creek which ran behind the cabins, the creek that fed the pond up at the sweat lodges.

“Somehow, I knew this wasn’t just a fling. Heck, as far as I know, you’ve never really had a fling,” Gary said. “Not that I’ve been keeping track of your love life or anything.” He chuckled.

“Well, it seems like you are now,” Clint said with a snort. “I thought you were the last guy on earth who would get into my business.”

“Nah! I give. I shouldn’t have butted in. You’re a big boy, Clint.” Gary shook his head. “I’m pretty sure the elders would have something to say about it, but that’s your business.” He hesitated. “I’m just worried...”

“About what?” Clint asked, though he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

“That you’ll leave. That you’ll follow her back to wherever she came from. We need you here. Everybody leaves.”

Without thinking, Clint shook his head. “That’s not going to happ—” He stopped short.

“Are you sure?” Gary asked.

Clint pushed away from the wall with a sigh.

“No, I’m not sure. I just don’t know,” he said. “I don’t want to think about it right now.” He walked off in the direction of his cabin, hoping that Jenny wouldn’t notice he didn’t come to breakfast.

****

Forty-five minutes later, after some fruitless soul-searching, he entered the classroom and looked over at Jenny. Her anxious look tugged at his heartstrings, and he gave her a reassuring smile before taking his place at the head of the class.

Class seemed to drag and speed by at the same time. He found it hard to concentrate on some of the stories, willing himself to avoid staring at Jenny. He could tell she kept her eyes averted, as well. And yet he enjoyed knowing she was close by.

Was she already regretting last night, he wondered? Worse yet...had this just been a fling for her? He didn’t think so. She lacked that sort of confident playfulness that people who flirted and teased had. Not that she couldn’t. He’d been the recipient of some of her teasing and flirting, but he felt as if it had been spontaneous, unpracticed, and directed to him specifically.

He supposed they would have to have a talk tonight. And yet he dreaded it. If they didn’t talk about a possible future, then he could pretend they had one. If they did discuss a future together and nothing could be resolved, then what would happen? Would they part ways? Tonight? He swallowed hard on the thought. Oh, no... Not tonight. He hadn’t had enough of her. Not yet. He didn’t want to talk about anything tonight. He had to attend the sweat tonight, but then he planned to spend the rest of the evening with her...somewhere on this suddenly tiny mountain!

****

Jenny watched Clint’s face out of the corner of her eye for most of the day. She’d hoped to get a chance to talk to him, but he disappeared at both breaks and was invited to join some of the elders for lunch. She knew one didn’t turn down an invite from the elders.

She participated in the conversation between Tim, Brad, and Kate at lunch only halfheartedly as she threw an occasional glance over her shoulder toward Clint and the elders. Everyone seemed fairly jovial, and nothing seemed untoward. She eyed Gary as he passed her table with a tray of food, but he didn’t throw any pointed looks in her direction, either. So perhaps Gary and Clint had talked about nothing more personal than the group, as Gary had mentioned.

The afternoon dragged on, and she struggled to keep her eyes open as people offered up their stories. She reminded herself she was short on sleep, and her cheeks warmed as she remembered the evening before. She cast a quick glance at Clint and met his eyes as he watched her. She felt herself color, and he let his lips curl ever so slightly in a tender smile before he returned his attention to the speaker. Jenny melted into her chair, wondering that such a gentle smile could turn her into a bowl of mush.

She had no idea what the future would hold for them, and she didn’t want to think about it today. Perhaps she would find her answer in the sweat this evening, the women’s final sweat, as they did not sweat in the mornings and tomorrow night was the powwow and final evening at camp. Well, it was the powwow. She wasn’t going to think about a final evening at camp. She couldn’t wait to see Clint in traditional clothing.

Group ended, and Jenny headed for the door behind Kate.

“Meet me after the men’s sweat,” Clint whispered behind her. “By the river.”

She turned quickly, but his attention was taken by one of the attendees.

“I heard that,” Kate said with a grin. “The river? Man, you two are so cute.”

Jenny held back a smile. “The river,” she sighed. “The river.”

“Well, let’s hustle and get changed for our last sweat,” Kate said. “I’m really going to miss these sweats. There’s something so...profound about them...so...”

“Soul-stirring?” Jenny offered.

Kate nodded. “That’s a good description.”

“Do you ever have visions?” Jenny asked.

“No, not really,” Kate shook her head. “Why? Do you?”

They reached the door of the cabin.

“I think I do,” Jenny said.

“Really?” Kate said. “Well, I won’t ask what about, because I’m sure I can just imagine. Might be your psyche is working on overtime...what with this love thing you’ve got going with Clint.”

Jenny slipped out of her clothes.

“Might be,” she smiled broadly. “And he is quite the vision, if I say so myself.”

“Oh, yes,” Kate agreed. “That is one fine-looking man.”