Oregon Outback (30 page)

Justin had seen it in Darrow’s eyes. She didn’t love the man. Probably her intended fiancé knew it as well. But Justin needed to tread carefully where she was concerned. His usual modus operandi was to act aloof, keep his distance. Push people away. But with Darrow, there was something about her …

Her chest heaved. “Look, Mr. Love. Is there something I can do for you?”

“First, call me Justin. Second, you said I need to move to another room today.”

“The front desk can help you with that.”

“I was at the front desk earlier. I was told I didn’t have a reservation.” With a grin, he paused to let that sink in, hoping to disperse the tension in the room. “I explained the situation, and the girl told me that I should speak to you.”

Darrow appeared to shrink, her frown deepening. Was she reacting to Justin or what he’d said? He hated that he’d wiped away her sweet smile. That hadn’t been his intention.

“How did you know?” Her question was barely audible. “You weren’t even there. You came inside the lodge as he was leaving. You didn’t see us together.”

What could he say? That he was trained to be observant? “I saw you together through the glass door as I came in. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist.” But he’d seen enough. He also saw that Darrow Kincaid wasn’t ecstatic, wasn’t brimming with excitement, with the hope of engagement. Something was wrong.

She shoved away from her desk. “Your cabin should be ready. I’ll get you the key.”

“How long do I have to stay in the cabin? I prefer the lodge if something opens up.” He didn’t want to risk missing Reed.

“How long do you plan to stay?”

According to Reed’s wife he was driving all the way from Florida, taking the back roads, everything he could do to escape notice as he made his way to Oregon. From the sounds of it, he was desperate to see his sister. But why? “Could be a week or two. Maybe more.”

The gorgeous, soft-tempered blond shook her head slightly, her usually bright Summer Lake eyes dark. He knew the question going through her mind. She wanted to know why he was here. What he was waiting on. But she didn’t voice her thoughts. Justin was grateful for that. He was being far too transparent with her.

She could very well know that her brother was headed to see her, could be on the lookout for someone like Justin. But chances were that Reed was counting on Oregon’s laws prohibiting bounty hunting to keep him safe. Chances were he wasn’t expecting anyone to pursue him here.

Justin followed her to the front desk where she recorded his stay in the cabin and retrieved the key.

Rather than handing it over, though, she held on to the key. “I’d better show you to the cabin. It’s a little off the beaten track. People often get lost and need help finding their way.”

Justin nodded, pondering her statement.
People often get lost and need help finding their way
. Did she know how profound that was?

He followed her through the lobby and out a side door. The weather had warmed considerably since this morning. Clouds had dispersed, presenting a crystal blue sky. A gust of wind caught them as they stepped off the last stair, the air still carrying a chill to it. The breeze lifted Darrow’s hair, which she’d worn down today. It hung past her shoulders, curling near the ends. She grabbed it and held it to one side.

As she continued her stroll down the trail behind the lodge, Justin slowed his step to match hers. He was surprised that she had nothing to say, and though he would normally appreciate the silence, he wanted to hear her voice.

“You mentioned there’s plenty to do in the area. What would you recommend?” He cringed, hearing the stilt to his question, but he needed her to think he was here to enjoy the environment, nothing more. So far he’d done a poor job of that. Plus, she mentioned she led a group hiking.

“There are brochures in the lobby to answer all your questions.”

“But I asked what
you
would recommend. You offer the personal touch at your lodge, remember?” Why was he asking? Did he really care about what she would find interesting? Yes … he did.

“This way.” Darrow turned to the right, down a barely noticeable path that wound between aspen and ponderosa pine. “Usually, I make recommendations when I know what a person is looking for, their interests.” At the cabin she paused and looked at him. “I confess, Justin Love, I don’t know anything about you.”

“Do you want to?” Justin sucked in a breath. Had he really just asked that? The woman was already planning to marry someone. “Hiking. I would enjoy hiking. Preferably someplace secluded. Someplace with you.”

You’re heading into dangerous territory
.

The corners of Darrow’s mouth lifted. Though tenuous, her smile had returned full-tilt. Justin couldn’t help himself. He brushed a strand of hair from her face.

If he spent time with her, could he talk her out of her current path leading to marital unhappiness? Should he? He had a feeling that would lead him to his own tragic heartbreak or worse.

Darrow held the key out to him. “I’m in a relationship, remember?”

Justin took the key, allowing his hand to grab on to hers and hold it, feeling the tension between them once more. “I remember.”

L
ate Friday afternoon, Darrow rubbed the tense and aching muscles in her neck. She peeked in on the kitchen to make sure all was well for the evening meal. Then she checked on Trace at registration.

Trace was cleaning out the shelves under the counter while it was quiet. The weekend crowd would soon keep her busy. She thrust her arm in deep and pulled out a catalog. Trace looked at it, then flipped it over for Darrow to see.

“You wouldn’t know anything about this, would you?” Trace gave her a wry grin.

Darrow pressed her hand to her head. “Give me that.” She snatched it, her cheeks warming.

Trace smiled. “No need to be embarrassed. What are you still doing here, anyway? Tonight’s the big night, isn’t it?”

A couple entered through the front door and gazed around the lodge then spotted the registration desk.

“I don’t know. Smit was supposed to call me yesterday to confirm.” Darrow was disappointed and yet relieved at the same time.

After a sympathetic look at Darrow, Trace turned her attention to the couple approaching the desk. Darrow left her to her work and headed to her cabin, unsure if she needed to prepare for a special evening with Smit or not. She should just call him herself but that had never been their way. Smit liked to keep things old-fashioned. He was the one to call or stop by.

Darrow stared at her phone as she absently exited the lodge and decided to call him to make sure they still had plans for the evening. The phone rang before she could call. It was Smit.

“Oh,” she said. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”

“I know I promised you something special this evening but I’m going to have to cancel our plans. I’m sorry.” He sounded disappointed. “I’ve got the flu.”

“Let me take care of you. I can make you some chicken soup.” Darrow held on to hope that Smit would let her come over. This sudden turn of events caught her by surprise, and all her doubts about him seemed to flee. He’d acted different this week. Was she losing him?

“No. You can’t.” Smit coughed. “I don’t want you to catch this nasty stuff. Best if I sleep it off. I would have called earlier, but honestly, I hoped to feel better. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Smit?” He’d been her sure thing, and now suddenly, she wasn’t sure he was there for her anymore.

“Yes?” His voice was scratchy.

I love you?
“Let me know if you need me.” And she meant it. But her sudden insecurity was pathetic. She’d bring him the soup, ignoring his protest.

“I will.” Smit hung up.

Darrow stuck her phone in her pocket. What was the matter with her? She strolled along the trail toward her cabin and passed it, needing the cooler evening breeze to slap some sense into her. All week, she’d doubted her feelings for Smit, and that, because of her encounter with a stranger. Now that she sensed distance in Smit, apprehension niggled at the back of her mind.

The very idea of her fickle thoughts made her sick. Her mother had run away with another man when Darrow was only ten, devastating the family. Darrow would not be unfaithful like that. And yet … she hadn’t committed herself to Smit. Not yet.

That thought, at least, brought her a measure of relief. She needed to know for certain it was the right thing to do. She’d been content, completely content, until Justin Love had disturbed her peace. Once he left, all would be well. In the meantime, she should avoid the man, if possible.

Right now, she feared there were too many wild places in her heart. It was an untamed wilderness.

Lord, I need Your guidance and Your help. Please forgive me if my heart has strayed from the one You intend me to be with. Be my guiding light
.

Walking with her head down in prayer, she knew the path well as it curved to the left and rose, edged by large boulders on either side. She paused and pressed her back against the rock wall, longing for a certainty strong and unmoving like the rock she leaned on. In the end, there was only One she could count on like that.

As for her own commitments, once she gave her heart completely to someone, Darrow would never bend from that decision. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the beam of remaining sun that reached down between the rocks, feeling the warmth against her skin.

Darrow saw things clearly. One touch from a stranger had opened her eyes to something more. Now she was afraid to commit to Smit, but she was also afraid of losing him—he had been her dream for so long.

Oh Lord, can I go back? Can I recover what I lost?
Wind burst between the rocks, wrapping her body and mind in cold fingers, and bringing with it an animated and familiar voice.

Darrow crept around the boulder and off the path.

Justin stood with his back to her, looking off in the distance, his cell phone to his ear. Reception was spotty in the area, but he’d apparently found a signal.

“Did you lie to me when you sent me here?” Bitterness and pain strained his voice.

“Of course not.” A sob broke across the phone. “How could you think that?”

“For one thing, you’re his wife. You could have sent me here to—” A noise behind him brought Justin around.

Darrow stood frozen a few yards away. “I … uh … I’m sorry.”

Frowning, she lowered her eyes toward the ground and turned around, hurrying back to the trail. She disappeared behind the boulders.

Great
. Justin had tried to reach Reed’s wife all day and she had to call now, while he was walking a trail. He had to take the call. Still, it was secluded. He hadn’t seen a soul on it since he’d been here, that was, until today.

“You still there?”

“Yeah. You could have sent me on the wrong trail.”

“But why would I do that? You know what this is about.”

He sighed. Once he’d heard Reed was headed to Oregon, he should have left it at that. “I do. That’s the only reason I’m here, because I can’t arrest him. That’s why I need to know now that you’re telling me the truth.”

“Yes. I swear.”

“Have you heard from him?” Justin paced up and down the grassy knoll along the trail, watching for any other hikers, unwelcome eavesdroppers.

“No.” Her voice squeaked, and then she started another round of crying.

“I’m going to trace his phone calls and anything else I can do to make sure he didn’t lie to you about where he was headed. Or that you didn’t lie to me.”

“Okay. And Justin …”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

He ended the call and hiked around boulders and onto the trail, following it in the direction he’d seen Darrow go. The sun was dipping low and darkness would close in on him soon.

He hated stakeouts. They forced him to stay in one place too long. Darrow’s presence complicated things, especially since she’d overheard his conversation. Just how much, he didn’t know. But he had his reasons, and they went much deeper than hunting a man who’d skipped bail, arresting him, and driving him back to the county where he was arrested.

Redemption. It was all about redemption.

He hurried along the path, looking for Darrow. A couple of kids ran past, nearly running into him. Where were their parents? Ah, he spotted them up the trail, holding hands, laughing and gazing at each other like they wanted to recapture the love they once had.

But what did he know about it? Nothing. They were so engrossed in each other they didn’t notice the approaching darkness. That was their business. The romantic couple behind him, he pushed down the trail passing a cabin here and there until the trees thickened.

There. Darrow stood on a porch, dimly lit by a small lamp. She leaned over the railing, gazing out into the woods to Justin’s left.

Should he approach her? Find out what she’d overheard? It wasn’t like he could continue on the trail without her seeing him. Justin hung his head, staring at the trail below and continued on. A stream trickled somewhere nearby. When he neared her cabin, he looked up, hoping to see her. The door closed.