Passions in the North Country (Siren Publishing Classic) (13 page)

As they continued talking, half-a-dozen more people climbed the hill and joined them. They were passing around a pair of binoculars and one man, obviously prepared, set up a telescope. He looked through it for awhile, then, noticing Jenny’s interest in what he was doing, invited her to take a turn. With his assistance, she concentrated on the mouth of a bay where she saw a dark form blowing spray high into the air. Suddenly she saw a tale, a massive thing whose size astounded her. And then the body appeared. It was a rolling mountain of living flesh. She was speechless.

“They come in every year to feed for the summer,” the man with the telescope said. “Aren’t they something?”

“Truly!” Jenny agreed. “How long do they stay?”

“They’ll be in this general area all summer, then head toward Australia in the early fall.”

“Too bad I couldn’t see them better,” said a woman who eyed the man’s telescope.

He took the hint and let her have a turn, then the others more or less formed an impromptu line. Jenny thanked him for allowing her to use the telescope and smiled appreciatively, then spoke for a moment with the couple who had brought her to this spot. She leisurely strolled back down the hill, her mind full of the sights she had seen, when an idea suddenly occurred to her. She hurried, almost running, back to her car and returned to her room. She made several phone calls and changed into a knee-length sun dress before going to the hospital to see Miriam.

“How do you feel today?” Jenny asked the frail woman as she placed a vase of roses on the table beside her bed.

“You didn’t have to do that, sweetheart,” Miriam said softly, admiring the beautiful flowers.

“I didn’t have to, I wanted to.”

“You’re so thoughtful. I guess you knew I needed cheering up, didn’t you?”

“I’ve got something I want to run by you.”

“Really?” Miriam said cautiously. “What?”

At that moment the door opened and Terry walked in with Devon. They were both surprised to see Jenny, but Terry smiled at her while Devon acted stiff, as usual. But he was strongly aware of her. And Jenny certainly knew he was there, the brutally handsome man she could not understand. He was wearing light
brown dress slacks, a tan leather belt, and a loose-fitting cream-colored cotton shirt that showed off his tanned skin. He refused to look at Jenny though, choosing instead to stand off to one side and say nothing.

“I was just about to tell your mother some news that might concern you,” Jenny said to Terry.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I don’t know if you’ll be interested, but it’s an idea I think might be good for everyone involved, including Mr. North.”

Devon raised an eyebrow and was obviously listening, though he pretended not to be.

“Let me get this straight first,” Jenny began. “Terry could have his boat paid off in a few months if he could find steady employment. If he could do that, he’ll be financially clear and he won’t have to go away for weeks at a time.”

“Right,” said Terry, not knowing what she had in mind. “But to find steady employment I have to go away for weeks at a time. The old catch-22.”

“It would be much better for everyone if Terry could find work near home,” Jenny noted, “so that he could be with his family. Correct?”

“That would be perfect,” Terry agreed, “but all I know is fishing, and I can’t make any money fishing inshore until lobster season in the fall. There’s nothing else that I know, Jenny.”

“What if you could use your boat and make money without having to catch fish?”

For the first time since meeting her, Miriam doubted Jenny. “Who’s going to pay him, dear?”

“This morning I went to White Sands Beach.”

“Yes,” Miriam said, still confused.

“I was walking along enjoying the beauty of the beach when a man and woman asked me if I wanted to join them for a hike along the nature trail. When I got to the end, you’ll never guess what I saw.”

“Whales,” said Terry, “among other things.”

“Right,” Jenny said. “I saw whales, seals, otters, whole colonies of sea birds, jagged shorelines, islands…It was absolutely phenomenal. The most incredible thing I’ve ever seen in my life!”

“Excuse me if I don’t see the connection,” Miriam said, “but what has all this got to do with Terry?”

“Tours,” Jenny stated with excitement. “I was watching the whales and looking at all the thriving sea life when someone said it was a pity they couldn’t get close enough for a good look. Then it hit me. With a boat you could get very close. I phoned the Department of Fisheries and they said they have a license available for boat tours. Because Terry has such a good reputation in the community, the official told me it’s his if he wants it. He said that Terry should come down today or tomorrow to discuss details on safety regulations, proper distances—that sort of thing.” She looked at Terry. “What do you think?”

“Terry?” Miriam said hopefully.

“It sounds great, but I don’t know anything about marketing. How would I find people who are interested?”

“That’s where you’d be connected with Mr. North,” Jenny said, wanting to look at Devon but fixing her attention on Miriam and Terry instead. “A chance to go out in a boat and be next to whales, not to mention all those other wonderful animals and spectacular scenery is something a lot of people would pay for. When I was in Los Angeles, people constantly told me that they wanted to get away from concrete and noise. They wanted to see nature, to be part of it. They were tired of zoos and parks so full of people that you felt like you were in a mall. But this—this is something completely different. The ocean, whales, quiet beaches, rugged shorelines, sea birds, and a few hours out on the water away from all the trappings of modern society. Now that’s an angle we could make a winner.”

“How would you arrange it?” Miriam asked, starting to believe in the idea.

“That’s the beauty of it!” Jenny exclaimed. “We could run the tours through the hotel. Two birds with one stone. Terry could make money while working near home and the nature theme would be a tremendous promotional idea. We could even guide people who want to enjoy nature walks along the coastline. I could do that. I’d love the exercise and I enjoy people.” She paused. “What do you think?”

“It sounds good,” Miriam said, “but will it work?”

“I’m sure it will,” Jenny assured with her infectious enthusiasm. “Once people see what’s being offered, how could they not be totally won over?”

Everyone looked hopefully at her and she knew she had to deliver. That meant calling Arnie back in Florida. He had been in the business for six decades and had intimate knowledge of every tour bus in North America. If it moved, he knew about it. No doubt, he was a must and it would be nice to call him, to tell him everything was all right. But, on the other hand, she would be phoning Florida and sneaking into enemy territory—Ivan’s territory—and Jenny had an almost obsessive fear that he had spies everywhere. She knew he wanted her head that bad.

“I told you she was a godsend,” Miriam said to Devon. “You just wait and see. Jenny will deliver. I know it!”

She looked at each person in turn. “While I was working in LA, I established a lot of contacts and, if it’s all right with everyone here, I’ll phone an old friend of mine who works in a top travel agency. I’d like to get started right away.”

Jenny felt fairly confident that Miriam and Terry would be pleased with the idea, but she was not so sure of Devon. If the plan was successful the hotel would be much better off, but would he resent her assuming so much control in his business?

“Sounds wonderful!” Miriam exclaimed.

Terry nodded. “I’m on board.”

“Mr. North?” Jenny asked, boldly turning to him.

“Can you make it work?” he asked, an expression of begrudging respect flashing across his handsome face.

“Yes,” Jenny pledged, determined to see that her project was a success, both to prove to herself that she could do it, and, just as important, to show Devon that she was a very capable woman.

Devon nodded in consent, glancing into her eyes for a split second before leaving with Terry to visit the Department of Fisheries. When they left, Jenny was struck by how empty the room now seemed.

“How was your night in the hospital?” Jenny asked.

“I didn’t like it, but what can you do? How was your night, dear?”

“I was a little restless,” Jenny told her. “It’s a lovely room and everything, but I’m not used to it.”

“Not yet.”

A nurse came into the room and Jenny told Miriam she would visit again the next day. She hugged Miriam and left, waiting at the elevator door. When it opened, Devon was standing there. He was surprised to see her, and she was surprised to see him.

“I thought you went with Terry,” she said.

“Going down?” he asked.

“Are you?”

“I came back to speak with you for a moment,” Devon said, apparently eager. “Is that all right?”

She walked into the elevator and the door closed. “Sure. What is it?”

“Terry wants to know how soon he’d have to have his boat ready. We need to do some repairs on the motor and it may take a few days.”

“That’s fine. We have time.”

He seemed unnaturally nervous. “Did Miriam discuss the hotel with you?”

“In what sense?”

“She’s afraid bad things will happen while she’s gone. It’s a source of worry.”

“Nothing bad will happen,” Jenny insisted.

“Still, in her mind, she’s very agitated.”

“What can I do?”

The elevator came to a stop and they exited together. “I don’t know how to say this, but Miriam wants you to stay while she’s out of commission.” He held up his hands. “I told her I can handle everything by myself, but she has a tremendous amount of confidence in you. She thinks you’re an angel that has been sent here.” Devon lifted his eyebrows, his face conflicted. “I didn’t know what to tell her.” His voice cracked. “I know you’re a free spirit and a mysterious woman who probably doesn’t want to be tied down in any way, and I tried to explain that to Miriam, but she just has this thing in her mind—”

“I’ll stay while she’s indisposed,” Jenny said, looking strangely at him. “I’ll do it for her.”

He opened the door for her and she brushed past him, her full, soft breast lightly grazing his thick, muscular arm. To look at them together—the big, strong man and the slight, pretty woman—you would have thought it was no contest. He had all the power. But in reality, her soft form, bathed in the fragrant glow of subtle perfume, rendered his big, masculine frame little more than putty. She stopped right beside him, her scent strong in his nostrils, her gorgeous, gleaming eyes monopolizing his, her gentle manners driving deep into his being. Again she brushed against him ever so slightly, the satin skin of her upper arm sliding across his taut biceps.

“If it’s okay with you?” Jenny said.

He literally could not speak for a moment. “Yes,” he said weakly. “Whatever is good for the hotel.”

“Yes,” she said, smiling sweetly and pulling away from him as if not realizing they had touched. “Whatever is good for the hotel is good for Miriam, and if it’s good for Miriam, I will do what I have to do.”

“Good. We’re on the same page.”

“Yes, Mr. North, I believe we are.”

“Good, Ms. Lamb.” He started walking with her toward the parking lot. It was cloudy and there was an unusual chill in the air. “If that is your real name.”

A jolt of electricity shot through her. “What?” She stopped and stared into his eyes.

He stopped and stared into her eyes. “The night I first met you I was transporting a lamb for Henry. You would have seen her when you came to my truck. Right?”

Jenny said nothing, but intently watched him.

“I’m sure Miriam must have asked your name and, well, it just seems like a tremendous coincidence that you would have seen a lamb and then only a short time later stated that your name was Lamb. But maybe I’m being overly suspicious.”

“Yes, you are!” Jenny snapped. “You have a very wild imagination, Mr. North.” She shook her head, smirked, and sighed. “Tell me, why would I lie about something like that?”

“I don’t know. If someone was running from the law I suppose—”

“I’m not running from the law,” she interrupted, genuinely miffed. “Is that your opinion of me? That I’m a criminal?”

“No,” he said, slowly saying the word. “It’s hard for me to imagine you doing anything wrong.”

“Well, then, please stop accusing me.”

“I’m not accusing you of anything, Ms. Lamb. I just don’t think you’re telling me the truth about your name. I think there’s something secret going on with you.”

“Do you want to see my driver’s license? Do I have to prove who I am?”

“No, you don’t have to prove anything to me,” he said, stopping at her car. “But if you want to show me your driver’s license I won’t stop you.”

“I’m not going to,” she suddenly said with great emotion.

“Oh?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I’m a woman,” she said, “and I’m allowed to be mysterious.” She paused. “It’s my obligation.”

Devon burst out laughing. “You’re too much!”

Jenny made a strange face. “Is that a compliment or an insult?”

His handsome face lit up. “A compliment, Ms. Lamb.” He walked toward his truck, turning back after a few steps. “Definitely a compliment, Ms. Lamb.”

“I’m not so sure.”

He laughed, walked to his truck and left. As Jenny drove away, she could not stop replaying Devon’s words in her mind. Everything he said, every single word, rolled over again and again in her mind. She wanted to be mysterious, but he was just as mysterious as her. There was something about him, something secret, something he wanted no one else to know. Yes, this man, the handsome, sexy man, was just as enigmatic as she was. And when he spoke to her, it was as if there was a whole language between the lines. Of course there was the sex thing, always latent, just below the surface, but she appreciated his depth, too, and his commitment. Sure, they had not started off the best, but she respected him and she knew he respected her.

Feeling a tremendous sense of levity, she drove to the hotel and walked toward the Captain’s House. She would change and go out for supper, maybe even order some seafood and again travel down to White Sands Beach. But just as she rounded the corner, heading for Maria’s door, she saw a huge, dead rat lying on her doorstep. Jenny cringed and hurried away from it, her nerves firing madly in all directions.