The Return Of David Mckay. Ann Evans

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СКАЧАТЬ and she tossed back the waterproof cover over Sheba’s pack to withdraw a small hammer and the nylon bag holding the tent, stakes and struts.

      “What can I do to help?” Geneva piped in. “And don’t tell me to rest.”

      “We’ll need a fire,” Addy said. “Scout around for deadwood and a few small twigs to use for kindling. I brought some homemade chicken and dumplings that will need to be heated. And we’ll need hot water to wash up later.”

      Geneva set off on her assignment while Addy began unsaddling the horses and mules. David glanced around the spot she’d chosen as their campsite.

      She knew what she was doing. It was pretty and practical, a sheltered circle of large boulders and pines with a level grassy area ideal for the tent. The nearby stream was meandering, the current so sluggish and smooth that the reflection of the cottonwood trees along the bank seemed enameled on its surface.

      It was early yet. The sun still held a bright, burnished shimmer overhead and wouldn’t set for at least an hour.

      He shook out the tent, which seemed to be one of those fancy dome-type ones that took a minimum of work to erect once you got the hang of it.

      The first time he smacked one of the stakes with the hammer, it bounced straight back at him and almost took out an eye. Determined, he attacked the hard ground with the hammer’s head until he’d dug a hole. Maybe there was a better way, but he wasn’t about to ask for directions.

      Thirty minutes later the little clearing had been turned into a neat and orderly campsite. The horses and mules were hobbled and munching contentedly on grain. His grandmother was stirring a pot of dumplings over the fire. Indian blankets had been spread. Addy was in the tent, laying out pads and bedrolls and affixing a battery-powered lantern to one of the tent struts.

      Glancing around at what the three of them had achieved, David wondered if maybe this trip wouldn’t be such a disaster after all.

      The evening scents began to awaken and wander through the air. The wind died, making the extra clothing they’d pulled out of their packs unnecessary. They ate the dumplings with coffee and warmed corn bread brought from the lodge and talked of inconsequential things—the few glimpses of wildlife they’d seen today, the chance for rain. The likelihood of getting a good night’s sleep in strange surroundings and unfamiliar bedding.

      Every so often Gran seemed inclined to turn the conversation to the past, but David noticed that Addy was quick to change the subject. If she hadn’t, he knew he would have. No point in reliving any of that, now, was there?

      After dinner Gran disappeared into the tent. Addy set another pot over the fire to heat water for dish washing and bathing. When that was done, she joined his grandmother and then emerged moments later with a small toiletry bag.

      “I’ll be sleeping out here tonight,” she told him.

      “Why? We can squeeze three people in the tent.”

      “On trips like this I usually sleep under the stars. I like the feel of the night breeze on my face.”

      “Suppose it rains?”

      “Then I’ll come inside.” When she saw his eye-brows knit in a solid line, she added, “Look, you don’t have to worry about your macho image on this trip. I don’t expect you to be uncomfortable for my sake.”

      “I’ve slept out in the open plenty of times,” he protested tersely.

      “Recently?”

      “No.”

      “Well, I do it all the time now, so I’m used to it. And I happen to like it.”

      He shrugged. “Fine. Let’s take turns, then.”

      With a resigned sigh, she said, “All right. Every other night I’ll sleep in the tent with your grandmother.”

      “Starting tonight,” he added.

      With an agreement reached, she moved toward the fire.

      David watched her tend the campfire and send a plume of sparks skyward to meet the heavens. She’d lost the ponytail, and the rippling fall of her hair was full of fiery highlights. The glow of the flames reflected off her features, making her cheeks gleam like satin and painting the curve of her throat with golden light.

      He stared down into his coffee cup, his heart jerking.

      David appreciated the sight of a beautiful woman. And no doubt about it, Addy still had prettiness to spare. In fact, it didn’t seem as though she’d changed one bit in the time he’d been gone.

      He hadn’t seriously dated in months, content to take refuge in the satisfaction of hard work and the respect he received for his accomplishments. That was all he needed. That was what he knew.

      All right, so maybe lately it felt as though his life had lapsed into a narrow rut, full of pools he never had time to swim in and new cars that sat in garages like zoo animals. Although dissatisfaction was inevitable once in a while, he had found that discontent eventually became a comfortable, familiar routine.

      And when he felt the need to be lifted out of his circumstances, there were always females circling him like honeybees. That was one thing about the women in Hollywood. They had plenty of aggressive ambition.

      But certainly he was well over any interest in Addy D’Angelo.

      So stop looking for trouble, pal. Think about something else.

      With an abrupt movement, he rose, as if that was all it would take to cease to know Addy’s existence.

      She rocked back on her heels and looked up at him questioningly.

      “Fire’s too hot to sit so close,” he said, hoping that he’d managed to keep his expression flat and uninterpretable. “And I have work to do.”

      He retrieved his laptop and one of the lanterns. A few feet away from the campfire he found a perfect spot where he could keep an eye on things but might be spared the constant reminder of Addy’s disturbing presence.

      The Peterson agreement. Ten minutes of the new catering contract for his production company would be enough to capture his interest and kill what was left of the evening.

      His grandmother was already snoring softly when Addy rummaged through the supply box for something, then disappeared into the tent. Shadows danced in the lantern light as she moved around inside.

      Good. Day one almost over, David thought as he pulled up the Peterson file on his computer. He didn’t need to spend any more time being sociable or helpful tonight.

      Thirteen days to go. Way to go, McKay.

      The night air seemed full of sweetness, and down by the stream a frog chorus had begun a serenade. Moonbeams braided through the clouds overhead. Perfect.

      David situated himself into a comfortable position and began tapping out changes to the terms of the deal his legal team had prepared. He intended to offer it to Peterson by phone tomorrow morning.

      Witness that the said first party, McKay СКАЧАТЬ