Yukon Cowboy
Debra Clopton
Hometown girl Bethany Marlow moves back to Treasure Creek to open a wedding planning shop for all the new brides. But when her former boss asks her to help lead a wilderness tour before she sets up shop, she can't refuse.When she finds out the lead guide is Nate McMann, the man who broke her heart, she's thrown into a tailspin. Nate's now a gruff rancher, hiding his heart–and a secret. Guiding lovey-dovey newlyweds and a sweet family have Bethany and her Yukon cowboy questioning everything they thought was true. Except their love.
“Can you still hike that kind of terrain? And when was the last time you rode a horse?”
“Nate McMann, I could outhike you any day of the week when we were in high school and you know it.” The gall of the man! “And though I might not be able to break wild horses like you I can still ride with the best of them.” She had no intention of telling him that she hadn’t ridden a horse in nine years!
“I never said you couldn’t ride or hike,” he said. His tone sent shivers through her. Confused her.
The man still got to her. There was absolutely no denying that. It was maddening and crazy. But, maybe this was what she needed. Maybe this was the thing that would clear the air once and for all.
Alaskan Bride Rush:
Women are flocking to the Land of the
Midnight Sun with marriage on their minds
Yukon Cowboy—Debra Clopton
October 2010
DEBRA CLOPTON
was a 2004 Golden Heart finalist in the inspirational category, a 2006 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award winner, a 2007 Golden Quill award winner and a finalist for the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She praises the Lord each time someone votes for one of her books, and takes it as an affirmation that she is exactly where God wants her to be.
Debra is a hopeless romantic and loves to create stories with lively heroines and the strong heroes who fall in love with them. But most important, she loves showing her characters living their faith, seeking God’s will in their lives one day at a time. Her goal is to give her readers an entertaining story that will make them smile, hopefully laugh and always feel God’s goodness as they read her books. She has found the perfect home for her stories, writing for the Love Inspired line, and still has to pinch herself just to see if she really is awake and living her dream.
When she isn’t writing, she enjoys taking road trips, reading and spending time with her two sons, Chase and Kris. She loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her Web site, www.debraclopton.com, or by mail at P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, Texas 77864.
Yukon Cowboy
Debra Clopton
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him.
—Nahum 1:7
This book is dedicated to Ms. Jo. You are truly an inspiration and a blessing to me and all those whose lives you touch.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Letter to Reader
Questions for Discussion
Chapter One
“You want me to assist in a tour?” Bethany Marlow asked, in disbelief. Surely her friend and ex-boss was joking. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No kidding involved,” Amy James said, and though she was smiling, the petite, blonde owner of Alaska’s Treasures tour company looked like she wasn’t taking no for an answer. “I’m so glad you’ve chosen to move back to Treasure Creek and open a wedding-planning business. It is going to be a wonderful addition to the town. I know I’m springing this on you, and probably before you’ve even unpacked your suitcase. I’m desperate, though. This is a family tour that I feel needs a woman guide assisting the lead guide.”
Bethany couldn’t believe her ears. Her plane had landed barely an hour ago—and yes, her bags were still packed. She’d been in such a hurry to get outside and not waste any of the precious Alaskan daylight that she’d simply slid them inside her hotel room and hurried outside. She’d been stopped several times by acquaintances who were as excited to see her as she was them. Seeing her old friend Amy coming toward her lifted her spirits even higher. But help lead a tour? This was the last thing she had expected to hear from Amy. She hadn’t led a tour in years. The idea was kind of tempting, however, opening her wedding-planning business had to come first.
“Amy,” she said, feeling bad, “I’d like to help, but I have to put finding a spot to open my store first.”
Amy smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Got that covered already. There’s a space that opened up around the corner from The General Store just off of Main Street. It’s just the cutest, quaintest storefront, with personality plus. I can see your name on the window right now. The location is great. Not that it will matter—as soon as these women hear you’re in town, I have a feeling you’ll be overrun with clients.”
“My word, Amy, you’re like a steamroller!” Bethany laughed—more from surprise than anything. “You’ve been thinking ahead on this curve ball you’ve thrown me.” She sobered. “And all before I’ve even had time to tell you how sorry I was to hear about Ben. I am really so sorry.” Amy’s husband, Ben had died in a tragic accident just a few short months ago. His death left Amy to raise their two young sons on her own, plus running the tour company business, Alaska’s Treasures, by herself. “You have a lot sitting on your shoulders. How are you holding up?”
The entire town was reliant on the tour company to bring in the visitors that kept the town going. Tourist trade was the primary support for all the businesses in town.
“It has to have been so hard on you. I can’t imagine.”
Amy pushed her red curls from her face with one hand, a softness coming to her eyes. “It has been hard, but God’s been right there beside me. And the people of Treasure Creek—oh, Bethany—they have just been wonderful. There isn’t a better bunch of people in all of the world.”
“I agree,” Bethany said, and meant it. She’d met some nice people in San Francisco and on her trips around the country, but her heart had a special fondness toward the people of her hometown. She’d missed them. Not that it really was her hometown. Her dad’s job in the oil industry had transplanted them into the community when she was in elementary school, but she claimed it as her own. Sadly, she hadn’t really appreciated it until she’d moved away and been gone for a while.
“So, will you help out and take the tour? It will be good for you. Like getting your feet wet again with the way of life here in town. You’ll be getting in touch with your roots.”
“You make it hard to say no.”
“I try. Ever since that Now Woman magazine article came out about all the hunky tour guides working for me, the tour business has really picked up. It’s just been a blessing to everyone. And not just single women are coming to town looking for love, but also the family tours are picking up, too. Why don’t you do this? The reason I need you so much is that the family on the tour has just adopted the little boy they’ve been foster parents to. They really could use your help. The mom is nervous about the trip and feels like a woman guide will help her feel more at ease.”
Amy was watching her intently. She was the type of person who’d always tried to take care of everyone around her. She was still doing it. Bethany knew there was no way she could refuse to help her friend. She’d worked as an assistant guide all through high school. It had been a while, but she was pretty sure she still had what it took to get the job done. At least she liked to think that she still had it. She might have moved to the big city, but she hadn’t gone soft.
Plus, Amy was right. The article had been a blessing to everyone, even her. If it hadn’t been for Amy’s interview with the Now Woman writer, Bethany would still be back in San Francisco, growing more dissatisfied by the minute with the way her life was going. The article had been about how gorgeous and wonderful all the eligible bachelors were who worked for Alaska’s Treasures tour company. It had shocked Bethany at first—not the hunky bachelor part, since she knew all too well how true that part was—but it had shocked her that Amy had given an interview about them like that. It hadn’t seemed like Amy. Talking about her love for her town and her tour company, now that was Amy. Bethany had learned later from her mom who’d heard it through the grapevine that the reporter had given the article “the bachelor twist” all on her own. Romance sold articles, and it had also sold the town. Interest picked up; women were everywhere, coming to town in the hope of falling in love and getting married ever since. Reading it herself had brought tears to Bethany’s eyes, and she had to come. It was the answer to her prayers.
After all, where there were weddings there needed to be a wedding planner, and she just happened to be a very good one.
Being home did have its problems though—namely, Nate McMann.
Her heart skipped a couple of beats at the thought of him. After all these years and all that had happened, how was that? Unfortunately, it was inevitable that she’d run into him. Treasure Creek was small. She wondered what it would be like to see him again. She’d heard that he had never married—but she wasn’t going to think about that. Instead she focused on Amy. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do need to get in touch with my roots. I have missed the wilderness. There is nothing to compare to the beauty of Alaska in the raw.”
Amy looked pleased. “So you’ll do it?”
Excitement hit her. “Sure, why not,” she said, with gusto. “If the guys are still as rough as they used to be, then I’d feel guilty if I leave that poor mother to make it on her own,” she said, laughing.
“Oh, they are that. Although you know as well as I do that there is more marshmallow beneath most of their thick skin.”
Bethany had learned that with many of the older guides she’d helped out during high school. But she wondered about the guys who’d been her age. Specifically, she wondered about Nate—it was something she was going to have to stop doing. She’d heard that he’d taken over running the family ranch when his father retired. She knew from the hours his dad had worked that it was a full-time job. That meant she could relax. It was highly improbable that Nate was a guide any longer. Even in high school, he’d been part-time because of the demands of the ranch.
“Count me in,” she said. “Will I have time to get the space leased and then get my gear together before this tour leaves?”
“This is wonderful!” Amy exclaimed. “You have two days before the tour heads out, and everything except clothes will be packed and ready for you. Can you come by the office tomorrow for a briefing?”
“Sure.”
What was she doing?
“And no worries about the shop. I’m sure before the sun goes down you’ll have a lease on that space. I’m telling you, it is perfect. You run on over there now and look. I’ll give Maxine at the real estate office a call, so she can head in that direction and meet you there.”
“Hold on,” Bethany laughed. “You never told me who was leading the tour or where it’s going.”
Amy already had her cell phone out and pressed to her ear—“I’m still juggling the guys around because of all the honeymoons we’ve been working into the schedules. Oh, hi, Maxine, this is Amy James, how are you today?” Nodding at something Maxine was saying, Amy cupped her hand over the phone and whispered, “Go on now. Maxine will be there in a few. Come see me tomorrow for a briefing at ten, and I’ll get you filled in on everything— Yes, Maxine, I’m still here.” She waved toward the direction of the office and mouthed the word go.
Bethany did as she was told.
How had this happened? She was home, she was on the scent of the perfect office space and she was booked on an Alaskan wilderness tour—all thanks to Amy. And she hadn’t even been back in Treasure Creek for an hour. Her head was spinning. People thought life in a small town moved slowly—obviously they hadn’t been in Treasure Creek lately.
She hadn’t gone but a few steps around the corner when she saw him. Tall, broad-shouldered and as strikingly handsome as he’d always been, Nate McMann was coming out of The General Store with a box of candy in his hand. He wore a rugged sheepskin jacket, his thick blond hair showing beneath his tan Stetson. She’d always loved his hair.
Her footsteps faltered and her heart began pounding, banging against her chest double-time at the sight of him.
He was the most handsome man she’d ever seen—nothing about him had changed. From the shadow of his Stetson, his blue, blue eyes locked onto hers.
She couldn’t breathe.
How was it that the man who’d broken her heart into a thousand pieces could still cause her to go weak in the knees?
It was pathetic…then again, she guessed weak in the knees was okay as long as she didn’t go weak in the brain.
She had no intention of doing that. She’d become strong and independent in the last few years. It hadn’t been easy, though. After he’d sent her away, she’d had to strong-arm herself out of the fog of longing and hurt before it got the better of her.
And now, here she was standing in the middle of town gawking at him and feeling as vulnerable as a kitten.
She needed to act.
To do something.
Say something. But what?
She focused on the positives. Thanks to Nate, she hadn’t just talked about her dreams, she’d gone for them and achieved everything she set out to do—funny how things had worked out.
“Hello, Nate,” she said, just as casually as she greeted every other old friend she met strolling down the street. It sounded good. Strong. Self-confident. Unhurt. In control.
He shifted from one boot to the other.
His eyes, the color of the Pacific Ocean washed over her. Was it her imagination that, for an instant, she thought he’d been drinking in the sight of her as she’d done with him? Foolish was what that was. She wouldn’t let that thought cross her mind again. “Bethany,” he said quietly. “Hi.”
She always loved the way he said her name. There was something so gentle in the sound, coming from such a rugged man. It had always made her feel protected and…special to him. What a lie that had been, she thought, with a jolt of reality. “You look great.” She wanted to kick herself for blurting out the first thing that came to mind. But she felt like a schoolgirl again, all uncertain and nervous. It was horrible.
“So do you,” he said, dropping the ribbon-tied box of chocolates to his side. Her gaze followed it.
He had a woman in his life, it seemed.
“Why are you back in Treasure Creek?”
Bethany almost laughed. Everyone in town more than likely knew why she was back by the time her flight landed. They probably even knew that she was walking down the street at this very minute and was now stopped, talking to her old boyfriend.
“You haven’t heard?” she asked, dismayed, feeling like every moment standing there with him was endless.
“I heard that you’re opening a wedding-planning service.” His gaze sharpened, pinned her like blue darts. “Why is what I’m asking. You don’t belong here.”
His harsh statement cut like a sharp wind, sending a chill up her spine. What was his problem? This was the man who’d told her in one breath he loved her, wanted to spend his life with her, and then the next breath took it back. All these years, what had happened between them still made no sense to her, and he had the gall to tell her she didn’t belong here. Fine, maybe she didn’t, but she was here.
And this time, if she left it would be because she truly wanted to. And if she left, it would be with her chin held high…and her heart intact.
She sucked in a steadying breath. “I’m not sure why you think that.” She managed to sound unaffected. “But I can tell you that it’s not something you need to spend any time concerning yourself over. My being here won’t affect your life in the least. Nice seeing you, Nate,” she offered the last as she sidestepped him. A lady she didn’t know was coming out of the store and Bethany slipped through the open door. Her knees were rattling against each other as the door closed behind her. It was all she could do not to turn and see if he was watching her. The tingle at the back of her neck told her he was.
Of all the scenarios that had gone through her mind about what their first meeting would be like, this wasn’t one of them. Awkward and tough was what that had been—but then, she’d been kidding herself, if she expected anything else.
Nate hadn’t had a good night as he pulled his truck to a stop in front of Alaska’s Treasures, the tour company where he led a few tours a month. Normally, on a day like today, when he was heading in for a briefing before his tour, he was in a great mood, looking forward to the trek out into wilderness he loved.
Not today.
Today he was too preoccupied with other things.
He slammed his truck door just as a gust of October wind bit at him. Jerking the brim of his Stetson low against his forehead, he was unable to stop himself from glancing down the street. Where was she?
He’d heard yesterday that she was arriving, and he should have stayed out of town. But he’d had to get birthday candy for Sue, his housekeeper. In and out had been the plan, with no expectation of running into Bethany. His legs went weak at the thought of seeing her.
When he’d looked up and locked gazes with her it was like seeing a mirage. Like she’d always done, she took his breath away. She’d had the greenest eyes—like translucent green glass, they sparkled and captured the light and held it. He’d always gotten lost peering into their depths. And her dark hair, straight and shiny—just like he’d remembered—framed her heart-shaped face…the same sweet face that had haunted his dreams for nearly a decade.
He closed his eyes and tried to ease the turmoil that rumbled inside of him.
Why did she come home to Treasure Creek?
The question had been eating at him ever since word had gotten out that she was returning. He didn’t understand it and hadn’t believed it at first. She’d had big dreams and wanted to leave Treasure Creek and pursue them more than anything when they were in high school. She’d had the grit to make those dreams reality, too…so why was she here now?
He knew all about the wedding-planning business she was supposed to be opening, but like he’d told her, that didn’t explain why. Why had she given up her dream job in San Francisco to open up a shop here in Treasure Creek? It didn’t make sense. That was for certain.
He hadn’t handled seeing her very well. Ever since their encounter, he felt like he’d been trampled beneath the hooves of a herd of stampeding cattle.
He needed this tour. He’d been too busy at the ranch over the last couple of months to take one out, and he was chomping at the bit to get out there on the trails. For more reasons than to get away from Bethany. He needed to do his part in helping find the treasure that the town was searching for.
Ever since Ben James, owner of the tour company, had died, the town had struggled economically. The tour company brought in most of the revenue for the town, and things had not been the same since Ben had passed.
Amazingly, an old treasure map that belonged to Amy’s great, great grandfather, Mack Tanner, had been discovered after years of merely being a rumor. The discovery had thrown Nate for a loop, because his grandfather had died almost fifteen years ago searching for the stupid treasure—a fact that had torn Nate up all these years. Realizing that his grandfather actually might have died for more than just a rumor didn’t make him any less fond of the idea of a real treasure, but if there actually was one, and it could help the town, then it was worth something. The town had high hopes of finding it.
Nate still had his doubts that the treasure existed; however, if it did, he wanted a crack at finding it. And he wanted this tour because of its location.
Amy was sending the treasure map out with the guides so that they could check different locations, in the hope of finding the right one. He was leading this family tour on a five-day excursion that would go past the place where his grandfather had died. It wasn’t a place he was fond of…Nate had almost died there himself. He’d been on a mission to figure out what his grandfather had seen before he’d fallen from the mountain.
After his near-fatal slip, and almost following in his grandfather’s footsteps, he’d never gone back…until now. This time things would go better. He was determined to find out what his grandfather had found inside the crevice two hundred feet up the face of that cold, ragged rock.
He welcomed the trip more today than yesterday. Today he needed something to focus his anger and disillusionment on.
Glowering, ready for distraction right at that very instant, he stalked up the sidewalk toward the “log cabin” office that housed the tour company. It was nice to see a buzz of activity humming about it, as people came and went out the door. He tipped his hat when a gaggle of women walked past, ogling him like a slab of bacon. He preferred to ignore them, but for the sake of the town he’d play the friendly cowboy role and tip the Stetson and show hospitality. As long as everyone in town understood that tipping his hat was as far as it went with him in letting these bride wannabes try to hook him as a husband. He’d already had a dolled-up redhead named Delilah pull two crazy cons on him. The woman had cornered him in Lizbet’s Diner and asked him if he was alone. Of course he’d said yes, because he was. If he’d known she was going to plunk herself into the booth with him and invite herself to lunch, he’d have said he was leaving.
He didn’t even want to think about the second time she’d cornered him. It was enough to make a man walk off into the wilderness and never come back.
“Hey, Nate,” Gage Parker called, falling into step beside him. Gage was a tour guide and also a member of the search and rescue team.
“Any luck finding Tucker Lawson?” Nate asked, not breaking step. Tucker was a former local. He’d moved away after a rift with his dad but recently his dad had passed away. Tucker had come in for the funeral then disappeared. His best friend Jake Rodgers was funding an ongoing search for him that Gage and police chief Truscott were heading up.
“Nothing new since I saw you last week. We’ve been out a few more times but we can only hope he’s found refuge somewhere…if he’s alive.”
“There’s always a chance.” Nate knew as well as Gage that every day that passed was a bad sign. There was no need to state that. “Everyone is still praying for him.”
“Tucker needs every one of them,” Gage said, studying him. “I’ll be driving your group to the drop point out at Chilkoot Trail day after tomorrow.”
“That’ll be good,” Nate grunted, sliding him a glance. Gage looked happy. He was glad someone was. Gage had recently fallen in love with Karenna, a nice girl who’d fallen for all this craziness about finding a husband in this town. Crazy as it was, something good had come out of all of this.
“You look about as happy as that cougar you had to rescue out of that tank last week,” Gage said, matching him step for step. “You’ve seen her, haven’t you?”
There was no use pretending he didn’t know who “her” was. Everyone would be speculating on the same question, and he had no doubt he’d be asked it by every person he met—especially his fellow tour guides. He figured, since he’d run into Bethany on the street in front of The General Store, that someone would have seen them and that the grapevine would be alive by now.
“Yes, I’ve seen her,” he said, sliding Gage a look that hopefully told him to back off. Yeah, right.
Gage grinned. “Mom was shopping in town and saw you run into each other in front of The General Store. She said it was about as awkward as two porcupines in a box together. She also said Nadine rented Bethany that vacant building around the corner from the store.” Gage turned toward town and pointed. “That one. The one you can just see the front of from here. You know, where Frank Drew had that lousy bakery.”
Nate spun and stared toward the shop. The front door was visible from this angle, though the rest of the stores on the side street were blocked from view. As he stared, she actually came outside. Even from this distance she could push his buttons. He swallowed hard and told his feet to march straight inside and not to look back.
“She’s still as pretty as ever,” Gage said.
Despite not wanting to have this conversation, Nate’s feet wouldn’t move. “Yeah, she is,” he admitted. “She really rented the space?” It was a stupid question, since Gage had just said the words.
“Looks like she’s staying.”
It did. She really was staying. Nate reached for the door when he preferred to head for his truck. Instead of pulling it open he let go, snatched his hat from his head and rammed his hand through his hair. Bethany always liked his hair.
The thought came out of nowhere, like so many others had the night before. He’d ridden a horse for hours after he’d gotten home to the ranch yesterday. But nothing had stopped the memories from tearing him apart.
“Are you all right?” Gage asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” It was a flat-out lie. He knew it and so did Gage.
“You know I’ve never been one to pry, but this could turn out to be a good thing, Nate.”
Nate shot him a scowl. “I’m not going to worry about it. She’ll do her thing and I’ll do mine.”
“Good luck with that.” Gage grinned and headed down the sidewalk. Nate watched him go, trying to get his thoughts together. She wouldn’t stay. She had wanted to leave too much when they were in high school. She was here for a reason he didn’t understand. But one thing was certain…he wasn’t all right, and he wouldn’t be until she hopped back on a plane and headed back to her life and her dreams. The ones he’d wanted her to have more than anything.
Even more than his own dreams.
Chapter Two
Feeling almost giddy with expectations, Bethany stood out in front of her new space and studied the whitewashed, planked siding. She loved it. Amy had been so completely right. The space was perfect, and Bethany had rented it on the spot.
There was an office area and plenty of room for her to display the various props and wares she offered when planning and staging a wedding. It was just around the corner from Main Street, and there was an apartment above it for rent, too. She wasn’t sure how long she’d stay in Treasure Creek, only time would tell; but right now she had a great feeling about it—despite her less than promising meeting with Nate the day before.
Hopefully, time would fix the strain their past cast on them, but for now she wasn’t going to dwell on it. She’d awakened feeling refreshed and excited about being in Treasure Creek. She was even thrilled about helping lead the family tour.
But getting her shop up and running was her first priority. She’d called the electric and phone service and those utilities would be on by the time she returned from the tour. Her things should have arrived by then, too. It wouldn’t take long to set up after that, once she knew how she wanted things placed. Walking back inside, she placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the long, narrow space. It had promise. The tour would keep her from getting impatient. She hated waiting.
From the look of things, she wasn’t going to be able to get unpacked quickly enough. There had already been five women who’d come by and made appointments for consultations. She was flying by the seat of her pants, using a wooden crate as a reception desk and a piece of notebook paper as an appointment book. These women were ready to get married.
She checked her watch. She needed to be at the tour company in less than fifteen minutes for her briefing. Amy had assured her that everything she needed would be packed and ready for her when they left, and all she needed to worry about were her jeans and tops. Boots, jackets, food and sleeping bags would all be ready. She smiled at that. After packing to come home to Treasure Creek, the last thing she wanted to do was pack some more. It was an easy plan, and she was really glad she’d agreed to go.
Yes, opening the shop was a priority, but there was just something about being back in Alaska that called her to the wilds of the breathtaking frontier.
She folded the paper with appointments on it, and was about to stick it in her purse when the door opened.
“Knock, knock. Anybody in here?” a sweet Southern voice with a raspy edge to it called.
Bethany turned to find a blonde of about forty peek her head through the cracked door.
“Well, hi-dee! There you are, standing in the dark!”
“Hi,” Bethany said, moving forward. The woman was smiling wide and warm and was as pretty as Dolly Parton. She even reminded Bethany of the country singer, with the cute way she’d greeted her and the smile that took over her heart-shaped face. And her big, blond hair was poofed and sprayed as heavy as any of Dolly’s styles. Bethany had worked with many, many wealthy mothers of the bride who’d looked just as overly coifed. Usually, she had the insane urge to sink her fingers into the stiff dos and shake hair loose from the lacquer holding it in place. Like all those other times though, she curbed the insane thought and held out her hand. “I’m Bethany. Can I help you?”
“Oh, honey, I hope so. Are you the new wedding planner?” she drawled, flushing slightly, as if embarrassed about something.
“That’s me,” Bethany said brightly.
“That’s just wonderful. I’m Joleen Jones,” she gushed. Extending a perfectly manicured hand, she shook Bethany’s hand gently. “I can’t tell you how excited I was to find that you were coming to town. I’m here to talk about my wedding plans.”
Bethany couldn’t help smiling at the cute lilt to her voice. “That’s great. I’m not officially opened and I have to be at the tour company in a few moments—”
“I understand. This won’t take a minute. I was hoping to get an appointment on the books.”
Bethany couldn’t say no, so she set her purse down and opened the paper where she’d been writing the brides’ and grooms’ names down. It was exciting to see business going great guns, even before there was a stick of furniture in the place. “I’ll set you up with an appointment for when I get back in town. I’m actually leaving on Wednesday to help out with a tour—I used to work for Amy James in high school, and I’m going to help out for a few days while I wait for my things to arrive.” She wasn’t sure why she was explaining so much, but the look in the woman’s eyes had her wanting to put her at ease about as much as she could. “You said your name was Joleen Jones. And the groom?” She wrote her name on the page. When Joleen didn’t say anything Bethany looked up and asked again, thinking she hadn’t spoken loudly enough, “And the groom is…?”
Joleen looked sheepishly at her, with big, long-lashed, amber eyes. “Harry Peters.”
The name was almost a whisper, but it had Bethany’s ears perked up. Harry Peters! “From The General Store?” she clarified, thinking, surely Joleen had said something similar to Harry’s name and she’d misunderstood. This woman and Harry were as far from what she would have ever matched up as any two people she’d ever worked with.
Joleen nodded. “Isn’t he the cutest thing you ever saw?”
Well, there you go—love was the weirdest thing sometimes. Bethany grinned, feeling Joleen’s delight roll over to her. “Congratulations. I think that is wonderful,” she said, sincerely.
“I just came to town a few weeks ago and he has just been so helpful. He is really a dear. Don’t you think so?”
“Always. When is the wedding date?” Pen poised to write she waited for the answer.
Joleen placed a long, red fingernail on her bottom lip and hesitated. “Um, there isn’t a date set. Yet. He hasn’t asked me out yet, you see. But I’m sure that he will.” Her words had started out hesitantly, but she ended in a rush, as if she were trying to convince herself of the fact. This was odd…two-in-a-row odd. There had been a lady in earlier, asking about planning a wedding for Christmas. That fancily dressed lady, Delilah Carrington, also hadn’t had a groom. But she was different than Joleen, she hadn’t set her sights on anyone in particular yet. Oh no, Delilah was shopping the field and ready to pounce on whomever proposed first. She’d set a deadline for herself to be married by Christmas, and she’d come to Treasure Creek to fulfill that deadline. She struck Bethany as the type who would get what she wanted. It was crazy, but it might be fun watching her in action.
Bethany certainly wasn’t here to judge anyone, her job was just to plan beautiful weddings and carry them off with grace and expertise.
“He hasn’t asked you out?” she asked, because she couldn’t come up with anything better to ask. And she was curious and hoping Joleen would explain.
Joleen bit her upper lip and blushed. “No. But it’s because he’s shy that way. I guess I’m jumping the gun here, trying to get an appointment. This probably sounds a little crazy, doesn’t it? No, wait, don’t answer that. I know it sounds crazy.”
“No,” Bethany began, then got honest, “actually it does…a little, but I’ve seen stranger things.”
Joleen smiled in relief and relaxed. “I guess I am ahead of myself. I…I do want you to know I will be using you sometime in the near future, though. Harry is sure to come around.”
Bethany’s heart tugged at the angst she could hear in Joleen’s voice. She knew all too well how it felt to love a man and not be able to have the happy ending she want—stop! She snatched her purse and forced her smile wide. “Joleen, I’m here when you need me. And as soon as I get up and running, you come by anytime you want and we’ll get details perfected, so when your special man does pop the question you’ll be all set. It takes time to get all the details right, so nothing says you can’t already be working on your special day.”
Her positive words must have seemed like music as they hit Joleen’s ears. She straightened, and a warm smile that was free of any hesitation blossomed across her pretty face. “You really wouldn’t think me too crazy to do that? I mean Harry, the sweet man, is just a bit slow on the uptake—if you know what I mean. He does care for me. I’ve seen the way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not looking. He’s the strong, silent type.”
Bethany almost choked. “I don’t think you’re crazy at all. Hey, I’m a romantic through and through, and this is very romantic, if you ask me. Harry Peters is a lucky man to have you, and he’d be smart to open his eyes and ask you out.” It was the truth. That dry piece of toast needed a gal like Joleen to top off his life like sweet jam.
Joleen startled her by embracing her in a big hug. “Thank you. You have absolutely made my day.”
“You’ve made mine. It was really nice meeting you,” she said, and meant it. As they parted and headed in opposite directions, Bethany hoped Joleen got her happy ending. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched Joleen round the corner and walk daintily toward The General Store. Bethany suddenly wished she were a fly on the wall so she could see the grumpy Harry Peters’s face when Joleen was around.
Before she realized what she was doing, she said a prayer that Harry would be the hero in Joleen’s life. It would be nice if the Lord chose to work that out for her.
She continued on toward the tour company, glancing across the street at the quaint church where children played in the playground. Bethany had spent many Sundays sitting beside Nate on the second-from-last pew of that church. Since moving from Treasure Creek, she’d not been in church on a regular basis. Her faith, like her heart, had taken a hit when Nate had told her he didn’t love her, and that she shouldn’t hang around town because of him.
Bethany’s dreams back then had conflicted with one another. She’d wanted to be successful in her own right as a wedding planner, and she’d wanted Nate. And she’d wanted children with Nate. In her naivety, she’d thought she could have it all. But there weren’t many weddings in Treasure Creek before the article.
Now she was just looking to have a lovely life. She wanted satisfaction and fulfillment. She wanted…something elusive that she hadn’t found with her career in San Francisco. Sure, she’d flown to Italy and Australia and other places to carry off the weddings of wealthy clients for the firm she’d worked for, and loved every minute of it. But now, at twenty-nine, with no husband and no children, she knew she wanted more. And she hoped that more was here in Treasure Creek.
She wanted to know that God had a plan for her life—a plan that she would understand soon. Maybe, being back in Treasure Creek, she’d find the faith she once had. The faith to believe that God really did have her in the palm of His hand.
A prayer for Joleen was a start.
Out in the wilderness, she’d always felt closer to God. Who wouldn’t? Maybe out there she’d feel the peace she’d missed.
“Nate, I want you to look around the cabin at point three on your tour, but I really don’t want you going to Klink’s Ridge,” Amy said, from across the desk in her office. “We both know no good can come of that. And if by some stretch of the imagination the treasure is in there, then it will just have to stay there, unless you find another entrance. I can’t imagine my great, great grandfather scaling the wall to hide something in such a dangerous place.”
Nate ran a finger along the crease of his cowboy hat. He planned to scale that ridge and find the cave that his grandfather had believed held the treasure. He’d tried it once and almost fallen to his death, just like his grandfather had. But Nate had made a careless mistake. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. He’d been thinking about it, and felt he owed it to his grandfather to figure out if he’d discovered anything before he plunged down the face of that cliff. Amy didn’t need to worry herself about it, though, so he kept his plans to himself.
“I’ll be checking around the cabin. When you showed me the map I realized—because the map leads me to believe the treasure is buried near a cabin—that maybe my grandfather thought the same thing. This opening on the face of Klink’s Ridge may be a cave opening he thought linked to a cave. I’m not sure what my grandfather was thinking. I may never know. But I’m going with my gut here and checking all this out.”
Amy nodded. “There are just some things in life only God knows the reasons for.”
Nate’s thoughts went instantly to the day he heard the doctor tell him he would never father children. After a mild case of the measles—despite his childhood vaccine—Nate had been shocked when his dad suggested the doctor test him during his checkup. He’d been nineteen, and when the test revealed that he was sterile his world had changed. He’d gone from being a man with everything to a man with nothing in an instant, knowing there was no way on earth he would be able to look Bethany in the eye and ask her to marry him. Why had this happened to him? He’d asked himself and God that question over and over again…with no answer.
God’s reasoning wasn’t something he thought about much anymore. He still went to church on occasion, just because in Treasure Creek it was expected. He’d be considered a heathen for certain if he never stepped foot in the church…and maybe yes, there was a possibility that he might hear something from the preacher that helped him process the reasoning behind his inability to give the woman he loved the children she wanted so badly. Even now the thought made him ache through and through.
“I’ve found the perfect guide to help you with this tour group.”
Amy’s soft voice broke into his deep thoughts and he pulled back from the mental road he’d been traveling on—it was a road that led him nowhere good. He was glad to have something else to think about. Before Bethany had come home, he’d pressed any longing for her he had deep into the most hidden recesses of his being so that he was able to cope. Coping. It was a double life he lived, but knowing she was living her dreams helped him. Now that she was here, coping was going to be a killer.
“Who’s going with me?” he asked. He liked all the younger tour guides. Most were just out of high school, ready to learn as much as possible so they could begin leading their own tours. None of them had ever been as great to have along as Bethany had been…she’d always given the tours a good twist. Her insights into the country and the animal life always added a fun element.
“The Taylors have adopted this little boy, and he’s pretty rambunctious and has a few attention problems. They requested a female guide to help lead the tour, because the mother felt she would be more comfortable, given the situation.”
Nate wasn’t surprised to have an extra guide on a family tour, especially since he was going to take a few private excursions in the hopes of finding the treasure. But a woman—who? The only woman guide they had at the moment was Casey Donner, and she was already out in the field. At least he thought so. “Who? Did Casey get back in early?”
“No. It’s someone new.” Amy tapped her pencil on the table, then let it drop as she pushed her chair back and got up.
She was acting differently. What was up, he wondered, as she crossed to the door, cracked it open and peeked out into the waiting area then closed the door. The last thing he wanted on this tour was to be breaking in a wet-behind-the-ears woman.
Turning, she settled serious eyes on him. “Okay, she’s here now. This is going to be great, Nate. Remember, I’m doing what is best for this family, and I expect you to do the same. Here at Alaska’s Treasures tour company we always think of the clients first.”
Nate wasn’t sure how to take Amy’s tone or the look on her face. But her words had his stomach feeling suddenly like hot mush. “Amy, what have you done—” he started, but she opened the door and beckoned someone inside.
The last someone he’d ever expected to see walk through that door as a tour guide. Bethany.
Chapter Three
Bethany walked into Amy’s office and stopped in her tracks. Nate jerked to his feet so fast, he sent his chair sliding into the bookcase behind it as he gasped in horror.
What had she done to make this man change toward her like he had?
“Amy,” she snapped, her temper at his attitude spiking. “I’m not sure I understand—or like this one bit.”
Nate positively glowered at Amy, looking like he could wring her neck. The man obviously had a problem, and it looked like Bethany was it.
Unaffected by either of them, Amy smiled breezily, as if Nate looked at her that way all the time. She drew Bethany into the room and closed the door. “Look, I didn’t think either of you would understand this. That’s why I chose not to tell you what I’d done until now. But, Bethany, the minute I heard you were coming to town I knew you both would be the perfect guides for this family tour. Remember, I’ve seen you work together before—you were the best team ever. And this family needs a compassionate woman like you along, Bethany. You are an answer to a prayer, coming back at the time that you did. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. And they also need you, Nate, because I believe you have something to offer the little boy. He is seven years old, his name is Cody, and he needs strong male role models in his life. You are that in every sense of the word—” she dropped her chin to her chest and lifted a brow “—when you aren’t looking as if you just stepped barefoot into a pot of boiling water.”
At that, his jaw jerked and he started to say something. Amy held up her hand. “You can help this little boy by being a positive role model to him.
Believe me, I’m so thankful that Ben’s and my sons have so many of you men around to show them how to be good, strong Christian men. That’s what you can do on this trip.”
Bethany glanced at Nate. Nate glanced at her.
How could either of them refuse that?
This was not good. Bethany wanted to leave. She wanted to stay. She wanted to know what Nate’s problem was.
He thumped his hat against his thigh, looking like a trapped grizzly.
“I’ll do it,” she said. She wasn’t so sure about being an answer to a prayer, but if there was a chance she could help this little boy by being a kind and compassionate guide, then she would. Nate would just have to deal with it. Especially since it looked like he wasn’t going to be any of those things.
“I’m in, too,” he grunted, making his way past her to the door. He stopped beside her. “Can you still hike that kind of terrain? And when was the last time you rode a horse?”
“Nate McMann, I could outhike you any day of the week when we were in high school, and you know it.” The gall of the man! “And though I might not be able to break wild horses like you can, I can still ride with the best of them.” She had no intention of telling him that she hadn’t ridden a horse in nine years. Oh, no, she’d sit in that saddle like she’d been riding every day, just so she’d have the satisfaction of wiping that condescension off his face.
“I never said you couldn’t ride or hike,” he said, his tone sent shivers through her. Confused her. “We have our orientation tomorrow then Gage drives us out day after tomorrow at daybreak. Be there on both counts.”
He was gone the minute the words were out. Bethany watched him stalk down the hallway. The man still got to her. There was absolutely no denying that. It was maddening and crazy. But, maybe this was what she needed. Maybe this was the thing that would clear the air once and for all.
Nate had been living on the outskirts of her life like a larger-than-life memory. It didn’t matter that he’d hurt her, the memory of him was there. She’d stalled out in the dating world—no man since had lived up to that memory…and she’d dated some really great guys. If only she’d been able to love one of them.
“Is there anyone else on the tour?” she asked, turning away and closing the door.
Amy smiled knowingly. “I know I threw you for a loop, Bethany, and I’m sorry. Do you forgive me?”
They’d been friends for a long time. “Maybe. Okay, yes. But I’m not so sure he will.”
Amy walked around to her desk and sank into the chair that had once been Ben’s. She let out a long sigh as she glanced around the office. “He’ll get over it. He hasn’t been the same since you left, you know.”
That got Bethany. “He sent me away. Remember?”
“I remember. Still, something about the whole thing never rang true.”
Bethany didn’t want to dwell on her past. She’d gone over it and over it for years, and never came up with an answer. One day he’d loved her and the next he hadn’t. It was as hard and as cold as that. “I survived and am a stronger woman because of what happened between us. I asked you this yesterday, but didn’t get much of an answer. How are you surviving?”
Amy glanced out the window that had the blinds angled slightly downward, so they could see out but people couldn’t see in. Bethany sank into the chair Nate had almost knocked over. Amy’s weary, sad gaze came back to meet hers.
“I’m making it, Bethany. But sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Ben…” her voice rasped with emotion. She paused and drew herself up, forcing the emotion away. “He wrote me a letter basically asking me to remarry by Christmas if anything were to happen to him. Every man in the district is asking me to marry him. What was Ben thinking? Why would he ask me to do such a thing?”
It was the same question Bethany had been wondering about Amy. “He loved you and I’m sure he was thinking only the best for you.”
“Yes, I know,” she said, looking distant. “But even Ben can’t make me fall in love with someone—he isn’t an easy act to follow. How about you? Why haven’t you ever married?”
Bethany shook her head, unable to admit that she felt the same way about Nate McMann. Well, it wasn’t exactly the same thing. Ben James had loved Amy with his whole heart and soul. Not being able to forget a man like that was understandable. But feeling that way about a man who’d basically kicked her to the curb made her feel foolish. And she hated feeling foolish.
“I just haven’t had the time to really search for the right guy. I’m sure he’ll come along. But if he doesn’t, I always have my work. What would we do without work?”
“I don’t know. But it’s my boys who have gotten me through. I’m here at work because I have to be, but it’s Dexter and Sammy who have gotten me though their daddy’s death.”
Bethany’s heart caught with longing. “Yes, I can imagine they’ve been little blessings.”
Amy smiled proudly. “Oh, yes. They are constant sources of joy. Their daddy would be so proud of them.”
Bethany knew this was true. Ben was the kind of man who took pride in his family. He’d been a great guy.
“He’d be proud of you, too, Amy. What you are doing takes such strength.”
“God has given me that. Besides, this tour company was Ben’s passion. I want to help the town and also carry on his legacy. The boys may want to carry on their daddy’s business one day. I want it to still be here when they are able to do that, if they choose.”
“From the looks of things, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
Amy’s brows dipped. “I don’t know. The attention from the article has helped us turn a corner economically for now, but we have to keep them coming. We can’t afford to make a misstep. Every tour counts. Every positive word and great review matters. I mean, all these women are great for excitement and the attention they’re bringing us, but in the long run it’s the same, regular tourists who will carry this company for the future. Families like the ones on your tour.”
She was absolutely right. Bethany would have to focus on that, and not on the brooding cowboy who could very easily stomp on her heart again during this tour. “I’ll do my best to give this group a great experience. Now, who else is on this tour? Usually there’s more than one family.”
Amy took a refreshing breath and smiled excitedly. “There is. It’s the cutest newlywed couple. Can you imagine wanting to take an Alaskan tour for your honeymoon? Especially one this late in the season.”
It was Bethany’s turn to look at Amy in horror. “Newlyweds.”
Amy laughed. “Hold on, they’ve taken an Alaskan cruise here. So it’s not like they got married yesterday.”
“That’s a relief!” Bethany exclaimed, making Amy laugh again.
“I think it’s adorable, really. And since it’s one of the last tours of the season and a little bit cold—they’ll have plenty of snuggle time.”
Bethany thought about it. “You’re right, but, um, did you tell Nate about them?”
Amy looked appalled. “Are you kidding! He’ll hate it if there’ll be any mushy stuff going on. You should see how uptight he gets watching all this sparking and romancing that’s been going on around him. It’s like the guy has forgotten that love makes the world go round.” A mischievous twinkle sparked in her vivid blue eyes. “I booked him specifically on his tour. I for one think Nate McMann needs to open his eyes and see that if he doesn’t change he’ll grow old alone. And it won’t be pretty.”
Bethany didn’t know how to take that. “I hope you don’t have any ideas about me and him—”
“And what if I did?”
“Then you’d need to get rid of them right away.”
“So you don’t have feelings for him?”
“No, Amy, I don’t. It’s taken some time,” she admitted. “But I don’t.”
Amy stood up and came around the desk. “Good. I was a bit worried that old feelings might cause problems on the tour. I’m relieved to know that won’t be the case. And the sparking and romancing of the newlyweds isn’t going to get to you?”
“Nope. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” She would be fine. She would.
As Bethany left the building she felt relief. For a minute there, she’d feared Amy might be matchmaking. Bethany had eaten supper at Lizbet’s Diner last night and had heard all about how Amy had been matchmaking over the last few months. She was more than a little relieved to know that this wasn’t one of those instances. Yes, it had crossed her mind the first moment she’d walked into the room, and Nate had practically knocked his chair over bolting out of it. But then she’d found out there was a child involved, and she knew Amy wouldn’t use a child.
“No, Amy, I don’t have feelings for him.” Bethany’s words came back to her as she walked down the sidewalk. If only she could be sure those words were the truth….
Chapter Four
The Taylors were a lovely couple in their midthirties. Their son Cody was seven, extremely active and very curious—which Bethany thought was a good thing. It took only a few seconds after introductions were made for her to see why Shelly Taylor wasn’t comfortable on the wilderness hike without help. Cody was so active that she looked one way for a second, and the next second he left the room. If that happened out on the trail he could be in danger.
Bethany had a feeling she was going to earn her keep on this trip. Especially since Nate seemed preoccupied while they loaded gear into the van. Of course, Amy had told her when she arrived that he hadn’t been at all pleased to learn that Ely and Lisa March were newlyweds.
He’d learned this the day before, at the orientation meeting where they’d all met to make certain everyone had all their gear in place and understood the rules. He’d barely spoken to her, being all business—or maybe he’d thought that if he pretended she wasn’t there she might just disappear. Who knew?
Nate had been cute actually—not that he would know that or that she was happy about noticing it herself. But when the two had arrived, linked together like one, Nate’s thick, blond eyebrows had shot up and his eyes had narrowed. He looked over their paperwork, then glared at Amy, who smiled sweetly at him and asked him if there was anything wrong. Poor Nate, Bethany knew he wanted to say something, but he held back.
“Nothing,” he replied between his gritted teeth, his gaze sliding to her. Bethany managed to keep a straight face, but she felt his pain. All evening afterwards, she’d thought about what Amy had said earlier in the week about Nate not having been the same since she’d left town. That was practically ten years ago. She wasn’t about to let herself contemplate what that meant. She was certain it had nothing to do with her.
Today, as she had the day before, she continued to be distracted by him. It was as if, after being away from him for so long, that now she just couldn’t get enough of looking at him. His rugged, Western jacket made his shoulders look impossibly broad, and gave her flashbacks of how protected and loved she’d once felt when he’d wrap his arms around her and hold her. She sucked in a shaky breath and told herself to remember it had all been a lie. He turned toward her at that moment and caught her looking at him. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she wanted to crawl beneath the nearest iceberg.
Hiding that need, she gave a thumbs-up signal. “I’m ready if you are. This is going to be great.”
She thought his scowl was going to intensify, but instead he relaxed a touch. “You’re sure you’re up to this?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
Not on your life. As she stared into his indigo-blue eyes, thoughts of summer days spent hiking together beside the rivers and lakes making up this part of Alaska waylaid her. Those had been days she’d thought would never end—days that she’d wished would last forever. “I’m ready,” she said feeling a quiver of uneasy longing at the memory. She would definitely have to be on her guard or she might forget that all those memories were illusions. Illusions that ended the day Nate told her he’d lied and that he didn’t love her.
His gaze floated across her face. “I hope so. That little boy is going to be a handful.”
“Little boys don’t scare me,” she said, watching Cody edging for the door once more. His dad stepped in and distracted him by teasing him. Bethany smiled watching them—determined that she was going to be upbeat about this experience. She loved watching kids with their dads. “I think it’s all going to be great fun.”
Bethany met Nate’s gaze, and it struck her again that if they’d gotten married they would probably have had a child around Cody’s age. The thought was like a splinter wedging its way into her determination to not let Nate see how much she was still affected by his rejection of her and the life they could have had together. Planting a smile on her face, she winked at him—a cover-up for the real emotions plaguing her. “I remember how much you enjoy leading tours. Even tours with rambunctious little boys. I’ll never forget that set of twins that one summer. You had as much fun as they did, pulling pranks along the trail. If my memory serves me right you were the one who came out of your tent and had a bucket of water dumped on top of your head.” It was true.
She laughed remembering that. “I never did know if that was Barry and Bart’s doing. Or yours.”
He looked innocent. “I guess you’ll never know.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. Bethany had to keep smiling, as if that was just a cute memory between friends. It was going to be hard, but that was how she was going to approach this trip. She was fine, and no one, especially Nate, was going to know how hard this was on her.
Great fun. Nate wondered how she meant that an hour later, as they unloaded their packs from the van. He’d had them carried deep into the interior of the Chilkoot Trail. They would be hiking all day, but sleeping in a lodge for the night. It was bit of a harder trek than he normally took a family on with a small child. However, this was the way he needed to go to check out his hunch about the treasure. This was the way to Klink’s Ridge and the spot where his grandfather died. Until Amy’s boys had found the map hidden in a secret compartment of her kitchen cabinets, he had not understood remotely what his grandfather had been thinking. After seeing that the treasure was supposedly hidden in a spot somewhere between the Chilkoot Trail and the Taiya River, it made more sense to him. Nate was on a mission to find that spot, and maybe—just maybe—it was the same spot that X marked on the map.
He was worried about Cody, though. The little boy was active and he didn’t seem to take instruction well. He hoped Bethany really was up for the hike and helping him keep up with things on the trail—Cody being number one on the priority list.
“Everyone grab your backpacks. And remember to stay close at all times. This is a tour and we are going to see the most beautiful land in the world, but it is wilderness. There are wild animals out there and we need to respect that—”
“Mr. McMann,” Ely March cut in, tugging his new wife close to his side as he threw his paper-thin shoulders back and puffed out his chest. “It’s safe though, right? They told us it was safe.”
Nate hid a smile. Ely was about as big around as a pine sapling, even had a pimple on his chin, he was so young. Nineteen, but Nate was having to trust the birth date. The kid didn’t look a day over sixteen.
Lisa looked almost nineteen and stared at Ely like he was superman—complete adoration lighting her eyes. It was a look Nate had seen at least a dozen times over the last hour. The two kids were over the top in love and attached at the hip—how they were going to ride two horses was a mystery that was yet to be figured out.
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