White Water Passion Read online

  His mood changed fast. He was still mad, but for a completely different reason. He now knew why his gut dropped whenever this so-called boy was in sight, and why he looked so familiar. His breath hitched at how close he’d been to Elizabeth. The woman who on many occasions had smiled at him from across the platform after the end of a hard logging season, and brightened his sometimes dreary day. The woman who haunted his dreams and desires with her dark hair like silk, and a face like a china doll. The woman who made him lose all semblance of thought whenever she was near—a feeling he hated. He could throw himself between logs slamming together at a white-water logjam, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak to the enchanting woman who was now dressed as a man, sitting in a mud-caked railcar, bound for the deep belly of an Alpine forest. Now he had no choice but to speak to her. He could no longer duck his way out of the distress of conversation to a woman he could never have.

  Beth took a deep breath, and shook her head. Her lips mere inches from his own, and the feel of her breasts in his hands still tingling down his palms. He scrambled to slide off Beth and back to his seat.

  Garrett snapped his attention to Simon, who slid his finger over his mouth, indicating he should keep quiet. Garrett wanted to demand an explanation and then make the conductor stop and send her packing. That’s what he should do.

  Beth hugged her arms around her torso. Something primal tugged deep within his belly. He’d crossed the line with her physically, made her uneasy, albeit accidentally. Still, he never wanted to make Beth uncomfortable around him. But what in Hades name was she doing on his train?

  “Later.” Simon leaned over and whispered the warning, and then glanced around at the men in the car.

  Now that Garrett looked closer, her soft beauty was unmistakable. How did she plan to pull off this scheme when even the dirt on her boots looked feminine and somehow charming?

  If he hadn’t been distracted by the fact that he was emotionally affected by a boy, he may have realized who she was. Now, he just felt like a fool for falling for her ruse.

  The train slowed even more.

  How the hell was she going to get through this alive? How would he deal with her around when he couldn’t get his tongue to form the words in his mind whenever she stared at him through her long black eyelashes? He couldn’t allow it. For his sake, and hers.

  The train slowed and the men within jerked when the railcars slammed against each other. Loggers began to jump off with joyful whoops that echoed through the trees. As the last man exited, Simon turned to Garrett.

  “Why did you bring her here?” Garrett scowled to Simon, ignoring the warm emotional tug of the woman slowly making her way behind her brother. He’d die if anything happened to her, and here, in the Montana wild, chances were something bad would transpire. He thought the drive dangerous enough when she was male. Heaven knows what would happen now.

  “She said she wants to have an adventure,” Simon answered. “She blackmailed me, and then snuck aboard when I tried to leave her behind. You can send her home.”

  “Excuse me!” Beth exclaimed and peered over Simon’s shoulder. “I am a big girl, capable of taking care of myself. I may need a little watching over, but I’m no child. Send me home and I’ll spill everything to the mayor. Better yet, I’ll tell the gossiping Goodall sisters.”

  He straightened his spine and glared, but his shoulders dropped. “Nothing I’ve said has changed your mind. Garrett’s the riverman foreman, and he’s going to say the same thing I did. Go home, Elizabeth.”

  “No.”

  The woman was impossible. Exactly how he’d imagined her to be all those times he’d studied her on the platform. Her air of refined control enough to convince one of social graces, but on closer look mischief always flickered in her crystal blue eyes. Challenging one to take control of her fiery ways. A challenge he’d always wanted to take on. But he was a man, leader of the Devil May Cares for hell’s sake, and he’d let the fear of a small woman control him long enough. No more.

  Garrett too glared at Elizabeth. “Perhaps a wallop would set you to rights.”

  “You can’t do that. You’re not my brother.”

  Thank God! Not only did she render him dim witted when near, but he didn’t need another girl full of machinations to rescue in town. He had no sister to watch over, and enough troubles with his housekeeper’s daughter. The woman he would marry would be docile and sweet tempered—the perfect ornament for his parlor. The woman he agreed to let his parents choose for him in exchange for one last logging season. Miserable in love, but comfortable in life.

  Elizabeth needed to be home in Missoula. Safe. If only she were one of the sweet, docile women his father admired so much. If only Simon hadn’t ruined all hope for he and Beth. He couldn’t fault his friend completely. Simon was simply doing what men of his age and status do best. Women and booze. That didn’t stop his father’s judgment, though. There was no way in hell his father would reconsider Elizabeth Sanders suitable for the wife of a Jones, was there?

  Garrett stalked past Simon to Beth. Her eyelashes fluttered at the abrupt movement, so he concentrated on her mouth in order to get the authoritative words to move from his brain, to tongue. He softened his voice, but ensured the tone reflected the importance. “You need a strong hand.”

  She repeated her words in a breathless plea. “You’re not my brother, or my father.”

  “No, ma’am, but I know you almost as well. I’ve heard about your antics every spring for the last five years. I know for a fact you need a good set down.”

  “Are you going to let him talk to me like this, Simon?” A slight panic shook her voice.

  Simon let out a huff of laughter. “Yes, I am, sis. Because he’s right. You do need a wallop. You’re spoiled, and God knows I have never told you no before now. If Garrett wants to be the one to put you in line, then he has my permission.”

  “You’re both mad.”

  “That’s why they hire us,” Garrett said to the defiant woman. He studied her perfect lips, the bottom one wet where she’d released it from between her teeth. “We don’t call ourselves the Devil May Care boys for nothing.”

  Garrett stilled as she shifted, drawing ever-so-slightly closer to him.

  Should she stay here in camp, he could have her for one season. Be near her. For just one season he could collect a lifetime of memories to keep him happy once they parted. There were women in camp. Why couldn’t she be one of them? She bit her lip again, and he ached to reach out and touch the silky softness of her mouth with his.

  Selfish as it was, he couldn’t send her away.

  “If this is going to happen, and you stay on, I can’t allow you to run rampant, Lizbe. It’s too dangerous.” He had to find a way to show her who was boss. A way that wouldn’t cause her to despise him for the rest of her life. He forced back the resigned sigh deep within his chest. This is going to be an exceptionally long spring.

  Beth’s eyes flashed with defiance. “You can’t call me Lizbe. That’s my brother’s nickname for me.”

  “I know. As I said before, I know everything about you.”

  Beth trembled so Garrett softened a bit and stopped herding her to the corner. Her lips firmed and relaxed—an indication of the mixed emotions swelling inside her. She didn’t even know how well he could read her mood simply by watching her mouth.

  Simon stepped in front of the door, a barrier from the men outside. Catching the movement, Garrett wedged Beth farther into the corner. His fears resurfaced the closer he drew to her warmth. He wanted nothing more than to touch her. Sweep her up into his arms and make her his forever. What he needed to do was leap from the car, disappear in his work, and let her stay in camp with her brother. He scowled at Simon. “You lied to me.”

  “I know, but I need your help,” Simon pleaded.

  Garrett gave a resigned sigh. “I’ll find her a safe place to
work. The bateau, maybe? If I take a position with her in the boat, I can watch over her. I’d say send her to work with the cook, but you know how Aunt June gossips. She might expose her as a woman, and I’m afraid if the men discover her dressed this way, her reputation would be ruined.”

  Simon nodded. “I might never get her married off if any men found out she was traipsing around dressed like that. Gossip would spread like a brushfire the moment they sent letters home. If she trains hard, she could handle the bateau. She may be a conniving bulldozer, but she’s not some frail ninny.”

  “You talk as if I’m not standing right here,” Beth snapped, but he and Simon ignored her.

  Garrett tried not to scoff. When had Simon ever cared about his sister’s reputation? If he had, he’d have taken care in his own life. Acted like Garrett instead of a two-bit lumberjack.

  “She’ll be safe in the bateau,” Simon continued. “The cook takes a boat down the river with the drive. This is only one step away from the cook raft. If she’s in the bateau, she’s away from harm and people, and my reputation…and neck…are safe.” The lines on his face softened. “I suppose if we can’t get her to go home, that’s the best we could do. Just take care. She’s difficult to control.”

  Beth gave another sound, irritated at being left out of the conversation.

  Garrett faced Simon once more. “The bateau it is.” Life on the river was not going to be easy, but at least he’d be there to watch over her. Protect her from harm.

  “What’s a bateau? Is that the cook boat, or a riverman one? I forget.” Beth crossed her arms over her chest. The small movement pulled her shirt taut. Garrett tried not to stare. The damned bands did nothing to hide the roundness of her breasts.

  He couldn’t answer, but simply stared at the sinfully breathtaking sight before him. One that made his heart race, and stomach feel empty. He shouldn’t be watching the display, but he couldn’t help it.

  “What’s a bateau?”

  The words snapped his attention back to the moment. “The only way you are going down the river.”

  Garrett shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. Her chest stopped rising with her breath, and the vein at the base of her neck throbbed as he drew close enough to smell the honeysuckle scent of her hair. “You need to wear this. Even with the alterations, you are too obviously a woman. Stay beside or behind me at all times and do not talk to anyone.” Garrett turned to Simon. “One river ride, and then she’s gone.”

  “First drive and she’s gone,” Simon agreed.

  “First drive?” Beth questioned.

  “The first trip down the river. You take it, and then we ship you home.” Garrett rubbed the back of his neck. The gleam in her eye belied her ready acceptance. He didn’t believe her for a minute.

  He turned and jumped from the railcar, holding out his hand to help her down while searching the surrounding area to ensure no one saw his slight in helping this boy down. Her face glowed with victory, and he wanted to turn her around and toss her back on the railcar.

  He clenched his teeth, his only release for the anger building in his gut.

  “Emotion is a sign of weakness. One must always be on guard.” He repeated the lesson his mother frequently chided him with when he was a child, not for Beth’s sake, but for his own.

  She glanced back and frowned. “I was always led to believe that emotion was a spigot for the soul. I’d rather have a clean soul than a surly disposition.”

  With a curt nod of acquiesce at her retort, he turned to escort her to the center of camp. He must not let her sharp tongue or enchanting charm affect him so. He already doubted all of the decisions he’d made since she entered his life.

  Chapter 4

  The excitement of the afternoon made Beth want to join in the chaos. Never before had she experienced such an informal and comfortable afternoon. No one in camp seemed to pay mind to social rules, and no one looked twice when she’d tripped over her spikes. So concerned with organizing their own affairs, the loggers failed to realize she was even there.

  She smiled.

  Men, teenage boys, and the occasional wife or spinster cook ran in all directions—greeting old friends, meeting new ones, and setting up camp. She studied the throng of people for the man she saw at the train platform—the one with the cane and his illusive partner—but with no luck. None of the people buzzing about camp reacted any different from the person next to them. All were excited and happy; not calculating and cross like she imagined a traitor would behave. She frowned. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d thought. What did she know about investigating a crime anyway?

  A fat-bellied man stood in the center of the crude log buildings and watched the activity. He would bark out an order, but didn’t move from his position. Who was he? The man’s gaze skimmed over Beth and settled on her brother. He motioned for Simon to join him.

  “Be back in two shakes.” Her brother ran toward the man.

  Beth turned to Garrett. “Who is that?”

  “Paul Smith. He’s from the Big Mountain Lumber Mill.” Garrett’s tone was soft and happy. Warm even. It was hard not to be affected by the aura of the first day in camp, and apparently Garrett wasn’t immune to the cheery, mountain fresh mood.

  Perhaps she could get him to loosen up a bit. She’d always been one to charm the gentlemen of the ballrooms. How different would it be to charm a logger? Hard seeing as she was dressed as a man. She turned a teasing smile on him. “And are you as important as he is?”

  “I am to you.” His dry tone punctuated the words with finality. She tried not to frown. How was she going to get him to loosen up enough to trust her, talk to her, and carry on a decent conversation? Never in her life had a man spurned her as much as Garrett Jones did. She didn’t know how to respond so she kept quiet and let the moment stretch into silence as they watched the loggers. Many of them with visible injuries, which brought to mind her mission. “Do any of the loggers here use a cane?”

  “No. Why?” He gave her a curious stare.

  If the man with the cane wasn’t here, then he must be the one who offered the money. She needed to look for the second man from the platform. The only problem was she had no idea what he looked like. “Just curious is all. I heard there are a lot of injuries in a logging camp.”

  He nodded. “There are. It’s a dangerous place.”

  Beth’s cheek twitched in a nervous smile. Garrett obviously intended that remark to be a warning. “Do all of the men from the train live in the Missoula spring camp?”

  Garrett shook his head. “Some are from the Bonner camp, and a few are from the year-round camp. Most of the long-term residents leave during the spring and return in the fall.”

  “Does each camp have Devil May Cares?”

  “Each of the camps here have their structure—timber beasts, river rats, and homeboys. But the long-term camp, they’re the ones that have loggers year round, falling trees and bringing the logs to the river’s edge. They do not employ rivermen. That’s where us seasonal loggers come in. Since we can’t bring the logs down in the winter, and the rivers are too low in the summer, we can only ride the logs in the spring when the water is high. We give the long-term loggers a break for a few months, and then take the drives down the river. There’s two camps with rivermen. The Missoula camp, and Bonner camp. The Bonner rats take the drive down the river with us, but walk along the bank to dislodge any logs hung up there. It’s complicated, but you’ll get the gist of it once we get going.”

  “Homeboys are the men from the towns around here, but what are river rats?”

  “They are drifters working for as long as they deem to remain in the area. Stay away from them. The Bonner camp is full of them. They are not to be trusted.”

  “Are there any river rats in your crew?”

  Garrett shook his head. “I am selective of the
men I allow on my team. The Devil May Cares are all homeboys.”

  “When will we go on the drive?” She needed time to find out which of the men had taken the bribe, and who the man with the cane was.

  Garrett ran his fingers through his hair and gave a resigned sigh. “I don’t yet know. We’ll have to talk to Teddy first. He schedules the river runs.”

  “So he’s the most important man to me?” She gave a playful punch to the air, hoping to lighten the mood. Garrett stretched his right shoulder muscles like Simon did when he scolded her. What did she say wrong? She dropped her hand back to her side. “Do I make you tense?”

  He raised his head, but a strange glint shimmered in his eyes. “You shouldn’t be here. It’s not good for either of us.”

  Before she could respond, Simon trotted back to their small circle.

  “Beth will be on the first train out tomorrow morning,” Garrett said. “I can’t risk her life just so she can get a thrill.”

  “No,” she screeched, but checked herself when two loggers turned curious stares in her direction. She lowered her voice and leaned closer to Garrett and Simon. “I’m not leaving. I thought that was settled. I’ll bear hug a tree and never let go.”

  “Gar.” Simon turned a warning look to his friend. “Paul said the Bonner camp lost a few rivermen this year, including their leader, and the big bugs at the mill refuse to hire anyone else. Said we had to make do with what we got. Chances are you’ll need her to man the bateau on occasion while you work the jams with the boys. As much as I hate to admit it, we might need her.”

  “Goddamn it.” Garrett ran a hand through his hair, and turned his glance to something off in the distance.

  He pinched his lips together, but remained silent. Not arguing and not conceding. His face like a fierce storm calculating the best path of destruction. She had a feeling he wasn’t finished trying to send her home. She couldn’t go. She would fight until her hands were raw if she had to, but she wouldn’t go home.