Expedition of Love (21 page)

Stephen's hand stopped. Unconsciously, he'd drawn a picture of Kristina. Not something he wanted to be caught doing, but it was too late to hide it now.

"Certainly, Edwin.” He resumed his sketching, paying closer attention to the detail. He knew her face better than any other person of his acquaintance.

"She's sound asleep, by the way. I just checked on her.” Edwin sighed as he stared into the fire. “I frightened her horribly today."

"I'm afraid so. She loves you a great deal."

His friend nodded and glanced at his progress. “She looks more like her mother everyday."

"She's very beautiful.” Stephen put the final touches on the drawing and regretfully tore the page from his book.

Edwin carefully took it from his outstretched hand, and studied it closely before lifting his gaze to his. “You have feelings for her."

It was a statement, not a question, and one Stephen felt compelled to deny. “She and I are friends."

Edwin looked down at the drawing then back at him, a crooked smile on his weathered face. “I wouldn't mind having you for a son-in-law. I feel as if you were already my son."

Stephen stammered a moment before quickly regaining his composure. “I'm honored, Edwin, but that's just not possible."

"Oh? Is there someone back home?"

"Well, no. But—"

"But nothing. I may be old, but I'm not blind. You're attracted to her, and she's attracted to you."

"You must be mistaken.” Stephen sat forward. Motioning with his pencil toward her tent, he said, “She could never—she wouldn't want—” Dropping his hand, he rested his forearms across his legs, his hands dangling limply over his knees. “We're just friends."

"Ah. Well, you can't blame an old man for trying.” Edwin chuckled. “And I've been trying for some time. Seems my little missy isn't too keen on the idea of getting married."

Relieved the topic had turned away from him, Stephen sat back in his chair. “I can understand that, with her love for her career. And there aren't many men who would accept her outspoken ideas."

"Quite right. She manages to chase them off faster than I can introduce her."

"She seems content with her life. I've noticed her enjoyment when she's taking photographs and uncovering fossils.” And how adorable she looked with dirt smudges on her face and nose.

"Yes, she loves her work.” The old gentleman stared into the dwindling fire. “But ever since I lost my Anita, Kris hasn't been the same. She refuses to let anyone get close. I suppose Antonio and I are the only ones she allows near. She's so afraid of being hurt, afraid of losing someone she cares for again."

Edwin looked at him with weary gray eyes. “That's why she was so scared this afternoon when I'd been foolish enough to over-task myself. I don't want my little girl to be lonely, to miss out on all the wonderful things a person can share with someone they love, but she doesn't see it that way. I guess I'd hoped that with you, things were different. She hasn't ever been interested in anyone, other than that girlish crush she had on Antonio so many years ago."

"We just share an interest in fossils, Edwin. Nothing more.” Although he wished they could, but it was impossible. She would never want a life with him, the boring professor, and he couldn't give in to her innocent kisses, knowing he wouldn't be able to stop himself from wanting more, from taking more.

Edwin smiled. “You think that's all, eh?” Chuckling softly, he said, “She likes you. A great deal, but she's afraid."

Stephen started to object, intending to explain that it wasn't Kristina who was afraid, but his friend waved him off, stilling his foolish tongue.

"No sense in arguing with me. I know my little girl, but since you're not interested in her as anything more than a friend, I'll just have to hope she'll find someone else.” He took a long deep breath. “Dreadful shame, really. You two make such a nice pair."

Stephen sniffed as he shook his head. “A man like me and a woman like your daughter, do
not
make a nice pair. We would be a joke, the laughing stock of all New York, and you well know it."

"So you think my Kris is too good for you, is that it? I thought the same about her mother. As did her parents, but all turned out well. And may still for Kris.” The old gent looked at him, a distinctive glint in his eye.

Stephen shifted uncomfortably. “Edwin, I—"

"Oh, pay no attention to me. I'd just like to have some grandchildren in my old age, and I'd like to know she was being taken care of. That she was with someone who wouldn't try and change her, someone who would love her as much as I do."

He stood slowly, the weight of his years and concern for his daughter evident in his movements. “Well, I've talked the night away with my drivel. I'm off to bed. Thank you for the drawing, Stephen. There aren't many people who could catch that certain spark of Kristina's. Thank you."

"You're quite welcome, my friend."

The old gentleman stepped into the shadows and disappeared, leaving Stephen staring into the fading fire. How could Edwin actually believe Kristina would be interested in marrying him of all people? Even if he had seen the few tense moments between them, they were not enough to assume she was in love with him. His friend's hopes were playing tricks on his eyes.

Kristina may have run off all her suitors, but she would never be seriously interested in him. He was a boring scientist who had none of the traits she would desire in a man. This attraction she may or may not have for him was nothing but a lark, an innocent exploration. The thought of her wanting him in truth was ludicrous.

But as Stephen doused the flames and went to his tent, he couldn't help wishing Edwin's words were true, because he wanted her more than he ever wanted anything in his life. And it had little to do with lust and everything to do with love.

Chapter Twelve

The following afternoon Antonio returned with his father and a large side of beef to be cooked on a spit over the fire. They'd decided earlier that Edwin should be the one to bring up the matter of their previous unexpected visitors at the appropriate time, but Stephen could barely hold his tongue. The lewd suggestions their intruders made regarding Kristina still made his blood boil, and he couldn't stop speculating about their connection with Antonio.

Kristina gave Antonio's father, Enrico Mendoza, a fierce hug the moment he'd slid from his horse.

"Ah, you were right, Antonio. She has grown into a very beautiful young lady,” Señor Mendoza said with a broad smile as he cupped her cheek.

She thanked him quietly then returned to the cook tent to assist in preparing the rest of their meal. The entire day, her behavior had been odd, and it nagged at Stephen's thoughts. Not once, since her kiss of thanks, had she looked him in the eye, nor had she spoken so much as two words to him. What had changed from the night before?

His gaze landed on Geoffrey Walters, grudgingly turning the spit over the flames. Could he have said or done something to upset her?

Stephen felt pulled in two directions at once. He needed to stay with Edwin and get to the bottom of Antonio's involvement with their unwelcome visitors, and yet at the same time he wanted to discover what had upset Kristina.

"Isn't that right, Stephen?"

Jerking his gaze from the cook tent, he looked at Edwin who waited patiently for a response. “Um, yes. As Edwin said,” he muttered, and moved to relieve Mr. Walters at the spit to avoid any further conversation, since his concentration was nearly nonexistent.

Later, still puzzling over Kristina's unusually quiet behavior as young Anderson took his turn at roasting their dinner, Edwin told Antonio and his father about the men who'd visited earlier in the week. Señor Mendoza cast a fierce scowl toward his son.

"I will handle it, Father,” Antonio said.

"See that you do. I'll not have our guests endangered. And to be certain you are all safe here on my land, Edwin, I will send more men to watch over the camp."

"That isn't necessary, my friend. I'm sure we're quite safe,” Edwin replied.

Enrico sighed with vague frustration. “If that is what you wish, but do not hesitate to call on me."

With a smile and thanks, the men let the matter drop.

Kristina emerged with the rest of their dinner, and they all set about eating the delicious beef, a welcome change from beans.

The topics of discussion jumped about for a while, before turning to Kristina and Antonio's childhood. To her obvious chagrin, several of their misadventures surfaced during the dinner conversation.

"Then my little girl proceeded to drop a toad down Antonio's pants. He danced and jumped so high he fell into the river!"

The blush that stole across her cheeks burned brighter than the campfire. “I only did it in retaliation for his teasing me about my new dress."

Antonio laughed. “No, Chica. You did it because you were jealous of Maria."

"Piffle,” she muttered.

Stephen chuckled softly. She
had
been jealous, the lie was plainly written on her beautiful, red face.

"Kris, I hope I haven't embarrassed you too much,” Edwin said. He grinned, looking more like a mischievous elf than a professor of paleontology.

She shook her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought again. “Not too terribly.” Rising to her feet, she kissed her father's brow and bid everyone goodnight.

Stephen's smile faded as he watched her slip inside her tent. Did she still have feelings for Antonio? Was that what was bothering her?

His gaze shifted to the gaucho sitting by his father. The resemblance was clear in their dark features and general build, both handsome, and both plainly cared a great deal for Kristina, but did Antonio have deeper feelings for her?

Stephen dropped his chin to his chest, his gaze on his empty plate. It didn't matter whether or not she and Antonio had feelings for one another. He was not one of her suitors and never would be.

"Come, Enrico. Let me show you what we've discovered so far,” Edwin said.

Stephen tossed aside his regretful thoughts and followed as Edwin led Señor Mendoza across the encampment. He continued chatting away about their work as Stephen climbed into one of the wagons they'd loaded with fossils.

"It seems we may have unearthed one of the most complete skeletons of an Argyrosaurus ever discovered,” Edwin continued. “We can't thank you and Antonio enough for alerting us to this magnificent find."

Stephen looked over the crates carefully searching for one that would be interesting and easily accessible. To his shock, several were missing. “Thomas! Anderson! Walters!"

Edwin's jovial expression dropped like a stone. “What is it, Stephen? What's wrong?"

"There are several crates missing. I distinctly recall them being placed in the wagon."

The team appeared with Antonio and a slightly bedraggled Kristina, obviously torn away from her nightly ablutions. At the sight of her hair draping her shoulders, the way it was the night he kissed her, he completely forgot why he'd called them.

"Did you men place the crates on the wagon as you were instructed?” Edwin asked the team.

Their adamant positive responses pulled Stephen's gaze from the tempting angel before him. “There are several missing. Have you removed any of them from the wagon?"

"No, sir,” Thomas replied.

The group scrambled aboard and searched for the missing crates as Stephen jumped down. “Someone has obviously stolen them.” He noticed the sharp look between Señor Mendoza and Antonio. What did they know?

"This is unbelievable,” Edwin sputtered. “You can't mean to say that someone crept in here in the middle of the night and spirited away crates of fossils?"

"I'm afraid so, sir,” Walters said, as he joined them. “We loaded the wagon yesterday, and now several of the boxes are gone. There's no other explanation."

"Gentlemen, I'm terribly sorry,” Señor Mendoza said. “I will notify the authorities the moment I return home."

Edwin turned to his longtime friend. “Thank you, Enrico. Whatever you can do will be greatly appreciated. But I simply cannot understand why someone would do this? And how on earth did they manage to cart them off? Surely we would have heard a wagon."

"The crates missing could've easily been tied to pack horses. The larger crates are still here,” Stephen theorized.

"My God. They had to be as silent as cats,” Edwin replied.

Stephen nodded. “Considering we've posted a guard each night."

Mr. Anderson stepped up beside them. “Doctor Baxter, I'm sorry. It's my fault. I'm ashamed to say I fell asleep on my watch. Not for long,” he hurriedly added. “But for a little while. I'm sorry."

Stephen sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It's not your fault. If these people wanted the fossils badly enough, they would have found a way to steal them whether you were awake or not.” His thoughts and eyes turned to Kristina. “I'm just glad the fossils were all they were after."

Her head snapped up from her lingering study of the wagon bed. She knew he meant her, and he hoped to heaven she realized how easily these men had skulked into camp and taken what they wanted without anyone being the wiser.

She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. He longed to pull her to his chest wanting to hold her and keep her safe, but it appeared none of them were safe.

Kristina tossed and turned on her cot, constantly jumping at every little sound. Why would anyone steal fossils? It just didn't make sense, and were the thieves those awful men who knew Antonio? All day he'd dodged her questions about them. Something was definitely going on, and she wanted answers.

Disgusted with her inability to sleep, she rose just before the sun, and slipped past her snoring father. But in the dim predawn light she tripped over a body lying on the ground in front of her tent.

With a solid thud, she landed squarely on top of Stephen, his arms instantly snaring her. No words formed on her lips as she stared into his eyes, but her thoughts ran swiftly down dangerous roads. She wondered how his jaw, now shadowed with a day's growth, would feel rubbing against her cheek, how the dark curls of hair on his chest would feel against her bare skin, and oh so many other titillating things.