Expedition of Love (28 page)

"Capital idea. Thank you, my boy. What do you say, Stephen?"

"Thank you. That would be very helpful.” He didn't want to admit it, but he was beginning to like Mendoza. At least when he managed to keep his distance from Kristina. But he needed to remind himself that she didn't belong to him. Whether Antonio touched her or not was none of his concern.

"I caused this mess. Perhaps I should be the one to leave,” Kristina said as she stood.

"You can't mean that,” Edwin said.

"I'm afraid I do, Papa.” She looked at Stephen, moisture gathering in her eyes. “I should never have come in the first place.” Spinning around, she hobbled quickly to her tent, her father fast on her heels.

Stephen watched curiously as she disappeared inside. What had come over her all of a sudden? Wasn't she pleased that her reputation was still intact, that he hadn't professed his feelings to her father?

"She is a stubborn one, but worth the pains, I think,” Antonio said. “I will take her to Confluencia, but I do not believe that is what she truly wants. I think the little mule is still running away."

"You mean she's running away from me,” Stephen said.

"No, Doctor. From her heart."

He watched Antonio mount his horse, amazed the man still insisted she had feelings for him, when Stephen knew that was not the case. Her adamant refusal to marry him left no doubt in his mind, but the man's words teased and taunted him with hope.

"I will return in two days, Doctor Baxter. Then we will see who is leaving.” Antonio rode off to the south without glancing back.

Stephen looked across the camp to her tent, wishing and wanting, as Antonio's words echoed in his mind. Could she actually be in love with him? Was she refusing to admit it to herself for fear of being hurt as Edwin suggested so many nights ago? Was she running away?

He was afraid to think it, afraid to hope for what might be nothing more than one man's mistaken opinion.

But that man knew her long and well.

Stephen took a steadying breath. Dare he believe the one thing he wanted most in the world was actually possible?

"Kristina Applegate Peterson, you are not leaving."

She spun around from her frenzied packing at the command from her father. Not since she was a little girl, had he taken that tone with her. “I'm sorry, Papa, but I don't have a choice."

"You listen to me, missy. This is not your fault, and I refuse to hear another word about it."

She sank down onto her cot and put her face in her hands. “But it is my fault. If I hadn't come, Stephen—Dr. Baxter wouldn't have felt it necessary to pummel Mr. Walters. He wouldn't have missed an entire day of work.” She groaned. “Two days of work. Oh, Papa, I've made such a mess of things.” She tried to hide the sniffle but failed.

Her father sat down beside her and pulled her against his broad form, patting her back. “There, there, my dear. Everything will turn out all right. And you haven't made a mess of things. We still have plenty of time to get the rest of that dinosaur out of the ground. And I would've missed you terribly if you hadn't come."

She lifted her head and gave him a quivering smile. “I would've missed you too. But Doctor Baxter's work is suffering because of me."

"That is simply not true. It suffers because of that jackass, Walters."

She stood and crossed the small space between the cot and the crate at the back of the tent, her ankle throbbing more and more with every step. “But he was defending my honor."

"And so he should. That's what a good man does. Especially one who's in love."

She sucked in a sharp breath and turned to find her father wearing a wide grin. “You are very much mistaken, Papa. He is not in love with me."

Edwin chuckled. “Of course he is, my dear. And you're in love with him."

She sputtered and spewed a moment. “I most certainly am not. The man is—is—argumentative, ill-tempered, tyrannical, and—and irritating."

"Yes, he is, isn't he?” His grin widened, farther than she thought possible.

Stepping closer, she waggled her finger in his face. “Papa, you stop thinking those ridiculous thoughts right now. I won't have you going around telling people that Stephen and I are—are—"

"In love."

With a growl she firmly crossed her arms and turned away. His obsession for grandchildren was causing hallucinations. To think that Stephen Baxter was in love with her was the most ludicrous idea he'd come up with yet.

Oh, he may have proposed—no—demanded they marry, but it most certainly had nothing to do with love, and everything to do with propriety. He was merely trying to save her precious reputation. His uncivilized altercation with Mr. Walters was proof of that.

And her in love with him? Preposterous! She left that sort of foolishness behind with her childhood.

Toting his cot, Edwin moved to the tent flap. His daughter didn't need a bodyguard any longer. No, she needed something much more important. But he had said all he intended to say, unless she still insisted on leaving. That he couldn't allow. The evidence of their love for one another was clear as crystal, but he couldn't have her running off to avoid facing these new feelings. No, he needed to keep them together until they finally realized how much they loved one another.

Frankly, he'd begun to wonder, but after Stephen's recent display that morning, and his daughter's misplaced guilt and loud denial about her feelings, not a single shred of doubt remained in his mind. They simply needed a little more time.

Tamping down his joy, he turned a serious face to his daughter. “Deny what you feel, my dear, but it doesn't change the facts."

"Your delusions, you mean."

He waved a dismissive hand. He couldn't convince her to accept the truth. She would have to discover it on her own. The seeds needed time to grow.

"All of that aside, you still cannot leave. We will not be able to accomplish our goal without you. With both you and Mr. Walters gone, there will be a total of four hands missing."

Her mouth formed a small ‘o’ as the facts settled into place. Her shoulders slumping, she dropped her arms. “I hadn't thought of that."

"Then you'll cease this nonsense about leaving?"

She let out a heavy sigh. “I'll think about it, Papa."

"That's something then. But there will be no sneaking off in the middle of the night, young lady. I will not have your safety jeopardized again. Do you understand me?"

"If I do decide to leave, I'll have Antonio act as my escort."

"And you will tell me."

She nodded.

"Good. Now, you take a moment to collect yourself then come have luncheon."

"Thank you, but I don't feel much like eating. I think I'll lie down a while."

He stepped to her side and kissed her brow. “As you wish. I'll explain to the others. Sleep well, my dear. I'll check on you at dinner."

As he stepped outside, he caught sight of Stephen standing in the center of the compound staring at his daughter's tent. The poor boy certainly had it bad.

With a small grin, he made his way to his friend's side. “I believe I've convinced her to stay. For the moment, at least."

Stephen's eyes snapped to his. “For the moment?"

"I suspect she'll stew over it a while before she makes a final decision, but I believe she's already made up her mind to leave and is simply humoring me. She has a notion that all of this was her fault."

"Mr. Walters was the true cause of this debacle. She is totally blameless."

"I tried to explain that to her, but you know how stubborn she can be."

"That I do.” Stephen looked back at her tent, his gaze narrowing. “I believe I shall have a talk with Miss Peterson myself.” With that he marched across the camp, determination creasing his brow.

Edwin was more than pleased by his friend's reaction. Apparently a great deal had occurred on the plateau the night before. Some of which he didn't wish to ponder on for very long. A father doesn't care to think of his daughter in a man's arms, even one as deserving and as deeply in love as Stephen Baxter.

"I'd like a word with you, Miss Peterson,” Stephen called from outside Kristina's tent.

"Come in, Doctor Baxter."

"I would prefer it if you came out.” He couldn't go in. Propriety wouldn't allow it, but mostly because he was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep from touching her even knowing she didn't care for him.

"I'm sorry, I can't do that,” she said. “You'll have to come in, if you wish to speak with me. Or we could go on shouting back and forth."

With a muttered curse, he stomped inside and stopped cold, the tent flap slipping closed behind him.

Sitting primly on the edge of her cot, she wore a simple white frock. The bruise on her arm plainly visible made his stomach lurch, but as his gaze moved across her full breast, hunger engulfed him. He knew he should turn away, that seeing her in her nightclothes was highly improper, but he couldn't take his eyes off her.

The flashes of memory of her delicious curves heated his thoughts, his body, his blood. God, how he wanted her. As he moved his gaze along her graceful neck, she swallowed deeply.

Did she want him as much as he wanted her? Did she feel something more than lust?

Possibly, but he had no clue as to how to get her to admit her true feelings. All he could do was make sure she remained on the expedition.

He cleared his throat and frowned. “You are not leaving."

Tilting her head at an angle, she gazed at him inquisitively, then seemed to make her mind up about something. About him? About whether or not she would stay? His thoughts jumped from one possibility to the next.

"I haven't decided if I'm leaving or not,” she said, her chin lifted. “I realize being short one pair of hands will make things difficult enough. I don't wish to do any more damage to this expedition."

His hands balled into fists at his sides as his anger erupted. “You haven't done any blasted damage! This is not your fault!"

She came to her feet in one fluid motion of fury. Standing toe-to-toe, she glared at him. “It most certainly is my fault, and I refuse to let someone else take the blame for something I caused."

"Of all the stupid—if anyone's to blame it's me. I let you come along on this trip. I chose the team members."

"Let me? Oh, now who's being stupid?"

"I did not call you stupid! This entire argument is what's stupid.” Groaning in frustration, he raked his fingers through his hair. How did he always seem to find himself in a shouting match with the woman?

Clenching his teeth, he took a deep breath. “Kristina, I do not hold you responsible for what happened today. I do, however, find fault with anything resulting in you leaving this expedition.” His anger faded as he continued to look at her beautiful face. “I don't want you to go."

Her scowl slipped away as her lips parted with a soft breath. He fought with all his strength against the compelling desire to take her in his arms, because he knew if he did, he would never let her go.

Turning away slowly, she sat down on the cot, her attention focused on her twisting hands. “I'm sorry for causing so much grief, Stephen. I never meant to."

He sighed heavily. “There wouldn't be any grief, if you would agree to marry me."

Her head snapped up. “I've already explained that I'm never going to marry. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?"

His temper flared again, unable to stay hidden beneath the fragile shell of calm. “After what happened between us, I'll never understand!"

"Nothing happened!” Her gaze fell back to her lap. “Not anything that can't be forgotten."

His heart sank, its staggering weight lay in his chest like an ancient stone. “If you truly believe that, then there's nothing more to discuss."

"No, nothing.” She twisted around and slipped beneath her blanket, giving him a brief glimpse of her shapely legs. “If you don't mind, I'd like to get some rest."

Did she know how her words of dismissal crushed him? Did she care that his heart would lie in ruin for the rest of his days because of her refusal? And yet, did any of it matter?

Antonio was wrong. She didn't love him. She could never love him, a stoic scientist with little to offer other than long, boring days that would lead into long, boring years. The life of a teacher was rarely exciting. This expedition would, in all likelihood, be the most exciting thing to ever happen in his life. And all because of her.

Spinning away before he launched himself across the small space and professed his eternal love, making a complete ass of himself, he tromped across the camp to his tent muttering beneath his breath. “Forget the most wonderful moment in my life? Not bloody likely."

He stopped, jerking his head around for another look at her tent. Although it was painfully obvious Antonio was wrong about her feelings, and that being around her day in and day out would tear at his battered heart, he prayed she wouldn't leave.

"Walters,” he grumbled. This was all his fault, but she refused to see the truth. “Stubborn, pigheaded, irrational female.” Never again would he ever go on an expedition with a woman. Damnation, he hadn't intended on bringing one along this time!

Throwing open his tent flap, he stomped inside, but barely a moment passed before his burst of anger ended. Slumping down onto his cot, he stared at the ground. In all of Christendom, he had to be the unluckiest man alive, and yet he had never felt more fortunate. The moments spent holding her, kissing her, loving her, were more precious to him than any he'd ever known, than any he ever would know, and he was going to lose her.

He dropped his head into his hands. How could he lose something he never had?

Lying down on his bed, he let the memories of their night together wash over his weary body. This would be all he would have. Never again would he know the feel of her skin, the warmth of her breath against his lips, her soft murmurs of pleasure. The feel of her lying next to him, curled against his side safely enveloped in his arms, would forever be a bittersweet memory. For the rest of his days, he would see her face in his dreams only to awaken to the cold, lonely truth.