Hallie's Destiny (The Donovans of the Delta) (3 page)

“Every chance I get.”

“I always thought that was a bit dangerous for a girl.”

“I enjoy danger, Raymond.”

“You just be careful, you hear. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to my favorite customer.” Raymond moved behind the counter and tried to put a businesslike expression on his face. “What can I do for you and the big fellows today?” He nodded toward the dogs.

“It’s such a nice, windy day I thought I’d fly a kite. Do you have any?”

“Has a cat got climbing gear? Have you ever known old Raymond not to have ‘most anything you want? The kites are right over here.” He led her to a small cardboard barrel that was bulging with paper kites. “Red, blue, yellow, green—I got ‘em all.”

Hallie selected the gaudiest of the lot, a red and purple dragon with yellow streamers. With a jaunty wave, she climbed into her car and headed back to an open area near her camp.

The wind was perfect. Her kite sailed through the air, trailing its streamers across the blue sky. She and the dogs followed it, Hallie laughing and the Danes barking, none of them paying attention or caring where the kite took them. Suddenly a capricious gust of wind lifted her kite, and, halfway up a cottonwood tree, it got stuck. She tried gently tugging, but the kite stubbornly remained in the tree.

“There’s only one thing to do,” she told her dogs. Kicking off her shoes, she shinnied up the tree.

 o0o

“You’re going to get yourself killed. How did you get so far up there?”

The unmistakable roar of Josh Butler’s voice nearly caused her to lose her balance. Hallie parted the branches and looked down. He was standing under the tree, barefoot, hair tousled, clothes disheveled, beard shadow darkening his face.

“You look like the devil. Where did you come from?”

“My sleeping bag.”

“It must be ten o’clock already.”

“Some folks consider ten o’clock early. Some folks even consider it a wonderful time to sleep, unless there’s a convention of barking dogs and noisy women nearby.”

“Sorry I woke you. Go on about your business. Don’t let me bother you.”

The sight of Hallie up a tree was enough to bother the calmest male representative to the United Nations, he decided. Her long tanned legs were wrapped around a limb; her trim rear was emphasized by a pair of yellow shorts so tight, they looked like a second skin; and her hair had slipped from its yellow ribbon and was cascading down her back. She ought to have been labeled “dangerous and explosive.”

He had a hard time concentrating on conversation.

“And have your death on my conscience? No way. That branch you’re on isn’t big enough to hold a cat, let alone a woman. And besides, you’re never going to be able to reach the kite from there. Your arms aren’t long enough.”

“I don’t need your advice. I’m doing all right by myself.” He watched as she wiggled farther out onto the branch. The move added about fifty degrees to the Texas heat.

“Don’t you move another inch.”

“Stop roaring. You’re going to scare the dogs.”

“Hold on tight. I’m coming up to get you.”

“I don’t need rescuing.” She watched as he grabbed the bottom branch and swung up. “Josh Butler, if you set foot in this tree, I’m going to shake you out like a ripe plum.” He kept on climbing. “You’re too big to be up a tree. You’ll fall and kill yourself.”

“Then you’ll have the cove all to yourself.” He was halfway up the tree. He stopped for breath on a sizable branch and looked up to judge the distance between himself and Hallie. It was a mistake. The view of Hallie’s legs was devastating.

Clenching his jaw, he quickly scaled the tree until he was close enough to reach her. He balanced on a large branch and braced himself against the trunk.

“Hallie, I’m going to stand right here in case you slip. Now, I want you to back slowly off that limb and drop down onto this branch.”

“You’re the most pigheaded man I’ve ever known. I’ve been climbing trees since I was six. I can get down from here with my eyes shut.”

“Humor me, Hallie. It’s not that I enjoy rescue missions, it’s just that I’m too old to witness death and destruction without crying.”

She grinned. “How old is too old, Josh Butler?”

“Thirty-five. Now, will you please stop this cat-and-mouse game and come on down?”

“You’re not going to leave the tree until I do?”

“No.”

“In that case, I guess I’ll have to.”

She wiggled her way off the branch. He grabbed hold of her with one arm and swung them easily from the tree. When they were on the ground, he set her on her feet, stood back, and dramatically dusted his hands.

“Don’t thank me, Miss Hallie. All in a day’s work.”

“I had no intention of thanking you, Josh Butler. Who are you, anyway? You came down from that tree like Tarzan.”

“I’m a man of many talents. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to show them all to you.”

“Crawl back into your sleeping bag and rest easy. I wouldn’t want to see your talents if they were wrapped in gold and tied with a Christmas ribbon.”

He reached out and cupped her chin. “You do think of the most delightful things. It’s a pity I’m a loner.”

“If you don’t remove your hands from me in two seconds, I’m going to sic my dogs on you.”

He kept his hand on her face. “Hallie, if I wanted you, nothing could keep me away. Certainly not two dogs.” Releasing her, he casually turned away. “Happy kite flying.”

She wasn’t about to let him have the last word. “Happy fantasizing.”

Josh Butler never even slowed his pace. The only response she got was hearty laughter. She couldn’t help but smile. After all, the situation was funny—both of them up a tree and her mistaking his rescue efforts for seduction.

She sat down on the grass and put her arms around her dogs’ necks. “Josh Butler is quite a man.”

Wolfgang and Ludwig thumped their tails in friendly agreement. With a sigh of pure contentment, Hallie lay on her back and lifted her face to the sunshine. A pair of golden eyes and a rugged, solidly muscled body came to her mind. “Quite a man, indeed.”

 o0o

Josh still was chuckling when he got back to his camp. “What a woman. ‘Wrapped in gold paper and tied with a Christmas ribbon.’” A fresh gale of laughter overtook him. “It’s a pity to let all that liveliness go to waste.” 

Talking to himself was new to Josh. “Must have needed this break more than I thought.” Walking away from a gorgeous woman was also new to him. He didn’t know why he kept skirting a casual involvement with Hallie. Maybe it was because he sensed something different about her. Perhaps it was because he admired her. Seldom had he seen a woman of such spirit. And he loved her sense of humor. “Darned if I can figure it out,” he said aloud.

He had cereal and bananas for breakfast, then took up his rod and reel for a day of serious fishing. He wanted to make every day count. He’d allotted himself a week and a half away from Silken Moments, and he knew the time would pass all too quickly.

Then he’d be back in Florence where every day brought a new business challenge and a new personal heartbreak. His brother’s alcoholism was getting worse. He’d sent George to clinics in Birmingham and Atlanta with no success. Josh gladly would give up his fortune to save his brother, but all the money in the world couldn’t cure George’s problem.

He forced his hands to relax on the rod. George and his father were in good hands while he was away. Thank God for friends.

The fish didn’t seem to be biting in the spot Josh had chosen. Around noon he moved upstream. The water sparkled in the sun. Josh shaded his eyes and looked around. Farther upstream he spotted a dark-haired woman.
Hallie.
He felt lighthearted just looking at her. His rod dangled from his hand, forgotten, as he watched her.

Suddenly she turned her face his way, and he felt a sharp stab of disappointment. The face didn’t belong to Hallie at all. It was the face of a stranger.

He turned his attention back to his fishing. But every so often, he glanced around to see if he could spot Hallie. He stopped for lunch at two, then took up his rod again. By late afternoon he’d fished the stream for two miles on either side of his camp. There’d been no sign of Hallie.

Where the devil was she? Probably off somewhere flying a kite—or skinny-dipping. He grinned.

When the sunset began to paint the sky. Josh turned toward camp, empty-handed again. The only thing he’d caught for the last two days was Hallie Donovan’s black lace bra.

He stripped off his clothes, took a quick dip in the river, and put on his jogging shorts. His physical fitness routine consisted mainly of running five miles a day. He’d missed his run the previous day, but he was determined to make up for it by going an extra mile.

Exhilaration filled him as he ran along the lake. When he realized he was headed in the direction of Hallie’s camp, he told himself it was by chance and not by design. It was probably a good idea, anyway, he decided. She was alone, and he hadn’t seen her since morning. He’d just glance her way and see if she was all right.

Twigs snapped under his feet as Josh ran.

 o0o

After her kite had gotten stuck in the tree, Hallie and her dogs had spent the day exploring the area. Wolfgang and Ludwig had spotted a rabbit and were still on a merry chase when she turned toward camp at dusk, a bouquet of Texas bluebonnets in her hands. She’d found them growing in a small meadow about five miles to the west. She was as pleased as if she’d been Admiral Peary discovering the North Pole. Although she’d camped at the lake many times, she’d never known about the meadow. Nature was an endless delight to her.

She burst into a peppy rendition of
I’m Just A Girl Who Can’t Say No
as she approached her camp. The first thing she saw was her lavender car, its front fenders sprouting the usual two enormous Texas bullhorns and its back fenders sprouting two new, enormous Texas pests—Bradford and Redford Dukes, Dallas’s terrible twins. Drunk, no doubt, and looking for sport.

They meted out more aggravation than harm.

Hallie never stopped singing. Balling her hands into fists, she kept on going. She’d handled them before.

“Howdy, Miss Hallie. You sound like a songbird.” Bradford was doing the talking.

“‘Evening, boys. If you’re partial to your behinds, you’ll get them off my car. I happen to be fond of that heap of metal, and I don’t want to see a dent in it.”

Grinning sheepishly, they slid off the car. “Now, Miss Hallie,” Bradford said, “is that any way to greet friends. And after we came all this way to find you?”

“How
did
you find me?”

“You’re not hard to find. Everybody in Dallas knows that lavender Cadillac. Our buddy, old Hank, on the highway patrol spotted you heading this way. Said you must’a been doing seventy. The only reason he didn’t give you a ticket is ‘cause he likes you.” All the while he talked, Bradford was moving in on Hallie. He was now so close, she could smell his sour breath. “We like you too. That’s how come we’re out here. You’ve been promising us a dance at Cactus Pete’s.”

“Wrong. All I’ve been promising you is a black eye.” She backed away from Bradford, straight into the arms of Redford.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” he said.

Hallie stomped Redford’s foot and kicked Bradford’s shins. Dropping her wildflowers, she raised her fists.

“If you don’t let me go, Redford Dukes, I’ll blacken both your eyes.”

Suddenly she saw Josh. He came running into her camp and plucked her out of Redford’s arms. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting, darling. I hope you didn’t give up on me.” He wasn’t even out of breath when he spoke.

The whole situation was beginning to be comic to Hallie. The only thing that kept her from laughing was the way Josh was holding her. He had her pressed tightly against his chest, and every inch of it bare. His golden mat of chest hair would have sobered the Mona Lisa. Hallie could do nothing except ogle her new captor.

Bradford wasn’t having the same trouble. He stepped toward Josh, red in the face, fists cocked, ready for a fight. “Just who in the hell are you?”

“Josh Butler, Hallie’s fiancé. I’m happy to make your acquaintance.” Bradford ignored the hand Josh extended.

Hallie came out of her trance. “You’re not—”

“Hush, darling. I know I’m late, but we’ll discuss it later.”

“Hallie never mentioned any fiancé.” Redford took a step toward Josh as if he meant to take issue with his statement.

Hallie lifted her fist, intending to give him a poke in the eye, but Josh grabbed her uplifted arm and draped it over his shoulder.

“Would you gentlemen excuse us? Hallie and I have a traditional greeting that has been delayed far too long.”

Josh Butler’s lips came down on hers. They were hard and demanding, brooking no resistance. After the initial shock, Hallie was outraged. She’d had about all of Josh Butler’s manhandling that she intended to take. She drew back her foot to kick his shins, but suddenly a strange thing happened. A warm pleasure surged through her, and her body leaned into his. Her mouth opened, responsive to the persuasive power of this outrageous, gorgeous golden man.

Oh, help, I am lost.
Hallie felt a jubilee rising inside her.
Jubilee
. That was the only word to describe what was happening—a wonderful sensation that was part joy, part triumph, part passion, part music. She fought to suppress the jubilee, but it kept on rising.

Josh lifted his mouth half an inch from hers. “Keep kissing. They’re leaving.”

Then his mouth played expertly over hers once more. Kissing him was like being reborn. Hallie knew her feelings were completely out of control, but she didn’t mind. Anything that felt so wonderful couldn’t be all bad.

Abruptly, Josh ended the kiss. Hallie felt as if her supports had been knocked away. She actually swayed for a moment before standing firm to face him.

“Why did you do that?” she asked quietly.

He looked deep into her eyes. She was caught up in the power of his gaze. He seemed to be trying to search her mind, trying to uncover her very soul. She held her breath as she returned his look. She was vividly aware of him, achingly aware of the kiss they’d exchanged.