Rock and A Hard Place (Cascade Brides Series) (19 page)

“Sounds great.”

“See you then,” he said, and headed back out the door.

Faith nibbled at her well-worn lip, already wondering why she was in
such a flutter. It would be a work trip—for her. Photos for some
future brochure or website feature...with a hunky, single ranger who
made her thoughts fragment and heart do abnormal things.

But that was beside the point.

***

Saturday morning dawned dark and cloudy, the air heavy with the
threat of rain. Unlike the valley, however, it probably wouldn't
last long. After a quick, brutal shower, the weather would probably
clear for the most part. Or so Faith hoped.

She dressed quickly in two T-shirts topped with a fleece jacket, and
a pair of Levis coupled with well-worn hiking boots. Not many
fashion options when it came to the trail. She did choose something
of a loose French twist for her hair as opposed to the usual pony
tail. And, in a weak moment, she applied a touch of makeup. No doubt
the raccoons and fish would appreciate her efforts.

After double-checking she had fresh batteries, a free SD card, and a
heavier jacket in her backpack along with the other necessities, she
perched on the edge of the couch to await Shane.

Her gaze flicked to the door while her mind told her to keep a lid
on the butterflies. Luckily, this wasn't a date, or she'd be as
mess—which was exactly why she'd turned him down last time. But
perhaps on some level she'd achieve some perspective of her
relationship with him. What that meant, she didn't know, but
maybe...just maybe some things could be resolved.

When his Jeep pulled in next to her house, Faith jumped up in time
with her pulse. But she forced herself to wait until he knocked
before opening the door. He walked in with a rush of cool air that
smelled of pine and sage.

“You look pretty,” he said by way of a greeting.

Avoiding his bright eyes, she murmured her thanks and grabbed her
backpack. Pulling in a silent breath, she turned and faced him,
hopefully looking more composed than she felt. Now to sound more
gracious than suspicious. “Thanks for inviting me. I'm really
looking forward to it.”

Shane's dark eyes gleamed as if he knew every one of her silly
thoughts. He walked over and took her backpack from her hands,
sending her a look that dared her to protest. But Faith wanted to be
protest-free, at least for the day. Shane was a nice guy who didn't
deserve to be yanked around by her mercurial moods.

They walked out to the Jeep, piled in, and hit the highway.

“As much as we need rain, a sunny day would've been nice for the
hike,” he said after a while.

Faith peered through the windshield. The clouds had gone from gray
to dingy white. “Clouds aren't a guarantee of rain in Oregon.
Sometimes they just like to hang around for a long time, especially
in the valley.”

“Do you think your sisters are still there?”

Faith reminded herself to behave. “I've told you I'm not sure
where they live.” She wondered if she should mention the fruitless
phone call. “Although I wonder if one of them might be on the
coast.”

His dark brows rose. “Really. Were you able to locate her?”

She looked down at her clasped hands, noting the whitened knuckles.
“I did an Internet search and found a number.”

“Did you call it?”

Faith shot him a hard look, wondering why he always had to
push
.
“Yes, for your information, I did. But it was a dead end most
likely.”

“Why most likely?”

“The Internet listing had a business name but a man answered.”

“Maybe the man helps her run the business. Or maybe she's
married.”

“I'd like to think my sister would contact me if she planned to
get married.”

“Really? Because you girls don't seem close at all.”

“Shane, I'm trying to be on my best behavior here, so you should
too.”

He grinned. “Why not just be yourself?”

“Because that's what gets me in trouble.”

“What do you mean?” he said, the grin still in place.

“It means you ask too many questions.”

“I just care about you, Faith. That's all.”

She compressed her lips. “Why?”

He arched a brow. “What do you mean?”

“Why do you 'care' for me when I just upset you all the time?”

He turned his attention to the road. “Are you sure you aren't
projecting, here? I think I'm the one who does the upsetting.”

Faith squared her shoulders. “Well, either way, I'm sure you could
find someone to hang with who was...easier to get along with.”

“I'm sure I could,” he said dryly.

She sent him a look of outrage. “Hey!”

“But,” he said firmly, “what I like about you is that, in the
end, you face your fears.”

No response came to mind. Had he read her thoughts? Horned in on her
prayers?

“I mean, you got your GED, you made a call to someone who might be
your sister, right? Some people would've let that ride. But you
didn't.”

“Only because you
hounded me
,” she said, her face hot.

“And yet you took the steps, not me.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“See why I'm crazy about you?”

“Shane, you can't
say
stuff like that.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because. We're friends who occasionally go on hikes together.
That's all.”

“So you've decided that all by yourself?” A peeved note entered
his voice.

“It's just what it is.”

“Don't I get any input? Or do you just make all the decisions for
people around you?”

Faith bemoaned the change of mood. And she could only blame herself.
She
had
tried to warn him. “See? This is exactly the kind
of conversation I'm trying to avoid.”

Shane didn't respond, but his eyes said plenty. Faith sank deep into
the seat as they left Highway 26 and turned onto County Road 62.
Maybe she was taking on her fears, but her social graces were
obviously lacking.

She looked out at the picturesque businesses lining Main Street
against a backdrop of silver blue mountains. Little towns like this
were spread out through the foothills and mountains like jewels on a
necklace. She should be enjoying the scenic drive but Shane's words
left her feeling like she had a bee in her bonnet.

Soon they were parked at the Strawberry Basin trail head. Faith
quickly slid from the cab, grabbing her backpack and threading her
arms through the straps. Casting a look over her shoulder to make
sure he was following, she headed down the trail, already dreading
the conversation to come. She knew he wouldn't let this go. All
attraction aside, they were a terrible combination. She wanted to
avoid the conversation, he wanted to bring it to a head. Maybe if
the sun came out she could get some shots so the trip wouldn't be a
waste.

And that's what it felt like. Bottom line, Shane wanted her to be
someone she really wasn't. And maybe even vice-versa. Why else would
he keep prodding her to do things she wasn't comfortable with?
Eventually she would run out of fears (hah) and then what would they
have to talk about? Maybe she needed to find out some of his dirty
laundry and start peppering him with questions to see how he liked
it.

Except that I wouldn't. Not only do I not want to know, but I'm
not that person. Besides, Shane is pretty wonderful just as he is
.

Faith swallowed a hefty lump at the thought. Yes, he could also be
annoying but it was only because he was good at heart. No way around
it. Shane was wonderful. Which meant he needed to find some nice,
enthusiastic, bubbly female to keep him company. Not a twitchy
recluse like herself.

A heaviness pressed upon her, making her feel like the gray clouds
above.

“It sure is beautiful country.”

She peered over her shoulder. “This is one of my favorite places.
Not many people know about Strawberry Lake.”

“Yeah, when you discover something so amazing, it's tempting to
want to keep it all to yourself.”

Faith sent him a quizzical look then focused on the trail, which was
strewn with loose rock and tree roots. Birds fluttered from pine to
pine, their wings flapping like helicopter wings overhead. Soon, the
crowd of trees gave way, opening to the lake. A cloud moved,
revealing the sun, and suddenly the lake glowed like a sapphire lit
from within, fringed with the emerald spires of evergreens.

“Wow,” Shane said in a low voice.

Faith quickly slid the backpack from her shoulders and pulled out
her camera. Not bothering with the tripod in case the sun
disappeared, she snapped several shots, hoping to capture the
incredible scene before her.

The clouds moved again, blocking the sun, and the water of the lake
turned a flat dark blue color. It was still beautiful, but not quite
as remarkable. Faith lowered her camera, glad for the shots she was
able to get.

“It'd be hard to pick a favorite,” Shane said. “What amazes me
is how many places there are like this in Oregon. You see the
mountains and are in awe, then you see the desert, and it's so
beautiful, then a lake like this...at some point you just run out of
words.”

Faith smiled at his overwhelmed tone. She understood exactly.

“You're kind of like the view, you know.”

Her eyes widened, all understanding at an end. “What?”

“Sometimes you're in the shadows and sometimes lit up. I never
know what to expect.”

“Is that supposed to impress me?”

He laughed. “No, it's just an observation.”

“Well, no offense, but it's kind of silly. Everyone has different
moments—some serious, some light-hearted.”

He averted his gaze. “You're right. It was silly. Forget it.”

Faith frowned, wondering at his angle. Was he trying to pick a
fight? Or trying not to, so he had to veer off before she responded?
“So, are you like a secret poet or something?”

Now his eyes widened. “Huh?”

“Well, you're always making these meaningful,
double-entendres
around me. Either you do it for fun and profit or you want me to be
annoyed.”

“I'm not trying to annoy you, Faith, trust me.”

Her blood began to heat. Maybe they should just have this out for
once and for all. “Or maybe you just enjoy taking every
opportunity to show that I'll never measure up.”

His expression became darkened, just like the lake when the sun had
disappeared. Oh great, now
she
was doing it.

“Faith, I'm sorry if I've ever said anything to make you feel like
you don't measure up. I don't think that way about you.”

“So why do you always badger me to change?”

He put his hands on his hips. “I just don't like watching you
suffer.”

“Suffer? I'm perfectly content with my life!”

“Really? So you went around feeling like a half-wit because you
didn't have your diploma, or worrying that Merle would pull the job
out from under you? I wouldn't be a friend if I allowed you to
continue living that way without a least a nudge or two.”

Faith opened her mouth, then shut it. He had a point. But that
didn't mean she had to like it.

“And while we're on the subject, yes, I think you should try to
reconcile with your sisters. They're the only family you have left,
and once that's gone, it's gone.”

The pain in Shane's voice twisted her heart, and the snarky comeback
died on her lips. “Like I said,” she said quietly, “I made a
call.”

“And if there's no response, are you just going to leave it at
that?”

Faith threw up her hands. “Shane, has it ever occurred to you they
might not want to hear from
me?
”

He walked up to her, his expression grim, and took her hand in his.
“No. Because I can't imagine not having you in my
life
.”

Her mouth went dry at the look in his eyes and the warmth of his
fingers “Sorry, Shane,” she said in a low voice. “You can't
have it both ways.”

“What do you mean?”

“How can you be dissatisfied with me and want me in your life at
the same time?”

“Because I've seen the real you—the one lit up and
breathtaking.”

“Are you doing that poetry thing again?”

A corner of his lip twitched. “Maybe. But there are things in our
lives that we can't control. And there are things we can. And what
we can...those are the things we can do something about.” He
reached up and pulled a wisp of hair from her face. “I remember
how excited you were when you got your diploma. And I've seen your
confidence grow in your photography. Seems to me the last hurdle is
at least seeing if your sisters want to reconcile. If they don't,
then that's out of your control. But avoiding them is
your
call.”

She fought a rising heat behind her eyes. “I know you're in to all
that happy ending stuff but sometimes, no matter how hard you try,
it just doesn't turn out the way you want.”

“But if you don't at least take the chance, you'll never know
which way things could've gone.”

Faith stared up at him, mesmerized by the shifting light on his
face, by the caressing look in his eyes. Were they still talking
about her sisters? Could she hope his feelings for her were genuine?
That maybe he didn't see her as a complete basket case? This time
when he dipped his head, she met him halfway, closing her eyes and
allowing the sensation of his kiss to wash over her.

His arms slid around her waist and he pulled her close. Somehow her
arms found their way around his neck. His embrace made her feel
cherished. It was a feeling she could get used to. And that's when
she realized her greatest fear.

When he lifted his lips, he smiled. “See what happens when I get
my way?”

Knowing her face was aflame, she peeked up at him through her
lashes. “You
can
be very persuasive sometimes.”

“C'mon, let's get down to the water.” He held out his hand and
she took it, reaching for her backpack with the other.