The River (8 page)

Del joined her. "Is the coffee drinkable?"

"If you like it strong."

The girl looked over her shoulder. "Hey, Peter! Make the bacon nice and crisp. But don't burn it."

Peter grinned. "This from a girl who eats everything raw."

Del poured a mug of coffee, feeling strangely bereft.

So much for Peter's crush on me.

Jake sat down across from her. "Sleep okay?"

Del's stubborn streak flared. "Like a baby."

"TJ made scrambled eggs. Go eat."

"Where's Francesca?"

Jake shrugged. "She must be sleeping still. I'll go wake her up."

"You do that," she said dryly.

Minutes later, he returned with Francesca clinging to his arm.

The woman grabbed a cup of coffee, tasted it and made a face.

"For what we paid, you'd think the least we could get is some gourmet coffee."

With a quick jerk of her hand, she emptied her mug onto the grass, then lit up a cigarette, puffing on it as if it were her lifeline.

"I know this isn't exactly a four-star resort," Del apologized.

Francesca's eyes flared. "I'm certainly capable of roughing it."

"I didn't mean―"

"Anyone want to know what's on the agenda for today?" Hawk said, cutting through the tension.

TJ grinned, flashing his white teeth. "We're going skinny-dipping in the lake. Right, dawg?"

Hawk laughed. "Not unless you want to get eaten alive by mosquitoes. Actually we'll be hiking to the tufa mounds. After that we'll practice with the canoes. But first, some tips on safe drinking water."

He showed them a strange contraption.

"This is our water filter. Before drinking water from the river, you've got to pump it through this clay filter first. It'll remove most of the sediment and impurities found in the river. If you're making tea, coffee or soup you don't have to filter the water. Just make sure it's boiled. Thoroughly."

Francesca frowned. "Why, what's in the water?"

"
Giardia lamblia
."

When everyone stared blankly, he added, "It's a parasite found in animal and human feces."

TJ groaned. "Gives you the runs."

"Yeah. It'll make you nauseous, unable to eat and you'll have a bad case of diarrhea. All after two weeks or so of ingesting the water. If you get an infection, TJ, you won't be needing that book of yours."

After Hawk's enlightening discussion, Del grabbed a plate of bacon and eggs from TJ.

"How ya doing, Del?" he asked, studying her face.

"I'm doing." She caught Miki's eye. "I have something I'd like you to look at later."

The girl nodded. "Peter told me you would."

Del tossed back a handful of vitamins and chased them with a long gulp of coffee. Immediately, she caught Jake's watchful gaze.

"They're just vitamins," she muttered.

His brow arched in doubt. He was about to say something, but Francesca grabbed his arm and pulled him into the bushes.

What the heck are they doing?

Determined to get her mind off Jake and his assistant, Del turned to Hawk. "When do we actually head for Virginia Falls?"

"Tomorrow morning. Today you all need canoe practice. The rapids are tough on newbies. Once I know how good you are, I'll be splitting you into pairs."

A few minutes later, Jake returned with Francesca in tow.

The woman leaned close and kissed his cheek. Then she whirled around and caught Del's eyes, her lips curved into a gloating smile.

"Okay, everyone," Hawk said. "You need to pack up your day bags, fill your water bottles and dress appropriately. Before we leave for the tufa mounds we've got to go over some safety rules."

Gary slid his glasses up his nose. "Safety rules?"

"The woods are home to bears and other predators. Lots of them. Wolves, coyotes, cougars, grizzlies, blacks―you name it, we got 'em. Just, please, don't ever creep up on a bear. When we're walking, make lots of noise. You can whistle, holler, sing…just make noise."

TJ elbowed Del in the ribs. "Your singing would clear the path for all of us."

She threw him a withering glare.

"Just telling it like it is, Del."

She was surprised when Jake came to her rescue.

"I'm sure she can carry a tune. You can sing, can't you, Del?"

"Singing ain't what I'd call it," TJ snickered. "Unless you'd consider the wailing of a dying cat, music."

Del scowled. "Oh, shut up, TJ!"

Six

I
t took over an hour to hike to the tufa mounds, and from where Del stood, she could see the Nahanni River in all its glory. The view was spectacular.

She moved to the edge of the largest mound and saw trickles of shimmering water cascade across its surface. The water was pulled by gravity into small circular pools set into the beige rock.

Hawk sat down and untied his boots.

"These are the largest tufa mounds in Canada. Over ten thousand years old, untouched by the ice age―
Mr. Ingram!
Bare feet only. The terraces are very fragile, remember?"

Gary gave Hawk an apologetic look and immediately obeyed.

Removing her hiking boots, Del followed Hawk and TJ out onto the mound. The water was surprisingly warm. The ground beneath her feet was textured, rough in spots. She walked to the edge of a deep vent in the earth and peered down into the water. It was crystal clear until it reached the murky depths several feet below.

"Water issues from the vent and flows clockwise over the tufa mound," Hawk explained. "It takes years to do a complete circuit."

TJ edged closer to the vent's lip. "This reminds me of that scene in Lord of the Rings. You know, the one where Frodo falls into the water filled with all those dead bodies."

"Usually it reminds people of a Japanese garden," Hawk said wryly. "The small pools of water you see are called gours. They're formed by rimstone dams."

Del followed the native man back to solid ground.

"Is Hawk your real name?"

"No, it's Travis. Travis Hawkins."

She chuckled. "Ah…hence the nickname."

"Nicknames are not uncommon among the Dene."

"My dad's nickname is Larry but not many people called him that. He's a scientist. Biotechnology. That's the study of―"

"I know what biotechnology is," Hawk said evenly. "We Dene pride ourselves on keeping up with the modern world. Some of us even know how to operate computers and cell phones."

Del winced. "Sorry. I didn't mean to stereotype."

"Forget it. I get a bit touchy sometimes. Especially when I feel like someone's keeping something from me."

"I don't understand."

Hawk's eyes narrowed. "When are you gonna tell me what you're really doing here?"

"What are you, psychic?"

He smiled slowly. "I see like a hawk. Hence the nickname."

Del was beginning to like Travis Hawkins, a.k.a. Hawk. Not only was he an excellent guide, he was brutally honest.

It was time for her to be just as honest―with everyone.

"Tonight, after supper, we'll talk. I promise."

"The Dene take promises very seriously," he warned.

"So do I."

A jolt of envy surged through Jake as he observed Del and Hawk.

That's when it hit him.

He'd been flirting with the woman since he met her, and he'd never stopped to consider that maybe he really
liked
Del. Something had awakened in him, the moment he laid eyes on her in the hospital. He'd been unable to put her out of his mind. He was drawn to her, the proverbial moth to a flame. And he had a feeling things could get pretty hot with Del Hawthorne around.

"Hey, Jake," Peter said, stepping up behind him. "Is it lunch?"

"Go ask Hawk."

Jake's shoulders relaxed the moment he saw Peter steer Hawk away from Del's side. He watched her for a moment, wondering what she and their guide had been discussing. He didn't like being kept out of the loop. And for some reason, he was sure that Del was keeping something from him.

"Is anyone else besides Peter hungry?" Hawk asked.

Six hands shot into the air, including Jake's.

Francesca frowned. "What's for lunch?"

"Eagles Nest Veggie Sandwiches, followed by chocolate chip cookies and oranges."

"Damn," TJ mumbled. "Do we look like vegetarians, Hawk? Bring on the beef."

"A lighter lunch makes the hike back a lot easier."

Peter prodded Miki. "Let's go look for some berries."

"Don't go too far," Hawk warned. "And make lots of noise on the path. You don't want to be a bear's main course."

He tossed Jake a container of vegetables. "You're on salad duty. Knives are in the plastic box in my bag."

"I'll give you a hand," Del said.

Surprised, Jake watched her stroll over to Hawk's bag. When she returned with the knife box, he reached for it.

"Yeah, man!" TJ yelled. "Don't let her near anything sharp! Last time I saw her use a potato peeler, she scraped half her knuckle off."

"I'll show you some knuckle," Del growled.

TJ raised a hand to his mouth in mock fear.

Jake laughed. "You wash, I'll chop."

With a stubborn look on her face, she reached for a knife.

"I think I can handle a few sharp―"

She hissed in a breath.

He moved quickly to her side. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Liar. You're bleeding."

"It's nothing, Jake."

"Can't have wild animals catching the scent."

Without thinking, he pulled her thumb to his mouth.

Del gulped in a small hiss of air. "I-I need a Band-Aid."

Jake watched her stumble off…toward TJ.

Damn!

Del was in turmoil.

When Jake's mouth had wrapped around her thumb, she felt a sensuous yearning rise from the pit of her stomach. It was a good thing he had stopped or she would have―

Hell, she didn't know
what
she would have done, but it wouldn't have been good.

She scowled at TJ. "Got a Band-Aid?"

She knew he was tempted to give her a big
I-told-you-so
, but she raised her hand threateningly and his mouth snapped shut. Then he threw her a silly smirk and passed her a colorful strip.

Examining it, she snorted in disbelief. "The Simpsons?"

"Hey, don't knock the Home-boy! Homer's life is all about beer and chocolate. What's better than that, Del?"

How about a boyfriend who understands loyalty?

She wound Homer Simpson's face around her finger, headed back to Jake and held up her thumb for inspection.

"You've got to be kidding," he laughed.

She shrugged. "TJ has a Simpson fetish."

"What's yours?"

His soft voice sent a shiver up her spine.

"M-my what?"

"Your fetish."

Tall, dark and sexy men.

"Sharp knives," she said.

Jake's smile widened, and she turned away, trying to tamp down her straying thoughts.

Damn!

After a quick lunch, they hiked back to Rabbitkettle Lake.

"Time for your class on canoe etiquette," Hawk joked.

Learning how to handle a canoe on the lake didn't bother Del a bit. But the thought of paddling through the rapids she had seen from the tufa mounds did. In fact, the idea of canoeing down the Nahanni River terrified her. And why shouldn't it? People had mysteriously vanished from its shores.

Or been found with their heads cut off.

They gathered near the lake's edge and Hawk explained communication procedures used on the river, especially in case of emergencies. Then he showed them how to secure the spraydeck that attached to the top of the canoe, protecting the gear from getting drenched.

He held up a plastic container. "You may even need to bail occasionally."

Del was suddenly overcome by dread.

Hawk caught her worried expression. "Don't worry. It's much easier than it looks."

Somehow his words were of small consolation, and she shivered, even though the sun was scorching her skin.

"Is it always this hot?" Francesca complained.

"This is unusual weather for the Nahanni," Hawk admitted. "A freak heat wave. Just be careful you don't get burned."

When everyone was coated in sunscreen, Miki and Peter climbed into one of the canoes, and Hawk instructed them to go through a series of strokes, using Peter's expertise and Miki's lack of skill to point out the correct way to paddle.

Then he divided everyone into pairs.

"Gary, you're with me. TJ, take one of the less experienced."

"I'll go with TJ," Francesca volunteered.

Del was surprised that the woman hadn't picked Jake.

She probably thinks TJ'll get her to the end of the rapids―without dumping her and ruining her makeup.

"Guess that leaves you and me," Jake said, flashing his teeth.

Within minutes, Del was paddling away from shore. Following Hawk's directions she learned how to slap rollers on the sides to adjust weight and direction. She learned about power strokes, pry and draw strokes, back-paddling, peel outs and eddying. By mid-afternoon, her arms throbbed painfully and her chest muscles ached.

She caught Jake spying on her. "What?"

"Maybe you should take a break."

She made a face, digging the paddle deeper into the water.

"Hey, Del!" Gary shouted from the canoe in front. "Thanks for including me."

"No problem."

The man waved his paddle. "Isn't this great? If my friends could see me now. They don't know what they're missing."

Del smiled.

The programmer from Ontario was proving to be a quick study, regardless of the excess weight he carried.

At least someone's having fun.

They were a few yards from shore when Jake passed her a bottle of water. "Getting tired?"

"You can't tell me you're not tired too."

He plucked at the collar of his shirt. "Hawk's a slave driver. I'm exhausted and sweaty."

A wicked thought flashed and she smiled slyly.