The River (9 page)

Without warning, she flipped the canoe.

The cold water was a welcome shock and when the life jacket lifted her to the surface, she smiled. She loved swimming. Loved being in the water―the buoyancy, the lack of pressure on her joints.

Jake tugged on her life jacket. "Hey! You could've warned me."

"Yeah, I could've," she grinned." But that wouldn't have been as much fun."

She was about to swim back to shore when she felt a hand grab her ankle. "Wha—"

"You flipped it, Del, you bring it in."

Jake righted the canoe, tossed in the paddles and his lifejacket, then dove under the water, resurfacing ten feet away. A few strong strokes brought him to shore, leaving her less smug and more irritated than usual.

She bit back a response, swam to the canoe and tugged on the rope tied to the bow. She made slow progress but finally dragged the canoe ashore, where Jake stood with his arms crossed.

The bastard didn't even offer her a hand.

Tossing her life jacket on a log, she plucked at her clothes. They were glued to her like a second skin. And very, very revealing.

She stole a peek at Jake and caught his admiring gaze.

He was a dangerous man. Dangerously appealing. Falling for him could only lead to trouble―and she sure as hell didn't need any more of that.

Del was stuffed.

Supper had consisted of mouthwatering cheese tortellini in pesto sauce, spinach mandarin salad drizzled with Balsamic vinegar and orange juice, followed by fresh fruit salad.

After months of skipping meals, or existing on takeout and Ichiban noodles, she thought she'd died and gone to heaven. If she wasn't careful, she'd end up gaining a ton of weight. And then she wouldn't fit into her jeans―whether the top button was secretly unfastened or not.

Under Hawk's supervision, they washed the dishes, stored the food in the cache and repacked their bags for the morning
portage
―the grueling walk along the trail to the Nahanni River. When he gave a final nod of satisfaction, they gathered around the campfire, sharing two bottles of strawberry wine.

"My wife made this," Hawk said. "It's a little potent."

Del took a nervous sip. "It's very good."

TJ nudged Hawk. "You gonna tell us ghost stories, dawg?"

"Only real ones."

Francesca threw Hawk a disdainful look. "You can't tell ghost stories when the sun's shining. It's not the same. How can you stand it being light all the time?"

"When you've lived here most of your life, you get used to it."

TJ leaned forward impatiently. "Get on with the story, dawg."

"The Nahanni National Park is filled with ghosts," Hawk said. "Especially those who died violent deaths."

Del flinched, thinking of Neil Parnitski, her father's boss. There was no doubt in her mind that having one's head sliced clean off counted as a violent death.

"For thousands of years, the Nahanni Indians, or the
Nahaa
as we were once called, lived along the shores of the MacKenzie and Liard Rivers. It was the white fur traders who called us
Nahanni
. Ever hear of the MacLeod brothers?"

Del shook her head.

"Back in the late 1800's, people were struck with gold fever. In 1904, two of the MacLeod brothers hit the Nahanni in search of their fortunes. Last time anyone saw them alive was when Willie, Frank and a young Scotsman headed for the mountains."

Hawk took a long swig of wine.

"What happened to them?" Gary asked.

"Their other brother, Charlie, went searching for them. He found them, all right. They'd been shot in the middle of the night. Willie and Frank MacLeod were still lying in their sleeping bags. Afterward, the area was named Deadmen Valley."

Del felt tiny fingers of fear slide up her spine. "What about the Scotsman?"

"They never found him. Oh, I didn't tell you the worst part."

"What could be worse than getting shot in your sleep?" Jake asked dryly.

"The MacLeod bothers were missing their heads."

Del gasped.

Just like Neil Parnitski.

TJ eyed Hawk suspiciously. "Is this for real, dawg?"

"As real as it gets. Some stories say they were found tied to trees. Some say nothing was left but their skeletons. But most legends say they were found headless. And they weren't the only ones who died mysteriously on the Nahanni. Over the past fifty years, there've been many reports of unusual deaths, headless skeletons. Just a few years back, some scientists went miss―"

Del jerked to her feet.

Sucking in an agonizing breath, she rushed toward the lake.

There was no way she was going to listen to some campfire ghost story about her father and his friends.

TJ's hand clamped down on her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Nothing will ever be okay, TJ. Not until I find him."

He wrapped his arm around her. "You'll find him."

They stood, silent, watching the glassy surface of the lake.

A few minutes later, she followed him back to the campfire.

Hawk raised his head. "I'm sorry, Del."

"What for?"

"I told him why we're here," Jake said. "His partner, McGee, was the guide for your dad's group."

Hawk nodded. "McGee's never been the same since. He said they just up and disappeared in the middle of the night. He felt completely responsible. He still goes looking for them, you know."

"I need to find my dad," she insisted. "I know he's still alive."

Del reached in the pocket of her jeans and pulled out the photo of her father and Schroeder. She passed it to Hawk, whose dark eyes remained transfixed on hers. Finally he examined the photo.

"The Nahanni goes for miles, Del. The chances of you find―"

"I've got a map."

Seven heads snapped to attention.

"My dad's friend gave me a journal. But most of it's in code."

She sat down next to Miki. "That's what I wanted you to help me with."

"I can't veer off course," Hawk cut in. "It would be irresponsible of me."

"Yeah," TJ said coolly. "And it would be irresponsible of you to allow us to traipse off on our own."

Del hated putting Hawk on the spot. But she had no choice.

"We could really use your help. No one knows the Nahanni like you do. We need you." Her eyes searched his. "
I
need you."

Hawk was conflicted―she could see it in his eyes.

Until he closed them.

She waited for an answer, but the only sounds she heard were the crackling fire and a breeze rustling the nearby branches.

Then a rasping screech sliced through the calm.

A bird with a pale chest and rust-colored tail circled overhead.

"A Red-tailed Hawk," Hawk whispered.

The bird let out another shriek then flew away.

"The Nahanni is a mysterious land," he said, opening his eyes. "It's filled with hidden dangers and legends as old as the earth you're sitting on. To find one man may be impossible."

"Then help us
make
it possible," Jake said. "Lawrence Hawthorne is a good man."

When Hawk didn't reply, Del held her breath.

But Jake wasn't so patient. "Are you in or out, Hawk?"

"I'm in. But I'll do it because the Spirits tell me it's my destiny, not for the money."

He stood, gave Del a brief nod, then said, "Excuse me."

When Hawk was gone, she gave Jake a puzzled look.

"What money?"

"It's nothing."

She gritted her teeth. "What money, Jake?"

"I offered to double his rates."

Stunned, she stared at him, watching him move toward the lake.

Miki shifted beside her. "Can I see the journal?"

Del tore her gaze away from Jake and pulled out the journal from her day bag. "Here."

Removing the book from the waterproof Ziploc, Miki scoured the pages until she came to the one with the map. She paused at the strange rows of numbers and symbols. Every so often, she would murmur something in her native language.

"Do you understand it, Miki?"

The girl nodded. "Some of it. The early part is mostly in English, with some abbreviations. I know they made it to the first stopover down the river. Once I find the base for the code, I'll be able to read it all."

Del knew the
SOS
code, but that was it. Give her a shovel and some dirt to analyze, or some ancient bones and pottery, and she was right at home. As apparently was Miki―when it came to numbers and codes.

"Tell me about your friend," the girl said.

When Del's gaze flickered in Jake's direction, Miki's mouth curved into a knowing smile.

"I meant the man who gave you this journal."

"Oh," Del said, blushing. "Arnold Schroeder is my dad's closest friend. He's an anthropologist."

"So, what happened?"

"He and Dad came here with two other men. A few days later, they went missing. My dad's boss eventually turned up…dead."

"Let me guess. No head?"

Del nodded, unable to speak.

"I'll read this tonight, make some notes."

"Thank you."

"By the way," Miki said, tilting her head. "Do you believe in destiny?"

"I guess so."

Miki stood, then flicked her head in Jake's direction.

"He didn't just offer to double Hawk's money."

"What do you mean?"

The girl shrugged. "He offered to triple it."

Del was speechless.

That night, alone in her tent, she thought about Jake.

He was virtually a stranger. Yet he had been willing to pay a hefty sum for Hawk's services.

Why?

Seven

A
cacophony of birdcalls greeted Del the following morning. The twittering and teasing songs of warblers, sandpipers and sparrows intermingled with the calm rippling of the lake. The sounds filtered through the thin walls of the tent.

She stretched, groaning as her calf muscles contracted in defiance. Reluctantly, she climbed from the warmth of her sleeping bag and threw on some clean jeans. Then, quietly, she headed for the lake where a light ghost mist shrouded the surface.

Rolling up her pant legs, she stepped into the cold, murky water. With hands on hips, she closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh mountain air. She felt so much closer to her father.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned and Jake gave her a nod.

"You look quite at home, Del. Almost as much as they do?"

She squinted, raised a hand to shield her eyes from the light reflecting off the lake. On the opposite bank, two black bear cubs frolicked near the water, without a fear in the world.

Taking a step backward, she slipped.

"Whoa," he laughed, pulling her close against him.

For a moment, she stared, trapped in Jake's arms.

She cleared her throat. "I-I need some coffee, Jake."

Returning to camp, she felt unsettled. She didn't need any complications right now. And Jake Kerrigan was certainly a complication.

She flicked a look in Francesca's direction.
One of them at least.

Francesca was standing by the campfire, jabbing at it with a stick. She slowly raised her head, her kohl-rimmed green eyes intense, unsmiling. Without saying a word, she stalked over to her tent and disappeared inside.

"She's got a hate-on for you, girl," TJ breathed in her ear.

Del's mouth thinned. "Good for her."

Francesca acted as though she had dibs on Jake, as if they were an item. Yet he behaved like a single guy.
An available one.

"Jake told me their relationship is in the past," TJ said.

"Maybe he should tell
her
that."

"You interested in him?"

She bit her lip.

Was she?

"Just be careful, Del. I don't want you to get hurt."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I know," he sighed. "I was an ass. And I hurt you bad. But I still…care about you."

"I know, TJ."

"If he hurts you―"

She shook her head. "He won't. I won't let him."

Leaning close, TJ kissed her cheek. "But if he does, tell me."

"Why? So you can string him up by his teeth?"

"I was thinking of a different part of his anatomy."

Anything else he might have had planned for Jake was interrupted by Hawk.

It was time to head for the Nahanni River.

No turning back now.

The portage to the Nahanni River was exhausting, and Del wiped the sweat from her brow, waiting for her breath to slow. They had carried the canoes back first, setting them down close to the water's edge. Then they had gone back for the bags. When everything was deposited on the shore, they divided and loaded the gear into the canoes.

Hawk gave the final instructions.

"If you respect the land in all ways, the land will reward you for honoring it. That is the Dene way. Oh, and we won't be stopping for a while, so make sure you use the facilities before we leave."

The facilities consisted of two latrine holes situated a few yards into the spruce trees―one hole for elimination, the other for toilet paper. Before leaving the area, the men would fill the holes with dirt, obliterating any sign of their presence.

Del eyed the ribbon trail that marked the path. "I guess I'll go christen the latrine."

TJ leaned toward her. "Poop and scoop."

When she made a face, he grinned. "Put a fresh scoop of dirt over, uh…"

"Okay! I get it, TJ!"

"Watch for fresh animal tracks," Hawk warned. "Bears and wolf packs like to hang around close to the river."

She peeked nervously over her shoulder.

"Want me to come with you?" Jake asked.

Before she could answer, Francesca grabbed her arm.

"I'll go with Del."

With a hesitant nod, Del followed the woman down the path into the woods. Ten yards in, Francesca opened her day bag, probably to get a cigarette, and a cell phone toppled to the ground. Hastily, she stuffed the phone in her bag, right next to a package of birth control pills.

Del hid a frown.

Francesca and Jake
must
be involved. Why else would she bring birth control pills?