Luke tossed his head back to feel the cold bite of the evening breeze. With a sudden shiver of excitement Luke remembered the men at the lake, the roughnecks who had assaulted Joey. He had been too preoccupied to consider how best to deal with them, but now he had the time and the will to solve that little problem. The hair rose along the nape of his neck. Joey had thought they’d learned their lesson, but he doubted it. He doubted it very much. They needed to remember—to have it indelibly imprinted on their small, vicious brains—never, never to trespass on his land again. And never to touch Joey Randall.
The cry of triumph that lay trapped in his throat burst free. Baring his teeth in a grin, Luke turned in the direction of town. For the first time in a very long time things would be simple—and very satisfying.
“Joey you’re back!” The sound of genuine astonishment in Maggie’s voice almost made Joey wince as she settled on a stool at the bar.
Joey managed a smile at the redhead. “You sound surprised, Maggie .The Big Bad Wolf didn’t eat me after all.” Maggie flushed to the roots of her curly hair and covered her discomfiture with a quick move to fill a glass with Joey’s usual white wine.
Taking advantage of the brief lull before explanations would be due, Joey let her head drop into her folded arms on the scratched surface of the countertop. She was still drained and exhausted from the events of the day before, even though she had fallen into bed almost as soon as she’d reached the safety of the lodge. She’d hardly been aware of the curious faces of the guests as she’d stumbled up to her room, pulled off her dirty clothes, and dropped into bed and to sleep.
It was small mercy that the dreams did not come that night, as though all the reserves of her intellect and emotions had run dry. She had slept through most of the day, awakening to afternoon sunlight flooding the room—and to a powerful awareness of how much she needed a good shower. Nevertheless, she’d had to struggle to find the energy to wash the dirt and sweat from her body, forcing herself to eat a meager supper in her room.
It seemed more instinct than logic that she’d ended up here at Red’s. The tang of the wine filled Joey’s nostrils as Maggie set a glass down at her elbow. The redhead said nothing, but Joey didn’t have to see her face to know she was bursting with questions and comments. Joey smiled again in resignation.
“Don’t look so grim, Maggie. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” She summoned up the brightest expression she could muster and straightened to regard her friend. “It’s all working out just as I planned, thanks to your suggestion. I’ll finally be able to make my expedition.”
“Does that mean you went all the way out to Gévaudan’s cabin and convinced him to help you after all?” Maggie asked. Her skepticism was all too evident.
“I did, and lived to tell about it,” Joey said with a short laugh she hoped was convincing. “It’s all working out just fine.”
Maggie shook her head “Sorry to sound like an interfering busybody, but I could have kicked myself after I suggested that crazy idea to you.” She sighed, leaning her elbows on the bar, chin in hand. “We—Allan and I—didn’t want to see you get into something—well, unpleasant. Damn it, do you know how worried we were about you?”
Unexpected emotion stirred in Joey’s bruised heart at her friend’s words. She had never been the touching kind, but now she found herself reaching out to touch Maggie’s arm.
“I know. And it means a lot to me. Sometimes I’m not good at telling people things like that.” She ducked her head. “But please don’t worry anymore. Tell Allan—in case I don’t see him for a while—not to worry, either. I’ll take good care of myself. ” She did not draw away when Maggie grasped her hand tightly, her hazel eyes bright with concern. Joey returned the pressure and grinned.
“When are you leaving?” Maggie tossed her curls and smiled wryly at Joey’s expression. “Even I know when to give up.”