THE BEST FISHING SPOT ON THE RIVER—A WELLKEPT family secret—was located, as the crow flies, about six miles from the Anderson home. To reach it, one had to park a car or truck and then hike a fair stretch. Charity’s dad had taken his two daughters there as far back as she could remember. She thought about going there with Nathan, but she couldn’t do it. He wasn’t family. She drove to a less secluded place with easy access from a parking spot adjoining the highway. Two other vehicles had arrived before them.
“Looks like we aren’t the only ones who thought about fishing this afternoon,” Nathan said as she opened her car door.
“It’s not exactly a crowd. We’ll find a bend in the river for ourselves.” She opened the back door. “Come on, Cocoa.” The dog hopped out.
Nathan carried the fishing gear. Charity carried a small cooler plus a canvas bag holding suntan lotion, bug spray, and a few other miscellaneous items. A well-worn path took them to the river, and as promised, Charity led the way to a place where no other fishermen were in sight.
“Been a long time since I did this,” Nathan said as he set down the gear.
“My dad and I fish near my backyard just about every time he and Mom come down for a visit. He’s caught some whoppers there. But this remains his favorite fishing grounds.” She tugged on the brim of her baseball cap to block the glare of the sun. “I miss not getting to go fishing with him this summer.”
“Why not? You’d think it would be easier than ever with you staying with them.”
Darn. She hadn’t wanted to tell him her folks were away.
“Charity?”
“Sorry. I forgot you didn’t kn—” No, that wasn’t true. She inhaled quickly and started again. “Mom and Dad are on vacation. In Europe.”
“Wow. For how long?”
“The rest of the summer.”
“Really?” His eyebrows rose. “So you’re all by yourself up here?”
She shrugged. “Only as alone as I want to be. Remember. This is where I grew up. I know just about everybody in Kings Meadow.” Deciding to change the subject, she reached for one of the fishing poles. “We’re lucky it isn’t as hot today as it has been. This’ll be fun.”
Charity’s dad was an expert fly-fisherman, but fly-fishing felt like too much work to her. She preferred to cast the line and let the hook and lure sink beneath the surface of the water. She found it relaxing to slowly reel in the line while waiting—hoping—for a fish to strike. On the river, she didn’t have to think or feel. She could simply enjoy the sounds of water in motion and of the breeze in the trees.
But being alone wasn’t the purpose of this afternoon by the river. They were here so she could reconnect with Nathan after a few months apart. To see if she still had any feelings for him. So when her hook was baited, she didn’t wander far afield as she normally would. Instead, she moved only far enough away that their lines wouldn’t get tangled.
Sunlight glinted off the surface ripples. If not for her dark glasses, the brightness would have blinded her. She looked upriver, away from the sun, and cast the line into a deeper section of the water. A few moments later, Nathan tried to do the same. The attempt was slightly pathetic.
“Told you I haven’t done much fishing.”
She would have known that without him telling her.
After a lengthy silence, he said, “I never pictured you as a fishing kind of girl. You’ve always liked parties and crowds.”
She shrugged. What could she say? That she’d been running from herself for more years than she cared to count. That she’d lost track of what mattered most to her without even realizing it. Those were truths that she’d only begun to grasp in the last year.
“Maybe it’s the elevation.” He jerked on his line, looking frustrated that nothing was there.
“What about the elevation?”
“Maybe you’re different up here where the air is thinner.”
She reeled in the line and cast a second time.
“Whatever it is, it looks good on you, Charity. But you always look good.”
She waited for the compliment to cause a flutter of pleasure in her heart. But before that could happen, her pole arched.
“Hey, you’ve got something already!” Nathan shouted. He dropped his own pole on the bank and came to stand near her.
She reeled in the line, the way her dad had taught her to do, until the fish was out of the water.
“What is it?” Nathan asked.
She glanced over her shoulder to see if he was kidding. “A rainbow trout.”
“Hmm. Looks big. Is it? For a trout, I mean.”
“It’s a nice one.” She heard impatience in her voice and tried to cover it when she said, “Bet you’ll catch the next one.”
“That’s all right. It’s more fun to watch you.”
Charity baited her hook, then waded into the river, the water only mid-calf deep where she stood. It was a few moments before she realized she’d walked into the water to get farther away from Nathan. Not a positive sign.
HOT AND SWEATY, BUCK STOOD AT THE KITCHEN sink and guzzled a third glass of water. He was tired, but it was a good kind of tired. He’d accomplished a lot this afternoon. But it was time for him to get his right leg elevated. He hadn’t been on his feet for this long of a stretch since before Cocoa knocked him flat, and the ache in his ankle told him he was going to regret it. His wrist had a few complaints of its own.
His stomach growled, reminding him it had been a long time since lunch. But he wanted to clean up more than he wanted food. He set the empty glass next to the sink and headed for the bathroom. It didn’t take him long to shed his dirty clothes, shower, and get dressed again in clean Levis and a black T-shirt. Barefooted, he was on his way back to the kitchen when he heard Cocoa’s bark. The sound drew him to the living room window.
Charity’s Lexus was back in the Anderson driveway, parked not too far from the convertible. Charity stood near the back of her vehicle while Nathan carried fishing poles and a tackle box into the garage. While she watched Nathan, Buck watched her. Did she look wistful? Sorry the day at the river was over? Happy to have been with that guy? What?
Buck’s telephone rang. A welcome interruption. He went to answer it. “Hello?”
“Hi, Buck. It’s Chet.”
“Hey, Chet.”
“We’ve had a last-minute trail ride request from some guests for tomorrow morning. You up for it?”
“Sure. I’m up for it.”
“It’s a good-sized group. Two families. Four adults and five kids. Youngest of the kids is ten. The rest are teens. They’d like about a four-hour ride, round trip. I figured the best trail would take them up near McHenry’s Sluice and down again.”
At the mention of McHenry, Buck’s thoughts tried to wander to Charity again. He brought them back into focus. “Any riding experience among them?”
“Some, apparently, but not much. I’d go with you, but I’ve got an appointment I can’t put off.”
“No need. I’ve taken larger groups on harder trails all by myself.”
They went over a few details, including what time Buck should arrive at the ranch the next morning, horse trailer in tow. He was dropping the handset into its cradle when a knock sounded on his back door. When he looked through the window, he saw a baseball cap and blond ponytail.
He grinned. He didn’t know what had brought Charity over, but he was glad she’d come. As long as that Nathan guy wasn’t still with her. That thought wiped the smile from his mouth as he went to open the door. But it returned quickly enough when he found her alone, except for her dog and a string of rainbow trout.
“Have you had dinner?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“Would you like to share my catch?”
“Sure.” He opened the door wider. “Nathan joining us?” The words almost choked him on the way out of his mouth.
“No. He had to get back to Boise. Some big meeting he has to prepare for tomorrow.”
“Come on in.” Buck took a step back and motioned for her to come through.
“Oh, I didn’t bring the fish so we could eat at your place. I just wanted to tempt you with what’s for dinner.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind if you use my kitchen. You’re more familiar with it than I am by now.”
“No. Please. Come over to the house in forty-five minutes.”
“Can I bring anything?”
“No.” She shook her head. “See you soon.” She turned away and hurried toward her parents’ home.
Buck forgot to be tired, achy, or even hungry. All he knew was he was having dinner with Charity.
And Nathan Gilbert wasn’t.
CHARITY TOOK THE FASTEST SHOWER ON RECORD and was in the kitchen well before Buck was due to arrive. She cut up red potatoes, baby carrots, scallions, and turnips. By the time the vegetables were sautéed and put into the oven to roast and caramelize, the forty-five minutes she’d asked for were gone. Buck knocked on the back door right on time.
“Come in,” she called as she laid one of the fish in the hot skillet, then a second beside the first. From the corner of her eye, she saw Buck stop in the kitchen doorway. “Dinner will be ready in about ten more minutes.”
“Want me to set the table?”
“Sure.” She directed him with her eyes. “The plates are in that cupboard there. Silverware in that drawer.”
They didn’t try to talk above the loud sizzling coming from the stove, and that was fine with Charity. She needed to concentrate on the fish. She wanted them to be perfect when they came out of the pan. Silly that it mattered so much to her. She’d cooked for Buck before. The only thing different this time was the location. Her mom’s kitchen instead of Buck’s.
It wasn’t long before they were seated across from each other at the dining room table. Charity bowed her head as Buck prayed over the meal, and she couldn’t help noticing how good it felt, listening to him talk to God. After he said, “Amen,” she handed him the platter of fish, followed by the bowl of vegetables.
When Buck took his first bite, he made a sound of appreciation and grinned at her. “Your mom would be proud.”
Charity felt a blush rise in her cheeks.
He changed the subject. Perhaps he took pity on her. “I’m taking some Ultimate Adventures guests on a trail ride tomorrow.”
“You’ll be back to work so soon?”
He nodded. “It’ll be a repeat of the ride you and I did on Friday. Hey, you wouldn’t care to join us, would you?”
She almost said yes. She wanted to. Really wanted to. “Sorry. I can’t.” Before she could stop herself, she added, “Perhaps some other time.”
“Okay. I’ll hold you to that.” The warm look in his eyes promised he meant it.
It was nice to have Buck Malone for a friend. He’d said that’s what they were. And a girl couldn’t have too many friends. Right?