Read Online Beyond the Summit by Linda Leblanc - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Linda Leblanc
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late afternoon they reached camp in a farmer’s field and Dorje was glad to see Beth’s guide had chosen the neighboring one as Dorje had suggested at Lukla. He quickly made sure everything had been taken care of: water boiled for afternoon tea, the latrine pit dug and draped with a tarp for privacy, dining tent and folding chairs in place as well as two-person sleeping tents. When the ladies seemed relaxed and content with tea, biscuits, and popcorn, Dorje’s thoughts returned to Beth. In the next field, she was sitting outside writing in a notebook while Eric took pictures of the camp. As if she sensed Dorje was watching her, she put her pen down and looked in his direction in an unwavering gaze that caressed his face as surely if she had trailed her fingers along his cheek. Once again as if asserting his possession, Eric finished shooting, sat beside her, and took her hand. What an idiot Dorje was for thinking she could ever feel anything for him. Just The Sherpa , he had no right to consider her as anything other than just another mikaru . Tomorrow he would take the ladies to Namche and erase her from his thoughts.
CHAPTER 6
After a long, restless night with Eric fussing with his sleeping bag trying to get warm and comfortable, Beth woke to the voice of the kitchen boy outside their door. “Tea, Memsahib?”
“Yes, thank you,” she answered and unzipped the flap so he could slide two saucers and cups inside before quietly disappearing.
“What time is it?” Eric mumbled through a yawn.
Beth looked at her watch in the light of the doorway. “Six thirty. Here, they brought us tea.”
Rolling onto his back with his arm over his eyes, he moaned, “You know I need coffee in the morning.”
“Well, don’t think that’s an option, Sweetie.” Resting on her elbows, she sipped slowly, trying not to burn her lips while awaiting the kitchen boy’s return with two shallow pans of warm water for bathing. Knowing the importance of Eric’s daily rituals, she whispered, “Your morning shower just arrived,” and then broke out laughing.
“Oh yeah? Want to join me?” He rolled on top of her in their double bag. “Let me help you off with those clothes.”
“What brought this on?” she whispered.
“I’m damn horny, that’s what. We haven’t made love since Denver.”
He was so eager that it happened fast, and fortunately Eric didn't seem to notice she wasn’t 100% there. Score one for horniness. It eased her guilt. As he was dressing, Beth told him about hiring Dorje to work for her.
Stopping in the middle of tying his bootlaces, Eric stared at her. “When did all this take place?”
“While you were taking pictures of the farm.”
He yanked the knot tight. “Guess he’s good for something, so you might as well use him” Then he shoved his duffle through the door and crawled out after it.
While they dined on porridge with nak milk, a flat unleavened bread called chapati , and fried eggs floating in oil, the porters loaded the duffels and tents to head out. Watching Dorje cater to the ladies in the next camp, Beth wondered why this Sherpa intrigued her so. Was it some romanticized notion of experiencing a different culture? No. She’d traveled all over the world and met thousands of men, even had a brief foreign affair, but this was different. A natural fluidity in his movement exuded confidence but not arrogance, and that irresistible smile traveled all the way up to his eyes.
When they set out, the air held a lucid apple freshness with golden orioles and rose finches flitting from branch to branch, singing to greet the morn. Shadows danced and leapt through thick-leaved trees and then sprawled across the ground like lazy children. Looking for a way to initiate conversation with Dorje, Beth asked, “What happened to our guide?”
“He left early to find a good camp in Namche tonight because my village is too
CHAPTER 6
After a long, restless night with Eric fussing with his sleeping bag trying to get warm and comfortable, Beth woke to the voice of the kitchen boy outside their door. “Tea, Memsahib?”
“Yes, thank you,” she answered and unzipped the flap so he could slide two saucers and cups inside before quietly disappearing.
“What time is it?” Eric mumbled through a yawn.
Beth looked at her watch in the light of the doorway. “Six thirty. Here, they brought us tea.”
Rolling onto his back with his arm over his eyes, he moaned, “You know I need coffee in the morning.”
“Well, don’t think that’s an option, Sweetie.” Resting on her elbows, she sipped slowly, trying not to burn her lips while awaiting the kitchen boy’s return with two shallow pans of warm water for bathing. Knowing the importance of Eric’s daily rituals, she whispered, “Your morning shower just arrived,” and then broke out laughing.
“Oh yeah? Want to join me?” He rolled on top of her in their double bag. “Let me help you off with those clothes.”
“What brought this on?” she whispered.
“I’m damn horny, that’s what. We haven’t made love since Denver.”
He was so eager that it happened fast, and fortunately Eric didn't seem to notice she wasn’t 100% there. Score one for horniness. It eased her guilt. As he was dressing, Beth told him about hiring Dorje to work for her.
Stopping in the middle of tying his bootlaces, Eric stared at her. “When did all this take place?”
“While you were taking pictures of the farm.”
He yanked the knot tight. “Guess he’s good for something, so you might as well use him” Then he shoved his duffle through the door and crawled out after it.
While they dined on porridge with nak milk, a flat unleavened bread called chapati , and fried eggs floating in oil, the porters loaded the duffels and tents to head out. Watching Dorje cater to the ladies in the next camp, Beth wondered why this Sherpa intrigued her so. Was it some romanticized notion of experiencing a different culture? No. She’d traveled all over the world and met thousands of men, even had a brief foreign affair, but this was different. A natural fluidity in his movement exuded confidence but not arrogance, and that irresistible smile traveled all the way up to his eyes.
When they set out, the air held a lucid apple freshness with golden orioles and rose finches flitting from branch to branch, singing to greet the morn. Shadows danced and leapt through thick-leaved trees and then sprawled across the ground like lazy children. Looking for a way to initiate conversation with Dorje, Beth asked, “What happened to our guide?”
“He left early to find a good camp in Namche tonight because my village is too
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