Read Online Clear as Day by Babette James - Free Book Online Page A

paintings sold, and sold well. She was very good at painting rocks. Thanks to her art, she owned a comfortable home in Tucson and had a career that contented her. Work at the academy filled September through May to the brim, with brief wintery escapes into the high mountains. June, July and August remained hers to wander through the Southwest as she pleased for her painting, ruled only by sunlight and shadows. The itinerary might vary, maybe Organ Pipes, or maybe Arches National Park, or Canyon de Chelly, instead of Lake Havasu or the Grand Canyon, but it was always the desert, and she always came to Lake Mohave in July.
    “You camp alone?” Margie poked the fish around on her plate. The uneasy look in her eyes hinted at a replay of the catfish skinning scene. She settled on a bite of the baked beans. “Isn’t it frightening? You must get very lonely.”
    Gee, had she ever been that wide-eyed young? Memories of her dad’s instructions during their camping trips flooded over her.
    No, never.
    Other less pleasant memories of their family trips jostled for recall as well. Her chest tightened.
    No, not going back there.
    And lonely? Not ever, until this trip.
    “I camp near friends most of the time. It’s not hard. A few things to remember and respect about the desert and you can get along fine.” She liked being alone. Always had.
    She was safe in the desert. The desert was reliable, clarifying in the honest bare rock and heat. She knew the lands she called her home. She knew the people. She knew where and what she was in the desert.
    She glanced at Nate. Her hand closed over the ring he’d so blithely given her. Marry. The fact is I love you, Kay . She sucked in a stiff breath.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    Nate frowned. What had upset Kay? A bitter expression had flashed over her smile right after Margie’s innocent question about camping alone, followed by a quick look of panic. Her hands lay in her lap, right hand closed tightly over her left, covering his ring. Panic was bad, but holding on, was that good? Shit.
    Margie noticed nothing as she tried a bite of the cornmeal-fried catfish, chewed carefully, and resumed her questions. “Like what?”
    Kay’s gentle, dimpled smile returned. “Well, always remember to shake out your shoes first thing before you put your foot in. You never know what’s decided to take up occupancy.”
    Margie nodded solemnly. “Chris told me that. Scorpions.”
    “Among other creatures, and not all scary, either. I had a mouse in my boot once. He was not happy to be tumbled out of his new home.”
    “What about spiders? Chris said this campsite is called Spider Camp.”
    “Just a fun name for the camp. Not like there are hordes of invading spiders.” Kay spoke soothingly, her eyes innocent of deception, and stuffed a forkful of beans in her mouth.
    Dave choked on his beer. Nate swallowed his laughter. Lloyd and Patti abruptly needed a fresh drink. Kay was good, so soothing, and so lying through her teeth. Spider Camp had been formerly known as Tin Can Camp, until the great spider invasion years back. Luck willing, there wouldn’t be any spider population explosions or any visits from the furry black-and-white namesakes of Kay’s camp.
    Dave cleared his throat and sipped casually at his beer. “Working on anything special here at Mohave, Kay? I saw your umbrella up on the hill. That sunset piece last year was great.”
    Kay flushed prettily, and Nate beat down the prickle of jealousy.
    “Thanks. I’m working on a larger piece of Coyote Point. I did a tree bark study at Oak Creek and a view of Tukuhnikivats Arch I’m very happy with.”
    “I’d like to see some of your work,” Olivia said.
    Margie beamed. “Kay’s amazing! So talented. I’ve only seen one piece in person, but I’ve visited her website. The painting she gave us for a wedding gift was so sweet. A mourning dove pair. I love birds, and the colors are so soft and cheerful. It looks perfect in