Read Online Jenny Cussler's Last Stand by Bess McBride - Free Book Online Page B

She was suffering from the same ailment herself, but she hoped her eyelids weren’t twitching half as badly as Celia’s eyelashes were.
    “Nine o’clock.” Clint turned and met Jenny’s gaze. She smiled quickly and looked away, wondering if he felt trapped between the enraptured Celia on one side and her own ardent gaze on the other. She nodded at Auntie Martha and moved away from the group to study the rest of the camp attendees. She kept her back to the group...and Clint. Anything to keep herself from mooning over the handsome Native American guy like just one more groupie. She hadn’t forgotten his words.
    You’re not one of those women who have a thing for Indian guys, are you? Like...Celia?
    Oh, no, she most definitely was not one of those women who had a thing for Indian guys! No, no, no... She would have to be absolutely sure he didn’t get that idea.
    “So, we’re going to be in the same family.” So deep in denial was she that Jenny jumped at the male voice behind her. She swung around to look up into the eyes of a tall, attractive blond man with a broad grin. He put out his hand.
    “Hi, I’m Steve Carlton. I work at the Portland VA.”
    Jenny wiped her hand on her shorts and shook his hand.
    “Jenny Cussler. Boise.” She looked past him quickly toward Clint, who seemed preoccupied by a talking Celia.
    “Is this your first time at camp?” Although he looked as European-American as apple pie, he seemed to blend into his surroundings well. He wore tan cotton hiking shorts, a faded forest green T-shirt, and well-worn, gray hiking boots. The quintessential nature lover.
    “Yes, it is. And you?” She peeked around him again to look at Clint, who continued to nod pleasantly at Celia. Jenny pursed her lips.
    “No, I was here last year. I’d be happy to show you around the camp when we’re done here.” He raised a tanned arm and checked his watch. “The dinner bell will ring in half an hour. We’ve got time.”
    Jenny raised startled eyes to his bronzed face. Friendly bright blue eyes framed by blond lashes met hers. Even white teeth flashed an agreeable grin.
    “Ummm...sure,” she replied with a last peek at Clint. “That sounds good.” She turned to survey the crowd as it dispersed. Kate was deep in conversation with Auntie Martha. “Are we done here then?”
    “It looks like it,” Steve said. “Come on, I’ll show you where the sweat lodges will be. I think they’re building them now.” He put an unobtrusive hand behind her elbow and guided her out of the crowd and up the small hill toward the cabins.
    “Why did you come back to camp this year? I thought spots were at a premium.”
    Steve looked down at her and grinned. The late afternoon sunlight caught the golden glints in his blond hair.
    “I know they are. I fought long and hard to get back here. I imagine it’s my last time for a while. I just loved it up here. I don’t know how to explain it.” He opened his arms expansively as they strolled past the cabins. “Smell the air. It’s so fresh and clean, free of all the pollution down below that we don’t even know we’re inhaling.”
    Jenny followed suit and breathed in deeply. He was right. The soft tangy scent of massive pines filled the air. Absent was the smell of industry, traffic, and garbage. A cool breeze whistled through the needles of the evergreen trees. Most of the crowd remained behind in the community area. Their voices died away to a hum.
    “It is wonderful, isn’t it?” Jenny said, ensnared by his infectious enthusiasm.
    “That’s why I came back. Don’t get me wrong.” He chuckled, a charmingly all-American sound. “I enjoyed camp tremendously. The groups were great, but I love being outdoors, and I get antsy sitting inside all day.”
    Jenny surveyed him from heel to toe and nodded with a playful smile.
    “I can see that.”
    He followed her eyes and looked down at his clothing.
    “Yeah.” He grinned. “You can take the boy off the trail, but