awhile.
It was a long time before the river surface broke and a skin diving hood came into view.
Even covered in a wet suit hood, Rocky could see that this man was incredible looking. The slim straight nose, the skin unblemished, creamy milk white, with high cheek bones. His mouth was the only non-angular plane on his face, his upper lip was a bow shape and was it not set in such an angular male setting, it would have been lushly, sensually, feminine. There was nothing sensual or feminine to it now,
It was set in an angry scowl, and there was a crease in the area between his straight black heavy eyebrows. Scowling was something this face had done too much. Rocky had never seen eyes this incredible color. They were a sparkling blue that she could not see the end of, nothing was reflected in them.
The man spit out the dredging hookah mouthpiece and yanked the wet suit hood from his skull. This freed a shock of glossy, thin, straight, raven black hair. The hair fell over his forehead and eyebrows almost into his blue eyes.
The face was a study in sharp angles and contours, painted in black and white. If he were not shouting obscenities at her and moving across the river into her area, Rocky would be thinking he was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen, bar none.
When he had to stop shouting to get a breath and to swoop his wonderful hair out of his intriguing eyes, it was Rocky’s turn to do the talking.
“You are on my claim,” she said flatly but firmly, still standing in the river shallows with her hands at her sides.
“This isn’t your claim, lady,” he shouted. “I’ve owned this claim for years,” he was waving his arms and moving toward Rocky and the dogs through the hip deep water. His body looked thin and well muscled in his diving gear.
“Excuse me, that is my marker cairn right over there,and obviously you are over here. Ergo, you are on my claim.” Rocky pronounced firmly, while she pointed to the short rock tower in plain view on the riverbank.
“Who the hell are you and who gave you permission to be on this claim.” The man shouted at her, as she noticed that the dogs were moving by the inch closer to him as he moved closer to them.
“I’m Rochelle Clancy; this is my land and claim. You will move off now,” she again stated firmly. She used her maiden name.
The dogs were moving even closer to him. He either was very stupid or extremely brave to not take a step back when confronted with two dogs, who obviously meant business.
“Mister, I’ve asked you nicely to leave, I suggest you immediately do so,” her voice was all business.
Rocky glanced down at the dogs and back into the wonderful eyes that were shooting sparks at her.
“And what if I don’t want to leave; what the hell can you do about it?” he challenged her.
He was now standing to his full height and taller than she was. Good Lord give her strength, her stomach had turned flip-flops, he was nothing short of luscious.
“I can do nothing, but Fang and Brutus will do plenty. Later on, you will be getting a visit from the Sheriff.” Rocky advised him."Claim jumping is illegal in California."
The dogs were now swimming in circles around him. They were definitely showing him this was their territory.
Rocky quickly changed tactics when she remembered all diver carry knives.
“You didn’t tell me your name. Do you live around here?” she tried a more reasonable tone to her voice.
“The name is Callaghan.” Callaghan had apparently noticed Lovie and Phoebe in their roles as Fang and Brutus. He brought both of his hands to the surface, holding them still and easing himself to the middle of the river. He was taking care to move backward when neither of the dogs were behind him.
“Okay Mrs. Clancy, I’ll move my dredge over for tonight. But this isn’t your claim and I can prove it and I will. Do not get too comfortable here where you do not belong,” Callaghan continued to yell as he slowly moved backward
Hallie Ephron
V. St. Clair
Maureen Ash
Herta Feely
Alyssa Rose Ivy
Suzan Lauder
Stephenie Meyer
Nadia Lee
Virna DePaul, Tawny Weber, Nina Bruhns, Charity Pineiro, Sophia Knightly, Susan Hatler, Kristin Miller
Maria Murnane