Part 4 (1/2)
”Want a lift to the campground? It's on my way over to the outpost,” Kristine said to Gloria as they stepped away from the fire.
”That'd be nice. Thanks.”
They climbed into the cab of Kristine's truck and sat in silence as Kristine rubbed her hands together in her lap while she waited a few minutes for the engine to warm.
”I should give you back your coat,” Gloria said, though she made no move to take it off.
”It's mostly habit,” Kristine said, stopping the motion.
Gloria searched for something else to say. Kristine put the old truck in gear and eased out onto the road. After spending the evening enjoying her company, she should be able to think of something during the short ride, but she was at a loss. ”This small camper here in Slot One is home,” she said. She started to shrug out of Kristine's coat.
”You're fine,” Kristine said. ”Keep it. The cab's warm, much warmer than where you're headed.”
Gloria pulled the collar around her again, smelling saddle oil and horse and Kristine. There was no reason for her to continue to sit in the cab, but still, she could not motivate to open the door. Nothing in Kristine's body language conveyed that she was anxious to get going. Nothing encouraged pursuit, either. That her job entailed teaching a local team to manage bear problems meant that after a few weeks, at the most a few months, Gloria would move on. Because of this nomadic existence, she never worried about being forward when the opportunity arose, not having the luxury of time to draw out a courts.h.i.+p. Short and uncomplicated worked for her, and the places she worked were usually filled with other seasonal employees who felt the same way. Something about Kristine intrigued her, but she was having a very difficult time reading whether the feelings were reciprocal.
”I'm not keeping you from your campground exploit?” she asked, unable to resist her curiosity.
”I'm liking the company here just fine.” A slow smile crept across Kristine's face.
”Better than the company at the campfire?”
Kristine smirked. ”That company is exactly why I'm headed back to the Aspens.”
Gloria laughed, enjoying Kristine's candor. ”With friends like that, I wouldn't blame you for wanting to help someone warm up her sleeping bag.”
”That an invitation?”
The question flooded her with desire. ”Like you said, it is cold where I'm headed...”
Since her previous question had come so quickly, Gloria was thrown when Kristine sat quietly. She seemed to weigh her decision. For a moment, her eyes held desire, but then it was like Kristine shut the door on them. ”Six years ago, I'd have jumped at the chance to help you out with that, but that's not what brought me back to Mammoth.”
”You have to know that your reputation in no way bothers me,” Gloria said, hoping Kristine would change her mind. Instead, her words seemed to make Kristine bristle more. Hoping to clarify, she added, ”I'm a seasonal employee and get the 'Take only pictures' philosophy.”
”What does that mean?”
”You know the motto: Take only pictures; Leave only footprints. Dating can be like that. You don't disrupt the habitat. You take your memories and leave as little trace as possible.”
”I'm sure Campsite Seventeen would be willing to play that game if that's what you're looking for.” Kristine tipped her hat to hide her profile. Gloria tried to think of something that would bring the flirty, fun atmosphere back, but Kristine added, ”It is late,” effectively dismissing her.
Reluctantly, she let herself out of the truck, stepping out into the cold. She watched as Kristine pulled away, the taillights quickly disappearing around the bend, plunging her into utter darkness. The level of disappointment she felt from Kristine's departure surprised her. Reviewing the day, it was clear that the store clerk welcomed her presence more than the cowgirl. Too bad the evening had served to pique her interest in Kristine. She wondered what Kristine had meant about the reason she'd returned to the Lodge. A smile crept to her lips. She had at least a few weeks to work her charm on Kristine and felt pretty confident that it wouldn't take long to bring her around.
Chapter Seven.
”I knew it was a brilliant plan to have you run the Aspens with me.” Gabe sighed, helping himself to coffee, eggs and toast.
The last thing that Kristine wanted was to be Gabe's caretaker. She wouldn't have been surprised if Gabe's sloth and desire to be looked after had scared off Bridget, the girlfriend he'd been set to run the outpost with before she'd dumped him, prompting his plea for Kristine to come back.
”Because Bridget got tired of cooking you breakfast?” Kristine asked pointedly.
Gabe covered his tracks quickly. ”Thanks for breakfast, sis. We could, uh, take turns?”
Kristine smiled. ”That's better.”
”Surprised your truck was already here when I rolled in last night. Sure seemed like the bear lady was into you.”
”C'mon, Gabe. If that's what I was after, I would have been at Campsite Seventeen.”
”I can't believe you pa.s.sed up on that. You think she plays for both teams?”
She threw a towel at him.
”No, seriously, sis. You're on fire from day one, hitting it off with all of these hot ladies. How about a little help here?”
Kristine sat down opposite her brother and tried to console him. ”You're a.s.suming the day rider was hot.”
”No. Brian told me just how hot she was. He's got a little crush of his own going, if you ask me.”
”You want me to ask Brian if he thinks you're hot?”
Gabe scowled. ”You're dead if you do. But the new day-ride girl, Takeisha. There's someone you could ask.”
”You're on your own there, buddy. I am not getting mixed up in your disastrous love life. Though it would be fun to see what dad thinks of interracial dating.”
”Some help you are.”
”I only agreed to help you with the Aspens. Ready to get the stock?”
”Not even close. We show up at the Lodge this early and they'll start expecting us to work hard.” He put his feet up on the table. Kristine swatted them away.
He smiled his Ches.h.i.+re cat grin. ”Plus, you're changing the subject.” A surprised look crossed his face. ”Or is that your plan? We're leaving early to swing by the campground next to the Lodge on our way in for you to 'pick up your coat.' Is that what you girls call it?”
”I lent her my coat because she was cold, not because I was angling to get in her pants.” Kristine cleared her dishes.
Gabe looked stumped. ”But she's hot.”
”Yes, and so was Campsite Seventeen.”
”I thought I knew you,” Gabe said, shaking his head.
”It's called growing up, baby brother.” She patted him on the cheek and slyly grabbed his coat off the antlers hanging by the door.
They went their separate ways at the Lodge, Gabe off to find Nard and Kristine down to the mule corral with five halters slung over her shoulder and her camera hanging from the other. With Suzy-Q and Scooter trailing, she grabbed a few shots of the mules loose in the corral, noticing as she framed the latter that Dozer had joined her at the fence. She zoomed in on his cowboy scowl before slinging the camera around to her back.