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„Where are you going?“
„Outside.“
„It’s cold and dark out there.“
„Yeah. That ought to help me cool off. And who knows? Maybe the spirit will make another appearance. If she does, this time I’ll be there to record her visit.“
On a sigh of frustration Josh stood in the middle of the room, staring at the closed door. Finally he poured himself a cup of coffee and dropped onto a chair, staring into the flames of the fire. Unfolding the army blanket, he wrapped it around himself and felt the warmth envelop him.
He’d experienced so many things in his adventures, but this was a first. There was the ghost, of course. But that didn’t even come close to what he’d just experienced in Grace’s arms.
In his entire life, he’d never been so affected by a woman. What he was experiencing had to be full-blown lust. It wasn’t possible to fall head-over-heels in love with someone he didn’t even know.
Love or lust, he’d give just about everything he had right now to satisfy this gut-wrenching need.
Six
Josh woke with a start and stared around.
A fire blazed on the grate. The wonderful fragrance of coffee permeated the little cabin. Grace was kneeling on the hearth, filling a mug.
Without a word he stood and made his way to her. Dropping to his knees he touched a hand to her cheek. „You all right?“
Her head came up with a snap. „I’m fine.“
„Yes, you are.“ His eyes were grave. „About last night…“
„No.“ She scrambled to her feet a little too quickly. „Nothing happened last night. I’m sorry I made such a fuss over a simple kiss.“
„Grace, we both know there was nothing simple about that kiss.“ Because she was determined to keep her distance, he tucked his hands into his pockets, to keep from reaching out to her.
„It doesn’t matter. It won’t happen again.“
He was watching her closely. „Want to bet? It will if I have anything to say about it.“
„Josh, I…“ At the barking of a dog, she turned to stare out the window.
A big yellow dog was heading toward the cabin, dancing along beside an old man.
„Who in the world…?“ Grace crossed the room and tore open the door. „Hello.“
The old man smiled and touched a hand to the dog’s head. At once the dog sat, tail mumping the ground in a steady rhythm. „I saw the smoke and realized that someone was staying in the old lodge.“
„Lodge?“
He stepped closer. He wore a heavy parka and a felt hat with an eagle feather tucked into the brim. His face was the texture of aged leather, with deep creases around his eyes and mouth. „Many years ago, when I was a boy, the lodge of my people stood on this very spot.“
Grace held the door wide. „Would you and your dog like to come in? I’ve made coffee.“
„Thank you.“ The old man stepped inside, and the dog followed.
Grace extended her hand. „My name is Grace Marin.“
The old man took her hand in his. „Grace. The name suits you.“ His eyes, dark as midnight, stared into hers. „Do you know what it means?“
„I’m afraid not.“
„It means ‘one who is blessed with beauty and grace.’“
From the way he was studying her, Grace had the strangest feeling that he could see clear into her soul. Flushing under his scrutiny, she turned away. „This is Josh Cramer.“
„Josh means ‘warrior on whom the spirits smile.’“ The stranger extended his hand, and Josh accepted his handshake. „Forgive an old man. I have always been fascinated with the meaning of names. I am Wyatt Eagle.“
Despite the man’s age, Josh could feel the power in his grasp. „And what does Wyatt mean?“
„ ‘Guide.’ And my dog is Barnaby.“
Josh ruffled the dog’s fur. „Does his name have meaning as well?“
Wyatt nodded. „His name means ‘consolation.’ He has brought me much comfort since we first met. He seems to have that effect on all who meet him.“
Josh knelt down and studied the dog’s sleek coat. „He looks healthy. Have you had him since he was a pup?“
„He belonged to a woman who spent her last days here at Spirit Lake. When she knew the end of her life was near, she asked me to keep him safe until I found him the perfect home.“
„I’d say you already have. He’s lucky to have you.“
„We are both fortunate.“ When Grace handed him a mug of steaming coffee, Wyatt gave her a smile. „Thank you.“
Grace indicated the sofa. „Why don’t you sit here by the fire? We were just thinking about some breakfast. Would you join us?“
„Thank you. I will.“ He sank down gratefully and sipped his coffee.
„So.“ Josh poured himself coffee and stood with his back to the fire. „You stay here all year round?“
The old man nodded. „I am surprised to find anyone else here. What brings you to Spirit Lake so late in the season?“
Grace poured water into a bowl and set it on the floor, watching as Barnaby began to drink. „Josh is here to film a journey through the wilderness for a television producer.“ She began breaking eggs into a bowl before stirring them. „And I work for a newsmagazine that wants me to photograph the light that dances across the lake.“ She paused before asking, „Have you ever seen it?“
„Not many have had that privilege. But in my youth some of the old ones in our village claimed to have seen her.“
„Her? You know for certain it’s a woman?“ The egg mixture was forgotten. Too excited to think about food, Grace sat beside him. „What can you tell me about her?“
Without a word Josh moved to the small kitchen counter to take up the chore that Grace had abandoned.
The old man turned to Grace, who was twitching with excitement. „What would you like to know?“
„For openers, who she is and why she’s here.“
The old man sipped his coffee before setting it aside. „Her name has been lost through the ages. She was accused by her husband, elderly chief of an ancient people, of lying with another man. She did not deny it, but said that the man was a warrior, who had left to fight the intruders on the border. Among the ancient people warriors were considered more worthy of esteem than even the chief, for without brave warriors to see to their safety, their small nation would surely disappear as so many others had before them. The council decreed that if the warrior claimed the woman upon his return, it would be his right, and the old chief must step aside for the good of the people. The chief had no choice but to agree, but he stipulated that, whatever the outcome, their young daughter would remain with him. Though the young wife wept bitter tears over the loss of her daughter, she was shut out of the chief’s lodge and sent away to await her warrior lover.“
As he crossed the room to place the egg mixture in a skillet over the fire, Josh glanced at Grace’s face. She was clearly as fascinated by this old man’s tale as he was. While he slowly heated the eggs and set bread on the grate to brown, he listened carefully to the old man’s voice.
„The woman had been married to the old chief when she was but ten and three years, and now she was confined to a cold, tiny shelter outside the circle of the others.“
Grace broke into his narrative. „She was only thirteen when they were married?“
The old man nodded. „The ancient ones married young, and often died young. And because he was chief, when his old wife joined the spirit world, he chose a young, strong maiden to see him through his old age. As you can imagine, this handsome young warrior, so brave, so full of passion and love and laughter, had brought spring into the young woman’s life. She could no more resist him than she could refuse to breathe. But the excitement she felt for him was overshadowed by the loss of the daughter she loved above all things.“
Josh filled three plates and carried them to the scarred coffee table, before pulling up a chair for himself. Besides the scrambled eggs, Josh had added fresh, pan-fried trout from the bucket of fish.