Passion's Fire Read online

  “Oh, so you’re one of those.” Jacqueline sipped her orange juice.

  “One of what?” Link snarled.

  Phillip peered at him over the top of his magazine and Ariel raised an eyebrow at his harsh tone.

  “Sorry.” Jacqueline’s smile widened. “My father is one and so was Adam. From now on, I’ll only speak with you after you’ve had your coffee.” With a smug smile, she took a bite of pancake and never told him if she’d just complimented or insulted him.

  “Oh, for— ” Link clamped his jaws together and counted to ten. He was one of what? Without ever taking his attention from the magazine, Phillip meticulously spread jam on his toast.

  Carmen slid into the seat between Jacqueline and Phillip, and then leaned as close as possible to the food. “Morning. Mmm, this smells wonderful.”

  After twenty years, his sister was still a magpie.

  “They taste even better,” Jacqueline said. “It’s been a long time since I had pancakes made with wild blueberries.”

  “You can tell the difference?” Carmen asked.

  “Taste for yourself.” Carmen obediently ate a bite off of Jacqueline’s proffered fork.

  “Mmm. Oh, these are wonderful.” Carmen licked her lips.

  Tempest slid into the chair beside Phillip and fixed her gaze on Jacqueline. “So, what type of guy do you go for?” Her thumb motioned left. “A computer geek like Carmen’s Phillip, or,” her hand caressed Link’s shoulder, lingering on his biceps, “a macho stud like my Link?”

  Link ignored the possessive hand, hoping it would leave.

  “Phillip seems intelligent and pleasant,” Jacqueline said. “I can see why Carmen loves him.”

  Link gripped his fork until his knuckles turned white. “That’s the type you go for?” The words burst out before he could stop them. “Scholars?”

  “Not necessarily.” Light twinkled in Jacqueline’s eyes.

  Carmen glared at him. “Phillip is smart and athletic.” The man being discussed remained engrossed in the article.

  Jacqueline grinned. “Ah, an intelligent jock. Someone like Link.”

  “You think I’m like Phillip?”

  “You are obviously fit,” Jacqueline said. “Furthermore, a dummy couldn’t pass the pilot’s test or build a company like Linkstone.”

  “Maybe Stone simply let me come along for the ride.”

  Ariel guffawed. Jacqueline smiled and slowly shook her head.

  “What did Mavis tell you?” Ariel asked.

  Jacqueline shrugged. “She just insisted that I come on this trip. No reason for her request, but then, that’s my grandma. She figures that as head of the family, she doesn’t have to give explanations.” Jacqueline fingered her glass of orange juice. “I based my opinions on my experience with animals. Sentient creatures with similar interests and intellects gravitate toward each other.”

  Ariel nodded in understanding. Tempest looked up, her gaze narrowed on Jacqueline and Link wondered if all kids used terms like sentient and gravitate.

  “No matter how much some individuals would like to deny it,” she continued, “Homo sapiens are animals.” When she noticed Tempest’s hostile expression, Jacqueline grimaced. “Sorry. I’ll put my soapbox away.” Jacqueline rubbed her temple and turned her attention back to Link. “You and Stone own equal parts in Linkstone, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but it would never have gotten off the ground if Stone’s family hadn’t loaned us the start-up money.”

  “Do you resent that?”

  “Not anymore.” Link crammed a forkful of pancake in his mouth, hoping that she wasn’t rude enough to continue with the inappropriate questions.

  Later, as Link placed his plate into the dishwasher, Jacqueline quietly asked, “I get the feeling that you don’t think Phillip is good enough for your sister.”

  Did the kid always bring up topics people didn’t want to think about, much less discuss? “If Carmen marries him, she has to live with him.” He shrugged. “I only have to spend the next couple weeks with him.”

  Jacqueline nodded knowingly. “And you don’t want to spend it with him or Carmen or me.”

  “Not exactly.” He rubbed the knotted muscles at the back of his neck.

  “I’d appreciate knowing your reasons.” Jacqueline put her silverware in the dishwasher. “You act like you want to be left alone, yet when I try to bow out, you won’t let me.”

  “Phillip packed a solar charger for his iPad and a can of pepper spray, how about you?” Jacqueline blinked in confusion. The corners of his mouth tilted up. “He believes it’ll work against a bear.”

  The corners of her mouth twitched. “Pepper spray?” Link nodded.

  Jacqueline put her hand over her mouth to hold back the laughter that twinkled in her eyes. “He isn’t planning on spraying himself, is he?”

  Link grinned and tilted his head toward Phillip, who was visible through the archway separating the rooms. “He thinks pepper spray will repel bears and be more humane than a gun.”

  “I can see it now.” She dramatically pointed to the refrigerator. “A twenty-foot-tall grizzly approaches. Phillip, our knight in shining armor, valiantly steps forward to save us. Lifting his hand, he sprays.” With theatrical gestures she pantomimed the story. “The wind grabs the spicy mist and it envelopes us. We all fall down, overcome by the fumes. The bear dances a jig of triumph because it loves spicy food and now has enough to last until Christmas.”

  Link laughed. “Thanks. I needed to have my perspective adjusted.”

  She winked. “Glad I could help.”

  “Uncle Link.” Tempest shoved between them. The force of her impact rattled the contents of the dishwasher and propelled Jacqueline backward against the counter. “How soon do we leave?” Tempest hugged him, then held on like a burr. “Do you think we’ll see a bear this time? Maybe some caribou?” Her constant squeezing focused his attention on her upturned face. “Are you going to let me paddle? Can we stay longer than two weeks?”

  “Tempest,” he warned in a futile attempt to stem the flood of words.

  “Can I— ”

  “If you want to leave, you have to finish eating breakfast.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “I can fly you down to stay with Mavis while we’re gone.” Her face paled, then she scurried into the dinning room and began forking huge amounts of food into her mouth. He turned back to Jacqueline, but she’d disappeared sometime during his confrontation with Tempest. He headed for the door.

  As he crossed the foyer, Ariel caught his wrist and pulled him close. “Tempest has a crush on you,” she said softly.

  “Me?” Her expression attested to her seriousness. “But I adopted her as a niece.”

  “I know that.” She sighed. “You know that… Everyone knows that, except Tempest.”

  An uneasy feeling crawled up his back. “I never gave her any reason to think that I cared for her in any way other than as an uncle.” Link shifted uncomfortably. “Did I?” He recalled the way Tempest liked to touch him and sit on his lap. Things that he’d always viewed as harmless suddenly took on a new and sinister meaning.

  “Don’t get upset.” Ariel kissed his cheek while she patted his upper arm. “I’m not accusing you of anything.” She gave him another pat, and then took a step toward the dining room.

  He caught her arm. “I’m not willing to wonder what you meant by that remark and why you’re telling me now, when I won’t see you for the next two weeks.”

  Ariel sighed. “Last night, I overheard Tempest threatening Jacqueline and claiming you belong to her.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  Ariel shook her head while she ran her tongue over her lips. “Tempest told Jacqueline that you are her personal possession.”

  No, this couldn’t be. As if reading her thoughts, Ariel nodded. “Why would she say something crazy like that?” Link demanded.

  “I only know what I heard.” Her fingertips touched his hand. “I th
ought you should know.”

  He nodded in agreement. “What did Jacqueline say?”

  “She basically told Tempest that one person couldn’t own another. I had the impression that she initially thought the subject was ridiculous.”

  “Smart for a kid.”

  “Then Tempest started being very specific.” Ariel chewed her lower lip. A chill settled in his stomach. “I don’t know what to say to her, especially since she’s leaving.” Ariel’s voice trailed off.

  “It’s always best to know what you’re up against.” Ariel nodded, her manner glum. With an effort, he changed the subject, “What do you think of Jacqueline? Gut reaction, no holds barred.”

  “Anyone who has patience with Tempest scores high in my book.”

  “There’s a but.”

  “Sometimes I wish you didn’t read me so well.” Ariel sighed. “But there’s something about her that reminds me of me.”

  “And that’s bad?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Ariel frowned. “Do you remember when Tempest and I met you?”

  “Sure.”

  “Back then, I thought of myself as the Queen of Paranoia.” Her eyes closed momentarily, as if she was remembering the person she’d been, when she and Tempest were being stalked. “You know why.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed.

  “I noticed a hunted look in Jacqueline’s eyes.” She paused as if her statement held significance. “It’s the same look I used to see in the mirror.”

  He shrugged. “She’s tense. Probably from marrying way too young and being widowed.” How old had she been when she married? Ten? Twelve? Had she attracted some pedophile or something?

  “That is a possibility, but don’t you find it odd that Mavis was anxious to send Jacqueline away?” Link shrugged, again. “Did Mavis tell you why she wanted her gone?”

  “No.”

  “That’s what I thought. Think about this: until a few days ago, I didn’t know Mavis had any family. Suddenly Jacqueline shows up with her hunted expression, and Mavis packs her off to the wilderness quick as she can.”

  Link weighed Ariel’s words and remembered how Jacqueline had kept watching the road behind them, how she had only relaxed after they were airborne. “You think someone is after her. Or that Mavis never mentioned having kin because of complications.”

  “I could be wrong.”

  “You’re usually right.”

  “What if Jacqueline is some sort of felon? What if she’s a deranged killer and she murdered her husband? What if she kills all of you and— ”

  He tickled her under the chin. “Ariel, you’re still the reigning Queen of Paranoia.”

  Her face colored even though she tried to laugh away the truth. “But I’m usually right.”

  “Mavis likes to antagonize me— ”

  “Link, get the lead out, or we’ll leave without you,” Stone yelled from outside.

  “Coming.” He leaned close to Ariel and added more softly, “No matter how much I piss her off, Mavis would never do anything to endanger any of us.” He kissed Ariel’s forehead, then grabbed his duffel bag.

  “You’re right, she wouldn’t; at least, not knowingly.” She blew him a kiss. “Take care.”

  “I will. I’ll try to set Tempest straight, too, though I don’t know how. What’s she think I am? A rock star or something? Isn’t that what girls are supposed to have crushes on at her age?”

  “If she’s going to fall for someone, I’d rather it was you than some weird singer.” She shivered. “Some of them look like they eat their young.”

  Link walked out the door wondering what else could possibly go wrong with his vacation. Instead of fishing and kayaking with buddies, or better yet, alone, he was canoeing with Phillip. Worse, he was the focus of Tempest’s infatuation. Something told him things would get worse before they got better and he was not looking forward to the coming weeks.

  6

  The Cessna’s window felt cool against Jacqueline’s forehead as she watched the plane’s shadow caress the vast unbroken miles of stunted trees interlaced by lakes and rivers without any mining within sight. “The way eco groups talk, Alaska has been ruined by oil and deforestation.”

  “Hype,” Phillip said, “is the best way to get donations. They love to howl about the dangers of nuclear energy, too and it's pretty darn safe.”

  Jacqueline twisted to face him. “What’s your profession?”

  “I design computer games.”

  “For children or adults?”

  “Both.” He chuckled. “Especially when the adult is in touch with his or her inner child.

  “Interesting.”

  He glanced at the backs of the heads of the other passengers, and readjusted his seatbelt, as he turned toward her. “Graphics initially make or break a game.” As he warmed to his subject, he leaned closer. “But the strategy and the ability to draw the player into the game are what keeps them coming back for the latest and the greatest.”

  “Fascinating,” Jacqueline said. “I’ve always thought of my computer as a tool.” More like a fancy filing cabinet that was capable of printing out copies of reports when they were needed.

  “I do strategy. You see— ” Eyes shining, Phillip leaned even closer. Jacqueline soon found herself absorbed in the subject and realized video games were far more complicated than she would have imagined.

  When the plane began losing altitude, she noticed they’d flown so far above the Arctic Circle that there wasn’t a tree, road or dwelling in sight. Stone landed the Cessna 185 near a gravel bar in the river.

  Link hopped out of the copilot seat and made a sweeping gesture of greeting. “Welcome to the Sheenjek.” His grin made him appear boyish. He gestured to the north, toward rugged, snow-capped mountains, which pierced the pale blue sky. “The home of the snow that spawns rivers.” He helped Carmen disembark.

  Jacqueline marveled at the sheer exuberance in Link’s voice and demeanor. Adam had hated desolate areas, and had only agreed to do the desert study because he viewed it as a stepping-stone to a lucrative spot on the lecture circuit and stays in five star hotels. She stood on the Cessna’s pontoon looking at the crystal-clear water, remembering other streams that had been lovely and frigid like this one – streams that her parents had pulled her from when they moved to the city. A wave of homesickness burst over her with such force that her vision blurred.

  “Right,” Carmen’s laugh sounded loud and somewhat forced. “I hope you don’t expect anyone to believe that whopper.

  “Seriously, the Sheenjek is spawned by glaciers at the continental divide.” Link gestured toward the river. “The water is cold as all get out, so I hope you don’t plan on a lot of swimming.”

  “Playing fish isn’t on my list of goals,” Carmen said.

  Stone helped Tempest and Phillip deplane, then while they unloaded gear, Jacqueline worked next to Link in silence until she could trust her voice not to quiver. “What do you like best about the river?”

  “It’s not apparent right now, but this is designated a wild river. I love putting on a wetsuit and riding it.” Jacqueline studied the placid water surrounding the gravel bar and wished he hadn’t just mentioned one of her favorite things. The way he seemed to enjoy the things she loved seemed eerie. He tweaked her ponytail. “Don’t worry, this isn’t the season for a rough ride.”

  “Is the scenery like this the whole way?” Carmen asked.

  “Mountains for now, then forested foothills just before it joins the Porcupine,” Jacqueline said.

  “Ouch.” Carmen said, as she pretended to pluck out a quill.

  Link looked at her in surprise. “You know this river?”

  “I’ve studied maps.” And fantasized about canoeing it when the water ran high.

  Eyes filled with laughter, Carmen rubbed her backside and mimed pain. “Please tell me it doesn’t have quills.”

  “Do you classify rocks and an occasional log jams as quills?” Link teased. She pouted and nodded. They both l
aughed.

  “Hey, are we going to finish offloading this bird so I can get out of here, or what?” Stone demanded.

  “Offload,” the three said in unison.

  Link lightly touched Jacqueline’s arm then indicated she and Carmen should carry the gear to higher ground. The casual contact warmed her. As Jacqueline trudged up the slope, she wondered if a person could transmit their inner tenderness by a simple touch.

  After the Cessna was only a tiny speck in the sky, they erected two dome tents. Carmen and Tempest immediately deposited their gear. But the air smelled fresh as a sunrise and the sun felt warm as life, so Jacqueline climbed onto a nearby boulder and turned her face to the breeze. Closing her eyes, she soaked in the harmony of nature.

  “No way I’m sleeping next to her.” Tempest’s angry voice drifted from inside the nylon dome. “Last night was enough. She … she... she snores!” Jacqueline looked to see who had heard the exchange. Link looked up from connecting the propane cylinder to the camp stove. When he glanced from the tent to her, Jacqueline’s face heated. Link smiled. She shrugged, but her face still felt hot.

  “Fine,” Carmen said, “I’ll take the middle.”

  “She’ll still be in here.”

  “Which side do you want? Left or right?”

  “Listen to me, bitch,” Tempest screeched. “I will not sleep in here.”

  Jacqueline squeezed her eyelids tight closed. Why hadn’t Adam told her she snored? Jacqueline stood up, brushed off her pants, then headed back to the gravel bar. When she heard footsteps behind her, she braced for another round of verbal assault.

  “Do you know how to inflate canoes?” Link’s voice came from the proximity of her elbow.