The Alaska Brides Collection Part 43

He leaned against the handle of his pick and shook his head. "You came all the way out here to ask me that? Merry could have answered you and saved you a walk. Besides, I'm not going to take you with me, much fun as that proposes to me."

So his mood hadn't improved.

"I know I'm not your favorite person." At this, Tucker's head jerked up, and he looked as if he wanted to speak. When he said nothing, she continued. "But I don't belong here. I believe the Lord's got other plans for me than to stay here in Alaska and become some stampeder's wife."

When Meredith's brother did not react, she decided to say out loud the thing she'd been holding in her heart since she left Goose Chase. To say anything to Tucker would be dangerous, especially given his mood. If Meredith got wind of her plan, she would tell Ian, and then the jig would be up. Like as not, they'd bundle her off to the far reaches of Alaska before any of them would send her off with their blessings.

Fiona drew in a deep breath of crisp air then let the words escape. "I've been accepted to medical college. All I need is a way to get to Oregon before the term starts."

Tucker yanked his pick up and slung it over his shoulder. In long strides, he reached the tunnel. "I know," echoed over his shoulder as he disappeared.

"You know?" She stared incredulously at the empty opening of the man-made cave. "You know?"

How dare Tucker dismiss her like that? Didn't he realize the risk she'd taken by welcoming him into her confidence?

Hands on her hips, Fiona called to the obstinate miner. His only response was a rhythmic ping...ping...ping from deep in the tunnel.

So that's how he was going to be. "Well, Mr. Smith," she muttered, "I think you've forgotten I grew up with two brothers. I learned early on that if the bear won't come out of the cave, you go to the bear."

The tunnel was dark and narrow, barely large enough for a man of Tucker's size to stand upright. The smell of dank earth was nearly overpowering. So was the presence of Tucker Smith.

She watched his shoulders bunch and the muscles in his arms flex as he slammed the pick against the rocks. "Tucker Smith, we're going to finish this conversation whether you like it or not."

"No, Fiona, we're not." Tucker didn't spare her a glance as he went back to the task at hand. "And I'm prepared to work until sundown with you standing there pouting. I think you've forgotten I grew up with a sister."

Ping...ping...ping.

"Is that so?" Fiona willed her anger to abate, clearing her mind for a better use of her thinking skills-outwitting Tucker Smith. "Well," she said slowly, "perhaps you're right."

Ping...ping...pause. "What did you say?"

She didn't dare look at him. Rather, she turned to study the dirt wall. "I said, perhaps you're right." Time to look him in the eyes. "I can't fool you. You're too smart for me."

"I hope you don't think you can fool me into making a decision." He inhaled and closed his eyes. "Because it won't work," he said as he exhaled.

"But Tucker, I-"

"Out." His voice was low, even, and held more than a little irritation. Yet that sentiment didn't quite reach his eyes, which were twinkling with what she hoped was amus.e.m.e.nt. "Whatever you're up to, it won't work. Go home."

"That's just the thing, Tucker. I'm trying to go home." Fiona shuffled her feet in the hard-packed dirt. "Well, to be exact, I'm trying to go to my new home."

He shook his head. "Have you ever considered you might already be home?"

"Not even for a minute."

Tucker pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. "You don't think maybe G.o.d's got a purpose for you right here in Alaska?"

Fiona straightened her shoulders and looked Tucker Smith in the eye. Unfortunately, the snippy answer she wanted to give refused to come out. Instead, words that couldn't possibly have originated with her popped out of a mouth too surprised to stop them.

"As much as there's a need for wives in Alaska, there's a greater need for doctors, don't you think?"

Tucker hated to admit too quickly that the girl had a point, so he pretended to cogitate on her statement. As much trouble as she'd caused him just traveling to and from town, he truly couldn't imagine her taking on the life Meredith and Amy lived.

Before the first year was out, the poor man she married would head for the hills or, more likely, drown in the river trying to fish her out. Still, Tucker knew that if he helped Fiona, he'd have her brothers to answer to.

And worse, he'd most likely have to give an explanation to Meredith.

"Well?" she urged. "Will you help me?"

He thought of Ian and how slow the man was to respond. Maybe that approach would buy him some time. "Let me think about it," he said.

Fiona's smile set his teeth on edge. Worse, she looked like she might be getting ready to thank him. Considering he hadn't promised to help her, he surely couldn't accept any appreciation.

Then there was the problem of their close proximity. Compared to the dirt around them, she sure smelled nice.

Tucker cleared his throat. "Don't you need to go help my sister?"

"No," she said. "Not until later. She went over to Mr. Abrams's place to help his niece get settled in. It was my job to pull the weeds in the garden, and I finished that already."

"Wait. Abrams has a niece?"

The redhead nodded. "Evidently so. At least she claims to be."

"Really? Did she bring her uncle home?"

"No," Fiona said. "Mr. Abrams won't be well enough to travel for another week. Violet was fortunate to find her way here with that fellow who delivers the mail."

"I see." Tucker turned his back on the woman and said a quick prayer for strength. As much as he liked to look at the pretty girl, he'd much prefer to do so from a distance.

"Merry said you'd like Violet." She paused and seemed to be thinking over something. "She said Violet was an answer to prayer."

"Is that so?" Tucker reached for his pick and hoped he was wrong about his sister's motives for befriending the Abrams woman. "Well, now that you've caught me up on all the news, you can go on to wherever you were headed next."

"I told you I've got nowhere else to be right now. Besides, that's not all." She leaned toward him. "I felt I should warn you."

"About what?"

"About Violet Abrams." She paused. "And your sister." She shook her head. "You probably aren't interested. Although..."

Tucker hated to ask, yet he couldn't help himself. "Although what?"

Fiona shrugged. "Although I felt like a man would want to know when he was about to be set upon by a pretty girl. She's looking for a husband, you know."

He studied the intruder. "She shouldn't have to look far in Alaska. How is any of this my business?"

"I'm not exactly sure except that..." Fiona clamped her mouth shut for a second. She seemed to be thinking again. "Except that when she started telling Merry about how she'd only recently arrived in Skagway in the hopes of finding a husband and starting a family, well..."

Tucker had just about lost interest. "Well, what?"

"Well, Merry said that she'd come to the right place."

Now he was interested. "Did my sister say anything else?"

"Just that she ought to come for supper tonight."

Tonight? No, that wouldn't do. He had to figure a way out of this mess before it went any further.

He set down his pick and pressed past Fiona to emerge into the suns.h.i.+ne. As much as he loved his twin sister, he couldn't have her p.a.w.ning him off to the first marriageable female just because he admitted he felt a little lonely on occasion.

There had to be a way to get out of this without hurting Meredith. He'd never do that.

Blinking to adjust his vision, Tucker started walking toward nowhere in particular. He didn't get far before he realized the Rafferty woman was trailing him.

Whirling around to warn Fiona off, she ran smack into him. He pitched forward, and Fiona scrambled backward. As Tucker regained his footing, Fiona lost hers. Only his quick thinking saved her from hitting the ground. Tucker wrapped his arm around her waist and yanked her against him, so that she now stood upright on solid footing. She also stood in his arms. The two women approaching saw it all.

Tucker looked down into Fiona's eyes, and a plan was born.

He took a step back and smiled. "Fiona Rafferty, what if I told you I had a solution to both our problems?"

"I'd say I'm interested." Fiona gave him a sideways look. "But I didn't know you had a problem."

He leaned forward and spoke softly into her left ear. "I don't yet, and if you'll follow my lead, maybe I can keep it that way."

"So if I help you, then you'll help me. Is that what you're saying?"

The pair approached, and he could tell from their posture that they had stopped all pretense of having a jolly stroll in the woods. Unless he missed his guess, Meredith and Violet Abrams were on a mission.

"Tucker?" Fiona tugged at his sleeve. "I need to know if you'll help me get to college."

He looked down at Fiona. "I'll do what I can, but I've never lied to my sister or her husband, and I don't intend to start now."

Fiona chewed on the idea a second then nodded. "Fair enough. The Lord won't bless a venture that's based on lies. So what is it that I need to do?"

"Simple," he said as he leaned closer. "Forgive me when I kiss you."

Chapter 8.

Fiona opened her mouth to object then closed it quickly when Tucker aimed his lips toward her cheek. It lasted only a second, but the brush of his lips touched more than her skin. It etched a memory of a dark-haired man and a chaste moment on her heart.

Oh, it was for show, she knew. But somewhere between that moment and the moment their gazes locked, Tucker Smith had become more than just her brother's brother-in-law. Always and forever, he would be the source of her first kiss. Well, almost a kiss, anyway.

And that thought made her madder than a wet hen. She'd dreamed of this moment since girlhood, wondering about the who, when, and why of it over endless hours in the still of the night. Now, with barely any notice, the long-dreamed-of moment had come and gone.

She looked up at Tucker and tried to speak. Her lips, burned by the near miss of a real romantic kiss, refused to move. Funny, but he seemed to be having similar trouble.

He suddenly looked past her and smiled. "Good afternoon, Merry," he said. "Who've you brought with you today?"

Fiona turned to see her brother's wife escorting the neighbor's niece, a pleasant-looking woman with a ready smile, up the hill. As they neared, Meredith's grin split wide.

"Well, h.e.l.lo yourself, Tucker, Fiona."

Flames leaped into Fiona's cheeks as she realized the ladies had seen it all. They had witnessed the whispered conversation and, to her horror, the kiss, as well.

She turned her attention to Tucker, who refused to meet her gaze. "You knew they would see us," she whispered. "You did that on purpose."

"Smile," he said without looking her way. "Or at least pretend to. You do want out of Alaska, don't you?"

Fiona nodded.

"Then go along for the time being. I promise I'll not disparage your reputation. I'm a gentleman," he said softly. "If I weren't, I'd have stolen a real kiss." He paused to let that sink in. "Trust me."

"You're no gentleman," she whispered. "You threw my perfectly stylish footwear into the river. And you caused my traveling hat to get dunked."

Tucker gave her his complete attention. "Your stylish footwear nearly killed you when it caused you to tumble off the rocks and then fall into the river. As for that hat, well, it needed a good dunking."

She was about to protest, but he placed his forefinger atop her lips. "Fiona, it's not like I left you shoeless. I did buy you a pair of the best sealskin boots the mercantile had to offer. And what you don't know is that I placed a mail order at the Sears Roebuck for a few suitable things you will need for winter. That, I admit, was Merry's idea, but I did think of the boots myself."

"You bought the boots for me? I thought they were yours." She glanced over at the ladies, who seemed deep in conversation. "No wonder they came close to fitting."

Tucker looked pleased. "You needed something appropriate. Is that a thank you?"

She pretended an irritation she no longer felt. "Considering you sent a fine pair of kid leather boots downriver, I'm not sure a thank you is in order." She paused to see the ladies draw near. "But under the circ.u.mstances, I'm touched that you would be concerned about me."

"Of course I'm concerned." He lifted his gaze toward his sister and Miss Abrams. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Meredith gathered her wits. "I came to introduce Tucker to Miss Abrams." She paused and seemed to be at a loss for words. "But perhaps we've come at an inopportune moment."

Tucker made the first move, reaching for the stranger's hand. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Abrams. Do tell how your uncle is faring."

"Thanks to you," she said without noting Fiona's presence, "my uncle will make a complete recovery." She paused. "I've heard our family owes you a huge debt of grat.i.tude."

Tucker placed his hand on Fiona's shoulder and shook his head. "I believe you heard wrong, ma'am. You see, your uncle's alive thanks to this young lady's cool head and excellent doctoring skills. Without her, he'd never have made it as far as town."

"Yes," Meredith added. "G.o.d seems to have gifted our Fiona with the art of healing. I saw your uncle, and forgive me for saying this, but I suspected he might be done for."

The conversation spun off from there, moving from the ailing neighbor to the niece's trip from Skagway. Somewhere along the way, the threesome completely forgot Fiona was present.

Or at least it seemed that way. Until she tried to slip off toward the cabin.

"Leaving so soon, Fiona?" Meredith called. "Won't you wait and accompany Violet and me over to the Abrams place? I'm sure there's plenty to be done before Mr. Abrams returns."