Page 21 of Solid as Steele
He took a long limb from her. “You’ve done this before.”
“We have a wood-burning fireplace in the farmhouse I was raised in. And of course, I chopped wood with Ryan in the summers. At least until his dad invested in a chainsaw.”
Man, shewasfull of surprises. “You grew up on a farm?”
She paused to look at him. “I did. My parents’ house is on one side of my grandparents’ farm and then my aunt and uncle’s property borders the other side.”
“And here I had you pegged for a city girl.”
“What gave you that impression?”
“I think the skirt you wore. It was soft and feminine. Very stylish.”
She propped a hand on a hip. “So you think all country girls wear bib overalls and flannel shirts.”
“Yeah, maybe I did.” He laughed.
“There’s a lot of that, of course. Doing barn chores in heels and a skirt isn’t very practical, but we did all the other things our city counterparts did.” She cut the limb into smaller pieces. “Well, maybe everything but drugs, alcohol, and sex, but that probably has more to do with the way we were raised than the availability.”
“I wish I knew how I was raised.”
“You look pretty clean-cut. Fit, like you work out. So maybe you were an athlete.”
“Maybe.” He let her comment ruminate in his brain as he gathered an armload of wood and took it back to the campsite.
Under the setting sun, Ryan had erected three lime green and gray nylon tents that were long and skinny and held a sleeping bag. Just the right size for one person each. And part of the reason his and Ryan’s packs were heavy. They were carrying gear for three people.
Owen didn’t mind, but wanted to know why Ryan didn’t have Mackenzie carry her own gear. So he asked.
“You want the honest answer?” Ryan asked.
Owen nodded.
“I figured with your injuries you’d give out and not be able to carry the pack. Mackenzie could take it, and I wouldn’t have to repack things on the fly.”
Owen didn’t like the answer, but it was a fair assessment. “I’ve already had to let her saw the tree. And she might have to carry the pack tomorrow. We’ll see.”
“No shame in that.” Ryan cocked an eyebrow. “She told me you’re a bruised mess. We both understand.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t.” Wishing he could accept it as readily as the two of them, Owen started back for the tree.
Mackenzie had sawed the rest of the last branch into smaller pieces and had started on the next one.
“Stay back.” She swiped the back of her hand over her forehead and laughed. “This is sweaty work.”
“I can take over again,” he offered.
“No worries. I don’t get to the gym as often as I’d like these days and it’s good for toning my arms.”
“Nothing wrong with your arms. Or the rest of you for that matter,” he said, then clamped his mouth closed.
Why had he said that? And in such a flirtatious tone. The last thing she needed was to be stuck in the wilderness with a guy who had no idea of his identity and was hitting on her. The very last thing.
She didn’t say a word but resumed sawing. He carried, and she sawed until darkness descended on them like a heavy black cloak littered with stars, and Ryan declared they had enough wood to make it through the night.
Ryan had created a fire ring with rocks and stacked the wood next to it. “We’ll take shifts tonight keeping the fire stoked to ward off any coyotes and badgers.”
“Any worries about them attacking?” Mackenzie knelt by the fire pit.
