Callahan's Gold (Southwest Desert Series Book 3) by Mary Tate Engels Page A
Authors: Mary Tate Engels
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smiled tightly and folded her arms instead. There was something standoffish about him that thwarted any warmth.
Dodge explained their situation and how they needed his help going up the mountain. Could they leave as soon as tomorrow?
Tory held her breath. She could just see them hanging around this godforsaken place for days waiting on this old man to agree with their plan.
He studied Dodge's proposal for a moment, then spit out his abrupt reply. "Yep."
Tory's head shot up. This was his answer? A simple, short 'Yep'? No comments, no questions, no instructions regarding his part in the excursion? Dodge and Tory exchanged glances as the mountain man wheeled around and headed for the corral.
Dodge followed him, recounting the list of supplies they'd brought. Tory let the two men go alone. No one had included her in these negotiations, anyway. She was just a pilgrim on one of the strangest journeys she'd ever undertaken. An adventure ... to seek the sun. She walked around to the front of the log cabin and perched on a downed tree trunk in the yard. Her view took in a magnificent stretch of the desert floor several thousand feet below.
Even though she'd spent her life denying him as her father, Sharkey Carsen was now influencing— actually dictating—her actions. His life affected hers far more than she cared to admit, more than she wanted. Was it selfishness driving her to continue on this strange trek, her greed for gold? Or, as she'd told herself a hundred times in the past few weeks, simply what he owed her?
If there really was gold up there, if they actually found it, if it were enough to split five ways, she could salvage Tall and Terrific. That was behind it all. She really needed the money to salvage the floundering business she and her mother had started.
After her mother's death, hospital bills compounded her already debt-ridden life. Then her personal grief directly affected her business, and the debts kept piling higher. Tory could only hope that Megan would hold on and keep the shop open until she returned. And she could only pray to return with a bounty of gold that would save everything. It was a dream, perhaps too great.
Damn! Why couldn't Sharkey have died and left her a normal inheritance? A piece of property to sell or a chunk of money lying dormant in a savings account somewhere?
There was only one flaw in her plan to leave as soon as she got her inheritance. Dodge Callahan. It wasn't love, she told herself. It was merely lust. In a weak moment, she had succumbed to her natural instincts with the man, and simply given in to her own erotic desires.
He was a man like none she'd ever met, a man who obviously could lead her to hell and back and apparently, she'd follow willingly. There's what she was doing up here. Trusting a man she barely knew and following an untrustworthy father.
Dodge was different from any man she'd ever known. A rakishly handsome, extremely virile man in whose arms she felt safe and secure. And he had loved her like none other ever had, including the man she'd married.
Love? There was that word again. Was it a word she could use for any part of their relationship? They barely knew each other, yet their loving— their sexual encounters—had been intense and wild and . . . yes, wonderful.
Tory was drawn back to Yazzie's cabin in the woods by the sound of a Jeep horn and a man's shout. She looked around to see Rex and Ramona climbing from an ancient, well-worn vehicle, Ramona's inheritance from Sharkey.
Determined to make the most of the situation, Tory waved and started walking toward them. Well, the sun seekers had assembled. Tomorrow would find them heading for that elusive gold stuff. And maybe—just maybe—finding it!
That night, Yazzie prepared a fabulous venison stew for supper, accompanied by robust sourdough biscuits and stout black coffee. Tory insisted on fixing a simple salad of lettuce, tomatoes, and celery. It would be their last fresh vegetables for a
Dodge explained their situation and how they needed his help going up the mountain. Could they leave as soon as tomorrow?
Tory held her breath. She could just see them hanging around this godforsaken place for days waiting on this old man to agree with their plan.
He studied Dodge's proposal for a moment, then spit out his abrupt reply. "Yep."
Tory's head shot up. This was his answer? A simple, short 'Yep'? No comments, no questions, no instructions regarding his part in the excursion? Dodge and Tory exchanged glances as the mountain man wheeled around and headed for the corral.
Dodge followed him, recounting the list of supplies they'd brought. Tory let the two men go alone. No one had included her in these negotiations, anyway. She was just a pilgrim on one of the strangest journeys she'd ever undertaken. An adventure ... to seek the sun. She walked around to the front of the log cabin and perched on a downed tree trunk in the yard. Her view took in a magnificent stretch of the desert floor several thousand feet below.
Even though she'd spent her life denying him as her father, Sharkey Carsen was now influencing— actually dictating—her actions. His life affected hers far more than she cared to admit, more than she wanted. Was it selfishness driving her to continue on this strange trek, her greed for gold? Or, as she'd told herself a hundred times in the past few weeks, simply what he owed her?
If there really was gold up there, if they actually found it, if it were enough to split five ways, she could salvage Tall and Terrific. That was behind it all. She really needed the money to salvage the floundering business she and her mother had started.
After her mother's death, hospital bills compounded her already debt-ridden life. Then her personal grief directly affected her business, and the debts kept piling higher. Tory could only hope that Megan would hold on and keep the shop open until she returned. And she could only pray to return with a bounty of gold that would save everything. It was a dream, perhaps too great.
Damn! Why couldn't Sharkey have died and left her a normal inheritance? A piece of property to sell or a chunk of money lying dormant in a savings account somewhere?
There was only one flaw in her plan to leave as soon as she got her inheritance. Dodge Callahan. It wasn't love, she told herself. It was merely lust. In a weak moment, she had succumbed to her natural instincts with the man, and simply given in to her own erotic desires.
He was a man like none she'd ever met, a man who obviously could lead her to hell and back and apparently, she'd follow willingly. There's what she was doing up here. Trusting a man she barely knew and following an untrustworthy father.
Dodge was different from any man she'd ever known. A rakishly handsome, extremely virile man in whose arms she felt safe and secure. And he had loved her like none other ever had, including the man she'd married.
Love? There was that word again. Was it a word she could use for any part of their relationship? They barely knew each other, yet their loving— their sexual encounters—had been intense and wild and . . . yes, wonderful.
Tory was drawn back to Yazzie's cabin in the woods by the sound of a Jeep horn and a man's shout. She looked around to see Rex and Ramona climbing from an ancient, well-worn vehicle, Ramona's inheritance from Sharkey.
Determined to make the most of the situation, Tory waved and started walking toward them. Well, the sun seekers had assembled. Tomorrow would find them heading for that elusive gold stuff. And maybe—just maybe—finding it!
That night, Yazzie prepared a fabulous venison stew for supper, accompanied by robust sourdough biscuits and stout black coffee. Tory insisted on fixing a simple salad of lettuce, tomatoes, and celery. It would be their last fresh vegetables for a
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