Pushing Her Boundaries by Julia Rachel Barrett Page A

out all the time. All the time.”
    “Yeah, right,” Mace muttered.
    She looked up, meeting his eyes. She kept her voice low. “We’re gonna die, aren’t we?”
    Mace sighed. “No, we’re not going to die. I may have to stop myself from beating the shit out of Robert, but we’re not going to die.”
    Maggie swallowed a nervous giggle.
    “So,” interrupted Robert, “let’s get your canoe over to the dock. I want to load the canoes and the gear on my old fishing boat tonight so we can leave at dawn.” He glanced at his watch. “We have about an hour before supper.”
    Maggie stayed out of the way as Mace and Robert maneuvered the canoe off the cement blocks and down the pathway toward the dock. She followed for a time, but turned off the main trail to hike along a narrow path leading into the woods. It really was very pretty on the island. Lynn had told her there were wolves, bears, white-tailed deer, moose, beavers, coyotes, hawks, eagles, owls. She hoped she would see some wildlife on this trip. Well, wildlife other than Robert and Patty .
    Remember, you’re not a great judge of people. Look how many times you’ve messed up. People you thought were the best thing since sliced bread have turned out to be total losers. Look at your own father. You adored him and he vanished from your life without giving you a second thought. Maybe Robert and Patty are really nice folks with a few odd habits. Give them time. Who knows? Patty is probably stressed out by having visitors and maybe Robert is nothing more than a harmless eccentric. You’ve dealt with plenty of eccentric people, you can deal with this.
    A squirrel ran across the path, darting into the thick forest. How far had she walked from the main house? It couldn’t be very far, but Maggie realized that once you’d gone into the trees, the growth was so thick you couldn’t see a single landmark. She’d have to pay attention on this trip or she could get lost looking for a place to pee.
    This arboreal forest really is impressive . She stood still, listening for the sound of the water lapping against the shore, a conversation from the cabin, any sound of civilization, but she heard nothing other than the voices of the forest—birdsong, the chirps and cheeping of chipmunks and squirrels, and the rush of the wind through the high branches.
    I can’t be that far from the lake, yet I can’t see it or hear it at all . Wow . I wish Mace was standing beside me. Where did that thought come from? Maggie shivered despite the afternoon warmth and the heavy, humid, Minnesota air. I’m just tired. And why would you be tired? Hmm? Yeah, that’s right, that’s where Mace comes from...from the most amazing night of your entire life, you sex-starved dummy. He’ll be in your bed tonight. Want to make him another offer? Maggie shivered again.
    No. You’ll do no such thing. Keep your offers to yourself . Yeah, but…no buts. Keep your mouth shut.
    Having grown up in a heavily wooded area, Maggie had no difficulty backtracking and making her way along the main trail to the cabin. She decided to take advantage of the fact that Mace and Robert were loading the canoes and the gear. Jeff had apparently been encouraged or coerced into helping out, so that left only Lynn and Patty in the cabin. Now was a good time to get in her last shower for five days, and she didn’t have to risk an audience.
    Remember, take your towel .

    * * * *

    Mace sat in the small chair beside the bed, reading by penlight. He glanced over at Maggie curled up in bed, pretending to sleep. She wore a pair of his boxers and one of his T-shirts. She’d forgotten to pack any pajamas and she’d asked him, red-faced, if she could borrow something. She didn’t want to ask Patty for anything.
    Can’t say that I blame her . The woman’s a nutcase .
    He watched Maggie turn over for the twentieth time. “What’s the matter?”
    “Nothing.” She mumbled the word into the pillow and flipped over again, facing