Wilderness Borne Read online

  Chapter Attack of Morning People, and Hammers

  Daphne opened her eye a crack. A little bit of light came in through the covered windows of her rented fifth wheel camper van.

  She tried to understand why she was awake. Looking around her room with a curious expression, she heard it for a second time. Her eyes thinned in anger. Who the hell is bashing pans together out there?

  She thought of her mother and the way she seemed to hit everything on her way out of the house when Daphne was a kid.

  She closed her eye, as if her brain wasn’t fast enough to actually be awake for the disturbance.

  It didn’t work.

  “Well, I’m up now!” She tossed the covers to the side and pushed up into a seated position as she adjusted her shirt. She shivered a bit before she pulled on her nearby sweatpants and a hoodie with Western University emblazoned on its front.

  She smirked a bit at the hoodie. Faint wisps of memory came back to her. She pulled on her boots and opened the door.

  Cold fresh air came in. She balled herself deeper into her sweater, a small smile on her face as she took a deep breath of that refreshing British Columbia air. She took a moment to survey the BC landscape.

  The dew in the air refreshed her slightly as she took in the mountains, the lake she was parked near, and the Rockies in the distance. There were no cars, buses, people rushing everywhere—just the beauty of untouched nature.

  The sound of metal on metal interrupted her thoughts. Instead of the few starting hits from before, it seemed as if the bastard had got into a rhythm!

  “Haven’t even had a damn coffee and this guy’s trying to wake up the entire Rockies,” she mumbled darkly, her eyes hooded. She moved toward the noise.

  Three or four camper vans were nearby, close enough to know there were others, but far enough for everyone to have their own privacy.

  She walked toward the water, seeing a man wearing a thick plaid sweater, the kind that someone couldn’t help but think would be comfortable.

  He was swinging a hammer, again and again, slamming it into a metal stake, driving it into the ground. He was in the middle of a small bay. Kayaks and canoes, as well as Muskoka chairs, were staggered around him. As well as a series of plastic-looking boxes and different building supplies.

  “Excuse me!” Daphne said, trying to be polite as possible.

  The man twitched but it seemed he didn’t hear her properly.

  She continued walking forward, a determined look on her face. “Hello!” she said in an authoritative tone.

  The man missed his hit and had to dance a bit to make sure he didn’t hit his foot.

  Serves you right, being up at this ungodly hour!

  “Ah, morning!” The man turned around, an embarrassed look on his face.

  Good morning to you too! Daphne thought as he pulled his long hair out of the way of his face.

  He had olive skin, sparkling blue eyes, and seemed like he was always about to break out into a joke or a smile. He had chestnut-brown hair that made him look rugged instead of foppish. The stubble on his cheeks and neck made her want to just go up and rub it. A part of her wondered what it would feel like against her cheeks.

  “Can I help you?” He smiled.

  “Sorry. I was just wondering what you were doing this early?” she asked, recovering, and then alarmed at what she’d said. Ugh. Alex was right—I am too lawyer-y.

  “Oh.” The man looked like a deer in the headlights as he slowly checked his watch. “Ah, I didn’t realize the time. I thought it was seven a.m. I just got in from Toronto a few days ago and I haven’t got used to the time change. Sorry about that. Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?”

  I have a few ideas…down, Daphne. Down!

  “No, it’s okay. I was just going to make a coffee anyways.” Daphne smiled.

  “Nothing like a fresh cup.” The man smiled back.

  Daphne felt he wasn’t just looking at her as if they were strangers.

  “Oh, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m James.” He quickly stepped forward and held out his hand.

  Up close, she could see he was built solid and he had a firm handshake.

  “If I’m not too forward, could I ask you for yours?”

  Daphne pursed her lips and the corners turned upward slightly. Her eyes thinned and flickered. She could see the mischief in that smile and those eyes that pulled her in. “Daphne.”

  “Daphne, good to meet you and sorry to wake you. It did, however, make my morning to meet you.” He let her hand go and dropped his.

  “Oh, did it?” Daphne said playfully.

  James’s eyes flashed. “I’d say it’s definitely in one of my top ten mornings.”

  “That high?”

  James just laughed, hanging his head before looking up with a playful smile.

  “Well, that coffee and shower calls me. How long are you here for?” Daphne asked.

  “The whole summer. It’s supposed to be a hot one today,” James said. “How long are you here for?”

  “Just a week,” Daphne said, a bit of regret clear in her voice.

  James still smiled. “Well, you’ll have to make the most of it.”

  “That I will.” Daphne bit her lips. Her eyes glanced over James and her heart raced, hoping she didn’t look like some kind of creeper.

  James let out a chuckle, making Daphne blush but gain greater confidence.

  “Shower and coffee, right. I’ll see you later then, James,” she said, thinking of how she was still wearing her comfortable clothes and hadn’t taken a shower yet.

  “I look forward to it,” James said.

  She turned and left. When she looked back from the door to her camper, she found James looking at her. He didn’t avoid her eyes and the sly grin was on his face; he shrugged as if he wasn’t able to stop himself. She shook her head and stepped up into her fifth wheel. She closed and locked the door behind her.

  “Maybe I should do this morning thing more often?” Daphne asked herself.

  She looked to her comfortable bed with its sheets tossed to the side. “Nope!”

  With that, she put the coffee on and jumped in the shower, a smile on her lips as she thought about James.

  You just met him! she complained to herself, which only made her smile grow a bit more as she thought about those eyes, his handshake, and the easy flirt he was. She wondered what was under that jacket. Maybe I’ll find out if he goes swimming.

  She started thinking of her bikinis and what one would be the best to draw his attention without going overboard.

  Chapter Summer Days and Summer Nights

  Daphne checked herself in the mirror, a bit self-conscious that she was doing so to try to get the eyes of a man she had just met. But it made her feel alive and that was something she hadn’t had for too long.

  She had brown hair so dark it was almost black, a fair, almost milky complexion, with soft blue eyes that seemed to draw one in. When she smiled, it seemed to lighten the day but most of the time, she had a focused expression on her face as she dealt with one case or another.

  Her thoughts drifted to the reason for this trip and the abyss that was waiting for her at the end of it.

  She shook her head slightly and pulled her hair back again to check her appearance. She smiled in the mirror. It turned less innocent as she thought of James.

  She cleared her thoughts, adjusted her summer dress, and grabbed a book and a bottle filled with sangria.

  She stepped out of the van. She had taken the time to review her emails, get some breakfast, and check up on a few things and it was getting closer to mid-morning now.

  The campsite was spread out in a U around the bay. At one corner that jutted out over the water, there w
as a log cabin where the staff stayed. It was family run and rather simple.

  Around the bay, different campsites were available for people with tents or mobile homes to set up at. There were couples out of their camper vans; a group were pulling down ATVs. There was a family of five who were out at the lake already, the kids raising hell as the parents just watched on, sitting on their Muskoka chairs.

  Daphne smiled at the kids’ antics. They jumped into the water from the small floating island in the middle of the bay, and used the stand-up paddleboards and kicked their way around.

  The parents saw her and waved; she waved back and headed off to a hammock. She got up in the hammock, smiling as it rocked back and forth. The sun was already coming in, that dew from earlier forgotten as the humid heat came in. The swinging hammock allowed her to catch a breeze.

  She looked around. She didn’t see James, so she started to read her book.

  Sometime later, she put a marker in the book and made to drink some sangria, her eyes unconsciously looking around, eager to get back into the story.

  Her eyes fell on James, who was talking to the two parents by the water. Another couple was on some of the stand-up paddleboards. Their group was around their camper with food cooking and beers in hand.

  He waved good-bye to them and headed to where he had been working. He was wearing board shorts and a t-shirt now.

  She bit her lip as he bent to grab some tools on the ground. Good from both sides.

  He worked quickly, assembling a long floating dock that he grabbed and started dragging out into the water. He pulled off and tossed his shirt.

  Daphne put down her bottle, closing it slowly as she looked at James’s back. He was muscled but not heavily so, his build more husky than body builder.

  He waded into the water, dragging the dock out with him. He quickly secured it. The kids came over to inspect his work; he laughed and played around with them a bit before he retrieved his shirt.

  A woman was there waiting for him. She patted him on the shoulder.

  Daphne frowned. They looked similar—maybe even related, by their actions.

  James pulled her in for a side hug and they walked off toward the cabin.

  Daphne was still frowning as her mind filled with varying thoughts. She took a big breath and let it out.

  She pulled out her book and once again lost herself in it.

  ***

  James closed the door to the cabin as Cathy moved toward the kitchen.

  “So someone was getting close to the visitors this morning. You know that’s against company policy?” Cathy teased as James pulled down a nearby towel to dry off.

  “Oh, shut up, cuz,” James shot back, rolling his eyes.

  Cathy simply laughed it off. They were close enough to be brother and sister. “It’s been a long time since Silvia.” Her voice softened.

  “I know.” James let out a sigh.

  “Good. You’re only thirty-six years young! Then I expect to see her tonight at the fire! Will Julia make it?”

  “No, she’s having way too much fun at camp to come and say hi to her dad and cousin.” James grinned.

  “Kids.” Cathy laughed and shook her head. “Lemonade?”

  “Yeah, sure.” James threw the towel back on the rack.

  Cathy gave him the lemonade. “I wasn’t kidding about the fire meet-up.”

  “I know,” James assured her.

  She clinked their glasses together, giving him a wide smile.

  ***

  When James left the house after dealing with a few issues, it was already late into the afternoon. He looked over to where Daphne had been in her hammock.

  She wasn’t there anymore.

  He glanced around and, unable to see her, he walked toward her camper van. The farther he walked, the more nervous he became.

  People were out and about with their business but there wasn’t a racket. The kids had been corralled by their parents and they were having food, while the group of friends were playing a few drinking games, with smiles and good-natured taunts.

  The group with their ATVs came in from one of the trails, covered in mud and wearing cameras on everything. The leader waved at James.

  James waved back and continued his path. He could almost feel Cathy’s eyes on his back as he cleared his throat and made it to Daphne’s rented fifth wheeler hooked into her truck bed.

  He knocked on the door, not letting himself get cold feet.

  “One second.” Daphne’s voice carried through the fifth wheel as James’s mind started to bring up all of the terrible situations that might happen and the awkwardness of it all.

  She opened the door and James grinned, looking up at her as her expression melted into a smile.

  “This might seem creepy and out of the blue but I don’t mean anything by it. Would you want to come for dinner with my cousin Cathy and me?” James asked, hoping not to come off as the creepy cousin of the owner hitting on her customers.

  Daphne frowned. “Well, I’ll have to consult my calendar,” she said seriously.

  “Oh, and what does it say?” James became more serious as he held his chin and leaned against her door.

  “Have dinner with campground owner’s cousin… Hmm, looks like you’re in luck. That was on my bucket list anyway.” She broke out in a smile.

  James’s anxiety washed away. “Say, around seven?”

  “That would be perfect. Do I need to bring anything?”

  “Just your lovely smile.” James’s chest tightened. He hoped he didn’t push too fast.

  “Look at you, quite the charmer,” she said in a low voice before returning to a more normal tone. “That sounds good. Seven it is!”

  “See you then.” James pushed off the door and headed back toward the cabin.

  Now to see what we can scrounge up for food! His pace increased as he started to think what the hell they would have for dinner, or else it would be every Canadian’s hot dogs, burgers, and salad summer staple.

  “Cathy, what have we got for food?”

  “Burgs and dogs?” Cathy looked up over her crooked glasses.

  “Thought as much,” James said, looking over the different cupboards.

  “Sorry we don’t have all the selection you foodies over in Toronto have!” she yelled as he disappeared into the kitchen.

  “Can Paul get some desserts on his way back?” James asked.

  “He should be getting something. You cooking tonight?” Cathy asked, getting back to her computer.

  “Well, unless we want burgs and dogs.” James pulled out cans of different stuff from the kitchen.

  “Maybe we should invite more pretty women to the campground,” Cathy muttered to herself.

  “I heard that!” James yelled back.

  “Eh.” Cathy sighed, not worried in the slightest.

  ***

  Daphne checked herself in the mirror. The shorts and t-shirt were a different sight compared to the business suit she had worn at Dockers and Fitzgerald LLC.

  A flicker of emotion passed over her features before she stifled it and thought of James. She was excited, nervous, and interested in where this would go.

  She stepped out of her camper. The partiers were drinking and lounging around, talking to one another. The ATV group was hanging out with them; the young couple had disappeared off and the young family was having dinner.

  It seemed at peace.

  The sun was low and would start going down in the next hour or so.

  Daphne grabbed the bottle of wine she had on the side and headed for the house. She knocked on the door and heard people moving around.

  “I’ve got it, you big lunk!” a woman’s voice yelled.

  Daphne felt slightly awkward as the woman who had been with James opened the door.

  “Hi, Daphne!” Her name was Cathy. She was the one Daphne had talked to and helped her out with sorting out power and gas for her camper.

  “Hello, Cathy,” Daphne said. “I brought wine.”
>
  “Wine is always good!” Cathy said with an infectious smile, taking the offered bottle and shooing Daphne inside.

  A rough-looking man with tattoos came in from the back of the house.

  “This is Paul, my husband,” Cathy said.

  “Hello,” Paul said with a wave.

  “Hi!”

  “James! The grill’s all good to go!” Paul said to James, who was in the kitchen that was tucked away, hidden from the main door.

  “Good stuff. Here you go.” James appeared with a towel over his shoulder as he passed food to Paul.

  “Need a hand?” Daphne asked, seeing the business side of the kitchen.

  “Wouldn’t say no.” James smiled.

  “Good, then I can get drinks! Let’s open up the wine!” Cathy went to get drinks ready.

  Daphne moved into the kitchen, seeing the organized chaos. “Where do you need me, Chef?” Something about James and those around him just seemed to calm her.

  “Chop those, then throw them in there. Hope you like pasta salad as I might have messed up the amounts!” James laughed.

  “Nothing like a good pasta salad,” Daphne said.

  Paul came in, doing rounds with taking stuff out to the grill round back.

  It turned from meal prep to cooking as Cathy brought them both glasses of wine.

  “I’ll go check things out back,” Cathy said. Her hints would have been subtle if not for her wide smile.

  Daphne and James looked at each other and then laughed.

  “Well, cheers.” James held out his glass. “Thanks for all the food prep help.”

  “Thank you for getting all of this organized.” Daphne smiled and clinked her glass against his before they took a drink.

  “So, where are you from?” James asked.

  “Ohh, the deep questions—I like it.” Daphne winked and leaned against the countertop. “I live in Toronto, but my family is Polish on my dad’s side and British on my mother’s side. You?”

  “Well, I’m living here right now but I’ll be heading back to Toronto in a bit.”

  Daphne raised up her glass in salute.

  “Not as good as Vancouver though,” James continued.