Wilderness Liaison Read online

“That seems a long way away,” Georgia spoke from behind. “How long will it take us?”

  “Three-and-a-half, maybe four hours.” They checked their watches, while Jodie merely glanced at the position of the sun in the sky. “We’re making good time.”

  “This hasn’t been too bad so far.” Kelly looked surprised. “I’m not puffed or anything.”

  “It’s wonderful being out in the bush,” Jodie enthused, as always hoping her passion might rub off on others. “No phones, no cars, no smog… What more could anyone want?”

  “A bathroom,” Georgia’s droll comment from behind drew laughter. They’re not convinced yet, Jodie decided.

  Showing points of interest, including a sighting of a little blue-and-white North Island robin, led to a more intensive search for the numerous native birds that Jodie identified by their calls—wood pigeons or kereru, tuis, bellbirds. This also served to fill Jodie’s mind and almost allowed her to forget the man walking somewhere behind. She did occasionally feel twinges between her shoulder blades and knew instinctively whose gaze was causing her discomfort.

  Jodie’s mind wandered, even as she appeared to pay attention to the conversation. How involved are Shal and Georgia? Are they lovers? She hadn’t seen any obvious signs, but there was a familiarity between them that excluded the other group members. Also Georgia didn’t display that ever-present respectfulness of the others toward Shal. Perhaps they live together.

  Jodie dug her hands into the pockets of her shorts, fisting them as she mentally kicked herself first for wondering, and second for caring. I don’t care whether he’s living with her or anyone else, she chastised. Not interested in anything but getting this tramp over safely and letting them disappear back to Auckland.

  Jodie chatted with each person for a few minutes as they walked alongside the creek bed, allowing herself only a very casual inquiry at Shal. She saw him in deep discussion with her brother and felt a twinge of alarm. I must tell Rick to watch his mouth. She didn’t trust Shal Gregory; his apparent acquiescence earlier seemed uncharacteristic and made her even more wary.

  The oppressive, calm air and lack of shade began to sap the novices’ energies. Near the beginning of their climb out of the gorge, Jodie called a stop where the creek widened.

  Rick muttered under his breath, “What are you doing, you idiot?” She shed her pack and unlaced her boots.

  Jodie grinned at him over her shoulder. “I feel like a paddle.” She waded into the cool water, cupping her hands to carry water to her face and arms. She nodded toward those straggling to join them. “And they need to relax a little.”

  Within minutes, the townies were also wading into the small pool, cooling down.

  Joining Rick on the bank, where he sat still shaking his head, Jodie enjoyed the freedom of wriggling her wet toes in the fresh air.

  “Are you sure we have time for this?” Rick asked anxiously. “You do see it, don’t you?” Although he was watching the shenanigans in the water, Jodie knew his mind was elsewhere.

  “Of course I’ve seen it.” She glanced at the sun. Most people would dismiss any possibility of a drastic change in the weather, but the circle around the sun bore its warning.

  “It’s getting more defined, isn’t it?”

  Jodie glanced up again, and nodded.

  An anxious look crossed Rick’s face as he voiced Jodie’s ominous thoughts. “We’re in for a cracker of a storm, I reckon.”

  They looked at the sky. There were no clouds yet, but their line of sight was limited until they climbed to the Waiohine Saddle.

  “I hope we make it to the hut before the rain starts, or they’ll start bitching and moaning for sure,” Rick murmured. “This tramp might just turn into a huge pain in the bum.”

  “You said it.” Jodie agreed. Leading a bunch of drowned rats through a storm will certainly take the pleasure out of the tramp.

  “Let’s pick up the pace a little until we’re out of the gorge and can see what the weather’s doing.” She watched the childish frolicking. “We’ll keep this development to ourselves for a while.”

  “Even from Shal?” Rick’s eyebrows shot up.

  “Especially from Shal,” she snapped. It annoyed her that her brother wanted to confer with him. “You and I are running this show, not Mr. Gregory.” Her eyes rested on the rugged townie. “Be careful what you say to him, Rick. I don’t trust the man.”

  “You’re crazy,” Rick’s indignant response had Jodie’s narrowed gaze swinging back to him. “He’s a good enough guy.”

  “He’s a…” Jodie stopped the words hovering on her lips. “Just do as I say, Rick. Don’t go sharing any confidences with him. Definitely don’t talk about Mum and Dad’s business.” She stared at him warningly. “And don’t you dare even think of talking to him about me—you got that?”

  “Okay, okay.”

  Jodie scowled at Rick’s defensive hand gestures as he backed away, grinning. He needn’t misinterpret my comments, thinking emotions are clouding my judgment. She swore under her breath before calling to the group, “Fifteen minutes and we’re outta here.”

  An hour later she signalled Rick to slow the pace. There was little cloud build-up in the western sky, so no reason to exhaust or disgruntle her party.

  Despite her efforts to manoeuvre herself away from Shal’s annoying presence along the wide, dry track, Jodie found him striding alongside her.

  “Is everything okay? Are we on schedule?”

  She glanced sideward. “Pretty much.”

  His little frown sparked an odd thrill of excitement in Jodie. Going head to head with him energised her. Could I better him? Of course I can. This is my home ground; he’s out of place here.

  “I expect to be kept informed.”

  “Informed about what?” Jodie glanced at him guilelessly and observed his frown deepen.

  “Anything that will affect this tramp.”

  “Why?” She kept the innocent tone in her voice although her hackles were beginning to rise.

  He fell straight into her trap. “So I can ensure the right decisions are being made.”

  Jodie stopped dead. Although she’d been expecting something along these lines, to hear his blatant assumption that he would be rubber stamping her decisions took her breath away. The arrogant...

  Chapter Four

  “I don’t think so, Mr. Gregory.” Jodie took a deep breath. “If I deem it necessary to share anything with our clients, of which you are just one I hasten to point out, that’ll be up to me. There can only be one person in charge out here, Mr. Gregory, and I’m afraid it’s not you. You’ll do whatever I tell you, when I tell you.”

  “Now listen—”

  She could see the muscles along his jawbone knotting under the skin. “Accept these facts, and then we can get on and enjoy the tramp.”

  “I will not accept a slip of a girl dictating—”

  “You were born at least fifty years too late to live by those rules.” Jodie scoffed up at his fuming face. “Haven’t you heard? Women can now do anything they want”—she allowed herself a smile—“even outshine men.”

  She pushed her smile wider, knowing there was no amusement in it. “Hard concept to swallow, is it? You prefer to think of women as men’s playthings, toys to use and discard as their fancy takes them?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Shal snapped. “You know nothing about me to make such assumptions. Of course women can do anything they wish, go wherever their talents or dreams lead them. But it’s a man’s prerogative to nurture and protect, to safeguard a woman from—”

  “From what? Her own foolhardiness if her decisions don’t fit in with his? Blah, what a load of phooey.” She started walking again, throwing over her shoulder, “I bet all your lady friends just love being protected by you.”

  They must be a bunch of bimbos. Probably didn’t have a brain to share between them. No, I’m sure Shal’s attributes in the escort stakes don’t run to scintillating conversation with his partners, b
ut something much more basic.

  “I see nothing wrong with treating a lady like a lady.”

  Jodie almost laughed aloud. Her arched eyebrows showed her surprise.

  “A real lady knows her place—”

  Jodie choked. Yeah, right, under his thumb. Poor Georgia. She hadn’t seemed the type to bend to such male chauvinism.

  “There are certain things more appropriate for a man to deal with. Not because a woman isn’t capable, but because—”

  Jodie goaded him after her astonished stare seemed to rob him of words. “Yes? Because?”

  “A woman should accept the male’s role is to guard and protect her, she should expect it of her man.”

  “Oh, lucky, lucky lady.” Jodie’s voice was thick with sarcasm.

  “It never did my mother any harm,” came his haughty reply.

  “Your mother allowed her life to be ruled by a man?” Good grief, not in this day and age surely?

  “If you ever met my mother you’d understand no one ever ruled her life. However, she has been protected by her menfolk—first her father, then her husband. Should anything happen to my father, God forbid, it will be up to my brother and me to continue to protect her.”

  His fervour silenced Jodie. His attitude appeared genuine. So outdated in today’s world, but genuine nevertheless. Chewing her lip as they continued in silence, Jodie wondered if his parents were Greek or Italian or something. His black hair and olive skin could be from Mediterranean ancestry. If you believed everything you read, some of their old-fashioned ideals had survived into the modern world.

  Stumbling over a root she missed seeing, Jodie reasserted her straight thinking as she shook off his helping hand. His ideas about how women should be treated had nothing to do with her; they weren’t going to impinge on her stance.

  “I’m sorry you find it so difficult to accept a woman’s authority, but I’m afraid you’re just going to have to bite the bullet for the next few days.” Her voice still held a challenge, but she hoped she’d lost her confrontational manner. “I don’t believe you have the expertise to know what the right decision might be should any danger present itself in these circumstances. I’m not willing to risk the wellbeing of seven people on the off-chance I might be wrong.

  “I’d rather annoy the hell out of you and be sure of keeping everyone safe. I’m sorry if that seems emotionally irrational of me, or a typical feminine response, but that’s the way it’s going to stay.”

  She offered a cool nod and took off at a searing pace to close the gap between them and the rest of the party. She hoped he’d lag a little behind and give some thought to her words.

  ****

  Catching up with the group as they arrived at their accommodation for the night, a very basic one-roomed hut, Shal captured Jodie’s eye for a moment. She was relieved to see a contemplative rather than angry expression looking back at her.

  Jodie felt relief easing through her. She had no desire to highlight the dissention between them in front of the others. She couldn’t agree with his old-fashioned ideas, but at least she now guessed where his thinking originated. Perhaps he isn’t a male chauvinist in the purest sense of the word after all.

  For some obscure reason she hoped that was the case.

  Pulling off her pack, she turned to the others, belatedly remembering her role. “Not exactly what you’re used to,” Jodie waved an arm at the hut, “but it’s luxury compared with some mountain accommodations.” She pointed out the facilities—the long-drop toilet sitting away from the main building, and the bathroom, just a series of buckets and a small stream.

  “Please carry any washing water away from the creek and throw it onto the ground when you’ve finished.” When questioned she added, “Giardia is becoming a problem in our waterways, even on private land like this. We try and control the cleanliness of the water, but unfortunately, rats and possums are now spreading the parasite. There’s no way for a tramper to know whether a stream is affected or not, so we’ll boil all drinking water for at least three minutes. No exceptions. Is that understood?”

  Sensing she’d come on a little heavy, Jodie lightened her tone. “Can’t have all you townies going back to Auckland and getting sick, now can we?”

  Jodie stayed outside as they filed into the hut and noisily settled into the meagre surroundings. Memories flooded in as she looked about. Her family had camped in this clearing, building the hut, for most of the summer before her last year at high school. Tim and Rick had been too young to be much help, but they’d all celebrated when this—the first of their many cabins—was finished.

  Rubbing her hand across the rough manuka banister at the edge of the verandah she traced her parents’ names before sliding her fingers to where she’d proudly carved her own name all those years ago. Jodie remembered that day as if it was yesterday. She blinked furiously as her fingers extended to touch the sixth name, between Tim’s and Rick’s very wobbly attempts. Rhys had been with them then. The following year he had left for the city, and never returned.

  She caught Rick’s eye and shared a sad smile, wondering how much he even remembered about Rhys and that last summer. Jodie shook her head, pushing the painful memories aside and reminding herself of her current responsibilities.

  Everyone was in high spirits as they relaxed after changing into fresh clothes. Their tramping gear, pegged to a makeshift clothesline made of bailing twine, was blowing about in the breeze.

  Tony was the only one showing any discomfort. A large blister, which had erupted on one heel, was carefully drained and dressed.

  Soon they were eating their dehydrated meals cooked over fires in the barbeque pits adjacent to the hut. Their complaints about the presumed unappetizing fare soon changed to appreciation as they dug into their two-course dinner.

  Rick and Jodie filled up the hut’s two large billies with stream water and set them to boil. Everyone remained sprawled around the long verandah talking for some time after their meal.

  This was Jodie’s favourite time, relaxing at the end of each day’s tramp. She absorbed the peaceful rustling of the wind in the nearby trees, the soft sound of the stream meandering down the slope, and the sight of a quarter moon brightening in the darkening sky with Venus sparkling beneath it.

  Just before the day’s light faded, clothes were collected and water bottles filled. Rick enlisted Michael’s help to carry the boiled water inside, in readiness for tomorrow’s breakfast. With a general move toward their bunks silence soon fell over the hut.

  ****

  For a disoriented moment Shal was unable to identify the noise that woke him. When he realised it was rain on the tin roof, he lay listening to its tattoo.

  Then memory of their guides’ concern had him bolting upright and searching the hut in the dim dawn light. His eyes identified two empty bunks with sleeping bags lying open near the door.

  He pulled on the shirt he’d shed last night and tiptoed out onto the verandah. They were running toward the hut, talking earnestly.

  Their start of surprise when they saw him caused his tension to increase. What are they hiding? Are they intending to make decisions without first consulting with me? “Is there a problem?”

  Jodie didn’t answer as she threw off her parka.

  “Will this rain adversely affect us?” Although not actually heavy, the rain did seem persistent.

  “Maybe,” Jodie muttered. She turned to follow Rick into the hut.

  Shal grabbed her arm, annoyance making his fingers tighten. She tensed. Even in the gloom he felt the cold of her glare. He forced his fingers to relax, to hold her gently, but she pulled her arm from his touch.

  “If there’s anything you need to know, I’ll tell you,” she snapped. “In the meantime, just keep out of my hair.”

  Shal’s fists clenched as the door swung shut behind her. How dare she? Who does she think she is talking to?

  He grabbed the coat she’d dropped over the railing and throwing it across his shoulders, stomped
toward the outhouse. He cursed loudly as he slipped on the muddy ground.

  The hut was a hive of activity when he returned. Ignoring the others, he grabbed his sleeping bag and began stuffing it into his pack before common sense regained control.

  He sank down onto the side of his bunk and sucked in some deep breaths, forcing his annoyance to the back of his mind. He slipped on yesterday’s clothes over the polypropylene top Jodie insisted they all don, then dried his wet, still slightly muddy feet before pulling on clean socks. Grinding his teeth as he watched Jodie, he urged himself to ignore her arrogance.

  While everyone was eating, Jodie called for their attention. The voices halted in mid-sentence.

  Shal grimaced. She’s convinced them she’s in charge. He never remembered such an immediate response to any of his calls for quiet in the boardroom.

  “Obviously this rain is going to have an outcome on how much you enjoy today...”

  Shal watched as Jodie reassured his staff. They trusted her.

  Although Shal had reservations about continuing the trek, her response to Tony’s voicing exactly that was valid. “Good try, Tony,” Jodie grinned, “but we’re team-building, don’t forget...” Tony looked shamefaced as the others teased him. “Coping with the unexpected and overcoming whatever gets in your way is the whole point of this exercise. I suspect you don’t take the day off when something goes wrong at the office?”

  General laughter and comments about their tyrannical boss greeted this.

  “Don’t anyone worry. That’s what Rick and I are here for. We’ve been in far worse situations than this, believe me.” Something in her voice did have them believing her.

  She paused as she looked around. Shal noticed she was careful to avoid making any eye contact. If those twitching lips are supposed to resemble a smile, it’s a pretty weak attempt. She’s worried.

  Yesterday’s exuberance was missing as they set out through waist-high tussock, the occasional stinging nettle, and thistles grabbing at their bare legs. Visibility was reduced to a few metres in the misty rain, and Jodie kept the group much closer together than yesterday.