Golden Torment by Janelle Taylor

Author:Janelle Taylor [Janelle Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington

Thirteen

While strolling outside the next morning for some invigorating air, Landis looked up to see Ben trudging along, snowshoes crunching on the frozen white surface. Landis genially greeted his partner, “Welcome home, Ben.”

The older man flashed him a winning smile, his cornflower blue eyes revealing admiration and confidence. His face remained bronze from a summer outside, the skin slightly weathered by nature’s strong elements, but barely lined with age. His tall frame retained agility and strength. Even at forty-eight, he could best most men he confronted. Ben was steadfast, affable and easy-going. A staunch worker, he was resourceful and intelligent. As with Landis, Ben Weathers was self-contained, and fiercely protective of his emotions and his privacy.

With similar personalities, they had struck a friendship at their first meeting two years ago. Invited to stay with Landis until he could settle himself, Ben had never left. Not that he hadn’t suggested it a few times, feeling he was taking advantage of his new friend’s generosity, but Landis had always smiled amiably and said there was no hurry. They had discovered this arrangement benefited both of them: one man was present to see to the cabin and their adjoining claims: gold and traplines. Later, Ben had discovered another reason to stay, one also profitable to both of them.

From the way Ben handled himself around traps and pans, it was obvious he was experienced, an aid for Landis’s cover. Arriving from the American North-west, Ben had claimed to be weary of the laws which interfered with men there. He added he wanted to be free to roam a new wilderness, to challenge danger and fate for success and survival: things which kept men like him young and strong. Suspense, activity, and the fresh outdoors were like drugs to him. As with Landis, he savored pitting himself against perilous odds—and winning.

When Ben halted near Landis, he pushed back his parka hood, silvery streaks nearly invisible in the wavy blond hair which hung to his collar. “Trapped any decent furs while I been gone?” he teased.

“Afraid not. But I did catch something prettier and worth a lot more,” came the mischievous retort.

Ben’s brow lifted inquisitively, amused by the glow in Landis’s dark eyes. “Prettier? That sounds like a woman,” he concluded.

“Eyes as blue as a summer sky. Skin as fair as snow, hair like cornsilk, both as soft as mink,” Landis said proudly.

“That unknown sparkle in your eyes tells me she isn’t one of Soapy’s new girls,” Ben ascertained, then chuckled.

“Nope! She’s one of the new cooks in Moore’s camp. Came up the first of September from Seattle,” Landis playfully added more clues.

“Have you gotten past her protective father? With a description like that, he probably has her guarded every moment.”

“He can’t. She’s an orphan. Came with Mrs. Pullen to work,” he casually stated, waiting to spring his astonishing news.

“Ah, yes; you mentioned the famed lady with red hair who has the lumberjacks eating out of her hands. Kind of strange you didn’t tell me about

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