Free A Rare Breed by Mary Tate Engels Page A

"What is that interesting scent? It's wonderful. So unusual . . . not mint, not exactly pine."
    Jake poured her a steaming cup and handed it to her. This time he did not let their hands brush. "That's the creosote bush, peculiar to the desert. Rain brings out its unique fragrance."
    She accepted the cup with a smile, which he didn't see because he had already turned back to his cooking. He was trying to avoid her, she realized while sipping her coffee. What had happened after they had snuggled together under the blanket during the rain last night? She only knew what had not happened, and that she regretted it. Determined not to be ignored, Brit moved closer and appeared interested in what he was doing. "What are you fixing?"
    "Oatmeal. Want some?"
    She shook her head. "No, thanks."
    "I didn't bother with a fire because I didn't expect any of you up so early. But you can use some of the dry wood I have stored in the rock crevices behind the tent if you want a fire for warmth."
    As she watched Jake's graceful movements, Brit was certain that without him here, she would be entirely miserable. As it was, she was already dreading their rescue when she'd have to leave him.
    "Sure you don't want some?" He lifted the pan toward her.
    "No, no thanks. Coffee's enough for me."
    He dumped a couple of packets of sugar into the oatmeal and started to eat directly from the pan. "Coffee isn't enough breakfast for me when I'm climbing around these rocks."
    Brit's eyes widened with interest. "Are you going to the cliff dwellings today?"
    "Yep. That's where I work. It's the real reason I'm down here, remember." He walked away and sat on a stump.
    Brit poured herself more coffee and followed him. As she walked across camp, she could feel her thick, warm socks getting wet from the damp earth. "Jake, I know you aren't here to entertain or to rescue us, and we've taken up a lot of your time already. But I would really love to go with you to the ruins."
    "You would?" He gave her a glance, then continued eating.
    "Oh yes! You even said I could go sometime."
    "I did?"
    "Yes, I think you did. Or you were about to when we were interrupted. I would hate to miss something like that while I'm down here."
    He looked steadily at her for a moment, his dark eyes reflecting his distant heritage. She thought that, perhaps, some Native American relative of his had lived in a camp like this, minus the tent and modern equipment, of course.
    "Well, okay," he relented finally. "But you can't go without shoes. There's no way you could hike out there."
    She looked down at her muddy socks. They were impossible. "Maybe I could borrow some boots."
    "Whose? Mine?"
    She nodded, then shrugged.
    He looked directly at her, made eye contact and laughed. Jake actually threw his head back and laughed. Brit smiled uneasily. "What's so funny?"
    "My boots are size eleven." He shook his head, still chuckling. "You really want to go, don't you?"
    "Yes." Brit knew she was appearing overanxious, but there was no other way to let him know how she felt.
    "Okay, tell you what. Soon as I have a chance, I’ll fix those moccasins for you. They'll fit and be better for climbing." He finished eating and headed back to the supplies.
    Once again, Brit followed. "Okay. Great. That'll be wonderful."
    He washed the pan he'd used for the oatmeal and turned it upside down on the box of utensils, leaving it to dry in the sun. "Fix whatever you want to eat today," he offered as he finished loading a backpack with tools and a camera and small note pad. "Have a good day, Brit. See you later." He seemed too busy to look at her and started away as he spoke.
    Brit felt desperate for his attention. "Jake?"
    He paused, finally, and looked back over his shoulder at her.
    "I'm . . . uh," she halted and stared down at the empty coffee mug in her hands. "Michael and I aren't ... we argued a lot because we aren't making it."
    "Michael?"
    "My ex, uh boyfriend," she explained quickly.
    Jake turned to face her. He