He refused to take the team into more snow, but that meant forging a way around the base of the mountain. But just as he discovered with the mountain they’d already hiked over, he didn’t know what they might encounter. A canyon too big for them to cross? A river with rushing water they couldn’t safely ford? The list was endless.
But after what had almost happened to Heath...
Mikhail pressed his eyes shut as the image of Heath hanging over the side of the mountain filled his mind.Please, God, allow me to lead everyone safely back to Sitka.
It was a prayer he uttered every time he accepted the responsibility of leading an expedition. Hopefully God would answer this one favorably.
“No. You’re not taking this one. I refuse to let you.”
Bryony’s voice carried through the woods, and Mikhail stilled, searching the area for her.
“How much do you want for it?”
Richard was talking now. Mikhail could recognize his smooth-sounding voice anywhere, but he didn’t see either of them. He hedged forward, silently crossing the small creek on the opposite side of the hollow and heading toward the camp.
“It’s not for sale.” This time when Bryony spoke, Mikhail caught a flash of movement through the trees.
The wet fur of Bryony’s parka looked almost black against the green of the spruce trees, but he could still make out her form, and Richard’s behind her.
“Surely you don’t mean to keep it from me, Bry. It’s beautiful.” Richard took a step toward Bryony and reached for whatever she held in her arms. “The public will want to read it. They always do.”
“I’m not giving this one to you.” Bryony opened her parka and tucked the object against her chest, then wrapped the coat over it. “I told you there wouldn’t be anymore after I gave you my journal last summer. I don’t want to continue our arrangement.”
Richard’s body turned rigid. Mikhail could see it even from his position behind the tree. “You can hide it from me now if you want, but you won’t be able to keep it from me once we’re married.”
“I’m not going to marry you!”
“You can’t be serious.” Tightness laced Richard’s voice. “I’m going to be secretary of the interior. If not this year, then next year, or the year after that. It’s only a matter of time.”
Bryony raised her chin. “And what makes you think I’d want to be married to the secretary of the interior?”
“Every woman wants to be married to a man like me. That position is pure power. I alone would get to appoint the next governor of Alaska. I would get to open entire regions of the country for exploration. I could authorize the formation of gold and silver and copper mines across the entire United States.” Richard took a step closer, crowding her with his body.
Mikhail found his grip tightening on the rope holding the rabbits.
But Bryony didn’t take a step back. She held her ground, meeting Richard’s gaze evenly. “And just how many of those mines will your family have a stake in?”
Richard’s laugh was short and humorless. “There’s nothing wrong with having a stake in the mining industry. Someone has to own the gold and silver and copper mines. It’s how the world works.”
“That may be, but I want nothing to do with it.”
“You’ll marry me, Bryony.” Richard leaned even closer, his tone growing lower and darker. “And we’ll have a good life together. I’ll treat you well.”
That was enough. Mikhail wasn’t going to stand here and listen to a second more of this. He hung the string of rabbits on a tree branch and took a step forward.
“Well enough that you’ll turn out your mistresses?” Bryony’s voice sliced through the air, a thousand accusations in that single sentence.
Mikhail found himself growing still once again. He shouldn’t be surprised that the other man kept women, not after how Richard had treated the Athabaskans. And given Richard’s wealth and position, it was probably expected that he’d have a mistress or two.
But that didn’t make it right.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Richard brushed a dismissive hand through the air. “I’ll be just as discreet with them after we’re married as I am now. You only know they exist because you overheard Heath and me talking, not because I was being flagrant.”
Bryony leaned forward, bringing herself nearly nose to nose with the lout. “You listen to me, Richard Caldwell, because I’m not going to repeat myself anymore. I’m not going to marry you. Not today, not tomorrow, and not ever.”
The man’s jaw tensed. “I need a wife if I’m going to look attractive enough for the president to name me secretary of the interior.”
Bryony stepped back just enough to put a sliver of space between them. “Then marry a senator’s daughter.”
