He nodded. “Indeed it is a spectacular day.”
He glanced at Miss Landon who snapped her head up and looked at him with wide eyes. Purposely, he slid his gaze over her attire again, this time in slow measurements, mainly for her benefit. Instead of making her upset as he thought it would, her expression softened, and her green eyes brightened. Her lips parted as her chest rose and fell in a quick rhythm.
It irked him that she hadn’t given him the response he’d expected. “Miss Landon are you ready?” he barked.
She inhaled sharply and snapped her mouth closed. Her facial features hardened with her glare. Good. Just the way he wanted her—belligerent.
“I am, Mr. Knightly. Consuelo was kind enough to help me pack.” She pointed to the packs on the floor. “I hope you’re satisfied now.”
He marched to her things and rummaged through the backpacks, hoping to find something that would upset him. Unfortunately, he didn’t. Straightening, he gave her a nod. “This will work.” He grabbed the packs and flung them over his shoulder. “Come. It’s time to leave.” He looked at the older woman. “Thank you, Consuelo. You have been extremely helpful.”
Pink spots dotted her cheeks. “You’re welcome, Mr. Knightly. Enjoy your trip.”
Enjoy? He didn’t think that was an emotion he would experience at all, especially with Miss Landon.
* * * *
WHAT AN INCORRIGIBLEman!
Trying not to think of the bossy Mr. Knightly, Katrina stood by the railing of the small, one-level steamboat as it crept along the twisting river. Since leaving the store, he’d commanded every step she took until they’d reached the boat. Even now as they sailed, his domineering voice boomed through the air, disrupting her thoughts. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he hated this type of adventure. He snapped at everything she did and barked at the others as if they’d done something wrong as well.
Mr. Knightly was very similar to the tavern owner that had taken over when she was in her sixteenth year. Up to that point in her life, she’d been helping in the kitchen, but when Mr. McDougal started managing, he instructed her that she needed to wait tables. He made her wear skimpy dresses and expected her to flirt with the drunken customers. McDougal said the tavern would bring in more money if she did what he requested. Although it turned her stomach, she followed his rules. Never in all that time did he think she had a mind of her own—or an opinion. She was to shut her mouth and not talk back, which of course, was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.
Even coming to Brazil didn’t compare to the torture McDougal had put her through. So perhaps she shouldn’t complain about being here, because if she had the option, she’d choose Knightly over McDougal.
The farther into the jungle they sailed, the thicker the knotted trees became until she couldn’t see anything in between each one. The sun glinted off the murky water, making shadowy figures of the trees and bushes. It was so peaceful and still, except for the men on the boat wandering around as they kept the vessel moving and the occasional shouts from Mr. Knightly.
It still upset her that he hadn’t allowed her mother to come along. But in truth, having her mother take this journey would not have been wise. Thankfully, Mr. Knightly kept to his word and there was another woman on board. She was a good ten years Katrina’s senior, and hadn’t yet said one word to her. Katrina hoped they would at least carry on one decent conversation during the trip... as long as the woman spoke English.
A movement in the water caught her attention, and she studied the shape as the barge crawled closer. She leaned over the railing a bit more, trying to see what skimmed just under the surface. Some kind of animal, to be sure.
The creature was long and pointy at both ends. Beady eyes watched her, barely above the water. At first, she thought it to be an alligator, but the river wasn’t transparent enough for her to see clearly, and she didn’t think an alligator could be that large.
She leaned a little closer to get a better look. As the boat passed, the animal’s eyes narrowed. Then, within a split second, it lifted its head and snapped its long jaws, jagged with sharp teeth, toward her. Crying out in alarm, she withdrew. Suddenly, from behind, two hands grabbed tightly to her waist, and she jumped.
“You fool!” Mr. Knightly scolded, practically yelling in her ear. “Do you want to fall in the river and become that crocodile’s lunch?”
Her hands shook as she placed them over his to remove his hold. Instead, she found comfort in those long fingers spanning her waist. Her heart hammered more from his nearness than from the hungry crocodile. She fought the urge to lean back and rest against his chest.
In a flash, one of her sights came. It was dark, but she could see Mr. Knightly’s handsome face clearly. He wore a serious expression as he moved closer to her, lowering his head as if to kiss her...
She quickly shook the forewarning away. Now that she knew the man would try to steal a kiss, she would do her best to fight it.
“Forgive me for causing you distress just now,” she said. More than anything, she didn’t want him to think she had no common sense. For once in her life, she wanted a man to take notice of her intellect and not her appearance. “I... um, I assure you I was in control and wasn’t going to fall.”
She met his gaze over her shoulder. He stood so close his rugged jaw nearly touched her forehead. She could lean in and rub her forehead across his day’s stubble if she let herself.
Slowly, she moved her focus to his lips. At first, they were straight and hard, but the longer she stared, they softened and soon parted. When she met his eyes again, their color wasn’t dark with anger as it had been before. Instead, he wore a simple expression of kindness and concern.
Kindness?No, she must be mistaken.
Yet she knew he was kind because he’d shown her by allowing her to purchase clothes at Consuelo’s earlier this morning.
He wouldn’t try to kiss her now, would he? She pushed the silly thought away. Of course not. It wasn’t dark.
Mr. Knightly pulled away, taking two steps back. Once again, anger lines appeared on his handsome face. “Just make certain you don’t get too close and fall overboard. I can promise the crocodiles will get to you quicker than I will.”
She nodded. “I’ll remember your warning.” Swallowing hard, she leaned against the railing and looked in the direction they sailed. “How much farther do we go before traveling on foot?”
