seriousness. Then Mary Ellen, whose dreamy look predicted a romantic, movie-inspired answer. And then Allison, whose idea of love probably changed as often as the weather.
The brides' cabin reflected the full glory of tomorrow's holiday. Bouquets of hothouse flowers decorated nearly every surface, and Perrie had learned that one of the bush pilots had made a special run to an Anchorage florist to fill all the orders from the town's bachelors.
Boxes of candy littered the coffee table, and other gifts and tokens of affection were scattered about the room. The brides were scheduled to go back home at the end of the month, and the competition for permanent companionship was heating up. After the Muleshoe Games, Perrie predicted that there would be a number of proposals made to each of the girls, though she wasn't sure whether they'd accept.
'I don't know if there's any way to explain it,' Linda said. 'I guess you just know when you know.'
'Bells will go off inside your head,' Mary Ellen said. 'You'll feel all tingly and shaky and you'll see stars. Angels will sing.'
Allison groaned. 'That only happens in the movies, silly. The way I see it, it's possible to love almost any man, if you really want to.'
'You mean if he's handsome enough, he doesn't wipe his nose on his sleeve, and he has enough money to keep you happy?' Linda asked.
Allison grinned. 'That sums it up quite nicely.'
'But there must be more,' Perrie said. 'I can't believe so many people in this world have fallen in love and they haven't written these things down somewhere.'
'Is this for the story,' Linda asked, 'or are you interested for personal reasons?'
'For the story,' Perrie lied, but she could tell Linda saw right through her. 'All right. I may need the information in order to evaluate my growing feelings toward an… acquaintance.'
'Hawk or Joe?' Allison asked. 'And if you say Burdy, I'm going to scream.'
'It's Joe. Although both Hawk and Burdy have been perfect gentlemen, sweet and accommodating, I seem to find myself attracted to the resident scoundrel. The man has dated every single woman in Alaska, he delights in making my life miserable, and he has absolutely no concern for my career.' Perrie paused to reconsider what she was about to say. 'And I think that-against all common sense-I might be in love with him.'
They had spent nearly every minute together since their night with the northern lights. By day, he would take her to all his special places in and around Muleshoe. And in the evenings, they would sit in front of the fireplace in her cabin and talk. She would work on her stories and he would read them.
And later, as night closed in around them, they would kiss and touch. Although she'd been certain that they would become lovers, Joe had been careful not to push them forward too fast Just when it seemed there would be nothing else to do but make love, Joe would smile sweetly and kiss her good-night, leaving her to wonder why he insisted on waiting.
Mary Ellen clapped her hands in delight, snapping her back to reality. 'Oh, that's so sweet! It's like destiny, isn't it? Like that old film with Gary Grant and that French actress. Only they met on a tropical island and this is Alaska. And he wasn't a pilot. But it was so romantic.'
'Does he feel the same way about you?' Linda asked.
'I don't know,' Perrie replied. 'To be honest, I'm not real familiar with all of this. I mean, I've never been in love before. And I don't think any man has ever been in love with me. I've had relationships, but they've never made me feel this way.'
'Joe Brennan is definitely a good catch,' Allison said. 'He's got a successful business, he's handsome, and I bet he kisses like a dream.'
Perrie sighed. 'Yeah, like a dream.'
'What makes you think you're in love with him?' Linda asked.
'At first, I wasn't sure. But then, after I thought about it, I realized it was something really silly. That's why I wanted to ask you.'
'It's his eyes, isn't it?' Allison asked. 'He's got those incredible blue eyes.'
'I bet it's because he's a pilot,' Mary Ellen ventured. 'Pilots are so dashing and brave.'
'It's because he likes the way I write.'
The three women stared at Perrie, a trio of confused expressions directed her way.
'I-I wrote this story about a family of wolves that he took me to see. And I combined it with a story about a family living in the bush. I didn't think it was anything special, but Joe thought it was. And now he takes me to ail these special places and he asks me to write stories about them. And then we… read them together.'
'That's it?' Allison asked.
'No, not completely. I've always worked hard at my job, but no matter what I accomplished, it never seemed to be enough. There was always this vague ambition that I had to satisfy, another goal just out of my reach. But when Joe says that he likes my stories, that's enough. That's all I really need. Suddenly a Pulitzer doesn't seem to matter anymore.'
'He respects you,' Linda said. 'And he's proud of you. That's a wonderful thing.'
Perrie smiled. 'It is, isn't it? It's so strange, but I feel as long as he believes in me, that's enough.' She ran her fingers through her hair and groaned. 'At least, I think it is. How am I supposed to know? I've been away from my work for so long, I can't be sure. Maybe I don't love him at all. Maybe I'm just bored and he's a convenient distraction.'
'You don't have to decide right away,' Linda said. 'You've got time.'
'But I don't!' Perrie cried. 'Sooner or later, I have to go home. I have a career to think about, and if I stay away much longer, I won't want to go back. What if I stay and then I find out I'm really not in love? Or what if I go back home and realize that I am?'
Mary Ellen reached over and patted Perrie's hand. 'There, there, don't get so upset. I think you should follow your heart. When the time comes to decide, you'll know.'
'She's right,' Linda said. 'Listen to your heart. Don't analyze this like one of your newspaper stories. Don't try to look for all the facts and figures. Just let it happen the way it happens.'
Perrie nodded, then stood up. 'All right, that's what I'll do. I'll listen to my heart.' She walked over and grabbed her parka, then pulled it on. 'I
'I've been seeing Luther Paulson,' Linda said. 'He's a really sweet man. So gentle and caring.'
'George Koslowski has invited me to his place to watch movies tonight,' Mary Ellen said. 'He's got Roman
'And I've decided to pursue Paddy Doyle,' Allison finished. 'He's still a young man and he's got a successful business. He's handsome in a burly sort of way. And he's been widowed for two years. That's long enough.'
Perrie nodded distractedly, her thoughts still on Joe Brennan. 'That's nice,' she murmured as she walked to the door. 'I'll see you all at the games tomorrow.'
She needed to be alone with her thoughts. As she walked down the main street of Muleshoe, she contemplated everything that the brides had said, and all that she'd told them. Now that she'd actually put words to her feelings, they didn't seem so confusing.
She was in love with Joe Brennan. And that was all she needed to know for now.
The sun gleamed off the snow, the reflection so bright that Joe had to shade his eyes to see beyond the lodge. In the distance, Perrie methodically split wood in front of the shed. Hawk had provided her with plenty of logs and a newly sharpened ax and she worked at the task with a single-minded intensity.
He had to admire her tenacity, even if he didn't approve of her purpose. Though she'd come a long way with her wilderness skills, he hadn't the heart to tell her that she probably couldn't win. Besides the three brides, there were four other single women who had lived in the area for years who coveted a weekend at the Hot Springs, all with finely honed talents.
Even if Perrie did manage to emerge victorious, he was still determined to protect her safety. The organizers of the Muleshoe Games had approached him about providing the air travel to Cooper and he'd accepted. Perrie was in for a surprise if she thought she'd make a clean getaway. If she went to Cooper, he'd go along. And he'd make sure that once they got there, she wouldn't want to leave the room.
Over the past few days, they'd connected in a way so unexpected that he wasn't sure what he was feeling.
