She smiled at him, hesitantly at first, then teasingly, all traces of tears and anger long gone. “Now I’m ready for that boat ride.”
***
As they headed to the boat, neither of them noticed the man in the back of the Flathead Lake parking lot watching them through his windshield in shock and disbelief, fury turning his face red and making his bloodshot eyes water with indignation and betrayal.
Goddamn whore.
She would pay for this.
Chapter 8
Katrin stood next to Erik, leaning on the railing of the Qwataqnuk Wind, looking out toward Wild Horse Island up ahead. The captain announced that they’d circle the island once for viewing then the vessel would dock for ten minutes so that any passengers interested and willing could spend three hours on the island before the boat returned at three p.m. to take the passengers back to the landing at Polson.
According to Erik, who—Katrin was impressed to observe—had done some thorough research on their destination, there were still wild horses that lived on the island out in the middle of Flathead Lake. Not only horses, but big horned sheep, mule deer and various species of birds. He had delivered this information to her in a clear, authoritative voice as they stood side-by-side in the packed cabin, and gradually a small crowd of people had gathered around them, asking Erik for advice on how to best spend the afternoon.
Katrin stood beside him, watching with a shy smile, enjoying the charade of being his girlfriend in the eyes of these strangers as he answered questions patiently, always insisting that he hadn’t visited the park yet, and didn’t know it personally, though his suggestions felt spot-on.
A much older couple shared with Erik and Katrin that they were on their honeymoon and the white-haired lady winked at Erik, eyes twinkling. “You’re an attractive, young couple. I know we’re on the same boat, but are we in the same boat?”
Katrin bit her lip as she glanced up at Erik, trying not to giggle.
“Are you asking if we’re on our honeymoon?” Erik asked, frowning.
“Well,” she said, smiling at Katrin with kind eyes. “You could hardly do better than this lovely young thing.”
Erik looked at Katrin thoughtfully, and it surprised her that he didn’t immediately recoil, screaming, Her? No! No way! Her and me? Yuck! NO PICKET FENCES! and jump off the boat to escape her company, swimming madly for the nearest patch of land.
She tried desperately not to smile at him, but her cheeks hurt from the effort, since laughter for the sheer awkwardness of the situation was bubbling up inside of her. She knew her dimples were pronounced and deep as she held his eyes playfully, and she raised her eyebrows at him, waiting for him to respond.
“No, ma’am,” he replied, winking at Katrin. “I made her an offer just today, and she turned me down flat.”
“Oh!” The older woman gasped. “She didn’t!”
“She did,” he said, looking very pitiful. “And she got mad at me. Yelled at me and told me to take her home.”
“Well! I never! And you, such a nice, young man.” The woman took a step to stand beside Erik, crossing her arms and looking at Katrin disapprovingly.
Katrin’s jaw dropped with merry audacity and she regarded Erik with wide, amused eyes. Two can play at this game, Minste.
“But, ma’am,” she started, adopting a pained expression, palms open in supplication. She gestured for the woman to step forward, then pointed at her ring finger and spoke in hushed, concerned tones. “There’s no ring on this finger and he wants my…my virtue. He wants to have the milk for free. Can you imagine?”
The woman moved away from Erik to put her arm around Katrin’s shoulders, pulling her close, giving Erik a stern dressing-down with her eyes, while Katrin beamed at him. “Well! Well, young man? What’ll it be? I think you’d best buy this cow!”
Erik’s eyes flew open and his shoulders shook with merriment as Katrin’s head whipped to the side, frowning at her unlikely, ineloquent defender with a look of shock. When she looked at Erik, though, her face morphed quickly from offense to humor, and her shoulders started shaking too, as she covered her mouth with her hand. Erik finally got a hold of himself, gently nodding his head at the nutty old woman.
When he spoke, his voice was soft, almost dream-like, and he held Katrin’s eyes with his. “Big risk, ma’am. She might break my heart.”
Katrin cleared her throat, stepping toward Erik with a small, gentle smile. She wouldn’t pass up this chance to reassure him. “No, Erik. I’d never do that to you.”
The older woman clapped and stepped aside, pushing Katrin toward Erik, winking at him jauntily. “There, you see? Nothing to fear! Seal it with a kiss!”
Katrin looked up at Erik, at his handsome face several inches above hers. He smiled at her, tilting his head to the side subtly in question. Whaddaya think? Give her a little show? Katrin smiled and gave him a small shrug. Sure, why not?
It was the first time he had ever kissed her, instead of the other way around. Erik put his hands on her hips, and pulled her closer to him, gently crushing her breasts against his chest. She closed her eyes as he bent his head and brushed his lips against hers. He captured her top lip, tugging at it gently with his for a second before releasing it. It was so sweet, and she so badly wanted more, it took her a moment to realize it was over and open her eyes. When she did, he was smiling down at her, tenderly, maybe still a little amused too.
Amidst a light applause from the older couple, he took her hand without a word, and led her out onto the windy outdoor boat deck where they were mostly
