No Boundaries (4 page)

Gwen made her way through the crowd gathered in front of the post office. She had hesitantly volunteered for the watershed cleanup when Glenda had insisted she help out with the annual event the town put together, to pick up trash and other detritus along the hiking and off-road vehicle trails through the park. She had so much she needed to be doing with the house, but if she was going to become a part of this community, she had to do her part. Besides, this was the perfect opportunity to meet people.

She spotted Glenda standing with a group of regulars from the diner and made her way over. Glenda looked up just as she reached the group.

“Hey, there you are. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it,” Glenda said cheerfully.

Gwen shrugged. “No way. I couldn’t let you have all the fun.”

Glenda smiled and then started as if she had forgotten something. “Oh, I have someone I’d like you to meet.” She turned to a petite blonde standing next to her. “Gwen, this is my niece, Pria. She’s spending the summer with us.”

Gwen took Pria’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Pria.”

Pria smiled at Gwen with a hungry look in her eyes. “Hmm. Yes, it is.”

Gwen dropped Pria’s hand, aware that Glenda was watching the exchange. Pria had certainly telegraphed her interest to everyone within a mile radius of the group. There was also no doubt that everyone in the group was aware of how attractive Pria was, but she couldn’t be more than twenty-three years old, and the delicately manicured nails and designer T-shirt and jeans sent warning bells ringing in Gwen’s ears. In her experience, this girl spelled trouble. Gwen cleared her throat. “So, what’s the plan?”

Glenda immediately took charge. “We’re all meeting at the watershed in an hour. The groups will be assigned before we leave. We’ll spend the day picking up trash and other stuff that’s collected along the trails over the winter. After that we’ll all meet up at the pavilion for dinner and music. It’s a great time for everyone and a good way to get some much-needed work done in the park.”

“Sounds good to me.” Gwen smiled and rubbed her palms together, ready to get the day started.

They were directed to a line of Jeeps and trucks that were to be used to transport the volunteers to the work site. Gwen followed her group and was startled when she felt a hand slip around her biceps. She paused and looked around to find Pria smiling back at her.

“Want to share a seat? If I’m going to spend all day picking up trash, I’d at least like to enjoy the view.” Pria let her eyes travel down Gwen’s body with the look of a starving lioness.

Gwen’s mouth went dry. Pria was making it very difficult for her to keep her mind on the day’s task. She took a deep breath to steady herself. Pria was beautiful and her intentions were clear, but Gwen didn’t feel the familiar desire to see anything come of it. She knew what Pria was after, and although a night of sex would be fun and was damn tempting, she really didn’t want to pick that lifestyle up again. She had left that life behind. She wanted to believe she could have more,
be
more to someone. She had to believe there was someone out there who would share her dream of forever. This was going to be a very long day.

*

Andi leaned against the massive maple tree and watched the crowd gather. As if drawn by a magnet, she caught movement in the crowd and recognized Gwen making her way through the crowd, her head held high, shoulders squared. Although she walked with purpose, her stride was graceful and confident. Andi couldn’t look away. She was mesmerized by the subtle power that resonated from Gwen. Andi studied her quizzically and realized what Gwen exuded was pure raw sex. She shifted to relieve the pressure gathering between her thighs as the now-familiar hunger for Gwen grew more insistent. Andi pushed the thought out of her mind, not wanting to acknowledge the stir of arousal coiling beneath her skin.

She watched as Gwen became acquainted with her group. Andi’s shoulders tensed and she found it difficult to swallow when Glenda’s niece stepped close to Gwen, a hungry expression on her face.

Andi was very familiar with Pria and her summer affairs. She felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought of Gwen and Pria together. The thought both irritated and unnerved her. What did she care who Gwen spent her time with? But Pria, of all people, really? Andi sighed. Wasn’t this what Gwen had been looking for? Wasn’t that exactly why she had made sure to distance herself from Gwen? Then why did this bother her so much?

Exasperated, Andi pressed her shoulder into the tree and pushed off, heading toward the caravan. She would just make sure she wasn’t in Gwen’s group. It was none of her business who Gwen spent her time with, slept with, or dated. It was time she got Gwen Palmer out of her head.

“Hey, Andi,” a gravelly voice called just as she was making her way past the picnic tables. Andi couldn’t believe her luck. She took a deep breath before she turned to face Earnest McNeely, the leader of this little tribe of do-gooders. She knew that when she turned around, she would be facing Gwen and her group, and there would be no way she could escape unnoticed.

“Yeah, Earnest, what’s up?” Andi tried to keep her eyes focused on Earnest, but Gwen stood directly behind him. Gwen turned toward her, and Andi watched Gwen’s expression morph from gentle and playful to wistful and guarded the instant her gaze fell upon Andi.

The cold stone of regret that had settled in Andi’s stomach seemed to expand, and she fought the urge to cough. For a moment she had the urge to go to Gwen. She wanted to reassure her, apologize for hurting her, anything to take away her look of disappointment.

Earnest stopped in front of Andi. “Hey, you all right? You look a little green around the gills.”

Andi shook her head. “No. I’m good. What can I do for you?”

Andi kept her gaze steady as Earnest eyed her warily. Every second seemed like an eternity as she stood there, knowing Gwen was watching her. She wished Earnest would get on with it, so she could get as far away from Gwen Palmer as possible.

“Well, if you’re really up to working with us today, I need you to lead a team up to the old cemetery. Stevens can’t make it. His wife fell last night and broke her ankle, and he has his hands full with her and the kids.”

“That’s rough. Sure, I can lead a group. No problem.”

A look of relief settled over Earnest’s features. “Thanks, Andi. You’re a real lifesaver. I’ll give you truck number nine. They seem to be the youngest group—without giving you the kids, and they should be able to handle the climb a little better than some of the others. Grab your radio from the fire chief, inside the diner.” Earnest slapped Andi playfully on the shoulder. “Better get going if we’re going to make it through the watershed before dark.”

Andi nodded, and in a flash Earnest turned and headed for a group of kids from the middle school. Andi gave a sigh of relief. At least she wouldn’t be responsible for a troop of preteens all day. She gathered her gear from the fire chief along with her route map and located her truck. Everything seemed pretty straightforward, and Andi was looking forward to the day on the trails. She stored her gear under the seat at the back. Tall water coolers were already on board, and she was happy to see that this year the city had thrown in a large box of snacks. Andi had just finished going through the first-aid kit and putting everything away when her group began to board. Her heart plummeted on a surge of disappointment and dread when she looked up to see Pria slide into the Tahoe, followed close behind by Gwen.

“Shit.” Andi closed her eyes. This could not be happening. She was already finding it difficult to stop the thoughts of Gwen that had taken up residence in her mind since the day they’d first met. Despite her assertions that she was not interested in having any sort of relationship with Gwen, she had the uncontrollable desire to be close to her, to talk to her, to watch the way she moved. The idea of watching Gwen fall under Pria’s spell made her irrationally angry and, to her irritation, jealous. This was going to be a
very
long day.

*

Andi passed out the assignments to her team, making sure not to make eye contact with Gwen. She had managed the ride without throwing up, but Pria was making it difficult for Andi to ignore her, and the more she saw, the more irritable she became. Pria was practically sitting in Gwen’s lap and giggled like a teenager every time the SUV hit a rough spot. Even worse, Gwen didn’t seem to mind the attention and had put her arm around Pria when they went over a particularly rough section of road.

Andi directed Gwen’s group to cover the cemetery and surrounding field that was a popular hangout for the local teens. The area was riddled with discarded beer bottles and fast food trash. She instructed the group to make their way down the slope to meet up with the second group that would start at the bottom of the valley and follow the dirt road back to the truck. Andi and two others would work their way up one side of the road farther up the mountain, and then backtrack down the other side to meet back up at the original start.

This was a good plan. It allowed the strongest hikers to work the toughest parts of the grid, and as an added bonus allowed her to keep her distance from Gwen and Pria. Maybe she would be able to enjoy this day after all.

“Does everyone understand their group assignment?”

Murmurs of agreement filtered in from the various members of the group with many nodding their heads in agreement.

“One last thing,” Andi said, opening a small brown paper bag. “Everyone needs to take one of these whistles. If you have any problems or need help, blow the whistle. If you hear a whistle, the nearest group should answer. Everyone should meet up at the truck in case there’s an emergency and we need to get back down the mountain.” She looked around the group, making sure she hadn’t missed anyone. She passed Gwen and Pria, making sure not to let her emotions betray her, handing out the whistles without any acknowledgment as if Gwen were just another member of the group…which she was.

“Okay, that’s it, have fun, everybody.”

When the group split up, Andi let her gaze slip to Gwen, and to her chagrin, Gwen was looking straight at her, a curious look on her face. Andi froze, unable to read what was in Gwen’s eyes. She knew she should look away but couldn’t bring herself to break even this minute contact. Gwen’s lips parted as if she was about to say something, and Andi found herself staring at Gwen’s lips. Gwen took a step forward but was cut off when Pria came running up and grabbed her around the waist, breaking the connection.

Andi quickly averted her gaze and walked away.

Gwen stumbled when Pria pushed into her and she caught hold of Pria as she righted herself. When she looked back to where Andi was standing only a moment before, she was gone. Gwen watched Andi walk up the rocky dirt road, her pack riding high on her back and her head down. She stopped to help another member of the group settle their pack more securely on their shoulders, offering a gentle pat on the back, and then pausing to answer another woman’s questions about the path, pointing across the field and back along the Jeep road. Gwen watched with wonder as Andi engaged the members of the group and took command with confidence. Andi smiled warmly and said something that made the other woman laugh, and Gwen wished she had been the recipient of that smile. She wished she could hear what was said. She wanted to share those simple connections with Andi.

Gwen sighed as she watched Andi fade into the foliage along the mountain road. Part of her wanted to go after her, but she wasn’t up for another shutdown. Andi had made it clear she wasn’t interested. Gwen just couldn’t figure out why it mattered so much what Andi thought of her. But there was something different about Andi, and she just couldn’t let go.

“Come on, sweetie, let’s start over here.” Pria tugged on Gwen’s arm.

Gwen took one last glance at the spot where Andi had disappeared from sight. “Sure. Let’s go.”

*

Andi stood at the edge of a rock cliff gazing out over the miles and miles of mountains and valleys. A blue haze hung over the mountains in the distance, giving the appearance of a never-ending landscape. Andi imagined if she walked far enough, she would walk right into heaven. A light breeze ghosted through the trees, lifting the hairs at the back of her neck, sending a chill across her skin. She took a deep breath and drew the fresh mountain air into her lungs, pushing out all the stress and worry she had been swallowing all morning. She let her muscles relax and closed her eyes, lifting her face to the warm rays of the sun.

The screeching sound of a whistle caught Andi’s attention and she jerked, turning toward the intrusive alarm. Without hesitating, she grabbed her bag and ran. The distance between her and the distress call seemed too vast to measure. Every step of her feet pounded into the dry earth, mocking her. She swallowed the panic rising from her chest and tried to keep her focus on the task ahead of her. She knew it wouldn’t do anyone any good if she couldn’t keep herself together. A million terrible scenarios played in her head, and each one involved Gwen.

Andi cursed her own impotence. She shouldn’t have broken the groups up so far apart. She should have been closer. Sweat and dust filmed her skin, and the very air seemed too thin to breathe. Fear clutched at her throat as old memories surfaced, and she found herself defenseless in another forest, fighting for her life. The piercing shrill of the whistle morphed into her own anguished cries, and she could almost see the figure of the man looming over her.

Her foot rolled as a stone shifted beneath her boot, sending her sailing face-first into the dirt. She rolled, catching herself before she slid into a tree. She heard footsteps thundering down the path and tasted blood and dirt. Her chest tightened with growing fear. She slid her tongue over her lips and spat into the dry earth. She shook her head, trying to clear her muddled thoughts, reminding herself where she was. The blood was from her fall. She hadn’t been struck with a fist. That was another time. She jumped to her feet and wiped the dirt from her mouth with her hand. The whistle kept her grounded in the present, reminding her she needed to get back to the cemetery.