Call It Destiny

stubborn, willful and constitutionally inclined to rebel against authority, but in me you’ve met your match. We’re not going to have an affair, Heather Strand. You’re going to marry me. On my terms.“

10

    The road back to Tucson was virtually devoid of traffic. It stretched ahead of Heather and Jake, an endless strip of blacktop that was relatively unremarkable when one was in a car. On foot, it looked like the highway to eternity.
    „It’s really just a few miles,“ Heather pointed out bracingly. „And at least it’s stopped raining. I’ll try out my old hitchhiking skills on the first car that comes along.“
    „I’m sure you’ll charm it to a stop, just like you charm everyone and everything else when you want to,“ Jake grumbled.
    „Everyone except you, hmm?“
    That brought a reluctant smile from him. „Oh, I’m as much under your spell as everyone else. I’ve told you that.“
    „Always nice to hear.“
    „The only difference with me is that I can handle you on the occasions when you decide not to be charming.“
    „I love it when you talk so masterfully. Listen! I hear something.“
    Jake swung around to glance back over his shoulder. „We’re in luck. A truck. Now if we can just get him to stop.“
    „He’ll stop,“ Heather promised, moving out into the road and waving her arms in a hopeful manner.
    „Heather, cut that out. Let me handle this, will you?“ Irritably, Jake yanked her back onto the shoulder of the road. „There’s no need to flaunt yourself. After this kind of storm I’m sure the driver will realize we really do need a ride without you flinging yourself onto the hood of the truck.“
    „I just hope he hasn’t already picked up a couple of other hitchhikers,“ Heather muttered meaningfully.
    „Monroe and his pal? Not likely. If they made it through last night they’ll probably be driving one of the jeeps out of the canyon. We’ve got to notify the cops as soon as possible. Chances are they’re headed for the border.“
    There had been no sign of any life on the opposite side of the canyon that morning when Jake and Heather had hiked out. They were too far downstream to be able to tell if the jeeps were still parked near the Strands’ cabin or even if the cabin itself had survived.
    As Jake had predicted, the driver of the pickup stopped willingly enough, regaling them with stories of storm-caused damages he’d seen that morning. Heather climbed gratefully onto the worn seat and sat between the driver and Jake who gave a somewhat edited account of their own adventures.
    „Not too smart to go up into these canyons when a thunderstorm’s brewin’,“ the thin aging rancher advised with a sidelong glance at Jake.
    „It wasn’t my idea,“ Jake retorted dryly.
    Heather endured the accusing glances of both men with equanimity. „Actually, I’m a runaway bride,“ she said chattily. „I left Jake standing at the altar the other day and he came after me.“
    The weatherbeaten rancher looked disconcerted and cast a questioning look at Jake.
    „It’s true,“ Jake sighed, sinking more deeply in the seat. „Unfortunately. I had visions of spending my honeymoon in Santa Fe, not that blasted canyon.“
    „It wasn’t a honeymoon because we never did get married,“ Heather pointed out carefully. „We may never get married. Jake has decided he doesn’t love me,“ she confided.
    „Shut up, Heather.“
    „He’s very bossy at times,“ Heather went on cheerfully.
    „Heather….“
    „You hear that warning tone in his voice? He sounds that way just before he lays down the law,“ she explained to the confused rancher.
    „Heather, if you don’t close your mouth I will do it for you.“
    Heather smiled devastatingly and said nothing for the remainder of the trip.

    By the time the authorities had been notified of the activities of Monroe and his pal, Joe, it was midafternoon. A phone call earlier had assured Ruth and Paul Strand that everyone was safe, but Jake had made the call and Heather didn’t actually have to face her parents or talk to them until late in the afternoon. As Jake parked the rental car in the private parking area of the hotel, much of her earlier breezy assurance faded.
    „Oh, Jake. What am I going to say to them?“ she groaned.
    „Just tell them to reschedule the wedding for two weeks from today. The day before they leave on their cruise,“ Jake pointed out heartlessly as he opened the car door.
    „I’m serious,