The Adventurer

to hold down an ordinary job, you'd have done it. But I don't see you as an ordinary sort of man, Gideon. You're like one of the heroes out of my books and I never write about ordinary men."
    "Look, Ms. Fleetwood, we'll probably get along a whole lot better if you don't try to romanticize me."
    "How can I help it? You're a very romantic figure."
    "You call being forty years old and living alone in an old house with two cats romantic?" He glanced at her in sheer disbelief.
    "Very."
    "You've got the wrong man. You want someone like Jake Savage."
    She was immediately fascinated. "Who?"
    "Jake Savage." Gideon wasn't surprised by her reaction. Women always reacted that way to Savage. Just the sound of his name was enough to do it for this particular female, apparently.
    "What a terrific name. Do you think he'd mind if I used it some day in a book?"
    "I doubt it, he's dead."
    "Too bad. What was he like?"
    "He was the kind of guy you're trying to make me into. Savage was a real-life adventurer. Liked to live life on the edge. Ran a business called Savage & Company."
    "What did Savage & Company do?"
    "Just about anything in and around South America and the Caribbean that paid enough. Flew supplies into the jungles for various governments, including our own. Transported equipment up rivers for tourists, photographers and scientists. Handled shipments of medicine and clothing for charitable organizations. Acted as guides and outfitters for archaeologists and the occasional team of journalists. And once in a while Savage and Company did some actual treasure hunting. Oh, you'd have loved Jake Savage, all right."
    "What happened to him?" Sarah demanded.
    "The story is he went off on a particularly dangerous job one day and never came back out of the jungle."
    "And thus passed into legend. Great story."
    "Thought you'd like it."
    "Did Jake Savage go alone on his last expedition?"
    Gideon hesitated. "Savage had a partner who usually accompanied him."
    "Did the partner die in the jungle, too?"
    "Apparently. He didn't return, at any rate, but hardly anyone noticed. Savage was the big name."
    "So his obit got all the attention."
    "Right. Without him the company folded."
    "All very interesting, but we don't need Jake Savage along on our expedition. We've got you."
    "You must drive people nuts with all this boundless optimism and enthusiasm."
    She bit her lip. "Am I driving you nuts?"
    "Yeah. But don't worry about it. I haven't got anything better to do tonight."
    She grinned. "I didn't think so."
    Ten minutes later when he walked into the restaurant with Sarah Fleetwood beside him, it seemed to Gideon that every head in the place turned in his direction.
    That wasn't strictly true, of course. The customers from out of town had no interest whatsoever in the very ordinary sight of a man walking into a restaurant with a woman. But all the locals, from the hostess to the busboy, were instantly intrigued. Gideon swore silently. He was not accustomed to being the center of attention and he didn't like it. It was all Sarah's fault.
    "Nice to see you again, Gideon. It's been a while. Follow me, please." Maryann Appley, the young hostess, smiled very brightly as she led the way to a seat by the window. "I hope you enjoy your dinner, ma'am," she added to Sarah as she pulled out the chair.
    "Thanks, I will," Sarah said cheerfully, reaching for the menu. "Look, they do have linguine and clams. What luck." As soon as the hostess disappeared she leaned forward. "Why is everyone staring?" she asked in a stage whisper.
    "It's been a while since I brought a lady here." Gideon picked up his menu.
    "Oh." She looked thoughtful. "Does that mean you don't date much?"
    "It's a small community. Not many single women around. They all head for Portland or Los Angeles because there aren't many single men around here, either."
    "There's you."
    Gideon looked up. "What are you trying to do? Figure out why I'm not married?"
    Sarah blushed a charming shade of peach and looked down at her silverware. "I suppose so. Frankly, I couldn't believe my good luck when I realized from your first letter that you weren't married."
    "I don't recall mentioning the fact."
    "No, but I could tell. In my age group the men always seem to be married. Or if they're single it's because they've just recently been divorced and are all messed up in the head. Or they're gay." She looked briefly anxious.
    "I'm not gay and I'm not recently divorced."
    She relaxed back into her infectious smile.