Freedom to Love Read online

  The drive to Banff seemed to take no time at all, so engrossed was Katy in her surroundings, each mile seeming more beautiful than the last. Therefore it came as something of a surprise to her when shortly after five o’clock they drove into the town of Banff. Not that it was like any English town she had ever seen; the houses seemed to have been built in a clearing of the towering green pine trees, and the woodlands and mountains dominated everything in their path.

  The main street seemed to be mainly restaurants and gift shops, Katy noted as they slowly drove through, although she did see a couple of museums she thought would bear closer inspection, and people were standing to be photographed beside the totem pole erected outside one of them.

  ‘I’m not sure we should camp out,’ Gemma remarked nervously. ‘They had a bear attack at one of the campsites in the park last week. Some poor man was badly mauled.’

  ‘Where did you hear that?’ Gerald scorned.

  ‘I overheard someone at the hotel.’

  ‘They were probably exaggerating. I doubt we’ll even see a bear, let alone get attacked by one.’

  ‘But they said—’

  ‘Forget it, Gemma,’ he dismissed. ‘Bear attacks aren’t exactly common over here.’

  ‘I know. It’s just that it’s made me feel nervous. There’s supposed to be bears all over these National Parks—wild bears.’

  Gerald spluttered with laughter. ‘Well, of course they’re wild, that’s the whole idea of these parks, to give the animals miles and miles of freedom.’

  ‘I’m just not sure I want to camp out,’ Gemma insisted.

  ‘Why didn’t you mention this earlier,’ he said crossly, ‘before we picked up the camper? You can’t expect us to book into a motel when we have our accommodation right here. I’m certainly not going to.’

  Neither was Katy. Part of the reason she had agreed to come on this holiday was because they would be able to camp out and provide their own meals when they wanted them. Staying in a cosy motel wasn’t part of her plan.

  ‘I suppose not,’ Gemma agreed reluctantly. ‘Where shall we camp, then?’

  ‘Well, it has to be one of the official sites, it’s against the law to camp anywhere else,’ Gerald informed them knowledgeably. ‘There’s one up in the mountains here somewhere, I fancy that one.’

  It wasn’t difficult to find and they were soon paying their nominal fee at the gate, a fee that helped keep the parks clean and in their natural state of beauty.

  Gemma was sorting through the information sheets they had been handed at the gate. ‘Look at this,’ she held up one of the sheets of paper. ‘It’s a warning about the bears.’

  ‘Just a precaution,’ Gerald soothed, as he drove down to their site. ‘We aren’t allowed to light fires up here,’ he said regretfully. ‘Pity, I fancied a barbecue.’

  ‘I’m certainly not going to cook outside if there are bears about!’ Gemma seemed genuinely frightened.

  Katy took the typewritten sheet from her. ‘We’ll be perfectly all right if we follow the advice on here. Most of it’s just common sense anyway.’

  Gemma grimaced. ‘It says on there that you aren’t to feed the bears. As if I would!’

  Her fiancé laughed. ‘Never mind, darling. Banff has one advantage, a swimming pool with water from the hot springs.’ He smiled at her. ‘You’ll like that, hmm?’

  ‘Yes.’ Some of nervousness seemed to recede. ‘I brought my bikini with me, but the rivers and lakes look too cold to swim in.’

  ‘We can go on to Radium Hot Springs tomorrow if you like, they have a pool there too.’

  Katy grimaced behind them. She hadn’t expected to go from one swimming spot to another, especially as she herself rarely swam, being too conscious of the scars she had acquired on her back as a child. If they had wanted to swim then perhaps they should have gone to one of the coastal resorts. She couldn’t understand why they had come on this sort of holiday in the first place, not when Gemma liked her creature comforts so much. And Gemma had always been nervous of animals, even the sort behind bars in a zoo. Personally Katy abhorred zoos and all that they stood for, and she admired the Canadians for keeping these huge parks, hundreds of square miles of them, where the wildlife could live as it was meant to, completely free and away from human beings if they chose to.

  They were certainly nothing like the wildlife parks in England, where animals were still kept behind wire fences, in compounds that weren’t big enough to be one animal’s territory, let alone the dozen or so it usually contained. Here the animals were free, the people were the intruders, and that was the way it should be.

  ‘I think I’ll go up in the gondola lift while you two swim,’ she said now. ‘Gemma always gets sick on those sort of things.’

  ‘They’re too much like a combination of the Big Wheel and the Big Dipper,’ her sister shuddered.

  ‘Now that we have a site we might as well go into town and grab a meal,’ Gerald suggested. ‘Neither of you is that great a cook, so we might as well eat out whenever we can.’

  ‘Thanks!’ Katy grimaced. ‘I’m not sure I mind your derogatory remarks about my cooking, but I think Gemma might.’

  He grinned. ‘I’m not marrying her for her cooking ability.’

  His fiancée giggled, ‘I have other talents.’

  Katy turned away. She was absolutely dreading tonight. The camper was a large one, with a separate room at the back containing bunk-beds, but it certainly didn’t allow for the privacy of a couple who wanted to do more than sleep. She had decided to sleep on the lower bunk-bed while Gemma and Gerald would sleep in the double bed over the driving area; that way she would be as far away from them as she could be. Even so, she wasn’t looking forward to it.

  They found a restaurant in town with a vacant booth, although all the eating places seemed to be very busy, this being one of the few towns among the Canadian Rockies, and so very popular with the tourists, who hiked and drove through here most of the year.

  Once again Katy felt warmed by the friendliness of the people, finding them eager to know whereabouts in England they came from. They always told them near London, although they were in fact about forty miles away. Katy’s father was a doctor in a sleepy little Hampshire village. But everyone had heard of London, England, whereas not too many people seemed to have heard of Hampshire, England.

  None of the meals seemed to come small over here, as Katy was learning to her cost. If she weren’t careful she would put on pounds during the next two weeks. As it was she could only manage to eat half the steak on her plate, although Gerald seemed to have no trouble eating all of his, and a dessert. Gemma was defeated early, like Katy, although she watched fondly as Gerald ate his apple pie.

  Katy found her sister’s open adoration for this man pretty sickening, and she was glad when they all left the restaurant. It was a sure fact she was never going to fall for a man as completely as that. No man was going to make her his slave, in any way.

  Her thoughts came back to Adam Wild. Really their attitudes weren’t so unalike; he wanted to remain free of emotional entanglements too. But they did differ. He wasn’t averse to making women fall for him, he just had no intention of reciprocating the feeling, whereas Katy wanted her marriage to be a partnership, an equal amount of giving and taking on both sides. Adam Wild was a man who took everything offered to him, accepted it all as his due, and maybe in a way it was. Any girl who fell for him deserved what she got.

  When Gemma suggested a game of cards later that evening Katy readily agreed, although she made her excuses at an early hour so that she might endeavour to be asleep before the other two retired for the night. She did fall asleep quite early, but her sister’s giggling soon woke her up, and her face burnt with embarrassment as she realised what must be going on out there. When she couldn’t stand their heated murmurings any longer she pulled the pillow over her head, praying for sleep. It finally came to her, but not until the early hours of the morning.

  She was hollow-e
yed and pale the next morning, whereas Gemma looked glowingly beautiful. Maybe love affected one like that. Gerald seemed to think so, for Katy’s own appearance was soon noticed by him.

  ‘You’ll have to get yourself a man,’ he taunted her. ‘Missing Adam Wild, are you?’

  ‘No, I’m not!’

  ‘You look like a frustrated old maid,’ he told her.

  ‘At eighteen?’ she scorned.

  ‘At any age when you know someone else is getting what you aren’t.’

  Katy turned away, her face fiery red. ‘You’re crude!’

  ‘I know,’ he grinned leeringly. ‘But Gemma doesn’t mind.’

  Katy’s nose wrinkled with distaste. ‘I can’t stand crudeness. Now are we going into town or not?’

  ‘We are. Gem and I have been looking forward to our swim. Sure you don’t want to come with us?’

  ‘Sure.’ Even more sure today. She just wanted to get away from them as soon as possible.

  The pool and the lift up Sulphur Mountain were more or less next to each other, so they parted company in the car park, arranging to meet up later. Minutes later Katy felt glad she had gone alone. She couldn’t have borne Gemma’s feelings of sickness as the chairlift rocked out on to its ascent. The gondola could hold four people, but at the moment this one only contained her. Once started on its climb it went quite smoothly, giving Katy the chance to take some photographs on the way up. It started to get quite breezy towards the top and was quite cold when she stepped out on to the summit.

  The view was spectacular, and Katy spent half an hour or more taking photographs. Scenes like this had to be seen to be believed, and her mother and father would enjoy looking at her snapshots.

  ‘Your angle’s all wrong,’ drawled a deeply familiar voice. ‘From this angle you’re going to get more of the chairlift structure than the actual chairs coming up the mountain.’

  Katy spun round to face her tormentor. ‘Don’t you have something better to do than be sarcastic to me, Mr Wild?’

  He shrugged. ‘I wasn’t being sarcastic, just offering sound advice. But if you don’t want it…’ He turned away.

  What an idiot she was—after all, he was the professional photographer. She caught up with him outside the teahouse. ‘I’m sorry.’ He didn’t seem to have heard her, so she touched his arm. ‘Hey, Adam, I’m sorry. I—I didn’t mean to be rude.’

  He shrugged her hand off; he was dressed as casually as when they had first met, although the denims and matching shirt looked newly laundered. ‘Maybe I deserved it—we didn’t part the best of friends.’

  ‘No, we didn’t,’ she agreed with remembered anger. ‘I haven’t forgiven you for that yet. Gemma and Gerald haven’t let me forget it.’

  ‘I’ll bet,’ he grinned. ‘Maybe they just needed reminding that you’re a desirable young woman.’

  ‘I don’t think they ever knew it in the first place,’ she grimaced.

  ‘A pity. Fancy a coffee?’ he indicated the building behind them.

  ‘I thought it was a teahouse?’ Katy teased.

  He gave her a scathing look. ‘They serve coffee too.’

  ‘Good,’ she smiled at him for the first time. ‘I’m not all that keen on tea.’

  ‘God, you must be lonely!’

  ‘I must?’ She followed him in and sat down at one of the tables while he went up to get their coffee. ‘Why must I?’ she resumed their conversation as he sat down opposite her.

  ‘You’re actually being pleasant to me.’

  Katy looked down at her cup. ‘I’m sorry—about before.’ She added sugar to her coffee and kept stirring and stirring.

  Adam’s hand came out to stop her, keeping hold of it to caress her palm with his thumb. ‘Where are your sister and her loving fiancé?’

  His description brought embarrassing memories to mind, and she blushed a fiery red. ‘They’ve gone swimming,’ she mumbled.

  ‘But not you?’

  ‘Not me.’ His gaze probed and she turned away.

  ‘Didn’t you realise what it would be like when you agreed to come here?’ He sounded impatient.

  ‘Of course I didn’t,’ her eyes flashed, ‘or I wouldn’t be here.’

  He raised his eyebrows, shaking his head. ‘Poor innocent Katy!’

  ‘Not so innocent!’ she snapped. ‘You still have hold of my hand,’ she said pointedly.

  ‘So I do.’ He made no effort to relinquish it. ‘Would you rather come with me?’ he asked softly.

  Her eyes widened. ‘I beg your pardon?’

  Adam gave a half smile. ‘You heard me. You may find it less embarrassing travelling with me. And I’m sure your sister and her Romeo would have no objections.’

  ‘Maybe not, but I would. I know Gerald told me to find myself a man, but even he didn’t mean someone like you.’

  His deep blue eyes narrowed in anger. ‘Like me?’ His voice was dangerously soft.

  ‘You know what I mean,’ she avoided looking at him.

  ‘I think I do. I was just offering you a way out, Katy,’ he grated. ‘By the look of you you need it.’

  She put up a selfconscious hand to her pale cheeks. ‘I just didn’t sleep well.’

  ‘I can imagine why.’ His mouth twisted.

  ‘You’re as crude as he is!’ she snapped.

  ‘He?’

  ‘Gerald!’ she said disgustedly, finally managing to pull her hand away from him, telling herself that she didn’t really feel that tingling sensation up her arm. ‘He seems to think I’m frustrated,’ she added crossly.

  ‘And are you?’

  ‘No, I’m not!’

  ‘Good, then you won’t mind listening to them for the next two weeks.’ He so obviously regretted his offer of a few minutes ago. ‘Are you ready to leave?’ he stood up.

  ‘Oh—oh yes.’ Katy gulped down the last of her coffee, not eager to be on her own again. She might find his company disturbing, but it was better than being alone. She followed him out into the brisk breeze. ‘How did you get here?’ she asked conversationally.

  Adam gave her a pitying look. ‘The same way you did, in the chair-lift. I’m not one of your physical fitness freaks. I would have collapsed halfway if I’d walked up.’

  ‘I would have thought with all the exercise you get you would be very fit,’ she taunted.

  ‘That sort of exercise just makes me fit for exercise of the same sort,’ he rasped. ‘As you’re going to find out if you don’t behave yourself.’

  Katy blushed. ‘That wasn’t what I meant anyway. I meant how did you get to Banff?’

  Adam took her arm and led her to the left of the teahouse. ‘Jud lent me his transport while he’s out of town.’

  He was leading her down a rough track and Katy looked at him enquiringly. ‘Where are you taking me?’

  He gave a leering smile, towering over her. ‘I’m taking you off to ravish you among the pine trees. Not really,’ he openly laughed at her nervous expression. ‘You do wonders for my ego, Katy. I get quite a kick out of being thought a sex maniac.’

  ‘Then where are we going?’ she asked irritably, ignoring his taunting.

  ‘Down,’ he continued walking.

  Katy gaped at him. ‘Down…?’

  ‘That’s right.’

  She looked down to the bottom of the mountain. It looked miles. ‘All the way down there?’ she gulped.

  ‘All the way,’ Adam confirmed. ‘Something I’ll bet you’ve never done before.’

  Colour stained her cheeks; his double meaning was not lost on her. ‘I’m not wearing the right shoes for walking,’ she complained. ‘Besides, it’s too far.’

  ‘Only three miles—I checked.’

  ‘Three—! I’m not walking three miles down this muddy trail!’ She came to an abrupt halt.

  ‘Oh yes, you are,’ he insisted, pulling her along behind him. ‘It will walk off your frustration.’

  ‘I am not frustrated!’

  ‘Like me to prove otherwise?’ He q
uirked an eyebrow.

  ‘I might,’ she met his challenge, tired of his taunts.

  Adam looked down at her for long silent minutes. ‘You don’t really mean that.’

  ‘Try me.’

  He eyed the pine trees on the edge of the narrow pathway. ‘In there?’

  ‘No! Oh, forget it. I just thought—’

  ‘You just thought you should have taken advantage of the offer the first time it was going! That’s okay, Katy, the offer’s still there.’ Before she could offer any resistance he had pulled her into his arms and ground his mouth savagely down on hers. When he raised his head there was still anger in his eyes. ‘How was that?’ he rasped harshly.

  Katy put up a hand to her sore mouth, aware that it had been his resentment over the things she had said to him that had caused this onslaught. He wasn’t a man she should have angered—and especially not part way down a mountain where there was no one to help her if he should—if he should—

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he scorned, ‘I’m not going to rape you. But stick to your own league in future, little girl.’ He still held her curved against the hard contours of his body. ‘I could eat you up and not even notice.’

  ‘Could you really?’ she tilted her head back bravely. ‘I’d like to see you try!’

  Smiling, he put her away from him, a smile that held no humour. ‘Don’t tempt me.’

  ‘Excuse me…?’

  They turned to see a middle-aged couple in hiking gear standing a few feet away from them, unable to get past because they were blocking the pathway.

  ‘Certainly.’ Adam pulled Katy to one side. ‘Sorry about that. Just keeping her in line,’ he grinned.

  ‘I’ll have to try that,’ the husband smiled, moving past them.

  The plump wife eyed Adam. ‘I don’t think it would be the same coming from you, dear,’ and she turned and walked on.

  Katy spluttered with laughter once the other couple were safely out of earshot. ‘Poor man,’ she sympathised, smiling broadly.

  Adam watched her warily, obviously surprised at her laughter. ‘What’s so funny?’ he frowned.