Chapter Seven “So tell me everything,” Dolores said, patting the sofa for Hayley to sit beside her. They had just finished breakfast, and the men had gravitated into the games room where Hector had decided he wanted to challenge Jules at a game of snooker. It had become clear to Hayley early on in their visit, that the Shellingtons did not come to the Yukon to hunt, or fish, or mush dog sleds, or even watch such events. They came to relax, to get away from the Arizona heat, and to holiday in a location that would seem exotic to their friends back home. Hector would be just as happy engaged in activities he could have been doing right in his own home, without the ringing of the telephone that probably invaded a lot of his private time back home. Dolores didn’t seem to mind either. Although she seemed quite at home being served hand and foot, she didn’t seem to mind one bit if she didn’t leave the fireside for their entire stay. “What everything?” Hayley asked, looking at the woman, not sure what it was she was being asked to tell. Dolores smiled coyly. “Why, you and Jules, of course! How long have you known each other, where did you meet, and when? Did you have a long courtship or a whirlwind love affair?” Dolores sat there looking at her expectantly, as if she really thought Hayley was going to confide the most private details of her love life with her. Hayley felt herself blushing. Not only did she not feel comfortable talking about it to the woman, but heaven help her, she didn’t have a clue what to say! Jules had never told her what answers to give to questions such as these. It had probably never occurred to him that they would even be asked. But God forbid she give an answer, and Hector Shellington extract a contrary answer from Jules at the very same time. Hayley glanced towards the game room door, hoping the panic that she felt inside did not show on her face. “Well, Dolores, I — “ “Oh, my dear, please don’t feel shy. I know newlyweds don’t want to tell all their secrets. I’m just a curious old lady who thinks the two of you look like a perfect couple. A match made in heaven, I’d say! I was just curious. I mean, Jules spends all of his time out here in the middle of the bush. This is hardly the place one would expect to find a beautiful wife, now, is it? Especially one as well bred as yourself.” She smiled, as Hayley tried not to show how surprised she was at what she was hearing. “I mean, I could tell right away, you’re not a local. You’re a perfect hostess, you’ve obviously been raised with social graces. Just what Jules needs for a place like this. And you don’t talk like the rest of the people around here. I was just wondering where did he find you, that’s all.” “I — he —“ Hayley started to speak, but the sound of Jules’ voice interrupted them, and she heaved a sigh of relief. “The Great Spirit brought her to me, and I will be forever grateful to Him for that,” Jules said, giving Dolores a wide, practiced smile as he reached across the back of the sofa and slid his hand protectively over Hayley’s shoulders. Then he turned to face her, and the smile he offered her was much softer than the one he had just given his guest. “Isn’t that right, Little One?” But before Hayley had time to speak, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers, catching her off guard with a soft, tender kiss. The kind of kiss a man would give his new wife to show her he loved her, Hayley thought, as she struggled to hold on to her sanity. The kind of kiss they were going to have to share more than just this once, she reminded herself, if this charade was going to be convincing. She lifted a hand and pressed it against his chest, more to steady herself than anything else, but as soon as she touched him she wished she hadn’t, for her fingers began to curl against her will, and her lips softened against his to kiss him back. At last he lifted his lips from hers and looked down at her. His eyes, only inches from hers, held that playful look again, but there was something else there that Hayley couldn’t place. He held her gaze for a few more seconds, then repeated his question in a soft, husky voice. “Isn’t that right, Little One?” “Yes,” she said, barely a whisper, for her voice failed her. She cleared her throat and spoke again. “Yes, that’s right, Jules.” He straightened up and turned to face Dolores, but didn’t remove his hand from Hayley’s shoulder. Instead, he perched on the back of the sofa next to her, and smiled at the other woman. “Hector has gone for a rest on the lounge in the game room, Dolores. He said to wake him when it’s time for lunch. So, what was it you were asking my wife?” Dolores seemed only slightly off balance, but quickly shot them a bright smile. “Look at you! Such a wonderful couple. It’s obvious you’re very much in love.” Jules felt Hayley flinch, and tightened his grip on her shoulder just enough to steady her. They both smiled as Dolores went on. “I was just curious about where you two met and how long you knew each other before you got married. When we were here last Spring, you made no mention of the wonderful woman that has become your wife.” “You’re absolutely right. I hadn’t met Hayley yet when you were here last. I came across her in my travels this fall, and almost as soon as I laid eyes on her, I just knew I had to make her my wife. I think the feeling was mutual, isn’t that right, Little One?” His grip tightened again, and Hayley nearly choked on her own breath. She gave him a shaky smile, and nodded. “Oh yes, that’s exactly the way it was!” she said, and to her relief, Dolores beamed even brighter. “Oh that is so sweet! Such a magical fairytale romance!” Jules looked down at Hayley. “Dolores loves fairytale romances,” he assured her. “I certainly do!” Dolores agreed. “And I just knew it! When I looked at the two of you together, I knew that was exactly what had happened between you. There could be no other explanation.” Hayley looked up at Jules, and hoped that her plea for help was as visible in his eyes for him to read as their romance had seemed to be to Dolores. Apparently it was, unless he had intended to rescue her all along, for he stood up again, and held his hand out to Hayley. “Absolutely,” Jules agreed. “No other explanation. I hope you don’t mind, Dolores, but I actually came looking for my wife’s assistance. I’m afraid I will have to borrow her for a few minutes, if you will be alright for a while on your own?” he said, and Hayley put her hand in his and stood up, hoping she didn’t look too eager. Maybe she did, because Dolores smiled at them and winked, and waved her hand towards them in dismissal. “Ah, young lovers. Go, go, I know you need to be together. I’ll still be here when you are finished.” Hayley had been circling around the sofa when the woman was speaking, and nearly tripped at her words. She blushed and shot a panicked look at Jules, who was merely looking at her with an amused expression. “Well, Dolores,” he said, as he drew Hayley into the crook of his arm. “We can't put anything past you, can we?" he winked at her, and used his arm to steer Hayley towards the stairs. "We won't be too long," he called back to his guest, and Dolores replied by reaching for a book off the coffee table and waving at them. "Don't rush on my account!" she said, and flipped open the cover of the book. Hayley glared at Jules as he led her up the stairs, but he simply smiled and bent his head to plant a kiss on her lips as they walked. "She's still watching," he whispered, and Hayley rolled her eyes. He guided her into his room and closed the door, and immediately Hayley turned on him. "What on earth was that all about?" she demanded, swinging around to face him. "What?" he said, looking at her as if he hadn't a clue what she was talking about. “You know perfectly well what!" "We had to make it look good, remember?" "Look good!" she exclaimed. "I agree, we wanted Dolores to think we're a happily married couple, but does that mean letting her think we're coming up here for a — a — a tryst, at ten o'clock in the morning!" She stared up at him, and he practically laughed at her. In fact, his eyes were definitely laughing at her, she was sure of it, and groaned. He reached out and straightened a wayward strand of her hair. "A tryst?" he said, raising one eyebrow as he looked down at her, and she groaned again. "Jules, you know what I mean!" "Yes, I do know what you mean," he said, and as he looked down at her, flushed as she was, he caught himself thinking that maybe Dolores didn't have a bad idea after all. It was all he could do, in fact, to restrain himself from taking Hayley in his arms and kissing her soundly — for a start. He'd wanted to kiss her almost since she had arrived, and he'd been rather smug with himself over the whole pretending to be married thing. Although he hadn't thought of the idea specifically to get the opportunity to kiss her, it had occurred to him that it would be one of the perks. Maybe then he could get the urge out of his system, and life could go on as usual. But the first kiss had just led to a desire for more, and he knew perfectly well that was a bad idea, except that they were pretending to be married, and that required kissing in front of Dolores and Hector — and later Carolyn. Oh yes, he planned to give Hayley a particularly heated kiss once Carolyn was in the audience! But then, for who's benefit would it be, he asked himself. Carolyn's, or his? Hayley felt herself flushing. She knew she should put as much distance between them as she could, but her feet would not move. She was painfully aware of the fact that Jules was undressing her with his eyes, and it was the most embarrassing position she had ever found herself in. Almost as bad, that is, as knowing what Dolores Shellington would be thinking the next time she faced the woman! "Oh no!" she groaned. "What will she think! How can I face her?" "She'll think we are two people — married people — who are very much in love and can't keep their hands off each other. It's what we want her to think, remember?" "Yes, but — " He reached out and held her by the shoulders. "Hayley, calm down. That wasn't at all what I had intended when I told her I wanted your assistance. The fact is, Hector had decided to have a nap instead of playing pool, and when I was about to leave the game room I heard her asking you questions. I went out there to rescue you, Little One, because I realized we hadn't prepared for those questions. I was just intending to lead you out of harms way, and perhaps go over some of the answers we might give to questions like that in the future. I had no idea she would think I wanted to whisk you away for some mid-morning lovemaking." His expression changed when he said that, and he looked down at her with a hint of amusement toying at the corner of his lips. "But since she came up with the idea all on her own, I figured we should just let her think that. What better way to convince her we're happily married? We're relative newlyweds you know." Hayley gave another exasperated groan, but it didn't hold as much fight as the others, and she followed it by dropping her head unceremoniously to rest her forehead against his chest as if she were banging her head against a well. Once she was there, however, Jules took the opportunity to rest a hand on her head, and another on her upper back, and drew her in close to him, turning her head so her face rested against his chest. "It'll be alright, Little One," he whispered against her hair. "In less than three weeks we'll say goodbye to the Shellingtons and we'll be able to get back to normal again. In the meantime, the more we can do to convince the parents that we are deliriously happy together, the easier it will be for their daughter to believe it too." He tucked a finger under he chin, and turned her face upwards so he could look into her eyes. "Are you still with me on this one, Hayley?" She sighed. "Maybe I could just feign morning sickness, and stay in my room the whole time they are here," she said. "That would work just as good, wouldn't it?" "What the —" Jules put her away from him slightly and stared at her, then he noticed the glint in her eyes and the smile creeping onto her lips. "Why you little vixen! How dare you joke about something like that!" but he was laughing with her, glad she wasn't so uptight about the situation any more. Then as he looked into her eyes, he realized he really shouldn't be touching her, holding her that close, within such close proximity of a bed. Quickly he put her away from him and turned towards the door to leave before it was too late. Her voice stopped him, though, and he turned to see what she wanted. "I don't know about you, but I don't think we've been in her long enough to — well, to do what Dolores thinks we came up here to do. If you leave now, it might give her the wrong idea. You know, that we aren't as deliriously happy as you want her to think we are.” She chewed on her lip. Much as she would welcome the breathing space if he left the room now, they did want to make the right impression. “Maybe we should talk about the answers to those questions after all?" Jules groaned this time, but he agreed she had a valid point. He looked around the room, then went to sit on the cot. When she moved as if to sit on the end of the bed, he spoke much quicker than he should have. "Don't —! Umm, don't sit on the bed, OK?" he urged her, looking around the room. "There. Sit on that chair over there." God help me, he thought to himself. if she sits on that bed right now, I won't be able to keep myself from going over there and doing exactly what Dolores thinks we're doing up here! Then of course, that would really screw up the plans, because Hayley would probably scream, and then never speak to me again, and the Shellingtons would never believe we were married then! Hayley thought he was being silly, but she went to sit on the chair he pointed to instead of the bed. Once she was seated, and she glanced his way, it suddenly occurred to her why he didn't want her sitting on the bed, and blushed bright red. Of course, he was a warm blooded male, and they had been talking about sex, but she knew there wouldn't be any more to it than that. Clearing her throat, she crossed her legs and sat up straight. "Right, now, about those questions she was asking me," she started. “GreyWolf, do you think you could fly my wife in to Whitehorse sometime today, or tomorrow maybe?” Hector asked at the breakfast table one morning. Jules looked at Dolores with a raised eyebrow. “Have a little shopping you’d like to do, Dolores?” he asked her, and she smiled slyly. “Just a few little things, Christmas things, that I’d like to pick up. I always think I’m done, you know, but it seems I just can’t stop shopping til the last minute. It doesn’t feel like Christmas without last minute shopping.” She looked at him with an expectant glance, and he frowned. “I’ll have to check the weather.” The woman glanced momentarily at Hayley, then smiled and looked back at Jules. “Perhaps your wife would like to do some Christmas shopping of her own?” Hayley shot Jules a startled look. Christmas was just a few days away. It had never occurred to her that she would need to do any shopping, because she had no one to buy for. But suddenly it occurred to her that if they were to appear to be a happily married couple, they would have to exchange gifts at Christmas. A slight blush tinged her cheeks. What on earth would she buy for a man like Jules Landon? Jules sat looking at her expectantly, and she looked quickly down at her plate. “You could be quite right, Dolores. Hayley? Do you have any last minute shopping to do, Little One?” he asked, and Hayley nearly choked on her food before she managed to regain her composure and lift a smile to face him. “As a matter of fact, I do,” she said sweetly. “This would be a perfect opportunity.” Jules nodded. “It’s done then. I’ll get the plane ready right after lunch.” Dolores straightened in her chair and smiled brightly. Hector settled back in his and patted his stomach. “I think I’ll just stay around the lodge while you take the ladies shopping, GreyWolf,” He said. “This northern air always makes me sleepy.” Jules gave Hector a sideways glance. Hector had always taken part in many activities during his stays at the lodge. Jules couldn’t remember him mentioning being tired on other occasions, but he wasn’t going to call him on it now. Either Hector wasn’t feeling as well as he wanted everyone to think he was, or he just wanted as much time to himself as he could get. Jules glanced at Dolores, who was eating her breakfast as if nothing unusual had just been said. “No problem, Hector. Make yourself at home, and if you need anything at all, just ask Anna.” Hector patted his stomach one more time. “Ah, Anna! Don’t ever lose her, m’boy. Her cooking alone is enough to bring me up here from Arizona.” About an hour later, Hayley and Dolores made their way down to the lake. Jules had checked the weather forecast right after breakfast, and since there was no bad weather predicted, he had gone out to ready the plane. When they heard the engine running, the women headed down to meet him. In no time, they were coasting in for a landing on the outskirts of Whitehorse. “Where would you like to go, ladies?” Jules asked, as he steered his SUV towards the down town section. Dolores asked about a store she had been in on their previous visit, while Hayley sat quietly brooding. Not only did she have no idea what to buy for him for Christmas, but she also had no idea where to buy it! The one and only time she had been shopping in Whitehorse had been the day of her arrival. She knew nothing of the shops or what they carried. And besides, how could she buy him something when he was with them? Moments later, however, Hayley wondered if he had read her thoughts. They pulled up in front of the store in question and Jules got out of the truck to open the door for Dolores. “I have a few things to pick up while I’m in town. Why don’t I leave you two ladies to do what you have to do, and I’ll meet you here in, say, an hour?” “Oh, better make it two at least!” Dolores insisted, eagerly. Hayley was half out of the truck, and lifted a pleading glance to Jules, he just grinned, and nodded to their guest. “Two it is then.” Hayley grimaced at him, but he ignored the look and bent down to kiss her lightly on the lips. His action took her by surprise. What on earth was he doing, kissing her in the middle of the Whitehorse shopping district? What if someone saw them! Then she remembered that he had done it so someone would see them. It was exactly what Dolores would expect from them, as a married couple. She tried to fight off the blush she felt washing through her but by the look in Jules’ eyes she was afraid he had already seen it. “Have a good time shopping, Little One,” he whispered, just enough that the other woman might hear him, then he returned to the driver’s seat and pulled out into traffic. “Well,” Hayley looked at Dolores. “I still don’t know the shops around here very well. Do you know what you’re looking for?” “I think so,” the woman replied. “Come, why don’t we go in here and have a look around.” It was soon clear to Hayley that Dolores knew the stores in Whitehorse better than expected. Or perhaps is was just some inherent knowledge of shopping, she wondered. Hayley had never been much of a one for shopping, even when she had lived at home with her parents. She’d just as soon curl up with a good book, as spend the day at the Mall. The thought gave her an idea, and she looked around the store where Dolores seemed to be in her element. “Dolores, do you mind if I go off on my own for a few minutes? I spotted a book store down the street, and I’d like to pick up a few new books to read. It’s nice to have a good book to curl up with in front of the fire on the long winter evening.” As soon as she saw the look on Dolores’ face she knew she had said the wrong thing. The woman’s expression was filled with amused doubt, and her words confirmed her thoughts. “Oh, Hayley, I bet there’s much better than a good book to curl up with on a long winter night,” she said, following her remark with a wink. Hayley blushed, then sputtered. “Umm, well, yes, but sometimes Jules has work to do.” The ruse seemed to work, and Dolores nodded. “By all means, my dear, I’ll be here for a while yet. You run along to your book store, and I’ll wait for you here when I’m done.” Hayley stepped out onto the street and looked around. It was the first time she had been completely alone since she had stepped off the plane from Vancouver what seemed like ages ago. A stranger in a strange land, she thought, remembering an old quote she had heard so many times but never thought would apply to her. She took a deep breath and headed down the street towards where she had seen the sign for the book store. This town was part of her new life, she might as well start learning her way around it! She didn’t make it all the way to the book store, however. As she walked down the street another shop caught her eye, and she stopped. Perhaps this was the answer she was looking for, she thought to herself. She glanced up and down the street, then squared her shoulders and stepped inside the shop. She spotted the old man with his friendly smile almost as soon as she closed the door. He was seated at the back of the shop when she came in, but stood up at the sound of the bell and nodded to her. “On your own today, Miss?” he asked her, and she smiled. How nice to walk into a store and be remembered, after only having been there once before. Then again, she’d been with Jules, who had spent a great deal of money on her in this store. That in itself was probably enough to make her memorable. “Hello Sidney,” she smiled at him and he smiled back. “So what brings you in here all alone then?” he asked. “A little last minute Christmas shopping,” she said, and the man nodded. “Well what do you have in mind?” he asked, waiting for her reply. She cleared her throat and tried desperately not to blush. “Well, you see, I need to buy a gift.” She paused, and Sidney waited patiently for her to continue. “For Jules,” she went on, and Sidney nodded as if he had already suspected it; as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her to come to his shop for a Christmas gift for a man she had just met and hardly knew. She wrinkled up her nose. “The thing is, I have no idea what to get him. I thought you might be able to give me some ideas.” She rased her brows hopefully, and Sidney just nodded again. “Well let me see,” he turned and walked towards the display case in the middle of the store, that doubled as his cash counter. “You wanting to get something fur, or maybe you want to look at the gift ware here?” Hayley felt her heart thump in her chest. I have no idea what I want, she wanted to say. I don’t know what he wants, what he already has, or even what he likes for that matter! Sidney had reached the counter and had turned to look at her. She stood exactly where she had been when she had greeted him, chewing nervously on the corner of her lower lip, and shrugged. He smiled, and waved his hand for her to join him. “Come,” he said, in a warm voice. “I will help you.” True to his word, Jules was waiting two hours later, right where he had dropped them off. Hayley had left Sidney’s store, unable to resist giving the old man a hug, and made a quick dash to the book store before heading back to meet Dolores. The woman was just finishing at the cash, with a large number of shopping bags, when Hayley returned, breathlessly, from her own shopping. Dolores looked up and smiled “Did you get those book you wanted, Hayley?” she asked, and Hayley smiled back at her. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I got everything I wanted. People are so very helpful around here.” They stepped out of the shop, and that was when they noticed Jules, standing beside the SUV waiting to open their doors for them. “You ladies look like you had a successful shopping trip,” he said, eyeing the bags they were carrying. Hayley had taken some of the older woman’s load, and they both looked burdened down with bags. Hayley laughed. “Dolores is a professional shopper I think.” The other woman smiled. “Now, now, Hayley, these are not all mine. You did get those books you wanted.” Jules raised an eyebrow. “Books?” Hayley avoided looking at him and slipped into the passenger seat of the SUV. “Books. You know, they have pages, with words on them, and you read them when you have nothing else to do.” “Ahh!” he nodded. “Books. Yes, I know books.” Then to Hayley’s horror he looked at Dolores and winked. “But if you have time with nothing else to do, my Dear wife, then I can think of a better way of spending it!” Hayley gasped, and shot him a warning glance, but Dolores merely laughed from the back seat. “That’s more or less what I told her!” she said, and Hayley forced herself to look out the side window.