The River by Cheryl Kaye Tardif Read Free Book Online

know."
    Neither did Del. Schroeder must have been wandering around in the woods without food or water. How'd he survive?
    "Could it be something he ate?" she asked.
    "Normally, I'd say that was impossible. He's experienced rapid aging, his organs are shutting down and we can't find the cause. Or the cure."
    Del blinked back the tears that threatened to escape.
    "Maybe when we get back?"
    Jake shifted uncomfortably. "He may not be alive when we get back. All we can do now, Del, is make Schroeder as comfortable as possible."
    And wait for him to die, she finished silently.
     
    Boarding the plane, Del noticed that TJ had already confiscated the aisle seat next to Francesca. She was positive that the woman would make TJ move, but nothing was said. Sliding into the row across from them, Del was startled when Jake took the empty seat next to her.
    She arched a brow. "You sure you don't want to swap with TJ?"
    "Nope, I like it here."
    He closed his eyes and leaned back.
    She shrugged, distracted by Peter and Miki, who moved to the row in front. Miki's eyes darted over the interior of the plane as if she'd rather be dragged behind a chuckwagon at the Calgary Stampede.
    "Don't you like flying, Miki?"
    "Last time I was in a plane was when I moved here from Osaka."
    Del smiled. "I was in Hiroshima five years ago. With an international team of anthropologists and archaeologists. We were helping to identify some pottery and bones at Kusado Sengen."
    "Where's that?" Jake asked without opening his eyes.
    "In Japan. It used to be a medieval town, near the mouth of the Ashida River. Now it's called Fukuyama City. It was one of my favorite digs."
    When Miki sat down, Del stole a peek at the man beside her.
    Jake Kerrigan was the epitome of the word 'manly' . It oozed from his very pores and was evident in the unruly lock of hair that clung rebelliously to his forehead. His dark eyebrows framed thick-lashed eyes that were a piercing shade of blue―when his eyes were open. And then there were Jake's cheekbones. The kind that some women paid for―and most would gladly kill for.
    Her gaze drifted to his mouth, the fine, evenly shaped lips.
    Everything about Jake was fine, right down to his strong hands and neatly trimmed fingernails.
    "See anything you like?"
    Her head shot up and she gulped in a ragged breath.
    Jake's eyes were open a crack and he was staring at her.
    Embarrassed, she ignored the sudden flash of heat in her face and snapped her head in TJ's direction. She tried to get his attention but he was busy showing Francesca a book he had bought for the trip.
    Reading the title, Del let out a loud snort.
    How to Shit in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art .
    "TJ has strange taste in reading material," Jake murmured.
    She scowled. "He has strange taste in a lot of things."
    "Enjoy the flight, Del. Your boyfriend looks like he will."
    She was so completely taken aback that she didn't correct Jake's assumption that she and TJ were together.
    Maybe it was safer that way.
    After a long day and three different planes, they finally arrived at Fort Simpson, a tiny town in the Northwest Territories with a population of about 1300. Climbing from the plane, Del's eyes drifted across the rugged beauty that surrounded her and she experienced a sense of familiarity.
    Déja vu.

PART TWO
    Undertow
     
    Everything you see has its roots in the unseen world.
    ~ Jelaluddin Rumi
     
    Five
     
    S he waited for the others to disembark before following the wood-planked steps up the steep hillside. Halfway up, Del noticed a short, stocky man awkwardly juggling a bulky camera. On his head was a knitted toque―the kind that her grandmother used to make. And tucked between it and his ears were a pair of small wire-rimmed glasses that, at the moment, were halfway down his nose.
    As she passed, he beamed a smile and held out a beefy hand.
    "Gary Ingram from Ottawa."
    Gary was in his late forties and not in the best of shape. His face was