Pearls (28 page)

There was
a lot
about her he found appealing.

He never thought to see a woman so at ease with his lifestyle, but she had remained content throughout the trip, as if born for the life he could offer her. She hadn’t uttered a single complaint at “roughing it,” foregoing creature comforts that most women deemed necessities ... like a bathroom and a kitchen. In fact, she seemed to enjoy the challenges.

God, was I wrong when I abandoned hope of ever marrying?

After two relationships failed due to the unusual demands of his career, Manuel assumed marriage was a lost cause. Giving up his desire for a wife and children seemed more practical than continuing his search for a woman who could accept his ambitions. Thinking back, he realized he’d never prayed about that decision. His wounded heart made the choice seem obvious at the time.

Now that he wanted to change his mind, his career wasn’t the problem. His mother’s financial situation was. He might spend years working to free her from debt. He couldn’t ask a woman like Isabel to join him in that prison sentence. They would have to live in his mother’s home, and any income earned would go to the farm. He couldn’t imagine Isabel happy in that life. The strain of dealing with his family’s problems would make her bitter toward him and destroy any hope of happiness.

No matter how much he wanted her, he wouldn’t ask her to consider it. She deserved so much better. Still, everything inside him ached to have her. He’d give up anything—
anything but my promise to my mother.

His stomach knotted. Their search for the area near a waterfall Rodrigo mentioned had proved fruitless. Maybe their failure was a good thing. He needed to put some distance between himself and Isabel before he gave in to temptation. Honoring his word would have to come first.

Two nights later, Isabel collapsed into a chair, every muscle in her body limp with exhaustion from the arduous work they’d done that day. Their efforts had proved fruitless. She tried not to let disappointment weigh her down, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that they’d come to the end of their mission. Time had run out along with most of their resources, and they would have to return home in a few days.

Strong, warm hands slid onto her shoulders and began to massage away the aching tension accumulated there. She closed her eyes, a soft sigh of pleasure escaping her lips. His fingers moved up the back of her neck and down her arms, relaxing the muscles and electrifying her skin with his touch.

After several minutes, she tipped her head back and gave him a lazy smile. “That feels wonderful, Manuel. How did you know I needed it?”

He bent and brushed his lips across her forehead before taking the seat beside her. “The scrunched up way you held your shoulders half the day gave me a clue.”

His playful smile relaxed her further, and she batted her lashes in his direction. “Well, thank you for being so observant.”

He settled in his chair, crossing one foot over his knee and lacing his fingers behind his head. With heavy-lidded eyes, he stared into the growing darkness around their campsite.

Isabel sensed that something troubled him, but she hadn’t the energy to pry it out of him. She leaned her head against her chair and absorbed the tranquility of the rain forest. Howler monkeys called to one another in the high canopy of trees while tropical birds sang their final song of the evening. The fragrance of the abundant plant life tickled her nose as she drew a deep, contented breath. During their weeks in the rain forest, she’d come to wonder if Adam and Eve had enjoyed such a paradise. She couldn’t imagine a setting more beautiful or more enjoyable companionship with which to share it.

Her gaze came to rest on Manuel’s profile, and the tightness surrounding his eyes interrupted her pleasant thoughts. “What is it, Manuel?”

He met her probing gaze and offered her a gentle smile. “I was just thinking maybe it’s time we went home. I don’t think we’re going to find what we’re looking for.”

Though reluctant, she nodded her agreement. “We’ve both known for a while. I suppose it’s time we admitted defeat.”

“I’m sorry, Isabel. I really thought we had a chance.”

Isabel sat in silence, grieving the sudden death of their shared dream. But more, she ached for Manuel. Adventure and history had fueled her interest in the project, but he had much more at stake. His future hinged on their success or failure. “What will you do when we return to Caracas?”

He reached out and grasped her hand. “I suppose I’ll sell my car and most of my possessions and buy a bus ticket to my mother’s farm. I can’t put it off any longer. She needs me, and I’m not making any progress in the archaeology field. Part of me thinks this is God’s way of telling me I wasn’t meant to be an archaeologist.”

She squeezed his hand. “You
are
an archaeologist, Manuel. I’ve been so impressed with your knowledge and professionalism.”

“Does that mean you’ll write me a letter of recommendation?”

His wry smile pierced her heart. She could tell he was trying to hide his feelings. To address the subject of their relationship now would seem selfish in light of all he was losing. Reluctantly, she smothered the questions she wanted to ask him.

Yawning, Manuel stood and pulled her to her feet. “I’m going to turn in now. How about you?”

“I might stay up a while and read over the journal. Maybe I’ll see something we missed.”

“Don’t waste your time.”

Even in the dim light she could see his grim expression. “The journal entries are fascinating and romantic. I’ll enjoy reading them regardless of whether or not they yield a clue.”

“Don’t stay up too late. The journey home won’t be easy.”

They gazed at one another, Isabel feeling loathe to end the pleasant day together. Her eyes traveled over his face, taking in the features she had come to know so well. His mustache needed trimming, and he’d not shaved since half their supplies sank into the Orinoco River. His hair was unkempt after a day of hard labor, his clothes mussed and wrinkled, yet Isabel thought he looked more handsome than ever.

As if noticing her scrutiny, he ran a hand over his face and hair. “I know I need to visit the barber.”

She lifted a hand to touch his dark, silky hair, now long from weeks without a haircut. “I think you’re very handsome.”

He shivered at her touch, and his expression changed to one of need. Pulling her close, he claimed her lips with a gentle hunger that made her stomach flutter wildly. When the kiss ended, he held her tight in his embrace for long moments, his chin resting atop her head. “You’ve become very precious to me, Isabel. When I have more to offer you—”

He released her, swallowed convulsively, and with a tortured look, retreated to the seclusion of his tent.

Isabel closed the flap on the larger work tent and lit the kerosene lamp they sometimes used at night. Taking the journal from its case, she held it in her lap and studied its rustic beauty. She hadn’t looked at the book for over a month. The working copy was easier to understand and saved wear and tear on the original, but Isabel preferred the journal to their fancy translation. The worn leather cover and yellowed pages penned in elegant script best portrayed the beauty of the love between Rodrigo and Karwa. She heaved a deep sigh. Their love had been a rare and priceless treasure, worth more than any pearls. Rodrigo had realized that and walked away from a promising career, wealth, and a comfortable life in order to be with the woman he loved.

Isabel wondered if Manuel had ever considered making such a sacrifice for her. But their circumstances were different. He seemed to feel he had nothing to offer a woman, so he denied himself the opportunity to love Isabel in order to protect her from his financial struggles. In their situation, Manuel was slave to his finances and Isabel was the one who would have to give up position and security to be with him. Perhaps, Manuel had too much
machismo
to ask it of her. Or maybe he didn’t love her the way Rodrigo had loved Karwa.

No. She’d seen the love in Manuel’s eyes and heard it in his voice. He’d even slipped and blurted his feelings for her during the heated argument with Raúl. She suspected he cared more than he would allow himself to admit. Rodrigo and Karwa’s romantic tale offered her hope. They had overcome seemingly impossible odds, so maybe she and Manuel would find a way.

Returning her focus to the journal, she opened the cover. The leather seemed stiff and refused to open fully. She heard a soft popping sound and stared with dismay at the break in the stitching.

Manuel will be upset with me.

She lifted the journal and studied the damage. The journal’s cover consisted of two pieces of leather sewn together with a sinewy cord, probably catgut or other natural material. Apparently, the cord had weakened over time and her carelessness had snapped it. The release of tension caused the torn ends of the cord to pull away from one another, slipping out of several holes of stitching and leaving a gap of nearly an inch.

I can probably find someone who specializes in restoration to repair the damage.
As she turned the book this way and that studying the break, she noticed the tiniest speck of white protruding from the gap.

What’s that?

Grasping the edge with her fingernails, she gave a soft tug and the corner of a slip of paper emerged from the break.
There’s a piece of paper in here!

Her heart beat a heavy rhythm as she pulled out several inches of the stitching that held the pieces of leather together. After she widened the gap, she freed the hidden note. Laying it on the table next to the lamp, she studied the words written in Rodrigo’s familiar handwriting. Excitement stole the breath from her lungs.

This is it!

She let herself out of the main tent and hurried to where Manuel had staked his smaller pup tent. Crouching beside the opening, she called to him in a hushed voice. “Manuel. Manuel!” The soft, steady drone of his snoring answered her.

Remembering her own exhaustion, she decided to save the exciting news for the morning. Besides, in the light of day, she could get a better look at his face when she told him she knew where to find the pearls. Returning to the journal, she pulled out a notepad and pen and began translating the words that would lead them to the treasure.

Isabel stepped outside the tent and kneaded the horrible kink in her back. She had fallen asleep in the main tent, slumped over the makeshift worktable. Thankfully, the lamp had guttered out while she slept and didn’t cause a fire. She wouldn’t mention her carelessness to Manuel. She glanced at his tent and heard his steady snoring.

No problem. I’ll just get a jump on packing. He’s going to want to leave here as soon as possible once he hears my news.

She walked to her tent and unzipped the canvas flap. Reaching in, she grasped her cot and bedding and pulled them outside the tent. She started to reach for the blanket, but froze in terror.

A red- and black-banded snake lay coiled atop her bedding. Her activity had aroused its temper, and now it eyed her with malevolence, head arched back ready to strike. She stood perfectly still, not even daring to breathe. One bite from the Coral snake, and she’d be dead within minutes.

Movement stirred on the other side of the camp. From the corner of her eye, she saw Manuel step out of his tent.

“Morning,” he mumbled.

She didn’t respond.

“Packing up already?” He paused. “Isabel, what’s wrong with you?”

When she didn’t speak, he moved closer. His gasp assured her he’d spied the danger. “Don’t move!”

He ducked into his tent and emerged with something in his hand.

Gunfire blasted through the quiet rain forest, and the snake exploded, sending a revolting spray of blood and tissue across her legs.

Isabel glanced from the mutilated snake at her feet to the gun in his hand, not sure which horrified her more.

Manuel came and laid a comforting hand on her arm. “It’s okay, Isabel. The snake is dead.”

She stared at him, her eyes wide with fear. “Where did you get the gun, Manuel?”

His attention turned to the weapon. Frowning, he stuffed it in the waistband of his pants. “I always take a gun along when I go into the field. You never know what you might encounter. With all the wild animals here, I thought it best to have the extra protection. I left it in my bag until now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were carrying a gun?”

“I didn’t want to frighten you.”

Her hands began to shake uncontrollably, and her knees felt as sturdy as gelatin. Stumbling to a chair, she sank down and drew deep breaths to calm her rapid heartbeat.

Manuel came and knelt beside her. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just give me a minute alone, would you?”

He studied her for a moment then nodded. “Sure, but I’ll be close by if you need me.”

As he busied himself tearing down and packing up the camp, Isabel pressed her eyes closed.
Something isn’t right. I zipped that tent myself. It was closed up tight. No way a snake got in there on its own.