Ellen James - Forbidden

Nick gazed back at her with his most trenchant look. Daniel didn’t seem to appreciate her intervention, himself. He’d stiffened, and he stared at her with an expression that could only be termed…well, it could only be termed as severe as Nick’s own expression.

Dana’s eyes locked once again with Nick’s. It was the coldness in his gaze she wished to fight, as well as the domination he exerted over her.

“Really–haven’t you asked enough?” she persisted. “Jarrett’s right. We’re all upset about what happened.”

He seemed to consider her words in a disparaging manner. But surely he could see that his confounded inquisition had yielded little result. The day before, Daniel had left the dig by early afternoon. In the evening, Pat, Dana, Robert and Tim had all driven together to the village. Nick and Jarrett had remained behind to camp out at the excavation site. There was nothing unusual about that. At any given time, two or three people slept at the dig while the others went into the village to freshen up at the hotel. Last night had been no different. No matter how Nick had probed, he’d uncovered nothing untoward about anyone’s movements.

Finally Nick gave Dana a curt nod, and then he addressed the entire group. “We’re finished discussing this…for now. But I don’t want anyone going around alone. Keep your eyes open. Always make sure you have at least a few of the others with you–your own safety might depend on it. And let’s get back to work.” With that, he disappeared abruptly into the large hut.

Dana moved over to one of the sifters and tried in vain to involve herself in her customary tasks. She fingered a mound of dirt. The confrontation with Nick had disturbed her. She’d tried to defy his remoteness, but it had done her no good. Why did she want to reach him at all?

She glanced up to see young Daniel approaching her in resolute fashion. This was a first; Daniel had never sought her out before. Usually she was the one trying to strike up a conversation with him. Not that she deluded herself. She didn’t imagine Daniel wished an amiable chat. He reached her side only to frown at her.

“I don’t need anybody’s help,” he said. “I can take care of myself. And Señor Petrie is right. If someone stole from me, I’d make everybody sorry, too. I’d make everybody afraid.” It was the most Daniel had ever said to Dana. He paused now, still frowning, as if to make absolutely sure she got the point. What an irony–this thirteen-year-old boy deciding that he needed to defend the almighty Dr. Nicholas Petrie.

“Message received, Daniel,” she said. “Loud and clear.”

He gave her a sharp glance, as if not quite convinced. Then, with a brusque nod taken right from the book of Nick Petrie, Daniel turned and strode away.

Dana watched him go, experiencing a mixture of frustration and reluctant admiration. Daniel knew how to handle himself, all right, and she ought to have known he wouldn’t take kindly to her interference–particularly where Nick was concerned. Daniel was a determined kid. From the little Dana had been able to gather, he’d taught himself English just by picking up whatever he could from the tourists who visited the island. Smart…and determined. He was also an adept student of Nick’s. Dana had often seen the two of them engrossed in some job at the excavation pits, both dark heads bent together as Nick explained and Daniel emulated. But Daniel wouldn’t let anyone else get close to him, least of all Dana. The boy disdained her, and she couldn’t figure out exactly why….

She tried to get back to work, but now it was Jarrett who came up to her. “How are you doing?” he asked. “I know that none of this has been a pleasant experience.”

“I’m fine. But thanks for asking.” She glanced at him. In spite of the heat, Jarrett wore an old-fashioned paisley vest over his shirt. Combined with his longish hair, it made him look like one of the Victorian explorer gentlemen who had discovered the Mayan ruins of the Yucatán back in the 1840s. Jarrett seemed so open faced, so essentially good-natured. Yet, according to Pat, he was a bit of a back stabber. What was he really like?

As Jarrett often did, he lingered beside her. “Don’t blame Nick too much for coming down hard,” he said. “This has been a pretty big shock for him. For me, too, I’m afraid. We work for months, and then something like this can happen.” Jarrett’s hazel eyes seemed to reflect only concern. If anything, he was too quick to excuse Nick. But Dana knew she hadn’t imagined that flash of hostility she’d seen earlier.

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