Chapter Six As Duncan slowly paddled across the lake to Caitlin's cabin the next evening, he scrutinized the woods and the embankment around the area where he'd seen her and Tanya. Reaching the shore and beaching the canoe, he scanned the woods and embankment again from the lake shore. The cabin was invisible from both the lake and the shore. Walking a few yards further, he spotted what appeared to be a path winding upwards through the dense brush and started up the steep incline. Taking advantage of the light breeze coming through the screened door, Caitlin had left the the inside door open. Hearing a noise from outside, Tanya ran to the door, sat back on her haunches and whined softly. Knowing by Tanya's behavior, Duncan must be coming. Caitlin quickly wiped her hands on a dish towel, and ran her fingers over her hair to give it quick check as she walked to the door. She caught Duncan's look of surprise at seeing her already standing at the door waiting. "Hi, come in," she said, laughing lightly. "Tanya let me know you were coming. I didn't hear your car when you drove up." As he stepped back to allow her open the door, she noticed he was casually dressed in a pair of tan cotton slacks and an off-white knit shirt, open at the neck, exposing the long column of his throat. "That's because I didn't." He said, enigmatically. "You didn't what? Drive? But, then how-" Caitlin, started to asked in confusion. "Did I get here? I paddled." "You paddled?" She said, not understanding. "From across the lake." He said with quick smile, without volunteering anymore information. Finally, it dawned on Caitlin. "Why of course, you're the man I saw the other day in the canoe. The one who lives in the cabin across the lake." "The very same," he said and bowed from the waist as he presented her with a bottle of wine and a small bouquet of wild flowers. "Thank you, they're lovely." She said a little stunned as she took the flowers and wine and started to walk towards the kitchen. Pausing in mid-step she turned and said. "Now, I know why you seemed familiar when I met you in the parking lot yesterday. Was that why you were looking in the car at Tanya?" "Guilty. I was looking to see if she was the same dog I'd seen on the lake shore the other day." "Why didn't you say something then? Or when you helped me get out of the mud?" "Because, I didn't know if I really wanted to get acquainted or not. I come up here for peace and relaxation, and I wasn't sure if you'd be someone I'd like to see again or just a pain in the neck." He said, with a lopsided smile. Not sure how to take his answer, she reasoned. "Well, since you're here, I guess I'm someone you don't mind seeing again." "We'll see. You could still turn out be a pain in the neck. But, I like your dog." Caitlin's eyes widened, and she started to sputter at his remark. "Wha-what-I-" Seeing how flustered she was getting, he placed his hands on her upper arms, and laughed lightly. "I'm sorry, Caitlin, I was only kidding. I've done a lot of traveling all over the world and it's made me a pretty good judge of people. If I didn't like you both, I wouldn't be here." Staring at him warily, she saw the look of mischief sparkling in his brown eyes and relaxed. "Thanks-, I think." "You're welcome." He said, and smiled, giving her arms a slight squeeze. Dropping his hands and stepping away, he motioned to the flowers. "Don't you think you should put those in water before they wilt?" Realizing she was still holding the bouquet and the bottle of wine, she turned towards the kitchen, again. "Why don't you take a seat on the sofa, dinner will be ready in minute. It's nothing fancy, just spaghetti and salad." Watching him as he sat down, Caitlin shook her head slightly as she opened the cupboard door to find a container for the flowers. She'd never met a man who could rile her as fast as he did. Finding a large glass tumbler and filling it with water, she walked to the table, sat the bottle of wine down and put the bouquet of flowers in the center. Smiling at the bright array of colors, she said. "Thanks again, for the flowers, they make a lovely centerpiece." Turning, Duncan rested his arm along the back of the sofa, and said. "You're welcome." Nodding her head and smiling, she went back to the kitchen to check on dinner. Duncan watched her move around the kitchen for a few minutes, and asked. "Do you need help with anything?" Looking around, she went to the refrigerator and pulled out two tossed salads. "You could put these on the table if you don't mind, and open the wine while you're there. Here's the corkscrew." Taking the salads and cork screw from her, he placed them on the table by their place settings, and started to uncork the wine. Discreetly watching him from the kitchen, she notice how gracefully he moved and how effortlessly he opened the wine. It was obvious, he was very confident about who he was, and his abilities. Pulling the cork out of the bottle, he turned unexpectedly and caught her watching him. Looking quickly away, pretending the spaghetti sauce needed stirring, Caitlin controlled any further impulses to observe him when she thought he wasn't looking. "Would you like me to pour the wine?" He said, innocently, knowing she had been watching. "Yes, go ahead, everything's ready." When they were seated, Duncan raised his wine glass for a toast. "Here's to friendships, both old and new." "Amen." Caitlin agreed, as they clinked their glasses together. All through dinner, he nonchalantly looked around the cabin's large mainroom. The expensive, rustic looking furnishings seemed suited more to a man's taste than a woman's. The fireplace showed signs of being used often and over a long period of time. Adding the cabin's weathered exterior, it was obvious to him, that the cabin had been here for many years. While keeping their conversation light, he managed to sprinkle it with subtle, yet probing questions. After all, as he told Caitlin, he could be quite charming, under the right circumstances. "The cabin is well furnished, you must come up here often?" Caitlin looked around the room before answering. "Actually, this is the first time I've been here. I've been under a little stress lately and my "uncle" suggested I take a breather and get away for a while, it's his cabin." She saw no harm in letting him think the cabin belonged to someone else. She didn't feel like discussing her personal problems with a stranger, no matter how handsome and charming he might be. Mentally noting, her pause before she answered, he continued. "Really. Does he do a lot of hunting and fishing? He asked casually, doing a little fishing of his own. "Not that I know of. I think it's more of a haven away from the pressures of the city and business. Are you a sportsman? Is that why you come up here? Caitlin questioned in return. "Not really. Like you and your uncle, the peace and quiet is what lures me. Whenever I feel the walls closing in and feel the need to clear my mind, I come up here. It's like a release valve." Taking a sip of wine, he watched her for a second and asked. "What kind of work does your uncle do, that drives him from the city?" "Attorney. He's an investment and estate planning attorney." She answered honestly. 'What about you, what do you do that sends you running for hills, if you don't mind me asking?" "I own a dojo and several other properties in and around Seacouver, and I dabble in antiques now and then." He said, although he actually hadn't been home to dabble in either one for a quite a while. "A dojo?" Caitlin said, looking confused. "Sorry. It's a type of martial arts studio. Private, for members only. They can come in and practice their martial arts moves or work out on the various types of equipment. It's great way to work off tension and build confidence in yourself. If you feel like dropping by, I could show you some basic moves." Caitlin could tell by the way the soft knit shirt fit his well muscled torso, he knew more then a few basic moves. She smiled and laughed lightly. "Thanks but, I don't think so. I can't quite see myself as 'Xena the Warrior Princess'." "It could help you relieve some of that stress you mentioned. We could practice after hours." He coaxed, realizing, he sincerely wanted to help her, it wasn't just idle conversation. But, Caitlin wasn't convinced. "Thanks but, 'Sweatin' to the Oldies' with Richard Simmons, is about as physical as I ever get." "You might surprise yourself. It's not just about beating an opponent. It's about following a philosophy that allows you find inner peace and confidence in your own abilities. Seeing it, from his point of view, she reconsidered her answer. "Maybe, you're right. I'll think about it. I could use a little inner peace right now." She said, and smiled. He wanted to know what she meant by her remark but, there was no subtle way of asking. Steering the conversation back on a lighter note, he asked instead. "So, what's your opinion of our great north woods. Does it live up to your expectations?" "Yes, it certainly does. I'd forgotten how beautiful a sunset can be and how breathtaking the night sky is without the interference of city lights." "So, getting away has given you the peace and quiet you expected." "So far. Oh, there's been a few glitches." "Like?" Duncan asked. "Like getting stuck in the mud and the strange behavior of the man who runs the general store." He was caught off guard by her comment about Morrison. "Jack Morrison? What do you mean, strange behavior?" "Well, when I stopped in yesterday, he seemed fine until I gave him my credit card. His face visibly paled and he asked if I had some other form of I.D. When I asked him if there was something wrong, he said no, but obviously something spooked him. I think the only reason he helped me with my groceries was to get rid of me as soon as possible. That's why I was a little short tempered when I saw you by my car. I'm sorry, I was rude. He was the one I was actually upset with." "Were you rude? I didn't notice." Duncan said, and smiled. Thinking about the way Morrison watched her when she left. Like himself, he seemed to be extremely interested in which direction she went. "Thanks, for not noticing. Any ideas about his strange behavior?" "Jack can be kind of a character sometimes, but he's friendly enough once he gets to know you. The next time he sees you, he'll probably talk your ear off." "Maybe." Caitlin said, not convinced it was a fluke. "It's probably your shifty eyes that made him suspicious." Duncan said, and winked, trying to reassure her by poking fun of the situation, even though it did make him wonder. Noticing they were both finished with dinner, and deciding to drop the subject, she suggested. "Why don't we take our coffee out on the porch, and enjoy the breeze coming up from the lake." As Caitlin opened the door, Tanya ran ahead of them and took advantage of the opportunity to run outside for an evening snoop. They sat in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the cooler air outside. "Umm," Caitlin sighed. "I could sit like this for a hundred years." Duncan smiled at her remark, and looked up at the night sky. Letting her enjoy the quiet moment. "How long do you plan on staying here, Caitlin?" He asked without moving his gaze. She realized she hadn't given herself a time limit on her stay. "I really haven't given it much thought, I just needed to get away for a while." "Don't you have a job or someone waiting for you in the city?" He asked, trying to sound like it was just idle curiosity. He knew he wasn't be being very subtle now. Looking away, she took time to collect her thoughts before answering. Then, facing him unaware that he could see the deep play of emotions across her face in the light coming through the window, she said. "Oh, I'm between jobs right now-, and the relationship I was involved in just ran its course and ended. So, I guess, I'm what the sports world would call a free agent." The glitter of tears in her eyes and the sadness in her expression, made him instantly sorry, he had asked such probing, personal questions. "Caitlin-" Forcing a smile, she stood up, and said in a overly bright voice, that grated on her own ears. "Well, we probably should go inside." Calling to Tanya, she picked up their dishes, and added, in forced humor, "I gave the dishwashing fairy the night off, so it's just me and my rubber gloves." Duncan swore softly to himself for ruining her enjoyment of the quiet evening. He rose and held the door open for her as they went inside. Silently watching her, as they moved around the kitchen, going through the motions of clearing the table and stacking the dishes in the sink, he realized he had also spoiled one of the few truly peaceful moments he had had in his own life for a long time. He wasn't feeling very charming or clever now. He felt like a heel for trying to pump her for information when it was obvious she had personal problems of her own. He was letting the circumstances of his own life over the past few years, make him as paranoid as Andrew Cord, Joe's Immortal friend who saved his life in Viet Nam. He had forgotten, that the whole world didn't revolve around Duncan MacLeod and the others of his kind. Caitlin stood at the sink rinsing the dishes as he walked up behind her and stood hesitating, not knowing what to say. Feeling his presence, she said nervously. "You know what, I'm too tired to do these tonight. I'll just finish rinsing them and leave them in the sink until morning." Reaching out, he put his hands on the points of her shoulders and slowly turned her around. "Caitlin, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." Unable to face him, she looked away again. "There's no need to apologize, I told you I've been feeling a little stressed out lately." She felt awkward, and embarrassed that she was unable to control her emotions. She was a thirty-two year old woman, not a three year-old child. "Caitlin, look at me, please." He said, softly. Slowly turning her head, she looked up and saw the concern in his expressive dark eyes. "Do you want me to leave?" Lost in the emotional pull between them for a moment, she searched for an answer. Then stepping away to break contact, she said. "Maybe that would be best. I'm really not very good company tonight, I'm sorry." She said. He looked at her for a moment, at a loss for words. He wanted to stay and comfort her, but she wanted him to go. Taking her shoulders in his hands again, he kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I told you, there's no need to apologize. "Good night, Caitlin." Just as he opened the door to leave, Caitlin turned back towards the counter, and said in an unsteady voice. "Good night, Duncan, be careful going down the path." She heard the soft 'snick' as the door opened and closed and the sound of his footsteps going down the porch steps. Then, there was nothing but the night sounds of the forest.