“What’s wrong?“ Diana demanded.
“It’s storming out there, all right. Must have come up out of nowhere. A real mean summer thunderbuster. The water’s coming down so hard, you can’t tell where the waterfall ends and the rain begins. Wind’s really howling, too.
We’ll have to wait until it lightens up before we try to go down that ledge.“
“But the ledge is already wet from the mist of the falls. What harm will a little more water do?“
“It’s not just the rain, it’s the way the wind is driving it. If it caught you just right, it would be strong enough to make you lose your balance. Even if we got down the path in one piece, I’m not anxious to be walking behind that water when the lightning strikes.“
As if to confirm his opinion, thunder crashed outside, louder than the falls, and an instant later a flash of light glittered on the other side of the cascade. The lightning faded instantly, leaving the pouring water darker than ever.
“You may have a point,“ Diana said reluctantly. She backed away from the entrance. “How long do you think it will last?“
“Shouldn’t last too long. These summer storms are wicked but short-lived,“ Colby said easily. “Come on, let’s find a place to sit down and wait it out.“ He guided her toward the back of the main chamber where it was easier to talk.
Colby seated himself on a convenient outcropping and arranged the flashlights so that they provided illumination without having to be held. Diana sank down beside him, aware of a chill from her damp feet.
“Since we’re going to have to entertain each other for the next few minutes,“ Colby said smoothly, “why don’t you tell me the real reason my son came to visit you today?“
She threw him a disgusted glance. “I hate nagging men.“
Colby’s gaze hardened. “He’s my son, remember? I’ve got a right to know what’s going on.“
“Nothing’s going on, as you put it.“ Diana shifted a little on the hard rock, trying to get comfortable. She stared out at the barrier of roaring black water.
“Now, listen, Diana…“
“Do you want some free, unsolicited advice, Colby?“
“No, damn it, I don’t.“ He hesitated and then flung a handful of pebbles across the floor of the cave. “What advice?“
“If I were you, I wouldn’t push Brandon very hard right now. You may force him into a decision he doesn’t really want to make.“
“He’s already made a decision. Or thinks he has. I’m going to change his mind if it’s the last thing I do.“ Colby hurled another fistful of pebbles.
“I don’t think he’s talked himself completely into marriage,“ Diana said thoughtfully. “I think he’s being pushed into it by Robyn. He obviously cares for her. He’s worried about her because of her relationship with her parents. And he’s attracted to her. He wants to please her, but I don’t think he really wants to marry her. At least, not at this stage.“
Colby gave her a sharp look. “I agree little Robyn is probably pushing, but what makes you think Brandon’s not eager?“
“He’s a lot like you,“ Diana said simply.
“Too much like me, apparently. He’s dead set on making the same mistakes I made at nineteen. But what the hell’s that got to do with it?“
“Colby, that’s not what I meant,“ she said patiently. “When Brandon showed up a couple of days ago, all he said was that he and Robyn were thinking of getting married.“
“So?“
“So, is that the way you would have handled the announcement if you were determined to get married? Even at the tender age of nineteen, 111 bet once you’d made up your mind to marry Cynthia, you didn’t announce it in such a wishy-washy fashion. My guess is that you just came right out and told everyone you were going to get married, like it or lump it. You wouldn’t have stood around arguing about it, and you certainly wouldn’t have worried too much about getting parental approval.“
Colby stilled. His eyes gleamed reflectively. “You’re right.“
“As I said, I think your son is a lot like you. If he had been hell-bent on marriage, he would have announced the fact that he was going to marry, not that he was thinking about it and if he got any grief from you, he wouldn’t have stuck around to argue. He and Robyn would be on their way to Reno by now.“
Colby stared at her in silence for a few seconds. “So why is he sticking around trying to convince me he’s ready for marriage?“
“Possibly because he’s looking for a way to get out of the situation and doesn’t know how to do it without hurting the woman he cares so much about. He feels trapped. His instincts undoubtedly sent him to you because he’s hoping you’ll help him figure a way out. You’re his father and he’s learned a lot from you over the years. He respects you. But yelling at him that he can’t possibly marry Robyn won’t work. It’s the wrong approach.“
“Why not? If he wants an out, let him tell her his father won’t approve the marriage.“
Diana sighed. “And be forced to admit to himself and to Robyn that at the grown-up age of nineteen he can’t do anything without his father’s permission? Come on, Colby. You know what a male ego is. You’ve got one yourself.“
Colby swore softly. He leaned back against the damp cavern wall, drew up one leg and draped his arm over his knee. He glowered at Diana.
“This is getting complicated,“ he said.
She gave him a tiny smile. “Not really. Just think it through logically. I have a hunch your son has gotten himself in an awkward bind. He likes Robyn but he isn’t ready to marry anyone, and deep down he knows it.“
“What’s he want from me?“
“What he came up here to do was talk to you. He wants the benefit of your wisdom, logic and experience so he can use it to pick a path through the brambles that surround him. But he doesn’t want to be yelled at. He doesn’t want to be forced to admit that you can still tell him what to do. Push him into a corner, and he’ll dig in and show you just how independent he is.“
“You mean, keep yelling at him and he’ll marry Robyn just to show me he can make his own decisions.“
“That’s the way it looks to me,“ Diana said softly. “I may be wrong. You certainly know him better than I do. But I definitely get the feeling he isn’t all that enthusiastic about marriage.“