On the Hunt - Page 41

And then he saw the horses fading in and out of the shadows as they ran through those trees! They reminded him of streaks of lightning. “Beautiful horses. All that power… magnificent.”

Kira was watching his expression. “Yes. Now you know what you missed when Kalim wouldn’t sell you those horses. They’re totally fantastic. Wonderful. But you’re not seeing everything. You’re not seeing my work. I think I was kind of wonderful myself, don’t you?”

Then he saw them. Dogs. Several dogs of all different colors and breeds running after those wonderful horses, weaving in and out, watching for all hazards. Guiding. Herding? He couldn’t tell from this distance, but it must be what they were doing.

He turned to Kira. “That was what you were doing when you were working for Kalim?”

“I was working with the horses, too. But I’d just started with them. Because of the climate and ground differences, we needed super-intelligent dogs like Mack to guide the horses to safety if necessary. And I had to know if size or breed made a difference, so there were a number of experiments I had to conduct. We were getting along so well that Kalim was giving me hell about leaving here when I found it necessary to go after other jobs.”

“So he offered you the treasure as a bribe to have you stay?”

She shrugged. “It was hard to resist when the animals were my first love anyway. I had no desire to hunt down the Taylors of the world. I only agreed to the assignment to please Sarah.”

“And then you almost got yourself killed to do it.”

“I’m here now. I can go back to work today if I wish.”

“As long as Taylor doesn’t show up to get in your way. I’d lay odds that he’s making his plans now to do just that. I tried to tell you that was the way it would probably go down.”

“Yes, you did.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I didn’t want to think about it. I still don’t.”

“Then leave it to me.”

She shook her head. “His men almost killed those dogs in the boarding facility on Summer Island, but I managed to save them. Yet he’s already mentioned that treasure the media has been yammering about to me. What if he tries to track me down? What if he comes here?”

“I don’t have the slightest doubt that he will. We’ll take care of it.”

“No, I’ll take care of it.” She drew a deep breath. “But right now I don’t want to think about that asshole. I want to show you those horses and my wonderful dogs I’ve worked so hard to train. The hill country where we’ve built corrals to summer the horses is right around the next bend. Don’t you want to see it all?”

He was gazing at her glowing face and eyes. “You bet I do,” he said gently. “I can’t wait.” He reached down and stroked Mack. “Neither can he. He’s practically trembling, he wants to join them so badly. Did you use him to train the dogs?”

“Of course. Otherwise the pups would have thought it was a game. They had to know it was serious business. Mack’s a great example.” The truck was coming to a stop, and she threw open the door. “Go say hello, Mack!”

Mack didn’t wait for a second order. He was out of the truck and being surrounded by the other dogs in the clearing.

Kira jumped out and climbed the fence next to the huge corral. “Come and see, Harlan!”

Then he was sitting next to her on the top fence railing and Aban was leaning against the truck, laughing as he watched the dogs. “This isn’t so bad,” he called out to Kira. “You’ve taught them well. I think they have much better manners than that shark who chased me the last time we went down to the bay before you deserted us.”

“I didn’t desert you.”

“Kalim thought you did. He was sulking and then he started worrying, which was even worse.” Aban strolled toward the herders who were gathered on the other side of the corral preparing the horses’ oats for bags. He started helping them. “But I forgive you because I have a good soul.” He glanced at Harlan, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Can’t you tell by the way I allowed you to intimidate me before? I wanted you to feel safe with me.” Then he ducked through the bars of the corral and was instantly surrounded by the other herders.

Kira struggled not to smile. “Yes, couldn’t you tell? He’s a scamp of the first order.”

“It’s obvious that he’s shown his true colors.” Harlan shook his head. “Now you have to show me all the glories of your wonderful dogs and tell me about each one of these horses that Kalim will probably never let me buy. Then we’ll have supper and sit by the fire and look up at the stars, and maybe have a glass of wine while you let me get to know all those herders you work with. We’ll discuss how we’re going to manage to keep everyone safe and still hold on to enough of the treasure you discovered to fund all your medical charities and save the animals that we’ve almost destroyed on the planet. How does that sound?”

She gazed at him uncertainly. “It sounds like you’re going to be cheated out of your share of our partnership.”

“Does it? But I almost always come out on top. It just may not be in the usual fashion. And as I told Aban, you have to want it bad enough.” His voice lowered to velvet softness. “Because if you’ll let me, I’m going to also ask you to take me to your tent and let me touch you in all the ways I’ve wanted to do since that night on Summer Island. Do you think you could let me do that?” He jumped down off the corral fence and stood in front of her, every muscle tense. “Because I’m beginning to think I’ve never wanted anything more. Show me your world up here, Kira.” He held out his hand and took her own. “I promise you won’t be sorry.”

His hand felt strong, as strong as it had been that night on the cliffs when he had saved her from Taylor, and all the other nights when he had held her hand as he kept her from slipping away after he had brought her into his home and cared for her. “I don’t think I will,” she whispered. She shook her head. “But it could be a mistake for both of us.”

“Take a chance. I’ve never seen you afraid to do that, Kira.”

What was she thinking? she wondered with sudden impatience. He was right, she’d always reached out for every experience, and this was no different. Her hand tightened on his and she pulled him toward the dogs in the center of the corral. “Then by all means come on and I’ll show you how terrific Mack can be at setting a prime example, and then as a teacher, with the pups. I don’t believe I told you that he can also swim like a dolphin when I take him into the water with me.”

“Obviously a dog of many talents. And then?”