'No, it wasn't in the newspaper.' The helicopter had landed, and she was getting a closer look at the woman striding toward them. It wasn't only Sarah Logan's name that was familiar. It was the way she carried herself; she moved with strength and litheness, and her gaze fixed on Marrok was direct and a little belligerent. 'She doesn't look pleased to see you.'
'Hold on to your hat,' he murmured as he helped her from the copter. 'We're about to see a few fireworks.' He smiled. 'Kind of you to come to meet us, Sarah. This is Devon Brady. She's a vet.'
'Nothing's wrong with my dogs. I don't need her.' She added coolly, 'And I don't need you either, Marrok. Go away. You're not taking Addie.'
'You always knew it was a temporary arrangement. You were only doing me a favor.'
'She's doing fine with us. You're not taking her.'
Suddenly it clicked for Devon. 'Turkey. An earthquake disaster rescue mission. Years and years ago. It was only my second rescue mission. You were on one of the search and rescue teams from California.' She frowned, trying to remember. 'You had a golden retriever…'
'Monty,' Marrok supplied.
'That's right,' Devon said. 'What a beautiful boy… But I never ran across you again on any other mission.'
'I only went on one other rescue mission after that,' Sarah said. 'Monty was getting too old for the strain of the trips.' She looked at Marrok. 'Indonesia. That's where I met Marrok. He was there with Ned. We got to know each other very well.' Her lips twisted. 'We had a good deal in common. We both have Indian blood.'
'I need to talk to you alone, Sarah,' Marrok said.
'It's not going to do you any good. You're not taking Addie.'
'That's not why I'm here. I may have to take her someday. But that's not going to happen right now.'
Devon could see the tension ebb away from Sarah. 'Then, dammit, why didn't you say so?'
'You didn't ask. You just jumped to conclusions.'
'Well, then come back to the house.' She turned to Devon. 'I'm sorry. I was rude. But Marrok was his usual noncommittal self and was worrying the hell out of me.'
'I can sympathize.'
Sarah studied her, then nodded. 'I can see how you would.' She turned. 'Come around to the back verandah, and we'll talk, Marrok.'
'Alone,' Marrok repeated. 'We'll drop Devon off at the grounds, where she can meet Addie and the others.'
'Why don't you want her?' Sarah narrowed her eyes on his face. 'What are you up to?'
'We may have some negotiating to do. Devon doesn't have to be involved.' He added, 'And you may start cursing me when I do a little explaining. Devon would get too much satisfaction from that.'
'You may be right,' Devon said.
Sarah nodded. 'Okay, the dogs are right off the verandah. They have the run of the grounds.' She led them around the house. 'There they are.'
Three dogs were tearing around the grounds, their tails pluming behind them. 'Addie is the red golden.' She slanted a glance at Marrok. 'You can see she's well taken care of.'
'I never doubted it.'
Devon stiffened. 'Dear God, that's not a dog running right behind her. It's a wolf.'
Sarah nodded. 'Maggie. But she gets along very well with the dogs.'
The third dog was catching up to Addie and nipped at her tail, then turned and joyously streaked away.
'And what dog is that?' Devon asked.
'Monty.' Sarah's gaze was fastened on the dog. 'That's my Monty. Isn't he beautiful?'
'Monty?' She remembered Monty. The golden had been loving and a great rescue dog but even when she had seen him years ago he had been declining. 'He looks… wonderful.'
'Yes,' Sarah said. 'I put him out to pasture expecting to lose him at any time. But then he seemed to rally and slowly he began to get his energy back. I think it had something to do with Addie.'
'You do?' Marrok said warily.
'Having a younger dog to play with seemed to give him a reason to keep on. He should have died a long time ago, but I'm not asking questions. I'm just accepting and hoping desperately for another day, another week. He's always been strong, and now he seems as strong as ever.' She turned to Marrok, and said fiercely, 'And I won't give Addie up. I won't take a chance on having Monty go into a depression or decline. At his age, every moment is precious.'
'Yes, it is,' Marrok said. 'Go join in the fun, Ned.'
The black Lab streaked away and the next moment was in the middle of the pack.
'Devon, we'll be back shortly.' Marrok gestured to the verandah. 'Let's talk, Sarah.'
IT WAS MORE THAN AN HOUR before Devon saw Sarah Logan coming down the steps to the path leading to the grounds. Marrok was not with her.
'Did you send Marrok packing?' Devon asked. 'I think I would.'
Sarah dropped down on the grass beside Devon and crossed her legs. 'I told him to let me talk to you. He has a habit of trying to handle everything himself.' Her lips tightened. 'Why the hell didn't he tell me about this damn
'He was wrong,' Devon said.
'You bet he was. Do you know one of the rules about me taking Addie was that I had to take her to one of the hospitals in the area to visit patients once a week? That was fine; I usually took my own dogs occasionally anyway. Except for Maggie. Wolves weren't welcome.' She drew a deep breath. 'I could murder him. He could have told me why.'
'I agree. But he has Addie and the other dogs to worry about. I suppose he's gotten in the habit of not confiding.'
'You're defending him.' Sarah was studying her. 'I'm surprised, considering all he's put you through.'
'I guess I am.' Her gaze went to the dogs lying on the grass, panting after their wild play. 'Look at them. I love watching dogs. Even when they grow old, you can still see glimpses of youth in them.'
'Summer.'
Devon nodded. 'Summer.' She didn't look away from the dogs. 'You don't have to take us in. It could put you in danger. I'll understand if you told Marrok that it was impossible.'
'I didn't tell him it was impossible,' she said. 'I told him I'd welcome you and your friends into my home. No dog-killing son of a bitch is going to get Addie.' She smiled fiercely. 'Or anyone connected with her.'
'But I'm not connected with her.'
'I think you are.' She shook her head. 'I can almost see the bond between you and Ned. And the way you're looking at those dogs…'
'That's no proof. You're obviously just as much a dog lover as I am.'
'Yes,' Sarah said. 'But occasionally one dog comes along that takes your heart and won't let go. Monty's always been that dog for me.' She paused. 'And no matter what Marrok did or does, I'll still be grateful to him for the rest of my life. He didn't have to let me have Addie. But I think he could see how I was hurting for Monty on that last trip. I remember him sitting by the fire with Ned while we were talking one night at that last disaster site in Indonesia. He reached over to pet Monty. He was smiling, and his hands were so gentle…' She cleared her throat. 'That was the only time I saw that side of him. He's definitely a rough diamond. But two weeks after we got back to the States, he came and brought Addie. He asked me to take care of her for a little while. He said she was a bit lively, but she had a good heart.' She shook her head in wonder. 'And I thought I was doing him a favor.'
'You were. You became Addie's guardian.'
'And he gave me back my Monty.' Her eyes were glittering with tears. 'That kind of outweighs everything else, doesn't it?'
Devon nodded. 'You believe in this panacea?'
'I have to believe in it.' Her gaze went back to Monty. 'I'm living with it.'
'What about Maggie? Is she showing any signs?'
'You saw her. The same strength, the same energy.' She paused. 'I asked Marrok if maybe this
