'I don't need you.'
'Who said I was going to work with you? I said I was going to do it. I'm not doing it for you. I'm not doing this so that you can get your revenge for Paco's death.' She stared him straight in the eye. 'I'm doing it for me. And I've always taken care of my own battles. So shut up, Marrok. I'm not going to discuss it again.'
'The hell you won't.'
She turned and gazed out the window again.
Marrok could almost feel the steel of the barrier she was raising against him, closing him out. For the first time since that night on Santa Marina, he could sense no vulnerability, no shock, no bewilderment. The woman he was seeing now was the woman who made soldiers snap to attention when she turned on them in fury. Tough, very tough. Combined with that streak of gentle idealism that was her core, it was going to be almost impossible to find a way to persuade her to abandon her path.
Impossible, hell. He had no choice. He had to do it or risk Danner's killing her.
'I'M NOT SURE I LIKE THIS.' Nick hesitated before getting on the helicopter. 'I think I should stay with you, Devon.'
'And I think you and Janet should go to Sarah Logan and take care of the dogs there.' She looked at Janet. 'You'll be sure to give Gracie lots of attention? I think she's a little confused about what's going on.'
'She's not the only one,' Janet said dryly. 'You spoil her.' But her hand was gentle on Gracie's head. 'Do you know she actually crawled into bed with me last night?'
'And what did you do?'
'I kicked her out. Oh, I let her stay for a little while, but you have to make those dogs toe the line.'
'Then I'm glad you're going to take her with you to Sarah's. I wouldn't want Gracie to get into bad habits.' She stroked Gracie's long nose. 'And you'll be able to protect her from those other dogs on Sarah's property.' She added for good mea sure. 'And there's a wolf in the mix, too.'
'Wolf?' Janet's eyes widened. 'What are they thinking? You're darn right I'll keep an eye on Gracie.' She got into the helicopter. 'I'll have to whip that ritzy place into shape.'
'I'm sure you will. Thank you, Janet.'
'You're welcome.' She leaned forward. 'But you're not fooling me, you know. You're trying to distract me so I won't give you hell for doing something stupid.'
'It's not stupid. It's something I have to do.' She smiled. 'And I do need you there. I'll feel much better knowing that you're going to be in charge.'
Janet was silent before saying grudgingly, 'Well, Nick will help a little.'
Nick chuckled. 'I'm grateful for your condescension. I'll try to do my bit. It should reassure you that Casper was kidnapped, and I didn't lose him.'
'But you couldn't remember whether you left the gate open or not.'
Nick sighed. 'I assumed since the donkey was gone that I might have-Oh, never mind.'
Devon stepped back and motioned for Walt to start the he li copter. 'Marrok's people will take good care of the other animals, Janet. I'll try to call you both every night to make sure everything is okay.'
'You do that,' Janet said as she leaned back in her seat. Her gaze went to Marrok, who was standing on the porch watching them. 'And you watch out for him, too. I don't like the look of him. He looks… foreign.'
Devon smiled. 'He's half-Spanish and half-Apache. One bloodline might be described as foreign, but the Apaches were here before Plymouth Rock.'
'That's not what I mean. He doesn't look safe.'
No, Marrok definitely wasn't safe, Devon thought. He was exotic and dangerous and unpredictable. 'I can handle him.'
'If you can't, call me,' Janet said. 'I'll take care of him.'
'I'll sing out loud and clear.' Devon stepped back away as Walt started the rotors. 'Bye. Keep safe.'
She couldn't make out their response through the noise as the helicopter lifted off.
She stood watching as the helicopter rose, then turned and headed west. She felt suddenly hollow, lonely. This had been the right thing to do, but it didn't change the fact that it was her family that was flying away from her.
'I can get Walt on the phone and bring him back. You can go with them,' Marrok called from the porch. 'Just say the word.'
'You won't hear it.' She turned and walked across the paddock toward the porch. 'I haven't changed my mind. But there's nothing wrong with accepting that I care about those people and am sorry to see them go. You may have had trouble all your life expressing affection, but I don't. If I'd had a Paco in my life, he'd have known how I felt about him.'
He was silent. 'Yes, and he would have been a hell of a lot luckier than he was with me.'
She felt an instant of compunction before dismissing it. She had to be totally honest with Marrok, or her decision to stay might be a disaster. 'I don't think so. He seems to have been pretty happy with you. You understood each other.' She smiled. 'And I have a very tame nature. I can't see myself brewing potions over a fire and seeing visions in smoke.'
'I can. I can see you doing anything you want to do.'
There was a note in his voice that caused her to glance at his face. She looked away quickly. 'What I
'
'Too bad.'
'One more time. Let me talk you out of staying.'
'No.'
'You're sure?'
'Marrok, drop it.'
'It's dropped.' His dark eyes were suddenly glittering, and his smile held the recklessness she was beginning to know so well. 'I gave you your chance. I did everything I could. It's not my fault.'
'What's not your fault? Danner's hurting me?'
'Anything. Everything.' He opened the screen door. 'Step into my parlor. I'll make you a cup of coffee.'
She was studying him warily. 'You seem very happy.'
'Not happy. But being responsible and serious hasn't done me any good, so I'll revert to my natural character. That's always more fun.'
'You don't give the impression of ever being either serious or responsible.' She amended, 'Except about the dogs.'
'I was trying.' He filled the carafe of the coffee. 'But I think your Janet saw through me. She was staring daggers at me.'
'She doesn't think you're safe.'
'And did you defend me?'
'No. I said I could handle you,'
'Oh, you can,' he said softly. 'Any time, any way.'
A wave of tingling heat went through her. Don't let it pass. Put him straight. 'I didn't stay here to go to bed with you, Marrok.'
'No, that will be a plus for both of us.' He pressed the switch on the coffeemaker. 'Because it will happen, Devon. I can't tell you how I'm looking forward to it. I'm regarding it as my reward for my noble attempt at being something I'm not.' He got two cups from the cabinet. 'Stop tensing. It will come when it comes. Just don't expect me to hold back. It's not my nature.'
'I don't expect anything of you.' She sat down at the table. 'Except a place to stay and information that may help me. I haven't seen Lincoln today. Where is he?'
'He left midday. I'm sure he'll be back either today or tomorrow.'
'What's he doing?'
'I've no idea. Probably trying to find a way to plant bugs all over the house.'
'You believe that? How can you stand having him here?'
'If it wasn't Lincoln, it would be someone else. I had to have money to keep the dogs safe and undercover. I
