Dark Summer

know that?'

He made a sound that resembled a half yodel, half bark. She would swear he was trying to answer her. She had not known a dog that tried so hard to communicate since her German shepherd, Tess, had passed away years ago. 'Is that supposed to be a yes? I think it is. I used to feel as if my Tess could read my mind. But that's a bond that-' She broke off as she saw a piece of paper lying half-under Ned's body. 'What the hell?'

She saw that her name was scrawled at the top of the page in bold dark script as she eased the sheet of paper from beneath the Lab. It was only a few lines.

I can't stay with Ned. Take him home with you, and I promise I'll pick him up as soon as I finish my business here. I've had a talk with him, and he won't be any trouble. I'd offer you money, but I know that won't work with you. You'll do it because you won't be able to leave him here hurt and with no one you regard as responsible enough to care for him.

Don't put him in a cage. Cages scare him and drive him crazy. Give him a chance to prove that it's not necessary. You won't regret it.

Marrok

Damn him.

Her hand closed around the paper, crushing it. She wished it was Marrok's throat. How irresponsible could you get? You didn't just leave your dog because it interfered with business. Particularly a dog like Ned. What business? She'd bet he'd skipped out before she had the opportunity to talk to the soldiers about his presence on the mountain.

She began to curse beneath her breath.

Ned tilted his head and gazed at her in hurt bewilderment.

'It's not you,' she said. 'You can't help it. You've just taken up with bad company. I could murder him.'

'Anyone I know?' Nick asked from behind her. 'I haven't seen you this mad in a long time. Let's see, I think it was that politician in Nicaragua who wanted to quarantine all the rescue dogs.'

'Marrok,' she said curtly. 'He's run out on Ned.'

'And this is Ned?' He came forward and looked down at the Lab. 'Beautiful fellow.' He patted the dog's silky black head. 'And he looks like he's in great shape for just having a bullet taken out of him. He's doing well?'

'Great so far. Marrok said he healed well.' Her lips tightened. 'He also said if I took that bullet out of him, he'd be well in no time. Dammit, it doesn't work that way. All kinds of things can go wrong. He can't just waltz off and leave him.'

'He left a note?' His brows lifted as he saw the crushed paper in her hand. 'I see he did. May I?' He took the note from her and unfolded it. 'He seems to know you very well for such a short acquaintance. Very perceptive.'

'For heaven's sake, I'm a vet. That doesn't take much perceptiveness to realize I'd care about an animal.'

'Enough to fight to take him back to the States? It's going to be one big headache to battle the search and rescue home base and the U.S. animal immigration laws to get a dog with no documents into the country.'

'I know that,' she said through clenched teeth. 'I'm going to be on the phone for hours trying to get clearance… if I decide to take Ned home.'

'No 'if.' You've already decided. You haven't stopped stroking Ned all the time you've been ranting and raving.'

'It's not his fault that his master is an ass.' She scowled. 'Ned is special. He found that little girl. How could Marrok just leave him? He doesn't know me from Adam.'

'You're not hard to read. No one would believe you'd abuse the dog.'

'But he couldn't be sure. I may just keep Ned. It would serve him right.'

'Why not? You seem to be harboring a good portion of the animal population of Denver.' Nick smiled. 'Should I go get Gracie and see if they're going to be compatible?'

'Not now. I have to cage Ned, then take Gracie up the mountain for-'

Ned was howling mournfully. It was soft, almost a sigh of sound, but that only added to the pathos.

He had understood?

'Cage?' she repeated.

The howling rose. It was enough to break her heart.

'For Pete's sake, shut up. It's for your own good. I can't risk you-'

Ned tucked his nose beneath her arm.

'Good God, what a con artist.' Nick chuckled. 'Do you want help getting him in a cage?'

That was what she should do. The downside of her profession was making decisions she didn't want to make.

Cages scare him. Give him a chance.

He had found that little girl. He deserved his chance.

'No, we'll leave him out of the cage.' She pushed the Lab away from her. 'You stay here and start packing up our equipment and keep an eye on him.'

Nick shook his head disapprovingly. 'I can't believe you're going to leave him out. If he gets excited, he may hurt himself.'

'Marrok said he wouldn't.' Her lips lifted in a sardonic smile. 'He had a talk with him and told him not to be any trouble.'

'What?'

'I know. I know. But you'll be here if Ned decides to be a problem, and he's still under sedation. If I made the wrong decision, give him another shot to quiet him.' She looked down at the Lab. He was gazing eagerly up at her… and smiling. 'Are you satisfied with yourself? Got your own way, didn't you?'

He gave that half growl, half purr, and laid his head back down on the table.

'You're quite the manipulator. Maybe that's why Marrok dumped you.' She turned and headed for the tent entrance. 'I'll start the phone calls to Immigration while I'm on the mountain with Gracie. If you have any trouble here, phone me.'

'I believe I can handle one dog,' Nick said dryly. 'Since I started my own clinic before you were born.'

'Don't be so prickly. You know I'm not questioning your capability. But I'm the one who decided not to-'

'Get out of here,' Nick said. 'You're making it worse. Prickly? Old men are prickly. I don't intend to be an old man for the next thirty years or so.'

'Longer than that.' Her smile faded as she looked back at Ned. 'I can't believe he left him. He seemed hard, but when he touched that dog, he was…' She hesitated, thinking about that moment.

'What?'

She tried to sort out the emotions she had sensed in Marrok. 'Close. It was almost as if they were part of each other. Not dog and master. Not even friends. So close that…' She shrugged helplessly. 'I don't know. I felt as if I could feel the bond between them. He was like a honed blade, hard and sharp and glittering, but with Ned he was gentle, incredibly gentle.'

'Then he'll probably be back for his dog. You won't have him on your hands for long.'

'If I decide to let him have Ned back.' She said over her shoulder as she left the tent, 'He hasn't proved that he's very responsible. Dammit, he got the dog shot, and heaven knows what Marrok was actually doing up on the mountain.'

But they had found a little girl because Marrok had taken Ned to search those ruins, she thought as she moved toward her trailer to pick up Gracie. That miracle had happened.

So stop whining and accept the good with the bad. She'd take care of his dog and get him well and strong. After that she'd decide if Marrok was worthy of having her return Ned to him. She could have a battle on her hands. He didn't appear to be a man who would let anyone decide anything concerning him.

Yet she had a sudden memory of Marrok's hand on Ned. Strong, vital, full of power, able to crush, but possessing that incredible gentleness.

What did she know? They had been together only a short time. Perhaps that toughness was only a front. It could be that she was wrong. Maybe he really was a gentle man.