CHAPTER 13 #3
“We won’t have to walk out the door the minute he does.”
“I know.” She tossed a cardigan and two pairs of jeans into the duffel. “But I’ll go crazy if I don’t do something. You and Rudzak may have all the patience in the world, but I don’t. This isn’t some kind of contest to me.”
“It’s not to me either. You’re not being fair, Sarah.”
“Maybe not. Ask me if I care.”
“You care. That’s the problem. You care too much.” He crossed the room and stood next to her. “It’s playing hell with my plans, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He was too close. She could feel the heat of his body. She took a step away and went back to the bureau. “I care about those people at Dodsworth. Not about you.”
“I never meant anything else,” he said quietly. “I know I’m not in your good books right now. It will be different once this is over. I’ll make it different.”
She didn’t answer.
“We have to work together, Sarah. You can’t let your feelings get in the way.”
That was exactly what she was trying to prevent.
She had to keep him at a distance. She couldn’t let the way she felt about him cloud her judgment.
Not with all those lives in the balance.
“I’ll work with you.” She met his gaze across the room.
“But don’t expect anything else from me. I can’t give it to you.”
“You will. As you said, I can be very patient.”
“By the time this is over, you may have changed your mind.”
“I won’t change my mind.”
Her hand closed tightly on the knob of the bureau drawer as he walked out and closed the door behind him. Finish packing. Don’t think about him. Don’t let him be important to you. Even if he seems to care about you now, how long can it last? You’re too different from him.
And that’s okay. She didn’t want to change. She didn’t want to be anyone but herself. She was a woman who could make decisions and run her own life to suit herself.
Don’t think about him. Think about Rudzak and how to protect Dodsworth.
“You want me to come there?” Eve repeated. “Why?”
“Maggie. She’s much better, but I need someone to take care of her while I’m gone.”
“I thought it was a joke when you said you needed Jane to nurse your wolf.”
“It was at the time. But not now. I need your help. Can you come?”
“Do you have to ask? You came when I needed you; you found my daughter. I’ll be there on the next plane.”
“Thank you. Will you have your mother take care of Jane and bring Joe?”
“I’ll see if he can get away. But why should I bring Joe?”
“I’d feel better. I don’t think there’s any danger for you as long as we’re not here, but I’d like to know Joe is with you.”
“We? Who’s with you?”
“Logan.”
A pause. “Are you going to tell me what’s happening?”
“As soon as you get here. But bring Joe if you can. Though I probably shouldn’t tell you to do that. He’s going to make you get right back on a plane to Atlanta as soon as I tell him about Rudzak.” She rubbed her temple. “Well, maybe he should. We’ll leave it up to him.”
“You’re being as clear as mud.”
“That’s what I’m wading in. I want you to know if you decide not to help me that it’s okay. I’ll understand and you mustn’t feel obligated to—”
“Shut up. I’ll call you when I find out when my plane will arrive in Phoenix.” Eve hung up.
Sarah headed for the door to the living room. It was done. Now to find Galen.
But the living room was empty. “Galen!”
“Out here,” he called from the back porch. “I’ve just fed Maggie.”
“I called my friend Eve, and she’s—” Her jaw dropped as she stopped in the doorway. Galen was sitting on the floor close to Maggie and her head was on his thigh. “That’s a good way to lose a body part. One you may treasure highly.”
“We understand each other.” Galen stroked Maggie’s head. “We talked it over and decided we’re a lot alike. Isn’t that right, Maggie?”
“How are you alike?”
“Same background. From the cage, to the wilds. Same instinct for survival.” He winked. “And we’re both so damn smart, it’s enough to stun the senses.”
“I’ll brace myself against the shock. Will you please shift a few feet away from her? You may understand each other, but I’m the one who brought her home and I’m responsible for any damage she might do.”
“If it makes you feel better.” He carefully moved his leg from beneath Maggie’s head so he wouldn’t jar her, then continued to stroke her. “You do know that I have to leave this beauty and go to Dodsworth? My job is there now.”
She nodded. “I called someone to take care of her. Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn are coming today.”
“Indeed? It’s going to be a bit cozy in this little cabin, isn’t it?”
“I want to make sure you’re not pulling your men away from here. I want Eve and Joe protected.”
“I was going to send them to Dodsworth.”
“Get someone else. Logan has plenty of money.”
“Money can’t buy training and the skill to—” He grinned. “What am I talking about? Of course it can. Isn’t it lucky that I already have enough men at Dodsworth?”
“Then why were you giving me a hard time?”
“I felt obligated to try to get you to stay here. Logan does pay me, and it’s what he wants.”
“Where is Logan?”
“Out for a run with Monty. I think he needed to blow off a little steam after he left you.”
She started to leave, then stopped. “You might call Franklin and tell him that I’m going to leave within the next fifteen minutes and head for Logan’s house in Phoenix.”
“Why?”
“I’ll be closer to Bassett and I can wait there until he finishes his work. Logan appears to think he’s important to Rudzak.”
“You could wait here.”
“It’s also closer to the airport. I want to pick Eve and Joe up.”
“Let one of my guys do it.”
She shook her head. “I want to talk to her and Joe at the airport. They might decide to get right back on a plane.”
“And if they don’t, you’ll bring them here?”
“No, I’ll send them. As you pointed out, there’s not much room here.”
“Logan’s going to be right on your heels.”
“I’m not trying to run away from him. He can come with me if he likes. I’m going to have to go after him to pick up Monty anyway.”
“I’m sure he’ll be grateful.”
He wouldn’t be grateful. He’d be impatient and probably angry that she had taken the initiative.
Eve set down the phone after making her flight reservations and crossed over to the window to look out at the lake.
Joe was strolling along the bank with Jane at his side.
He was looking down at her, listening intently to something she was saying.
It was a bittersweet fact that Jane had grown closer to Joe since Bonnie had been found.
But the slight estrangement might be for the best. Eve would overcome the problem with Jane and then they would be a true family.
Perhaps as soon as she got back from Phoenix the three of them would take a little trip together. In a vacation atmosphere Jane might talk more readily to her and they could get misconceptions ironed out.
After Phoenix. What was happening to Sarah and why was Logan with her?
Something bad is coming.
Her gaze lifted to the hill across the lake. “I hope not, baby. I hope not.”