CHAPTER 3 #3
“We’re here.” Castleton turned a curve in the road and then screeched to a halt to avoid hitting the man standing in the middle of the road. “What the hell! Are you crazy, Galen?”
“That’s been debated for decades.” He grinned at Logan. “What am I going to do with you? You’re always late. I have dinner on the table.”
“You almost caused me to run off the road.” Castleton turned off the ignition. “I wasn’t expecting you to—”
“I didn’t think there’d be any real danger.
This is private property and you’re the cautious type, Castleton.
I knew you’d be meandering along at a snail’s pace.
” He opened the back door of the car and gave a low whistle as he saw Monty on the floor.
“Ah, the recipient of the dog biscuits in my backpack. I admit I’m a little disappointed.
I thought they might be for you, Logan. I was hoping you’d acquired more adventurous tastes.
Remember when you refused to eat those delicious grubs in that Maori settlement in—”
“This is Sean Galen,” Logan interrupted. “Sarah Patrick and her dog, Monty.”
“Delighted.” Galen smiled as he helped her out of the car.
He was in his mid- to late thirties, a little over medium height, with a lithe and athletic body.
His dark hair was cut close, but it persisted in curling and his eyes were as dark and irrepressible as his hair.
Energy emanated from him in waves. “Do you like ham and macaroni casserole?”
British? He had a faint cockney accent. “Yes.”
“Good. That’s what’s for dinner.” He glanced down at Monty. “I might sneak some to you too. That dog food and vitamins I brought don’t look awe-inspiring.”
“So much for adventurous dining,” Logan murmured.
“Well, I didn’t know about the lady, but Castleton didn’t impress me as being anything but a meat-and-potatoes man.” He strode off to the side of the road. “This way. I set up camp some distance from those ruins. They depressed me.”
For the first time, Sarah’s gaze turned to the burned-out facility a few hundred yards ahead. She had been so filled with anger, worry, and resentment, she hadn’t really thought about the people who had lived and died here. All those promising lives cut off by assassins’ bullets . . .
“See? The lady’s getting depressed too,” Galen said. “Come on, Castleton. You can help me dish up.”
“I have to get back to town.”
“After dinner. Do you want to hurt my feelings?”
“I should . . .” Castleton shrugged and then followed Galen into the brush.
She stood looking after them for a moment. She felt as if she were being swept away and she wasn’t sure she liked it.
“It’s okay.” Logan took her elbow. “He won’t poison you. Galen’s actually a gourmet cook.”
“In the middle of the jungle?”
“In the middle of a hurricane. He adapts to any situation.”
“I wasn’t afraid of his poisoning me. He just surprised me.”
“I can understand the feeling.” He pushed her gently toward the side of the road. “He’s surprised me a few times.”
They were obviously old and good friends. “The grubs?”
“He didn’t tell you I actually ate the damn things. He backed me in a corner where I had to do it or insult the Maoris.”
“Just what are grubs?”
“Larvae. And they look disgustingly like worms.”
“I thought so.” She smiled. “I think I’m beginning to like your Mr. Galen.”
“I thought that story would endear him to you.” He was silent a moment. “You can trust him, Sarah. If anything happens to me, do what he says and he’ll get you out.”
She felt a chill she tried to ignore. “I’m not used to trusting anyone else to take care of me. Just what does he do for you?”
“I suppose you might call him a problem solver.”
“Problems like this?”
“It’s his specialty. So don’t feel bad about letting him take over if things get rough.”
“Do you let him take over?”
“Hell, yes.”
She gazed at him skeptically. “I can’t see you trusting anyone but yourself.”
“I learned a long time ago how to delegate.” He smiled. “Why else would I have gone after you?”
“I don’t see you stepping aside and turning me loose to do my job.”
“In spite of what you think of me, I can’t shrug off responsibility.”
“How long have you known Galen?”
“Fifteen years or so. I met him when I was in Japan. He was fresh out of the service and working for a local businessman.”
“So you hired him away?”
“At that point in my life I couldn’t afford him. I was struggling to keep a fledgling business afloat. We became involved in several projects together in the next few years. Then, when I began having personal problems, he helped me out.”
What kind of personal problems? she wondered. She wasn’t about to ask. She didn’t want to know anything about his personal life. She just wanted to do the job and walk away. “And he’s worked for you ever since?”
“On occasion.” They had come into the clearing where Galen had set up camp. To her amazement, there was a table beside the fire with a damask tablecloth and colorful china. “What the hell?”
Galen looked up and grinned. “My mum always told me that you should never use a picnic as an excuse for ignoring the finer things in life.”
“And you think this job is going to be a picnic?”
“It depends on how you look at it.”
“How do you intend to transport all this stuff?”
“I don’t. It’s disposable. Isn’t everything?”
“No.”
He raised his brows. “Good. It’s refreshing to meet someone who’s not a cynic.” He carefully dished up the macaroni. “Tell me, Logan, do these squiggly bits of pasta remind you of grubs?”
The casserole was excellent and the coffee Galen served afterward was even better. “I’m sorry, there’s no dessert. Next time perhaps.” He lifted a brow. “Are you going to wash up, Castleton? It’s only fair.”
Castleton got to his feet. “I have to get back to town. I’ve got to make final arrangements to get our people out of the hospital. Thanks for the meal. It was really very good.”
Galen made a face. “Words of praise don’t get those dishes done.”
Logan stood up. “I’ll walk you to the car, Castleton. There’s something I want you to do for me.”
“Sure.” Castleton turned to Sarah. “Take care of yourself. Good luck.”
“Thank you.”
She watched Castleton and Logan stroll across the glade and into the trees, then she stood up and began stacking the plates.
“Sit down and have another cup of coffee,” Galen said. “I was joking.”
“I’m not. Fair is fair.”
“Right. And you said you have to clip the pup.” He nodded at Monty. “That’s going to be quite a job with all that golden fluff. I want you to get some sleep tonight.”
“It won’t take that long. Monty’s very good.”
“Clip the pup,” he said firmly as he took the dishes from her. “You might break my fine china.”
“It’s plastic.”
“Oh, you noticed? The catalogue swore no one would be able to tell the difference.”
She smiled. “They took you, Galen.”
“The story of my life. Do you want me to get your clippers for you? They’re in a backpack, along with all your supplies.”
She wasn’t going to win this one. In spite of Galen’s easygoing manner, it was clear he also had a streak of iron. “I’ll get them.”
“That was quite a list you gave Logan.”
She knelt and rummaged in the backpack. “I had to leave without my equipment. You got all the bottled water? I can’t have Monty getting sick.”
“So the water is all for Monty?”
“Most of it. I can get along on less than he can.” She sat down beside Monty. “Come on, boy. Let’s get this stuff off you.”
He sighed and rolled over on his stomach.
Galen chuckled. “You’re right, he’s good with it. Nice dog.”
“Do you have any pets?”
He shook his head. “I’m on the move too much. I had a parrot once, but I gave him away. He was abusive and my ego couldn’t take it. Now, your Monty would never be abusive.”
“Don’t count on it.”
“Well, not verbally. He might lift his leg on something he shouldn’t.”
She nodded. “He always makes his displeasure known.”