CHAPTER 5 #4
“I’m not upset.” It was true. She wasn’t upset with Bassett. It wasn’t his fault he’d read the situation wrong. That she had felt concerned for Logan was entirely natural. She would have felt the same for anyone who was hurt and helpless. By instinct and training she was a person who tried to save.
If it was entirely natural, then why was she justifying her reaction?
Because at that moment she was tired and vulnerable. No other reason. She’d be better after a little rest.
“This is a nice room. It overlooks the garden.” She threw open the door at the top of the stairs. “The telephone is on the bedside table. I assume Logan is letting you at least call your wife.”
“Sure. Though he asked me not to tell her I’d left Santo Camaro.”
“Asked?”
“Well, strongly suggested.” He glanced at Sarah. “But don’t get me wrong. I came here voluntarily. Logan offered to fix up a lab for me here so I can get on with my work.”
He might have thought the choice was voluntary, but what Logan wanted, Logan generally got. “I thought you wanted to go home.”
“He pointed out that I didn’t want to compromise the safety of my family.
He’s put a guard on them, but I’d just be a threat to them right now.
” He entered the room and looked around.
“Private bath. Nice. A lot better than the living quarters at Santo Camaro. Castleton did his best, but he concentrated more on lab equipment than on little luxuries. The damn hot-water heater had to be replaced four times in the time I was there.”
“Then why did you stay?”
“It was my dream,” he said simply. “You don’t give up a dream because you have to take cold showers.”
“What kind of dream?”
He made a face. “I didn’t mean to pique your curiosity. I’m sorry, you’ve been very kind, but I can’t talk about my work. It’s in my contract.”
“And was it in your contract to risk being killed?”
“No, but we all knew there might be repercussions. It went with the territory.”
“What do you—” Why was she asking questions when he’d already told her he couldn’t discuss it? She wasn’t interested anyway. It was time she distanced herself from Logan and everyone around him. “Margaret Wilson is in the kitchen downstairs and I’d bet she’s had it fully stocked. Do you know her?”
“No, I worked through Castleton, but I’ve heard of her. Tough, efficient, and bossy as hell.” He grinned. “She’s something of a legend in Logan’s empire. But you can’t expect anything else. He’s a legend himself.”
“Well, that legend is downstairs having a bullet dug out of his leg. When they’re through, maybe they should look you over.”
“I’m fine. All I need is to talk to my wife and son.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.”
“Thanks.” He was already heading for the phone as she closed the door.
She returned to the kitchen, where Margaret updated her on Logan. “The doctor just stuck his head in. The operation’s over and John’s doing fine. He’s under sedation, but he should be waking up in a few hours.”
Relief surged through her. She had known Logan’s injury wasn’t critical, but operations were always serious. “Good.” She sank down in the chair. “No signs of infection?”
“A little. They’re giving him megadoses of antibiotics to combat it. The doctor didn’t like the fact that the bullet stayed in him all those hours.”
“It was safer to bring him back to the States.”
“I’m not saying it wasn’t the right thing to do. There are always pros and cons.” Margaret stood up. “How about some lunch? I’ve got a lot of canned stuff. Soup? Stew?”
Sarah shook her head. “It’s time for Monty and me to go home. Will you arrange for someone to drive me back to my ranch?”
“Now?” Margaret frowned. “What’s your hurry?”
“I want to go home.”
“You told him you’d stay.”
Stay, Sarah.
She had agreed because Logan’s moment of vulnerability and need had caught her off guard. But he was neither vulnerable nor in need. He was surrounded by people who would take care of him and protect him. He certainly didn’t need her. “I did stay. He’s out of danger now.”
“John won’t like it. He told me to take care of you. How can I take care of you if you’re miles away?”
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I can take care of myself.” She bent down and stroked Monty’s head. “He’s hurt and he needs to be in familiar surroundings.”
“John won’t like it,” Margaret repeated.
“Do you get a car for me, or do I do it myself?”
“I’ll do it.” Margaret sighed. “But you’re making my job very difficult.”
“I think you’ll bear up. You don’t seem very intimidated by Logan.”
“We’ve been together a long time. Familiarity generally casts out fear, but I do have a healthy respect for him.”
Sarah studied her. “And you like him.”
“Hell, yes. He’s tough, but he’s always been fair with me.
And if life gets a little complicated around him, at least it’s not boring.
” She went to the telephone. “I’ll call one of the security men on the grounds and tell him to bring a car around front.
Sure you don’t want to have lunch before you leave? ”
“I’m sure.” She listened to Margaret put through the call. In a few minutes she’d be on her way back to the life she loved best—silence, simplicity, and serenity. Let Logan spin his complicated webs around someone else. She was going home.