Black Hills

by Nora Roberts

  He knew his ground, had his stand. He would lay the trail. He would gather the bait.

  And when the time was right, spring the trap.

  He scouted first, considering and rejecting several sites before settling on the shallow cave. It would do for his purposes, for the short term. Its location worked well, a kind of crossroads for his two main points.

  It would serve as a holding cage.

  Satisfied, he took a snaking route back toward park territory until he could ease onto a popular trail. He wore one of the jackets he’d stolen along the way, along with a pair of aviator sunglasses and a Chance Wildlife Refuge cap. A nice touch, he thought. Those and the beard he’d grown wouldn’t fool any sharp-eyed cops for long, but it gave him a thrill to stay out in the open, to use good old Jim’s little Canon to take photos.

  He moved among them, he thought, but they didn’t know him. He even made a point to talk to other hikers. Just another asshole, he thought, tromping around on sacred ground like he had a right.

  Before he was done, everyone would know who he was, what he stood for. What he could do. He would be a legend.

  He’d come to understand this was what he’d been born for. He’d never seen it prior to now, not clearly. No one had known his face, no one had known his name, not in all the years before. That, he realized, had to change for him to turn truly toward his destiny.

  He could not, would not move on as he had in the past when he’d felt the hot breath of pursuit on the back of his neck, or feared—he could admit the fear now—capture. It was meant to be here, in these hills, on this land.

  Live or die.

  He was strong and wise and he was right. He believed he would live. He would win, and that victory would add his name to those who’d come before him.

  Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud.

  Years before, before he had understood, he’d made sacrifice to this land. When the woman’s blood had spilled, by his hand, it had begun. It had not been an accident, as he’d believed. He understood now his hand had been guided. And the cougar, his spirit guide, had blessed that offering. Had accepted it.

  She had defiled that sacrifice. Lillian Chance. She’d come to the place of his sacrifice, his holy ground, where he’d become a man, a warrior, by spilling the blood of the woman. She’d brought the government there, in the form of the police.

  She’d betrayed him.

  It all made sense now, it all came clear.

  It must be her blood now.

  He traveled with a small group, merged with them as a helicopter buzzed overhead. Looking for him, he thought, and felt the pride fill his chest. When the group chose one of the many crossings over a narrow creek, he waved them off.

  It was time to slip away again.

  If he fulfilled his destiny, the government would surely have to disclose to the public what they’d stolen. And perhaps one day, the true people would erect a statue of him on that very land, as they had to Crazy Horse.

  For now, the hunt and the blood would be their own reward.

  He moved quickly, covering the ground—the rises, the flats, the high grass, the shallow creeks. Even with his speed and skill, it took most of the day to lay the false trail west toward the Wyoming border, leaving behind signs he thought, derisively, the blind could follow. He sweetened it with Jim Tyler’s wallet before backtracking.

  Once again he headed east through the pine-scented air.

  Soon the moon would be full, and under that full moon, he would hunt.

  LIL PERSONALLY PLANTED pansies in the bed across from Cleo’s enclosure. They’d handle the frosts that weren’t just likely but inevitable, and the spring snows that were more than probable for the next few weeks.

  It felt good to get her hands in the dirt, and satisfying to see that splash of color. Since the jaguar watched her avidly, Lil crossed over to the path. “What do you think?”

  Cleo appeared to have no particular bias against or liking for pansies. “If you’re still waiting for some Godiva, you’re doomed to disappointment.”

  The cat pressed her flank against the fence, rubbed back and forth. Interpreting, Lil went under the barricade. She watched Cleo’s eyes as she approached, and watched them slit with pleasure when she stroked and scratched through the fencing.

  “Miss that, don’t you? No chocolate or poodles, but we can give you a little personal attention now and then.”

  “Doesn’t matter how often I see you do that, I’m never tempted to try it for myself.”

  Lil glanced back to smile at Farley. “You pet horses.”

  “A horse may kick the hell out of me, but it’s not going to rip my throat out.”

  “She’s used to being touched, to being spoken to, to the scents and voices of people. It’s not just humans who need physical contact.”

  “Tell that to Roy. Or Siegfried. Whichever one of them had that real contact with the tiger.”

  “Mistakes cost.” She backed away, ducked under to join Farley. “Even a kitten will scratch and bite when it’s annoyed or bored. Nobody who deals with cats gets out without a few scars. Were you looking for Tansy?”

  “I wanted to see you, too. I just wanted you to know I’ll be sticking close to home, so you don’t need to worry.”

  “This screwed up your plans for last night.”

  “I was hoping I could work things out for a picnic maybe. That’s romantic, right?”

  “Meets the top ten requirements.”

  “But spring’s a busy time around the farm and around here.”

  “Go raid the pantry in my cabin. Use the picnic area over there.”

  “Here?” He gawked at her. “Now?”

  “I’d bet my budget for the next five years you’ve got the ring in your pocket here and now.”

  “I can’t take that bet. I need to save my money.” He looked back around, his face full of excitement and concern. “You think I could ask her here?”

  “It’s a pretty afternoon, Farley. She loves this place as much as I do, so yeah, I think you could ask her here. I’ll make sure everyone gives you some room.”

  “You can’t tell them why.”

  “Have some faith.”

  He had plenty of faith in Lil, and the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the right thing. After all, he and Tansy had gotten to know each other right here at the refuge. He’d fallen in love with her here. And she with him, something he thought she was just about ready to admit.

  Lil didn’t have much in the way of picnic food, but he found enough to put a couple of sandwiches together. He took apples, a bag of chips, and two Diet Cokes—since that was all she had.

  Then he nagged Tansy over to a picnic table.

  “I can’t take much of a break.”

  “Neither can I, but I want to spend what I’ve got with you.”

  She went soft, he could see it. “Farley, you just kill me.”

  “I missed you last night.” He tipped her face up for a kiss before he gestured her to the bench he’d already brushed off.

  She sighed. “I missed you, too. I really did. But I’m glad you went back. It was the right thing. Everyone’s trying not to be jumpy, and that makes me more jumpy. I spend a lot of my time in what most people consider a danger zone. And there is risk, of course. But it’s calculated and it’s respected and understood. I just can’t understand any of this. Humans are, to my thinking, the most unpredictable of animals.”

  “You got that scar right here.” He reached out to trace the mark on her forearm with his finger.

  “From a cheetah who saw me as a threat. And my fault more than hers. None of this is Lil’s fault. None of it.”

  “We’re not going to let anything happen to her. Or you.”

  “He’s not interested in me.” Tansy laid a hand over his. “And I’m spoiling this quick picnic. What’ve we got?” She picked up a sandwich, laughed. “Peanut butter and jelly?”

  “Lil didn’t have a lot of choices on the menu.”
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  “She always has pb&j.” Tansy bit in. “How are things at the farm?”

  “Busy. Time for spring plowing soon. And we’ll be turning some calves into steers shortly.”

  “Into . . . oh.” She lifted a hand, made a scissor motion with her finger. “Snip, snip?”

  “Yeah. It always pains me a little.”

  “Not as much as the calf.”

  He smiled. “One of those got-to-be-done things. Living on a farm, well, it’s a lot like here. You get to see things as they are. You get to work outside, feel a part of things. You’d like living on a farm.”

  “Maybe. When I came out here to help Lil, I really thought it would be temporary. I’d help get her up and running, train some staff, and then go to work for one of the big outfits. Make a big name for myself. But this place got its hooks into me.”

  “You’re home now.”

  “Looks like.”

  He drew the ring out of his pocket. “Make home with me, Tansy.”

  “Farley. Oh.” She held up a hand, thumped the other on her heart. “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”

  He dealt with the problem by spinning her around then shoving her head between her knees. “Take it easy.”

  “This is crazy.” Her breath hitched and pitched.

  “Just in and out a few times.”

  “Farley, what have you done? What have you done?”

  “Bought a ring for the woman I’m going to marry. Couple more times in and out.”

  “Marriage is huge! Huge. We’ve barely dated.”

  “We’ve known each other a long time now, and we’ve been sleeping together regular the last little while. I’m in love with you.” In firm strokes he rubbed her back to help her settle. “And if you weren’t in love with me, you wouldn’t have your head between your knees.”

  “That’s your gauge of love? That I’m dizzy and short of breath?”

  “It’s a good sign. Now, are you ready to sit back up so you can get a look at this ring? Lil helped me pick it out.”

  “Lil?” She popped straight up. “She knows about this? Who else?”

  “Well, I had to tell Joe and Jenna. They’re my parents in every way that matters. And Ella at the jeweler’s. It’s hard to buy a ring without her knowing about it. That’s all. I wanted to surprise you with it.”

  “You did. A lot. But—”

  “You like it?”

  Maybe some women could have resisted taking a good look, but Tansy wasn’t one of them. “It’s beautiful. It’s, oh, it’s gorgeous. Really. But—”

  “Like you. I couldn’t ask you to wear a ring that wasn’t. It’s rose gold. So that makes it a little different. You’re not like anybody else, so I wanted to give you something special.”

  “Farley, I can honestly say you’re not like anyone else either.”

  “That’s why we suit. You just listen a minute before you say anything. I know how to work, make a decent living. So do you. We’re both doing what we’re good at, and what we like. I think that’s important. This is our place, yours and mine. That’s important, too. But most important is I love you.”

  He took her hand and kept his eyes, so clear and serious now, on hers. “No one’s ever going to love you the way I do. Joe and Jenna, they made me a man. Every time I look at you, I know why. What I want most in this world, Tansy, is to build a good life with you, to make you happy every day of it. Or most every day, because you’ll get mad at me sometimes. I want to make a home and a family with you. I think I’d be good at that. I can wait if you’re not ready to wear this. As long as you know.”

  “I have all these arguments in my head. Rational, sensible arguments. And when I look at you, when you look at me, they all seem weak. Like excuses. You’re not supposed to be the one, Farley. I don’t know why you are. But you are.”

  “Do you love me, Tansy?”

  “Farley. I really do.”

  “Are you going to marry me?”

  “I really am.” She let out a quick, surprised laugh. “Yes, I am.”

  She held out her hand. He slipped it on. “It fits.” Her quiet murmur was thick and shaky.

  Dazzled, he stared at the ring, then at her. “We’re engaged.”

  “Yes.” Now she laughed, full out, and threw her arms around him. “Yes, we are.”

  Lil kept the staff working on the other side of the compound as much as possible. She had to shift her own position to keep the picnic table in view when interns led a group around the habitats.

  She told herself it wasn’t like spying. She was just . . . keeping an eye on things. And when she saw Tansy go into Farley’s arms she didn’t quite muffle the cheer.

  “Sorry, what?” Eric asked.

  “Nothing, nothing. Ah, can you make sure everything’s set up for the school group tomorrow morning? In the education center. Take a couple of the other interns along.”

  “Sure. Matt’s going to do his exam of the new female tiger this afternoon. I was hoping I could observe. Maybe even assist.”

  “If Matt clears it.”

  “The word is you’re going to take the barricade down between the enclosures.”

  “Yes. When Matt finishes the exam. She’s still caged, Eric. It’s a bigger cage, and it’s clean, it’s safe. Once we take the barrier down, she’ll be free to interact with her own kind, and she’ll be able, when she’s ready, to roam her habitat, walk in the grass, run. Play, I hope.”

  “I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just rumor. I hate what they did to her. Cleo was different. She was so sleek and arrogant. But this one, she just seemed sad and tired. I guess I feel for her.”

  “That’s why you’ve been getting better at your work. Because you feel for them.”

  His eyes brightened. “Thanks.”

  Was she ever that young? Lil wondered. So that a compliment from an instructor or trainer put that look in her eyes, that spring in her step? She supposed she had been.

  But she’d been so focused, so absolutely determined to carve out her route. Not only to reach the goal but to make up for what she’d lost. To make up for Coop.

  She drew a breath as she studied the compound. All in all, it had worked out for her. Now it would be her decision, her choice if she wanted to open back up, take back what she’d lost.

  She heard the steps on the gravel, slow steps, and whirled to defend. Matt wheeled back so quickly he slid and nearly went down.

  “Jesus, Lil!”

  “Sorry, sorry.” Had she been braced like that all day? she wondered. “You startled me.”

  “Well, you scared five years off my life, so we’re more than even. I want to set up to examine the female tiger.”

  “Right. Eric wants to assist.”

  “That’s fine.” Matt gave her just the lightest pat on the shoulder. For Matt, Lil knew, it equaled a hug from anyone else.

  “There’s a lot of inside work. You could be doing that.”

  “He should see me. If he’s watching, if he’s out there, he should see me. See that I’m doing what I always do. It’s about power.” She remembered what Coop had said. “The more I hide, the more power I give him. And hell, Matt,” she added when she saw Farley and Tansy exchange a kiss by his truck. “It’s a really good day.”

  “Is it?”

  “Wait and see.”

  She stuck her hands in her back pockets and strolled toward Tansy as Farley drove away.

  Tansy turned, and her shoulders went up and down with a bracing breath as she walked toward Lil.

  “You knew.”