Pippa's Rescue

by JJ Keller

  Instantly she got an image of Rae’s drunken strides walking away from her car, while Pippa’s father lay dead in the seat of his vehicle. She closed her eyes trying to focus on what was going on. Rae had also gotten on with her life. “You must be proud of her.”

  A shimmer of tears held steady in his eyes. He looked away, but nodded. “Yes, I am.” He turned back to her and touched her arm. “She’s come a long way. Give her a chance.”

  Tears tracked along her cheeks and the bile rose again. She nodded and hobbled as quickly as possible toward Basil. Her shelter in a storm.

  ****

  Basil inhaled the familiar scents of horses, hay, and manure. Volunteers were busy mucking stalls and field hands unloaded bales of hay into the barn. This had become home and he’d miss the people, rescuing horses, and most of all, Pippa.

  Lost. Two opportunities to get information about Harry and he’d missed both. Each time Pippa had been the source of his missed chance. Granted, the last time he couldn’t let her fall. Would he have done the same for any woman? No. He would have saved the girl, got her settled, called a ranger, and then tracked Wilson.

  He glanced at the woman who’d turned his neat and orderly world upside down. She’d already abandoned the crutches, claiming she couldn’t get close to her animals with big sticks flapping at her sides. The walking cast, large and awkward, drew attention to her sexy legs. Her cream sweater had been belted by the black medic-bag she wore whenever she was out on the ranch.

  Soon she’d find out the property was deeded to her. He’d enjoy banker-boy handing over the documents, all signed and sealed, making Basil the hero once again. Overwrought by joy, maybe Pippa would drag him to her bedroom, assuming he was around to enjoy the overflow of love.

  He considered his approach to tell Pippa about his departure as he swung his travel bag into the rental. Gonzo nodded at him. Basil didn’t know if his nod was so-long-sucker or thanks-for-taking-care-of-my-girl. Either way she was safe and that was all that was important. Pippa hobbled toward the corral and Deep South. He shut the car door, drawing her attention.

  Their glances met, hers wary and his full of remorse of what could have been. What should he say to her—Skogul, the woman you can’t see, disappeared at the cabin and I can’t seem to find her? The pain in the ass hadn’t reappeared in his room, or the barn, so the last place to look was with Dr. Aidan Hall. They seemed to have a thing, a connection.

  Pippa stroked Deep South’s dark neck, then hobbled toward him. He exhaled, committing her beauty to memory.

  He had one last chance to find Harry and it revolved around the supernatural, the Valkyrie. He’d done his research and discovered they were folklore. A mythological god, Odin, gathered troops to fight at a major battle. As crazy as it seemed, this was exactly something Harry would be interested in, especially since his head injury forced him from the Marine Special Ops group. Marine lifestyle was addictive; each of the Special Ops members needed the thrill of success, saving families from invasion. Marines thrived on power, the game. Harry would be pulled into a parallel universe if he could continue to strategize battles and be a part of the action. He didn’t doubt Skogul would declare Harry had abandoned his human life for a supernatural one.

  If this panned out, Wilson would be in the clear for murder, but he was still responsible for the North Korean ambush. First things first. Basil needed to discover where this cult kept Harry and how he could communicate with his friend. Then, he’d track down Wilson and bring him to justice.

  He sighed. Harry wasn’t dead and buried by Wilson. At least that was what he kept telling himself. He leaned against the car, waiting for Pippa to close the distance. When she was within inches, he pulled her to him. Bodies touching, she rested her leg on his thigh. “I like how we can be a couple out in the open.”

  She chuckled, a deep sexy ripple in her throat. “We can’t be totally out in the open.”

  “Since you brought it up, let’s go to your room.”

  Her mouth fused to his, instead of a light feathery kiss it was one of promise. “Where are you going?” She pointed to his bag. “Duffle means you’re leaving.”

  Sadness in her voice shattered his core. Could he leave her? She wasn’t the clingy needy type. She’d never declared anything but gratitude for saving her. Did she care for him the way he did for her? More than finding Harry, he wanted her to tell him to stay, to say those love words.

  “I’ve a lead on Harry.” He kissed the side of her pouty lips.

  She lurched backward, putting an inch of two between them, pulling away but not completely. “Through my brother?”

  “No, he’s still…missing. I’m going to see Aidan Hall.”

  “I’ll go with you. Give me a sec to tell Mattie and put Gonzo in charge.” She turned.

  “No. This is something I need to do alone.” Would she recall the incident in the stable and question why he was anxious to see the vet?

  She pivoted, staring at him, trying to read between the lines. “Are you returning?”

  He took her hand into his. “I’m not—”

  “Pippa!” Brooke shouted.

  She narrowed her eyes, but didn’t break the link between them. “I’ll expect you here, tonight, for a romantic dinner.” Pippa kissed him, with tongue, then hobbled as quick as possible to stable one and her never-ending responsibilities.

  He got part of his wish, so why didn’t his body rush with happiness?

  Brooke stood at the entrance, slapping a strip of leather against her leg. A ranch always had issues to resolve. His heart thumped faster. He wanted to be part of this life, but how could he give up his quest? Marines lived by a code. Behind the steering wheel of his rental, he started the motor and considered the future. After finding Harry and tracking down Wilson he’d return and…then what?

  He was typically a by-the-minute guy, but he couldn’t shake off thoughts of a future. Obligations be damned. Find the man who betrayed their squad, Harry had said. The Korean mission had ended Harry’s military career and almost killed him. Deep down Basil knew Wilson was the coward—the one who betrayed their squad for money.

  Skogul first, then he’d track Wilson and bring him to justice.

  Aidan Hall had purchased a ranch directly after he’d healed Titan. Due to the economy diving into the shithole, the property had been vacant for a year. Rumored to have settled into the homestead, Hall had furniture delivered and Titan as well.

  Basil drove onto the paved driveway and circled around, noting the gray-and-white horse in the corral outside a fairly new bright white stable. He parked in front of the Greek Revival house, noting the modernizations of solar panels and surveillance cameras. He walked to the double front doors and used the brass knocker. No sounds came from inside. His thumb pressed the electronic doorbell and strains of “Für Elise” rang.

  Okay, so the structure had been modernized but the chimes rang old school. He walked around to the back. A west-facing pet door built into the wall caught his attention. He’d never owned a pet, but he’d seen commercials and typically the cat or dog entrances were built into the back door. Basil crouched at the rear entrance and ran his finger over the panel. Solid steel. This was no pet door. Yet, one had been recently installed on the side of the house.

  A few feet from the house stood an enormous willow tree. Long, pliable branches created an umbrella, a shield for him as he viewed the layout of the property. The strangely positioned pet door wouldn’t be seen by anyone parked in the driveway, nor coming from the back door. Why that particular side of the house? Where was the cat or dog? Chimes would have set off any dog and a naturally curious feline would be planted in a window, watching. No visible sign or noise from inside indicated pets inhabited the home. He walked around the outside of the house again, looking for other oddities. He shook his head. It was easy enough to leave the Marines, but the intelligence training, surveillance, and reconnaissance would always be a part of him, and he embraced those skills.

&nbs
p; Back at his car, he tugged the door open. Dark sultry seductive mirth filtered from the stable. Skogul. He hurried toward the structure. The double doors opened, and Aidan stood beside her at the entrance. In the sunlight, her skin glittered like a million diamonds. She wore the same clothing: gray boots, jeans, and a white-and-silver striped shirt. Her long hair had been wrapped in an elaborate knot at the nape of her slender neck. She tilted her head, listening to the veterinarian, as if his words were gospel. Basil used to see that same sappy expression on women who stared at him; she had a thing for the guy.

  “Skogul.” He directed his voice toward the pair. Titan bolted from the corral and into the shelter of the stable.

  She turned toward him, frowned, and placed her hands in her front pockets. Her fingers moved around on the right side, as if trying to grip something. Did she have a weapon? Perhaps she hadn’t taken his skepticism very well. Obviously not, as she had disappeared for hours after being his constant companion. Maybe she had found a new warrior to carry to Valhalla. He looked over the vet. If Skogul had chosen Aidan Hall, she was going way beyond the battlefield.

  “Basil,” she acknowledged in a pleasant tone.

  He closed the distance. “I need to talk to you about our conversation the other night.”

  “What’s going on?” Aidan stepped closer to her side.

  “Basil. I’ll come to you later.” Skogul turned away, reaching for Dr. Hall.

  “No!” Basil grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him and farther from the veterinarian.

  A low, rumbling growl came from the man. Skogul directed her attention to Dr. Hall. Basil stared at both of them. The growling continued, becoming stronger. Aidan’s eyes narrowed until mere blue-gray lights shone behind the slits.

  “Release her,” he ordered.

  “It’s all right, Aidan.” Her deadpan tone of voice quieted the beast beside her. His exposed teeth receded behind his lips.

  Basil cocked an eyebrow. There was more to this man than he’d first assumed. Mild-mannered country-vet on the outside, ferocious on the inside. Basil dropped his hand. “May I please speak with you?”

  Her nod reassured him he had a second chance to gather information about Harry.

  “Alone.” He pointed toward his car.

  “Skogul,” Aidan snapped.

  Her fingers skimmed along the veterinarian’s forearm. “It’s all right. I’ll talk to him, and then we’ll finish.”

  He cocked his head. “As you wish.”

  Aidan ambled to the pen, braced one booted foot on a lower rung, and rested an arm on the top, staring at them.

  Skogul took off at a lope, heading toward the rear of the house. Why the rush? Basil ran, following at a close clip. She plopped onto a deep, green-cushioned chair. “What?”

  Considering the odd reaction from the vet, his defense intuition ramped up a notch. He sat in the matching lounge and surveyed the veranda one more time, determining access from various points.

  “I want you to take me to Harry,” he blurted out before he could think of a way to ease into the topic. If he was going to do this, give up his human life in order to find out what happened to his friend, he needed to treat it like a war wound. Quick, then move on.

  The fingers on Skogul’s right hand tapped an odd, anxious tune on the arm of the chair while the others curled into a fist on her lap. She closed her eyes for a moment before turning her piercing blue stare on him. “You realize in order for you to go to Valhalla you must give up your human existence, and there is no reversal?”

  “What if I wanted to marry?”

  “Marriage? In the unlikelihood that you do find a partner in Asgard, you mate for life. No ceremony in a steeple house. Just a binding of two people.” She winked. “I don’t believe your commitment lies with Harrison Lombard.”

  Her words raised his hackles. “I wonder—have you ever made a promise to someone? Loved another? Love isn’t singled out for a man and woman. It’s a virtue,” Basil snapped.

  The chair arms thudded when her fists connected. “Of course. And love as a human is needed for survival of the species. Is that why you plummeted into love with Phillipa?”

  “I’m not discussing Pippa. Besides, love takes many forms. Do you know what the Marine motto is?” A low motor sounded from the drive. He had to hurry.

  She rolled her eyes. “No.”

  “Semper Fidelis; always faithful. I’ll always be loyal and committed to my Marine comrades-in-arms. I made a promise to Harry to discover who betrayed our squad in North Korea, and the coward is David Wilson. Contrary to your theory, he also killed my friend, and the detective Harry sent to investigate.” He turned in his chair. Paper crinkled and he caught a whiff of her sweet fragrance.

  “No! He wouldn’t kill anyone,” Pippa said, a paper with WARRANTY DEED printed across the top clutched in her hand. She was aware of his gift. Would she now hate him for his accusation regarding her brother?

  She stood beside the nearest column, slumping against it as if the life had been sucked from her. He rushed to her side, reached out only to drop his hand. “I’m sorry.”

  “He wouldn’t kill a man from his squad,” Pippa whispered. Her scratchy voice sounded unconvincing to him and more than likely she didn’t believe the words either. She shook her head. “He took care of me. You must be mistaken. He didn’t enjoy war or killing, just gathering information.”

  Tears slid along her cheeks. He pulled her to his chest. “People change. Habits take over—”

  “I have a way of showing you Harrison. A live, ah, comcast.” Skogul held her palm out, the marble she’d been playing at the cabin, nestled in the center.

  “Who are you?” Pippa jerked, as if being tugged by a training line.

  Could she see Skogul? Why now?

  Pippa pressed her hands on his chest. “Where did that woman come from?”

  He met Skogul’s glance. Her surprise matched his.

  “You can see me?” Skogul asked.

  He pointed to Skogul. “You can see her?”

  Pippa nudged his side. “Yes. What is going on?”

  “Remember the day I hit my head, and I saw a woman?”

  She nodded, a frown marring her beautiful face.

  He extended his hand toward the Valkyrie. “Skogul is that woman.”

  Pippa stared at him. “No one else saw her.” She crunched the deed of property in her hand.

  “Skogul. Pippa.” He took the document, folded the thick paper, and placed it on the patio table.

  “I’m leader of the Valkyries’ first squad and should be addressed as such.”

  Pippa snarled at Skogul. “A what? Wait a minute, she’s been here, with you, the entire time?”

  “Yes,” Basil answered.

  “Skogul?” Aidan stood behind the Valkyrie.

  How much had he overhead? Basil had to get back into battle mode.

  Pippa’s face tightened and her hands fluttered in front of her. “Where has she been staying?”

  “In my…the guest room,” Basil answered, all the while knowing how dreadful it would sound to Pippa.

  “You slept with Basil?” Aidan’s knuckles turned white as he fisted his hands.

  “There wasn’t any sleeping,” Basil replied.

  “What?” Pippa shouted.

  “What the sap means, is that I watched television all night. He was in the bed, me in a chair.” Skogul nodded to Aidan, but his hands remained bunched at his sides. “Oops, shields up, red alert.”

  “Not now,” Basil whispered to Skogul.

  She placed the marble back into her pocket and reached for Aidan.

  “What does she want?” Pippa asked. She was searching for an explanation, perhaps why Skogul stayed at the house and hadn’t been noticed by anyone. He’d be curious too, if he was in her shoes.

  He swallowed, how could he explain without appearing irrational?

  ****

  “I’m breaking all the rules set by my leader, but here it is: I’m g
oing to take Basil. He’s needed in Asgard.” Skogul’s arrogance seemed to be part of her character, Pippa thought. The self-proclaimed Valkyrie, whatever that meant, turned her sharp blue gaze toward Aidan.

  Pippa’s heart thumped. Instinct told her the woman would go to any extent to take Basil. She would not allow that to happen. “I don’t understand. Where is Asgard? Why does she need you?”

  Skogul held Aidan’s hand and continued their staring match. Basil tugged Pippa to his side. “This situation is as strange to me as it is to you. I’ve just had a few weeks to come to terms with her being around. From what I’ve learned, Asgard is a mythological planet. Skogul said I could see Harry if I go with her.”

  Stress must be making her crazy. “Your friend? The one you just said my brother killed?”

  “Yes. I thought Wilson might know what happened to him. I have to check out every lead, even if it takes me to that strange woman’s imaginary planet.”

  “David didn’t kill him. Maybe she took him.” She tugged his arm. “You shouldn’t go. I’ll help you find your friend. I’m afraid if you go with her you’ll never return.”

  “She’s right. You won’t return. Remember I told you if you chose to go with me, you’ll join Harrison but you will also forfeit your human existence.” Skogul gripped his arms, forcing Pippa to drop her hold on him. “Harrison wants you to become a member of his Special Ops group. It the highest of honors and one that should not be refused.”

  Pippa slid between them. “Prove this fantasy you’ve created!”

  “What she says is true,” Aidan said.

  “How would he know that? Don’t believe her, Basil.” Panic made her voice sound strange, pitchy. She cleared her throat and added confidence. “Stay with me. We’ll save horses and maybe have a few kids to carry on the tradition.”

  Some time warp altered her reality. She saw everything from above as the actions and words from the people below. Was it moments ago she found out Basil had saved her ranch? Had he already made his decision and this was part of the separation from his human existence and her?