“Oh yes. I promise to take good care of her.”
“Good then, I’ll let Andy know she’s taken.” He said, turning Megan loose again.
Jack wrapped his arms around Riley’s legs as they dangled. “I read your story.”
“Mmmmm” she said. She hadn’t him if he liked it. Maybe he hated it. He looked up at her.
“It was good. Really good.” Jack said. Riley smiled, sliding down into the pen with him.
“Really?” She asked excited.
“Yep.” He said. He kissed her on the forehead, letting his lips linger there for a few seconds.
Riley looked over at the lake mesmerized by the sparkles bouncing off the surface of the water. For a brief moment, she thought she was back in Oregon standing in front of the window with her cheek pressed against the glass. The wind passed over the tops of the trees, making a swooshing sound. Riley looked at Jack. It scared her senseless to think this might end.
“I love this place.” She said. “Megan does too.”
Max jumped up on the rail, licking his paw. “Max approves.”
The sound she hadn’t missed broke the normalcy of their day. Jack took out his phone.
“Yep” he said. There was a long silence and then an “Okay, we’ll be there.” He set the phone back in his pocket, giving Riley a look.
“What?” She asked.
“Axel needs some help over in Long beach. We’ve been asked to assist.” He leaned over and kissed her again. “You don’t have to go.”
“But I will.” She responded. She called Megan in. She frowned, but obeyed.
“When?” Riley asked, opening the gate to the round pen. Megan slid down off the pony.
“Tomorrow.” Jack tugged on Megan’s ponytail playfully.
“Then we better make tonight count.” Riley said in a teasing tone. Jack smiled at her and she felt a hot rush.
In the distant, the cry of a Mexican Grey wolf echoed into the late summer evening air. She always seemed to find herself looking for the white Siberian Tiger who some believe still wanders the desert.
The story told by the conservatory caretaker Harry goes as follows; “I was just about to feed Saber, our female Bengal tiger, when something stung me from behind. The next thing I knew, it was morning and old Martin, he’s my relief, was shaking me out of my skin. Hell, I have no clue what happened. I was lucky that cat didn’t eat me for not feeding her. As to how she got out, I don’t know the answer to that. The gate was locked when I went down, so you figure it out.”
Harry wasn’t the only one talking about the tiger. Some of the locals swore they’d heard a cat in the early mornings when the skies casted a montage of shadow and darkness. They claimed an animal stalked the hills near the conservatory, upsetting the animals and keepers from their sleep.
Jack hired several men to investigate, but if the big cat lives; she eludes everyone, running outside the conservatory, escaping each time. All, but two of us simply believe the rogue tiger escaped from either Pam’s place, or the conservatory, but two men have their doubts about the tiger and the stories.
Riley turned to follow Jack and Megan. “Wait up you two.” She said happy, but then a voice entered her thoughts and he spoke loud and clear. They’ll kill you if they have the chance.
Not Alone: The Beginning (The Fighter Series Book 1) Page 32
