by Lakes, Lynde
After hastily dressing, she belted on her shoulder-holster and hurried outside into the brisk air. The sun filtered through a high cloud that swelled and separated in cottony shreds. Hero, the sheep dog she’d met that first day and the one Rad seemed to favor, lay between her and the truck. The dog watched her edge nearer. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it would leap out of her chest. “Nice doggy,” she crooned with a tremor in her voice.
The dog shot to his feet and ran toward her. Her heart raced. God be with me. She ran, scrambled into the truck and slammed the door. The dog placed his giant paws on the window, bared his teeth, and barked. “Whew! Close one! Breathing hard, Toni checked the ignition. The keys hung from it. Tukaha had come through for her. Bless him.
Her hands trembled. She sat still a moment with her fingers poised on the key to calm down. Tukaha was a special friend. He’d risked Rad’s anger to help her. He must’ve sensed that Rad needed her help. She smiled. Tukaha is going to be a valuable ally.
When she turned the key, the radio came on automatically. She lowered the volume. Country music was fine. However, with her slight headache, she didn’t need it blaring in her ears.
She drove away from the ranch house slowly, past the heart-shaped rose garden and the diamond planting of granny’s bonnets, dusty millers, and marigolds. With the dog gone, she rolled the window down. The brisk air helped to clear her head. She didn’t mind the strong scent of marigolds tickling her nose. It was fleeting.
The road took her by the corrals. An older, dark-skinned man walked toward them. His build and walk seemed familiar. He turned.
Tukaha! How could that be? She’d just left him at the house. She slowed. The breeze caught a leaf or something equally weightless and lifted it from his coarse Maori hair. He had the same dark hair with traces of silver, the same weathered face, the same worn jeans. However, instead of a solid blue shirt, he now wore a blue-striped one. It didn’t make sense. He would’ve needed the truck to get here so quickly. And she had it. She honked and waved, but he’d disappeared into one of the barns. Tukaha was a medicine man. Was he a magician, too? Or a marathon runner?
On impulse, she parked. As she passed where he’d stood only a moment before, she saw what had drifted from his hair. The small bright red feather fluttered in the dust as though about to take flight again. Remembering the stone ball decorated with feathers that Tukaha had used in his ceremony, she stooped and picked it up. Then she followed Tukaha into the barn.
Smells of hay, horses, and fertilizer made her nostrils and throat feel itchy, but she didn’t dare sneeze or cough, not with her tender ribs. She glanced around.
“Have you seen Tukaha?” she asked one of the three Maori men stacking hay.
Frowning, the tallest man gave her an up and down glance, then shook his head without losing his work rhythm.
“Did anyone see him?” Toni called to the others. She got the same indifferent responses from them.
She walked the length of the building, looking behind equipment, glancing into stalls. He’d disappeared.
Toni returned to the truck even more curious. But she’d wasted enough time.
Minutes later, once out of the compound and onto the dirt road, she increased her speed. It was unlikely she’d meet another car on the private road. Although she’d lived in New Zealand for over six months, driving on the left side still wasn’t second nature.
Every bump in the dusty road made her moan, but she refused to slow down. On a distant hill, power lines converged. Screeching static wiped out the soulful love song and set her nerves on edge. She clicked off the radio.
A persistent foreboding crept into her consciousness and grew stronger. She inhaled, determined not to give in to her pain or the apprehension.
The hillsides bloomed with wild sweet-peas and gorse. She zipped by a wilderness of grass and gum trees. A hawk glided above, floating on the downwind, biding his time in the sky. It made her think of death.
Rad losing his grandmother in such a violent way had to have been traumatic for a five-year-old child. His grandmother and Maori heritage were tied to his love of the land. With his history, it was crucial for him to hang on to his property. This assignment was important to both of them. Maybe if he knew the facts behind her interest, he wouldn’t fight her need to help him.
Toni veered the car to the right where the road forked. The jerky movement hurt her bruised body. Occasional contorted trees and hundreds of compulsively nibbling sheep dotted the hillsides. The scenery blurred as her mind centered on how her mom and step-dad had lost their farm to what she suspected might be the same corporation as the one that held Rad’s mortgage.
Her mom had married Larry after splitting up with her dad. Mom had loved
being the wife of a New Zealand dairy farmer as much as she had hated being the wife of a Los Angeles detective. Toni felt a lump in her throat. Larry’s farm had been handed down through generations, and when Bell Corporation cheated him and her mom out of it, Larry had felt like a failure. He’d believed suicide was his only answer. Poor Mom. She had lost the farm and her husband. Toni tightened her grip on the steering wheel. She had to stop that swindler!
She had no desire to recover the land for herself. It was all for her mom. As a teenager, she’d never liked living on the farm and had spent very little time there. She had preferred Los Angeles and her dad’s cramped apartment to the wide open spaces. She was strictly a city girl, and a daddy’s girl.
Because of her love of solving mysteries it was natural to go into the business with her dad. And to take it over when he retired.
In her work, uncertainty was more the norm than danger, but she’d really walked into a risky situation this time, an uncooperative client and two murders.
Toni grabbed her side when she hit another bump in the road. Damn the bumpy road. And damn the man who had stolen Mom’s farm. She’d expected her investigation of Bell Corporation to take time, maybe years. Her staff knew that if anything involving a Bell Corporation turned up, she wanted to handle it personally. Then Rad’s call came into the office from the same area where her step-dad had lost his farm.
Toni pressed the accelerator a little harder, whizzing past scatterings of yellow-flowered scrub brush. The grazing land where the rustlers had parked was over the next rise.
To uncover the unscrupulous dealings, she had to identify the corporation head and prove him guilty of land fraud. Then she had to stop him from doing to Rad and others what he had done to her mom and Larry. If only her mom was really a psychic, as she’d always claimed. She could use some inside information.
Toni frowned as she braked the truck to a stop. Rad wasn’t there. She left the truck anyway. Sheep grazed peacefully on a distant hillside. The night before, some of them were on this very spot with rustlers loading them into trucks. Where are Rad’s men now? He needs someone guarding the sheep around-the-clock until the rustlers are caught.
She scanned the dusty ground. Big rig tire prints, sheep prints, and boot prints, marred the road. Had the constable made a cast of the truck prints this time? If not, why?
Toni shivered and crossed her arms over her chest. Her bulky sweater and jeans weren’t warm enough. New Zealand’s October was a heck of a lot colder than the ones she’d experienced in Southern California. She was about to get back into the truck when she saw something shiny near a dried scrub bush. Toni slipped on her rubber gloves and picked it up. Examining it closely, she turned the teardrop jade greenstone over in her hand.
An image of a belt came to her mind. She had seen one recently with greenstone jewels. It wasn’t the semi truck driver’s belt. She hadn’t had time to notice the belt he wore.
It wasn’t Rad’s belt, either. She remembered Rad’s trim waist was hugged by a wide black belt with an intricate hand-carved wooden buckle. Rad’s image stayed in her mind. The tall, dark, imposing man was infuriatingly stubborn. While he was honest and up front, he also liked to play a cat and mouse game. The way he’d made
her squirm before he agreed to abide by the contract proved that about him.
He couldn’t be blamed for wanting to know whom he was dealing with. She smiled. Fortunately for her, he hadn’t had time for that luxury. It didn’t matter; he had hired the best. Even though she was the first to admit her tendency to be impulsive at times, she prided herself on her professionalism. Up to now, by being methodical and patient, she had always gotten her man. She laughed. She meant criminal.
As far as men went, she hadn’t found the right one. She wouldn’t accept anything less. She sighed. He’d have to be passionate, have a deep capacity to love and be capable of accepting love in return, and hopefully have a good sense of humor like her dad.
She turned the limestone gem over in her gloved hand again. It must have been only a quick glance at a passing person, or she would have remembered whom she’d seen wearing a belt with stones like this. Her memory was usually excellent. She slipped the stone into one of the plastic bags she carried to gather evidence, then continued scanning the ground for something more.
A horse whinnied, and she looked up at the top of the ridge. The rider silhouetted against the sky was too far away to see clearly, but she believed it was Rad. Her heartbeat quickened. With people getting murdered and after her own mishap, she couldn’t take the chance she might be wrong.
Careful to stay out of his line of fire, she drew her gun and started making her way up the narrow, winding, dirt path. Wind kicked up the dust in swirls at her feet. Climbing the boulder-lined incline drained her waning energy, but she had to have it out with Rad once and for all.
“Toni, watch out!” Rad’s voice came from below. Confused, she glanced down. She didn’t see him. A loud cracking and then a roar made her look up. A huge boulder tumbled toward her. Sand and pebbles showered over her as she scrambled out of the way. Although safe, she felt herself being lifted. Rad’s wide brimmed hat, captured by a gust of wind, tumbled into the path of the boulder and was smashed flat.
“Close one,” he said.
Rad pressed her against the rocky side of the hill. She felt the rapid beat of his heart and the labored rise and fall of his chest against her breasts.
“Are you all right?” Rad’s voice was gruff, but his eyes glittered with concern.
Toni nodded. She didn’t bother to tell him she’d already made it to safety. She clung to him, surprised how much she enjoyed his protection. His open suede jacket felt soft against her face. The smell of maleness and leather wafted over her. Rad’s hold on her eased, but he didn’t let her go.
“What the hell are you doing here?” His tone sent her out of his arms.
She stood as erect as possible on the uneven ground. The effort made her start to slide. He grabbed her, drawing her close again. His face hovered only inches from hers. Shadows emphasized its angles and planes. His lips were so close. She felt his breath on her face.
This time she couldn’t escape. Oddly, she didn’t want to. She relaxed into his warm, hard body, taking shelter from the cold breeze. “I came to find you. I thought you were up there.” She snuggled closer, glanced toward the top of the ridge and back at him.
“I wasn’t,” he said. His raven hair was smoothed back from his face and braided into that familiar rope that hung to his waist. The piercing quality of his scruitiny sent a shiver through her.
“So I found out.” She couldn’t stop devouring him with her gaze. The primitive quality he emitted like a wild animal drew her in like a magnet.
“I didn’t see anyone up there.” Rad put his hand above his eyebrows to shade his eyes from the sun glare as he scanned the skyline.
“Someone busted that boulder loose. It didn’t fall on its own.”
“If you’re sure of that, it should scare the hell out of you. Whoever did it doesn’t want you poking around.” He braced himself against the rocks with a dust-covered gum boot.
“That’s good. It means someone is afraid I might uncover his identity.”
Rad frowned. “You said you were looking for me. I’m here.”
He didn’t have to tell her that; she felt him, inhaled him, reveled in his nearness.
“So what do you want?”
“I’m well enough to get back to work. And I found a clue.”
He put his hands on her upper arms as if about to shake her. Instead, with a firm grip, he set her down on a smooth boulder and glared at her. “I don’t need you!” His voice deepened with what sounded very much like passion. “And I don’t want you here! Is that clear enough, Miss Conners?” Even after he let go of her, her arms burned from his touch.
“Look, Murdoch, I don’t need you to continue this investigation. So either we work together, or I’ll do it alone. Your choice.”
The lines in his forehead deepened. “I won’t pay you.”
“This isn’t about my money. And yes, you will. We have a contract. Maoris do honor contracts, don’t they?”
Rad’s fists clenched.
She fought a smile of victory. Her reference to his Maori honor had struck him where it hurt. But all was fair in love and war. Dealing with Rad certainly constituted a very passionate war.
“All right, Miss Conners.” A muscle tightened in his jaw. “We’ll work together, but that means no venturing off on your own.”
“I can’t agree to that. There are times when I have to work alone. Accept it, and don’t even try to impede the investigation, Mr. Murdoch.”
He glared at her for several heartbeats, then laughed without humor.
“You want everything your own way. What makes you think I’ll go along
with your terms?”
“If I stay, you have some control. If I leave, you have none.” She arched her eyebrow. “Do we have a deal?”
Toni extended her hand and stared directly into his eyes. His smoldering gaze told her he’d rather strangle her than shake her hand. She felt the giddy elation of victory when he finally did the latter. His firm grip sent a perilous prickle up her arm.
His scowl deepened. “What clue did you find?”
Before she could answer, she spied the glint of steel above them. She pushed Rad hard. He slid several feet down the hill, managing somehow to remain on his feet. A shot rang out.
“Rad, stay down,” Toni shouted, sliding toward him.
He pulled her behind the boulder. She winced when he touched her arm. Blood oozed from her shoulder, matting the sweater with a splotch of dark crimson.
“You’re hurt!” His face contorted with concern.
“Just a graze.” Pain throbbed through her arm.
Flecks of golden fury glinted in Rad’s eyes. “This settles it—”
“Don’t even say it.” She touched her finger to his lips. “There’s too
much at stake to quit now. I won’t stop until I see whoever is doing this behind bars where they belong.”
“Has it occurred to you that you might not live long enough?”
Toni lifted her chin. “Rest assured that I intend to protect my own hide.” Not even the fear of death could stop her now, much less the empty threat of being fired by Murdoch.
Chapter Seven
It was too quiet. There was only the slight sound of the breeze blowing against the hillside and their ragged breathing as Toni and Rad crouched in the narrow space behind the giant boulders. Looking for any sign of the sniper, Rad carefully scanned the ridges above them and the ground below.
He glanced down at Toni. She looked on alert, her face strained, her eyes in motion, shifting from ridge to ridge. Her fingers clutched his lapel; was her fervor due to pain? The blood splotch on Toni’s sleeve was spreading. Was it only a graze as she had said? She didn’t cry or complain. Her brave front made it impossible to know how badly she was hurt. Her admirable courage was unsettling.
Rad felt her softness against his body, her warmth seeping into his pores. He could release her now, but holding her felt too good. It didn’t make sense for a woman to feel this wonderful and look this femin
ine and still be so fearless.
It angered him that she’d risked her life to save him. He could take care of himself.
So far, she’d only managed to get hurt, and unless the clue she’d found was a sound one, they weren’t any closer to discovering the identity of the rustlers than before. It was clear now that nothing was going to stop Toni, short of death.
He wanted to keep his station, but not at the expense of her life. Perhaps the only way to achieve his goal and protect Toni was to work with her. If he put everything else on hold for a few days and gave her his full cooperation, just maybe he could realize his goal without more bloodshed.
Odd, he had this crazy feeling that he needed her more than she needed him. He frowned. Sure, I need her like I need a bullet in the head. He forced his eyes away from her, searching for several minutes for any sign of more trouble.
****
“I think the sniper’s gone,” Toni said, watching Rad’s gaze scan the top of the hillside. The skin at the corner of his eyes crinkled from squinting into the hard light of the afternoon. His demeanor was tough, confident, fearless. He was ruggedly handsome, far too handsome.
Suddenly their eyes met. She had a panicky feeling that if she didn’t get away from him, his body heat would melt her into someone soft, pliable, and far more agreeable than she cared to be.
With no sniper in sight, she gained the courage to wage her distancing counter-attack against Rad. “You’re welcome.” She hoped the bite in her tone worked.
Rad furrowed his brow. “What?”
“Whether you want to face it or not, Mr. Murdoch, I saved your life by shoving you down the hillside. You asked if I ever considered that I might not live to finish the assignment. Well, do you realize it wasn’t me the sniper was trying to kill? If I hadn’t pushed you, you’d be dead!”
His eyes were hard as he towered over her. “Thank you, Miss Conners. But just to get things straight, I can take care of myself. You weren’t hired to be my bodyguard. You were hired to find out who is stealing the sheep. After that, I can take over.”
