by Terry Spear
Hal whistled. "I take it he doesn't have a lot of income?"
"Not that we could tell. No inheritances. Nothing that he reports other than his hunt-guided excursions. Sure, he's got investments, and he pays taxes on them, so we can't get him there. We really have nothing to backup what we suspect in a court of law. Of course, we've questioned the hunters who paid to go on the excursions, but they're all saying they hunted the cougars out in the wild. None of them were close by, and none had been injured."
Hal nodded. "They didn't want to get charged with conspiracy to commit illegal acts. So what made you go into this line of work?"
"My sister is a wildlife photographer and she was in Hawaii filming the fish at one of the reefs while two divers were poking at the coral and collecting fish. They were at about fifty feet of water and one of the fishermen attacked Jessie, jerking the air regulator out of her mouth. Thank God she was an experienced diver. I've gone on dives with her, but I am totally inexperienced. If someone had done that to me, I probably would have panicked, become disoriented, might have tried to quickly return to the surface, and died. It could have killed her if she hadn't reacted quickly enough. You know what the fisherman said? He was scared of her! She had been taking a video of him! Then he said he might have to carry bang sticks to protect himself from the eco-terrorists. She's not the one who grabbed his regulator from his mouth! He should have been brought up on charges." She took a steadying breath.
Hal could see the notion that her sister could have died still bothered Tracey. He didn't blame her. If any of his close friends had faced such a dangerous action, he would have felt the same way.
"Anyway, my dad was already a FWS Special Agent, and I had been wanting to do my part too. I figured this was my calling."
"You have an affinity for getting the perps." Hal admired her all the more.
"Yeah, but I'm not always successful."
"I understand your frustration. We hate it when one of the lawbreakers we're after gets away with it also. Is your father still in the service?"
She shook her head. "Retired. And no, I didn't tell him what happened on this case—the shooting and all. He'd want me to quit. He's testified on a number of cases in court, put away a lot of traffickers, but he never was in a firefight with any of them. At least that I know of. My mother, who has a cake decorating business, would agree with my dad." She sighed. "Enough about me. What about you? Being Special Forces first? Now a deputy sheriff? Having a horse ranch? Family?"
"As far as the military goes, we had a local hero, Special Forces, who told us his war stories when I was growing up. We all wanted to be like him, so we all joined. Deputy sheriff? Well, when Dan became the sheriff, he pretty much told the rest of us we were his new deputies." Hal smiled.
Tracey chuckled. "Sounds like you guys are real good friends."
"We are. Just like brothers. As to the horse ranch, my great grandfather broke horses for the cavalry during WWI, my grandfather broke them during WWII. My father wasn't interested in horses, rode them, sure, but he didn't want to raise them or break them. I used to sit on the fence and watch my grandfather while he worked with them. He knew how to talk to them. Knew how to let them come to him. He watched the horses' behavior. Saw how they greeted each other. Just like learning how to behave toward each other in our cougar forms, he knew how to commune with the horses. I was fascinated by the process. But…I had to run off and fight and serve in the army with my buddies. When we finally returned, Dan made me a part-time deputy sheriff. After that, I was busy getting ready to start my own horse ranch."
"You've been busy. So where's your family?"
"They live in town. Mom runs the newspaper and dad is one of her reporters."
Tracey smiled. "Any brothers or sisters?"
"Nope. Only child."
"Lonely."
"Not when I had all my friends in the area. They were like brothers."
"That's so nice. Can I see your mare?" Tracey loved the reason why he went into the horse business. Not just to make money, but because he really loved horses. "None of these are serving in the military though, right?" She couldn't imagine that the U.S. military still used horses for military missions any longer.
Hal smiled. "A few might. Maybe at the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Seven mounted cavalry units are on active duty in the United States. No fighting for them. They're in parades, three presidential inaugural parades even, and drill and weapons exhibition. They get the best of care."
They walked out to the stable and a dark-haired man with smiling, equally dark eyes greeted them outside and took in Tracey's whole appearance. "Hell, is this the new boss lady?"
Hal smiled at him and shook his head. "Don't scare Tracey off." He made introductions, but she noted he didn't mention her occupation.
Ted grinned at her. "No way would I do that, if I can help it."
"I don't scare off easily," she said, and meant it.
"No, she's usually armed and dangerous," Hal said.
"Yeah, I can tell." Ted was smiling too broadly to appear to be taking either of them seriously.
"How's Misty doing?" Hal asked.
"Looks close, boss man." Ted turned to Tracey as they walked into the stable. "Have you ever seen the foaling process?"
"No." She hadn't expected to either.
"It changed my life around, first time I saw it happen. I was helping Hal muck out stalls when one of the mares went into labor. I'd been into minor scrapes with the law, but when I began seeing the foals born, taking care of the colts and fillies, well, it just gave me an appreciation for just how precious life is."
"Yeah, it was about time," Hal said. "Hell, I thought I'd never get off restriction after you stole Mrs. McCormick's hen so we could roast it over a campfire, when you'd said you'd paid for it."
"I did. For a long damn time. Who would have thought stealing one hen would have cost me in so much labor time on her farm."
"It was her best laying hen. Good thing you mended your ways."
"Yeah, well, I felt bad about that. I never realized that not all chickens were meant just to eat." Ted glanced back at Tracey. "So what do you do?"
"Take down wildlife traffickers, or others who harm wildlife for personal gain or profit."
Ted's jaw dropped. "Hell, boss man, why didn't you tell me what the lady did before I spilled the beans on myself?"
She smiled.
"I knew you'd be giving a tale about your bad boy image and how you were now one of the good guys."
Tracey laughed.
When they reached the 14 x 14 stall where the mare was, Hal said, "Misty is a blood bay and white tobiano paint."
She was a lovely color with white markings on the lower legs, white mane, the top half of her tail white, the lower half dark brown, her body large splotches of reddish-brown and white, her face, reddish brown. And very pregnant with a sagging belly. Tracey couldn't imagine carrying such a big baby.
"How are you doing, Misty, ol' girl?" Hal leaned against the gate and she came over and nuzzled his face with her own.
Tracey smiled.
The mare turned away and began to paw the ground. Sweat had collected around her neck and flanks. But she hadn't been exercising. Tracey was about to ask when the foal was due, but when she turned, Hal had already stalked off.
The mare paced and snatched small bites of hay, then paced again. Tracey hadn't been around mares ready to foal and she was afraid of what this meant.
Hal returned with a package in his hand, and his cell in the other. "Yeah, Doc. She's sweating and…" He paused to look at Misty pacing across the floor. "Pawing at the ground. She just laid down. Got back up. All right. See you as soon as you can get here."
Tracey frowned at Hal. "Don't tell me she's in labor."
He smiled and winked.
"She's in labor," Ted said. "I've never delivered one myself, but I've seen enough of them foaled."
"Why isn't the vet coming sooner?" Tracey asked.
"She's delivering another foal that's turned the wrong way, and she's an hour from here, but it will take a while with the other delivery."
Great. "You watched your grandfather deliver a foal, right?" Tracey attempted not to panic.
"Yes, but I was young. Then I was in the army. My grandfather died before I returned home. My father had sold off the ranch, figuring no one was here to run it, and he wasn't interested in ranching. He didn't know when I'd return home, or if I'd make a career of the military. I wasn't sure myself, and I still had an army obligation."
"So what do we do?"
Hal's brows lifted a bit.
"You…do know what to do, right?"
"I watched some YouTube videos, I went to a foaling class, and I've got a foaling kit." Hal began opening it up and seemed remarkably calm.
"And I'm here," Ted said.
She was worried stiff about everything turning out all right. "Can't the vet get here any quicker? Or can it take several hours for the mare to deliver like a human does?"
"Could be one to four hours."
"Okay, what do you want me to do?"
"How about you keep track of the time on each stage of her labor." He dug out a digital clock, marking pen, and foaling timesheet.
When he handed her the items, he was shaking a little. When she took them from him, she was too.
"I'll be right back. I'll get a bucket of warm water," Ted said.
Watching Misty closely, Tracey thought she saw the water bag, which was visible at the mare's vulva. "Uh, Hal? I think her water's ready to break."
He looked up from reading an instruction card. "Yeah, I see. This is the first stage of labor."
He joined Misty in the stall. She kept moving around, agitated. "She's having contractions."
"Better her than me." Tracey was really glad that she wasn't having a baby.
Hal glanced at her and grinned. Tracey was sure her face was beet red, as hot as it felt.
Ted brought him the pail of water and stayed with Hal and the mare. Hal took out a wrap, then proceeded to wrap the mare's tail.
For four hours, they watched her. She frequently urinated, kept switching her tail, and continued to eat erratically. Then the bag of water suddenly broke and a rush of about five gallons of fluid fell to the floor.
Hal, Ted, and Tracey just stared at the water before Hal read his instruction card again.
That done, he put on gloves, then washed the mare's vulva and hindquarters with the green soap, from the kit, that he added to the warm water. Then he rinsed her off thoroughly. He looked like he knew what he was doing. She swore her heart was racing faster than when she was shooting at the bad guys.
Strong contractions began and the mare laid down. Tracey thought the foal would be delivered at any moment. Then she witnessed the beginning of the miracle. The foal's front feet emerged as if diving, the foal's nose tucked between its legs, one hoof slightly in front of the other, soles down, the inner sac breaking. The foal was half out when the mare rested. Then fifteen minutes later, the foal was delivered the rest of the way.
"She still has to deliver the placenta," Hal said, as the mare stood and the umbilical cord broke.
The foal was a bay, reddish brown body, black mane, tail, ear edges and lower legs and an adorable white star on her forehead. A filly.
"What should we name her?" Hal asked.
Switching her attention from the filly to Hal, Tracey looked up at him, figuring he'd already have a name picked out for her. She was really honored that he'd asked her. "Annie?"
He smiled. "Annie, it is."
Bright and alert and just adorable, Annie was making attempts to stand, breathing normally, and she was beautiful. Misty was curious and attentive toward her foal, which looked to be a good sign. She began to eat and Annie finally managed to stand after an hour. She began to nurse and it was the most wondrous sight.
Once the placenta was delivered Hal bagged it. Ted hurried to clean up the foaling stall, removed soiled bedding, and added fresh straw.
Then the two men just looked on in wonder, smiling, perspiration beading their foreheads, and she couldn't believe the marvel she'd just witnessed.
Tracey's phone vibrated in her pocket, and she set down the foaling chart and fished the cell out. Stryker Hill.
Ohmigod, she'd forgotten all about Stryker and her supper date with him! It was a quarter past the hour when he was supposed to pick her up at her cabin.
She closed her eyes and opened them and said, "Hello, Stryker?"
Both Ted and Hal turned their attentions from the filly and mare to Tracey. Hal quickly said, "Tell him we just foaled a filly. He can come over and see her, and then we'll all have a barbecue in celebration."
Chapter 6
Hal couldn't help it. He'd just had the thrill of a lifetime—foaling his own filly, and sharing the experience with Tracey, who looked awestruck and pleased. He loved that she had named the filly too.
But now? He didn't want her going off to supper with Stryker.
The instinct was natural—a cougar's tendency to claim his territory, and the female in it. For humans, it might seem archaic, but for cougars, it was an inborn condition.
In the wild, and as full cougars, he would fight off another male that encroached on his territory. In this case, he had to come to terms with his cougar half. Though he still didn't want to give her up for the evening, he'd go halfway.
He was still watching her to see her reaction, knowing the way he called out the barbecue invitation, Stryker had to have heard it over the phone.
She looked up from the filly to him and said over the phone, "That would be great. She's really beautiful. See you in a little bit." Then she pocketed her phone and smiled, but it wasn't a sweet smile, more like she knew Hal had played a fast one on his friend.
Hal knew then, he'd won. Stryker would want to kill him for it later. In a good naturedly way, of course.
Unable to curb his enthusiasm, Hal grinned big time.
Ted slapped him on the back. "Way to go, man. Stryker is going to be…"
Hal gave him a quelling look.
"Thrilled to see the filly." Ted grinned. "Why don't you get cleaned up while I finish out here? Someone can call me when the food's ready."
"I'm going to take a shower," Hal told Tracey as he pulled off the gloves he'd used on the mare and foal, and disposed of them. He called the vet. "Everything's fine. No need to come out. The filly and mare are doing great."
"Okay, thanks. If you need me, just call. I'm still at Vander's Ranch."
"Bad case?"
"No, no, it's going to be all right. It's just going to take a little longer than we expected."
"Okay. I'll call if I need you." Hal ended the call and smiled down at Tracey.
"Wow, that was really beautiful. You did a great job."
"Thanks. Missy did all the work, really. I'm glad no complications arose. Do you want steaks? Chicken?"
"I'm all for steaks."
"You got it. I'll be just a minute if you want to make yourself comfortable. Grab something to drink, if you'd like." He walked with her into the house, feeling on top of the world.
"I'm going to sit on your deck for a while." She slipped outside, and he thought life couldn't be any better.
Who would have ever thought coming to a Special Agent's aid when she was in the middle of a gunfight would lead to this? She had to admit, she was having the time of her life.
Washed up and dressed in clean clothes, Hal headed out of the master bedroom when he heard Stryker pulling up outside. He must have assumed she was still at Hal's place when he couldn't get hold of her at the cabin and driven faster than the speed of a bullet to get here.
Hal headed Tracey off to get the door. Hal opened the door and let Stryker in.
Giving Hal a look that said Stryker would get him back for this, his friend said, "Thanks for the invite. I'll have to start calling you Slick."
Hal chuckled. "We've been meaning to have a b
arbecue out here since I moved in, but all of us have been busy. With the new foal's arrival, it seemed the perfect time to do so and celebrate at the same time."
"Yeah, like I said—Slick. Did you induce the mare?"
Hal laughed. "Come on. Let's get some drinks and have a barbecue."
When they settled to eat on the back deck, it couldn't have been more perfect. Unless, Hal had been enjoying the evening alone with Tracey. But given that she would have been out with Stryker tonight, this was great.
Even Stryker had to admit Annie was cute. And Tracey had been all smiles again.
The air was still warm enough, and the food and chardonnay, absolute perfection, the company and conversation, even better.
Then Tracey got a call and all conversation stopped.
She quickly answered her phone, glanced in Hal and the other men's direction, and said to the caller, "Anton? How are you doing?"
"Her partner," Hal told Ted, since Stryker would already know who he was.
All of them were watching her facial expression and body language. She was tense, her posture stiff. She was probably concerned about Anton's health and why he would be calling her.
"Just a minute." She said to Hal and his friends, "Do you mind if I take this in the house? The breeze is making too much static on the line and he can't understand me."
"Sure, go ahead." Hal hoped everything was all right. She seemed serious, but not anxious, so he suspected everything was okay. He was thinking of asking everyone if they'd like to run in their cougar coats tonight. Not into the rocks though. He'd love to take Tracey there alone—to show her his special spot.
As soon as she went inside and shut the door, Stryker turned to face Hal, "I'm taking her home tonight."
Hal wanted to object, but what could he say? She was supposed to be eating out with Stryker tonight, and he would have taken her home after his date with her otherwise. Plus, Hal was home. Stryker wouldn't have to make much of a detour to take her to Chase's resort. No matter how much he tried to come up with a way that would work, he knew Stryker had outmaneuvered him this time.
