Reunion

by Karen Ball

  She looked at the others, her gaze coldly expectant. One by one they conceded. Finally her eyes came back to Booth. “I’ve always considered you a man of integrity, Booth. I’d hate to find out I was wrong.”

  His burning gaze held hers, and Taylor knew the lines had been drawn, and she was in the enemy camp.

  “Just keep your wolves away from our land, Taylor, and we won’t have any problems.”

  A wave of despair washed over her. She couldn’t control the wolves. They’d go where they wanted. But she didn’t voice her concerns. She just gave a curt nod, then watched as the ranchers turned and walked away, their backs rigid.

  “You handled that well, Taylor.” Her mother’s voice was filled with quiet pride.

  Taylor looked at her, surprised to find herself blinking back tears. “Maybe so, but we all know I can’t stop the wolves from going where they want, Mom. They’ll go on Booth’s ranch as easily as they came on Galloway Glen. And they’ll die for it.” She looked away, brushing the wetness from her cheeks.

  Her father’s arm came around her shoulders. “You can only do your best, Taylor.”

  She stood silent, then lifted her eyes to his. “You’re right. And I think I know what the best thing is for the wolves.” She glanced around quickly. “Did you see where Connor went?”

  “I believe he was walking with a man toward his Wrangler,” her father replied. “Maybe he hasn’t left yet if you’d like to catch him.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” She started toward the parking lot. “I’ll meet you at the car.”

  She ran across the blacktop, and when she spotted Connor’s tall frame, she called his name. He turned in surprise, his eyes narrowing as she approached.

  “Where’s your guard dog?”

  She felt the blush rise in her cheeks. “She’s at home. Still trying to figure out what I was so upset about, I think.”

  “I understood.”

  She fell silent, unsure about how to respond. “You were pretty good in there.”

  He grinned. “Not bad for fighting off a bunch of hostiles.”

  She couldn’t hold back an answering smile. “Not bad at all, and that’s what I want to talk to you about.”

  He leaned against the door of his Jeep. “Shoot.” At the look on her face, he gave a deep chuckle. “Figuratively speaking, of course.”

  “Of course.” She hesitated, then plunged in. “Connor, I’m sorry. For a lot of things. And I want you to come back to the ranch.”

  To say he was stunned would be an understatement. He stared at her as though she’d just sprouted a second head.

  “If your offer is still open, that is.”

  “My offer?”

  At his obtuse question she wanted to kick him in the shins. He wasn’t making this any easier. “To observe the wolves, to photograph them, to keep WAC informed about their whereabouts.” He had straightened quickly when she started explaining, and now his eyes were roaming her face, and the expression she saw in them made her heart pound.

  “I want you to get the best photos anyone has ever seen,” she said in a rush, emotion surging through her. “I want everyone to see the first wolves to come back to Wyoming. I want people to know how beautiful, how incredible they are. Then maybe they’ll have a chance. If enough people hear about them, Booth and his cronies might back off. That might be the only thing that stops them. Even they wouldn’t like being known as the cold-hearted killers of the majestic Wyoming wolf.” She stepped closer, holding out a hand in entreaty. “Please come back, Connor. Help me protect the wolves.”

  He didn’t reply, and her throat constricted. He had every right to turn her down, every right to walk away. She’d insulted him, raged at him, told him she never wanted to see him again, … and all the time he’d just been trying to protect something precious.

  The anger she had felt at his deception dimmed and melted away in the light of sudden understanding. He didn’t know if he could trust me, Lord. He couldn’t put the wolves at risk. Please. Please let him forgive me.

  His eyes studied her, intent, seeking, seeming to reach into her thoughts. She stood there, not hiding anything, letting him see in her eyes all she was feeling. Then he reached out to close his strong, warm hand over hers.

  “I’ll come. But not because of the wolves.” His gaze captured hers, and her breathing grew shallow. “I’ll come for you.”

  Relief swept over her, and she moved, almost without thought, into the circle of his arms, burying her face against the softness of his shirt and the hardness of his chest.

  She didn’t care if anyone saw them. Not her parents. Not Gavin. All that mattered was that Connor was going to help her.

  He was coming back.

  TWENTY-TWO

  WHEN CONNOR CALLED HARRY CROWLEY TO TELL HIM Taylor had asked him to return to the ranch, the president of WAC whooped and hollered with glee.

  “See there? You’re just too charming to resist! Now get out there and find those wolves.”

  Connor returned to the ranch the next morning, and he and Taylor spent the day discussing their plans. Harry had asked Connor to observe the wolf—since Taylor had told him she’d seen only the one—for at least a month. They agreed to use the ranch as their base, going out during the day to track and observe.

  “I’d like to start out by staying in this valley of yours for a couple of days and nights. Since your wolf has come there twice now, it seems like a good place to find him. I’ve got a yurt tent in the Jeep,” Connor told her, “so I can set it up without any trouble.”

  “I want to come, too.” Taylor had decided she could help him with the wolves for a few weeks and still be ready for the retreat season. “I can set up my own tent—”

  “You don’t need to. The yurt is large enough for several people, and we can section off individual rooms.” Connor smiled. “It’s a regular home away from home.”

  Taylor nodded, but she didn’t return his smile. Though she’d obviously taken a big step in asking him to come back, Connor sensed her caution and reserve.

  She changed her mind because she knows I’m her best bet for keeping the wolves safe. Not because she trusts me. Well, he had the time now to change that.

  “I don’t know if it will make a difference.” Taylor’s expression held uncertainty. “But maybe if I’m there, he’ll be more inclined to show up.”

  “Sounds good.” And it did. Going there together suited him just fine.

  Two days later, they loaded the tent and other equipment into Taylor’s truck and headed for Reunion. Within a few hours, they had unloaded their supplies and had set up the tent in a clearing among the trees on the south side of the pond, a good distance from the cave and as unobtrusive as possible among the tall evergreens.

  Constructed of heavy white canvas, the yurt was octagonal, domed, and stretched over a collapsible lattice framework of sturdy wood. It had a hinged door and windows of heavy plastic. Canvas flaps could be secured over the windows to make the tent as weatherproof as possible. Inside, it actually felt like a small house. A wood cooking stove sat near a small table and two chairs, along with a small generator-powered refrigerator for their food. A gas stove was pushed to the side in case it was needed for heat. And true to his word, Connor had set up individual rooms using canvas and poles from the ranch.

  As Taylor surveyed the result of their work, she felt a smile of satisfaction lift her lips. It wasn’t the Waldorf, but the spacious tent was far nicer than she had expected. They each had a small bedroom compartment complete with a cot and lanterns. The area they would share for cooking, eating, and studying their notes was fairly large, at least twenty feet across.

  “All set?” Connor’s question came from behind her.

  She turned and caught her breath. He looked so at home out here, so happy. His eyes were glowing with an expression she couldn’t quite identify.

  Maybe he’s as happy to be together as I am.

  She pushed the disturbing thought away, refusing to le
t her mind—or heart—go that direction. No point in it. She and Conner were together because of the wolves. And that was the only reason. No matter how much she might wish otherwise.…

  His expression altered slightly as he watched her, and she felt heat rising in her cheeks. “So, are we going to get this thing secured or not?”

  At the brusque tone in her voice, Connor frowned. Thankfully, though, he simply nodded. They secured the tent, then climbed the path back to the truck and returned to the ranch. There, they saddled Topaz and Chestnut for the ride back to Reunion, then started out. Sasha loped alongside them.

  Taylor was glad the husky was coming along. She’d asked Connor if the husky would be a deterrent to the wolves.

  “No. They generally aren’t bothered by domestic dogs, especially the nonterritorial ones like Sasha. She’ll be fine.”

  They made it to Reunion in record time, just under two hours. As they crested the rise, the sun was beginning to set. They tethered the horses next to the tent, pulled off the saddles and saddlebags, and got ready for the night. After a quiet dinner, Taylor slipped into her bedroom, Sasha at her side, and lay down on the cot with a sigh.

  Connor had wanted to talk; she’d seen it in his eyes as she stood and walked from the table. But she wasn’t ready for that yet. Didn’t know if she’d ever be. She didn’t want to talk about emotions, or hurt, or trust. She didn’t want to debate forgiveness.

  For now, all she wanted to do was concentrate on the wolf.

  For several days and nights there was no sign of Taylor’s wolf. Connor told her the animal could be as much as fifty miles away—wolves had been known to travel that far while hunting. Or he could just be watching them from a safe distance. And waiting.

  “Waiting? For what?”

  His mouth curved in amusement. “To see if we’ll get out of his territory. Or to size us up. Wolves are highly intelligent and equally skittish. He won’t come around us until he’s sure we’re not a threat. Maybe not even then. It’s actually pretty rare to see a wolf in the wild.”

  “And I’ve seen Sikis twice.”

  He gave a thoughtful nod. “Could be you’ve used up your quota.”

  A glance told her he was teasing, and she stuck her tongue out at him. It was the most relaxed exchange they’d had since his return to Galloway Glen, and she felt almost buoyant. Maybe things were going to work out after all.

  Then, early the next morning, Connor left the tent. Within moments he was back, his eyes shining with excitement. “Taylor. Come out here.” His whisper was urgent.

  She hurried from the tent and followed him to the edge of the pool where he stood and pointed to a spot on the other side.

  Across the pond was a meadow full of waving grasses, and just beyond that a small stand of trees. And there, lying in the lush meadow grass, looking comfortable and relaxed, was the large gray wolf. And with him were four other wolves!

  Taylor watched in amazement as one of them, a slim, medium-sized black wolf, crawled along the ground toward Sikis, its head on the ground, whimpering and wagging its entire body.

  “The black one is probably a young male.” Connor’s voice was low as the wolf reached Sikis and licked repeatedly at the larger wolf’s chin and mouth.

  Sikis put up with this groveling with regal inattention. The other three wolves were larger than the black wolf, but smaller than Sikis. One was gray, like its leader, and it paced back and forth behind Sikis, watching him, as though ready for the slightest signal. The other gray wolf had a much lighter coat, and this one danced back and forth, making friendly advances toward Sikis, trotting toward him, then darting away if he flinched or twitched. The fourth wolf was a buff-tan color with a darker brown head.

  The attention of the entire pack was focused on Sikis, who lay there, his head high, his velvety ears erect, accepting the homage of his followers. The other four kept their tails low, their ears flattened against their heads, and whined with an almost pathetic appeal as they nibbled at Sikis’s muzzle, looking like eager children. Taylor could have sworn Sikis’s mouth, which was partly open, was curved into a majestic, munificent smile.

  “Apparently your friend is the alpha,” Connor remarked.

  “And loving every minute of it, from what I can see. Typical male.”

  Connor’s easy grin warmed her. “That’s as it should be.” With that, he headed for the tent. He emerged within minutes, his photography equipment in tow.

  “Are they still there?” He came to stand beside her, and she nodded.

  “It’s like they’ve come for a photo shoot.”

  He waggled his brows at her. “Well, far be it from me to disappoint them!”

  The wolves put on quite a show. They stayed in the meadow for nearly an hour, playing or lazing or just sitting and watching Connor and Taylor with cautious interest. Sikis was the least nervous of the group; the black wolf the least confident. Every time Connor clicked the shutter or Taylor shifted positions, the black wolf would crouch, his head spinning to stare at them, his body already leaning away.

  A couple of times Taylor was tempted to holler “Boo!” just to see what the animal would do. But she didn’t want to scare the wolf or hinder the growing trust they seemed to be building. Nor did she want to spoil Connor’s chances to get his photos. She looked at him, taking in the excitement that was evident in his stance and his face. His eyes shone, a slight smile tipped his lips, and his golden brown hair blew gently in the early morning breeze. If Taylor had been honest with herself, she would have admitted she enjoyed watching him as much as she enjoyed watching the wolves.

  But she wasn’t ready to be quite that honest.

  The next morning, Taylor was awakened by someone shaking her shoulder. She blinked sleepily until her surroundings came into focus.

  Above her, Connor’s eyes glowed with excitement. “Get up! I have an idea.”

  With that he left her room, and she rubbed her eyes, then slipped from beneath the covers. She was already dressed—it was cool enough at night that she slept in her clothes—so she pulled on a jacket and went to see what was happening.

  “We’ll need to leave Sasha here.”

  Taylor started to question him, then gave in. He was the expert. “Sasha, down.” The dog hesitated, and Taylor couldn’t stop a grin. No matter how well-trained the Siberian was, she still had a stubborn streak. Maybe that was why they got along so well.

  “Down.” At the repeated command, Sasha turned, walked over to the table, circled a few times, then plopped down with an exaggerated air of offense.

  “Ham,” Taylor muttered, then told the dog to stay.

  “Come on.” At Connor’s quiet urging, Taylor followed him, brimming with curiosity. Outside the tent, he grabbed her hand and tugged her along behind him. He led her to the far end of the valley, around the pool, then toward the spot where the wolves had frolicked the day before. Taylor stared at the area, then at Connor. What in the world?

  His grin just widened. “We’re going to see if our friends will come say hello.”

  She stared at him, not sure she’d heard correctly. “Come … say hello?”

  Instead of answering, he took her hand and led her to a spot in the grass. “Sit here.” He gently pushed her to the ground. Caught off guard, she landed with a slight thud, but before she could yell at him, he had moved to sit behind her so that their backs were together. “Okay, now we wait. If they’re out there, if they’re watching, they just might pay a visit.”

  Taylor sat there, the early morning dampness soaking through the seat of her jeans, feeling completely ridiculous. Not to mention nervous.

  “Connor!” she hissed, but he shushed her.

  “Be patient!” Then he turned his head to look at her, and the plea in his eyes was clear. “Trust me. You won’t be sorry.”

  She turned back around, biting her lip. She didn’t know what made her more uneasy: the idea of actually coming in contact with a pack of wolves or trusting Connor.

 
; “They’re here.” Connor’s hushed voice was filled with jubilation, and Taylor turned her head.

  At first all she could see were the trees. Then she realized there were glowing pairs of eyes peering inquisitively from behind the thick trunks.

  Alarm shot through her, and she must have tensed because Connor’s hand reached out to clasp hers where she had it planted firmly on the ground beside her. “Don’t be afraid.” His voice was low but confident. “Just stare at your feet as they approach. Don’t make eye contact or they’ll feel challenged.”

  Her eyes flew to her boots, and she studied them, then dared to peek out of the corner of her eye. One by one, the wolves emerged from the woods, taking cautious, tentative steps toward the two intruders, ready to retreat at the slightest motion.

  Taylor swallowed convulsively as the wolves started to circle them. She’d read the books; she knew what the experts said: Healthy wolves don’t attack people.

  God, please don’t let us prove them wrong!

  Finally, Sikis came right up to Taylor’s feet, sniffing cautiously at her boots, and then he dropped down into a crouch and started to rub his head all over them, back and forth, with vigorous movements. The light gray wolf approached her next, leaning into her shoulder and rubbing against her, like a grizzly trying to get a back scratch on a gnarly old tree.

  Taylor started to laugh. It was the most amazing feeling. She heard Connor’s laugh behind her and figured he was getting the same treatment. Soon all five wolves were leaning against them, rubbing their heads and shoulders against them, wagging their shaggy bodies with enthusiasm.

  Then Sikis jumped away, gave a sharp bark, and bounded back into the woods. The rest of the pack followed him in a flash, and Connor and Taylor were left to themselves, sitting there, still laughing.

  Without thinking about what she was doing, Taylor spun to Connor. He was there, his arms open, and she hugged him tightly.

  “That was incredible!” She leaned back to look up into his beaming face. “Thank you, Connor.”

  He studied her face for a moment, and she saw a deep tenderness in his expression. “Thank you for trusting me.” He let her go and stood up. “I know you took a risk in asking me to come back. I don’t know if you’ve forgiven me for deceiving you—” She started to speak, but he shook his head and continued. “I just want you to know that I was wrong. I should have been honest with you from the start. That would have been the right thing … the godly thing to do.”