by Regina Duke
“But that makes me a prisoner,” she protested.
“Look, Terri, think of yourself as a free woman and me as the prisoner, okay? I go where you go. I’ll be your watchdog.”
Her expression softened. “Like Reggie,” she murmured. Suddenly her eyes widened. “Oh, my God. I’ll bet that’s why Gavin was never violent before. He couldn’t get near me when Reggie was alive. Once he claimed he was just playing, but he was angry I could tell, because he was broke and I wouldn’t give him any more cash for slot machines. He grabbed my wrist and shoved me against the wall so hard, I had to go to the ER and get a cast on my arm. Before he could do anything else, Reggie was all over him. It scared him really bad. He accused me of loving the dog more than I loved him.”
Russ reached out and gently tapped her nose. “That just shows what good taste you have.”
Terri could finally smile.
“You get some rest. Your watchdog is on duty,” said Russ, pointing her toward her bed.
“Okay. I’ll just tuck myself in and get some sleep. And you can go sit over there.” She tried to sound normal and business-like, but it was a strain. “Good boy. Sit. Stay.”
Russ grinned. He pointed at the chair with a thumb. “Yes. Over there. Me. Sit.” Then he laughed. “I sound like Tarzan.”
Terri climbed into bed.
“Do you want the light on?”
“Actually, I’d rather have it dark in here. It evens the playing field.”
Terri snapped off the lamp. “Maybe we’ll get lucky. Maybe Gavin and DaSilva will mistake each other for one of us and solve all our problems.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
TERRI WAS hiking along a wooded trail, inhaling the pine scent of the tall trees, feeling on top of the world. She was alone but unafraid. Her life was simple, free of complicating factors like relationships.
Reggie barked at a squirrel and darted past her to send it back up the tree. Reggie was young again, powerful and energetic, bounding ahead of her on the trail. His tail was wagging and his pink tongue was lolling in that goofy way Shepherds had when they were deliriously happy. She was unafraid because Reggie was with her. He was her protector, but he was much too far ahead of her.
She called him to her side. “Here, Reggie! Come!” He stopped and turned, then stood up on his hind legs with his front paws in the air. She heard a distant bang, bang, bang. Reggie heard it, too. He started running toward her, to put himself between Terri and the imminent threat, but he wasn’t running like a dog anymore. He was running on his hind legs. And as he got closer, his canine body rearranged itself into a human form. Russ!
Terri opened her eyes with a start. Daylight was creeping in around the drawn blinds. It was morning, and she’d been dreaming. There it was again, bang, bang, bang. Knock, knock, knock.
Russ hustled out of the bathroom toweling his hair dry and strode to the window He moved the blind a fraction of an inch so he could see the porch. Then he grinned and opened the door, putting a finger to his lips before he greeted Tony.
“Shhhh. Terri’s still sleeping,” he whispered. “Come on in.”
Tony’s arms were full of white bags from the cafeteria. “I wasn’t sure what she’d like, so I got a variety.” Thirteen-year-old voices have a hard time with the concept of whispering.
Terri pushed herself up on her elbows. “Mmmmmm. I smell coffee.”
Russ smiled. “You’re awake. Good. Tony’s back with breakfast.”
“Back? You mean, he was here before?”
Tony grinned. “You were sawing logs.”
“Oh, thanks,” grumbled Terri, trying to wipe the sleep out of her eyes. She needed the bathroom, but she had no desire to throw the bed covers off in front of a teenager. “Uh, listen, guys. Can I have a minute to myself?”
Russ looked puzzled, but to his credit, only for a moment. “Oh, yeah, sure. I just finished my shower so it’s a bit steamy in there.” He zipped up his black hoodie over a blue Aces tee shirt and slapped his jeans pockets, taking inventory. He was wearing his running shoes. “Come on, Tony, let’s take our coffee out on the porch for a few minutes while Terri gets dressed.” He took a bear claw and handed one to Tony. “The muffins are for you, Terri. Double chocolate chip.” He grinned, then they left.
Terri sat up. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and couldn’t believe she’d slept until nine-thirty. She headed for the bathroom and used the facilities.
The morning air was cooler than she’d expected, and the cabin was chilly. She washed her face in a hurry, picked out olive green hiking shorts and a long-sleeved green tee. Then she put on her socks and hiking boots, hoping they would actually get to do some hiking on her vacation. It would be fun to go hiking with Russ. She could see him in her mind’s eye, striding up the trail, his muscles rippling, his tanned biceps showing a fine sheen of perspiration.
She flushed hotly at her own audacity. Good grief! She had two crazies chasing her and she was daydreaming about Russ’s sweaty body. She took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. It must be low blood sugar. She moved to the table and sipped her coffee. She took a bite of muffin and let the coffee melt the chocolate chips. After another bite, she was ready to let the men back inside.
Russ’s eyes warmed at the sight of Terri standing in the doorway. Her hair still showed evidence of her night’s sleep. The stray wisps gave her an elfin look, and he grinned at her.
“What is it?” asked Terri.
Russ wiped the grin off his face and fumbled for something to say. “Er, you just really look like you could use that coffee.”
Terri nodded. “Great. Thanks a lot. Why do I still feel sluggish?”
The males chorused, “Altitude.”
“Don’t you two feel it?”
“Of course,” said Russ, matter-of-factly, “but it’s not manly to admit it. Just don’t expect to go hiking first thing this morning.”
“Oh, speaking of which,” said Terri leading the way back inside and perching on the foot of her bed, “we need trail maps. Maybe Tony could pick some up for us. And check out the evening programs they’re offering at the lodge.” By God, she was on vacation, and she wanted to do something fun.
“That sounds like a good idea. Anything else?”
Terri hesitated.
If Russ thought it was a good idea to help Terri, then Tony was all for it. “Go ahead, I can do it.”
“I need to find little gifts for my friends at work. Could you check out the gift shop and make a note of any dog or cat-related items they might have? You know, pet collars or things with dogs or cats on them? Touristy things.”
Russ produced a pocket notebook with a red cover and a ballpoint pen and handed them to Tony. “Think you can make a list for the lady?”
“Sure,” said Tony, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
“What’s wrong?” asked Russ.
“Ah, I was hoping I’d get to do something more exciting than shop.”
“Well, yesterday you thought shopping might be a good idea,” said Russ. “Your sister’s birthday, remember? Or was that just a story?”
“No, no, it’s really her birthday.” Tony’s eagerness to be completely forthright with Russ was touching.
“Well, here. I’m giving you an advance on your earnings.” He handed Tony a ten dollar bill. “I know it’s not a lot, but I wasn’t expecting to hire an assistant this trip. Now you can pick something out for your sister while you’re making the list for Terri.”
Tony’s face brightened. “Sweet. Okay. I’ll make a great list.” His eyes shone at the sight of the money.
Terri sipped her coffee to hide her smile.
“I’ll get started right away. Hiking stuff, programs at night, and dog things in the gift store. Got it.”
“There’s another muffin in the bag if you want more breakfast,” offered Terri.
“Thanks.” Tony took the muffin with him. Once he was gone and the door was closed, Terri and Russ chuckled.
Terri
shook her head. “He seems like such a good kid. I can’t believe he broke in here yesterday.”
Russ shrugged. “He’s an adolescent. Hormones. Boys do crazy things sometimes. I remember being that age.” His expression darkened for a moment, then he cleared his throat. “You don’t have the hardware necessary to think things through yet.” He tapped his forehead as he said “hardware.”
“It was sweet of you to give him an advance,” said Terri, thinking once again that Russ would make a great father someday. “You really have a way with kids.”
Russ shrugged off the compliment as if it made him uncomfortable. “Yeah, well, we’d better finish up and start looking for our artist friend, Chad. He should be at the dining room working.”
“Where’s your gun?” asked Terri.
Russ unzipped his hoodie far enough to give her a peek at the shoulder holster he was wearing.
Terri’s fingers were sticky with chocolate. “Let me wash my hands, and I’ll be ready.” In the bathroom, the memory of the events of the night before made her insides twist uncomfortably around her breakfast. She could not resist the temptation to shake out all the remaining towels, mentally daring Gavin to leave another unpleasant surprise for her. She decided she would ask Russ for a gun of her own.
Outside, walking past the cabins under the trees, she took a deep breath of fresh air. “It smells great here.” She hefted her tote bag onto her shoulder.
“No argument from me.”
“Any sign of DaSilva?”
“Not so far. And that bothers me.”
No time like the present. Terri said, “Russ?”
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if you have an extra gun.”
“Shh. Let’s keep this between us, okay? You don’t need one right now. I’m your watchdog, remember? Woof, woof.”
Terri punched him playfully in the arm. She patted her tote bag. “Down, boy. Don’t forget, I’ve got your collar and tags in here.”
Russ laughed.
Terri wondered how he could be so carefree. She kept expecting to see Gavin or DaSilva around every corner.
They entered the lodge, and Russ spoke with the hostess at the restaurant about Chad.
“Oh, sure. There he is, over in the corner, serving that table with the three kids. But you can’t talk to him now. He’ll get in trouble.”
“We’ll catch him after breakfast,” said Russ. “Could you give him this note?” He jotted a message in his pocket notebook, then tore off the page and folded it twice. “It’s urgent.”
“Sure, I’ll give it to him right now,” said the hostess. She turned and bounced down the steps to the dining room.
Russ steered Terri gently toward a bench by the elevated reception window. “Let’s have a seat and wait for him over here,” he said. “We’ve got a view of the dining room from this spot.”
It didn’t take long. Chad’s curiosity got the better of him. He read the note, glanced up at Russ, read the note again, and said something to the hostess. A moment later he was taking the steps up to the lobby two at a time.
“That was quick,” muttered Terri.
Russ wagged an eyebrow at her, but kept a straight face for Chad.
“You, uh, want to see me?” Chad’s boyish features were sunburned, his nose was peeling, and his honey-blond hair had been cut short for his stint as a waiter. “What’s this all about, huh?” He waved the note under Russ’s nose. “This isn’t the least bit, uh, funny, you know?” He lowered his voice and read the note aloud. “Someone’s trying to kill you. See me now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“MURDER IS never funny,” said Russ, all business. “My name is Russ Camino. I’m a bounty hunter from Reno, and I’ve been following a known felon for days. I think he may be coming after you, but I’m not sure why. He’s very dangerous. He already tried to run us off the road coming up here. He’s been chasing my friend here. We discovered she is in possession of photographs intended for him, surveillance photos of you.”
“Surveillance?!” Chad seemed more surprised by the existence of photos than by the possibility that someone was after him.
“That’s right,” said Russ. “I have to assume your life is in danger.
Chad seemed to recover a bit. “That’s crazy,” he said. “Who would want to kill me?”
“That’s what we’d like to find out, before this guy finds you.”
“So you lied to get me out of the dining room?” Chad waved the note. His irritation was showing. “Is this some kind of bad joke? Show me some I.D.”
Russ pulled out his Nevada identification and let Chad take his time examining it.
“Look, Chad,” said Russ, “all I really want to do is make sure you’re safe. And if I can figure out who sicced this guy on you, and why, then the threat can be removed. I have a theory that since you’re an artist, you may have sketched something or seen something at a casino, for instance, that you weren’t meant to see. If you can remember something, or maybe show us some sketches?”
Chad was nodding. His momentary hostility faded the moment Russ mentioned his sketches. “Yeah, yeah, I see what you mean. Well, I’ve got some of my work in my cabin. Part of my portfolio. I have to finish working breakfast, though, or they’ll fire me.”
“We can meet you after your shift,” said Russ. “The sooner we find out why this guy is after you, the better.”
Chad told Russ where to meet him when lunch was over, and Terri and Russ decided they had time to do some sightseeing. As they left the lodge, Terri scratched her eyebrow.
“Don’t you think it’s strange that Chad didn’t ask who this guy is? I mean, if someone told you a man was looking for you, wouldn’t your first questions be, ‘Who is he and what does he want?’ Mine would.”
Russ nodded. “I noticed that, too. But maybe he’s just got his mind on work at the moment. Let’s see what happens when we meet him later. Meanwhile, where to?”
“Let’s start by revisiting Bright Angel Point,” said Terri. “It gets too hot to hike between eleven and four, so I want to go now.”
Before she knew it, she and Russ were holding hands like sweethearts, moving along the trails with other morning hikers.
“Maybe we can hike to the bottom,” said Terri.
“Not without a lot of preparation,” said Russ. “Going down isn’t bad, but coming back up is a vacation ender if you’re not an experienced hiker.”
“Oh,” said Terri, disappointed. “Maybe next trip. I guess I am kind of out of shape. Getting another dog would motivate me to go hiking at home again.”
Russ smiled. “You can help me exercise mine while you’re looking,” he said.
Terri smiled back. “What a great invitation. Sounds like fun.” Inside, she thrilled at the idea of continuing to see Russ at home. It wasn’t a formal date, but for dog lovers it was even better.
The next few hours flew by. Terri had almost forgotten that there was anyone else at the Canyon.
Then a woman’s voice called their names.
It was Raffi. She looked remarkably fresh and clean for someone living in a tent. “Oh, hi, I’m glad I saw you. How is Tony doing? I thought he’d be with you.”
“Don’t worry,” said Terri. “We sent him on a mission. Highly sensitive. He’s checking out the gift shop for possible souvenirs so I can buy some things to take back to my co-workers. And he’s picking up maps for hiking later.”
“Oh, good.” Raffi smiled and tossed her dark hair. She looked like a woman with something on her mind.
“You didn’t really come looking for Tony, did you?” asked Russ.
Raffi blushed. “No, not really. I was sort of hoping you would have some news on the job front. You know. For me.”
Terri smiled her kindest smile. “We’re good, but we’re not that good. We will let you know the moment we hear of anything, though.”
“Well, maybe I’ll go see how Tony is doing,” she said. “Sorry to bother you. I don’t mean t
o be a pest.”
“You’re not,” said Russ. “Say, we’re going to meet someone near the employee cabins after the dining room closes. If you don’t find us up on the veranda, tell Tony he can look for us at the cabins.”
“Great.” Raffi left, although it was evident she didn’t want to.
“You have a fan,” said Terri. “I think she has a crush on you.” And she was surprised at the twinge of jealousy she felt when she said those words. What was wrong with her? She had no right to be jealous of Russ. She barely knew him. One or two ill-timed kisses, brought on by the excitement of two close calls, didn’t give her any right to feel possessive of him. But she did, and she was irritated by the realization.
Russ didn’t seem to think it was a problem. “Oh, she’s just a kid. And she’s worried about her brother, worried about making ends meet, and worried about finding work. Besides, she’s not my type.” Not when Terri was standing there next to him, her pert little nose beginning to show some pink in the morning sun and her short blonde hair refusing to stay where she had tried to style it. He found himself growing warmer than he should when he thought about her, and he forced his gaze out at the splendor of the Canyon. He was working, damn it, and he needed to stay focused. He was going to bring DaSilva in, and he couldn’t let his personal desires interfere with his job. Part of that job was keeping Terri safe, but that was all. If it weren’t for his duty to protect her from DaSilva, he would run very fast in the opposite direction. His voice was brusque when he spoke.
“Let’s go find those employee cabins. I don’t want to be late, in case they aren’t as easy to find as Chad says they are.”
It didn’t take them long. Once they arrived, they had nothing to do but wait for Chad. They ended up strolling back and forth along the path that led from the lodge to the cabins. The setting and the walking reminded Terri of her dream, and she felt herself blushing. To cover up, she cleared her throat and struggled for conversation.
“So, Russ, how long have you had GSDs?”
“Ever since we were kids. My folks always had a pair around.” He chuckled at his nonchalance. “Who am I kidding? Talking like they were just ‘around.’ They were always a part of the family. I can tell you the names and birthdays of every dog we ever had.”