On the Hunt

Ignore it. Get to his rifle lying on the ground.

She was fighting him desperately now but getting weaker every minute.

“Dammit, stop struggling. I’m trying to stop the bleeding.”

Not Taylor. It was Harlan’s voice! She recognized it though she’d only heard it on the phone.

“Mack…” Kira gasped. “Help… Mack.” If anyone could find a way to save Mack, it would be Harlan with his military background. “You’ve got to save… my dog. You can’t let Mack die…”

“Shut up. I’ll give you anything you want if you’ll just be quiet and let me stop this blasted bleeding. I’m trying to keep you alive. I’ll tend to everyone else later.”

“Be careful… Taylor!”

“He’s gone. I squeezed off a few shots, and he ran into the woods. I don’t think I got him, but both he and the helicopter are gone now.”

“Mack… Promise me…”

“I promise, dammit. Be quiet and let me work.”

She heard a low whimper and tried to turn her head. “Mack?”

Harlan glared impatiently down at Kira. “Satisfied? Your dog is still alive. I patched him up as best I could. But he’s been trying to crawl over to you since I got here and got rid of Taylor and his pilot buddy.”

“No.” It was painful for her to speak. “Let Mack come… he doesn’t understand.” And Harlan didn’t understand, either. But she had to make him know what to do. “You’re going to have to make him better… Make him… right.”

“Okay, I promise that, too. I’ll give him everything he wants. Now relax and let me try to keep you alive and Taylor from getting his way this time.”

“He won’t… do it. I won’t let him. He hurt… Mack.”

“Keep that thought in mind. Now will you calm down and let me help you?”

“Help… Mack.” But she could let go now. She’d heard that Harlan never broke his promises, and Mack would be safe…

She slid down into the darkness…

CHAPTER

4

ALARIE MANOR

FIVE DAYS LATER

“You’re awake again? Thank heavens. That dog of yours has been driving me crazy. Want some water?” The red-haired teenage girl wearing jodhpurs and a suede vest was sitting in the chair beside Kira’s bed and was holding a crystal glass to Kira’s lips for her to sip. Then she snapped her fingers. “Come on, Mack. She’s back with us again.”

“Mack…” The golden retriever jumped on Kira’s bed and cuddled closer to her, making whimpering noises.

She gave him a relieved hug as she realized how well and blessedly alive he was looking. “How is he?” Kira was frantically examining Mack’s bandages more closely as she spoke. “He was hurt, but he looks… okay now?”

“Better than you.” The girl made a face. “You had a bad fever that kept flaring up even after the wound in your shoulder was almost healed. Harlan raised hell with your physician because he was worried about it. But you’re both on the way back now. Harlan wouldn’t have it any other way. He said he made you a promise. By the way, I’m Fiona, Harlan’s niece.” She grinned. “Mack has kind of adopted me in the days since Harlan assigned me to take care of you. Harlan’s been busy searching for that scumbag Joseph Taylor after he escaped from Colorado. At first your snooty dog wouldn’t have anything to do with me, but then he decided to give me a break and we came to an understanding. Of course, he was positively crazy about Harlan. But I guess Mack decided that you needed someone to keep watch on you if Harlan wasn’t there to keep you company any longer.”

“Keep me company?” Kira lifted her hand to her temple. “Where the hell am I?” She was looking around the chamber, taking in all the luxurious furnishings and antiques surrounding her and trying to put the pieces together. The room was all comfort and luxury. In the alcove within the far wall, she saw a group of several sketches of magnificent horses that appeared so real, she felt as if she could reach out and stroke them. There was also a sketch of a man whom she recognized all too well. Those glittering green eyes, that hard yet expressive face. “I… suppose this has to be one of Jack Harlan’s houses if he was giving orders about Mack.”

“Of course it is.” Fiona’s gaze followed Kira’s to the sketch. “Do you like my sketches? People are much harder than my horses. But I thought I drew Harlan well.”

“It’s very good. Completely recognizable.”

“He wouldn’t let me touch Mack for the first couple of days you were under a doctor’s care. After you left the hospital, you were brought here to the manor and he imported one of the vets who generally takes care of my horses to live here and watch over Mack.” She shrugged. “Otherwise Harlan himself was in here and took care of both of you.”