Lindsay McKenna (26 page)

“Okay?” he asked huskily, kissing her tangled hair.

“Okay,” she said. As he positioned her hand around his waist, Talon was solid and made it easy for her to limp forward. “This isn’t going to be fast,” she warned him, feeling pain begin in earnest in her knee.

“It’s all right,” he soothed. “Take your time.” Talon looked over his shoulder and called Zeke, who leaped and swiftly closed the gap between them. Talon pointed toward the hill and gave the dog an order to guard. That meant Zeke would move out in front of them, making sure there were no bears, no humans, anywhere around them as they walked slowly up the hill.

Cat was grateful for Talon’s patience and strength. As they finally crested the rocky hill, she spotted the highway below. There were no vehicles waiting for them but she knew they were deep into the Grand Teton National Park and it would take time for the ambulance to arrive.

Talon looked around.

Cat felt him shift into a different mode. “What are you doing?” she asked in a whisper.

Talon looked down at her. “Sensing if there’s any enemy around. In this case, Magee. I don’t feel anything and Zeke doesn’t, either.” He moved his chin in the direction of where his dog was operating about twenty feet in front of them, farther down the hill, trotting back and forth, always alert, always looking around.

“I wish I knew where Magee was,” Cat muttered, feeling raw and vulnerable.

“Cade called the sheriff in the county above ours and gave them info on your truck and Magee. He thinks he might be slipping away, making a run for it.”

“God, I hope he’s gone from this area,” she said as she looked down the hill.

“Did he hurt you?” His breath jammed in his throat for a moment.

“No. He’s crazy. He never touched me, thank God. He said he wanted to win me back, that I’d get to like him again as we stayed at that cabin.” She shook her head, her voice bitter. “Like I’d
ever
want that bastard anywhere near me.”

“I’m glad he thought he could trust you.” Talon grunted as he helped her down a rocky expanse. “You ran out of the cabin when he was distracted?”

Compressing her lips, clinging tightly to Talon, she said, “Yes. But I was torn. He had a knife, Talon. And I knew he could use it on me if I ran. I wasn’t sure if I shouldn’t stay and try to talk sense into him or run.”

“It was smarter to run,” Talon said. They were halfway down the hill when he saw Cade Garner drive up and park below them on the berm of the highway. “There’s Cade,” he said.

More relief sped through Cat. “I’m so afraid Magee is out here lurking around somewhere....”

“Zeke would pick him up in a heartbeat,” Talon assured her, watching as she carefully lifted her injured knee to hop another foot down the hill.

“You’re safe, Cat.”

Breathing hard, winded by the run and the adrenaline starting to leave her system, she groaned, “Not until they find Magee. I’m afraid to go back to the condo. Somehow, he got in. He was waiting for me when I unlocked the door and walked in.”

Scowling, Talon said, “You’re going to the hospital first.”

Cade emerged from the black Tahoe cruiser and he quickly took to the hill, reaching them in no time.

“How are you, Cat?” he asked.

“I’m alive. That’s what counts.”

“Let’s stop,” Talon said, looking over at Cade. “Let’s put our hands like a seat beneath her butt. We can carry her down to the cruiser a lot faster.”

“Good idea.” Cade smiled at Cat. “Ready for a short ride?”

She nodded. “Thanks...”

In no time, Cat was sitting in the backseat of the cruiser, waiting for the ambulance to arrive. She kept her right leg straight, protecting the swelling knee. Talon stood near the open door, never far away. He had given Zeke water earlier, the dog lapping it eagerly out of his cupped palms. Cat was amazed at the calm of the dog and his master. If she’d leaped on a grizzly’s back, she sure would be shaken up even now. But Zeke was calm, attentive, his dark brown gaze moving up to check on her occasionally. Talon seemed unruffled, focused and intent, as he and Cade talked.

The ambulance rolled up, parking behind the cruiser. Just as Talon helped Cat stand, Cade’s radio came alive. Another sheriff’s deputy reported that they’d spotted Magee in her truck.

Talon listened as he allowed Cat to lean against him. The two fire department paramedics came up with a gurney. As he helped her sit down on it, he said, “I’m going with Cade. We need to get Magee. He’s left the truck on the side of the road and disappeared into the woods. Zeke will find the son of a bitch in a hurry.”

Cat nodded and lay down. “Please, be careful? Both of you. He has a knife.”

Talon grimaced and placed a kiss on her brow. “I have a combat assault dog. Zeke will find him and take him down.”

“But—”

“Hush,” Talon whispered roughly, taking her hand. “I want you out of here, Cat. Safe. At the hospital.” Talon saw a second cruiser pull up behind the ambulance. “I’ll come and see you as soon as I can. I promise.” And his gaze locked on to hers. He felt Cat’s cold, damp fingers on his. Trying to not sound so gruff, he added, “I love you, Cat. Let these guys take you to the E.R. and then home.”

* * *

C
AT
’
S
TRUCK
WAS
pulled off the road and partially hidden. Shelby Kincaid, who had been driving toward the Yellowstone southern entrance, spotted it with her sharp eyes. As a tracker, she was used to looking for small but telling details. Magee had driven off and put the gray truck into the woods and almost succeeded in camouflaging it. The truck had a flat tire and no spare, so Magee had abandoned it. Shelby was waiting beside the road for them when they pulled up.

“Hey,” she called, lifting her hand toward Talon. “I see you brought the serious firepower. Your dog.”

Nodding, Talon had Zeke on a leash. “Yeah, he’ll make short work of this. Let’s get over to the truck. Zeke needs to pick up Magee’s scent and then I’ll unleash him.”

Cade walked beside Shelby and they followed Talon and Zeke to the truck. Talon opened the door, pointing to the driver’s side of the seat. Zeke leaped up, his front paws on the floorboards, sniffing loudly. He whined and began wagging his tail in excitement.

“Okay, he’s got the scent,” Talon told them. He called Zeke down and the dog instantly put his nose to the ground, moved quickly around the pickup, straining at the leash, on the scent.

“I’m going to let him go,” Talon told them over his shoulder. “Get ready to follow him....”

“But he’ll outrun us by a mile,” Shelby said.

Talon grinned darkly. “Oh, you’ll hear him, no problem. He’ll find Magee and take him down. The screams will tell us what direction to go. Ready?”

Cade nodded, drawing his pistol. He glanced over at Shelby, who did the same. “Let him go.”

“Seek,” Talon ordered his dog. He unsnapped the leash and Zeke leaped forward, moving at top speed, whipping in and around the stands of pine trees, swiftly disappearing.

“Let’s go,” Talon growled, pulling the Glock from his waistband, digging his toes into the dirt and pine needles.

Talon moved at top speed, brush whipping past him, swatting at his legs and hips, the pistol held high and ready. He was used to working with his combat dog and could hear Zeke’s explosive breath somewhere out in front of him. He followed the sound without ever seeing his dog. Cade and Shelby were hot on his heels, crashing through the brush right behind him.

There was a low, snarling growl and Talon knew Zeke had spotted Magee. He couldn’t see anything, the darkness starting to fall around them. The temperature was dropping rapidly, near freezing as he lunged in the direction of the growl. Zeke would not make a sound when he found his victim. He would growl only at the last second, getting the human’s attention, throwing him off guard just before he lunged.

A man’s startled scream split the air. Talon moved quickly toward the sound. He heard Zeke’s guttural growl, Magee’s yelp of panic. In moments, Talon came upon them. Zeke had a hold of Magee’s left arm, having dragged him down to the ground. The man was striking at Zeke, but the dog refused to release his arm. Zeke was snarling and growling, hauling back on his rear legs, forcing Magee to stay on the ground.

Talon quickly came around Magee, looking for the knife he carried, which he saw in a sheath on his belt. “Stay down or I’ll let my dog rip your throat out,” he snarled at the man, pulling a pair of flex cuffs from his back pocket.

Terrorized, Magee stopped struggling.

“Zeke, sit!” Talon ordered. Zeke released Magee’s arm and sat down nearby. Talon quickly pushed Magee on his belly, jerking his arms behind him. Cade came around and helped him cuff Magee from behind.

“Wow,” Shelby said, impressed as she put her pistol away. “That’s some serious tracking Zeke did.”

Talon smiled grimly and stood up. He and Cade hauled Magee to his feet. His left arm was bleeding where Zeke had bitten and held on to him. “Maybe you ought to get a dog for the department.”

Cade read Magee his Miranda rights as they pushed him toward where the cruisers were parked.

Shelby nodded and gave Zeke a proud look. “He’s really something special.” And her green eyes danced with mirth. “And so is his owner.”

Talon felt proud of Zeke, who now obediently walked at his side. Panting heavily, the dog kept his eyes on Magee, always alert, always guarding. Talon reached down and ruffled Zeke’s fur. “Good boy!” Later, he would tussle with Zeke, give him the ball he loved to be rewarded with for doing a good job. Right now, all Talon wanted was to get back to Jackson Hole to the hospital and be with Cat.

As they walked out of the woods, Talon’s heart and soul were oriented to Cat. She’d been so frightened. Helpless with a knee injury that had made her a target of the grizzly. Thank God for Zeke. Even though he had a shoulder injury that would never improve, his dog had responded magnificently to the bear. Talon patted Zeke’s head, more than grateful to his dog. Zeke had saved him and his team so many times in the past. Now, even though he was no longer in the military, he was still saving lives. A fierce love for Zeke rose in Talon and he caressed the dog’s ears.

“Shelby,” Cade called after they got Magee into the backseat of his cruiser. “Would you take Talon and Zeke to the hospital?”

“Will do,” she called.

Talon opened the rear of the cruiser and Zeke leaped in. Right now, he had to call his mother and let her know what had happened. And then put a call in to the McPhersons. Talon knew they would be worried sick. At least these calls he’d make would have a happy ending. All he wanted was to be at Cat’s side, be there for her. He loved her, and Talon was going to make sure she knew it in every way possible.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

T
ALON
WATCHED
C
AT
come out from beneath the anesthesia after her knee operation. He stood by her bed in the private room at the hospital, his hand around her cooler one. “Welcome back to the real world,” he teased, giving her a tender smile. She’d undergone a one-hour operation to repair the torn meniscus in her right knee.

“Hey,” she mumbled, feeling his warm, strong fingers around hers. “Are you okay?”

“Never better,” Talon promised, leaning down, lightly kissing her lips. This was all he wanted: Cat. As he eased away, he could see her trying to smile, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. He held her eyes, the pupils large, rimmed with blue. “Cat? I love you. Just hold on to that, okay?”

She heard the thickening of his voice, the barely withheld emotions behind his words. “I love you, too, Talon.” She frowned, closed her eyes and then felt more of the drug leaving her, her thoughts more lucid. Obviously, he was anxious, though his face remained unreadable. She knew he cared. His hand was wrapped around hers and the way he looked at her told Cat everything. “Did they find Magee?”

Talon straightened and smiled. “Zeke found him. Cade Garner brought him over here earlier while you were in surgery to get his arm medically taken care of. Now Magee’s in jail without bail.” He saw the relief come to Cat’s wan face.

“Is Zeke okay?”

“He’s a happy dog. He got to take down a bad guy.”

Cat managed a half smile. “Ugh, I feel so dopey....”

“Jordana McPherson was just in here to check on you. She said the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lyons, did a good job on your knee. Said it would take about an hour for you to feel normal after coming out from under the anesthesia. Can I get you anything?”

Cat felt the dressing around her right leg. “No...I’m okay. Just glad to wake up and see you here. Glad Zeke’s okay, too.” Her heart opened wide to Talon. He loved her. He was here. “Guess it’s your turn to take care of me for a while,” she teased, her voice hoarse sounding.

“I wouldn’t want it to be any other way, babe.” Already Talon could see her eyes beginning to clear and he drew in a deep sigh of relief. “Gus, Griff and Val sat out in the surgery lobby holding space for you during your operation. The doctor told them your surgery was a success and you were fine. They just left to drive back to the ranch once you were in recovery.”

Nodding, Cat said, “That was so nice of them. And Sandy? Did you call her?”

“I did. We were all worried about you, Cat. Matt and Casey Sinclaire were in the surgery lounge when I arrived. They were holding guard for you, too, until I could make it back here to be with you.”

Smiling softly, Cat whispered, “I have the best friends.”

“They’re like family to you,” Talon told her gently. And, indeed, they really were. “Matt said you’ll be getting six weeks of medical leave because of your knee injury. Told me to tell you to call him when you felt up to it. Casey wanted to know if she could be of help at your condo, if you needed anything cleaned or errands run.”

“They’re wonderful friends.”

Talon grazed her cheek, seeing a tinge of pink coming back to them. “I told them we were living together and thanked them but that I’d be doing the cleaning of the house and any other errands you might need run.” Because, unless Cat said differently, Talon was not leaving her side again. He’d nearly lost her.

“I like the sound of that,” Cat admitted softly.

The door opened. Jordana peeked in. “Hey, you’re awake!” She walked in, hands in her lab coat, the stethoscope around her neck. “Welcome back to the world of the living, Cat.” She nodded hello to Talon and then walked over to Cat. “How’s that knee feeling? Any pain?”

Cat was grateful when Jordana brought the bed up into a slightly sitting position for her. “It’s a bit cranky, but no real pain.”

“Good,” Jordana murmured. “Dr. Lyons will be by shortly.”

“The surgery didn’t take long,” Cat said, moving her hand over the light pink blanket over her knee.

“It doesn’t. The good news is, once you feel like your old self again, you’ll be discharged from the hospital. You can go home.”

“That’s great. I hate hospitals.” And then Cat gave Jordana an apologetic look. “Not the people. Just being in a hospital.”

Patting her hand, Jordana grinned. “I understand. In the meantime, no work for six weeks. Dr. Lyons and I can go over what you can and can’t do.”

“Six weeks,” Cat muttered. “God, I won’t know what to do with myself.”

Talon grinned. He knew Cat wouldn’t sit around—she was too restless and active. “Can she ride a horse, Jordana?”

Jordana laughed. “I’m sure after a week or so, Dr. Lyons will approve four legs for her to get around with.”

“I’m feeling better already,” Cat murmured.

“I’m going to get the crutches for you. I’ll be right back.”

Cat pushed her fingers through her hair. It felt dirty. “I’m going to have to take a shower when you get me home.”

“Let’s be sure to ask Dr. Lyons if that dressing around your knee is waterproof.”

“Good idea,” Cat muttered, realizing her mind still wasn’t firing on all cylinders.

“Miss Gus wants to talk to us about something she said that was important,” Talon said. “I told her once we got you stabilized that we’d drop over to the ranch and see her. That okay with you?”

“Sure,” she murmured. Cat moved her right leg a little, testing it. She absorbed Talon’s quiet presence. “Are you really okay?” He looked fine.

“I am now. Magee is in custody. And he’s not getting out again.”

“Whoever put up his bail might try it again.”

“Cade said that the manager over at Ace Trucking, Jenkins, had put up the bail. That fancy California lawyer admitted it to Cade.”

“Is it drug money?”

“Cade thinks so. Can’t prove it. But Magee is in jail and won’t be set free again. His trial will be in three months and you’ll be one of the people testifying against him.”

Suddenly, Cat was worried. “But if Magee is part of a drug ring, will that set them against me, Talon?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so and neither does Cade. Right now, ATF and the FBI are telling the sheriff’s department that Garcia’s trying to remain low-key. Magee was a loose cannon in their organization. Cade doesn’t think they realized Magee was the sick bastard that he is, that he was obsessed with you. Otherwise, Cade says they probably wouldn’t have hired him. They don’t want their people causing waves or catching the attention of law enforcement.” He saw some of her worry recede.

“All I want to do,” Cat whispered, reaching out for his hand, “is go home, sleep with you in our bed.”

“You’ll get that,” Talon promised her thickly, holding her fingers. “And Zeke will be downstairs being our guard dog. He’s our first line of defense if anyone thinks they’ll come through either condo door, so stop worrying.”

* * *

I
T
WAS
MIDNIGHT
before Talon drove Cat to her condo. Zeke was in the rear seat, panting happily as Talon pulled into the driveway. Tapped into his SEAL training, he stayed alert as he held the door open for Cat, looking up and down the quiet, well-lit street. Above, the stars glimmered. It was chilly, near freezing. Zeke leaped out of the truck and stood by Talon’s side, watching Cat’s slow, awkward progress.

“Good thing I don’t have to use these crutches long,” she growled unhappily, hobbling slowly up the concrete driveway.

Talon grinned and shut the doors. “No, I don’t think you’re going to be friends with them.” He gave Zeke orders to remain at Cat’s side while he took the keys out of his pocket and opened the door to her condo and swung it open. Turning on the light, he went inside and cleared the place. Talon trusted no one. Magee worked for a drug cartel that was trying to get a toehold in the town. It was enough to put him on guard. The condo was empty and by the time Talon came out to the front door, Cat was hobbling up the two steps. He could see she was exhausted. It had been one hell of a day.

Zeke patiently stood behind her as she made slow progress into the condo. Once Cat was in, the dog leaped across the threshold and then sat nearby, watching her. Talon closed the door and was grateful that Zeke was with them. The dog didn’t seem to be favoring his injured shoulder even after finding and taking Magee down. Still, tomorrow, Talon would take him to the vet to make sure.

“I’m whipped,” Cat said.

“I bet.” Talon took the crutches. “Hold on, I’m carrying you upstairs to the bathroom so you can have that shower.”

Cat was going to protest but saw the very male smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. A mouth she wanted kissing her, loving her, once more. She’d come so close to losing her life, losing Talon. “Okay, I’m ready for a ride.”

Talon deposited her in the bathroom. “Want some help undressing?” he said, and gave her a teasing look.

Cat sat down on the chair. “Yes.” Talon shrugged out of his jacket and hat, setting them outside the bathroom. Zeke watched her from the doorway. He had saved her life, too. Tears burned in Cat’s eyes and she felt suddenly emotional. As Talon came in and knelt down in front of her, gently easing off one of her boots, she whispered, “I’m going to cry....”

He put the boot aside. “You’ve been through a lot,” Talon said, seeing the moisture in her eyes. “Want me to hold you?” Because he wanted to. Needed to. He saw her nod once, fighting to keep from crying. Talon stood and gently helped her stand. He wrapped his arms around Cat. He felt her arms slide around his waist, pressing her face against his shoulder and neck. “It’s going to be all right, babe,” he rasped, kissing her temple, easing his hand across her back. “I know you’ve been through hell....”

Cat let her tears flow. She wasn’t one to cry often, but when she did, it felt like a flood. And Talon held her gently in his arms, grazing her hair, whispering words of comfort to her. Finally, the tears passed and Cat eased back just enough to look up at Talon. His stormy gray eyes were brighter than usual. Was he crying, too? Cat wasn’t sure because she saw the tears disappear as quickly as she’d seen them. His mouth was tight, as if he were holding back a barrage of feelings.

Lifting her hand, she muttered thickly, “Thanks... I needed to get that out of my system.”

“I always want to hold you when you cry,” Talon told her, his voice low and thick with feelings. Grazing her wet cheek, he looked deeply into her exhausted eyes. “Come on, let’s get you that shower and then I want to hold you all night....”

* * *

C
AT
DROWSILY
AWOKE
the next morning, the sun peeking around the edges of the drawn curtain. She rubbed her eyes, slowly rolling from her side to her back. Feeling the pinch of her injured knee, she grimaced. There wasn’t much pain, just a lot of swelling from the surgery.

She heard a dog whining nearby.

As she opened her eyes, Cat saw Zeke sitting expectedly at the side of her bed. When she smiled at him, he thumped his tail and started to pant.

“Hey, big guy,” she murmured, putting out her hand and petting his head. “How are you this morning?”

Zeke whined, the tail thumping even harder and faster.

Cat smiled and slowly sat up, being careful with her knee. Where was Talon? And what time was it? Groggy, she looked up at the clock on the dresser opposite her bed. It was ten o’clock? Gasping, Cat couldn’t believe she’d slept ten hours. Looking around, she didn’t see or hear Talon. The condo was quiet. Was Talon gone? If so, where had he gone? Cat saw her crutches leaning against the wall within her reach. There was a hand-scrawled note on the bed stand next to the crutches. “Babe, left to go to the bakery in town to get you some of your favorite cinnamon rolls. Be back soon. Love, T.”

Cat held the paper, feeling her heart swell with a fierce love. She set the paper down on the surface and brought the crutches over. She wore a pink knee-length cotton nightgown and carefully got out of bed. First, the bathroom and then she’d get dressed. Just in time for Talon to return with those delicious cinnamon rolls.

Zeke followed her to the door of the bathroom.

“No, you can stay outside,” she told him with a smile. “I don’t need guard dogging in here....”

Cat had just struggled into a pair of loose white linen slacks, put on her new knee brace and hobbled downstairs when Talon arrived. She smiled at the bottom of the stairs.

“Cinnamon rolls?”

Talon grinned, a sack of groceries in his hand. “You’re up. Yeah, got your favorites.” He saw she’d brushed her hair and it lay like an ebony cloak around her shoulders. Cat’s eyes were clear and her smile went straight to his heart. As Talon shut the door, Zeke came up, whining and wagging his tail hello at him.

Patting his dog, he took the sack to the granite island. He walked over to Cat, who was walking without the aid of the crutches but with the serious knee brace on instead. Resting his hands on the shoulders of her dark yellow tee, Talon leaned down, claiming her smiling mouth. Holding her last night had been a special hell all its own. The only comfortable position for Cat’s knee was on a pillow between her legs to keep the knee in a position that didn’t cause her aggravation. She lay on her left side with the pillow and he’d slid in behind her, curving his body around hers. It had been sweet to slide his arm beneath her neck and wrap his other arm around her waist and hold her against him. He didn’t know who had fallen asleep first.

Cat moaned softly, putting her arms around Talon’s broad shoulders as he kissed her long and deeply. Her breasts were pressed to his chest, the black T-shirt fitting him like a second skin, emphasizing his breadth and power. Threading her fingers into his hair, she kissed him hungrily, feeling his moist breath along her cheek, inhaling his special scent that drove heat quickly into her lower body. She could feel Talon being careful with her, not wanting to cause her knee any pain. As he eased from her mouth, she whispered, “That’s even better than a cinnamon roll.”

His mouth moved into a faint smile and Talon released her. He kept his arm beneath her elbow as she walked slowly to the stool and sat down. “I like kissing you.” He moved around the island and took the groceries out of the bag. Pushing the white sack toward her, he said, “And, trust me, last night I wanted to do a whole lot more than just hold you.”