Pippa's Rescue (13 page)

Back at his car, he tugged the door open. Dark sultry seductive mirth filtered from the stable. Skogul. He hurried toward the structure. The double doors opened, and Aidan stood beside her at the entrance. In the sunlight, her skin glittered like a million diamonds. She wore the same clothing: gray boots, jeans, and a white-and-silver striped shirt. Her long hair had been wrapped in an elaborate knot at the nape of her slender neck. She tilted her head, listening to the veterinarian, as if his words were gospel. Basil used to see that same sappy expression on women who stared at him; she had a thing for the guy.

“Skogul.” He directed his voice toward the pair. Titan bolted from the corral and into the shelter of the stable.

She turned toward him, frowned, and placed her hands in her front pockets. Her fingers moved around on the right side, as if trying to grip something. Did she have a weapon? Perhaps she hadn’t taken his skepticism very well. Obviously not, as she had disappeared for hours after being his constant companion. Maybe she had found a new warrior to carry to Valhalla. He looked over the vet. If Skogul had chosen Aidan Hall, she was going way beyond the battlefield.

“Basil,” she acknowledged in a pleasant tone.

He closed the distance. “I need to talk to you about our conversation the other night.”

“What’s going on?” Aidan stepped closer to her side.

“Basil. I’ll come to you later.” Skogul turned away, reaching for Dr. Hall.

“No!” Basil grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him and farther from the veterinarian.

A low, rumbling growl came from the man. Skogul directed her attention to Dr. Hall. Basil stared at both of them. The growling continued, becoming stronger. Aidan’s eyes narrowed until mere blue-gray lights shone behind the slits.

“Release her,” he ordered.

“It’s all right, Aidan.” Her deadpan tone of voice quieted the beast beside her. His exposed teeth receded behind his lips.

Basil cocked an eyebrow. There was more to this man than he’d first assumed. Mild-mannered country-vet on the outside, ferocious on the inside. Basil dropped his hand. “May I please speak with you?”

Her nod reassured him he had a second chance to gather information about Harry.

“Alone.” He pointed toward his car.

“Skogul,” Aidan snapped.

Her fingers skimmed along the veterinarian’s forearm. “It’s all right. I’ll talk to him, and then we’ll finish.”

He cocked his head. “As you wish.”

Aidan ambled to the pen, braced one booted foot on a lower rung, and rested an arm on the top, staring at them.

Skogul took off at a lope, heading toward the rear of the house. Why the rush? Basil ran, following at a close clip. She plopped onto a deep, green-cushioned chair. “What?”

Considering the odd reaction from the vet, his defense intuition ramped up a notch. He sat in the matching lounge and surveyed the veranda one more time, determining access from various points.

“I want you to take me to Harry,” he blurted out before he could think of a way to ease into the topic. If he was going to do this, give up his human life in order to find out what happened to his friend, he needed to treat it like a war wound. Quick, then move on.

The fingers on Skogul’s right hand tapped an odd, anxious tune on the arm of the chair while the others curled into a fist on her lap. She closed her eyes for a moment before turning her piercing blue stare on him. “You realize in order for you to go to Valhalla you must give up your human existence, and there is no reversal?”

“What if I wanted to marry?”

“Marriage? In the unlikelihood that you do find a partner in Asgard, you mate for life. No ceremony in a steeple house. Just a binding of two people.” She winked. “I don’t believe your commitment lies with Harrison Lombard.”

Her words raised his hackles. “I wonder—have you ever made a promise to someone? Loved another? Love isn’t singled out for a man and woman. It’s a virtue,” Basil snapped.

The chair arms thudded when her fists connected. “Of course. And love as a human is needed for survival of the species. Is that why you plummeted into love with Phillipa?”

“I’m not discussing Pippa. Besides, love takes many forms. Do you know what the Marine motto is?” A low motor sounded from the drive. He had to hurry.

She rolled her eyes. “No.”

“
Semper Fidelis
; always faithful. I’ll always be loyal and committed to my Marine comrades-in-arms. I made a promise to Harry to discover who betrayed our squad in North Korea, and the coward is David Wilson. Contrary to your theory, he also killed my friend, and the detective Harry sent to investigate.” He turned in his chair. Paper crinkled and he caught a whiff of her sweet fragrance.

“No! He wouldn’t kill anyone,” Pippa said, a paper with
WARRANTY DEED
printed across the top clutched in her hand. She was aware of his gift. Would she now hate him for his accusation regarding her brother?

She stood beside the nearest column, slumping against it as if the life had been sucked from her. He rushed to her side, reached out only to drop his hand. “I’m sorry.”

“He wouldn’t kill a man from his squad,” Pippa whispered. Her scratchy voice sounded unconvincing to him and more than likely she didn’t believe the words either. She shook her head. “He took care of me. You must be mistaken. He didn’t enjoy war or killing, just gathering information.”

Tears slid along her cheeks. He pulled her to his chest. “People change. Habits take over—”

“I have a way of showing you Harrison. A live, ah, comcast.” Skogul held her palm out, the marble she’d been playing at the cabin, nestled in the center.

“Who are you?” Pippa jerked, as if being tugged by a training line.

Could she see Skogul? Why now?

Pippa pressed her hands on his chest. “Where did that woman come from?”

He met Skogul’s glance. Her surprise matched his.

“You can see me?” Skogul asked.

He pointed to Skogul. “You can see her?”

Pippa nudged his side. “Yes. What is going on?”

“Remember the day I hit my head, and I saw a woman?”

She nodded, a frown marring her beautiful face.

He extended his hand toward the Valkyrie. “Skogul is that woman.”

Pippa stared at him. “No one else saw her.” She crunched the deed of property in her hand.

“Skogul. Pippa.” He took the document, folded the thick paper, and placed it on the patio table.

“I’m leader of the Valkyries’ first squad and should be addressed as such.”

Pippa snarled at Skogul. “A what? Wait a minute, she’s been here, with you, the entire time?”

“Yes,” Basil answered.

“Skogul?” Aidan stood behind the Valkyrie.

How much had he overhead? Basil had to get back into battle mode.

Pippa’s face tightened and her hands fluttered in front of her. “Where has she been staying?”

“In my…the guest room,” Basil answered, all the while knowing how dreadful it would sound to Pippa.

“You slept with Basil?” Aidan’s knuckles turned white as he fisted his hands.

“There wasn’t any sleeping,” Basil replied.

“What?” Pippa shouted.

“What the sap means, is that I watched television all night. He was in the bed, me in a chair.” Skogul nodded to Aidan, but his hands remained bunched at his sides. “Oops, shields up, red alert.”

“Not now,” Basil whispered to Skogul.

She placed the marble back into her pocket and reached for Aidan.

“What does she want?” Pippa asked. She was searching for an explanation, perhaps why Skogul stayed at the house and hadn’t been noticed by anyone. He’d be curious too, if he was in her shoes.

He swallowed, how could he explain without appearing irrational?

****

“I’m breaking all the rules set by my leader, but here it is: I’m going to take Basil. He’s needed in Asgard.” Skogul’s arrogance seemed to be part of her character, Pippa thought. The self-proclaimed Valkyrie, whatever that meant, turned her sharp blue gaze toward Aidan.

Pippa’s heart thumped. Instinct told her the woman would go to any extent to take Basil. She would not allow that to happen. “I don’t understand. Where is Asgard? Why does she need you?”

Skogul held Aidan’s hand and continued their staring match. Basil tugged Pippa to his side. “This situation is as strange to me as it is to you. I’ve just had a few weeks to come to terms with her being around. From what I’ve learned, Asgard is a mythological planet. Skogul said I could see Harry if I go with her.”

Stress must be making her crazy. “Your friend? The one you just said my brother killed?”

“Yes. I thought Wilson might know what happened to him. I have to check out every lead, even if it takes me to that strange woman’s imaginary planet.”

“David didn’t kill him. Maybe she took him.” She tugged his arm. “You shouldn’t go. I’ll help you find your friend. I’m afraid if you go with her you’ll never return.”

“She’s right. You won’t return. Remember I told you if you chose to go with me, you’ll join Harrison but you will also forfeit your human existence.” Skogul gripped his arms, forcing Pippa to drop her hold on him. “Harrison wants you to become a member of his Special Ops group. It the highest of honors and one that should not be refused.”

Pippa slid between them. “Prove this fantasy you’ve created!”

“What she says is true,” Aidan said.

“How would he know that? Don’t believe her, Basil.” Panic made her voice sound strange, pitchy. She cleared her throat and added confidence. “Stay with me. We’ll save horses and maybe have a few kids to carry on the tradition.”

Some time warp altered her reality. She saw everything from above as the actions and words from the people below. Was it moments ago she found out Basil had saved her ranch? Had he already made his decision and this was part of the separation from his human existence and her?

She couldn’t let that happen. “I love you. I know Harry meant a lot to you, a brother in your small family, but we will create our own.”

He held her in a firm embrace. “I love you, too. I want the same thing.”

A sudden wind picked up, swirling twigs through the air. The sky blackened.

Pippa went to her knees. The whirling pieces drew together, shaking Basil. He wobbled. She clung to his arm.

Firmly planted on the ground, he shouted, “What’s going on?”

“Freak fall storm. It happens when the weather switches from warm to cold,” Aidan yelled.

Her vision blurred. No, she would not black out.

****

Basil cradled Pippa in his arms and tried to shout her name through the rocking-train-on-a-railroad-track noise. Fighting the whirling rain, he laid her on the lounge near the rear door of Aidan’s home. Her eyes were closed, but her chest rose and fell with each breath. Had she fainted? He gently shook her, but she remained asleep. He straightened and turned, searching through the chaos to find Skogul. No doubt she’d created this mess.

Head bent, Aidan gripped an aluminum horse hitch. His deltoid muscles bunched as the wind glued the cloth of his shirt to his arms. Basil wasn’t concerned for him, but where was Skogul?

Three shimmering shards of brilliant particles formed into human form as the darkness dissipated. Two women dressed in all white like Greek goddesses. Laced thigh-high boots encased firmly planted feet. The leather appeared buttery smooth. Beautiful with dazzling blonde hair and Madonna faces, their height and dominant stances provided him a sense of their authority.

He turned his attention to the third outline, still transforming from bits of dust into a human shape. His mind couldn’t comprehend the image in front of him. “Harry?”

“Silence,” the older of the two women commanded. She turned to Skogul. “Take care of the vet.”

Basil glanced at Skogul, who pointed her hand toward Aidan. A large tear drop fell onto the Valkyrie’s cheek as she whispered, “Sleep, my dear, to awake on a new day and remember none of what has passed between us.”

Aidan fell to the ground.

“Is he going to be all right?” Basil asked Harry.

“Yes, merely unconscious.” Harry ran forward and drew him into a hug. “Christ, I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you old friend.”

He sighed. “And I you. Is what Skogul said true? You’ve chosen a different, ah, non-life?”

Harry took a step back. “Yes. I’m a battle strategist for Odin. We want you to join us. I need you.”

Tears streaked the face of the third woman standing in the background. Why was she crying? “Is that the infamous Kiara?”

Harry chuckled. His friend appeared so full of life, as if years of pain and post-traumatic stress syndrome had never afflicted him. For a moment Basil wanted that, to have joy without the heartache of war, death, and betrayal.

“Yes, my wife. Since you’re here, you must have read the documents on my laptop. Did you get Wilson?” Harry asked.

Yeah, he’d spent several hours trying to remember Harry’s password and after reading the information he had confirmed his suspicion of Wilson’s guilt. Basil shook his head. “No, he escaped. The detective you hired is also missing. Is he—”

“No, he is dead.” Harry looked at the older woman. “Will it be okay if I give him the information?”

A stern frown crossed her face as she shook her head.

“As you see that information is confidential, but I know you’ll get Wilson.” Harry gestured with his hand. “Kiara, come meet Basil.”

She drew forward, swiping at her face as she did. A few strokes across the filmy white material and she extended her hand, palm up. He gripped her soft, somewhat delicate hand and instant recognition played through him. He’d met her before. Was that what would happen to Aidan? He’d forget Skogul completely? Would Basil forget all of them and continue to search for Harry?

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He dropped her hand and turned to look at Pippa, resting on the lounge, unaware of what was passing. “Pippa—”

“She won’t remember what has transpired today in regards to us.” Kiara touched his arm in a reassuring manner. Sadness marred her features as if she understood what would happen in the next few minutes and it made her grieve. “And if you decide to go with us, she won’t remember you.”