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that is worse. You tear her apart,
the both of you. I’ve watched it happen for years.”
    Hogan flung away her hand. “You’re not one of
the family. You don’t know what goes on.”
    “Tell that to Carley or to Ben. He
appreciates me.”
    “He’s got Maxi Dove, his housekeeper, to keep
him happy. She moved in—ready to give birth to Savanna— just after
Dinah moved out. Maxi has never named Savanna’s father, but then,
moving in with Ben said a lot, didn’t it?” Hogan resented the
bitterness in his tone, the way Jemma could rake it out of him.
    “Will you stop growling? Ben saw Maxi as
someone in need, the way Mitch was in Chicago. He needed a
housekeeper for all of you, and she needed a refuge for her baby.
It’s worked out, and Dinah has never said one thing about their
relationship, so why should you? Dinah will do what has to be done
to protect Carley, just as the rest of us will. The police can’t
find traces of this guy and at least here, she’ll have good
protection. If there is one thing I know about Kodiak men, it’s
that they won’t let anyone harm their loved ones.”
    Her eyes flashed, the color of steel, slicing
at him. “You won’t let your family down, not even Ben, if it came
down to it. I know it. You know it. So don’t try that dark stormy
look at me. You may terrify other people, but you don’t me. I know
you too well.”
    Hogan fought for calm. There she was,
stabbing inside him without caution.
    “Fine,” he managed tightly. “What’s being
done to find him?”
    “You’re the hunter, so are your brothers. If
it started here, he’ll probably trace her back here. Then you
Sasquatches will take him out. That’s the plan. You’re hunters, and
you know what you’re doing. You’ll get that rat.”
    Hogan eased onto the couch, staring at the
fire. Jemma was right. Carley’s best protection lay in her father
and brothers. Kodiaks did know how to protect their own, and in a
small rural community, an outsider would be noticed
immediately.
    “What’s your part in this family
get-together? How are you going to keep Carley from suspecting
anything is wrong? Ben is hard and healthy as ever.”
    Jemma flopped down at the other end of the
couch and lay back, stretching, her arms behind her head. She
placed her booted feet across his lap. “That’s the beauty, Hogan,
old buddy. I’ve worked a neat little plan. Savanna is a nurse,
she’ll help.”
    “You always have a plan, if not ten.” Hogan
noted the mud bits that had crumbled onto his silk slacks. He eased
Jemma’s feet to the floor and brushed away the bits.
    “Hey! I’m tired and I’ve got a hard night
ahead of me, then driving back to Big Timber and flying back to
Seattle. We’ve just got time for this little chat, and then I’m on
my way. My feet are tired.”
    “Your mouth isn’t.” With a sigh, Hogan
allowed her boots to return to rest across his thighs.
    “You could save money by wearing imitation
silk, not the real thing. These days polyester is really amazing,”
Jemma noted, but Hogan was frowning at the fire, thinking back to
that night—
    And Carley’s terrified scream....
    *** ***
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
    “Not bad
at all,” Jemma was saying as she studied the firelight dancing on
the boards of his varnished, gleaming cathedral ceiling. The
ceiling fan’s shadows circled rhythmically, breaking the firelight
patterns. Her hair ripped dark red streaks across his cream-colored
upholstery, matching Hogan’s seething anger.
    Once more, Hogan saw Carley’s white face, the
terror in her silvery eyes, and realized his fingers were crushing
the cushioned arm of his couch.
    “You’ve got that look, all drawn in and
dangerous.” Jemma sat up in a startling, but typically-Jemma move.
She tapped her fingers on Hogan’s Crying Woman statue and picked it
up to study it. “Not bad. I could run a gallery for you here while
I’m shooting the television pilot. You know, we could market a line
of