Nancy Morse - Panther On The Prowl

Misinterpreting the taut silence that greeted her request, she said, “I said before that I could pay you. Not all of my money was buried beneath the wreckage.”

“No.”

“Well then, perhaps I could make a contribution to the Everglades Research Center.”

“I mean no, I won’t take you around.”

He knew now what more she could want from him, and it was far worse than he could have imagined. Suddenly she was so much more than merely a beautiful, vulnerable woman who had tumbled into his life. She was dangerous.

If she delved deeply enough, she might uncover the legend about the panther, a tale his people fiercely guarded from outsiders because of its frightening implications. But worse was the possibility that she might discover the truth about him and loathe him for it. He feared that she might see something of him in the legend, as he had come to see himself. That the same proud arrogance that sealed the ancient warrior’s fate had doomed him, as well. That the warrior’s curse to wander the earth as only part human was no worse than his own fate to live his life only partly alive.

He fought to keep his voice level so that she would not know the turmoil into which her unwitting request had plunged him. “The swamp is no place for someone who can’t see.”

“That’s why I’m asking you to help me.”

Damn it. Did she have to sound so unprotected? So in need of his help? “We’ll see,” he said roughly. “Maybe when you’re feeling better.” His mind worked rapidly to figure a way out of this mess he was suddenly in. Who knew how long it would be before she was strong enough to journey anywhere? Hopefully, by then she’d be so eager to get out of this place that she would abandon her crazy notion. If not, maybe the best thing for him to do would be to take her to the places she wanted to go. In that way he could steer her away from getting too close to the truth.

There were no clocks in the cabin, but John didn’t need one to know what time it was. He had merely to glance at the window and the shifting light beyond. He’d been so preoccupied with Rennie that he hadn’t noticed it was getting dark. The time of day he dreaded was approaching. It was time to brew more tea so that Rennie would sleep peacefully and not notice his absence…or ask more of him than was safe for him to give.

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