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"Oh, the poor thing," Brynley arded the dog fondly "My Jake is sharp as a tack He’s what you call a receiver"

"For a football teahter, slapped his thigh hard, then coughed when the cloud of dust reached his face "That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard! Dogs don’t play football!"

Phineas exchanged a look with Brynley as Digger started to laugh once again

"He’s got to wear that hat to keep theer explained "First, they tried talking to me, but I was too wily for them"

"The all the cattle around here They’ve been using my Jake as a receiver"

"What do they say to him?" Brynley asked

"How the hell would I know? You think I can talk to a dog?" Digger snickered "I ain’t crazy, you know"

"Right," Phineasthose little devils, so they’ll leave htful of you," Brynley said

"We should be going now" Phineas retreated, taking Brynley with hi"

"You don’t want to hunt together?" Digger asked with a hurt expression

"Sorry, but we prefer to be alone," Phineas explained "Needs, you know"

Digger chuckled "I got you You two areWell, I’ll see you around"

"Nice to noring the painful twinges in his ruer called after them "Them nasty aliens are close by I can feel ’eside Brynley Neither said a word until they were sure Digger wouldn’t hear

She pulled her shirt up to her nose and sniffed "I e clothes And shower"

"I could teleport you to Phil’s place I’ll come back to watch the horses while you clean up"

She smiled "That’s very sweet of you Thanks"

Sweet He was starting to hate that word Why didn’t she see him as sexy and desirable? Why couldn’t she ache for him the way he did for her? Was it because she considered them horribly, dreadfully mismatched?

It was true what he’d said earlier Her father would never accept hiuy from the Bronx A vampire

Brynley could have any man she wanted A rich rancher An Alpha wolf She could have wealth, land, and security Why would she give all that up for hi to the rescue," she said quietly

"Huh?" The pain in his rear was rapidly beco unbearable Maybe he should walk the rest of the way "What rescue?"

"You rescueddeal"

"You’re a sweet--"

"Don’t say it!"

Her eyes widened "Are you angry?"

Yes! Digger could tell I’ II need to get off this damned horse"

"Okay" She pulled the horses to a stop When he disave him a sympathetic look "It’s norritted his teeth and walked stiffly beside her "I’ about Corky I don’t think she would hide out here It’s too primitive She’d use her vae"

"Youabout those dead cows Digger said they were drained of blood We should check that out"

"You think Corky would feed off cows?"

"If she was desperate enough, yeah"

"But why mutilate them?"

"To hide what she did When Malcontents feed off humans, they slit the throats to conceal the teeth marks"

Brynley nodded slowly "Okay I’ll have Trudy helpthe day, and then too to the Carson ranch and ask Nate about the cows"

He glanced up at her "Nate?"

"Nathan Carson" She suy"

Phineas ground his teeth Sweet Nate was probably rich "Did he want you, too? Like Digger?"

"No" She gave him an exasperated look "Not every man who sees me wants me"

"Some men are fools"

She shook her head "Nate is plenty sh If we’re lucky on’t run into Kyle"

"What’s wrong with Kyle?"

She was silent a moment "He did want me"

"Shit," Phineas muttered She could have her pick of a million men Why would she ever choose hi bad wolf?" Brynley sang to herself as she rolled out her sleeping bag

He’d run away again

Over an hour had passed since they’d arrived at the trailhead ca After helping Brynley take care of the horses, Phineas had teleported her to her brother’s cabin so she could shower and change He’d returned to the camp to babysit the horses, and then, thirtyher back here