She shook her head and expelled her breath in a hiss. “I thought they’d tap his various phones. But Agent Harris said they’d need a court order and without more evidence, they’d never get one. My information is nothing but hearsay because it was my friend who heard Trujillo ’s name mentioned, not me. Harris didn’t doubt me-it’s just not enough to get a warrant or make an arrest.”
Ranger nodded. The FBI had a lot of rules to follow. On the rez the Brotherhood of Warriors had more freedom, and was far more effective dealing with problems that often hog-tied official tribal law enforcement.
They were near the door when tribal detective Joe Nakai caught up to them. “I have one last question for you, ma’am. Before the shooting, did the medicine man mention anything to you about any…Navajo business?”
She remembered his name from the list and focused hard to keep her expression neutral. “Just that about Trujillo and his plans for more violence. I think he meant on the reservation, but I can’t say for sure.”
Detective Nakai nodded, then went back inside the station. Ranger watched him. It was clear to him that Joe had been referring to the Brotherhood of Warriors. Although he’d never seen Joe in their secret chamber, it didn’t mean anything. There were many members he’d never met.
“Once you take me back to my place, then what?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.
“I’ll stick close. Think of me as your second shadow.”
Chapter Five
“I really don’t believe this is necessary-a round-the-clock guard,” she said as Ranger’s pickup took the wide curve around the Hogback, a large rock formation visible for miles near the eastern borders of the Navajo Nation. Her home was less than ten minutes farther down the four-lane highway. “Those criminals have bigger problems than me right now. Law enforcement officers all over the Four Corners area are looking for them, and have a good idea what they look like. They realize that too, I’m sure, and are on their way to Mexico.”
“Not if they’re working for Trujillo. They’re probably laying low and listening to every piece of news they can get their hands on. Once they hear about your photographic memory, there’s no telling what’ll happen. You’re the only person alive who can make a positive ID,” he said in a quiet voice. “You’re more of a target now than you’ve ever been. Even if you have a gun at home for personal defense, you’ll have unguarded moments-like when you have to sleep. And you can’t take a weapon to school with you.”
Accepting those truths was hard and she lapsed into a long silence. The orderly, simple life she’d led up to now was suddenly history. To complicate matters even more, she’d promised her old friend that she’d find Hastiin Dííl, but that would be nearly impossible with Ranger breathing down her neck.
She stole a glance at him. Under different circumstances it would have been exciting to have Ranger around-in her house, her car, her life. Ranger was vibrantly sexy and temptingly male. Although she prided herself on being a levelheaded woman who could control her emotions, the tenderness he’d shown her while giving her comfort had awakened a yearning in her for something…more.
Dana shook her head, trying to push those thoughts away. She didn’t need this-not now or ever. Love was undependable and never everything it was cut out to be. If you looked to it searching for security, you found yourself standing on quicksand. If you relied on it for companionship, you found yourself alone.
Her mother’s life had unraveled after her husband’s death. Friends’ dreams had shattered as forgotten wedding promises led to bitter divorces. She was better off alone-living in Haven. Her carefully structured life didn’t need the kind of distractions-and heartbreak-a man like Ranger would bring.
“Are you okay?” he asked after a long silence.
“No,” she answered in a quiet voice. “I hate violence. Now I’m stuck in the middle of something I never dreamed could happen-not even in my worst nightmares.”
Ranger took his eyes off the road just long enough to reach for her hand. “We met under difficult circumstances, but we’re in this together now…to the end. You don’t have to feel alone.”
His callused palm felt strong and incredibly masculine. Ranger was asking her to lean on him, and heaven knew there was nothing she would have liked more. “You don’t trust me, not really. Why are you offering me your friendship?”
“I’m a human being and I know when another human being is hurting,” he said, his voice gentle.
She was hurting and the warmth of his touch held out the comfort of gentleness-something that was sadly lacking in her life at the moment.
“There’s no reason for us not to help each other, is there?” he asked. “The man we knew and lost would have wanted it that way,” he said, reminding her of Hastiin Sani.
She was ready to yield to his reasoning when reality came crashing down on her, reminding her that caution and survival were inexorably linked. “What are you doing?” she asked, seeing him turn off the headlights as they approached her home.
“If someone’s watching your house, we don’t want to advertise our arrival.”
Despite the fact that everything looked normal, fear pressed in on her until she could hardly take a breath. Death was following her.
She glanced over at Ranger. Although alert, he appeared calm and in control of himself and the situation.
“How can you do this and stay so composed? After all you’ve seen today, don’t you just want to scream?”
“Screaming’s not my thing, sweetheart,” he said, his eyes suddenly dancing with laughter.
He drove around the flower bed in the center of the circular driveway and parked facing the lane. If they had to leave in a hurry, they’d already be facing in the right direction.
When he stepped in front of her and led the way, Dana fell into step behind him. Outside the rez, a man would step back and let a woman pass first, then catch up and open the door. Navajo customs dictated that the man lead. In case of trouble, he’d be the first to face it.
Dana couldn’t help but notice that Ranger seemed ready-almost eager-for a fight. Ranger wanted…maybe needed…action. Pain took many forms.
When he reached the entrance, Ranger suddenly froze. She followed his gaze and, even in the moonlight, could see the dark imprint of a boot just below the door lock. That, and the splintered trim, told them both that the door had been kicked in.
Either from their movement across the old wooden porch, or because of a slight increase in the breeze, the door swung back about an inch. Her heart started to beat so fiercely she could hear it pounding in her head. Through the haze that clouded her mind she felt Ranger grip her forearm.
“Get back in the truck,” he whispered.
She was turning around when, from somewhere inside the house, she heard a metallic click.
Ranger pushed her out of the way, then kicked the door just below the knob. It slammed into whomever was standing just on the other side.
There was a groan, then a thud, as the intruder crashed to the floor. A shot went off an instant later, shattering the glass transom just above the door.
Ranger grabbed her hand and they ran to the truck. Dana dove inside the passenger’s seat while Ranger took the wheel.
“Stay down!” he said.
She ducked, looking over as Ranger turned the key and the souped-up engine roared to life. She heard gravel flying as they lurched forward, and took the turn onto the lane faster than she’d ever imagined possible.
Dana bumped her head against the door as she raised up to see how fast they were going. “Slow down!” she yelled. “You’ll lose control.”
“I won’t lose control,” he said in a surprisingly even tone. “But you’re gonna want to fasten your shoulder belt.”