Page 63 of The Search

She sank down on the couch and gazed at him in frustration. Déjà vu. Why couldn’t she get rid of him? She didn’t want him there. That he had become too much a part of her life in these last days made her uneasy. She had seen him tired and discouraged and hurting. She had seen his tears. He disturbed her, and she had enough disturbance in her life. This was her home, her haven, and she wanted no strangers—

But that was the crux of the problem. He was no longer a stranger. She didn’t know exactly what Logan’s place was in her life now, but he could never be a stranger again.

The wolf howled.

Monty lifted his head and whimpered deep in his throat.

She couldn’t blame him. The wolf’s cry was terribly melancholy and heartbreakingly wistful.

And closer.

Stay in the mountains, she prayed. Those ranchers will shoot you. There’s danger here. They think you’re a threat and don’t care if you’re wild and free and beautiful.

Monty put his head on his paws. Beautiful . . .

8

“Get up, Sarah.”

She opened her eyes to see Logan standing over her. She had been sleeping hard and for a moment she thought she was back in Taiwan.

“Come on. He’s gone. I can’t go after him by myself.” He half walked, half hopped toward the door. “Hell, I couldn’t catch up with a turtle.”

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “What is it?”

“Monty. He took off out that dog door like a bat out of hell. He heard something.”

She swung her feet to the floor. “What?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t hear anything. I’d just opened my eyes and saw Monty get up. He listened for a minute and then took off.” He opened the door. “Does he go out much at night?”

“No, but it’s not completely unusual.”

“I tell you he heard something. We’d better go after him.”

Logan was clearly worried, and his concern was infectious. Monty had probably just gone outside to relieve himself, but she had to check. She grabbed a flashlight and followed Logan. “Monty!”

She waited.

“Monty!”

For the first time, fear iced through her. Monty always answered her.

Unless he couldn’t.

She heard something in the distance. Not a bark. A moan?

“I hear something.” She set out at a run. “Go back to the house.”

“The hell I will. Where are the keys to your jeep?”

“I always leave them in the ignition.”

“Well, that’s safe.”

She paid no attention as she ran west, where the sound had come from.

Darkness.