Nice. Talia studied the snake lying across the bed. Looks like a spitting cobra. Big Jakes lucky the snake didnt spit in his eyeits spit can blind a person.
Dont tell T-Mac. Hell have one more reason to be afraid of snakes, as if being bitten isnt enough.
Talia chuckled. Its hard to imagine any of you SEALS afraid of anything.
As a kid, T-Mac was traumatized by a snake. I think his mother made him hold one once. Hes been terrified ever since.
But you must have been in places with snakes before.
Harm continued his search of the room, dropping to his knees to check under the bed. He was careful, now that he was aware that cobras could spit. Being a SEAL challenges every one of your fears, but thankfully, they dont stick you in a pit filled with snakes. I dont think the cadre liked snakes any more than anyone else, or they would have used them, too.
The space beneath the bed was free of snakes and surprisingly clean of dust.
Do you keep all the cabins this clean? Harm asked.
Talia laughed. Im worried about snakes and youre looking at how clean this place is?
Ive been in hotels that dont clean as well as this. I dont see a single dust bunny, even in the corners.
My staff keeps the entire compound clean. We pride ourselves in making it a beautiful place to stay for all visitors, not including deadly cobras. Talia opened the closet and checked inside.
Harm slipped up beside her, ready to shoot anything that moved. Well, theyll have their work cut out for them, cleaning up snake parts.
Ill probably handle it myself. Ive had a hard enough time convincing them to stay after the paintings on the cabin doors. I had to scrub them off myself.
Harm could picture her cleaning the paint off the doors. Well help you get this place cleaned up.
No way. She shook her head. You are guests of mine. I wont have you doing the dirty work.
Were kind of used to dirty work. Its what we do. He nodded toward the pillows. If you dont mind sacrificing a pillowcase to the cause, Ill start by removing the offender from the premises.
By all means. She shook a pillow out of its case and held it out for Harm.
He lifted the snake off the bed, dropped it into the case and then took it from her.
Be careful you dont let the fangs touch you, she said. They still contain poison.
Holding the bag away from his body, Harm checked all the closets, drawers and corners and then straightened. I can take care of the cobra, just tell me where you want me to put him.
Talia shook her head and held out her hand. Ill take him and put him in the freezer.
He kept his hold on the bag. Please tell me you arent cooking up cobra for dinner.
She laughed. No, but I know they need antivenin. They might be able to milk a dead snake for its venom, which they use to make antivenin.
Youre a woman after my own heart. Harm followed her out of the cabin, careful not to touch her with the snake in the pillowcase. Beautiful and practical. If he was in the market for a wife, shed be an amazing catch. But then, he wasnt in the market for a relationship. Especially with a woman who had so completely believed in love.
Harm believed in lust, the natural, chemical reaction between a man and a woman. But love?
No. Absolutely not.
Oh, sure. Once upon a time he thought he had, but one Dear John letter cured him of that fallacy very quickly.
But that didnt keep him from wanting women. A man had urges, after all.
* * *
IF YOULL FOLLOW ME... Talia turned toward the lodge and then back to Big Jake. And I have a room in the lodge for you, Big Jake.
He nodded. Good thing, because I wasnt gonna sleep in there. No, maam.
She laughed. I cant blame you. But no worries. We have a snake-free room upstairs with a comfortable bed.
The cabin is clear, if you want to grab your gear, Harm said.
Yeah. Big Jake frowned. If youre sure.
Im sure. I even looked in your gear bag. No more snakes. He held up the bag. And you killed the one on your bed. Hes not going to bother you again.
Damn straight. Big Jake sucked in a breath and eyed the cabin, as if the structure might assume a life of its own.
Come on, Diesel said. Ill go with you.
I can do it myself, Big Jake grumbled. I just need a minute.
Talia fought back a grin. Seeing a huge SEAL like Big Jake hesitant to enter a building was so unlike the man. She could imagine him charging in like a bull at a bullfight.
Diesel draped an arm over the shaken mans shoulder. Take all the time you need, dude. Its not every day you wake up to a cobra in your bed.
Big Jake grimaced. And I hope it never happens again.
Weve got your back, T-Mac reassured him.
Good, Big Jake said. Then why dont you go in and get my gear?
T-Mac backed away, shaking his head. I said Ive got your back, not your bag.
If it makes you feel better, Talia said, Ive been in the rooms and didnt see any more snakes.
Im going. Im going. Big Jake sucked in a deep breath and followed Diesel into the cabin.
Lets get that snake on ice, Talia said.
Harm followed her into the lodge and through to the kitchen. She flipped on light switches along the way. Once in the massive, updated kitchen, Talia opened the door to the walk-in freezer and held it wide for Harm to carry the bag with the snake inside.
A cool blast of air chilled her hands and cheeks as she waited for Harm to step inside.
Where do you want me to put him? Harm asked.
Let me get a box. Talia hurried to the pantry, found an empty box and returned to the walk-in freezer. The far side has empty shelves. Id like to keep him separated from the food we serve the guests.
Harm chuckled. Wed like that, too. I wouldnt want your chef to confuse chicken and cobra.
Ill warn them not to touch the bag in the box. I dont want the staff hurt by brushing up against the snakes fangs. Her lips twisted into a frown. Maybe I shouldnt put the snake in this freezer.
If there is a shortage of antivenin, saving this snake could help. Youre doing the right thing, Harm assured her as he set the bag in the box and the box on a shelf in the farthest corner of the freezer.
When they emerged from the freezer, the kitchen was filled with the rest of Harms team, plus Dr. Angela Vega and Marly.
Buck clapped his hands together. Since were all awake, we thought wed come raid the refrigerator.
Talia smiled. I can whip up a casserole in about forty minutes, or I had the chef prepare a ham earlier to make sandwiches for the safari tomorrow. I believe theres enough meat for snacks tonight and sandwiches tomorrow. Its up to you.
Ham sandwiches sound great, Diesel said. But we can help ourselves. You dont have to stay up on our account.
Talia smiled. I wasnt asleep, and a sandwich sounds good to me, too. She pulled the container filled with ham slices out of the commercial refrigerator and set it on the counter. Then she laid out freshly baked bread, garden-grown lettuce and tomatoes, plates, utensils and condiments.