Go ahead. Paul adjusted his pillow behind his head. The local station is airing stories on each of the race contestants. Maybe we can size up the competition.
You dont think youre racing still, do you? Kats brows rose and a hand fisted on her hip.
Pauls smile faded. He looked like a boy being told he cant go out to play. My dogs are ready for this race. They deserve to participate.
Maybe so, but we havent even heard from the doctor. I dont think you can stand for twelve to fifteen days on that ankle.
Paul crossed his arms over his chest. Im not ruling it out until the doctor tells me different.
Sam would have smiled at the argument if he hadnt been so disturbed by his reaction to Kats simple touch. Hed only just met the woman.
Theyre kinda cute, arent they? Tazer leaned close to Sam, a grin playing across her model-perfect face.
She was gorgeous, but she reminded Sam too much of Leanne. He was immune to her kind of beauty. Yes, she is, Sam responded. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized his mistake.
Tazers lips twitched, but that was the only acknowledgment of Sams slip. Kats had a rough time of things. Her gaze swept to the woman arguing with her brother.
Sam took the opportunity to study Tazer while she wasnt looking in his direction. Did she work with Kat? Was she also an agent with the S.O.S.assuming that was where Kat worked?
Though Sam wanted to ask all the questions spinning around in his mind, guilt nudged at his conscience. He didnt feel right talking about Kat with her standing only a few short steps away, but he couldnt help asking, Is she still grieving for her husband? He tried to tell himself he only cared out of mild curiosity.
A little. I think his death shook her more than even shell admit. Since then, shes been in a fog, like she doesnt know what she wants out of life. Im glad she decided to come home. Tazer nodded toward Paul. She needed her family.
Her family was still arguing with her. My dogs will be in that race if I have to strap myself to the sled. Im going.
Kat planted both fists on her hips, twin flags of red rising in her cheeks. You couldnt drive the sled with a good foot, much less a broken one, otherwise you wouldnt be in the hospital now.
Sams pulse quickened. This Kat was like a mama bear ready to take on the world to protect her cub. The determined stance and the heightened color made her even more beautiful than the pictures hed stared at on the wall of her home.
Tell her, Sam, Paul demanded.
He didnt want to be dragged into their domestic dispute. Tell her what?
Tell her it wasnt my fault. Paul waved him forward. Tell her why I crashed.
For some reason he couldnt fathom, he didnt want to get into the details of the accident. He resisted becoming another case to Kat. She was here on vacation, not to play investigative agent for a little prerace sabotage. Besides, Sam was fully qualified and capable of conducting his own investigation.
Kats gaze pinned him, her eyes narrowing to slits. Yes, please. Tell me why my brother crashed.
The direct look caught him off guard and he replied without hesitation. The stanchions had been cut.
Her surprised gasp turned into an angry frown. What did you say?
In a flat tone, devoid of emotion, he explained, The struts holding the runners to the brushbow were cut at the base. It took a couple jolts and a sharp curve before they broke completely.
Paul crossed his arms over his chest and smiled. I just happened to be on it at the time. So you see, it wasnt my fault.
Kat stared from Paul to Sam. Who would do such a thing?
Sam raised his hands. I didnt. It was actually my sled that was cut. Paul was trying it out at the time.
Youre telling me this was deliberate? The intensity of her gaze held his steady.
Sam nodded, his gut clenching at the memory of Paul lying unconscious at the bottom of the riverbank.
Who would do such a thing? she repeated with more righteous indignation, her blue eyes blazing.
Looks like were having a party in here, the doctor said from the open doorway. Mind if I speak to the patient in private?
No, of course not, Kat said, yet she made no move to leave. As Sam passed her, she grabbed his arm. Were not through talking about this.
That jolt struck him again. Count on it. Sam stepped out into the hallway, shaking his arm as if he could shake free of the feeling of Kats fingers touching him so easily.
So, Sam, whos got it in for you? Tazer joined him in the hospital corridor, closing the door behind her.
Any number of people. Im a geologist working oil exploration in the interior. People will either love what Im doing, or hate it. No one straddles the fence.
Her eyes widened. Oil and drilling are definitely hot topics with our current dependency on Middle Eastern sources.
Between the environmentalists wanting me out and an Alaskan senator demanding that I give him the answer he wants, Im pulled in two different directions.
Either of which could have a motive to hurt you.
Not to mention, the race on Saturday.
Are there any competitors afraid you might win over them? Tazer asked.
I cant imagine someone thinking I was any kind of competition.
You never know how the competitive mind works.
Whatever. Paul shouldnt have been the one in the hospital. If I hadnt loaned my sled to him, hed be fine.
She tapped a finger to her chin, her gaze running his length from head to toe. And you would have been in the hospital or dead.
Sam inhaled a deep breath and let it out. Yeah. Which leads back to the question of who.
THE DOCTOR ONLY wanted to see me. Paul glared at Kat.
As your only family, I need to hear what he has to say. Kat reached for his hand, refusing to take no for an answer.
The doctors expression was too serious to be good news. He slipped an X-ray film into the lighted board on the wall and pointed at a bone close to the ankle. You have a fracture in the medial malleolus. He turned to look at Paul, his face set in stern, no-nonsense lines. You have a broken ankle.
So? Pauls face set in a stubborn frown. Big deal. Its just the ankle.
So the doctor glanced toward Kat briefly before leveling a hard stare at Paul you cant run the Iditarod on that fracture.
Pauls hand squeezed Kats hard. Are you sure? Youre not mistaken? Look at it again. He pointed at the film.
Im certain. I recommend a cast and elevating your ankle for the next week to keep the swelling down. Six weeks in the cast ought to allow sufficient healing time.
Six weeks? Paul shouted. I dont have two days to heal.
Kat patted his hand. I think you missed the part where the doctor said youre not racing on Saturday.
Since there is minimal swelling, Ill send the order up for the casting materials and have you fixed up in time to go home this afternoon. The doctor made notes on the chart and then looked up. Im sorry, Paul. But you need to take care of that bone and let it heal. On those parting words, the doctor left the room.