Dangerous Alliance

“She’s a real special lady,” Rose went on. “Libby’s program to teach the dependent children how to ride has been a roaring success around here. She’s gotten them off the streets and out of the malls and interested in horses instead. She doesn’t have any children of her own, but the kids just love her. Word on the grapevine was that Libby wanted a child really badly.” The secretary shrugged. “Guess it wasn’t meant to be, but Libby’s really been a positive force here on Reed in the three years since his death.”

If it were possible to feel worse, Dan did. “I guess I’d better drop over to the stables and see her,” he muttered.

Rose’s smile was benevolent. “I knew you wouldn’t let her down, Dan.”

He gave her a pointed look. “Is Libby your daughter?”

She laughed. “No, but I’d be proud to have her as one.”

“Just wondering. The way you’re doting over her, I thought for sure she was a close relative.”

“In my book, Libby Tyler is a good-hearted person. We need more of them on this poor, suffering earth of ours. I just happen to think there’s something nice between the two of you. I saw the way she looked at you.”

Dan felt his skin heat up. This time he knew he was blushing. “Rose,” he said in a growly tone, “don’t you have something to do? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for our meeting with the MP’s this afternoon?”

Giggling, Rose nodded. “Yes, sir, Captain. Just pen some time in your appointment book to visit Libby in the next day or two. I’m sure it’ll do both of you good.”

Chapter Three

“Hey, Libby,” Jenny Stevens called from her horse in the middle of the riding ring, “do you know that marine standing over by the gate?”

Libby kept her gaze on the ten children walking their horses along the arena’s pipe-rail fence. Jenny was a navy corpswave nurse. On her days off, she helped Libby with her classes, acting as her assistant. Libby twisted around on Shiloh, her Trahkner gelding, a special breed of horses brought from Europe specifically for eventing because of their size and strength. She looked toward the gate. Her heart thudded hard in her breast. Dan Ramsey.

“Him,” she muttered.

Jenny leaned over and gave her an inquiring look. “Him? Why, Libby, you said you’d never date a marine again. He’s gorgeous. Who is he?”

“Trouble,” she said between gritted teeth, “and he’s not my boyfriend, Jenny.” Two days had gone by since she’d last seen Dan Ramsey, and she’d never expected to see him again. Worse, she’d had a torrid dream about him this morning—which had left her in a decidedly bad mood. Now here he was, leaning negligently against the gate, looking cool and relaxed in his summer uniform. If only he weren’t so heart-stoppingly handsome, she’d have a much easier time remaining immune to him, Libby thought wryly.

Jenny smiled, her eyes on the children under her tutelage, each child sitting straight and tall in an English saddle, small hands clutching the reins near the neck of their horse. The group came in once a week to learn how to ride English-style. “Trouble? I’d like to see trouble like that. I’ve been here at Camp Reed for a year and haven’t met even one decent guy. Well, a couple, but they just didn’t do much for me. Now, that captain looks very decent.”

Libby gave her friend a dirty look. She was going to ignore Dan Ramsey for a while. Maybe he’d get the message and leave. She was willing to bet he wasn’t here for business reasons. “He’s as sneaky as they come.”

“Oh? Did he ask you out to dinner or something?”

Squirming in her English saddle, Libby felt Shiloh start to move restively between her legs. She reached out and stroked his long, powerful neck to reassure him. She knew he was picking up on her reaction to Dan. Ramsey, she reminded herself. Keep him at a distance, Libby Tyler. If you start calling him by his first name, it’ll be too late.

“He had the nerve to ask me out to lunch when I was over at the PM’s office the other day trying to get someone to investigate about those five horses.

Jenny nodded. “Can’t shoot the guy for trying,” she teased. Becoming more sober, she added, “I’ve heard about Captain Ramsey. They say he’s a real gung ho marine who’s going to clean up the drug situation around here. I treated a brig chaser at the hospital last night who mixed it up over at the brig with a prisoner, and he mentioned Ramsey’s name. I guess the good captain was brought in specifically to start a rehab program.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“You wouldn’t—you don’t listen to base gossip. Oops, there goes Scotty. He’s slipping out of the saddle. I better go over and help him.”

Libby nodded and watched her assistant trot over to a small, red-haired boy who was having trouble staying balanced in the saddle. The animal wanted to stop, not walk, so Scotty was kicking it as hard as he could, slipping slowly but surely off the saddle all the while. Smiling, Libby watched Jenny, who was an experienced rider with some dressage training herself, take care of the situation. Her neck felt hot and she rubbed it, sure that Ramsey was staring at her. Too bad, let him wait.

As Libby gave Shiloh the leg signal to trot over to another child in trouble, she admitted she was afraid of Ramsey. Afraid of how easily he’d reached into her slowly healing heart and awakened her feelings. As she neared Molly, who sat on a white gelding, Libby released a flustered sigh. Ever since she’d met Ramsey he’d been popping uninvited into her thoughts at odd moments.

“Molly, honey, lift your hands,” she coaxed, coming alongside her. A pure-blooded Trahkner, Shiloh towered above the white mare. The gelding was big-boned, a dark blood bay color with black mane and tail. He was seventeen hands high, a giant for a horse of almost any breed. Poor Sunny was small in comparison at fifteen hands high, and Libby had to lean down to gently reposition Molly’s tiny fingers on the thick, unwieldy reins.

“There, that’s it,” she said encouragingly, smiling down into the girl’s serious face. Molly’s father was General Endicott, the base commander. Too often Libby had seen small children’s natural spontaneity severely suppressed by the rigid military atmosphere they were raised in.

Molly’s face relaxed once Libby had reached over and patted her shoulder. “Like this, Miss Tyler?”

“Exactly like that, Molly,” Libby praised, directing Shiloh to shorten his long stride to keep her at Molly’s side. Libby was still reluctant to turn around, wildly aware of Ramsey’s interest in her activities. It was impossible not to look up when she gave Shiloh pressure against his barrel to make him turn and head back to the center of the arena. The afternoon sun’s long rays made thin, uneven shadows across the sandy space. The few trees nearby offered snippets of shade here and there from the burning heat.

This time, Dan smiled at her. Libby’s mouth went dry and her heart started an erratic pounding. She forced a slight smile of her own and quickly pretended to shift her focus back to the children. The arena was a good five hundred feet in diameter, an oval filled with soft sand and dirt, perfect for teaching riding as well as jumping. Jenny had walked her horse back down the straggling line of children, correcting posture and hand or feet positions with plenty of lavish praise. Libby loved to see how quickly the children responded to a little positive reinforcement.

Jenny trotted back to the center and joined her.

“Why don’t you go talk to Captain Ramsey? We’ve only got five minutes left in the class hour. I can watch them.”

“Thanks, Jenny, but no.”

“You don’t like him?”

“It’s not that.”

“Oh, so you do like him. Good taste.”

Giving Jenny a flat stare, Libby said, “You’re reading something into nothing. I know why he’s here, and I don’t want to encourage him, Jenny. He can wait until we’re done with the class.”

Chewing on her lower lip, Jenny cast her an understanding look. “I know you’re afraid to get involved after your husband’s death. It must be so hard to reach out and try to love or trust again.”

Her stomach knotted and Libby whispered, “I’m not afraid of dating, Jenny. I just won’t date a military man, that’s all.”

Jenny reached out and touched Libby’s shoulder. “Maybe, with time, that fear will leave you. How about I take the kids back to the barn and make sure they unsaddle and put their tack away properly? You can go talk to Captain Ramsey in the meantime.”

Giving her friend a resigned look, Libby said, “Okay, but I’m sure I’ll be joining you in a few minutes. This won’t take long.”

Tossing her head, her black hair brushing her shoulders, Jenny laughed. “Okay. See you back at the OK Corral.” She waved to the children to halt their horses at the gate.

With a sigh, Libby steeled herself to meet Dan. Ramsey. Damn. How did he get under her skin so quickly? Reluctantly, she turned Shiloh toward where he stood. Although she found herself wishing her ten-year-old gelding would actually drag his hooves in crossing the arena, it didn’t happen. Libby remained seated as she pulled Shiloh to a stop next to the fence.

“Captain,” she said coolly.

“Libby.”

She squirmed inwardly, yet maintained a grim look on her face. “Why are you here?”

Dan looked up at the late-afternoon sky. It was a cloudless blue, the sunshine pouring across the yellowed hills of Reed. “The truth?”

“Nothing but.” Her heart snagged when he cocked his head and looked up at her with that boyish smile.

“I have spring fever, and I couldn’t stand one more minute in that cramped cubicle of an office of mine.”

“Oh…” She relaxed slightly in the saddle, relieved. He wasn’t pursuing her after all.