Nikki and the Lone Wolf / Mardie and the City Surgeon: Nikki and the Lone Wolf / Mardie and the City Surgeon

‘Just do it.’

‘Down,’ she snapped in a voice so full of authority that both Gabe and the dog started. But he had the dog’s back legs and Nikki had his collar. Gabe hauled his legs from under him and rolled him before Horse knew what had hit him.

The big dog was on his back. Shocked into submission.

‘Tell him he’s a good dog but keep him down,’ Gabe said.

‘This is cruel. He’s not fit …’

‘He’s going to pine until we do it. Do it.’

‘G … Good dog.’

‘Now let him up again.’

The dog lumbered to his feet.

‘Now down again.’

‘Down!’

Once again Gabe pushed his legs from under him. The dog folded.

‘Good dog,’ Nikki said, holding him down and the dog’s tail gave a tentative, subjugated wag.

‘Once more.’

‘Down!’ And this time Gabe didn’t have to push. The dog crouched and rolled with only a slight push and pull from Nikki.

‘Good dog. Great,’ Nikki said and her voice wobbled.

The dog stood again, unsure, but this time he moved imperceptibly to Nikki’s side. He looked up at her instead of out to sea.

‘Now tell him to come and tug,’ Gabe said, and Nikki did and the big dog moved docilely up the beach by her side.

‘Good dog,’ Nikki said and sniffed.

‘Why are you crying?’

‘I’m not.’

‘You’re allergic to command?’

‘I’m not built to be a sergeant major.’

‘Horse needs a sergeant major,’ he said as he fell in beside her. ‘You are what you have to be. Like me being owner of half a dozen boats, employing crews.’

‘You don’t like that?’

They were walking up the track, Nikki with Horse beside her, Gabe with his hand hovering, just in case Horse made a break for it. But Horse was totally submissive. He was probably relieved. He’d spent too long as it was waiting for his scumbag owner. He needed a new one.

There were parallels. Caring for Horse …

Taking on this town’s fishing fleet.

Nikki was waiting for an answer. Not pushing. Just walking steadily up the track with her dog.

She was a peaceful woman, he thought. Self contained. Maybe she’d had to be.

Why the sniff? Tears?

Ignore them.

‘I never saw myself as head of a fleet,’ he told her. ‘But when the fishing industry round here started to falter I was single with no responsibilities. I’d been away, working on the rigs, making myself some serious money. I could afford to take a few risks. But in the end I didn’t need to. Fishing’s in my blood and I knew what’d work.’

‘But now … You enjoy it?’

‘Fishing’s my life.’

‘It sounds boring.’

‘So you do what in your spare time?’ he demanded. ‘Macramé?

‘Dog training,’ she said steadily. ‘I now have a career and a hobby and a pet. What more could a girl want? What do you have, Gabe Carver?’

‘Everything I want.’

They reached the house in silence. Reached the porch. Nikki opened the door and ushered Horse inside. Hesitated.

‘He’ll stand at the door and howl,’ she said, and he looked at her face and saw the tracks of tears. What had he said to upset her?

‘Only if you let him.’

‘How do I not let him?’

He sighed. ‘Where’s he sleeping?’

‘In my bedroom.’

‘Not on your bed. You’re pack leader.’

‘I know that much. Besides, the bed’s not big enough.’

‘So show me.’

She swung open the bedroom door. A bed, single, small. He looked at her in surprise. He hadn’t been here when her furniture was delivered so he was seeing this for the first time. It was practically a child’s bed.

‘You don’t like stretching?’