She loosened her grip but still kept him close. "Shut up. I don't want you to talk. I want to hold you."
"I hear and obey." His long body relaxed against her. "Actually, after a year of deprivation, I could use some tender loving care."
"Then be quiet and enjoy it." Her hand stroked his hair. She said unsteadily, "You're such a fool."
"Is that any way to talk to Daddy Warbucks?" he murmured. "And every fool should have die luck to land in a spot like this."
She didn't answer. She could hear the sound of the birds and feel the rise and fall of his breathing against her breasts. The scent of the flowers was all around them and the breeze was a soothing caress. She sensed the tension slowly, gradually, seep out of him.
Fifteen minutes later he fell into a light doze. Forty minutes later he drifted from that state into a deep sleep.
One leg was thrown over her and the weight of his heavy body was holding her perfectly immobile, but she didn't try to move. She was almost afraid to breathe. She lay there as the afternoon sunlight faded into twilight and then to the darkness of evening.
"Ronnie."
She opened her eyes at the soft call to see a tall figure silhouetted by the moonlight.
Dan Bredlowe squatted down beside the hammock. "I knocked and no one came to the door. Is everything all right?"
Gabe answered for her. "Fine." He stretched and then sat up. "I guess I must have fallen asleep." He turned to look at Ronnie. "You make a great pillow."
"Better than pills?"
"Much better than pills." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Come on, I'll see if I can stir up something for Dan to eat."
She shook her head. "You go on. I'll be there as soon as I wake up a little."
His gaze narrowed curiously on her face but he rose to his feet and sauntered back toward the house with Dan.
She waited until he reached the French doors before she started to move. Lord, she was cramped and stiff in every muscle and one leg was asleep. She managed to get to her feet after two tries, but only managed to hobble down the path, dragging one leg behind her.
"You look like the hunchback of Notre Dame." Gabe stood in the doorway watching her. "Did I do that to you?"
"No, I did it to myself. I should have moved."
"But you didn't want to wake me."
"I fell asleep myself." She grabbed hold of the doorway. The leg that was asleep was beginning to tingle. "Where's Dan?"
"I sent him to bring in your luggage from the helicopter. I thought it strange you didn't come with us. You have too much energy to enjoy lolling in hammocks." He slipped his arm around her waist. "Foot asleep?"
"The whole leg, but it's coming back. You don't have to help me."
"It's my privilege." The words were only half-mocking. "Lean on me."
She let him have a little of her weight as she released the door and took a step into the living room. "Stop pampering me. It's not necessary."
"No, and it wasn't necessary for you to lie there for over eight hours with my bulk on you." He drew her closer. "It's just the kind of thing people do when they love each other."
"I don't—"
"Give me more of your weight," he interrupted. "It's not going to compromise your independence to admit to weakness. As soon as we get to the kitchen, you can sit down and supervise my cooking." He raised a brow. "Unless you care to give it a try yourself."
She shook her head. "We need Dan to bring us news. You don't want him incapacitated for any length of time." They had reached the kitchen and she frowned as Gabe flipped on the light. She hadn't realized last night how brilliant were the recessed halogen lights in the ceiling. "They're too bright."
"What do you want to do? Dine by candlelight?" He seated her in one of the chairs at the table. "For Lord's sake, I'm beginning to regret that slip of the tongue. You're going overboard. I'm not that sensitive."
He wouldn't admit it if he was. She would have to do something about those lights. "You should have told me before."
"Should have told you what?" Dan strolled into the kitchen. "Secrets already in this Shangri-la of marital bliss?"
Ronnie grinned. "He should have told me he could cook. It would have given me an even greater incentive to get him out of Said Ababa." She leaned back in her chair and waved a hand airily. "Cook, slave."
EIGHT
Dan finished his casserole and leaned back in his chair. "A repast for the gods. Good job, Gabe."
"It's nice to be appreciated." He slanted a glance at Ronnie. "May I offer the man a cup of coffee?"
"As long as you don't have one yourself." She got up, went to the refrigerator, and took out a gallon of milk. "Dan, bring some decaffeinated coffee when you come next time." She poured a glass of milk and brought it to Gabe. "Gabe's having a little trouble sleeping."
"What a nag," Gabe said as he sipped the milk.
She took Dan's cup to the coffeemaker on the counter, poured out the hot liquid, and after giving it to him, sat back down. "Nagging is sensible when dealing with unsensible human beings."
Dan chuckled. "Good God, you two sound like you've been married ten years. Pilsner might get off your back if he could hear you now."
Ronnie involuntarily tensed at the name. She realized with a sense of shock that the scene with Pilsner had taken place only yesterday. So much had happened since that interview on the terrace, it might have occurred a year ago.
"How much damage did he do?" Gabe asked.
Dan looked at him in surprise. "Didn't you see him on television? The story has been all over the networks."
"We haven't turned on the set," Gabe said. "How bad?"
Dan shrugged. "Not good. Pilsner's very credible, very upright, and doesn't come across as your typical bureaucrat."
"He's a patriot, not a bureaucrat," Ronnie said quietly.
Gabe ignored her. "Have you heard from Koras?"
"He's doing all he can but Pilsner's well respected in the administration. The news media is on your side and public opinion is rallying."
"Keep the pressure on. I want everything done that can be done to undermine Pilsner's position."
"No," Ronnie said. "Leave Pilsner alone."
"We can't leave him alone," Gabe said impatiently. "He's the key."
"Then it's a key we won't use," Ronnie said. "No slanted stories. No digging into his past to discredit him."
"He's trying hard enough to discredit you," Dan said. "He's had to defend himself, so he's pouncing on your background with both feet."
"I deserve it. He doesn't."
Dan looked at Gabe. "You're the boss. What do I do?"
"No, Gabe," Ronnie said.
He opened his mouth to argue with her and then closed it again. "Put it on hold, Dan," he said finally. "I'll get back to you later. Keep on issuing positive stories. Rehash the wedding. Make sure Koras is kept primed."
Dan nodded as he rose to his feet. "I'll keep you informed. I guess I'd better get back to Marasef."
"You could stay the night," Ronnie offered.
He shook his head. "Far be it from me to interrupt a honeymoon." He hesitated before he said to Ronnie, "Look, Pilsner's making some pretty grim noises. He'd throw the book at you if he got the chance."
"You already told me that." Ronnie smiled. "Duly noted." '
"I just don't want you to make any mistakes. You're safe here, but leave Sedikhan and you're in trouble."
He was saying that Sedikhan was a prison for her. . . and for Gabe if he chose to stay with her.
"She's not budging," Gabe said. "Where else would she get someone to cook for her?"
Dan chuckled, his expression lightening. "Yeah, I knew you had some use. John has a few business decisions he'd like you to make. Is it all right if I have him call you here?"
Gabe shook his head. "I'll call him."
"Whatever you say." Dan gave them both a casual wave and strolled out of the kitchen.
Gabe turned to her and attacked as soon as Dan left
the room. "Stop putting blocks in my way. For Lord's sake, don't you want to win?"
"You don't know how much."
"Then we have to get Pilsner before he gets you, dammit."
"You wouldn't go after him if it wasn't for me. He's one of the good guys." She smiled without mirth. "And there are too few of them in Washington to waste. Somewhere along the way the politicians forgot what they're supposed to be doing up there."
Gabe's expression froze. "We the people?"
She nodded. "Do you know, I didn't have a formal education until I left Evan. We were always traveling and on the run, so I picked up what I could from correspondence courses and any books I came across. One of my favorite was a dog-eared volume of American history for children. It was full of things like Pilgrims and Indians at the first Thanksgiving and Betsy Ross sewing a flag and Nathan Hale dying for his country. A lot of those stories were pure fiction and pretty schmaltzy, but I believed them. I guess I still believe them."
Gabe smiled resignedly. "I think you do, heaven help you."
"Maybe heaven will help me." She smiled with an effort. "But it won't if we shoot down the good guys. So back off Pilsner."
He shook his head. "You're making a mistake."
"But you'll do as I say?"
"I'm not promising anything. I'll try to find another way, but I won't have you sacrificed to Pilsner's standard of right and wrong."
It was the only commitment she was going to get from him, but the delay might be enough. There would be no reason to pursue Pilsner if she was not around to benefit.
She stood up and began stacking the dishes. "Why don't you find a deck of cards while I do these dishes? I don't think either of us is going to sleep any more tonight."
"May I ask what you're doing?" Gabe asked from the doorway of the kitchen a week later. He quickly strode forward to steady the ladder on which she was balancing.
"I'm shading these light bulbs with pink tissue paper." She glanced down at him with a grin. "Pretty romantic, huh?"
"You wish to arouse my libido in the kitchen?" Gabe asked. "My cooking must be getting pretty boring."
"Once I saw a television show that featured a sex therapist who said every couple should make love in unconventional places." She finished taping the paper and started down the ladder. "I want to be prepared."
"You refused the hammock. What could be more unusual than that?"
"Try me tonight, by the light of the moon. I howl at midnight."
"You do? That should be interesting." He regarded the pink tissue paper. "Do you realize there's every chance that paper will catch fire if the lights are left on too long?"
"We'll be careful," she said cheerfully. "It's only temporary. I'm going to phone Dan and tell him to bring a whole box of pink light bulbs next time he comes."
"Because pink is soft and there won't be glare." He shook his head, but his smile was tender. "Why not red lights?"
"I thought red would be a bit surreal. Pink is fine. Pink is good."
"No, it's Ronnie who is fine." He reached forward to kiss her on the lips. "All this isn't necessary, you know. It was only a temporary thing."
"Maybe. We won't take any chances."
"I believe I like you in this maternal mode." He slipped an arm around her and led her out of the kitchen. "What do you have planned for die bedroom?"
"Nothing maternal." Her smile faded as die full import of her words sank home to her. "And that reminds me. I want you to start protecting me."
"I'd say you're a little late," Gabe said dryly.
"Since we've been intimate in the extreme for the last week."
"Better late than never. It didn't occur to me." A possibility existed that she had been deliberately irresponsible. Perhaps she had wanted to have Gabe's baby. "I'm not alone in this. You should have thought about it too."
"I assumed you were on the Pill." His rare, warm smile lit his face. "A baby . . ."
"No," she said quickly. "Don't even think about it." She was thinking far too much about it herself. She had never thought of herself as maternal, but she knew she would want Gabe's baby even though it would complicate her life enormously.
"I can't help it. It intrigues me."
"Forget it. If I got pregnant. . ."
He went still. "You'd abort?"
She shook her head. "That wouldn't be my choice."
"Thank God. I was afraid I'd have to kidnap you and hold you prisoner until I could talk you into keeping it."
"For goodness sake, why are we talking about this? I'm probably not pregnant, and from now on you protect me. Right?"
"Right." His smile deepened. "I protect you. It's a role that suits me to a tee."
She felt a flicker of despair. There it was again. Protection. Responsibility. They were growing closer every day, every hour, and Gabe's natural instinct was to guard anything and anyone he cared about. She had reached out to grab happiness for herself and Gabe was being caught in the trap.
"Stop frowning." With an index finger he traced the wrinkle that furrowed her brow. "I can practically see the wheels turning beneath those blond curls. It's your body. If you don't want a child right now, that's fine with me. I just wanted you to know that I'd want your child anytime, anywhere."
"Thanks," she said, emotion making her voice husky.
"You're welcome." Gabe bowed with mock politeness. "Just so you know I'm willing to oblige."
"I know." Her hand closed tightly around his. He had just gotten out of one prison and would oblige her to the point of making himself a prisoner again in lovely Tanadahl. "I've always found you very accommodating."
• • •
Dan arrived at Tanadahl at noon the next day. Ronnie ran out to the helicopter to meet him. "You're early. We didn't expect you until dinnertime. Did you bring my light—" For the first time she noticed the gravity of his expression. "What's wrong?"
He didn't answer. "Where's Gabe?" he asked as he jumped out of the helicopter
"In the study. He's trying to wade through some of that paperwork you brought last time." She searched his expression. "Is it Pilsner?"
He gently took her arm and propelled her toward the house. "I think we should wait until Gabe is present."
"I'm here." Gabe came down the front steps. "What's happened?"
"It's Ronnie's father. He's been shot."
Gabe muttered a curse as he came swiftly down the steps to stand beside Ronnie. "The Red December?"
Dan shook his head. "It happened in Tamrovia. He was dealing with a dissident group for arms and was caught in a raid by the Tamrovian authorities."
"How bad?"
"Critical." Dan turned to Ronnie and said gently, "They don't think he'll make it. I can't tell you how sorry I am to bring you this news."
"Are you sure?" she asked numbly. She couldn't believe that Evan was hurt, perhaps dying. He was one of those people who sailed through life. People around him got hurt, but never Evan.
Dan nodded. "Our sources in Belsen are very reliable. It took the Tamrovians a little while to identify him. He was traveling with an Irish passport under the name Robert Reardon."
"Where is he?"
"Being guarded at a hospital in Belsen, Tamrovia."
"Will you take me there in the helicopter?"
Dan looked at Gabe.
"How public is this information?" Gabe asked.
"It's our story so far, but it could break anytime."
Gabe turned to Ronnie. "Can I point out a few hard facts without upsetting you?" he asked quietly.
"Probably not."
"I have to do it anyway." He slipped his arms around her. "It could be a dangerous move for you. The minute you cross the Sedikhan border, you're leaving yourself vulnerable to Pilsner. If we know about your father, then you can bet Pilsner will soon. It's a five-hour flight to Tamrovia. There may be a watch at the hospital by the time we get there."
"I'm not stupid enough not to guess that."
"You don't owe your fat
her anything. He used you."
"I used him too. I tried to talk him out of arms running, but when he only laughed at me, I used his contacts, I followed him into a dozen hot spots to get stories."
"He brought you up like a ragtag gypsy."
"He did what he could."
"To make you a criminal like him. You don't owe him, Ronnie."
Evan, who had never believed in sentiment or obligation, would have been the first to agree with him, she thought sadly. But she had never been like Evan, and loving Gabe had made her willing to admit to herself how desperately she had wanted to know and love her father. This might be her last chance. "I don't know if I owe him anything for being my father, but I owe him for Said Ababa," she said unevenly. "He helped me save you. I have to see him, Gabe. I can't let him die alone." She stepped back out of his arms and turned to Dan. "Will you take me or do I go on my own?"
"We'll take you," Gabe said. "Go in and pack a bag for us while I talk to Dan about arrangements for the trip."
"What arrangements?"
"You don't have a passport. We'll have to enter Tamrovia illegally."
"That will be a first for you." She wearily shook her head. "This is my problem. I shouldn't involve you in all this."
"You couldn't keep me out of it." He pushed her gendy toward the door. "Try to hurry. The sooner we get there, the better off we'll be."
The helicopter landed in a field a few miles outside Belsen, where a car and driver were waiting to take them to the hospital in the city.
"I'm making you a criminal too," Ronnie said as she watched the scenery flash by the window.
"I doubt if they'll deport me for helping my wife get to her dying father." Gabe's hand closed on hers. "Lord, your muscles are stiff as boards."
"I need to get there."
"I know it's seemed like a long trip, but we're almost there. It should take about fifteen minutes to get to the hospital."
"Will they let me see him?"
He nodded. "I had Dan radio ahead. Our local station manager set it up."
"Thank you. I'm sorry to be so much trouble." She was silent a moment, and when she spoke again it was in a barely audible voice. "It isn't that I owe him. He's . .. alone, Gabe. He's always been on the fringe. He never let anyone close to him. I lived with him for eighteen years and he never let even me get close. He's so alone."