Tiger Prince

"An attack as bad as this?"

She shook her head. "But that doesn't mean I—" She stopped and asked wearily, "Why should it matter to you?"

"Because I—" He glanced away from her as he set the glass on the nightstand. "Because I need that railroad built."

He had been about to say something else, something completely different. She frowned in puzzlement. "We're only a few days behind schedule and this illness won't hold us up. Li Sung is very competent. I'll go back to the crossing tomorrow."

"The hell you will." His glance shifted swiftly back to her face, blue eyes blazing. "So you can collapse again the next day or the day after that? "You'll stay here and rest for another week."

"The hell I will." She repeated his words. "You need t hat railroad built, and so do I. I can be sick some other time."

"And you will. That's what I'm saying, dammit. Rest now and you might—" He stopped as he saw her face. "All right, four days."

She shook her head.

"Four days and I'll bring Medford over here tomorrow afternoon to discuss the joining of the rails so that you won't feel the time's completely wasted."

She really did need to see Medford. She studied Ruel's determined expression and decided if she didn't compromise she would only have to spend the strength she needed for convalescence arguing with him. "Three days"

"Done." Ruel smiled.

She stared at him, startled. It was a real smile that lit his face with warmth and humor, the kind of smile she had received from him rarely even in those days before the train wreck. "Why are you—there's something different."

His lids immediately hooded his eyes. "Different?"

The impression of warmth was gone and Ruel was once more an enigma. Yet she was sure for a moment there had been something very odd in his demeanor.

"Go back to sleep." He stood up. "I'll go to the palace and send Tamar with a message for Medford. Satisfied?"

She was too bewildered and weak to be satisfied about anything. "I suppose I am."

He lingered, looking down at her. "It's going to be all right, you know," he said haltingly. "I'm not—" He stopped again and then made an impatient motion with his hand. "Oh, what the hell!" He whirled on his heel and strode out of the summerhouse.

She gazed blankly after him.

Something had definitely changed.

The covers shifted and a draft of cool air roused her from sleep. Warm flesh, the scent of leather and spice. Ruel was beside her.

"Ruel . . ."

"Shh." He drew her close, her back to him spoon-fashion. "Go back to sleep."

"Medford?"

"Four o'clock tomorrow." He stroked the hair tumbling over his arm. "How do you feel?"

She felt drained of strength but oddly content and safe in his arms. "Better."

His next words came with a strange awkwardness. "I thought about letting you sleep alone, but I want to be here if you dream again. It can't be good for you to toss and turn like that."

"Dream?"

"You don't remember?"

"No, how did you know I was dreaming?"

"I could hardly not be aware of it when you were screaming at the top of your lungs."

She felt a flicker of uneasiness at the knowledge that she had unknowingly exposed herself. "Screaming about what?"

He didn't answer for a moment. "I couldn't make out the words. None of it made sense."

Relief flooded her and she relaxed against him. "Naturally, nightmares never do."

"Go to sleep. You won't have any nightmares tonight."

She had an idea that he was right. Her eyes closed and she let the veils of sleep fall around her. She did not have to worry about anything. Ruel would keep the dragons of the night away. . . .

"That wraps it up." Medford rolled the maps and stood up. "If there are any changes, send someone to let me know. When do you think you'll reach the canyon wall?"

"On schedule." Jane made a face. "We're having trouble with a rogue elephant damaging the track, but we'll find a way to overcome the difficulty."

He smiled. "I believe you will. You've done a fine job."

She looked at him, surprised. "You think so?"

"It's early days yet," he qualified quickly. "But I've been impressed with the way you've proceeded so far. It's not what I expected of you."

"I was aware of that," she said dryly.

"But you've not let your liaison with Ruel affect your work. I was afraid after—" He stopped, grimacing. "I wasn't supposed to mention that."

"What?"

"Ruel said he'd tear out my tongue if I didn't keep our talk on a strictly business basis." He shrugged. "He should have known better. I'm not a man who hides what he thinks."

"I've noticed," she said, her mind on what he had said. Why had Ruel tried to protect her when he had not clone so before?

"Time for you to go, Medford." Ruel stood in the doorway. "She has to rest now."

"I was just leaving," He nodded to Jane as he moved hastily toward the door. "I hope you recover quickly, Miss Barnaby."

"Good day, Mr. Medford."

"He stayed too long." Ruel scowled as he closed the door behind the engineer. "I told him one hour. Did he tire you?"

"No," she said slowly. "But I'm confused."

"Fever?" He swore beneath, his breath as he moved across the room. "That damn doctor said it shouldn't come back right away." He touched her forehead. "You don't feel hot."

"I don't have a fever." She turned her head to avoid his touch. "And I don't have to be ill to be bewildered about how you're treating me. Why are you being so kind to me?"

"No wonder you're confused. You haven't received an overabundance of the commodity from me, have you?" He smiled mockingly. "Pure self-interest. I need you well to build my railroad."

"I ... don't think so."

He dropped down into the Louis XV chair in front of the window. "What other reason could there be?"

She wished she could see his face. He sat there, his legs indolently stretched before him, the sunlight forming an areola about his hair, his face in shadow. "I'm not sure, but I think it's because I became ill."

"Are you saying I pity you?"

"No." She was silent, trying to fit the pieces together. "I believe it's because you took care of me. Kartauk says some people are natural caretakers and the more they guard and protect, the stronger the obligation to keep on doing it."

"Oh, yes, he told me you were one of the caretakers of the world. I assure you I'm not so giving by nature."]

"You gave to Ian."

"Ian is the exception."

"Is he?"

"I believe I've proved that during the last few days." He got to his feet. "I'm growing bored with all this searching of souls. Do you play poker?"

She nodded. "But I'm not as good as Li Sung."

"I didn't think you would be. Bluffing wouldn't come easily to you." He opened the drawer of the table next to him. "While I'm truly superb in the art."

"Then why should I play with you?"

"To pass the time." He sat down at the table and started to shuffle the deck. "And to give me a victory. I'm feeling in dire need of one."