Free Exclusive by Sandra Brown, Sandra Page B

command, so I asked you first. Since you've denied my request, I'm clear to go to the G.M."
    The mention of W VUE's general manager struck terror in Howie Fripp's heart. "Jenkins will back my decision," he said, feigning confidence.
    "He'll laugh himself sick because you had the gall to ask for travel time."
    "I don't think so," Barrie said cheerfully. "Didn't I tell you about the memo he wrote me?"
    Howie narrowed his eyes again.
    "It was a glowing review of my SIDS series. He wants me to do more special reports like that. He says my talent is being squandered on crap stories.
    He'd also like me to do some public service programming. Maybe some outside p.r., too, like personal appearances, speeches, things like that."
    She frowned. "I thought he would have mentioned it to you by now. No?
    Well, I guess he's just so busy, he hasn't gotten around to it yet."

    EXCLUSIVE 73
    She was making it up as she went along, but he was swallowing it. "I'll think about it," he grumbled.
    "No need. Really. Forget it. I'll just take it up with Jenkins."
    "Wait! Hold it! Give me a minute, for chrissake. You sprang this on me without giving me any warning." While mulling it over, he nibbled on his kosher dill spear. "Do you swear the story is that big?"
    "Huge. Gargantuan."
    He ogled a young woman jogging past the window, took another bite of pickle, scratched his armpit. "Okay, you can take a few days. But you'd better not be jerking me off."
    She shuddered at the thought.
    "Welcome to the Ponderosa," Barrie said to herself as she drove through the open gate and up the gravel drive to Gray Bondurant's house.
    Traveling under an assumed name, using a fake ID made for her by an ex-con-one of Daily's more unsavory sources-and paying with cash so as not to leave a paper trail, Barrie arrived at her destination in the late afternoon. She hoped her safety precautions were overkill, but she was taking no chances.
    Even by northwestern Wyoming standards, Bondurant's property was off the beaten path. The single-story ranch house was set against a grove of aspens that were just taking on their spectacular autumn color. In order to reach the house, she'd driven across a stream where clear water gurgled over a stone creek-bed.
    The house was constructed of log and stone. A covered porch ran the width of it. Three horses were grazing in a paddock. Toward the back were a barn that looked older than the

    74 Sandra Brown
    house and a detached garage that stood open and empty except for a snowmobile. Several cords of firewood were stacked against the exterior wall of the garage. Other than the horses, there was no sign of life.
    Now that she was here, Barrie suffered a severe case of tummy butterflies.
    The surrounding terrain was rugged and intimidating. The mountain range made her feel small and insignificant, as no doubt Gray Bondurant would consider her. Alighting from the rental car, she wondered exactly what she would say to him by way of introduction. From what little she'd heard and read about him, she knew chances weren't good that he would welcome her with open arms.
    Her flutters were for naught; he wasn't at home. She realized that after several minutes of ringing the doorbell and knocking. Damn. She was mentally pumped up for the encounter with the former Marine. She'd gone to too much trouble and personal expense to retreat this soon. Even an immediate drive back to Jackson Hole held no appeal.
    Deciding to wait for Bondurant's return, she sat in the rush-seated rocking chair on the front porch. The view of the Tetons was breathtaking, so she was content to sit and rock while contemplating this marvel of nature. However, it wasn't long before she became aware of another of nature's phenomenons, this one biological. She needed a bathroom.
    After another fifteen minutes, she left her satchel in the chair and returned to the front door. Since the garage had been left open, there was a good chance that the house had been left unlocked. It was.
    The