Free Heart of the wolf by Lindsay McKenna Page A

winced at the cold blade of anger in his voice. Why was Wolf so down on himself? Hurt by his unexplained harshness, Sarah sourly reminded herself that they weren't friends. Friends could confide in one another. Still, curiosity ate at her, and she choked out, "You're a man with a lot of secrets, aren't you?"
    Wolf's scowl deepened. Panic surged through him. Sarah unerringly sensed that he was hiding a great deal from her. Well, wasn't he? Hell, he was desperately trying to hide it from himself. His voice was clipped with warning as he retorted, "You've got the curiosity of a cat."
    "Arid that isn't going to stop me from finding out why you think so little of yourself," she answered steadily.
    Wolf's gut tightened, and he tasted fear. "If you're doing it for curiosity's sake, don't try and unlock me." Wolf stared at her, the challenge in his gaze backed up by the growl in his voice. "I don't play those kinds of games with anyone."
    Sarah gave him a tight smile, feeling shaky and euphoric at the same time. The potential thrill of knowing Wolf on a more intimate level was exciting, despite her fear. Sarah felt as if she were walking on a high wire, far above the ground. One small misstep with Wolf and she'd fall to her death—only it wasn't a physical death, but an emotional one. Her curiosity warred with the knowledge of potential danger. Despite her head's warning, her heart demanded to know his terrible .secret. "Haven't you noticed yet? I don't play games, either."
    "No," Wolf admitted in a rasp, "you don't." He stood at the counter, afraid. Afraid that Sarah was going to gut him of his past.
    Sarah felt a bristling kind of power throbbing around Wolf, and decided to back off—for now. "Speaking of games, which one did Sheriff Noonan try to play with you?"
    Wolf felt incredibly vulnerable in Sarah's presence. He sensed her tenacity, her determination to reach the very heart of his dark soul. He sighed silently to himself, grateful that she had switched to a more benign topic. Returning his attention to the stove, he checked the steaks.
    "Noonan didn't take my report seriously."
    Sarah nodded, feeling a palpable release of the tension that had been building between them, but still wondering why Wolf had gotten so tense and angry. "I figured as much. He never does," she muttered.
    "Why?"
    "He's on Summers's payroll, that's why. Noonan's a banty rooster, full of himself, strutting around because he's got police power behind him. The folks around here won't buck him." She added grimly, "But I have and will."
    Going to the refrigerator, Wolf pulled out salad makings. He divided his time between cutting up vegetables and watching Sarah's darkened face. "What's going on here, Sarah? The sheriff accused you in so many words of being a troublemaker since the day you were born."
    "As far as he's concerned, I have been. Wolf, you don't appreciate what I keep telling you— Summers runs this town. Those that are against him are too scared to challenge him."
    "Except for you?" Wolf guessed , pleased at the way his name rolled off her lips, low and husky.
    "There were others," Sarah admitted unhappily, "but they've moved away. They got tired of butting heads with the bastard."
    "And you stayed? Why?"
    Sarah idly watched Wolf cut up the carrots. Despite the large size of his hands, he was incredibly skillful, handling the knife with ease. "I'm a fourth-generation Thatcher, that's why. All my family is buried up on the hill behind town. Four generations of my family have given their lives to this life, Wolf. I love this place." Her voice grew low with emotion. "I love the mountains and the mining. My dad switched from silver to sapphire mining when things went bust around here. Montana is one of the few places in North America where you can find gem-quality sapphires that rival the best in the world."
    Wolf set the table, placing the bowls of salad on it. "I never knew anything about sapphire mining."
    With a shrug, Sarah leaned over and