Free Nikki and the Lone Wolf by Marion Lennox Page B

dad’s boat and this house, but little else. So he took Jem and headed off to the West, to the oil rigs. A good seaman can make a lot if he’s prepared to take risks and, from what I can gather, Gabe took more than a few. Then the fishing here started to falter and suddenly Gabe returned. He’s good with figures, good with fishing, good with people. He almost single-handedly pulled the fleet back together. But he’s shut himself off for years and so far the only one to touch that is Jem.’ Shetouched the big dog’s soft ears. ‘So maybe…maybe this guy can do the same. Or maybe even his owner can.’
    â€˜Sorry?’ Nikki said, startled.
    â€˜Just thinking,’ Henrietta said hastily, and rose to leave. ‘Dreaming families for my dogs is what I do. Good luck to the three of you.’
    She looked at the teacup. Grinned. ‘Amazing,’ she said. ‘They say owners end up looking like their dogs. These cups fit poodles, not wolfhounds.’ She grinned down at Horse, asleep draped over Nikki’s feet, and then looked back to Nikki. ‘Poodle,’ she said. ‘Maybe now, but not for much longer. I’m looking forward to big changes around here. For everyone.’
    Â 
    Gabe slipped underwater, checked the propeller and inspected the hull. Minutely. It was the best checked hull in the fleet. Then he went back to mending cray-pots. By nine he was the only person in the harbour.
    The rest of his boats were out, and he was stuck on dry land. Because of Nikki.
    What was she about, removing his alarm? Telling Hattie to go without him?
    He’d needed to sleep, he conceded. His head still ached.
    Because she’d hit him.
    It was an accident. She meant no harm.
    She meant to keep the dog. Horse.
    It was a stupid name for a dog. A dog needed a bit of dignity.
    Dignity.
    She’d have to get that fur unmatted, he thought, and getting the tangles out of that neglected coat was a huge job. Did she know what she was letting herself in for?
    It was nothing to do with him. Nothing! He wasn’t going near.
    She was living right next door to him. With her dog who needed detangling.
    He’d yelled at her. Because she’d picked up a few rocks.
    He’d behaved appallingly.
    Why?
    He knew why. And it wasn’t the memory of his mother. It wasn’t the dog. It was more.
    It couldn’t be more. He didn’t want more, and more wasn’t going to happen.
    It was dark. Time to head home.
    Maybe he could take Jem’s old brushes across to her. A peace offering.
    That wasn’t more. It was sensible. It felt…okay.
    But when he got home there wasn’t a light on, apart from the security light he kept on in the shared porch.
    Were she and the dog asleep?
    She’d slept this afternoon. He’d seen her, curled on the hearth with the dog.
    With Horse.
    They were nothing to do with him.
    He glanced at the gap in the stone wall. Sensed the faint echo of Nikki. And Horse.
    By his side… Shades of Jem.
    He was going nuts. The hit on his head had obviously been harder than he thought. Ghosts were everywhere, even to the feel of Jem beside him. Jem had always been with him, on the boat, under his bed, by the fire, a heartbeat by his side.
    Whoa, he was maudlin. Get over it.
    Disoriented, he found himself heading for the beach. A man could stare at the sea in the moonlight. Find some answers?
    But the only answers he found on the beach were Nikki and Horse.

CHAPTER FIVE
    T HEY were sitting just above the high water mark, right near the spot where Horse had stood and howled last night. Gabe saw them straight away, unmistakable, the silhouette of the slight woman and the huge, rangy dog framed against a rising moon.
    Maybe he’d better call out. Warn her of his approach. Who knew what she was carrying tonight?
    â€˜Nikki!’
    She turned. So did Horse, uttering a low threatening growl that suddenly turned into an unsure whine. Maybe