Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud.

Years before, before he had understood, he’d made sacrifice to this land. When the woman’s blood had spilled, by his hand, it had begun. It had not been an accident, as he’d believed. He understood now his hand had been guided. And the cougar, his spirit guide, had blessed that offering. Had accepted it.

She had defiled that sacrifice. Lillian Chance. She’d come to the place of his sacrifice, his holy ground, where he’d become a man, a warrior, by spilling the blood of the woman. She’d brought the government there, in the form of the police.

She’d betrayed him.

It all made sense now, it all came clear.

It must be her blood now.

He traveled with a small group, merged with them as a helicopter buzzed overhead. Looking for him, he thought, and felt the pride fill his chest. When the group chose one of the many crossings over a narrow creek, he waved them off.

It was time to slip away again.

If he fulfilled his destiny, the government would surely have to disclose to the public what they’d stolen. And perhaps one day, the true people would erect a statue of him on that very land, as they had to Crazy Horse.

For now, the hunt and the blood would be their own reward.

He moved quickly, covering the ground-the rises, the flats, the high grass, the shallow creeks. Even with his speed and skill, it took most of the day to lay the false trail west toward the Wyoming border, leaving behind signs he thought, derisively, the blind could follow. He sweetened it with Jim Tyler’s wallet before backtracking.

Once again he headed east through the pine-scented air.

Soon the moon would be full, and under that full moon, he would hunt.

LIL PERSONALLY PLANTED pansies in the bed across from Cleo’s enclosure. They’d handle the frosts that weren’t just likely but inevitable, and the spring snows that were more than probable for the next few weeks.

It felt good to get her hands in the dirt, and satisfying to see that splash of color. Since the jaguar watched her avidly, Lil crossed over to the path. “What do you think?”

Cleo appeared to have no particular bias against or liking for pansies. “If you’re still waiting for some Godiva, you’re doomed to disappointment.”

The cat pressed her flank against the fence, rubbed back and forth. Interpreting, Lil went under the barricade. She watched Cleo’s eyes as she approached, and watched them slit with pleasure when she stroked and scratched through the fencing.

“Miss that, don’t you? No chocolate or poodles, but we can give you a little personal attention now and then.”

“Doesn’t matter how often I see you do that, I’m never tempted to try it for myself.”

Lil glanced back to smile at Farley. “You pet horses.”

“A horse may kick the hell out of me, but it’s not going to rip my throat out.”

“She’s used to being touched, to being spoken to, to the scents and voices of people. It’s not just humans who need physical contact.”

“Tell that to Roy. Or Siegfried. Whichever one of them had that real contact with the tiger.”

“Mistakes cost.” She backed away, ducked under to join Farley. “Even a kitten will scratch and bite when it’s annoyed or bored. Nobody who deals with cats gets out without a few scars. Were you looking for Tansy?”

“I wanted to see you, too. I just wanted you to know I’ll be sticking close to home, so you don’t need to worry.”

“This screwed up your plans for last night.”

“I was hoping I could work things out for a picnic maybe. That’s romantic, right?”

“Meets the top ten requirements.”

“But spring’s a busy time around the farm and around here.”

“Go raid the pantry in my cabin. Use the picnic area over there.”

“Here?” He gawked at her. “Now?”

“I’d bet my budget for the next five years you’ve got the ring in your pocket here and now.”

“I can’t take that bet. I need to save my money.” He looked back around, his face full of excitement and concern. “You think I could ask her here?”

“It’s a pretty afternoon, Farley. She loves this place as much as I do, so yeah, I think you could ask her here. I’ll make sure everyone gives you some room.”

“You can’t tell them why.”

“Have some faith.”

He had plenty of faith in Lil, and the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the right thing. After all, he and Tansy had gotten to know each other right here at the refuge. He’d fallen in love with her here. And she with him, something he thought she was just about ready to admit.

Lil didn’t have much in the way of picnic food, but he found enough to put a couple of sandwiches together. He took apples, a bag of chips, and two Diet Cokes-since that was all she had.

Then he nagged Tansy over to a picnic table.

“I can’t take much of a break.”

“Neither can I, but I want to spend what I’ve got with you.”

She went soft, he could see it. “Farley, you just kill me.”

“I missed you last night.” He tipped her face up for a kiss before he gestured her to the bench he’d already brushed off.

She sighed. “I missed you, too. I really did. But I’m glad you went back. It was the right thing. Everyone’s trying not to be jumpy, and that makes me more jumpy. I spend a lot of my time in what most people consider a danger zone. And there is risk, of course. But it’s calculated and it’s respected and understood. I just can’t understand any of this. Humans are, to my thinking, the most unpredictable of animals.”

“You got that scar right here.” He reached out to trace the mark on her forearm with his finger.

“From a cheetah who saw me as a threat. And my fault more than hers. None of this is Lil’s fault. None of it.”

“We’re not going to let anything happen to her. Or you.”

“He’s not interested in me.” Tansy laid a hand over his. “And I’m spoiling this quick picnic. What’ve we got?” She picked up a sandwich, laughed. “Peanut butter and jelly?”

“Lil didn’t have a lot of choices on the menu.”

“She always has pb &j.” Tansy bit in. “How are things at the farm?”