“We process hundreds of pounds of meat every week in our commissary. The staff and interns prepare the meat, primarily chicken, which is generously donated by Hanson’s Foods. You really timed your visit well today, because watching feeding time is an experience. You’ll see first-hand the power of the animals here at Chance Wildlife Refuge.”

“Mister? Can I ride on your horse?”

Farley looked down at a girl of about eight, pretty as a sunbeam in her pink hooded coat.

“If your folks say so, you can sit up here with me, and I’ll walk you around. Hobo’s a gentle one, ma’am,” he said to the mother.

“Please! Please! I’d rather ride on the horse than watch the lions and stuff eat chicken.”

There was a short debate. Farley stayed out of it and gave himself the pleasure of watching Tansy tell the boy-about twelve, Farley supposed-how tigers stalked and ambushed.

In the end, the girl had her way and squeezed onto Hobo in front of Farley. “This is a lot more fun. Can you make him go really fast?”

“I could. But I expect if I did your ma would have my hide.”

“What’s a hide?”

He chuckled. “My skin. She’d skin me if I did that after I promised to go easy.”

“I wish I had a horse.” She leaned forward to brush her hand over Hobo’s mane. “Do you get to ride all the time? Every day?”

“I guess I do.”

The little girl sighed. “You’re so lucky.”

Behind her, Farley nodded. “I am. I’m lucky all right.”

Since the girl-Cassie-couldn’t have been less interested in the feeding, Farley got the okay to show her around on the horse. Hobo, steady as Gibraltar, placidly clopped the path while the animals screamed, growled, roared, and howled.

As twilight fell, Farley waved goodbye.

“That was nice of you, Farley.” Tansy watched the minivan head down the road. “Taking the time and trouble to entertain her.”

“It wasn’t any trouble. Easier to walk a horse around than haul all that meat, which I’d’ve felt obliged to help do if I hadn’t been occupied.”

He pulled the daffodils out of his bag. “These are for you.”

She stared at the bright yellow trumpets. He wondered if she knew how clearly everything showed on her face, the surprise and the pleasure-and the worry. “Oh, Farley. You shouldn’t-”

“You had a rough start this morning. I’m hoping you let me give you a better end to the day. Why don’t you come out with me, Tansy?”

“Farley, I told you we’re not going to get involved like that. We’re friends, and that’s all. We’re not going to date.”

It took some effort not to smile. She was still using her “official” voice. “Then why don’t you let me buy you a burger, like a friend would when his friend has a hard day. Just take your mind off things, that’s all.”

“I’m not sure that’s-”

“Just a hamburger, Tansy, to save you from having to fix a meal or figure out where to get one for yourself. Nothing more than that.”

She gave him a long look, with that line digging in between her eyebrows. “Just a burger?”

“Well, maybe some fries. Doesn’t seem like a burger without the fries.”

“Okay. Okay, Farley, I’ll meet you in town. In about an hour. How about Mustang Sally’s?”

“That’s fine.” Since he didn’t want to push his luck, he swung into the saddle. “I’ll see you later.”

He rode away, with a big grin on his face and a loud yee-haw in his heart.

In the office she shared with Tansy, Lil sat with her foot on the desk and her eyes on the ceiling. She glanced over when Tansy came in, smiled at the daffodils. “Pretty.”

“I don’t want any remarks.” She clipped out the words. “It was just a nice gesture from a friend. Something to cheer me up.”

Lil debated for a moment, then decided if you couldn’t screw with your friends, who could you screw with? “I know. He brought me daisies.”

Tansy’s face fell. “He did?” She recovered, smiled toothily. “Well, there, you see? Just a nice gesture. It doesn’t mean anything but that.”

“Absolutely not. You ought to put them in water. The wet paper towels and plastic wrap only hold them for so long.”

“I will. I’m going to go home, if there’s nothing urgent. Long day. The interns are finishing up, so I’ll give Eric-and whoever needs it-a lift back to town.”

“Sure. Lucius is working on something. He said he’d probably be another twenty minutes, which in Lucius time means another hour. He can lock up.”

“After this morning that doesn’t seem good enough.”

“I know, but it’s what we can do.”

Worry clouded her eyes. “Cooper’s coming back, staying the night?”

“Apparently I’m outvoted on that. And no comments there, either. Tit for tat.”

Tansy held up her free hand. “Not a word.”

“I can hear what you’re thinking, and will ignore it. Meanwhile, one thing. I just got off the phone with a woman outside of Butte. She has an eighteen-month-old melanistic jaguar, born in captivity and purchased by her as an exotic pet.”

“Spotted or black?”

“Black. She’s had it since it was a kit. A female, named Cleopatra. A couple of days ago, Cleo was, apparently, feeling both frisky and peckish and ate Pierre, a teacup poodle.”

“Oops.”

“Yes, big oops for little Pierre. The owner is hysterical, her husband is furious. Pierre belonged to his mother, who was visiting from Phoenix. He’s laid down the law, and Cleo must go.”

“Where would we put her?”

“There’s a question. I’m working on it. We could provide a temporary habitat by fencing off a section of Sheba’s area. She’s not using all her area anyway. Rarely leaves the den or the immediate vicinity.”

“Can we afford it?”

“I’m working on that, too.” Leaning back, Lil tapped a pencil on the edge of her desk. “I think Cleo’s owner can be persuaded to make a nice, fat donation to ensure Cleo’s happiness and well-being.”

“Define ‘nice and fat.’”