We can stow the saddles. Alex nodded toward an abandoned hut on the opposite side of the dusty road. And put the horses in the paddock. Ill call Nuri later and let him know where to find them.
Then he gazed up and down the dark road. What do you think? Weve come fifteen, twenty miles?
I have no idea, said Brittany, debating whether to unsaddle Cedar Twist or leave that chore for Alex.
I think were a little way west of Route Eleven. But Im not sure how far
Are we lost? In the end, she took pity on the horse, edging carefully over to it and reaching for the cinch.
Were not lost. Id just like to give the taxi a precise location. He flipped open his cell phone.
Brittanys heart sighed at the thought of a taxi. A lovely, soft-seated, air-conditioned taxi that would take them back to Cadair and her lovely, large bathtub. Shed have something tall and cool, an iced tea, or maybe champagne and orange juice. Theyd served some flakey almond croissants earlier, and she was starving. The party was probably over by now, but surely they could rustle up something.
Visions of frosted glasses and ice cubes dancing in her head, she heard Alex speaking Arabic on the phone. Then he clicked it off and stuck it back in his tuxedo pocket.
Why didnt you call someone at Cadair? she asked.
They might be monitoring the phones.
Oh. She pulled off the saddle.
Alex quickly lifted it from her arms.
Then, wont they check the taxi?
Halfway to the little hut, he looked back over his shoulder. What do you mean?
I mean, when it drops us off at Cadair, the police are going to see us.
The taxis taking us to a hotel. He continued his journey, climbing the single step and pushing open the pale-green door that hung on one hinge.
A hotel?
Well. She supposed that made sense. And she could live with a hotel. Just, please, let them have a nice suite available, with a whirlpool tub and twenty-four-hour room service.
Are we going into Dubai?
To Ajman. Alex went to work on the other horse. Its closer, and I want to leave a trail of bread crumbs.
Brittany watched him work efficiently on the buckles and straps of Rocs saddle. Even the expensive tuxedo couldnt make him look civilized. His shoulders were too broad, his chest too deep. He had big, rough hands, a darkly defined brow, a broad nose and the kind of square chin that would make other men think twice about crossing him.
So youre an American, she ventured.
He cracked a small smile. Im an American.
How did you meet Harrison?
He advertised for an international lawyer. Alex straightened and effortlessly lifted the saddle from the big animal. We have newspapers in America, you know. And I do read.
She ignored his sarcasm. I thought you said you were a soldier.
I was a soldier. He crossed the road to the shack once more, talking over his shoulder while he walked. When I wasnt busy shooting people, I studied law.
They let you do that? she called.
Yes, maam, they let us study pretty much whatever we want. He walked through the door, then shortly returned. As long as we keep shooting people in our off-hours, of course.
She nodded. Of course.
He went to work on Cedar Twists bridle. You do know Im joking, right?
No, she hadnt. Youre not a lawyer?
No, I dont shoot people. You dont go to law school during the day and shoot people in the evenings.
Oh. Well, she hadnt assumed he meant every evening. Then, what did you do?
He crossed to Roc, removing the stallions bridle, as well. I was involved in the Gulf War, early on, aerial reconnaissance.
You fly planes?
Yes. I prefer that to killing people.
She fought a smile. Good to know.
He gathered up the two bridles and gave her a nod. I would think so. What with the two of us all alone out here on this deserted little road. Then he turned once more toward the shack.
She stared after him in frozen silence, suddenly hyperaware of the quiet, the heat, his excruciatingly powerful maleness.
It hadnt occurred to her to question her safety. It certainly hadnt occurred to her to question his intentions.
He exited the shack, looming closer, his feet sending up small puffs of dust into the still air, his powerful arms swinging with his determined walk, his dark eyes watching her.
Oh, hell, he spat out, making her jump. I was joking. I didnt mean to scare you.
She tossed her head. Im not scared.
He stopped in front of her, hands going to his hips. I protect people, he stated, the offense clear in his tone. I would never, ever, not in a million years, harm a defenseless woman.
It occurred to Brittany that his words would ring a lot truer if he wasnt shouting them at her.
Julia moaned loudly, folding her arms on the dashboard of the Jeep and dropping her sweaty forehead onto them. Im melting.
The sun had cleared the eastern mountains two hours ago, but Harrison refused to run the air-conditioning. He claimed it wasted fuel. And while she was firmly against the idea of running out of gas in the middle of a desert, she was also firmly against the idea of dying of heatstroke with the Jeep still running.
Buck up, said Harrison. I dont think its more than ninety-five. The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, and hed long since discarded his tux jacket and bow tie.
But were in an oven. She sat up and gestured to the heat waves rolling up off the sand. Were actually cooking! She tugged at the collar of her dress. And Im wrapped in foil.
Harrison started to laugh.
Dont, she barked at him. Whatever the metallic fabric was, it held in every ounce of heat and moisture. I swear, Im going to rip this thing off my body.
Be my guest, he said. Then he nodded ahead down the faint sand track. But you might want to have something on when we meet up with them.
Her gaze darted out the windshield.
Half a dozen colorfully dressed men on horseback were riding toward them. The troop looked like something straight out of Arabian Nights.
Bandits? she asked Harrison, her sweat suddenly turning cold.
I have no idea, said Harrison. There are a lot of different tribes out here, doing a lot of different things in the desert.
Are they dangerous? Their windows were all down, and the fabric top of the Jeep offered little protection if somebody meant them harm.
Looks like were about to find out.
The group drew closer, kicking up dust and revealing a camel amongst the horses. If Julia wasnt so frightened, she might have appreciated the fascinating spectacle.
As it was, she held her breath while the riders separated around the Jeep, passing by on either side. Harrison didnt slow down, which Julia thought was exceedingly wise.
When the last of them streamed past, she allowed herself a sigh of relief. Perhaps they were merely fellow travelers, moving from one village to the next.
Uh-oh, Harrison muttered, glancing in the rearview mirror and pushing his foot down on the accelerator.
Uh-oh, Harrison muttered, glancing in the rearview mirror and pushing his foot down on the accelerator.
What? Julia twisted her head.
They were coming back.
This cant be good, she intoned.
Tell me about it. He shifted gears.
But the riders were gaining on them, whooping and shrieking in a chantlike fashion. She was pretty sure it wasnt a greeting.
They passed by, arms raised, some with swords, peering in the window, before peeling off to circle around again.
Be nice if you had a head scarf, said Harrison.
But she had nothing she could use. For the first time today, she was glad of the full coverage provided by the evening gown.
What do we do?
Just what were doing.
And then she saw him.
Outside her window.
His chin was covered, his forehead obscured by a white-and-blue headdress. But she recognized his nose, and those piercing eyes, and the uneven eyebrows.
And then he peeled away, like the others, circling back around for another pass.
Holy shit, said Julia, whooshing back in her seat.
What?
I know that man.
How? Harrison demanded. Why?
From the track. He gave me Millions to Spares name. He thought I was placing a bet.
Harrison stared at her for a moment.
Hang on, he said, gearing down, popping the clutch and increasing his speed.
The Jeep rattled frighteningly, but the horses and camels began falling behind. At first they were lost in the dust. And then, as the Jeep reached fifty, she knew they had to be gone.
It has to be a coincidence, she said, more to herself than to Harrison.
I dont think so, he said.
She was trying not to panic. She was seriously trying not to panic. So he went to the track. Lots of people go to the track. Dont they?
He learns youre interested in Millions to Spare. Millions to Spare dies, and then he practically ambushes us in the desert? Thats one hell of a coincidence.
It could happen, she insisted.
You want to bet your life on it?
Julia stared back at the dust plume funneling out behind them, then turned to the endless desert in front of them.
Whatever you do, she told Harrison, dont turn on the air-conditioning.
Chapter Nine
Four hours later, death was beginning to feel preferable to spending another minute in the bouncing Jeep under the broiling desert sun.
Julia was half-asleep-or maybe she was half-delirious from thirst and heatstroke-by the time Harrison stopped the Jeep and killed the engine. She groggily blinked open her eyes. Theyd long since run out of water. Dust had scratched her eyeballs raw. It had seeped into her hair, her clothing, her very pores.
Harrison lifted his sunglasses and parked them on top of his short, dark hair. Are you all right? he asked in a voice that sounded as raspy as hers felt.
Great, she answered, bracing her hands on either edge of her bucket seat and easing her body upright. Where are we?
Khandi Oasis. I doubled back. He pocketed the keys to the Jeep in the breast pocket of his dust-streaked dress shirt. It should take them a while to find us.
How longs a while?
Hopefully, forever.
She tried to smile at his joke, but her dry lips felt as if they might crack.
She glanced around at the collection of white huts and square buildings set amongst coarse grasses, thorn trees and palms. Is there a hotel here?
Not exactly, said Harrison, setting the brake and reaching for his door handle.
A tent? she asked, getting less particular by the second. If it was out of the sun, out of the wind and had any kind of a beverage available, she was in.