Nikki and the Lone Wolf / Mardie and the City Surgeon: Nikki and the Lone Wolf / Mardie and the City Surgeon

‘Billy?’

‘She had a collie. He seemed old as long as I can remember. He pined when she died, and my dad shot him.’

‘He shot him?’ She sounded appalled.

‘He was never going to get over Mum’s death.’

‘You were how old?’

‘Eight.’

‘You lost your mum, and your dad shot her dog?’

How to say it? The day of the funeral, coming home, Billy whining, his father saying, ‘Get to your room, boy.’ A single shot.

He didn’t have to tell her. She touched his hand and the horror of that day was in her touch.

‘And I hit you over the head,’ she whispered. ‘And Henrietta said your wife left you. And your own dog died. If I were you I’d have crawled into a nice comfy psychiatric ward and thought up a diagnosis that’d keep me there for the rest of my life. Instead …’

‘How did we get here?’ He had no idea. One minute this woman was irritating the heck out of him, the next she was putting together stuff he didn’t think about; didn’t want to think about. This was his place, his beach. He’d come down here for a quiet think, and here he was being psychoanalysed.

He felt exposed.

It was a weird thing to think. She hadn’t said anything that wasn’t common knowledge but it was as if she could see things differently.

She had her arm round Horse’s neck and she was tugging him close, and all of a sudden he felt a jolt, like what would it feel to be in the dog’s place?

The dog whined. Stupid dog.

‘You want dog lessons,’ he said, more roughly than he intended.

‘Horse doesn’t need lessons. He’s smart.’

‘He’s staring at an empty sea,’ he said.

‘He’s devoted. He’ll get over it. Needs must.’

‘Says you who’s still pining for your creepy boss.’

‘I’m trying to get over it,’ she said with dignity. ‘I’m not sitting on the beach wailing. I’m doing my best. Don’t we all?’

She rose and brushed sand from the back of her trousers. With his collar released, Horse took a tentative step towards the sea. Nikki’s hand hit the collar at the same time as his did. Their fingers touched. Flinched a little but didn’t let go. Settled beside each other, a tiny touch but unnerving.

Settling.

Things were settling for him. He wasn’t sure why.

Maybe it was watching her reaction to what he’d told her tonight, added to what he knew local gossip would have told her. His mother’s death, his father, Lisbette, his mother’s dog and Jem … Her reaction seemed to validate stuff he tried not to think about.

Permission to feel sorry for himself?

Permission to move on.

Towards Nikki? Towards yet another disaster?

Not in a million years. He’d spent all his life being taught that solitary was safe. He wasn’t about to change that now.

But he could help her. It was the least he could do.

‘Horse needs a master,’ he told her.

‘He’s only got me,’ she said defensively. ‘Why are we being sexist? A master?’

‘I mean,’ he said patiently, ‘a pack leader. He’s lost his. He’s looking for him; if he can’t find him he needs a new one.’

‘Right,’ she said. ‘Pack leader. Can I buy one at the Banksia Bay Co-op?’

He grinned. His hand was still touching hers. He should pull it away but he didn’t. Things were changing—had changed. There was something about the night, the moonlight on the water, the big needy dog between them …

There was something about her expression. She was sounding defiant, braving it out, but things were rotten in this woman’s world as well. Nikki and Horse, both needy to the point of desperation.

That need had nothing to do with him. He should pull away—but he didn’t.

‘Attitude,’ he said, deciding he’d be decisive, and she blinked.

‘Pack leader attitude?’

‘That’s it. So who decided to come down the beach, you or Horse?’

‘He was miserable.’ She sounded defensive.

‘So you followed.’

‘I held onto him. He would have run.’

‘But he walked in front, yes? Team leaders walk in front. The pack’s at the back.’

‘You’re saying I need to growl at him? Make him subservient? He’s already miserable.’

‘He’ll be miserable until you order him not to be, and he decides you’re worth swapping loyalty.’

‘I shouldn’t have let him come down to the beach?’

‘There’s not a lot of point being down here, is there?’ he said, gentler as he watched her face. And Horse’s face. He could swear the dog was listening, his great eyes pools of despair. ‘He’s been dumped by a low-life. How’s it going to make him feel better to stare at an empty sea? It’s up to you to take his place.’

‘The low-life’s place?’

‘That’s the one.’

‘I haven’t had much practice at being the low-life,’ she said. ‘I’m a follower. Dumb and dumber, that’s me.’

‘We’re not talking about your love life.’

‘We’re not?’

‘That’s shrink territory, not mine.’

‘Like your stone wall.’

‘Do you mind?’

‘Butt out?’ She sighed and tried for a smile. ‘Fine. Consider me butted. What do I need to be a pack leader? A whip? Leathers?’

‘Discipline.’

She grinned. ‘Really? Don’t tell me, stockings and garters as well.’

He stared at her in the moonlight and he couldn’t believe it. She was laughing. Laughing!

The tension of the night dissipated, just like that. Except … a sudden vision of Nikki in stockings and garters …

He almost blushed.

‘I mean,’ he said, trying to stop the corners of his mouth twitching, ‘you tell Horse what you expect and you follow through. He’s hungry? Use it. Call him, reward him when he comes. Teach him to sit, stay, the usual dog things. But mostly teach him no. He’s galloping towards you with a road in between; you need to hold your hand up, yell no and have him stop in his tracks. The same with coming down here. You can bring him down here on your terms, with a ball, something to do to keep him occupied. The minute he stares out to sea like he’s considering the low-life, then that’s a no. Hard, fast and mean it.’

‘You’re good at training dogs?’

‘I had a great dog. Smart as Einstein. She trained me.’

‘I’m sure Horse is smart.’

‘Prove it.’

‘I’m not sure …’

‘Henrietta’s daughter takes personal dog coaching. I’m amazed Henrietta hasn’t introduced you already.’

‘Henrietta left a card,’ she conceded.

‘There you go.’

‘You’re not interested in helping yourself?

‘No.’ Hard. Definite. He watched her face close and regretted it, but couldn’t pull it back.

‘I’m not scary,’ she said, almost defiantly, and he thought what a wuss—was he so obvious?

‘I’m busy,’ he said. ‘This is the first full day I haven’t worked since …’

‘Since Jem died?’

‘Nikki …’

‘I know.’ She tugged Horse towards her a little, which forced his hand to let go of the collar. Which meant they were no longer touching. ‘You want me to butt out. Respect your boundaries. I’ve been respecting boundaries for years. You’d think I’d be good at it.’

‘I didn’t mean …’

‘You know, I’m very sure you did,’ she told him. ‘Tell me what to do.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘With Horse,’ she said patiently. ‘Training. What should I do first?’

‘Take his collar and say “Come”.’ This was solid ground. Dog training. He could handle this.

‘Come,’ she said and tugged and Horse didn’t move. Stared rigidly out to sea.

‘Come!’ Another tug.

Gabe sighed. ‘Okay, you’re on the head end. We’re going to roll him.’

‘What?’

‘He has to learn to submit, otherwise he’ll spend the rest of his life waiting for his low-life. Say “Down”.’

‘Down.’

‘Like you mean it!’

‘Down!’

‘You sound like a feather duster.’

‘I do not.’

‘Pretend the boat’s sinking. The kid at the other end is standing there with a tin can and a stupid expression. He bails or you drown. Are you going to say “Bail” in that same voice?’

‘He’s an abandoned dog. He nearly died. He’s hurt and confused. You want me to yell at him?’

‘He’s hurt and confused and he needs to relax. The only way he can relax is if he thinks someone else is in charge. You.’

‘You do it.’

‘I’m not his pack leader. Do it, Nikki, or you’ll have him howling at the door for weeks, killing himself with exhaustion. You say “Down” like you mean it and we bring him down.’

‘I don’t …’

‘Just do it.’

‘Down,’ she snapped in a voice so full of authority that both Gabe and the dog started. But he had the dog’s back legs and Nikki had his collar. Gabe hauled his legs from under him and rolled him before Horse knew what had hit him.

The big dog was on his back. Shocked into submission.

‘Tell him he’s a good dog but keep him down,’ Gabe said.

‘This is cruel. He’s not fit …’

‘He’s going to pine until we do it. Do it.’

‘G … Good dog.’

‘Now let him up again.’

The dog lumbered to his feet.

‘Now down again.’

‘Down!’

Once again Gabe pushed his legs from under him. The dog folded.

‘Good dog,’ Nikki said, holding him down and the dog’s tail gave a tentative, subjugated wag.

‘Once more.’

‘Down!’ And this time Gabe didn’t have to push. The dog crouched and rolled with only a slight push and pull from Nikki.

‘Good dog. Great,’ Nikki said and her voice wobbled.

The dog stood again, unsure, but this time he moved imperceptibly to Nikki’s side. He looked up at her instead of out to sea.

‘Now tell him to come and tug,’ Gabe said, and Nikki did and the big dog moved docilely up the beach by her side.

‘Good dog,’ Nikki said and sniffed.

‘Why are you crying?’

‘I’m not.’

‘You’re allergic to command?’

‘I’m not built to be a sergeant major.’

‘Horse needs a sergeant major,’ he said as he fell in beside her. ‘You are what you have to be. Like me being owner of half a dozen boats, employing crews.’

‘You don’t like that?’

They were walking up the track, Nikki with Horse beside her, Gabe with his hand hovering, just in case Horse made a break for it. But Horse was totally submissive. He was probably relieved. He’d spent too long as it was waiting for his scumbag owner. He needed a new one.

There were parallels. Caring for Horse …

Taking on this town’s fishing fleet.

Nikki was waiting for an answer. Not pushing. Just walking steadily up the track with her dog.

She was a peaceful woman, he thought. Self contained. Maybe she’d had to be.

Why the sniff? Tears?

Ignore them.

‘I never saw myself as head of a fleet,’ he told her. ‘But when the fishing industry round here started to falter I was single with no responsibilities. I’d been away, working on the rigs, making myself some serious money. I could afford to take a few risks. But in the end I didn’t need to. Fishing’s in my blood and I knew what’d work.’

‘But now … You enjoy it?’

‘Fishing’s my life.’

‘It sounds boring.’

‘So you do what in your spare time?’ he demanded. ‘Macramé?

‘Dog training,’ she said steadily. ‘I now have a career and a hobby and a pet. What more could a girl want? What do you have, Gabe Carver?’

‘Everything I want.’

They reached the house in silence. Reached the porch. Nikki opened the door and ushered Horse inside. Hesitated.

‘He’ll stand at the door and howl,’ she said, and he looked at her face and saw the tracks of tears. What had he said to upset her?

‘Only if you let him.’

‘How do I not let him?’

He sighed. ‘Where’s he sleeping?’

‘In my bedroom.’

‘Not on your bed. You’re pack leader.’

‘I know that much. Besides, the bed’s not big enough.’

‘So show me.’

She swung open the bedroom door. A bed, single, small. He looked at her in surprise. He hadn’t been here when her furniture was delivered so he was seeing this for the first time. It was practically a child’s bed.

‘You don’t like stretching?’

‘Not if there’s no one to stretch to.’

Silence. There were a million things to say, but suddenly nothing.

The bedroom was chintzy. Pretty pink. Dainty. It made a man nervous just to look at it.

Horse whined and he thought I’m with you, mate. To sleep in a bedroom like this …

But at least Horse had a sensible bed. Henrietta knew dogs, and she’d provided a trampoline bed that was almost as big as Nikki’s.

‘Say “Bed”,’ he told Nikki.

‘Bed.’ Horse didn’t move an inch.

Gabe sighed. ‘Bail the dratted boat.’

‘Bed!’ That was better. Sergeant major stuff.

Gabe shoved Horse from behind. Horse lumbered up onto the trampoline.

‘Say “Down.”‘

‘Down,’ Nikki said and the dog rolled.

‘Stay,’ Nikki said and stepped back and grinned as Horse did just that.

Horse looked up at her and put a tentative paw down onto the floor.

‘Stay!’ Her best ‘bail the boat’ voice.

The paw retreated.

‘How about that?’ Nikki said, her smile widening. ‘I’m a pack leader.’

‘You’ll make a great one.’

‘I will,’ she said and turned to him. Fast.

She was suddenly a bit too close.

She was suddenly very close.

‘Make sure the dog stays there,’ he said, a bit too gruffly. They were by the dog’s bed, so close they were almost touching. They were by Nikki’s bed as well. It was just as well it wasn’t his bed, he thought, the wide, firm, king-sized bed he’d bought for himself when he’d come back here to live.

He had a sudden flash of recall. Last night. Nikki tiptoeing in to check he wasn’t dead, leaning over him …

He could have …

No.

But she was so close. He turned to go—a man had to make a move—but suddenly she’d taken his hands in hers, tugging him back to face her.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘For coming down to the beach to find me.’

‘You’re welcome.’ He hadn’t gone down to find her, he thought, but he wasn’t thinking clearly and it seemed way too much trouble to explain.

‘And I can see why you don’t want to get involved. I won’t ask you to. I’ve been a nuisance. But I meant well. I mean well.’

‘You do.’ Big of him to concede that much.

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