No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [43]
He kept an eye on her as he moved silently across the porch and down the steps.
She didn’t stir.
“I’m going to try to paint your damn corral. It’s got some interesting contrast lines and lights and shadows,” Judd said as Galen reached him. “But you could have provided me with some horses. What’s a corral without horses?”
“Empty?” Galen leaned on the fence. “Look at it this way. Anyone could paint a corral teeming with horses. It’s been done. You’ll be interpreting the loneliness, the progress of time, the cowboy myth without his old pal—”
“I’m beginning to feel ill.”
“Then I’ll let you make up your own reasons.” Galen gazed out at the mountains. “I have a favor to ask, Judd.”
“Besides doing the dishes?”
“I realize you don’t like to get your valuable hands chapped, but someone’s got to do the day-to-day drudgery. I have to save myself for bigger things.”
“Knock it off, Galen.”
The flippancy dropped from Galen like a discarded shirt. “I want you to work out with Elena.”
“What?”
“I want you to spar with her. Hand-to-hand.”
Judd glanced at Elena sleeping in the hammock. “No way.”
“She needs it.”
“You mean you want me to teach her some moves?”
“No, she might be able to teach you a few. She just needs the practice.”
Judd’s brows lifted skeptically. “She’s a woman. I have a problem with beating up women.”
“Give her a chance. She might surprise you.”
“You were in the Special Forces too. And you’ve done a hell of a lot more hand-to-hand than I have in the last few years. You do it.”
“That’s not an option.”
“Why not?”
He didn’t speak for a moment. “Because she’d know right away that I want to get my hands on her in a different way.”
“Oh.”
“So will you do it?”
He shook his head. “I’m not used to holding back. I could kill her.”
Galen looked back at Elena. It was clear she was in a deep sleep.…
What the hell. “Do you have your switchblade on you?”
Judd stared at him with narrowed eyes. “What are you up to?”
“Just a little test. Do you?”
“In my pocket.”
“Take it out, but don’t spring the blade yet.”
Judd took the knife out of his jeans. “What now?”
“Put your arm around my neck from behind.”
Judd locked Galen’s neck from behind. “This is dangerous,” he murmured. “I’ve got a lot of smothered resentment for all those dishes I’ve been washing.”
“Now release the switchblade.”
The sound was a smooth metallic click. “Why? Do you want a shave? That’s not—”
Galen pushed him aside, whirled, and held up his arm to ward off the attack.
Elena’s hand was coming down on the back of Judd’s neck.
Galen grabbed her wrist. “Hold it. It’s okay. Just a demonstration.”
Elena started to struggle and then stopped. “The hell it was.” Her eyes were dazed and she shook her head to clear it.
“She was asleep.” Judd was staring thoughtfully at Elena. “Sound asleep.”
“Until she heard something unfamiliar and then caught sight of you holding me in a headlock. Battle instinct. We’ve both seen soldiers dead to the world respond automatically when an enemy comes near.” He released Elena and stepped back. “She was fast, wasn’t she?”
“And you were stupid,” Elena said coldly. “I could have killed Morgan.”
“If I hadn’t been expecting you.” He turned to Judd. “That was a shuto blow aimed at the back of the neck. If it had landed, you’d have been permanently crippled or dead. Are you still worried about hurting her?”
“Hell no.” He snapped his switchblade shut and jammed it into his pocket. “Let her look out for herself.”
“Who said I didn’t?” Elena glared at Galen. “What’s happening here, dammit?”
“You evidently impressed Judd as being too gentle to defend your life and limbs. I just gave a little demonstration to show him he wouldn’t need to bother his conscience about it. You’ll do it, Judd?”
He nodded slowly. “In the gym tomorrow morning?”
“Late afternoon. Barry takes his nap then,” Galen said. “And not the gym. The barn.”
“You’ve got it.” Judd moved toward the house. “But I only do those