“Learned behavior isn’t just for animals. I’m not arguing the point, Coop. In my head, killing is a clear choice. But everything you’re telling me says he was predisposed, then he made choices that brought him his life’s work. If all this is true, a lot of people are dead, and those who loved them grieving because of those choices. I don’t feel sorry for him.”

“Good,” he said shortly. “Don’t.”

“I don’t feel sorry for him,” she repeated, “but I think I understand him better. Do you think he stalked the others, taunted them the way he is me?”

“Barrett looked like a killing of opportunity, of impulse. Molly Pickens, by her boss’s account, went off with him of her own volition. But Carolyn Roderick? I think there was some stalking, some taunting there. I’m going to say I think it depends on how well he knows his quarry. And how invested he is.”

“If Jim Tyler’s dead, at his hand, that would be another impulse killing.”

“Or a form of release. None of the women whose bodies were discovered had been raped. No sign of sexual assault, no torture or mutilation. It’s the kill that gets him off.”

“I can’t quite see that as the glass is half full. Anyway, what he’s been doing has put me, put everyone on alert. It’s made it close to impossible for him to get to me, or to mine. So…” She read Coop’s face perfectly. “Which makes it-me-more of a challenge?”

“Maybe. If I’m right, this is at least his fourth time here, in this area. He may have been here other times. When he didn’t make contact with you, or when you were away. He could’ve picked up work around here, on one of the farms, one of the outfits. He knows the territory.”

“So do I.”

“He knows that, too. If he just wanted to kill you, you’d be dead.”

The cool, flat way he said it brought on another shudder. “Now that boosts my confidence.”

“He could’ve picked you off the night he let the tiger out. Or any other time you were here alone, he could’ve kicked in the door, and taken you out. You ride over to your parents, he ambushes you. Lots of scenarios, but he doesn’t do any of that. Yet.”

She picked up her wine, took a slow sip. “You’re trying to scare me.”

“Damn right I am.”

“Unnecessary. I’m scared enough, and I intend to be careful.”

“You could take another trip. There has to be somewhere else you could work for a few weeks, a couple months.”

“Sure. I’m practically renowned. And he could find out where I am, follow me, go after me somewhere I’m not as familiar with my territory. Or he could just wait me out, wait until I start to relax. And you’ve already thought of all that, too.”

“Maybe a better than halfway decent cop,” he acknowledged. “Yeah, I’ve thought of it. But I’ve also thought of the odds of tracking him down while you’re somewhere else. I like the odds.”

“I’m not leaving, Coop.”

“What if I could arrange for your parents to be somewhere else for a few weeks, too.”

She set her wine down, tapped her fingers on the table. “That’s low, using them.”

“I’ll use whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

She rose then, walked over to start a pot of coffee. “I’m not leaving,” she repeated. “I won’t be run off my own place, one I built. I won’t leave my staff, my animals vulnerable while I hide out. You know that, or you don’t know me.”

“It was worth a try.”

“You put a lot of time and work into this.”

“You want a bill?”

She glanced back. “I’m not trying to make you mad. I was before, hoping you’d get pissed off and go, give me some space. I don’t know what to do about you, Coop, that’s a fact. I just don’t. I know we need to have all that out, but it’s not the time. Not enough time,” she corrected. “I need to call my parents, and take my shift outside.”

“There are enough people out there. You don’t need to take a shift. You’re worn out, Lil. It shows.”

“First you boost my confidence, now my ego.” She got out a thermos. “I guess that’s what friends are for.”

“Take the night off.”

“Would you? Could you, in my place? I’m not going to get any sleep anyway.”

“I could shoot you with the drug gun. That’d get you a few hours.”

“What are friends for?” he said when she laughed.

She filled the thermos, took it to him. “Here you go. I’ll be out after I call home.”

He got up, set the thermos on the table to take her arms. “Look at me. I’m never going to let anything happen to you.”

“Then we’ve got nothing to worry about.”

He laid his lips on hers, a brush, a rub. And her heart rolled over in her chest. “Or given that we’ve got other things to worry about. Take the coffee.”

He pulled on his rain gear first, then picked up the thermos. “I’m not sleeping on the couch.”

“No.”

She sighed when he went out. Choices, she thought again. It seemed she was making hers.

LIL STATIONED HERSELF and wandered along the fenceline of the small-cat area. Despite the rain, Baby and his companions played stalk-and-ambush with the big red ball. The bobcats raced each other up a tree, making a lot of mock growls and snarls. She suspected if it hadn’t been for the floodlights, the sounds, scents, sights of humans, the cats would have settled down out of the rain.

Across the habitat, the newest addition sent out the occasional barking roar, as if to say she didn’t know where the hell she was, as yet, but she was pretty damn important.

“It’s like they’re having a party.”

She smiled at Farley as he stepped up beside her to watch. “I guess they are. They appreciate an audience. I feel stupid out here tonight,” she told him. “Nobody’s going to troop down here in all this mess to bother me.”

“Seems to me that’s just when you have to be most careful. When you figure you’re safe.”

“Oh, well. Want some coffee?” She offered her thermos.

“I had some already, but I can’t say no.” He poured himself a little. “I’m figuring Tansy told you about things.”

“She did.” She waited until he’d glanced over. “I think she’s pretty lucky.”

His smile spread slowly. “Feels good you’d say so.”

“Two of my favorite people become each other’s favorite people? There’s no downside for me.”

“She thinks I’m going through a phase. Well, she wants to think that. Maybe she’ll keep thinking it until we have a couple of kids.”

She choked on a gulp of coffee. “Jesus, Farley, when you finally move, you move like a damn cheetah.”

“When you find what you want, what’s right, you might as well get going. I love her, Lil. She’s all flustered up about it, and how she feels about me. I don’t mind that so much. It’s kind of flattering, really.”

He drank coffee while the rain dripped from the brim of his hat. “Anyways, I’m hoping you’ll do me a favor.”

“I talked to her, Farley. Told her I thought you were perfect for her.”

“That’s nice to hear, too. But that’s not the favor. I was hoping you’d go with me and help me pick out a ring. I don’t know anything about that kind of thing. I don’t want to get the wrong kind.”

For a moment Lil could only stare. “Farley, I… Just like that? Seriously? You’re going to buy a ring and ask her to marry you? Just like that?”

“I already told her I love her and I’m going to marry her. I got her into bed.” Even in the dark she could see he flushed a little. “I don’t mean to talk out of school on that, but you said she told you. I want to get her what she’d like, and you’d have a good idea. Wouldn’t you?”

“I guess I would. I’ve never shopped for an engagement ring, but I think I know what she’d like if I saw it. Holy shit, Farley.”

“You think we could find the right one in Deadwood? Otherwise, I could drive us on into Rapid City.”

“Let’s try Deadwood. We should… I can’t get over it.” She studied him through the curtain of rain. “Farley.” With a laugh, she boosted up to her toes and gave him a smacking kiss. “Have you told Mom and Dad?”