The Adventurer

you want?"
    For an instant Sarah felt as if time had been temporarily suspended. She stood there on the porch, staring up at the man in front of her, mesmerized by his jungle eyes and the gritty, rough-textured sound of his voice. For the first time since she had set out on her quest it occurred to her that she might have bitten off a little more than she could chew.
    Gideon Trace looked large, cold-eyed and dangerous.
    "Yes, of course," she said finally. "It makes sense that you would look a little like the cat."
    The man's gaze narrowed in a way that reminded Sarah of the beast on the porch step. He did not move—just stood there in the doorway, big and unwelcoming. He was clad in jeans and a faded blue work shirt. "Are you selling something, lady?"
    Sarah rallied quickly and summoned up her most engaging smile. She held out her hand. "In a way. I'm Sarah Fleetwood. I've been looking forward to meeting you. You are Gideon Trace, aren't you?"
    His gaze dropped to her outstretched hand as if he didn't know whether to shake it or bite it. When he glanced up again Sarah thought she saw a barely concealed flare of surprise in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm Trace." His big hand closed briefly around hers, nearly crushing her fingers. He let go of her instantly, frowning. "You're the Fleetwood woman who's been writing to me for the past few months? The one who wrote me about the legend of the Flowers?"
    "That's me." Sarah clutched the strap of her oversized black, white and yellow shoulder bag. "I wanted to talk to you in more detail about the legend because I've decided to look for the Flowers. To be perfectly honest, I'm hoping to convince you to go with me as a sort of consultant. That's what I meant when I said I was here to sell you something. In a way, I am. I'm hoping to sell you on this great idea I've got. You see, I…"
    "Hold it." Trace held up a hand to silence her.
    Sarah ignored the upraised palm, much too excited to stop now that she had located her quarry. "I haven't had any experience with treasure hunting and I thought you could advise me. I'll pay you, naturally. What do treasure-hunting consultants go for these days? Is there a price break if I buy you for a week at a time, or is it the same as the day-to-day rate? I'm sure we'll be able to work something out. I've given this a lot of thought and I…"
    "
I said, hold it
." Gideon Trace's expression was as austere and forbidding as that of his cat. "Are you always this, uh, enthusiastic?"
    Sarah blushed. "Sorry, I was kind of rushing into things, wasn't I? My friends say I'm sometimes a little too impulsive. But what do they know? At any rate, I'm so glad to have found you, Mr. Trace, because I just know our association is going to be an extremely advantageous one for both parties." She gave him another of her most winning smiles.
    The smile appeared to make Gideon Trace more wary than ever. His strong face was set in distinctly unenthusiastic lines. His green-gold eyes glittered as he looked down at her. "How did you find me?"
    "I asked at the gas station."
    "Maybe I should go ask someone at the gas station what I'm supposed to do with you now that you're here."
    "I think what you should do next is invite me in for a cup of tea."
    "Is that right?"
    Sarah swallowed. "I think it would be an excellent idea."
    "I don't drink tea. I haven't got a tea bag in the house."
    "No problem. I always travel with my own." Sarah plunged a hand into her oversized shoulder bag and whipped out a tea bag with the words English Breakfast on the tag. "All I need is some hot water. You do have that, don't you?"
    Gideon was clearly searching for an appropriate response to the question when a soft, inquiring meow sounded from the vicinity of his feet. Sarah knew that gentle tone could not have emanated from the great beast on the front steps. She glanced down to see a small, delicately built silver-gray cat watching her with warm, golden eyes.
    "Oh, isn't she lovely?" Sarah crouched and offered her fingers in greeting.
    The silver-gray cat stropped her tail once or twice against one of Gideon's well-worn boots and then glided forward. Politely she investigated Sarah's fingers and then rubbed her sleek head against the proffered hand.
    Sarah looked up a very long way to where Gideon was scowling down at the scene taking place around his legs. "What's her name?"
    "Ellora."
    Sarah was delighted. "After the mysterious cave temples in India?"
    "Yeah." There was another flicker of surprise