Drake was more interested in the trees rising up out of the lower marshes and the rake marks on them. Saria knew where she was going and followed a narrow trail to a flat spot up above the water line where she spread out the blanket and indicated he could sit.

“You didn’t have to provide me with lunch, Saria.”

Saria laughed as she opened the picnic basket. “No, I didn’t prepare lunch, although Miss Pauline is an incurable romantic and wanted me to tell you I did. She is certain the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. She did all this and wanted me to take credit.”

“She should know you better,” Drake said, “no way would you take credit if you hadn’t done it.”

“Not even to impress you?” she teased.

“You know you don’t have to impress me. I was impressed the first time you spoke.”

Her eyebrow shot up. “Spoke? Not my looks?”

“There are a lot of beautiful women in the world, Saria, and you’re certainly one of them, but your courage and honesty is a prize beyond everything. That and your loyaltyont>

“I don’ feel very loyal takin’ you out to the marsh,” she replied in a low voice as she handed him a bottle of cold water.

“What were you supposed to do, Saria, let him keep killing? Sooner or later he’d kill someone you knew. Someone you love.”

“What if it is one of my brothers?” Her hand trembled as she passed him a sandwich.

“I think it’s safe to say that if it was one of your brothers, the rest of your brothers would know and they’d stop him. We tend to police our own.”

“The reason the male leopard who marked me didn’ do it correctly might have been because it was a warning, not his leopard trying to get mine to accept his,” she pointed out.

He took the sandwich with a nod of thanks and slipped his arm around her. “Saria, your leopard didn’t accept his. She didn’t rise to the surface looking for a potential mate. She didn’t want him. And that male leopard probably has nothing to do with the note at all. You thought it was a warning, but he would have stopped at raking your back. He must have done that because his leopard was in a fury, but he bit your shoulder hoping your female would override you.”

“There’s a lot to this leopard business I don’ understand,” she said, leaning a little into him for comfort.

“Give it time. We’re just getting started. Your leopard retreats and stays hidden for long periods of time. You’re close to the emergence, but not quite there, and believe me, if any male leopard was to push her, she’d fight back ferociously.”

“What are we goin’ to do next?”