Tiger Magic

Which had stopped the moment Carly Randal had walked into the room and said his name. There was something in that, and not just because Carly was cute.

Of course, Rebecca stripping down to change into a bear had pretty much floored Walker. Women could make a man feel like he’d been punched in the gut.

Because the camp was small, there was no separate dining facility for the few officers; everyone ate together in one mess hall. Sheldon either went out to lunch or ate in the small private room off the main cafeteria. Walker usually ate in the main mess when he had a meal in camp, mostly because he couldn’t imagine conducting casual lunchtime conversation with LTC Sheldon. Plus he knew his men didn’t mind seeing an officer eating lunch like a human being once in a while.

Walker scanned the score of men who were either already eating or standing in line with their trays, until he found the sergeant he was looking for.

Crosby was a sergeant who was very good at obeying orders to the letter, which was how he’d made it all the way to E-5. God help the army if he ever made it to staff sergeant or higher. Crosby had a square head, made more square by his buzzed hair, and a rectangular shaped body replete with muscle. He was the best at all the fitness tests and the first one out for PT every morning.

Crosby rose to his feet as Walker deposited his full tray opposite him. The sergeant was alone, isolated from the rest of the fatigue-clad lunchers, because no one liked him.

“As you were, Sergeant,” Walker said, sitting down. “If you stand up while I eat, your food will get cold.”

Crosby plunked back down again, but he didn’t eat. “Sir.”

“Nice shot taking down the Shifter,” Walker said as he stirred his unidentifiable soup. “Why’d you keep shooting him once he was on the ground?”

Crosby looked puzzled. “Told to, sir. Put as many rounds into him as it took but make sure he was alive when I walked away.”

Aha. Walker hadn’t been certain which of the soldiers had been sent out to run Tiger off the road and shoot him, but he’d strongly suspected it had been Crosby. Crosby had just confirmed it.

“How did you know where the Shifter would be going that day?”

“Didn’t. Was told to follow and take the best opportunity. That’s a lonely stretch out there.” He didn’t change expression, but Walker saw in the man’s eyes that he was pleased with his ingenuity. “Orders came straight from the LTC, sir.”

Which Crosby would never question. “In the execution of those orders, you know you endangered civilians.”

Crosby’s puzzled look returned. “Sir? I waited until they were well away from other humans—no houses out there, no other cars. The only ones endangered were another Shifter who could have attacked me and the Shifter groupie.”

Walker bit back his retort, suppressing his natural disgust at Crosby in the interest of getting more info. He suddenly wished Rebecca or Ronan had been here to hear Crosby dismiss Ellison and Carly. Rebecca would have whacked Crosby’s head off with one swipe of her paw. For that matter, Walker would love to see Crosby’s face when confronted with the gigantic form of Rebecca as a Kodiak bear.

“The Shifter lived,” Walker said. “Is up walking around.”

Crosby nodded. “I know, sir. LTC wanted him shot to find out how much he could take.”

“I guess the LTC found out,” Walker said. “Even if the Shifter had to suffer a lot.”

“Yes, sir.” Crosby kept his hands on the table, his expression remaining blank.

“My original training was as a medic,” Walker said, abandoning the soup and moving around mashed potatoes that didn’t look much different from the soup. “For a special forces A-Team.”

Crosby’s look now turned to respect. “Infiltration. Love to be picked for one of those missions.”

Walker didn’t answer. A-Teams were small and often cut off from any support behind enemy lines for long stretches of time. The men in them needed to be able to adapt and react, think and judge, far from any chains of command. Crosby was an unthinking machine, ready to let someone in charge point him and shoot. He wouldn’t be much use in a situation in which he needed to take initiative, or even to take over.

“I’ve seen pretty bad injuries,” Walker said. “But never saw anyone walk away from something like what you did to the tiger.”

“The Shifter’s pretty strong.”

Walker patiently ate another bite of potatoes. “If you get any more orders concerning the tiger Shifter—any Shifter—mention it to me before you go, okay? I like to keep track of my men in case I need someone for a mission.”

“Yes, sir.” Crosby never asked questions.

“Enjoy your lunch, Sergeant.”

Walker rose with his tray, and Crosby jumped to his feet at attention. “Yes, sir.”

Walker left the room, carrying the tray to the private room, which was mercifully empty. He sat down and ate every bite of his hot lunch, as he’d learned to, but his mind was a long way from the food.

* * *

Carly lay in warm sunshine in her sisters’ guest room, feathering kisses across Tiger’s bare chest.

He was awake, lying on his back with his hands behind his head, sunlight dancing on the orange and black in his hair. The bedsheets were on the floor, their only cover the sunshine.

“I never knew it could feel that good,” Carly said.

“I didn’t know either.” The words rumbled in Tiger’s chest, touched with wonder.