Jake glanced into the arena. Shep was taking the course. Lass had a rail down at the third fence but seemed to be smoothing out. Shep was riding well, taking the course just as they’d planned. He still carried the remnants of his beating and, Jake suspected, a few aches and pains. He seemed certain to wind up with time faults and had another rail down at the triple.
A glance at Ellie told Jake she was tensely involved in watching Shep’s round. Behind them, Clay was taking Max over some practice fences. The heavy little folding knife seemed to burn into Jake’s palm. He opened the blade and moved toward Jube. On the pretense of checking the animal’s cinch, Jake lifted the stirrup flap.
You can’t play God, Jake. If you do what the Soviets ask, you’ll never be free again.
Jake swore beneath his breath and glanced around to see if anyone was watching. He had to do this, didn’t he? He had Maggie and Sarah to consider, his mother and sister.
Flashing red lights drew his attention. Shep had completed his round, but a British rider was down at the first fence. Several attendants stood over him looking worried. The lights on the top of an ambulance flashed their warning as the vehicle entered the ring.
How would you feel if that was Ellie? How would he face himself? She’d come so far, accomplished so much. He thought of her years of near blindness, how much of life she had missed. Now life was out there waiting for her—all she had to do was take it.
What right did he have to risk destroying what Ellie had worked so hard for? Jake’s hand fell away from the girth. He tried to raise the knife, but it felt as heavy as lead. No matter the outcome, he couldn’t go through with it.
With a last glance at Ellie and a sigh of resignation, Jake turned to walk away and found Daniel blocking his path.
“Give me the knife, Jake.” The sharpness in his friend’s deep voice was unmistakable.
Jake held out his hand, dropping the blade into Daniel’s waiting palm. “It’s all right, Dan. I couldn’t do it anyway.”
Daniel seemed relieved. “It may not matter. We’ve had some news. The Soviets seem to be having a problem. There’s a rift in the party. A split of some kind. Whoever is behind this, it isn’t the government—at least not the leaders we know. We’ve informed the proper authorities, and they’ve already begun to take action.”
“I’m not quite following.”
“We don’t have all the facts yet. So far, all we know is that some of the higher-ups in the KGB and in the government, itself, disagree with current Soviet policies toward the West. They feel the policies are too lenient, that they’re risking the very existence of the Communist Party. Apparently, they’ve taken matters into their own hands.”
Jake’s pulse was speeding.
“Whatever’s happening,” Daniel continued, “the action isn’t sanctioned by the government. Gorbachev has personally assured us the Soviets will take whatever steps necessary to protect your mother and sister.”
Hope flared in his chest. “What about Maggie and Sarah?”
“Our people in Florida have already been notified. They’ll keep Sarah under constant surveillance until this is over. Our men here will be watching you and Maggie.”
Jake felt a wave of relief that drained some of the tension from his shoulders. “Thank God.”
“Come on. You look like you could use a drink.” Daniel led Jake to a spot beneath a shade tree where they could watch events in the ring. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a silver flask and handed it over.
“Thanks.” Jake gratefully accepted the brandy Daniel had carried for as long as Jake could recall. Though his friend never drank on duty, Daniel claimed the flask had come in handy on numerous occasions. At the moment, Jake agreed. Tilting the flask, he took a long, nerve-steadying swallow.
“Better?”
“Much.” Feeling the biting warmth of the liquid sliding into his stomach, Jake handed back the flask. “Listen Dan, I’m sorry about all of this. Please believe I was doing what I thought was right.”
“I know that. In your position, I might have done the same.” Daniel grinned. “That’s why I’ve had you watched so closely.”
Jake grunted. “I should have known.”
“By the way, what changed your mind?”
“Something Maggie said about never being free. As usual, she was right. A man’s got to follow his conscience. That’s what freedom is all about.”
Daniel smiled. “I guess we’re never too old to learn.”
“Funny, that’s what Popov said.”
The two stood quietly for a while, Daniel giving Jake time to calm his ragged nerves and assess the information he’d been given.
“So where does all this leave us?” Jake finally asked. “What game are they playing?”
