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field.” Fiona forced a smile. “They think they
saw something fall from the sky last night.”
    He
turned back to the men. “Which field?”
    Marshall
pointed to the one furthest away and closest to the forest. Ardal nodded and
walked toward it. Clyde stood and followed, motioning Marshal to come too. Was
the man insane? Fiona ran to catch up with the men. If there was going to be a
scene, she was damn sure she’d be part of it.
    Reaching
the field was anticlimactic.
    Instead
of a wrecked spacecraft, there was newly tilled soil. All evidence was gone.
Fiona glanced at Ardal, but his stony face gave nothing away. His men must have
worked miracles to have the crash debris and bodies cleared up this fast.
    “So
this is why you needed a man around.” Clyde spoke in a subdued voice. “I didn’t
know you were interested in farming.”
    Fiona
shrugged. “I just want to maintain the land. The bush was starting to encroach.
Before long it would have reverted back to nature.”
    “Most
of these fields do.” Marshall bent down and picked up a handful of dirt. “The
soil’s too poor to support much but trees. Still, it’s a shame to think of all
the work it took to clear it going for naught.”
    “I
want to look into the bush.” Clyde started walking toward the trees. “If it
isn’t in the open, then the forest is a good place for it to be.”
    Ardal
nodded. “How far do you intend to search?
    “Just
a few feet,” Clyde said with a raised eyebrow. “I’m trying to satisfy my
curiosity.”
    “You
know what they say about curiosity.” Fiona’s tone was teasing. “I’d hate that
to happen to you gentlemen.”
    “That
sounded like a warning.” Marshall was suddenly too close.
    Fiona
stepped back, but bumped into Ardal. He pushed her behind him. She found
herself staring at the back of his shirt. The man was huge. She tried to look
around him, but his hands prevented her.
    “I
never make threats.” Ardal crossed his arms over his chest. “Take your look and
then leave Fiona’s property.”
    “Come
on Marshall.” Clyde was already at the edge of the bush. “We don’t have all
day.”
    Marshall
gave Ardal an uncertain look and then followed his friend. When they were out
of earshot, Fiona stepped from around Ardal.
    “Will
they find anything?”
    Ardal
shrugged. “If they go too far my men will kill them.”
    “No.”
Fiona’s voice rose. She clapped her hand over her mouth when she saw Marshall
look back at her. “Sorry,” she whispered.
    “My
men have their orders.”
    “You
can’t go around killing people.” Fiona forced her voice to stay low. “We have
laws in this country.”
    “I
will not risk my men’s lives.” Ardal’s voice was firm. “There is less than a
unit of Hunters left in the universe. It is my responsibility that they live.”
    Fiona
frowned. “Are you saying that you and your men are all that’s left?”
    “Yes.”
    Fiona
swallowed. Ardal’s expression had not changed, but a flicker of intensity
flashed into his black eyes before he hid it. Despite his appearance of control
and dispassion, this man felt deeply about his responsibility. She’d been wrong
to think him a computer on steroids. He cared about his men. You just had to
dig deep to find it.
    Before
she could think of something to say, Marshall shouted at them. “It looks as if
some of these trees have been cut down.”
    “I
have a right to heat my house.” Fiona didn’t try to hide her exasperation. How
dare these men come onto her land and interrogate her. For a second, she forgot
that all she wanted was to lie low and avoid conflict. “Do I come onto your
property and question what you do?
    “Whoa.”
Clyde held up his hands. The men were walking back now. “We’re just asking.”
    “I’ll
bet,” Fiona hissed under her breath. Louder she said, “Do you want to see my
woodpile? I could use help stacking it.”
    “You
have a fine strong man to do that.” Marshall glanced at Ardal and then