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recommendation?”
    Rod met her gaze evenly. “That we abandon the project and let the Mexican government deal with its own internal squabbling.”
    â€œWhat! You must be joking. This is a huge contract for us.”
    â€œForget the money for a minute and think about what I’ve told you. WHS doesn’t need this kind of controversy, and you know it. It’ll blow up in our faces. Every environmentalist and archaeologist in the world will be on our case if we get involved with the construction of the dam. I’d suggest we turn in the preliminary study, then let the Mexicans hire someone else to do the job, if they insist on going ahead with it. Let some other company deal with the negative public relations.”
    Cara was astonished. Rod didn’t seem the sort of man to avoid controversy. She would have guessed he relished it. She stared at him incredulously. “Just close up shop and walk away? What kind of business call is that?”
    â€œNot everything can be computed in dollars and cents, princess.” He shrugged, regarding her disdainfully. “Somehow I’m not surprised you don’t realize that.”
    The cutting remark hurt far more than it should have. She studied him curiously. “You don’t like me very much, do you?”
    He shrugged. “Is that a job requirement?”
    â€œIt would make this particular job a hell of a lot easier.”
    â€œI don’t even know you.”
    â€œThen shouldn’t you give me a chance before treating me like I’m an incompetent meddler?”
    â€œLook, Cara,” he began impatiently. “I respect your father. He’s been very good to me. He’s let me go my own way for the past fifteen years without interference. If I told him to walk away from this, he’d do it.”
    Cara nodded. “Maybe so, but I’m guessing he’d ask a whole lot of questions first.”
    â€œSome,” he admitted grudgingly.
    â€œThen try to look at this from my point of view. I know nothing about you, Mr. Craig, at least not firsthand. For the moment I’m in charge. Scottie’s still too sick for you to go running to him to make the decision. I guess I need twice as much convincing as he would.”
    â€œWhat will it take?”
    â€œTake me to the site. Show me what will be affected. Let me talk to some people around here about it. Then I’ll decide.”
    â€œI thought you wanted to be out of here tomorrow afternoon.”
    â€œI did, but I’ll stay as long as it takes to make a fair decision.”
    His dark eyes narrowed, but he gave a sigh of resignation. “You’re Scottie’s daughter all right. You’ve inherited every bit of his stubbornness.”
    For the first time since she’d arrived, she detected a grudging admiration in his tone. “Then we have a deal?”
    He studied her consideringly. “Is it the best one I’m going to get?”
    She grinned at him then. “The only one.”
    He nodded. “We’ll leave at daybreak.”

CHAPTER THREE
    T he wild braying jerked Cara from a dreamless sleep, her heart pounding. Instantly her vivid imagination sorted through visions of every untamed jungle creature she’d ever seen or heard. National Geographic specials unreeled in her mind. A shudder shook her. None had sounded quite like this.
    Whatever it was, it was close. Very close. With her breath caught in her throat, she peered through the shadows toward the opening in the tent—and discovered the ugliest donkey she’d ever seen watching her with malevolent interest. Groaning in disgust, she sank back, closed her eyes and waited for her frantic heartbeat to slow.
    A burro, she thought, chagrined. A dumb, nasty-looking donkey. Thank heaven she hadn’t screamed. Rod would never have let her live it down.
    â€œYou’re more effective than any alarm clock,” she muttered, giving the animal a disgruntled