She began to curse beneath her breath.

Ned tilted his head and gazed at her in hurt bewilderment.

"It's not you," she said. "You can't help it. You've just taken up with bad company. I could murder him."

"Anyone I know?" Nick asked from behind her. "I haven't seen you this mad in a long time. Let's see, I think it was that politician in Nicaragua who wanted to quarantine all the rescue dogs."

"Marrok," she said curtly. "He's run out on Ned."

"And this is Ned?" He came forward and looked down at the Lab. "Beautiful fellow." He patted the dog's silky black head. "And he looks like he's in great shape for just having a bullet taken out of him. He's doing well?"

"Great so far. Marrok said he healed well." Her lips tightened. "He also said if I took that bullet out of him, he'd be well in no time. Dammit, it doesn't work that way. All kinds of things can go wrong. He can't just waltz off and leave him."

"He left a note?" His brows lifted as he saw the crushed paper in her hand. "I see he did. May I?" He took the note from her and unfolded it. "He seems to know you very well for such a short acquaintance. Very perceptive."

"For heaven's sake, I'm a vet. That doesn't take much perceptiveness to realize I'd care about an animal."

"Enough to fight to take him back to the States? It's going to be one big headache to battle the search and rescue home base and the U.S. animal immigration laws to get a dog with no documents into the country."

"I know that," she said through clenched teeth. "I'm going to be on the phone for hours trying to get clearance… if I decide to take Ned home."

"No 'if.' You've already decided. You haven't stopped stroking Ned all the time you've been ranting and raving."

"It's not his fault that his master is an ass." She scowled. "Ned is special. He found that little girl. How could Marrok just leave him? He doesn't know me from Adam."