Read Online Born of Treasure (Treasure Chronicles Book 2) by Jordan Elizabeth - Free Book Online

deputy. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, sir. It’s good to know the law is taking a firm stand in Hedlund.” If the deputy believed that, he had to be new. Most people turned their thumbs at the law.
    The deputy paused before shaking his hand. “Thanks. I got my certificate in the east, but I wanted to see the open plains.”
    He was new, then. “You understand my wife and I are enjoying our vacation. Do we need to stay in this office? Let’s move out by the wheel.” No one chose to stand by the wheel because of the deafening sound.
    “I need to have you in custody.”
    “We won’t move. I want my wife to enjoy the river.” Clark stroked her hair. No wonder people loved to touch pets. Feeling her silkiness against his hand made his heart thud.
    The deputy glanced out the window before he nodded. “Long as we stay close by.”
    Perfect. Clark led Amethyst to the turning wheel outside the door. The hum of the motors exploded around them. The crew stayed below, working in the kitchen and tending the steam engines. The passengers enjoyed the dining room and the front deck.
    Did the deputy deserve to die? He wouldn’t listen to them. He would take them to Senator Horan, and once they landed it would be more difficult to dispose of him and make their way back to the ranch.
    Clark pushed Amethyst behind him as he pulled his pistol free and fired. A hole appeared in the deputy’s forehead and he jerked. A droplet of blood welled in the dark space.
    The hum of the wheel drowned out the gunshot and Amethyst’s scream.
    Clark rushed the deputy and knocked him over the railing into the churning water. Blood soaked along the waves as the wheel caught the body, mangling it.
    He slammed his pistol back into the holster. “Help! Man overboard!”
    Amethyst gripped the railing, her face ashen.
    “Someone help us.” Clark ran down the deck toward the passengers. “
Help
.”
    A door opened and a crewman in a blue uniform darted out. “What is it?”
    “I was walking my wife down the deck and a man fell off the railing.” Clark made himself pant. “He might’ve jumped. He fell into the wheel.”
    “Bloody gears!” The crewman bolted down the deck.
    Amethyst rubbed her mouth. “He fell overboard! We tried to scream at him.”
    Clark pulled her against his chest and rubbed her back. It had to be done—nothing could be allowed to hurt them.



eremiah rapped his knuckles against the door of the hired steambuggy. “Halt.”
    The driver nodded, steering the vehicle to the side of the road. “As you wish, sir.” Other steam contraptions rattled by, intermingled with horses, the riders hunched over the reins.
    “What a pleasant town,” Alyssa said. Her scarlet curls hung loose around her face, bouncing against her cheeks, flushed by the sun despite her wide-brimmed hat.
    “Morehouse is…” Jeremiah searched his vocabulary. Captain Greenwood lived in a more populated town than what Jeremiah was used to seeing, but it held an awkward air, as if everyone was too stiff. The horseback riders never looked at each other; no greetings were given. Back home, everyone knew each other by name and never missed a chance to ask how he or she was doing. The riders couldn’t all be strangers.
    Children didn’t run along the wooden sidewalks and Tarnished Silvers didn’t lounge outside the buildings. Actually, no one strolled the streets. Other than the dry dirt, nothing appeared unclean. Even the windows sparkled.
    The driver opened the door and Jeremiah hopped down, lifting his hand for Alyssa. She clasped his fingers, smiling, and stepped to the road. The driver unlatched their bags from the back compartment, accepted the payment, tipped his top hat, and departed.
    Where was the normal chatter, asking about the visitor’s travels and stay? Jeremiah had heard newcomers questioned back home. “He was quiet.”
    “Perhaps that’s how his boss prefers the drivers?” Alyssa lifted her bag. Amethyst would’ve insisted someone