Read Online Cherry Adair - T-flac 06 by On Thin Ice - Free Book Online
Authors: On Thin Ice
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quiet the sound echoed off the snow and trees. The noise didn't faze the moose one iota, but it scared the shit out of the birds. In a flurry of flapping wings and squawks, twenty or so small gray birds cannoned from the nearby trees and took off like buckshot into the sky.
"What's going on?" Lily demanded in his ear.
"Give me a minute—"
He got off another shot. Snow sprayed up in a white froth at the animal's churning feet. That one was closer. The moose stopped on a dime, raising its head, then stood its ground. Derek admired its steely nerves.
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"Come on, pal, shit or get off the pot," he said softly, running out of options. The next would have to be a kill shot. And he was reluctant to kill the magnificent beast just for protecting its home. But given a choice between the moose and protecting his own ass and that of his team, the moose would have to go.
The animal moved restively, ears flat.
The dogs, aware of the danger, yipped and snarled, straining against the lead dogs, Max and Kryptonite, who seemed focused on getting the team past the threat.
Clark and Twit started barking madly; several of the others chimed in their two cents' worth. The moose's ears rotated like satellite dishes. One step forward, head lowered.
Derek pulled on the lines. " Come haw !" He reined them to pull 180 degrees to the left. "Quiet, boys," he told the dancing dogs softly. "Just go on by and don't look at him."
Clearly royally pissed at the invaders, several tons of moose charged again.
Snow sprayed behind those lethal hooves as the animal raced toward Derek, head positioned for maximum damage on impact, close enough for Derek to see the whites of its eyes.
"Ah, crap. Damn it to hell."
Derek got off another shot, but the sled tipped at the same moment and the shot went wild. The moose kicked out with its front feet, hit the side of the sled— BAM! A fully packed sled was no match for a pissed-off Bullwinkle. The sled rolled, then fell on top of Derek with a shuddering thwack, spraying wet snow against his goggles. The sled was heavy with supplies, and for several moments he was in a protected spot as the furious moose rammed and battered a genetically choreographed attack.
"I see you." Lily's voice was an urgent and welcome sound in his ears. "At least he's not after your dogs."
Her words came directly in his ear. Thank God she wasn't the object of the moose's attentions. And at least the animal wasn't stomping his dogs into the snow. Not yet anyway. He was another story. Those hooves were sharp and lethal as the enraged moose repeatedly kicked the shit out of the sled.
There was a flat, familiar crack and the smell of cordite on the crisp, clean mountain air. Another shot.
And another. The moose bellowed, turned tail and ran like hell back into the trees.
"He's gone." Lily's relieved and mildly amused voice came through loud and clear as Derek shoved the sled and fallen supplies off his body.
"My hero," he said dryly, brushing clumps of wet snow off his pants and coat as he watched her approach. A rancher through and through, Lily knew what she was doing with that gun, thank God. She looked like a bundled-up Amazon. An ancient warrior in a long fleece coat and furry boots. And he was damned glad to see her.
She brought her team alongside his. The leads, Arrow and Max, immediately, and happily sniffed at each other. Derek wanted to do the same to Lily, but he was just a little afraid she might use the gun again.
Lily gave Derek an up-and-down look. "Are you hurt?"
"Only my ego."
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"Then you may never recover." Setting the brake, she hopped off her sled. Without offering, she put some muscle into helping him right his, which was top heavy and unwieldy. "Good job securing everything."
"Thanks, teacher." He looked off into the trees where the snow had been violently
"What's going on?" Lily demanded in his ear.
"Give me a minute—"
He got off another shot. Snow sprayed up in a white froth at the animal's churning feet. That one was closer. The moose stopped on a dime, raising its head, then stood its ground. Derek admired its steely nerves.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"Come on, pal, shit or get off the pot," he said softly, running out of options. The next would have to be a kill shot. And he was reluctant to kill the magnificent beast just for protecting its home. But given a choice between the moose and protecting his own ass and that of his team, the moose would have to go.
The animal moved restively, ears flat.
The dogs, aware of the danger, yipped and snarled, straining against the lead dogs, Max and Kryptonite, who seemed focused on getting the team past the threat.
Clark and Twit started barking madly; several of the others chimed in their two cents' worth. The moose's ears rotated like satellite dishes. One step forward, head lowered.
Derek pulled on the lines. " Come haw !" He reined them to pull 180 degrees to the left. "Quiet, boys," he told the dancing dogs softly. "Just go on by and don't look at him."
Clearly royally pissed at the invaders, several tons of moose charged again.
Snow sprayed behind those lethal hooves as the animal raced toward Derek, head positioned for maximum damage on impact, close enough for Derek to see the whites of its eyes.
"Ah, crap. Damn it to hell."
Derek got off another shot, but the sled tipped at the same moment and the shot went wild. The moose kicked out with its front feet, hit the side of the sled— BAM! A fully packed sled was no match for a pissed-off Bullwinkle. The sled rolled, then fell on top of Derek with a shuddering thwack, spraying wet snow against his goggles. The sled was heavy with supplies, and for several moments he was in a protected spot as the furious moose rammed and battered a genetically choreographed attack.
"I see you." Lily's voice was an urgent and welcome sound in his ears. "At least he's not after your dogs."
Her words came directly in his ear. Thank God she wasn't the object of the moose's attentions. And at least the animal wasn't stomping his dogs into the snow. Not yet anyway. He was another story. Those hooves were sharp and lethal as the enraged moose repeatedly kicked the shit out of the sled.
There was a flat, familiar crack and the smell of cordite on the crisp, clean mountain air. Another shot.
And another. The moose bellowed, turned tail and ran like hell back into the trees.
"He's gone." Lily's relieved and mildly amused voice came through loud and clear as Derek shoved the sled and fallen supplies off his body.
"My hero," he said dryly, brushing clumps of wet snow off his pants and coat as he watched her approach. A rancher through and through, Lily knew what she was doing with that gun, thank God. She looked like a bundled-up Amazon. An ancient warrior in a long fleece coat and furry boots. And he was damned glad to see her.
She brought her team alongside his. The leads, Arrow and Max, immediately, and happily sniffed at each other. Derek wanted to do the same to Lily, but he was just a little afraid she might use the gun again.
Lily gave Derek an up-and-down look. "Are you hurt?"
"Only my ego."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"Then you may never recover." Setting the brake, she hopped off her sled. Without offering, she put some muscle into helping him right his, which was top heavy and unwieldy. "Good job securing everything."
"Thanks, teacher." He looked off into the trees where the snow had been violently
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