Read Online Dorothy Garlock - [Annie Lash 01] by Wild Sweet Wilderness - Free Book Online

not?”
    “It’s on. I ain’t sure if I oughtta leave the women.”
    Berry stared at her father with utter loathing, hating him with every ounce of her strength. Her hate forced the words out of her mouth. “Go! It’d be the happiest day of my life if I never set eyes on you again!”
    “Watch your tongue, gal! I’m your pa.”
    “Much to my shame!”
    Rachel’s hand gripped Berry’s arm. She leaned close and whispered, “Shhhh . . .”
    Berry was instantly sorry she’d let her hate carry her away and embarrass Rachel in front of the trader and his friend. She clamped her mouth shut and looked down at the musket.
    Asa followed George and Linc down the trail toward the river and the taverns that lined its muddy bank.
    “That gal’s got too much piss ’n’ vinegar fer my notion,” George muttered as soon as they were out of hearing distance.
    “I’ll tame ’er, by gawd! I’ll take the fight outta ’er,” Linc bragged.
    “Leave ’er be,” Asa said. “I’ll bring ’er ’round. They ain’t never stood again’ me fer long.”
    “They ain’t comin’ docile, like ya said.” There was bitter accusation in Linc’s voice. “That’n needs ta be screwed, by gawd! Them keelboat men’d give a good bit ta get under ’er skirts.”
    A spark of decency, long suppressed, surfaced in Asa. “Hold on. I ain’t agreed to my gal bein’ no whore. The other’n can do the whorin’. Ya asked ta court my gal, ’n’ she turned ya down. Let it set a spell. She’ll come around.”
    “Humph!” Linc snorted. “She ain’t gonna come ’round less’n you whap ’er butt. Whatta ya think them other’ns are hangin’ ’round fer? They c’n smell a bitch in heat same as us. I ain’t waitin’ ’n’ takin’ Witcher’s leavin’s. Ya get ’er in line or the deal’s off.”
    Asa walked in silence. His greedy mind was working fast. Linc had planted a seed that was growing by leaps and bounds. It might suit even more if Berry took to the trader. He had a whole building full of trade goods, and hadn’t he and that big feller helped get them across the river? Maybe he was the one who had dosed the whiskey, what with his wanting to get next to the gal. Linc and George said their whiskey had been dosed too. It must’ve been the trader, Asa decided. He almost chuckled out loud. There’s no means a man won’t go to ta get him a spot o’ tail! he thought.
    “Whatta ya know ’bout Witcher?” he asked with as much indifference in his voice as his inner excitement would allow. “Who buys his goods?”
    “Stores. Here ’n’ upriver in Saint Charles,” George answered.
    “He got land?”
    “Upriver a piece. Ya thinkin’ a tyin’ in with ’em?”
    “It’s a thought.” Won’t do no harm ta let ’em think I got other irons in the fire, Asa thought slyly.
    “He ain’t wantin’ no tavern,” Linc said.
    “He might. I’m a-thinkin’ I got somethin’ he wants.”
    Linc’s head swiveled slowly to look at Asa. The beady eyes hardened and his chest swelled with wounded pride. Ya bastard, he swore silently. Ya gawddamned bastard!
     
    *    *    *
     
    It was midnight. The tavern was noisy with the loud voices of drunken rivermen. Asa sat on a bench beside Linc and George and matched them drink for drink. His blurry eyes could scarcely focus on the tavern wench who carried the jug slung over her shoulder as she made the rounds to fill the tin cups and to collect the coins. He wasn’t too drunk, however, to slip his hand beneath her skirt and pinch her bottom. She squealed and danced away from him.
    He’d have the wench, he decided. He’d not had a woman, except for a drunken Indian gal, since he’d left Ohio. But first he would go outside and let water. He was about to burst. He lurched to the door, pushing his way through the crowd.
    George looked at Linc and nodded. Linc sauntered carelessly toward the door, then darted out into the darkness. Minutes later he was back and the tavern wench