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

was filling his cup with whiskey. He pulled her down on his lap and plunged his hand into the neck of her dress. She giggled, and wiggled on the hardness that pressed against her thigh.
    “Thar’s a settler out thar with his throat split open.” A slurry voice made the announcement. “It was enough to make ’im wet his britches!” he said, snickering. He slouched against the plank that served as a bar.
    There was an instant of quiet, then the voices rose again, as if the news was of no concern. Linc played with the woman on his lap and a satisfied look settled on George’s face. The farmer ain’t oughtta’ve said nothin’ ’bout tyin’ in with the trader, he thought. He glanced with admiration at his partner and watched him as he ran his hand up under the woman’s skirt.
    Linc and George stayed in the tavern until someone came and took away the body.

Chapter Four
    I ’m hankerin’ fer a spot of tea.” Fain was the first to speak after the men had left the camp.
    “Help yourself.” Berry laid the musket on the box. “I’ll get a cup.”
    “I can use this’n if Miss Rachel’s done with it.” He poured from the teakettle into Rachel’s cup, then sank back down on his haunches.
    A long quiet settled on them. Simon leaned on his rifle, Fain sipped his tea, and Rachel tried to pull out her apron so that it didn’t fit so snugly across her swollen stomach.
    Berry stooped to dish up the food in the skillet beside the cookfire. She heaped the plate. “I’ll fix some supper if you can wait for it. This is for Israel.” She stood and waited for one of them to speak.
    “We already et, ma’am, but thanky,” Fain said.
    Berry nodded and carried the plate to the wagon and set it on the tailgate. She knew Israel wouldn’t come to the fire to get it. She returned and sat down on the box again.
    “There was a man here tonight,” Rachel said. She looked at Fain and he swiveled on his heels to face her. “He was here in the camp almost before we knew it. He looked Indian, but he talked French.”
    “Was his hair clubbed, slight build, ’n’ moved fast ’n’ sure?” Rachel nodded. Fain glanced at Simon and back at Rachel. “It was a scout called Light. He works for Simon some.”
    “We wasn’t scared of him.” Rachel glanced at Berry’s set face. She’s worried I’ll tell that Asa was going to whip us with the strap, she thought, and wished she hadn’t mentioned the man.
    “Some folk think Light’s kinda crazy.” Fain threw the dregs of his tea into the fire. “He’s part French and part Indian. His ma was killed by the French, his pa by the Indians. His young Indian wife and baby murdered by rivermen. Light kinda turned in on hisself. He’s a quiet one, but he’d fight his way outta a sack of wildcats. He’s the best woodsman, tracker, and knife man I ever knowed. He’s got no fear and no doubt ’bout killin’ if it’s what’s got to be done. But he’s gentlelike with womenfolk.”
    Berry shivered. “Poor man. Is he a friend of yours?”
    “I guess you’d call it that,” Fain said thoughtfully. “Me ’n’ Simon ’n’ a couple fellers up on the Missouri is ’bout the only ones he has any truck with. If he come in ’n’ showed hisself, he had a powerful reason. He’s not much on mixin’ with folks.” Fain waited, but Rachel offered no more information.
    Berry glanced at Simon and away. He hadn’t spoken a word, but she could feel his eyes on her from time to time. A muffled cry from Rachel startled her and she turned quickly. Rachel was leaning back, holding her leg out in front of her. She’d been having muscle spasms for the last few weeks, and the only thing that gave her relief from the terrible pain was to walk. Berry forgot the men. She jumped up, straddled the leg Rachel had thrust out in front of her, put her hands beneath her arms, and tried to lift her.
    “I can’t . . .” Rachel gasped. “Oh . . . oh . . .”
    “You’ve got to!” Berry tried to lift