Read Online In the Shadow of Death by Gwendolyn Southin - Free Book Online

shepherds. They were vicious.”
    â€œJock Macleod’s. Dad’s warned him about those damned dogs. Come on, let’s get you back to the house.” He swung off his mount and cupped his hands to help her up onto Angel.
    â€œDid you see anyone coming down the mine road?” she asked.
    â€œNo. I just got here.”
    â€œHe must still be up there, then,” she said fearfully.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThe man with the gun.” She hesitated. “I had to go right through to the ravine before I caught Angel. And . . . and someone was on the road above . . . with a gun.”
    Al shrugged. “Probably somebody deer hunting out of season. Come on, let’s get back.”
    But the out-of-season hunted was me! She decided not to enlighten him.
    â€¢ • •
    â€œ WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU ?” Kate greeted her when she finally arrived back at the house. “Are you hurt?”
    â€œA branch knocked me off the horse.” She hobbled across the kitchen. “I’ll tell you all about it after I’ve patched myself up and changed.”
    Maggie pulled her jeans and shirt off, letting them fall on the floor, then staggered into the bathroom. Too tired to shower, she washed the mud off her face and hands, struggled into clean clothes and then, lying down on the bed, closed her eyes. The tapping on the door woke her.
    â€œMaggie, lunch is ready.”
    â€œThanks, Kate.” She bent down to scoop up the dirty clothes from the floor and felt the lump in her pants pocket. The pouch! And pulling it out of the pocket, she sat down on the side of the bed and popped open the metal press studs. “My God!” The bills—old ones, by the look of them—in denominations of thousands, five hundreds and hundreds were all rolled up and squashed inside it. She laid them out on the bed and counted them. There’s eight thousand dollars here. Why was it hidden under the seat? Carefully, she pushed the money back into the pouch, then stowed it in the top drawer of the dresser. So that’s why I was shot at. Somebody didn’t want me finding the money. “I’ve got to talk to Nat.”
    â€¢ • •
    â€œ YOU LOOK A LOT BETTER ,” Kate remarked when Maggie reappeared downstairs. “Al told me about Jock Macleod’s dogs. We’ll tell Brossard about it when he comes in the morning.”
    â€œBrossard!”
    â€œI think he’s taking Douglas’ disappearance seriously, considering that a body’s turned up.”
    â€œKate, I haven’t told you everything that happened this morning.”
    â€œYou said Angel was spooked and . . . ”
    It was obvious Kate didn’t want to hear any more bad news, but Maggie knew she had to tell her the rest of the story. “I was shot at.”
    â€œShot at! You must be mistaken.”
    â€œNo. There was no mistaking those shots.” She recounted all that had happened—except finding the money pouch.
    â€œI don’t understand,” Kate exclaimed when Maggie had finished. “Why would anyone shoot at you? Maybe somebody thought you were a deer . . . ”
    â€œNot a chance,” Maggie said. “I think whoever it was didn’t take too kindly to me looking over that Jeep.”
    Kate slumped into a chair. “I don’t suppose you’ll want to help me now?”
    â€œWhy not? It probably has nothing to do with your husband’s disappearance. Someone just wanted to frighten me off.” Gingerly, she down at the table, grateful that the chairs were padded. “But I still have to talk to my boss.”
    â€œI don’t know what your rates are, but I’ll pay whatever it costs.”
    â€œI’ll phone Nat and discuss it,” Maggie answered.
    â€œWe’re on a party line,” Kate said. “Our signal is two longs and a short.”
    â€œA party line? Does that mean that people can listen in?”
    She nodded.