Read Online Moon Racer by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online

right?"
    Now his words were stilted, as if he wearied of
their conversation. "I can assure you it is, Miss
Hunter."
    Abby became aware that her family was
watching her, and she could feel their uneasiness.
Even Crystal and Glory were frowning at her.
Undaunted, she charged forward. "We have driven
the Indians from their lands and left them nowhere
to go, haven't we?" She expected him to argue the
point; in fact, she depended on it.
    He wiped his mouth on a napkin before he spoke.
"I see you and I share the same view on that. But
sadly the conflict is almost over for them. The
plight of those who haven't been shipped off to
reservations is extremely dire."
    "Yet you helped bring about their downfall," she
insisted.
    "It is the way of life," Jonah replied. "The strong
have always held sway over the weak. For myself, I
followed orders-but I think... I hope I have never
killed any man except in duty to my country."
    She bit into a biscuit, feeling everyone's eyes on
her. Most of all, she could feel both her brothers' disapproval mounting. It was hard to chew and
downright impossible to swallow. There was an
unspoken rule in this house-they were never to be
rude to guests. Abby didn't understand why she had
felt the need to challenge the major at every turn.
He had proven to be a worthy and gracious
opponent he had left her nothing to debate.

    After a moment Jonah turned his attention to
Glory, who was speaking to him. "My husband tells
me you were in the New Mexico territory searching
for Victorio."
    "I never got close enough to take him on in battle.
He's good at avoiding capture."
    "Isn't he dangerous?" Crystal asked.
    "Yes, ma'am, he is," Jonah said. His gaze went to
Abby. "I doubt any of us would react any differently
than he has if we had been driven from our land."
    Abby heard someone enter the front door, and an
uneasy feeling enveloped her. "That will be Papa."
Her gaze met Quince's, and she could see they
shared the same thought they hoped that Jack
Hunter would not be drunk.
    Moments later her father appeared in the doorway,
smiling and sober. "It's always nice to see my family
partaking of a meal together." His gaze went around
the table and stopped at the man in uniform. A broad
grin lit his face, and he extended a hand while
walking toward Jonah. "I don't need to be told who
you are-you have to be Major Tremain."
    Jonah stood, shaking hands with Jack. "Mr.
Hunter. I am grateful for your hospitality. And I
have never dined better."

    Frances must have heard Jack's voice, because
she returned and set a plate before him. It did her
heart good to see the family together like this. It
didn't happen very often.
    The talk turned to horses, and Abby was relieved
when the meal was finally over. The men migrated
to the porch where it was cooler, while Glory and
Crystal stayed to help her with the dishes, giving
Frances a rest.
    "You two go on and join the men," Abby said.
"I'll finish in here."
    Glory shook her head. "That won't do, Abby.
That gorgeous man out there couldn't take his eyes
off you all during supper. Crystal and I will finish
here and you can join your brothers."
    Abby draped the dish cloth over her shoulder and
lifted a stack of saucers into the cupboard. "I can
assure you that if the major was looking at me, he
was only trying to find flaws. He certainly made it
clear today that he disapproves of me."
    "Maybe," Glory said, twisting a red strand of hair
that had come loose and pinning it up with the rest.
"But there was interest there, too. I have a feeling
he's never met anyone like you, and he is more than
likely intrigued by you, maybe even fascinated."
    Crystal agreed with a nod. "You're at least a mystery to him-a mystery that he wants to solve. And I
saw you watching him, Abby, so don't deny it."
    "I'm sure he is accustomed to women appraising
him. As for me, I have no more interest in him than
he has in me. Besides, Quince told me he is