Read Online Tainted Mountain by Shannon Baker - Free Book Online

pain.
    Charlie put a hand on Nora’s arm. “Looks like she’s ready to leave.”
    Nora stomped to the rock and picked up Scott’s box. “She’s got no breeding.” And doesn’t that sound just like Abigail. G aa!
    The tethers of her control snapped. She sprinted toward the blonde, weighted down by the heavy pine box.
    Abbey let out a bark and raced with her.
    â€œHey. Honey, wait,” Charlie called.
    Outrunning Charlie wasn’t hard. Nora’s vision narrowed to a red laser focused on the tacky blonde. The bimbo turned just as Nora slammed into her side, driving her into a tree like a croquet ball.
    The girl regained her balance. “What the hell?”
    Abbey bowed his front legs and barked, tail wagging.
    The two guys with the bimbo stood back—just the cowardly sort of friends she deserved.
    â€œHow dare you show up here today.” Nora fought the urge to slam Scott’s box into the girl’s nose.
    Silence fell for a moment while the woman stared at Nora.
    Charlie caught up to them. He waved his arm at the blonde as if she were a wasp. “Go on. You’re not wanted.”
    Nora’s words spit at her. “Don’t you have any pride? I’m his wife.” Was his wife .
    The girl narrowed her eyes and glared at Nora. “How long do you think he stayed away from me?” When Nora didn’t answer, she said, “Try two weeks.”
    Blood rushed through Nora’s ears. This wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. They’d been trying to put their marriage back on track for almost two years.
    The bimbo nodded. “That’s right. There is a lot about him you don’t know.”
    Breathe. Stand up. Do not fall apart. Pride was all that kept her alive.
    â€œHe used to call you Mom. You squeezed the life out of him. That’s why he came to me.”
    Despite Herculean effort, Nora slumped against Charlie.
    Charlie held out his palm. “You stop talking now.”
    Bimbo stuck the dull knife in farther. “He planned on leaving. He almost had enough saved for us to leave together. But you found out and you killed him!”
    Money? “Liar.” She pulled away from Charlie. “There was no money.”
    The smug look on Bimbo’s face infuriated Nora. “Maybe Scott felt sorry for you and didn’t want to hurt you. But I won’t protect you.”
    Charlie shooed her away. “You’re out of line.”
    Bimbo shouted at Nora. “You didn’t know anything about him. He had a job, his ticket to freedom. That’s what he said. And he was finally going to leave.” Suddenly she broke down in heaving sobs. “And now he’s gone.”
    Nora couldn’t feel her own body.
    Tears streaked Bimbo’s makeup. With her red eyes and dripping nose, she looked more like the grieving widow than did Nora. Bimbo shrieked and ran at Nora. “And I know you did it. You killed him. I know it!”
    Bimbo drew her arm back and swung toward Nora’s face. Just before her palm slapped Nora’s cheek, a hand shot out from behind Nora and caught Bimbo on the wrist.
    Abbey set up a string of agitated barking.
    Cole Huntsman lowered the woman’s arm, giving her a fierce look. “Leave her alone.”
    No one moved for a full three seconds. Then the two guys, Bimbo’s cowardly friends, shrouded her and spirited her down the trail.
    Nora’s knees trembled. She bent over and heaved, the acid of bile burning her sore throat.
    Charlie appeared at her side, grabbing a handful of her hair and patting her back.
    Strength trickled back. It didn’t matter how many deaths Scott died to her, she would have to keep breathing. She stood and stared into the forest, gathering her forces.
    The branches, logs, flowers, and shrubs shifted from fog to focus and she realized she was staring, not at a Ponderosa as she’d expected, but at a man. Or at least he seemed like it. He wore a