Read Online The Killin' Fields (Alexa's Travels Book 2) by Angela White - Free Book Online
Authors: Angela White
Ads: Link
years, then they did. Men were slaves, soldiers, or gunfighters, with few exceptions.
“Last time,” Edward warned. “What do you want?”
They carried their guns on the outside of their coats and their hats were slanted low to hide scheming faces. These were bounty hunters and Edward was glad of it. These hired guns usually ran alone, which meant there wouldn’t be a squad of soldiers setting up an ambush. That comes later, Edward thought. He was beginning to filter things like Alexa did, and come up with her answers. It was exhilarating.
Randolph had been relying on Paul’s darts and the fear of his reputation to make descendants cower before him. He respected only his main target, and even that was the barest.
“We’re Visiting.”
The hunters snickered and Edward felt offended. “You’ll die first.”
Randolph hadn’t bothered to scan the single large tree behind Alexa’s men. No one used them anymore because of the rashes caused by the mold. He spit a wad of nasty juice at Edward’s boots as the other bounty hunters sneered and leered.
“Where’s your leader, little man?”
“Don’t talk to him like that!”
Paul’s order brought snorts from the bounty hunters.
Randolph held up a hand. “I’m sorry, Rabbit. Perhaps you’d like to answer the question?”
Alexa’s men exchanged angry glances. They knew him on sight. Who the hell was this loud scientist she’d allowed along?
“Yes, I will,” Paul responded coldly. “She’s in the tree.”
Alexa’s colts crashed as the three men finally spotted her.
She hit Randolph in the throat, sending him to his knees with hands coming up for futile protection. Her next two shots came so close together that there wasn’t hardly a pause, and neither of Randolph’s men got off a shot. Not coming into the camp with their guns already drawn had hurt them.
“Amazing,” Jacob swore softly as the bodies slid to the ground.
“Agreed,” Edward admired, going to the large cottonwood tree she was still perched in. Alexa had showed them how to grind the bone dust and make a lotion that they’d only had to aply once. “Good morning.”
Alexa rolled her eyes, scanning her men, the bodies, and then the corn as she reloaded. She also noted Paul’s satisfied face.
“Climb up and snooze. My shots will echo.”
Realizing more threats might be forthcoming; her men quickly gathered their things and cleared the ground of prints so that it would appear they had vanished. Being able to use the trees was an advantage they loved having.
Alexa wasn’t sure if anyone else would come. Those waiting might assume their men had won and expect them to return. If so, they could sleep for a while longer. The last ten days of traveling with Paul had been tiring.
2
An hour later, Alexa had them moving again and the fighters searched expectantly for the next signs of trouble. It was in the clouds that roiled over them, in the stalks that moaned an ominous accompaniment to their boots. Paul was the only one who didn’t notice it, but even he was quieter than usual. Edward knew it was from Alexa taking blood and kept his anger to himself. He didn’t like Paul at all.
The path they were on gradually grew wide enough for three of them side-by-side, and Alexa signaled them into the protection formation, but the random stalks still required the group to keep stepping out of their line. None of them cared for that. The symmetry Alexa had taught them was sinking in, becoming a natural reaction, and they disliked anything that interfered with staying close to their special leader.
Alexa held up a hand. Wait.
Her group stopped, and Edward had to snatch Paul by his coat when he didn’t.
Paul jerked away and went to stand behind Alexa.
All the other men frowned.
Alexa sniffed the air and each man heard her stomach growl. They caught the scent a moment later and grimaced with the memories. It was a Thanksgiving dinner or a bakery or a fresh market-an aroma of
“Last time,” Edward warned. “What do you want?”
They carried their guns on the outside of their coats and their hats were slanted low to hide scheming faces. These were bounty hunters and Edward was glad of it. These hired guns usually ran alone, which meant there wouldn’t be a squad of soldiers setting up an ambush. That comes later, Edward thought. He was beginning to filter things like Alexa did, and come up with her answers. It was exhilarating.
Randolph had been relying on Paul’s darts and the fear of his reputation to make descendants cower before him. He respected only his main target, and even that was the barest.
“We’re Visiting.”
The hunters snickered and Edward felt offended. “You’ll die first.”
Randolph hadn’t bothered to scan the single large tree behind Alexa’s men. No one used them anymore because of the rashes caused by the mold. He spit a wad of nasty juice at Edward’s boots as the other bounty hunters sneered and leered.
“Where’s your leader, little man?”
“Don’t talk to him like that!”
Paul’s order brought snorts from the bounty hunters.
Randolph held up a hand. “I’m sorry, Rabbit. Perhaps you’d like to answer the question?”
Alexa’s men exchanged angry glances. They knew him on sight. Who the hell was this loud scientist she’d allowed along?
“Yes, I will,” Paul responded coldly. “She’s in the tree.”
Alexa’s colts crashed as the three men finally spotted her.
She hit Randolph in the throat, sending him to his knees with hands coming up for futile protection. Her next two shots came so close together that there wasn’t hardly a pause, and neither of Randolph’s men got off a shot. Not coming into the camp with their guns already drawn had hurt them.
“Amazing,” Jacob swore softly as the bodies slid to the ground.
“Agreed,” Edward admired, going to the large cottonwood tree she was still perched in. Alexa had showed them how to grind the bone dust and make a lotion that they’d only had to aply once. “Good morning.”
Alexa rolled her eyes, scanning her men, the bodies, and then the corn as she reloaded. She also noted Paul’s satisfied face.
“Climb up and snooze. My shots will echo.”
Realizing more threats might be forthcoming; her men quickly gathered their things and cleared the ground of prints so that it would appear they had vanished. Being able to use the trees was an advantage they loved having.
Alexa wasn’t sure if anyone else would come. Those waiting might assume their men had won and expect them to return. If so, they could sleep for a while longer. The last ten days of traveling with Paul had been tiring.
2
An hour later, Alexa had them moving again and the fighters searched expectantly for the next signs of trouble. It was in the clouds that roiled over them, in the stalks that moaned an ominous accompaniment to their boots. Paul was the only one who didn’t notice it, but even he was quieter than usual. Edward knew it was from Alexa taking blood and kept his anger to himself. He didn’t like Paul at all.
The path they were on gradually grew wide enough for three of them side-by-side, and Alexa signaled them into the protection formation, but the random stalks still required the group to keep stepping out of their line. None of them cared for that. The symmetry Alexa had taught them was sinking in, becoming a natural reaction, and they disliked anything that interfered with staying close to their special leader.
Alexa held up a hand. Wait.
Her group stopped, and Edward had to snatch Paul by his coat when he didn’t.
Paul jerked away and went to stand behind Alexa.
All the other men frowned.
Alexa sniffed the air and each man heard her stomach growl. They caught the scent a moment later and grimaced with the memories. It was a Thanksgiving dinner or a bakery or a fresh market-an aroma of
Similar Books
