Страница 8 из 74
Seeing the direction of his mistress’s glance, Prettyface whined hopefully. For all his rough appearance, the dog enjoyed chasing shadows in the warm creek that flowed out from the hot spring’s pool before disappearing into a crack in the bedrock.
«Not this morning,» Sha
Sha
«It’s a good thing no one else is ever around,» Sha
Memories of the Culpeppers’ coarse comments tightened Sha
«Not that I blame Cherokee for the charade. The longer Silent John is gone, the more I know why she decided to dress like a man, let herself be called a shaman, and live way up on the north fork of Avalanche Creek.»
With a determined sweep of her arm, Sha
There weren’t many chores to do around the cabin in the morning. Since Sha
Sha
She was still chewing when she pulled on Silent John’s second-best jacket and went to the front door. As she walked, she stuffed a few more strips of dried venison into her pocket.
That’s the last of the jerky, she thought unhappily. Thank God the deer are coming back to the high country.
Before Sha
Even when Sha
Putting food on the table was another matter entirely. There was no money to spare on extra ammunition to hone her shooting skills, so she had to get very close to the quarry before she could risk a shot. As a result, she nearly always gave away her presence before she felt confident enough to shoot.
«But I’m getting better,» Sha
With quick, efficient motions Sha
Like the venison jerky, Sha
«When I go into Holler Creek again, I’ll have to buy ammunition. And next time I go, you’re coming with me, Prettyface. I know you don’t like settlements and strangers, but that’s too bad. I need you to guard my back.»
Prettyface stood with barely restrained eagerness, watching the door and his mistress by turns.
«But before I can buy anything in Holler Creek, I’ll have to wring a bit of gold from one of Silent John’s claims,» Sha
Silently Sha
«If only you could teach me how to track and stalk better,» Sha
Prettyface watched Sha
Silent John had taught Sha
The rest of the time he grubbed gold from the hard rock of the mountains. That, too, was a survival skill he hadn’t taught the young grandniece he had brought back from Virginia to live in his home.
«But I’m learning,» Sha
Sha
«The wood!» Sha
Sha
I’m scared, Prettyface. I’m really scared.
But those were words Sha
«Sufficient unto the day are the troubles thereof,» Sha
With quick, light steps, Sha
«I should have told Whip to leave the supplies that I paid for,» Sha
The memory of the Culpeppers made Sha
But the memory of a big man riding toward her out of the storm made her breath unravel with an excitement she had never known.
«Come on, Prettyface. It’s time to see Cherokee. She’ll talk some sense into me.»
Prettyface bounded out the door ahead of Sha
The dog lifted his muzzle into the cold, clear wind and sampled the air with all of his senses. Then he bounded forward, telling Sha
Even so, Sha