Behind His Blue Eyes by Kaki Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

all.”
    â€œYou—you—!” This time, it was she who stalked away, unspoken words clogging her throat. The man was insufferable. As high-handed as his employers.
    Whirling, she charged back. “If I were to allow the rail line to pass through my front yard, Mr. Hardesty, how would I keep my father safe, when he wanders off at every opportunity?”
    â€œInstall locks?”
    â€œGet out!” Crossing to the door, she flung it open, startling Mr. Redstone, who sat at the top of the porch steps. “Leave now, Mr. Hardesty!”
    â€œSeventy-five, then.” He sauntered toward her, apparently unmoved by her efforts to evict him. “But that’s as high as I can go.”
    She wavered. Seventy-five dollars was a great deal of money. Enough to keep them for quite a while. If they lived
here
. But if she had to pay to live elsewhere it wouldn’t be enough. If she could get him to offer more . . .
    An idea burst into her mind. Devious. Unworthy. But workable.
    â€œWhat’s your answer?” he asked, standing over her in a pathetic attempt at intimidation.
    She pasted on a smile and pretended sympathy. “Mr. Hardesty, I appreciate the fix you’re in. Truly, I do. All that equipment and all those workers sitting idle. It must be costing the railroad a fortune. But I’m in a bit of a fix, as well.” She paused to brush a smear of dirt off her skirt. “Even if I wanted to, it’s not my right-of-way to give, is it? The property belongs to my father, and I’m afraid he’s unable to sign his name to anything.”
    â€œOne hundred.”
    â€œIn fact, sometimes I wonder if he even
knows
his name.”
    â€œOne twenty-five. And you can sign for him.”
    â€œForge my father’s signature? Wouldn’t that be illegal?”
    â€œAll right! One fifty! And I swear—”
    â€œFine. I’ll talk to my father, but that’s all I can promise.” She motioned toward the door. “Now leave. I have work to do.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œGood day, Mr. Hardesty.”
    * * *
    As the door slammed behind him, Thomas Redstone laughed.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?” Ethan growled, stomping down the porch steps.
    â€œYou.” Still chuckling, the Cheyenne fell in beside him. “If this is what you whites call a negotiation, I think you lost.”
    â€œCantankerous, hardheaded, shortsighted woman! Someone should beat some sense into her.”
    Redstone’s demeanor changed from white man to warrior in an instant. Grabbing Ethan’s arm, he yanked him around. “You will not harm her.”
    Ethan looked at him in surprise, then jerked his arm free. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
    â€œYou just said—”
    â€œHell, I didn’t mean it! Not literally.”
    He continued on to where he’d left Renny tied near Miss Audra’s buggy and Redstone’s spotted horse, intent on escaping before he said something foolish or acted on the emotions churning inside. “She’s just . . . just so . . .”
    A sudden image bounced through his head—Miss Audra glaring up at him, eyes flashing fire, her sweet lips curled in challenge and those lovely breasts rising and falling with every agitated breath.
    Words failed him. Anger dissolved into grudging admiration.
    Magnificent
. That’s what she was. Passion and strength and beauty. Everything he had denied himself since Salty Point.
    Denied . . . but couldn’t stop wanting.
    Laughing, he swung up on Renny. He felt invigorated and more alive than he had in three years. “Ever heard of a firecracker, Thomas?” he asked the Indian, who was staring at him like he’d lost his mind. “It’s a tiny, short-fused explosive. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but noisy enough to start a stampede. That’s what she is. A firecracker.”
    He