Hannibal Rising by Jon Sharpe Read Free Book Online Page B

Charles had picked a friend from his club. Charlotte chose a female cousin about her age. Emmett had a friend from town. Tom’s partner was a sullen, hulking backwoodsman. Roland was the only one who intended to hunt alone.
    Hooves drummed again, and Samantha took Charles’s place at Fargo’s side. “What were the two of you talking about just now?”
    “How much your brother loves the outdoors.”
    Samantha was wearing a blue riding habit with buttons up the front and a full skirt. The jacket had white at the collar and white at the ends of the sleeves. She had put her hair up in back, and her top hat was tipped forward. She also wore doeskin gloves and had a riding crop in her left hand. “Charles has disliked nature ever since he was seven and he was bitten by a garter snake.”
    “That outfit fits you real nice.”
    “Don’t start. I rebuffed your advances yesterday and I will rebuff them today.” Samantha smiled thinly. “I’m well aware of your reputation, Mr. Fargo. It’s claimed that you have bedded more women than Casanova.”
    “Who?”
    “A great lover. It is alleged that he made love to over a thousand in his lifetime.”
    “That’s all?”
    For the first time since Fargo met her, Samantha Clyborn laughed. “Humility is not one of your traits, I see. But I must admit there are moments when you amuse me.”
    Fargo leaned toward her and raked her body with a hungry stare that left no doubt as to his meaning when he said, “I can do a lot more than that.”
    “Honestly.” Samantha shook her head. “You never give up, do you? What will it take to get it through your head that I’m not the least bit interested?”
    “I know better.”
    “Don’t flatter yourself. If I have refused myself male companionship all these years, why would I possibly indulge in a dalliance with you, of all people?”
    “Because there are no strings attached,” Fargo answered truthfully. “We do it and that’s it. You’ll never see me again after this weekend is over and I’ll never tell a soul you indulged.”
    “That’s hardly sufficient cause. Can’t you think of anything better?” she mockingly asked.
    “I can think of one thing.”
    “What would that be?”
    “The feeling you get when you gush.”
    Samantha jerked her head back as if he had slapped her. “I daresay you are the most brazen man I’ve ever met. You have no respect for a lady.”
    “I have plenty of respect,” Fargo disagreed. “I also know something about ladies that most men don’t.”
    “Oh? And what would that be?”
    “A lady will part her legs just like any other woman if she is interested enough.”
    “I should slap you.”
    “I’d slap you back.”
    Samantha’s eyes blazed with anger. “You’re the most aggravating man I’ve ever met and that includes my father.” Reining sharply around, she jabbed her heels.
    Fargo chuckled. He had planted the seed. Now all he could do was wait and see if it took root. On a whim he jabbed his own heels and rode to the head of the line. “Mind some company?”
    Roland was in the lead. He wore the same tweed hunting garb as the day before, and in addition to the stag-hilted hunting knife he had a Smith and Wesson revolver on his other hip. “Not at all. Out of all of them, you’re the only one I have anything in common with.”
    “I wanted to ask. Why didn’t you pick a partner like the rest?”
    “No need,” Roland said. “I’ve hunted every square foot of this forest. An exaggeration, perhaps, but not by much. Whatever we’re to hunt down, I’m confident I’ll win the inheritance.”
    “No one knows what it is?”
    Roland shook his head. “It’s a condition of the will. Pickleman is to read the clause that explains everything this evening after supper. All we know is that my father called it a hunt.”
    Fargo was surprised by what he said next.
    “I’d never admit this to my brothers or sisters, but the reason I’ve spent so much time in the woods was to get away