Heart of the Hunter by Madeline Baker Read Free Book Online

wondering if she knew about the treasure rumored to be
hidden in the mountains, wondering if that was why she was so determined to
stay.
    Stalling for time, he lifted the cup to his lips. He wasn’t
the only one searching for the treasure. He’d seen tracks near the foot of the
mountain, tracks that weren’t his. Tracks that definitely weren’t Kelly’s.
Somehow, he’d have to warn her she might be in danger without telling her why.
    Kelly leaned forward, her elbows propped on the table, her
chin resting on her folded hands. “Well?”
    “It’s dangerous out here after dark, Miss McBride. There are
still wild animals prowling around and not all of them are four footed.”
    Kelly grimaced. Wild animals, indeed, she thought. And then
she shivered. Not all of them are four footed, he’d said. Did he know something
he wasn’t telling her?
    Lee stood abruptly. “I’d better get to work,” he said, and
then paused, his hand on the door, one brow arched in question. “If I’m still
working here, that is.”
    “You are.”
    His lips flattened into a thin line. And then, as if he’d
made a difficult decision, he took a deep breath and blew it out in a long
sigh.
    “Then you might as well know the rest.”
    “The rest?” Kelly looked up at him, her fingernails digging
into her palms as she waited for him to go on. His expression was bleak, his
eyes as hard and black as obsidian. A muscle worked in his jaw.
    “When I was seventeen, I was accused of raping a white girl.
I did some time for that, too.”
    He stared down at her, waiting for her reaction.
    Kelly’s gaze was steady as it met his. “Were you guilty?”
    “Only of being young and stupid.”
    She hesitated only a moment before she said, “I believe
you.”
    Lee studied her for a long moment, wondering if she really
believed him. And then he cursed himself for being such a cynical fool. Her
face was as open and easy to read as print on a page. If she thought he was
lying, it would be revealed in the depths of those amazing blue eyes.
    “We’re having hamburgers for lunch,” Kelly said with a
smile. “Don’t be late.”
    With a nod in her direction, he left the house.
    Kelly stared after Lee, her mind reeling with unanswered
questions. Why had he really come here? What did he know that he wasn’t telling
her? Was she in danger? Why did he look so much like Blue Crow?
    She grunted softly. The answer to that was obvious. They had
to be related. If that was so, perhaps it answered her other questions, as
well. He’d come to work here because he knew about the gold. And if he knew,
perhaps there were others who also knew, or suspected.
    If that was true, she would be wise not to trade any more of
the nuggets for cash. Cedar Flats was a small town and so was Coleville.
Anything out of the ordinary was likely to draw attention and be remembered.
    Pushing away from the table, she gathered up the dirty
dishes and filled the sink with hot water. The kitchen was on the west side of
the house. There was a large window over the sink, affording her a view of the
barn and the corrals.
    Looking out, she saw Lee carrying a ladder and a can of
paint out of the barn. He’d removed his shirt and his skin glistened like fine
bronze in the early morning sunlight. His muscles rippled as he placed the
ladder against the side of the barn.
    The dishes forgotten, she watched as he opened a can of red
paint and then, with lithe assurance, made his way to the top of the ladder.
    Using a brush pulled from the waistband of his pants, he
began to paint the eaves.
    She might have stood watching him all day, her hands
immersed in a sink of water that was rapidly turning cold, if Harry Renford
hadn’t called.
    After exchanging the usual pleasantries, he informed her
that the deed was still missing and that he had sent to the county seat for a
copy.
    Kelly thanked him for calling, assured him that Lee Roan
Horse wasn’t causing any trouble at all and hung up.
    Resisting the urge