Krewe of Hunters 2 Heart of Evil by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

and in their maneuvering they escaped the body of men they had been determined to fight. One of the attackers was killed at the stables; the others made it around to the cemetery, attempting to use the old vaults as shields. But Marshall Donegal had come around the other side, and while his men were held up, he met up with the attackers at the cemetery.
    The fighting originally ended inside the cemetery, but now they ended it just outside, the only difference from that day to this. First, the crowd wouldn’t be able to see any of the action if it occurred there, and, with that many people tramping through, historic funerary art could be destroyed. And so, Charles Osgood, as Marshall, brought down several of theenemy and perished, brutally stabbed to death by bayonets, in front of the gates. The two surviving federal men—Justin Binder and Ramsay—raced toward the stables, whistling for their mounts. They leapt atop their horses and tore for the river road.
    Frazier announced, “And thus did the fighting at Donegal Plantation come to an end.”
    They said the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the band played “Dixie” and then “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” After the burst of applause that followed the last song, people began to surround the actors—who had remained in the battle positions where they had fallen—as they came to their feet, and they all seemed to disappear into the crowd as they were congratulated, questioned and requested for picture-taking opportunities. Then, at last, the crowd began to melt away, and the sutler began to close down his shop.
    Darkness was falling in earnest.
    It had been a tremendous success; standing on the porch and watching the crowd ebb, Ashley told herself that she’d been an idiot, letting a dream get to her.
    But, as she looked out, it seemed that the plantation was covered in a mist again.
    It was the remnants of the black powder from the guns, she told herself.
    The mist bore a reddish color. Bloodred.
    The sun had set in the west; it was due to the dying of the day.
    Whatever the explanation, the entire scene was eerie.
    A breeze lifted, and she had the odd feeling that somehow everything had gone askew and changed, and she had somehow entered into a world of mist and shadow herself.
    â€œWell, old girl,” Frazier said quietly, smiling as he set a hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “Another wonderful day. Thank you for all your hard work on this.”
    Ashley smiled. Her grandfather was happy. She adored Frazier, and she was always glad when he was happy. She worried about him constantly—driving him crazy, she knew. He had always been somewhat bony—though dignified! But now he seemed thinner, his cheeks hollow. He was old; but a man’s life span could be long, and she wanted him with her for many more years. Now he was smiling, basking in the pleasant glow of the day’s success.
    â€œCome on. Let’s head into the parlor,” Frazier said. “I think we should probably be there to toast our actors and friends, eh?”
    The family and some friends—including the soldiers for the day—traditionally retired to the riverside parlor for drinks and unwinding.
    â€œYou go on,” Ashley said. “I’ll be right there, I promise. I just want to see that everyone is really moving on.”
    Her grandfather gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m sure Beth has already put out all manner of delicious little snacks, despite the fact we told her that chipswould do. I’ll go supervise my liquor cabinet,” he said, wiggling his white brows.
    She grinned. “You’d better do that. Ramsay will say that he deserves your hundred-year-old Scotch for being so generous!”
    Frazier pantomimed real fear and then walked on into the house. Ashley was exhausted and ready for a fine glass of hundred-year-old Scotch herself.
    But she left the porch to walk around to the front for