Lookout Hill (9781101606735) by Ralph W. Cotton Read Free Book Online

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, señor!” Herjico shouted, pulling away from his granddaughter. “I brought you here to save your life. Do not repay me by murdering this woman.” As he spoke he grabbed up a handful of dried field beans that lay soaking in a wooden bowl of water on the table. In his desperation, he flung the handful at Siebert, pelting him with them.
    Erlina shrieked and squeezed the goat tightly against her chest. The beans struck Siebert’s back and fell harmlessly to the floor around his bare feet. But Siebert’s hand eased on his gun butt as a bean fell from his tangled hair and hit the floor. He turned from Priscilla to Herjico with a strange, bemused look.
    “Did you just
bean
me, old man?” he said as if in disbelief.
    Herjico clenched his jaw and jutted his chest, taking a stand. Water dripped from his fingertips.
    “
Sí
, I
beaned
you, and I accept my fate for doing it,” the old man said courageously.
    “People—” Siebert shook his head. Another bean fell from his tangled hair. “It’s hard to decide which one of you idiots to kill first.” He swung the gun back toward Little Felipe and shrugged. “Back to breakfast, I guess.”
    Erlina screamed loud and long and squeezed the goat tighter.
    Again Siebert took close aim at the goat, this time with no more regard for the young girl holding it. But before he pulled the trigger, the muffled sound of a horse nickering caused him to stop cold and listen intently in the direction of the barn.
    “Where’s that horse?” he said.
    The old man and Priscilla looked at each other.
    “I will not tell you,” Priscilla said firmly.
    “Nor will I,” Herjico said.
    “Suit yourselves, then,” said Siebert. “Since this witch
can’t die
and you ain’t worth killing, this young lady will have to do.” He looked at Erlina and gestured his gun hand toward the cave behind them. “Come on with me, little darling. We’re going to go play a game every girl your age needs to learn.” He grinned menacingly. “You can even bring your
pet
goat.” He looked at the old man and said, “When I’m finished, you won’t be able to tell which is which.”
    “
Dios santo
, no, señor!” the old Mexican shouted,grabbing the girl and goat and holding them both tightly. “She is no more than a child!”
    “Yeah, I know….” Siebert grinned lewdly as he eyed Erlina up and down.
    “Wait. I will tell you—”
    “
Silencio
, Hejico!” Priscilla shouted. She started to spring toward the old Mexican, but a sharp blow from Siebert’s gun barrel sent her sprawling on the floor. A trickle of blood ran from a nasty welt along her jawline.
    The old Mexican gasped. Priscilla, struggling against unconsciousness, grasped at Siebert’s leg. He kicked her soundly in her stomach with his bare foot. She fell into silence.
    “Now, as you were saying, old man,” he said, turning back to Herjico.

Chapter 5

    In the hillside barn, Siebert stood with a hand on the small of Erlina’s slender back while the old Mexican walked out through a rear door into another cavern. As soon as Herjico left, Siebert rubbed his hand up and down Erlina’s back slowly, noting the firm rises of flesh pressing behind the front of her peasant’s dress. The rings of her breasts showed through the gauzy fabric like dark budding roses. Siebert leaned close and breathed in the scent of the girl’s long black hair.
    “How old are you, honey?” he whispered, his eyes closed.
    “I—I am ten years old,” Erlina said, petrified, clinging to the little goat.
    “Ten years old,” Siebert whispered, knowing the girl was lying to save herself from him. “What a coincidence, so am I.” He grinned and opened his eyes. His gripped her in case she tried to pull away.
    The girl shivered in fear and revulsion. She almost looked around for Sens Priscilla for protection, eventhough Priscilla lay unconscious on the plank floor back at the house where they had left her.
    “There’s nobody here but you and me,