Montana Wildfire by Rebecca Sinclair Read Free Book Online Page A

he rolled his weight back on his heels and pretended to contemplate her offer. With a nasty grin, he stated an outrageous sum.
    "Good heavens, you can't be serious," she gasped.
    His expression said he was; dead serious. "I rarely joke, princess... and when I do, it's never about money."
    Amanda scowled, and did a quick mental calculation. How much money would be left for her if she agreed? Not much. Jake Chandler's asking price was a full three-quarters of the salary she would get upon delivering Roger to his father—with the boy's scalp, and the rest of him, intact.
    On the other hand, she'd get nothing if Roger wasn't found.
    Her mind reeled. Facts were facts, and unfortunately the facts of this matter were indisputable. She couldn't find Roger on her own. She was hurt, and her sense of direction wasn't just poor, it was nonexistent. Her supplies were running low, and she had no idea where the next town was so that she could buy more. When it came right down to it, she didn't just need this despicable man's help; her very survival depended upon it.
    "All right," she agreed finally, "I'll meet your price. Provided you do the work you are hired for. You find Roger, Mr. Chandler, or you won't get a cent."
    Surprise registered in his silver eyes, a split second before one inky brow cocked high. "Do I look like a welsher to you, lady? When I say I'm going to do a job, I do it." He laced his arms over his chest and speared her with a dubious glare. "And before I decide to take on this job, I want some answers."
    Amanda leaned heavily against the tree trunk. She blinked slowly to cover the inner workings of her mind, screening emotions she knew this man would detect in an instant. "What kind of answers?"
    He counted each one off on the tip of a coppery finger. "I want to know what the hell you're doing out here, for starters. Then you can tell me who the brat is, and where the two of you are heading, and why."
    Instinct told her that lying to this man would not be wise. If he ever found out...
    But what choice did she have? She couldn't tell him the truth and risk it getting back to her employer. Also, Jake had established in her mind, if not blatant greed, then a definite need for money. Look at the outrageous amount he was demanding for his services! Since Amanda was in a similar situation—in need of fast money—she could understand that. However, being in the same position also made her aware of how little Jake could be trusted. If she was desperate enough to lie to him, who was to say he wasn't desperate enough to lie right back at her?
    There was one other consideration: telling Jake who the brat was. Amanda couldn't do that. If she told him Roger was Edward Bannister's son, what would prevent Jake from recovering Roger, then holding the boy for ransom? God, she'd never get any of her hard-earned salary that way!
    Amanda made the conscious decision to lie. She also decided she'd best make her lies believable, and she'd best tell them right the first time. She doubted Jake would give her two chances to answer his questions. He'd already made it clear he'd just as soon turn his back and walk away from all this. And she couldn't, under any circumstances, let that happen.
    "Too many questions too fast, princess?" Jake drawled, the cocky grin still in place. He could see her mind working and knew she was about to concoct some hairbrained story. For the sheer pleasure of watching her squirm, he decided to let her do exactly that. It wouldn't matter; whatever she said, he wouldn't help her. But at least his curiosity would be satisfied. "Tell you what. I'll make it easy for you. How about if I ask them one at a time? Will that help?"
    "Why, yes, I think it would," Amanda answered sweetly, through only slightly clenched teeth.
    "Who's the brat?"
    "Roger Lennox, my cousin."
    Jake nodded. "Where are you going and why?"
    "To Pony, Montana. Roger's father lives there, and we're paying him a visit." Ah, now that was the truth. It