Project Enterprise by Pauline Baird Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

man of science, I would, of course, be able to unravel the mystery, if I didn’t have responsibilities to those unfortunate sick who need the healing that I bring to this blighted region.”
    Translation: he was tired, the night was cold, and the fire helped a mite to ease the ache in his bones from the wagon’s jolting.
    Pa moved further from the circle of light cast by their fire, as if the ghost lights drew him. Before she could stop it, Ani sent a huffed look the stranger’s way. If they started chasing the ghost lights, they’d most likely come in at the little end of the horn this winter. Though, she half glanced at the lights, they did kind of seem to beckon. Almost teasing-like.
    â€œI think I might just take a ride that way,” the stranger said, though it sounded like he was talking to himself again.
    She felt a pain in her chest at the thought of him leaving. And a good thing, she reminded herself, rubbing the pain spot.
    His gaze slanted her way, catching her at it. “Want to ride along?”
    Shock, longing, and a desire to hide widened her eyes and muted her voice again.
    â€œBoy would like that.” Pa’s words didn’t help her speaking problem any. “You wouldn’t mind a little adventure on this fine night, would you? See the elephant, so to speak?”
    He wanted her to go with the stranger? Then she figured it out. Didn’t want the stranger finding out anything Pa couldn’t. If they discovered something, he could take credit later. She half sighed as that odd feeling welled up in her chest again. She had seen the elephant more than she liked with Pa, but—and this was the odd part—seeing it seemed a mite appealing with the stranger at her side. Or maybe she was just weary with being safe. Be better if the elephant turned out to be a griffin though.

    â€œ Y ou can take Delphine ,” Everly said.
    He meant the horse—the man formerly known as Tobias Smith presumed—since he’d already agreed to let his daughter ride off into the night with a stranger.
    â€œJoe” hadn’t meant to ask the question, then told himself it was a test, since the words were out there and couldn’t be taken back—cause he was ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure the boy was a girl. One thing he’d got right was Everly’s total lack of common sense, which was why he shouldn’t have asked the question. Clear as day Everly didn’t want to go racketing around in the dark, but didn’t mind if the girl rode along, just in case there was something to find.
    â€œJoe” wanted to shake his head or shake them both—not feel a spurt of pleasure at the thought of spending time with the girl. He hadn’t been thinking right since he’d spotted the medicine show wagon leaving Alpine and heading in the direction of Paisano Pass. He’d figured he’d pause just long enough for courtesy and then ride on by. He was a mite sensitive about grifters after getting caught in the net of one of the worst in several galaxies. And then Everly’s “son” lifted her chin and he caught sight of those big, blue eyes. His polite refusal turned into a yes that dismayed her almost as much as it did him.
    Do no harm was the creed he lived by in this place, in this time—nothing in the creed about rescuing a damsel in distress, in particular a damsel who didn’t seem to know she was in distress.
    The girl was the opposite of Olivia, which was a relief. A greyhound lean, strawberry blonde who was not that good at being a boy and who had, at first, looked to be a bit on the cowed side. And then she set her chin his way and he knew that all the life hadn’t been stamped out of her. That the traces of red in her hair weren’t for show. The hint of defiance might have reminded him of Olivia—and sent him on his way—but where Olivia’s eyes had dismissed him with more than a hint of scorn, this