Venom by David Thompson Read Free Book Online Page A

can’t blame all snakes over this one. Another might have crawled off.”
    “I want you and the baby safe. So I mean it. Every rattler from now on is dead.”
    Lou snuggled and kissed his neck. “That’s another thing I like about you. You don’t do things in half measure.”
    “We should show it to my pa.”
    “Which piece?”
    Zach started to laugh and caught himself. Lou started, and didn’t stop. She let herself go. It felt good to laugh and feel the tension seep from her and leave her restored and happy. “I’m all right now.”
    “I lost control again,” Zach said.
    “You had cause.”
    “I told myself I would never lose control again, and I did.”
    “The important thing is that the snake is dead. Now we can get on with the hunt.”
    Zach let go of her and stepped back. “ I’ll go on with the hunt. You’re going back to the cabin.”
    “We’ve been all through that. I’m not helpless. I’m taking part.”
    “No,” Zach said firmly. “You’re not.”
    Lou went to say that she was a grown woman and could do as she pleased, and looked into his eyes. “Oh,” she said. “I guess I’m not.”
    Zach stepped to the lake and dipped the tomahawk in the water, swishing it until the gore was off, and wiped the tomahawk dry on his pants. Tucking it under his belt, he retrieved his rifle and held out his hand to her. “I’m sorry, but we can’t risk the baby.”
    “No, we can’t,” Lou agreed.
    “I’m sorry I lost control, too.”
    “Enough about that.”
    “I worry that one day I’ll lose control and bring more trouble down on our heads, like I did with the army that time.”
    “Stop fretting. You were just being you. It’s not the most important thing, anyway.”
    “What is?”
    Lou turned to him. “Our love.”

Chapter Six
    “I think a rattlesnake just crawled up my leg,” Shakespeare McNair remarked.
    Nate was looking under a rock. “You’re not half as humorous as you think you are.” They had scoured most of the south shore and not come across a snake of any kind. He and McNair were near the grass, Winona and Blue Water Woman were over by the lake. They had been hunting for an hour now and would soon be at the east end.
    “You think I jest, Horatio?” Shakespeare gave his right leg a vigorous shake and then bent as if to check if anything had fallen out. “I reckon you’re right.”
    “Is this your way of saying my idea was a waste of time?”
    “Not at all. Just last night I looked out my window and saw six rattlesnakes roll themselves into hoops and have a contest to see which of them could roll the farthest.”
    “You are a strange man.”
    Shakespeare put a hand to his chest as might an actor in a play. “I am giddy,” he quoted. “Expectation whirls me around. The imaginary relish is so sweet that it enchants my sense.”
    “You have some?” Nate said.
    About to go on, Shakespeare cocked his head. “Eh? I have some what? Snakes?”
    “Sense.”
    “Oh my. A palpable hit. Yes, that is worthy of myillustrious wife, who delights in sinking her verbal claws into my innocent flesh.”
    “Anyone would,” Nate said.
    “Ouch. Twice pricked,” Shakespeare said indignantly. “I never realized how grumpy snake hunting makes some people.”
    Nate came to an old log and rolled it over. Nothing was under it. “I’m surprised we haven’t found any.”
    “It could be there aren’t any to be found. Or it could be they heard about your hunt and are lying up in fear somewhere.”
    “There must be a den,” Nate said.
    “Figured that out, did you?”
    “Have you ever seen one? As old as you are, I bet you have.”
    “As old as…” Shakespeare stopped and puffed out his cheeks. “Were I a mongoose, I would bite you. I have never seen a snake den, no. I did have a friend who did, during the beaver days. His name was Franklyn. He kept seeing garter snakes go down this hole. His curiosity got the better of him and he dug at the hole until he found out why the