Candace McCarthy Read Online Free PDF

didn’t want to talk to Daniel Trahern; she didn’t even want to see him. Her father was making it difficult for her to escape both things.
    “Just get a price then, girl. I don’t need it tomorrow.”
    There was nothing she could do but agree to visit the blacksmith. Unless she could ask Miriam to run the errand while she herself ordered supplies from Jack.
    Amelia’s spirits brightened. Miriam wouldn’t mind taking care of that unpleasant matter for her.
    But, later, as she spoke with Miriam, it seemed that the young woman was too busy to accompany Amelia to thepost. The journey to the post wasn’t a particularly long one. Amelia could certainly make it alone.
    She scowled. Now the task of conferring with Daniel Trahern lay firmly within Amelia’s hands.

Three
    It was a beautiful, warm day without a cloud in the sky. With a young missionary’s help, Amelia readied the wagon for the journey to the trading post. Besides their own supplies, there were a few items Amelia needed to purchase for some of the missionaries, including Will Thornton, the young man who helped her hitch the horse to the wagon—a smaller conveyance than the one she and her father had brought to the mission.
    Amelia knew she’d have no trouble with the vehicle; she had driven the larger one on their way there. As for the journey to the post, there was a direct road from Keller’s to the mission. It was a short simple trip, during which Amelia knew she wouldn’t get lost.
    With a wave at Will, Amelia left the mission, taking the dirt road that meandered through the forest toward the trading post and Trahern’s Blacksmithy. She enjoyed the scenery as she drove. It was such a lovely time of year— not too hot, not cold. The trees were a lush shade of green. The sky was so blue and the sun so bright they nearly hurt her eyes. Amelia gave no thought to any dangers along the way. She didn’t worry about encountering Indians, soldiers, or worse. The day was too bright and cheerful; such dark thoughts were dismissed as soon as they occurred to her.
    When she pulled the wagon before the trading-postbuilding and climbed down from the seat, she noticed that someone had tied a couple of horses to the rail of the trading post’s front porch. Amelia secured her own horse, then entered the log structure.
    Once her eyes had adjusted to the dark, she saw Jack Keller, who waved to her as she came in. Smiling in return, she left Jack to finish with his customer while she wandered about the post. She picked out the items her father wanted, then chose the things that Miriam, Will, and the other missionaries requested. She smiled at Jack as she approached several times and placed the selected items on the counter. She felt a prickling along her spine, knew she was being watched, but refused to meet the other customer’s gaze.
    After a time, the stranger’s obvious stare made her angry, and she glanced his way. She controlled a grimace as she took note of his appearance then quickly averted her gaze. He was a dirty, grubby fellow with unkempt hair, a scruffy beard, a large nose, and small eyes. She experienced a shiver of revulsion as he shifted closer and she caught a whiff of some horrible smell.
    “Jack,” the man said, “ain’t you gonna introduce us?”
    Amelia shot Jack a wary look. Jack, catching it, understood immediately. “Not in your life, Kertell. This here is a lady, too good for the likes of you.”
    Amelia didn’t hear the man’s reply as she moved to put distance between the malodorous man and herself. Finally, she heard Jack bidding the man farewell, and she was able to approach the counter.
    “Thanks,” she said.
    Jack smiled. “My pleasure. Kertell did not seem like someone you wanted to know.”
    “You thought correctly.” She pretended to shudder. “Who is he?”
    “Name’s Thomas Kertell. He’s a fur trapper. Comes to the post regularly, about every three to four weeks.”
    “Are there others like him? People who come