Reckless Destiny Read Online Free PDF

captain,” he said breathlessly.
    Kane smiled. “Thanks, R. J. Hasn’t anyone told you it’s too hot to run around like that?”
    “No, sir,” the boy said. “Where ya been? I looked all over. Howdy, ma’am.” Without giving Cady a chance to reply, he looked back at Kane. “You promised to show me how to clean a revolver.”
    Cady watched the boy help Kane and didn’t miss the hero worship on his freckled face.
    “Sorry, R. J., I forgot. Something came up. Can we do it later?”
    “Sure thing, captain.”
    The two of them took her luggage through the last door of a long low adobe building. Each set of quarters was separated by a wall, creating small pockets of privacy for the families. She looked around the fort. In front of the boardwalk, a ditch that Kane called an acequia flowed with clear water from the Verde River to supply the post. On the other side of the acequia was a row of cottonwoods and then a large open space that Kane had told her was the parade ground.
    She turned and crossed a board spread over the water and stepped up onto a wooden sidewalk beneath a ramada. This awning of brush supported by cottonwood poles was a welcome relief from the noon sun. Hanging from one of the poles was a large pottery urn with a dipper poking from the top. She took a long drink of water and found it surprisingly cool.
    Before stepping inside, she looked around one more time. Fort McDowell consisted of a series of adobe buildings, offices, quarters, kitchens, a livery, and a post trader. Yet, surrounded by miles of flat barren desert, Cady knew a feeling of insignificance. She felt very small indeed and at the mercy of man and nature. In the distance, four mountain peaks loomed, the only landmark on the horizon. It brought her a measure of comfort that the mountains were there, something to break the monotony of the desert.
    Cady walked inside and waited several seconds for her eyes to adjust after the bright sunlight outside.
    Kane and R. J. were sweating and making terrible noises as they shoved her trunk to the foot of an iron cot that was covered only by a sheet.
    The boy straightened and looked curiously from her to Kane. “I sure hope this is your sister, captain.”
    “Sister?” Kane whirled. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
    He made it sound as if being related to her was on a par with being scalped, Cady thought. She had a good mind to throw her books at
him
instead of at marauding Indians.
    “If she’s not your sister, she must be the teacher my pa said was comin’.” The youngster’s bright blue eyes stared at her with the most hostile expression she’d ever seen.
    “She
is
the new teacher. I’m moving out and she’ll be staying here in my room.”
    “What in tarnation for?”
    “Because there’s nowhere else for her.” Kane smiled. “I can see I’d better make introductions. Miss Cady Tanner, I’d like you to meet R. J.—Reynolds John Wexler, Junior.”
    Cady nodded to him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Reynolds. I take it your father is the fort commander?”
    “Uh-huh.” A suspicious look stole over his freckled face. “Are you all the way from New York, ma’am?”
    “Indeed she is, R. J.” Kane grinned. “And don’t think she’ll be as easy to get rid of as Sergeant Cramer.”
    “No, sir.” But there was a look in R. J. Wexler’s eyes that sent a shiver down Cady’s spine.
    In spite of it, she smiled at the boy. “I think we’re going to be good friends, Reynolds. What do you think?”
    “Yes’m.” The boy stared daggers at her. “Shoulda known right off Kane didn’t marry you. He wouldn’t marry no teacher.”
    “Any teacher,” she corrected. “In case you’re concerned, let me assure you that I have no intention ofmarrying anyone. I also plan to be here for a very long time.”
    Cady didn’t think it was possible, but R. J.’s expression turned even more contrary. When she lifted her gaze to Kane, his look was not unlike the boy’s. Why would it