Recon Marines II: Marine's Heiress, The Read Online Free PDF

for their crimes in
dark, lonely prisons?
    Again the men exchanged a glance. Moe
answered. “You’re rather innocent of the world, aren’t
you?”
    “ I’ve never been around
rich people,” Vin muttered, lifting his cup to hide his discomfort.
He was sure he’d said all the right things.
    “ You’ve proven yourself
handy with emergency care, what other skills do you have? I have to
tell you, lad, I wanted to send you on your way. But I’m thinking
of giving you a chance,” Vannie said.
    Vin wondered how anything he’d said had
changed Vannie’s mind. At least he’d prepared clever answers for
this question. “I’ve done hunting before and guarding for other
settlements.”
    “ We could use another
hunter,” Vannie said. “With Russ out and Larry gone, we’re down two
panners. We’ll be short on coin for supplies until we replace them.
Especially if we’re afraid to go back in the water. Don’t suppose
you have any experience panning for precious metals?”
    “ No. But I’ll help clear
the water of traps.”
    “ How?”
    Vin thought of all the things he had
back in his camp and even more on his ship. It would raise too many
questions if they knew he had the latest weapons technology
available. “I have some ideas, but I’ll need to see what you have
available.”
    Vannie held out his hand again.
“Welcome to Merris Five. When can you start?”

Chapter Three
    Emma rubbed her back after sliding the
last clay pan into the oven. None of the café’s customers had
complained over the last three days when Moe had no fresh bread to
serve. They’d known she needed to remain at Russ’ side. Now that
his fever had broken, Jenny could care for him. He woke often
enough to take some broth and water.
    “ Sit down and rest, Emma,”
Moe said. “You’ve been on your feet since dawn and I’m guessing
you’ve not slept much the last few days.”
    “ You know I enjoy baking.
It eases my worries.”
    “ I’m not one to turn you
away from my kitchen.” Moe grinned. “I’ve been hard pressed to keep
them fed these last three days when the men weren’t
working.”
    Emma’s chest felt tight. “So they’re
back in the water today?”
    “ Don’t start your worrying
up again, lassie. Vin checked a section of the stream for traps and
is going to check a different section each day. The boys are
safe.”
    Her heart did a funny little hop at the
mention of his name. “How does one check for traps? Wade in?” The
image of Vin’s graceful stride and his lean muscular legs overlaid
the nightmare memory of Russ’ torn limbs.
    Moe chuckled. “I’m not sure, but he
acted confident. Said he had some equipment to help.”
    Emma turned to the counter where she
had bowls of vegetables washed and ready for chopping. Moe busied
himself dicing a thick slab of jungle antelope steak. They would
simmer it all day long with the vegetables to form a thick stew to
serve with the bread. Not a fancy meal, but hardy and filling. They
worked side by side in companionable silence as they did most days.
But keeping her hands busy didn’t keep Emma’s thoughts from to
turning to Vin and the dangerous job he undertook. “Why did Vin
take on such a task?”
    Moe shrugged, but his knife didn’t
pause in its work. “He came here looking for work, said he had
experience as a guard and hunter. He brought me this antelope late
yesterday, given in exchange for taking his meals here.”
    “ But why?”
    “ Does it matter? The lad
wants to work, and we have a use for his skills.”
    “ It’s not like you to be
so accepting of a stranger, Moe.” Emma had seen the ghosts behind
Vin’s cool stare. Traumatized military veterans still occupied a
place in her heart though it had been two years since she’d worked
with any. She longed to help Vin deal with whatever horrid events
lay in his past, but even her trusting soul found suspicion in his
willingness to help Hovel Port.
    Moe paused this time. “Normally I would
have doubts,