Salvation's Secrets (The Loflin Legacy Prequel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Tyron’s mother after all. She refused
to set foot in Laura’s house, saying Laura’s spirit still lived
there. Running Deer hadn’t crossed the threshold since Earl brought
her to Shooter Creek after she gave birth to Tyron.
    Dreaming of a long soak in the hip tub, Seth
eased into his room and rang the bell for the boys to bring water.
He’d no more than kicked out of his pants when Charles strode in
like he owned the place.
    “Where the hell have you been?” Standing
inside the door, he jammed his fists in his front pockets and
waited. When Seth didn’t answer, Charles strode over, yanking him
around to face his scowl. “Do you know what you’ve done?”
    “No, what have I done, old man?” Seth’s
snide use of the name Charles saved for him didn’t set well with
the elder man. “I didn’t know you could be so stupid. You certainly
aren’t thinking with the right head.”
    Seth cut a cool sneer at his antagonist.
“Like you do.”
    “I’ve got better sense than to sleep with
the enemy’s daughter.”
    “She’s not the enemy’s daughter. Lone Eagle
isn’t the enemy. He comes to hunt – in peace, remember?”
    “Yeah, when did you start believing
everything an Injun said?”
    Yanking up the collar of the taller cowboy,
Seth got up in his face. “Be careful, old man. You’re poking at
things that don’t need your attention.” Releasing him, Seth gave
him a shove and turned his back on Charles.
    “I’m not talking about Ty or his maw. I’m
talking about you sniffing around a chief’s daughter and starting
an Injun war, that’s what I’m talking about.”
    “There won’t be a war. Not if I can help it.
Let it go, damn it.” He waved his long arm at Charles in dismissal
before striding to the tub. The water boys had slipped in and out
as if nothing of consequence was transpiring in Seth’s room. He
turned, giving Charles a cold stare. “I don’t go reminding you of
what a fool you are, do I?”
    “Fuck you, Seth. You don’t give a rat’s ass
about anybody but yourself. Never have and never will. This could
cause big problems. You just don’t care, do you?”
    “Take it back!” He strode back, giving the
dark haired man another shove. Take it back or else.”
    “Or else, what?” The grit in Charles tone
bode ill. “You gonna do something about my opinion, huh? Is that
what you’re saying, old man?”
    Lights flashed in front of Seth’s eyes. His
vision filled with a red haze as he swung out. The blow caught
Charles under the jaw, sending him backward and into the wall. The
thud was loud. Feet racing away from the door sounded down the hall
in echoes.
    Rebounding, Charles blocked Seth’s next blow
and delivered one of his own to Seth’s midsection.
    Bent double, Seth wheezed. With enough air
to be dangerous, he didn’t straighten, but rather charged forward,
tackling Charles around the waist and sending both of them
sprawling on the floor. With the advantage now, he drew back intent
on drawing blood.
    The door to his room opened with a flurry of
jolts and bangs against the wall.
    “What the hell’s going on here?” Earl Loflin
stood in the doorway, feet braced, ready to quell the fire brewing
between the two. “I said stop it!” With large beefy hands on both
boys, he pulled, sending Seth stumbling backward against the tub.
Glowering at Charles sprawled in the floor with blood running from
a cut lip, Earl snarled. “You two don’t have anything better to do
than fight? Huh? Well, I got an answer for that.” He pinned Seth
with a chilly stare. “You got muck duty tomorrow until all the barn
stalls are clean. Then you can start on mending the hog pen. When
you’re through with that, there’s brush to burn.” Turning to
Charles, his mouth set in a thin line. “I don’t want to hear
another peep out of either one of you, is that clear?” Wagging a
finger in Seth’s face, he firmed his jaw. “You can’t seem to
understand, can you? You’re a grown fucking man