Tallchief: The Hunter Read Online Free PDF Page A

people to keep silent.”
    Adam tossed the toy truck onto his nephew’s cot. He’d left New Pony as soon as he’d graduated, glad to be away from the pain the town had caused. And Jillian. He’d beenso young and certain that she would believe him—but she hadn’t.
    Liam was silent, then asked quietly, “Have you ever wondered why Sarah never said our parents were on their way to see the Tallchiefs, here in Amen Flats? It seems logical that our mother—her sister—might have told her since she was keeping you.”
    Adam had asked himself the same question many times through the years. Sarah had steadfastly ignored his questions about his parents’ destination. Parents usually left telephone numbers and information when they left children with a sitter; according to Sarah, she had expected a call that never came—only news of the parents’ and Liam’s deaths arrived, and soon after Sarah had taken a new job away from Iota.
    The absence of that telephone call from his parents had sliced away thirty-six years that could never be recovered. Sarah and he wouldn’t have had to struggle alone—the Tallchiefs would have helped….
    “I’ve thought about it. But Sarah didn’t know, and it seemed too painful to her every time I pressed. She loved our mother deeply. Apparently, it was a pop-up chance to visit long-lost relatives and they were going to call when they arrived. They never called. There wasn’t much of an inheritance from Aunt Sarah. She was ill for a long time and medical expenses were high. But our parents’ will provided for both of us and it’s been gathering interest all these years. With your share of the inheritance, you should be able to build a nice house on that ranch you just bought…By the way, Jillian thinks I’m a professional drifter, and maybe I am. With a laptop and modems and infrequent business meetings, I’ve managed to build Sam the Truck into a nice little company.”
    Adam ran his thumb over the new dent in Liam’s beloved pickup truck. “I’ve got to find a place to work. I’m developing a new line of accessories and need to take care of regular business decisions.”
    Liam grinned and finished, “J.T. has almost the entire line of plastic cups and plates and friends of Sam the Truck. If he knew you were Sam’s creator, he’d be a preschool star.”
    “I ordered him the complete highway set. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “J.T. has been wanting that.” Liam studied Adam. “I know how difficult it is to fit into a family, to get the rhythm and the warmth of it, to be comfortable. I was overwhelmed at first, but there is nothing like family, Adam. There’s an old cabin on the ranch we bought and you can find some quiet there to work, if you want. We’re just finishing the house plans now and will start building soon. You’re going to have a rancher for a brother.”
    Liam glanced at Adam’s mobile telephone and laptop batteries charging on a workbench. “You have what you need to work, I guess, and the old wood cookstove keeps it warm. You’re welcome to the cabin, or staying with us. I’ve got an idea that the Tallchief family—and it’s a big one—is giving us time to reacquaint, but they’ll be having a dinner at the old house soon for a gathering of the clan. Later, when you’re more comfortable with them, you’ll be expected in full plaid and kilt—my wife finds me quite adorable in them.”
    Adam grinned. “‘Adorable.’ You look just like me. A little younger, a little less worn, but the same.”
    Liam lightly punched Adam’s shoulder, an affectionate play he’d learned from the Tallchief brothers. “Aye, we’re a handsome pair we are. Swaggering, manly—”
    His grin widened when Adam gave him a sturdy shoulder shove, but not enough to hurt. He’d seen brothers jostling in fun, and a thread of sorrow ran through him—he and Liam had missed so much. “Lay off. I’ll take you up on that offer of the cabin. Where is it?”
    Liam’s gray