The Hunter Read Online Free PDF Page B

victims to bother with. But Rathe liked trophies. In particular he had a penchant for keeping the severed heads of his most important victims and shrinking them down into macabre watch fobs he gilded and kept strung on a fancy gold watch chain. Winn rubbed his hands over his face and sat forward in his chair, pinning his penetrating blue gaze on Colt. “Tell me you’re not still searching after Pa’s damn part of the Book.”
    Colt just stared hard at his eldest brother. There was no use in repeating the words that had passed one too many times between him and Winn. His older brother couldn’t see any point in risking his life for the Legion. But Colt knew different. Pa had confided in him, and his old man’s journal was part of something bigger and more important—the Book of Legend—the guide that could help him and Hunters like him ultimately defeat the darkness creeping in upon the world.
    At least he hoped like hell it was. He’d believed it for so long now, he couldn’t be absolutely sure it wasn’t just his eager imagination, spoon-fed Hunter legend and lore from the time he could toddle, but hadn’t really known what it all meant until the day Winn had saved him.
    “Supernatural beings aren’t just goin’ to disappear because you and Remy stick your heads in the sand. They’re goin’ to keep coming, bigger and badder, and if the uptick in what I’ve seen lately is any indication, all Hell’s gonna break loose soon. ’Sides, I think I know where the Book is—for sure this time.”
    Winn groaned, rolling his eyes. “Dammit, Colt, you say that every time.”
    “Yeah, but this time is different.”
    Winn leaned his head back over the top edge of his chair, closing his eyes. “How?”
    “I want you to tell me the truth.”
    His brother cracked open an eye. “What the hell are you talking about, boy?”
    “I know you know where Pa’s portion of the Book of Legend is, and what I have to do to get it.”
    Winn was staring hard at him now, blue eyes blazing, lightning in a dark, stormy sky. “How’d you figure it out?”
    “I’ve followed every clue I had, and it all leads to you, big brother. I think Pa’s Book is hidden in the mountains around Bodie and you’ve been protecting it. It’s in the Dark Rim Mine, ain’t it?” Colt pressed.
    Winn stood up from his chair, making the wood creak with protest as it skidded back hard on the wooden floorboards. He scowled. “Even if it was, you’d need a demon to open it for you. Pa made sure nothing human could open it and nothing supernatural would want to. And don’t you even think about bringing a demon to my town.” Winn pointed an accusing finger in Colt’s direction.
    “So now that I’m hunting here, instead of somewhere else, it’s a problem?”
    Winn’s fingers on his opposite hand snaked down his side, fingering the holster of his pistol. “Hell yes. A big problem. I don’t need to be dealing with any demon possessions. It’s bad enough here with the drunk miners going after one another and shootin’ each other for the slightest offense.”
    “Then they’d probably be too soused to notice it anyhow. ’Sides, I’ll keep it right by my side, and if it steps a toe out of line, I’ll send it straight to Hell.” Of course, that’s where all supernaturals ought to be. There wasn’t one he’d met yet who’d convinced him that there was anything worthwhile or decent about them. They were monsters. The whole lot of them. And once he was done with the demon, he’d send it back to Hell just on principle alone.
    “Why don’t you come along?”
    Winn snorted, and sat back down. “Look. I’m not going on any fool errand for some dusty old pages the old man thought held the secrets of the universe. I’ve got the afternoon steam stage coming in at one. We’ve already had it held up four times in a month. The Black Gulch Mine’s entire payroll is on that stage.” He unconsciously rubbed his left thigh, which still bore the