The Tracker Read Online Free PDF Page A

for several weeks,” he said.
    She stiffened. “I don’t see why.”
    He climbed down off his horse, but he didn’t approach her. A skittish woman with a loaded gun was nothing to be trifled with. He pulled off his hat so she could see his face clearly. “We met at the Silver Slipper two months ago.”
    She lifted her chin a fraction. The color drained from her cheeks. “I don’t know you.”
    “Yes, you do.”
    He could almost hear her mind working. She was wondering if she could make it to that barn behind him and reach one of the horses. She rightly figured she couldn’t. “What do you want?”
    “I want Frank Palmer.”
    A panicked look settled in her eyes. “I don’t know any Frank Palmer.”
    “I spoke with Adeline.” He dropped the horse’s reins and took one step toward her. “Adeline said that you were the last person to see Jade alive. She also said Frank knows that, too.”
    “There were a lot of people in and out of her room toward the end.” Her voice was tight and tense.
    She was a bad liar. “I’ve come to find out what Jade told you about the stolen gold.”
    Her brow knotted. She seemed genuinely confused by his comment. “Jade never said a word to me about gold.”
    She was afraid, but he was willing to be patient. If they stood here long enough, he knew she’d slip up or he could rush her and snatch the gun from her hands. “I know you delivered her baby. It’s understandable that two women who shared what you two did would have a bond.”
    “I don’t know—” A cry drifted out of the cabin. Ellie glanced over her shoulder and then met his gaze again.
    “I see you kept the child,” he said. Admiration washed over him. It couldn’t have been easy to travel the rough country between here and Butte with a baby.
    She was silent and he thought she’d not answer him until she finally said, “Jade gave me the baby to raise, but she never said anything about gold.”
    He sighed. “That’s not the kind of secret Jade would take to her grave.”
    “She didn’t plan on dying so quick.”
    “Ellie, you better think real hard about that gold. Unless I take it off your hands, Frank will. And I can guarantee that he won’t be as polite as me. Be grateful that I found you before Frank did.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know Frank?”
    “He and I have business.”
    Her gaze flicked over him. He knew he looked rough. “I want no part of whatever business you and Frank are about. I want to be left in peace.”
    “Like it or not, you are part of it. So is that baby.”
    “She’s my baby.”
    “Jade birthed her.”
    Her face tightened. “Leave me alone.”
    He took several steps toward her. His spurs jingled with each step. “I won’t hurt you or the baby, Ellie. But I need that gold. Give it to me before Frank comes looking for it.”
    She took a step back. With trembling hands she raised the double-barreled shotgun. “Don’t come a step closer, mister.”
    If he sprang forward, he would have a good chance of getting the gun. “I’m not leaving here without the gold, Ellie.”
    She lifted her gun a fraction higher. “One more step and I’ll shoot.”
    He hesitated. “You don’t have it in you.”
    “Try me.”
    Her tone, more than her words, had his eyes narrowing. “That gun’s old,” he said.
    “And very well oiled.”
    “You’ve got grit, girl. But I’ve been riding hard for weeks now and I’m in no mood for games.”
    She swallowed.
    “If you shoot me, there’ll be no one here to protect you from Frank.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “For all I know, you are working with Frank. And I’m not here alone. I’ve got friends.”
    He lifted an eyebrow. “Where are they?”
    “Close.”
    He laughed, but the sound held no joy. His gaze still on her, he held up his hands as if in surrender. “I don’t want trouble.”
    Ellie’s gaze dropped to the six-shooter at his side. She gripped the barrel so tight her knuckles turned white. “I don’t want to kill