Vixen Hunted Read Online Free PDF Page B

foolish
sheep."
    She strolled around the
fountain. Timothy turned to see his escort's broad chest and crucifix.
    "Treblin is too
generous with his prey," Tahd said. "They are best when they are
against the wall and see only one route to escape. The man is a terrible
hunter." Tahd leveled his gaze onto Timothy. "Time for you to leave."
The man herded Timothy out of the manor.
    The iron gate banged
closed behind Timothy. The soldier guarding the manor's entrance watched him
with a puzzled brow. Timothy offered a wan smile and hurried away, Cat
staggering beside him. The lamb yawned.
    "Why did they let
her meet with us?" Timothy asked Cat. She bleated her own question.
"Yeah, Cat is an odd name, don't you think?"
    "Baa!" The
lamb protested.
    Timothy ran his fingers
through his hair. "Okay, Cat it is then. I guess it fits since you are such
a strange lamb anyway." He pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket.
"I can't just take the money and walk away at this point, can I?" He
sighed and unfolded the paper. Childish writing was scrawled across the milky
page.
    "'The fat man
plans the hunt tomorrow afternoon,'" Timothy read. "'I will need you
at the forest south of the town…Kit.'"
    Timothy frowned. He
turned the paper over. That was all it said. "Tomorrow?"
    "Baa."
    "Yeah, I don't
like this either." Timothy itched between his shoulder blades. He looked
up at the sky. "It isn't too late for me to walk away, right?"
    The green eyes flashed
in his mind. Timothy shook his head. "It was too late from the moment I
fell down that hill."
    "Baa!"

 
    Chapter 3
    "My plan is good.
Genius even." Kyle gulped a mouthful of ale.
    The tavern bustled with
excited conversation. People looked away when Timothy returned their bold
stares, but that did not stop them from tittering behind hands. He rubbed his
forehead. Stories about the gallant shepherd who stole the Lord's woman away
ran faster than sheep chasing a salt wagon. Timothy sipped a mug of warmed mint
tea, his stomach roiling. Kyle's plan was outlandish, but he had enough
experience getting in and out of trouble, after all. Knowing that did little to
quell Timothy's nerves.
    "You a genius,
Kyle?" a woman across the tavern said.
    "Oh, be quiet,
Erin. I have brains in me." Kyle tapped his head.
    "Yeah, sure."
Erin adjusted her hat. "So is your friend the one we are hearing
about?"
    The man next to Erin
stroked his ruffled white shirt. "He doesn't look like much to me, Erin. I
heard they found him in the Lord's bed. Somehow he escaped. Sounds like a nice
romp to me."
    Erin rolled her eyes.
"You are such a romantic, Cliff."
    "Nothing of the
sort," Kyle said. "Timothy is a proper gentleman. You know, Erin,
after we save his lady love, I am going to ask Henrietta." Kyle thrust his
mug into the air. "To love!"
    Erin giggled behind her
hand.
    "Kyle!"
Timothy spluttered on his tea. "You shouldn't—"
    Cliff laughed.
"Yeah, sure. Just don't make me take your shift at the wall. Maybe
Henrietta will finally tame you. Gray hair certainly hasn't."
    "My gray makes me
look distinguished." Kyle stroked his beard. "Henrietta is not woman
enough to tame me." He took a long pull of his mug.
    "I will be sure to
tell her that." Erin tapped her lower lip and smirked.
    Kyle spewed ale.
"No. Did I say not woman enough? I meant she…Timothy? Help me out
here."
    "We should get
going, Kyle." Timothy pushed away from the table. Did he make the right
decision? It didn't matter. He could not back out now.
    "Oh, right. Yeah.
We don't have much time left." Kyle finished his mug and tossed a few
coins on the table. Timothy laid a coin in the pile and stood up to leave. He
hoisted his pack."I'll see you at the wall tomorrow, Cliff. Take care,
Erin."
    Kyle waved and shifted
an overstuffed travel pack slung over his shoulder. Timothy fidgeted at the
door.
    "Do tell me how it
goes!" Erin adjusted her straw hat. "It should make for a good
story."
    Cat waited outside,
munching on a wilted potted flower. A cool breeze