A Different Trade Read Online Free Page B

unwrap his package. Before he could reveal what was inside, however, he turned his back to the rest of the room and huddled over it in privacy.
    â€œWhat is it?” Clint asked.
    â€œHmm?”
    â€œThe package. What’s inside?”
    At first, Leo didn’t seem ready to show what he was hiding. He then turned partway around and quickly put his back to Clint once again as he said, “You can find out when everyone else does.”
    â€œWhen’s that?” Clint asked.
    â€œIn a day or two. Perhaps next week.”
    Clint let out a long sigh. “After I rode all the way from California with that thing, you won’t even let me get a look?”
    â€œCurious, Mr. Adams?”
    â€œYes!”
    Clearly enjoying the anticipation he was building, Leo kept the package hidden from sight as he said, “I don’t know. Once word gets out about this, things will be plenty different around here.”
    Now Clint was even more curious. The fact that he was playing directly into Leo’s little display only made it worse. Finally, he said, “Just show me what it is before I find that Westin fellow and invite him to finish what he started.”
    Leo didn’t look as though he believed Clint’s threat, but he could tell his audience’s patience was wearing thin. Grudgingly, he stepped aside and gestured toward the three bottles of clear liquid that were standing amid the mess of snapped twine and ripped paper. “All right,” he said. “Take a look for yourself. Just don’t tell anyone else about it until I’m ready to do it up right.”
    Clint leaned forward and squinted at the bottles. “What else is there?”
    â€œNothing. That’s it.”
    â€œThat’s the precious merchandise I rode all the way out here to deliver in person?”
    Leo nodded. “I paid extra for it to be shipped with the most care possible.”
    â€œJust a couple of bottles?”
    â€œThree. That’s a few, not a couple.”
    â€œI can’t even read what’s on the labels.”
    â€œGive me a moment,” Leo said as he flipped through a few pieces of paper that had been wedged in between two bottles.
    Clint tossed a halfhearted wave and started walking toward the front door. “Forget it.”
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    â€œI need to put my horse up for the night.”
    â€œAnd that’s more interesting than this?” Leo asked.
    â€œOh God, yes.”

SEVEN
    When Clint led Eclipse back to the first stable in town he’d seen, Danielle walked outside to greet him. Her sleeves were rolled up and she peeled off a pair of gloves that were covered in loose hay. She gave him a wide smile and placed one hand on her hip while waiting for him to come to a stop.
    â€œThat’s a handsome boy,” she said.
    â€œWhy, thank you,” Clint replied. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
    â€œI meant the horse. What’s his name?”
    â€œEclipse.”
    Danielle reached out to pat the Darley Arabian’s nose, which was received very well. “I think he likes me.”
    â€œThat’s why we came all the way back here for a stall.”
    â€œIs it?” she asked while glancing over to Clint.
    â€œActually,” he said while hooking a thumb toward Eclipse, “that’s why he wanted to come back. I had other ideas.”
    â€œDid you, now? How about we start with the stall? Follow me.”
    Clint was more than happy to follow her since that meant getting a nice, lingering look at Danielle’s backside wrapped in muddy denim. Her brown hair was unruly after the hard work she’d been doing, which did nothing to take away from her appeal. In fact, the sweaty shirt and dirty jeans clung to her rounded curves in a stunning way.
    The stable was a fairly good size. One wide path led from the front to the back of the barn-sized structure, which had three horse stalls on either side.