Breath of the Feathered Serpent Read Online Free

He gave it a shake. The hollow sound confirmed how little water was left. “How’s your canteen?” He turned to look at Madison as the other man shook his.
    “Some, but not much. Should be able to refill it once we reach the ranch. There was a well on the property.” Madison scrunched up his face. “Although if I remember rightly, there’s a river down there. That’d be better.”
    Adam grunted. If the place was unoccupied, the well wouldn’t have been used for a while, and left untouched meant anything might have fallen in it and died. However, his body protested the thought of riding into town just to get a drink. Replacing his canteen, he took a deep breath and readied himself to keep going, his thirst temporarily abating. If Madison was right, they’d find water aplenty within a couple of hours.
    He urged his horse on. Cinnamon was his favorite mare, good-natured, sure-footed, and fast when she needed to be. He petted her neck as they continued picking their way along the trail. The sooner they got off the mountains and onto some flat ground, the happier he’d be. “Let’s keep going. Not worth stopping up here.”
    They continued to ride and kept talk to a minimum. At points, the track narrowed to barely one horse width, slowing them down even more. Adam made sure to keep his frustration to himself. This was an isolated part of the state. Maps were sketchy for areas like this. At least there’d been something to follow.
    Finally, the trail descended and widened. A steam appeared from a waterfall halfway up the mountain, and while Adam and Madison filled their canteens, the horses drank and nibbled at grass. Adam grinned and slapped Madison’s back.
    “Good to see your mood has improved.” Madison winked at him. “You were getting more ornery than a mule, my friend.”
    “I hate the closed-in feeling up in mountains like that,” Adam replied. “You get to feeling they’re trying to crush you.” His eyes followed the flow of water. “Looks like the stream becomes a river farther down. You were right, my friend. I can see it in the distance. Good grazing land, too. Nice and green.”
    “Yep. The two occupied ranches deal in cattle. Seems like there’s plenty of good land for the herds.” Madison wiped his face and finger-combed his hair, which already looked like it hadn’t seen a barber in weeks rather than days.
    Adam ran a hand though his own thick, dark hair which he never cut shorter than just above shoulder-length. Despite regular trips to the barber, his hair always appeared untamed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d worn it short like Madison preferred. Then he rubbed his chin. His stubble was obvious, where Madison’s was barely visible. That much was the advantage of being dark rather than blond when they wanted to look like drifters.
    “I’ll be glad when we find somewhere to settle so I can shave this off,” Madison said, copying Adam and rubbing his hand over his chin. “I hate stubble. Hate beards even more.”
    “That because the ladies love your pretty, clean-shaven face.” Adam laughed as he slapped his friend on the back. “I’m more the dark and silent, rough and ready type.”
    “I see the way the men look at you,” Madison said. “Some look envious, others...well we know about those.”
    Adam nodded. It wasn’t exactly illegal for two men to seek companionship, so long as they did it behind closed doors. Things were a lot easier these days if you lived in one of the big cities, but he was far from one of those. Out here, he was likely to end up in a jail cell, or risk a beating, if his true preference for a bedmate was known.
    Fortunately, there were codes men like him followed and visual clues to guide him. Plus, given that they were on a mission, there would be no time for indulging, unless a seduction was necessary of course. Another reason Madison and I make such a good team. It’s rare I have to charm the ladies. Thankfully.
    “Yep.” Adam