Vixen Hunted Read Online Free Page A

pull
of his cider. The lamb munched at the bowl of greens, her front hooves braced
against the table. Timothy kept an eye on the door. "What do you want from
me?"
    A bead of sweat escaped
her hairline. She wrinkled her nose. "I hoped the smell of fruit would
help. People around here need to take baths. Especially you, Timmy. How can you
stand it?" She paused to spoon her oatmeal.
    The common room did not
smell that bad to Timothy. He shrugged and stabbed his spoon into his bowl. At
least the oatmeal tasted good, even if he had to listen to her tongue. The inn
was generous with the raspberries.
    "Well?"
    Kit met his eyes.
"Just a moment ago you were going to leave me." Her mood changed. Her
eyes no longer held mischief, and a few lines crinkled around them. He noticed
the gray bags, the exhaustion. She had more trouble than he could deal with,
but he had to offer what help he could. It was only right, and Aunt Mae
wouldn't expect anything else.
    "I still might. I
probably should." Timothy watched the face under the cloak's cowl. He
ignored a rivulet of sweat that ran down his chest. Fairhaven boiled compared
to the fields. She opened her mouth, just to close it. She chewed on her lower
lip and stirred her oatmeal. Her gaze flicked to him and back to the bowl.
    One of the men in the
common room stood and stretched. "Time to get to the fields." He
nodded at Timothy. "Best of luck to ya, fella, with that one!"
    Timothy nodded and
gestured with his mug. Most of the common room left with the man.
    "Baa!" The
lamb looked at Timothy's mug.
    "Thirsty?" He
poured the last of his cider into the lamb's dish and dropped his wooden spoon
into his own empty bowl. Kit scraped at hers but did not look up.
    "If I am to help,
I have to know."
    "Know?" Kit
stared at her spoon.
    "About you and
whatever trouble you have. All of it."
    Timothy didn't have a
clue what he could do about it. Hide her? He snorted. What was he thinking? He
wasn't a hero, but he still had to offer. Curse his conscience! If only Aunt
Mae knew how much trouble her moral lessons caused him.
    Kit said nothing.
    Timothy scrubbed his
hair. "Okay, I will ask one more time. Do you want my help?"
    Her hooded head shook.
    Fine. It was better for
him at least.
    "Ready to
go?" Timothy asked the lamb. The lamb's ears flattened.
    He looked down at the
girl. "I wish you the best in whatever you do. May God be with you."
    The lamb followed
Timothy outside. He did what he had promised. He had given Kit a chance too. So
why did he feel like he had done something wrong?
    The streets broiled,
even though it was still morning. Timothy stroked the lamb's ears. Now what was
he going to do? He didn't have enough money to start over. He doubted the
magistrate could do anything about his stolen sheep. Those men were too well
clothed to be footpads. Old man Malory might be the only option. Timothy did
not look forward to being in the same room with that sour old scholar. He
looked at the sky. Kyle would be off duty now.
    Timothy's boots clicked
the cobblestones in time with the lamb's hooves. His mind drifted to Kit. No.
She would be fine. Kyle and Malory. That was where his mind needed to be
focused.
    The streets had filled
up considerably since they'd first entered the inn. The clang of smithies set a
rhythm to the babble. Timothy's feet dragged. After walking all of yesterday
and last night, a full stomach demanded sleep. His eyelids drooped.
    A hand grabbed his
shoulder.
    Timothy yelled and
staggered back. A passing errand boy dropped his burlap sack, and flour clouded
the air. The boy gave Timothy a dark look.
    Kit fisted her hips.
"You would think I am a demon or something with a reaction like
that."
    Timothy's heart
pounded. He was certainly awake now.
    Kit glanced away. She
squared her shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "I decided I do need
your help. I will risk telling you." She took a deep breath. "Everything.
Just not here. We need someplace private."
    "I can't afford an
inn room. You