Vixen Hunted Read Online Free Page B

can't trick me into that."
    Kit frowned. "I am
being serious, and you make a bad joke."
    "Just tell me
here. People are not paying us any attention." Timothy returned a wave from…Steven.
No, John. John the barber.
    "I can't. Not
here." Kit snagged his sleeve. "We need to get away from here before
I am seen. You see, I—"
    "She has
obligations."
    Timothy's heart
lurched. Two large men wearing blue tabards darkened the street, their hands
resting on short swords. Two more men appeared to each side, hemming the trio
against the inn. Passing people gave the men a wide berth. No one wanted a part
of obvious trouble.
    Kit groaned. "This
is your fault, shepherd. You just had to leave that nice inn before I could
really talk to you."
    She lunged at nearest
pair. One of the blue-dressed men grasped Kit's cloak and pulled her around,
clamping his scarred hands around her upper arms. The lamb charged, her hoof
clapping against the cobblestones. She lowered her head and thumped into the
man's shin. He grunted but did not release his grip.
    Tahd strode from the
shaded doorway of the nearby building. His dark clothing contrasted with the
cobblestones. The man's crucifix glinted in the harsh morning sunlight.
    "A leper, you
said. She is more dangerous than a leper, shepherd. When I saw you heading this
way on the road, I thought to give my prey a little hope of escape."
Tahd's scarred face smiled. "Hope for escape makes prey easier to catch."
    The mustached man
smoothed his tabard. "You Inquisitors are an odd bunch. You are lucky she
did not get away."
    "She would not
have escaped me, Matthew." Tahd fingered his belt knife.
    "Perhaps
not." Matthew turned to Timothy. "You have done Lord Treblin a great
service, my friend. Our lady is a little…troublesome. Always avoiding her
family obligations."
    The lamb pulled at the
man's trousers. He looked down at the white, fluffy protector with a mix of
amusement and surprise.
    Kit clenched her fists.
"I will not go back."
    Cold sweat ran down
Timothy's back.
    Matthew shrugged.
"Lord Treblin treats you well enough. Better than he should, considering
what you are."
    Matthew tossed a heavy
bag. It clinked at Timothy's feet. "It is a service to forget these
events. It is also best for your sake."
    Kit's eyes pleaded.
Matthew kicked the lamb away as the men closed around Kit.
    The heavy bag pressed
against Timothy's foot. His body refused to move.
    "Let's go. Lord
Treblin is waiting," Matthew said.
    Tahd shook his head and
fell in behind the blue-uniformed men.
    Kit cursed and
struggled as the soldiers dragged her down the street. Timothy could do nothing
but watch.
    He slumped and looked
down at the lamb. "What could I do?"
    "Baa! Baa!"
    "It isn't any of
my business."
    "Baa!" The
lamb nudged him.
    People avoided looking
at him or the tight knot of men encircling the small girl further down the
street.
    He opened the
drawstrings of the bag with shaking hands. Inside, silver gleamed. "She is
a runaway noble," he told the lamb. What else could she be for this kind
of money to be tossed at him? A nervous chuckle escaped him. "It is like
one of those stories Aunt Mae had me copy."
    He took a steadying
breath and tucked the money in his pocket. "I could start my own shop with
this kind of money." A small scribery would be nice. His voice sounded
hollow in his ears. He had kept his promise and helped her. Could she be Lord
Treblin's daughter? She was pretty enough to be a noble. He shook his head to
jar his colliding thoughts. It did not matter. He had kept his promise to
protect her during the short walk to Fairhaven. Her problems did not involve
him.
    Green eyes stared at
him from the back of his mind.
    Timothy barely noticed
the heat or the lengthening shadows. He walked, the lamb following at his side,
and let his thoughts collide. It had all happened so fast. He had lost his
flock, had met a strange girl, and now had more money than he had ever owned.
Timothy felt overwhelmed. He should have tried