A Worthy Pursuit Read Online Free Page B

thing.”
    Dobson paled slightly, but to his credit didn’t give up an inch of ground. “I’m watchin’,” he blustered. “So don’t get anyideas.” Dobson jabbed the barrel a little farther into the dip beneath Stone’s collarbone for good measure.
    Stone’s glare promised retribution.
    “Are you two quite finished?” The impatient, snapping voice drew Stone’s attention back to the teacher. “I swear,” she muttered as she leaned forward to take hold of Stone’s arm. “It’s as if boys never grow up. No matter how old they get, they’re still determined to prove themselves the toughest, fastest, smartest, whatever-else-they-can-think-of-to-compete-about-est. It’s ridiculous. If they would just cease their posturing for a moment, they might actually manage to accomplish something worthwhile.” She tugged on his arm then, making it clear what she wanted from him.
    Bossy bit of goods. But what did he expect from a tight-laced schoolmarm? Actually, he’d expected a lot more running and hiding. Tears. A screech or two. Seeing as how she suspected him of being Dorchester’s man. Not this quiet determination to see his wounds tended.
    What was her angle?
    Miss Atherton tugged on his arm again, and Stone complied with her not-so-subtle hint. Rolling slightly to the side, he tried to lever himself up—no easy feat with wrists and ankles bound. The teacher released his arm and gripped him about the waist instead. She wedged her shoulder against the side of his chest to help him find his balance as he stood.
    Unfortunately, the sudden change in elevation sent his head whirling in a fit of dizziness. He winced and staggered sideways, forgetting the state of his ankles. The bindings tripped him, and he would have fallen if the teacher hadn’t tightened her grip and wrenched him back against her.
    “For heaven’s sake, Dobson. Untie his feet or we’re both going to topple into the dirt.”
    The bearded fellow came around to the front of them and scowled up at Stone as he pulled a long-bladed knife from the sheath at his waist. “I don’t trust him.”
    “I don’t either, but that doesn’t mean we have the right to treat him like a prisoner.” Miss Atherton grunted a bit as she propped up Stone’s weight.
    He tried to help her, but his legs didn’t seem to be working properly, and the ground kept swelling up and down. He gritted his teeth against the nausea building inside. Acting weak to gain information was one thing, but disgracing himself by casting up his accounts in front of a lady was not acceptable.
    “You look a little green around the gills there, stranger.”
    Great. Now the gnome was smiling. As if the urge to retch hadn’t been strong enough already.
    “Quit taunting the man and cut him free, Dobson. He’s too heavy for me.”
    Whether it was the woman’s authoritative tone or the revelation that she was suffering more from the delay than Stone was, Dobson finally gave in and sliced through the ropes at Stone’s feet. Stone immediately braced his legs apart and relieved Miss Atherton of the majority of his weight.
    Stone held out his hands toward the little man in front of him, but Dobson’s face turned granite hard. Looked like he’d be keeping his hemp bracelets for a while yet.
    Miss Atherton urged him forward. Together, they limped to the house.
    “John,” she called. “Open the door, please.”
    A tiny Chinese boy swung the door wide and held it open by leaning his entire body against it. His slanted eyes rounded as his gaze traveled from Stone’s boots up and up and up until he finally reached his face. He didn’t say a word, just kept staring until Stone shuffled past him into the house.
    The girl was nowhere to be seen. Odd for such a giggly, curious thing. The way she’d run up to see him when Dobson first dragged him onto the property proved she wasn’t timid. So where was she?
    Well, no matter. He’d find her. Find her and get her home.
    “John,” Miss Atherton