The Temptress Read online

  “Did you enjoy your fishing expedition with Ash? He seems to be a pleasant man. All the way here he was a great help, nothing was too much for him to do. And he’s great with horses and everyone we met liked him. I guess you did too.”

  “Well, yes,” she said hesitantly. “How did you meet my father?”

  “Ash has known your father for years. It’s a wonder you never met him. Ash’s father worked his way up and made a lot of money in the east. I’m sure Ash is the same kind of man.”

  Chris looked up at Tynan in bewilderment. What in the world was he talking about? But he just smiled at her and, this time, instead of being dazzled, she wondered if he often used that smile to get women to stop talking about whatever he didn’t want to hear—or from asking questions that he didn’t want to answer.

  She smiled back at him but, if he’d known Chris better, he would have known that her glittering eyes showed that she’d just accepted a challenge. She was going to find out who this Tynan—no last name, no first name—was.

  Chapter Four

  “I need to talk to you,” Chris said as soon as Tynan was seated in the camp and eating one of the fish she’d cooked. She told him just what she’d told Asher, about Lanier being responsible for killing the missionaries, but Tynan didn’t interrupt her, didn’t say a word, in fact.

  When she’d finished speaking, he licked his fingers. “Now tell me what you’ve left out,” he said.

  Chris was startled for a moment. “All right,” she said, smiling. “The truth is, Mr. Lanier was very good to me while I was his guest and his wife is very sweet, so I’ve felt some twinge of conscience about telling the world what Mr. Lanier did. Of course every word of it’s true, but, when the story comes out in print, I’m afraid Mr. Lanier’s life could be…ah, changed.”

  “Not to mention the length of his neck,” Tynan said, looking at her.

  “So I left him a letter telling him what I planned to do.”

  There was a long moment of silence from Tynan. “So, if we step out of this forest, no doubt Lanier’s men will be waiting for us with rifles, or maybe cannons, anything to prevent that story from going to press.”

  She gave him a weak smile. “Yes, I guess so.” Her face changed. “But they are things I had to do. I had to give Mr. Lanier a chance to flee and I have to give this story to the press. Don’t you understand?”

  Tynan stood. “I understand that a man has to do what he must, but you, Miss Mathison, need help and I’m not in a position to give it. Prescott’s in charge of this expedition. I’m just the guide. I follow orders and that’s all. Thank you for the fish, ma’am, and now I need to go scout the trail ahead.” He turned back.

  “And I wouldn’t consider going alone if I were you,” he said as he picked up a piece of wood and tossed it to the right of her head onto what looked to be solid ground. The log fell through vines and hit the ground a full second later. He didn’t have to say another word. One could leave the trail and walk into deep holes that were concealed by a tangle of greenery.

  With that, he left Chris alone.

  She stood there for a moment cursing all men everywhere. “Women must do what they must, also, Mr. Tynan,” she said to no one and set about gathering wood for the fire.

  Chris stayed in the camp, talked to Asher when he returned, and didn’t mention Hugh Lanier again. When Tynan returned, she glanced at him, but he didn’t look at her. Chris kept her head turned toward Asher, pretending to find every word he said fascinating. But in truth, she was planning how she’d escape these two men. John Anderson’s newspaper office was on the edge of the rain forest, not four miles from where they’d entered the forest last night. If she could get a horse, ride like blazes down the trail, then into town, she could be there and back by sundown. If luck were with her, she could be back before she was missed.

  She stood. “I think I’ll take a walk,” she said to Asher.

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “No thank you,” she said, giving him her prettiest smile. “I have things I have to do.” She widened her eyes. “Female things.” The mysteries of womanhood always stopped men like Asher Prescott.

  “Of course,” he said politely.

  She walked away from him, past Tynan, then hid in the undergrowth until both men had left camp. Nobody ever slapped a saddle on a horse faster than she did. The poor animal pranced around, lifting its legs. “Be a good boy now,” she coaxed. “We’re going to have a good run.”

  “And where would that be, Miss Mathison?”

  Chris whirled on her heel to face Tynan, her jaw set. “I’m going to take my story to John Anderson and if you plan to stop me you’ll have to tie me here—and you’ll have to watch me night and day. You’ll have to give up sleep and—”

  “I understand,” he said and Chris saw amusement in his eyes. “How far away is this Anderson?”

  Chris held her breath. “With hard riding, I can be back by sundown.”

  “And what did you plan to do about Lanier’s men? What if they’re waiting on the edge of the forest?”

  “Run just as fast as I can and pray I don’t get shot.”

  He stood there looking at her for a while, then withdrew his gun from its holster, making sure it was loaded. “Maybe I can help some. Which way is this town?”

  Chris mounted her horse. “Southeast from the edge of the forest. John’s office is the third building on the right.”

  Tynan saddled his horse. “As soon as we drop it off, Lanier pulls a gun and takes it. You got more paper? Why don’t you drop a package off at the freight line—if there is one—then stop and say hello to Mrs. Anderson?”

  “Why…yes, that might work,” she said, looking at him in wonder. “There is no Mrs. Anderson but his sister is married to the town doctor.”

  “Even better,” Ty said, mounting. “You know how to ride?”

  “I can go anywhere you can,” Chris said arrogantly but soon wondered if she were telling the truth. Tynan led a pace that scared her—and her horse. She had to use all the muscles in her arms to control the animal as they ran through the dangerous forest.

  At the edge of the trees, Ty didn’t slow down but kept pounding down the road. Chris half expected gunshots over her head but all was quiet. When no one shot at them, Ty halted his horse and turned back to her. “We’re going in the back way. No doubt they’re waiting for us in town. I’m going to drop you off at the freight office and I want you to stay there until you see me. I’ll take the story to the doctor’s wife and leave your horse in back of the freight office. When you see me ride past the front, run out the back and get on the horse and ride like hell. I’ll be right behind you. Think you can do that?”

  “Yes,” Chris answered, controlling her horse. “But if they catch you with the story—”

  “Don’t worry about me, worry about obeying my orders. My temper’s worse than Lanier’s bullets.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, smiling and he winked at her as he turned his horse and continued southeast.

  They paused outside the new, rough little town, the single main street a rutted tract. Tynan sat still for a moment, looking at the town, then turned to her. “I think they’re here.”

  “How could you know that?”

  “Too many men doing nothing but looking, their hands on their guns. They’re watching for somebody. Give me your story,” he said, and when he had tucked it inside his shirt he looked at her. “You ready? You remember what you’re to do?”

  “It’s not exactly complicated.”

  “But vital. Come on.”

  He led her through the back of the town, skirting in and out of shadows, staying close to the buildings, keeping her inside as he rode protectively on the outside. Once, a wagon came around a building and instantly Tynan pulled her halfway across his saddle into his arms. “You still sick, honey?” he asked loudly. “It’s always that way with the first baby.”

  As soon as the wagon was gone, he pushed Chris back. He certainly is a f