Free The Keeping by Nicky Charles Page B

were
supposed to be the smart one.” He mocked.
    Bryan shrugged.
“Yeah. But she was kind of cute. I was sort of thinking that once
she was near the gate, I’d show up and ‘save’ her from Daniel. She
might have been...grateful, you know?” He winked and Daniel
laughed.
    Ryne did too, but
inwardly he felt his hackles rise. Something about Bryan’s
statement bothered him, though he didn’t know exactly what. “Why
don’t you two go see if you can make something for us to eat? I’m
starving.” They nodded and headed towards the fridge. “Oh, and brew
up a large pot of coffee. I’m still feeling a bit hung over from
last night.”
    With the other two
busy, Ryne headed back into the living-room and sat in his recliner
facing the sofa. The initial coolness of the leather felt good
given his less than prime state of being. Not for the first time,
did he wonder why he kept accepting all the drinks sent his way. He
knew the locals were somewhat in awe of his capacity for alcohol—he
could hold way more than the average human—and he suspected there
might be some bets going around about who would be the first to
drink him under the table. It would never happen, but still, he
should be more careful. Drawing undue attention to the ways in
which he was physiologically different from his neighbours was not
a good idea.
    He leaned his head
back and switched his attention to his present concern; the girl
lying unconscious on his sofa. Through half-closed eyes, he watched
and waited while speculation ran through his mind. Why had she been
on his land? She wasn’t a local. Stump River residents would never
go walking in boots like hers. Maybe somebody’s relative, visiting
for the weekend and out for a stroll? Possibly. After all, who else
would have a reason to be roaming around Stump River?

Chapter 6

    Mel opened her
eyes and blinked, momentarily confused. Where was she? Her dumpy,
little apartment in Chicago? No, that was last week. This week she
was in Canada, looking for that photographer. She’d driven to Stump
River and rented a cabin and then... Oh damn! She sat up quickly
and immediately regretted it, clutching her head as it throbbed in
protest.
    “I wouldn’t move
that fast if I were you.” A deep, sexy voice spoke to her right and
she turned her head to see who owned it.
    “Ow!” Her head
protested again and she grasped it in her hands, propping her
elbows on her knees. It seemed too much of an effort to hold her
head up unsupported. The recent events, which had resulted in her
present pain, came rushing back to her, sending a jolt of fear
through her system. A quick inventory revealed that her head
appeared to be the only area of damage and her body slumped in
relief.
    “See? I told you
not to do that.” The voice laughed dryly and she was immediately
annoyed that this person, whoever he was, found her pain amusing.
Squinting, she stared across the room trying to get a good look at
the fellow. Unfortunately, the angle of the bright light entering
through the window cast him in a shadow and she only could see his
outline.
    “Sorry. I don’t
usually take advice from complete strangers.” Mel replied
sarcastically, thinking the man must be a total jerk. She had just
survived an animal attack and was suffering from a head injury, for
heaven’s sake! Where was the sympathy she deserved?
    “You don’t talk to
strangers? Aww... What a good little girl you are.” He mockingly
praised her using a tone of voice most often associated with young
children. Then, without warning, he switched to a harder, more
accusing, form of speech. “Too bad you don’t follow the rules when
it comes to wandering onto someone’s land, completely ignoring the
‘No Trespassing’ signs.”
    She didn’t respond
for a moment, recalling how she’d removed the sign so that she
could claim ignorance of its existence. Well, in for a penny, in
for a pound; she’d try to bluff her way through this. “I didn’t see
any sign.