Eve Langlais The Hunter (pdf)

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smiled fondly in memory. I remember the time his father told him he was too young to go hunting
with them. We had a wild boar in the woods causing trouble. Well, Hunter, he must have been about
nine, decided to prove his father wrong. So he snuck out before the crack of dawn into the woods,
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determined to show us all he was a man. He tracked the beast, and when he found it, climbed a tree.
Well, his sister, who was only seven, had apparently decided she d show her father she was better than
him, too. Turns out she was already in the tree Hunter climbed in. Depending on who you believe,
Hunter fell out of the tree or Nat pushed him. Either way, when he fell, he happened to land on the
boar, who chose that moment to charge the clearing below them. Well, you never saw such a scary or
hilarious site as Hunter riding that boar right up to the castle where the poor beast just collapsed,
exhausted. The look on his father s face was just priceless, and little miss Nat, who d come running
home, was just spitting mad.
Why was she mad? Suzie had to ask.
Says it wasn t fair Hunter had gotten to ride the boar and she hadn t. The two women looked at
each other and burst into laughter. Nat, hearing them, looked at them with a scowl, and Suzie and Nat s
mom just howled louder.
Oh my, said Beverly, wiping the tears from her eyes. I hadn t thought of that in years. Just an
example of the competitiveness between the two.
You only have the two kids?
Yes, Beverly said sadly. I would have loved to have more children, but unfortunately, my body
just wasn t made for it. I tried to find some healers in the hopes of fixing the problem, but some things
just can t be healed. But enough of my sad story. What about you? Will you have more children?
Good question. I don t know, said Suzie truthfully. I guess if I met the right man, I would. Being
a mom is totally awesome, even when it hurts sometimes, she said sadly, thinking of Jared.
As if reading her mind, Beverly hugged her. Your boy will come back to you safe and sound. You ll
see. Hunter will rescue him.
I wish I had your faith, Suzie said. Although, if she d had to wager, she d have bet on Hunter.
I think you re little girl is done with her horseback lessons. Do you mind if I take her to the
gardens? She quite loved them yesterday.
Sure, said Suzie.
Nat swung Jessica off Betsy the horse, and Jessica came running, Nat following behind.
Mommy, did ya see me? she asked, her face glowing.
I sure did. You re just like a cowgirl now.
Jessica pranced up and down, yelling yee-haw! Nat looked at her with an odd expression on her
face.
Beverly said, You used to be that young, too, once, my daughter, and just as loud. Although, you
tended to wear a lot less clothes. Naked as a wood nymph until you were almost four.
Suzie almost giggled at the statuesque Nat till she saw the crimson blush on her cheeks. Might not
be a good idea to laugh at her giant bodyguard. Somehow, she didn t think Nat took teasing sitting
down.
Beverly took Jessica s hand who skipped along with Beverly, who believe it or not, skipped with her
too, while Nat and Suzie followed along behind.
Your mom is a hoot, said Suzie, watching them.
I am assuming you mean entertaining and somewhat nutty. Then yes, she is. I take it she s been
regaling you with embarrassing moments from our childhood.
Somewhat, said Suzie, hiding a smile.
It was tough being a girl growing up. My mother wanted me to do womanly things, but all I wanted
to do was learn like the boys. It took me years to get my father to recognize that my talents were as
good, and even better, than the boys. Even now, he still doesn t treat me like I m equal to them, said
Nat bitterly.
Suzie listened, surprised at Nat s candor. She wouldn t have taken her for the talkative sort.
Why are you telling me this? asked Suzie.
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My father is very set in his ways. Especially where his son is concerned. You d better be careful.
Careful of what? Suzie asked, perplexed.
My dear father, the commander, will never allow his son and heir to marry a mundane. No offense
to you, you seem a lot more decent than a lot of the ladies I ve seen him with. But our father has ideas
on who Hunter should settle down with, and the mundane mother of a pair of out of wedlock children
won t be his idea of a proper wife.
Whoa. Who said anything about me marrying Hunter? Hell, we haven t even gone on a date yet.
And who cared what Hunter s father thought? Wasn t it up to Suzie and Hunter what happened?
Nat snorted. Oh please, my brother s interest in you is plain to anybody with eyes. I never thought
I d see the day he d go all sappy over a woman. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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