Page 11 of The Mountain King
Chapter Five
She scoutedtwo of the local inns—not Stella’s—scanning hitching posts and then entering to do a quick eyeball of the patrons to look for a likely seller. She hit pay dirt with the second inn, sizing up the restless energy of a dusty man with a week’s worth of grime who wolfed down a sandwich and a tankard of beer while standing, as if he was stopping through as quickly as possible.
Kai approached, voice low. “Evening, friend.”
He glanced at her. “Don’t need a whore.”
She smiled, not offended. “Neither do I. You look like you’re passing through town. Have you seen any burden beasts on the road that might be for sale?”
His eyes narrowed, what she could see under busy brows. “How much you payin’?”
The negotiation was short and brutal once she’d assured herself he did own the animal outside, and Kai soon found herself the mistress of a new donkey. Guiding it back to Gun & ‘Mo, she looped its tether on a post and stepped inside.
And stopped short, instantly wary.
A tall man turned around, the cleanliness of his navy-blue waist coat and slicked-back hair a certain sign he was no miner or traveling merchant.
“Mistress Kailigh, good day,” Gaston said, a friendly smile lighting his face.
Her eyes shifted to the blank faced clerk. “Evening, Gaston.”
“Stocking up, hmm?”
“Something like that.”
She walked past him, deliberately rude, and nodded at the clerk. “You got what I ordered.”
He jerked his head at several small boxes stacked in front of him. She flipped each open, doing an experienced eyeball count, picking up a bullet to examine the quality of the workmanship. Sometimes these places tried to pass homemade stuff off on a woman thinking she knew no better. Though Kai liked to think her reputation preceded her after all this time.
“That’s a lot of ammo, Kai,” Gaston said, moving closer.
She wanted to ignore him, but he wasn’t the type who liked to take a hint. She’d always wondered why Maddugh had hired such a snake oil smelling fella as one of the foremen of his mines.
“None of your business,” she said, blunt, then turned to the clerk. “Will you take coal?”
The clerk’s eyes widened and he glanced at Gaston, paling. “Kailigh!”
She rolled her eyes. “My coal is above board. I’ve permission from Maddugh himself.” Not really, but she was fairly certain he’d give it after she explained the situation. He must be aware there was a small black market trade for unlicensed coal in town—no one really enforced the consequences unless one was just flagrant about it.
Gaston coughed. “Maddugh?”
She glanced at him. “Yeah, so don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
“Is this part of the commotion I’m told went on the other day, Kailigh?”
“Maybe, maybe not. I know one thing—anyone who comes near my house will trip my booby traps.” She smiled, bland. “You spreadthatgossip around, why don’t you?”
His eyes narrowed, then he smiled. “You tell Lord Maddugh I said hello, why don’t you?”
“Sure,” she said, and turned to go. “Coal’s on Horse, I’ll bring it in.”
By the time she’d lugged three five-pound bags of the black rock and loaded the leather side saddles with five boxes of ammo, the sun was beginning to slid down behind the mountains. She pushed the burden beast to make good time home and fed and watered both right away.
The girls were glad to see her and they all tackled the remainder of their individual tasks, including packing up, when Kailigh heard a loud knock on the door. The sun was high in the sky and she didn’t have time for interruptions. Ire roused, thinking the dragon must have gotten impatient and sent someone to fetch them—she stalked to the front door and yanked it open.
Fast reflexes and instinct born from years of honing had Kailigh whirling to the side just as a dart whizzed past. It grazed her upper arm.
“That was just to say hello,” a voice called out.
