Moon Racer by Constance O'Banyon Page A

probably will."
    "You bastard!"
    Kane looked pensive for a moment, and then said
icily, "You are probably right -I don't think my
mother knew who my father was. If I am a bastard,
that makes me dangerous-so don't ever push me
too far."
    "Get out! You have let the Hunter bunch check
you at every move. If this one doesn't work out,
you're through, Kane."
    Kane's black eyes narrowed, and he cast Edmund
a look so dark it made him shiver. "Not until I have
all the money you owe me."

    Edmund stood up, grasping the back of the chair.
"We agreed you would sell the mustangs and keep
the money you got for them, and I would deposit
the rest in the account I set up for you."
    Kane's smile did not touch his lips. "I wonder
what the good people of this town would do if they
knew about some of your dealings?"
    Edmund stared at' him, and then laughed aloud.
"And you are going to tell them? I don't think
anyone would take your word against mine. You
don't frighten me, Kane. You'll do what I say,
when I say it."
    Kane shrugged. "For the moment, my interests
are tied to yours." He paused with his hand on the
door. "You are lucky that I don't like the Hunters."
    "Yeah," Edmund said, feeling satisfaction stir in
him. "It still sticks in your craw that Quince Hunter
stopped you from taking his herd of mustangs, and
you got all your men killed in that little struggle.
They also rounded up the herd when you scattered
them, didn't they?"
    "Don't push, banker." Though spoken barely
above a whisper, the warning was clear.
    Edmund looked into cold black eyes and knew
he'd struck a nerve, so he pushed further. "Isn't it
strange how many of your men end up dead? I
wonder if the ones you hired this time know to
watch their backs?"
    Kane took a step toward Edmund, reconsidered,
and paused. "I know to watch my back with you,
banker."

    "That very well may be-but you are safe as long
as I need you," Edmund said quietly, almost too
quietly. "What you need to remember most is to
stay away from Abby Hunter."
    Kane touched the brim of his hat and smiled.
"She's not the kind of woman I crave-she's too
tame for me. But the major, he seems to like her just
fine." He walked out of the room with Edmund
following behind. "I'll be seeing you."
    "Not that way," Edmund said. "Leave the back
way, and don't let anyone see you go. And don't
ever come here again. If I need you, I'll find you."
    Kane's laughter followed him out the back door.
When he had gone, Edmund sank down on a chair,
his hands trembling. He thought of what Kane had
said about Abby and that uppity major. Could Abby
be interested in the man?
    He had to find out, and there would be hell to pay
if Major Tremain got in the way of what he wanted.
    Abby hadn't been able to sleep for worrying about
the stolen mustangs. Just before sunrise she tossed
the covers aside and slid out of bed. Most of the
men would be with her brothers, so she would help
them out by tending the stock.
    It took her only a few minutes to dress and braid
her hair. She heard Frances stirring in the kitchen as
she walked through the house, not wanting any
breakfast. When she stepped off the porch, she
stared worriedly at the clouds that hung low in the
slate-gray sky. It would probably rain before the morning was over, and that wouldn't help her
brothers track the mustangs.

    When she reached the barn it was dark inside, so
she lit a lantern and went to pump water. After the
horses had been watered, she took the pitchfork off
the hook and, with practiced aim, tossed the right
amount of hay to each horse.
    She had reached the last stall when she heard
someone at the front of the barn. When she caught a
glimpse of a blue uniform, she thought it might be
Jonah. But when the cavalry trooper stepped into
the lamplight, he was a stranger to her.
    "Ma'am," he said, touching his flat-brimmed hat.
"I'm Private Davies, and I was sent to get Major
Tremain."
    She paused and leaned her