Gray Hawk's Lady: Blackfoot Warriors, Book 1 Read Free

distrustfulness, perhaps. Or mayhap she was only wary.
    Letting out a sigh, she said, “I am so glad to hear this. Did you say you did this only yesterday?”
    “Yes.”
    “And what were the names of these men, that I might go and tell my father?”
    The young man hesitated, his face drawn in and his cheeks filling with color. “What difference does that make, Lady Genevieve? Isn’t it enough that I have done it? We will find out more about the two men when they return with your Indian.”
    Genevieve hesitated. Clearly, she wanted to believe the man, but still she delayed in speaking for several moments. “Mr. Toddman,” she said, her voice unable to disguise her apprehension. “How much did you have to pay these trappers this time?”
    The man shrugged, his hand again coming up to reach for his collar. “Now, Lady Genevieve,” he said, “is that something you should be worrying about?”
    “I believe so. As I have already said, since my father has become ill and I have of necessity taken control of the financial matters of the family, I think I should be apprised of exactly how much you paid these men, if only so I can make an adjustment to the account.”
    Toddman hesitated, but at her continued regard of him, he uttered, “Five thousand American dollars.”
    “Five thousand—” Genevieve stopped, unable to restrain a show of emotion, which revealed itself as a quick flush upon her cheeks. She cleared her throat. “Five thousand American dollars, Mr. Toddman? Such is an exorbitant fee, of which I’m sure you are aware. Were the men you paid surprised that you were willing to part with such a price?”
    “Hardly.”
    She tilted back her head. “And of course you paid it all in advance.”
    “Of course.”
    “And you pledge me your word that none of the money went toward the gaming tables?”
    “Milady! How dare you!”
    She didn’t respond; she just looked at him. “Mr. Toddman,” she said at last, “might I remind you that my father is allowing you to draw on his account only those sums of money that he approves?”
    “And you think he did not approve this expenditure?”
    “I am fairly certain of it.”
    From across the room, the assistant surveyed her for innumerable seconds while Lady Genevieve held his gaze. At length, the young man said, “My father will hear of this at the utmost possible speed, believe me. And when he does…you might find, Lady Genevieve, that you will be in need of revising your opinion of me and my work. You might find,” he said, smirking, “that you will need to come and beg me to help you. And, milady, how I look forward to that day. Until then,” he started forward, “unless you give me further funds, I will stop all my work for you.” He laughed. “And won’t your precious project be in jeopardy then? Go try to engage a trapper or trader without my help, and see for yourself how easy it is.”
    “But you said that you had just hired—”
    “So I did, Lady Genevieve, so I did. But that was before our little talk. Did you really think I would help you when you refuse to finance me—”
    “Mr. Toddman, you go too far! I am not refusing to pay you any wages you are due, only the money that you spend—”
    “Without complete financial support, Lady Genevieve,” the assistant straightened his shoulders, “I somehow find myself in the position of being unwilling and perhaps unable to offer any further assistance to this project.” He smiled. “Might I suggest that you go and find your own Indian?”
    Genevieve coughed. “Mr. Toddman!”
    “Or perhaps,” the young man said as he paused, leering, “mayhap if the trappers do come back with your Blackfoot Indian, I might be the one to interview the savage, and then it will be I who will have the pleasure of finishing this much-needed book.”
    “Mr. Toddman,” she said, presenting to the man a demeanor that looked, to all appearances, quite calm. “You cannot do that. You are under contract with my