(Skeleton Key) Game Master Read Free Page B

just in case.
    The right path…
    It worked.
    The carriage rolled to a stop a few feet before passing me. The driver tipped his black hat to me, his shrewd gaze taking in my appearance and clothes. My style was a little different from everyone else I had seen. I stuck out like a sore thumb.
    He asked, “How can I help you, miss?”
    I held up a hand to shade my eyes from the glaring sun. “I need a ride to the closest town. Can you give me a lift?” I was officially hitchhiking.
    My father wouldn’t like this one bit.
    The acid in my stomach turned over, but I focused on the now. My father was no longer living. I would do what I had to do.
    The driver tapped on the side of the carriage. He asked in a loud voice, “Sir, there’s a straggler on the road who needs a ride. Do you have room for one more?”
    A man shouted from inside, his tone frazzled. “Does this person know how to handle babies?”
    The driver glanced at me and quirked an eyebrow.
    Babies? No clue.
    I nodded my head. “Of course, I do.”
    He looked skeptical, but called, “She says yes.”
    The door to the carriage swung open. “Get in. But if you make one wrong move, I’ll gut you so fast you’ll be holding your intestines before your next breath.”

The man’s blond hair was tousled from running his fingers through it multiple times. His blue eyes were piercing and intelligent. He only appeared a few years older than I and was tall and physically fit. He sat forward on his carriage seat, staring across at me. The carriage wobbled as it hit a rough spot on the road and then returned to smooth riding.
    Blue eyes ran over my features in slow increments. “Who are you and what were you doing out here?”
    I glanced away from him to the two babies lying in a bassinet between us. The white lace bordering their bed was dirty and spoiled with milk. The tiny brown clothes they wore weren’t in any better condition.
    I cleared my throat and eyed the two infants staring up at me with wide, pretty eyes. “My name is Arizona Creed.” My lips pinched, not sure what else I should say. I finally peered back up to the handsome man across from me. “I only need a ride to the nearest town.”
    He placed his elbows on his knees. His hands gripped the bassinet, slowly rocking it in a comforting gesture for the babies inside it. Though his intelligent regard never left my face. “Are you one of the prisoners who escaped recently?”
    I blinked. “If I were, I probably wouldn’t tell you that.”
    His blond brows lifted, an increment of humor flittering past his eyes. “You’re right there. But you didn’t answer my question.” His gaze slid down to my lips and then back up to my eyes. “I’d like to hear it from your mouth.”
    I shook my head slightly, stating honestly, “No, I’m not one of the prisoners. I’m just…” I sighed and glanced out the window. The trees were still thick in this area. “I’m just…lost.”
    He continued to rock the babies, their eyes beginning to shut. His voice was quiet but straightforward. “Do you want to be found, Arizona?”
    My green eyes flicked back to him. “There’s no one to find me.” I may have sounded as sad as I felt.
    His blond head nodded ever so slightly, his clever eyes holding mine. “That I can understand.” Suddenly, his lips lifted into a small smile. The man had dimples on both cheeks. “Is there a particular town you had in mind?”
    “No.” I resituated my backpack on my lap and fiddled with the zipper. “Wherever you think would be best for me to find easy work, maybe?”
    Blue tracked down my clothing, studying each article. “What profession are you used to? You don’t appear old enough to have much experience.”
    My situation hit me hard, and I swallowed on a dry throat. “Actually, I don’t think any of my skills could be used here.” Not for honest work, anyway. “But I’m willing to try anything.”
    His lips twitched, his gaze done with the perusal of my clothing.