Tupelo Gold: Sweeter than Honey (Eclipse Heat Book 4) Read Free Page A

already convoluted story.
    “Your wife expecting us?” Jacob’s shrewd gaze seemed way too knowing for his six years.
    “No,” Hamilton admitted. “But she will soon enough. Eclipse is right ahead around that next bend in the trail.” For all his bravado, Hamilton knew he was just as unsure of the future as the two kids sitting next to him.
    When his brother-in-law, Charlie Wolf McCallister, joined them on their journey to Eclipse, Hamilton welcomed the company. It pleased him to see Jacob study Charlie’s animal, a Kiowa war horse named Old Mossy.
    When Charlie’s cousin, Sam McCallister took up position on the other side of the buggy, Hamilton knew something was wrong.
    “You fellows want something?”
    Charlie nodded at the children and gave them what passed as a smile before resuming his usual stoic expression. Hamilton followed his gaze. Seemingly oblivious to Hamilton and Charlie, Jacob held his sister’s hand and both kids studied the oddly dappled horse Sam McCallister rode. Charlie’s gaze returned to Hamilton.
    “Naomi’s upset.”
    “Why would your wife be upset with me?” But Hamilton already got the connection. If Naomi was upset, then it was because Comfort knew.
    “Your wife was real curious about those trips of yours to Wichita,” Sam said gruffly. “Her being Charlie’s family now, I looked into it for her.”
    “She had you spy on me?” Hamilton’s flash of anger died as he read censure in the bounty hunter’s cold gaze.
    “Yep.” Sam’s smile chilled Hamilton. “She’s a fine lookin’ woman. Smart too. Rare combination.”
    “I’ll tender your compliments to her,” Hamilton answered, grimly. He didn’t need the approval of the man. But he didn’t need to make an enemy of Charlie’s cousin either.
    Hell, Hamilton didn’t know which way his brother-in-law would jump if hostilities arose between the Quince and McCallister families.
    “What kind of horse is this?” Jacob interrupted the staring match between Hamilton and Sam.
    “Appaloosa,” Sam drawled the word. “You like horses?”
    “Yep,” Jacob answered, mimicking Sam’s speech. “I’m going to raise them some day. Where do apa…apa…” he stuttered to an almost halt before demanding,” Say it again for me.”
    “Ap.pa.loo.sa…”
    As Hamilton watched in bewilderment, Sam resumed his conversation with Jacob, telling him about horses raised by the Nez Perce tribe.
    Hamilton eavesdropped, discovering more about Jacob during his son’s conversation with the bounty hunter nicknamed Snake, than Hamilton had learned in six months of visits.
    Charlie Wolf pulled his attention back to the current issue. The half civilized tracker married to Comfort’s sister had his own opinion to share.
    “Quince. You messed up. You shouldn’t have tried to fool Comfort. She’s smarter than you.” Charlie shook his head, giving him a disgusted look.
    “I take it she knows I’m on my way home.” When Charlie nodded, Hamilton tightened his grip on the reins and clucked at the horses. “Might as well face the music then,” he muttered. “Hang on to your sister, Jacob.”
    The horses trotted smartly into the town, a rider on each side of the buggy.  When he started toward the Mercantile, Charlie shook his head. “She’s at the boardinghouse waiting.”
    Later, Hamilton would remember the last patch of dusty street that lay between him and Comfort as the longest ride of his life. He didn’t have a plan, he didn’t have any excuses, and he didn’t know how to say, “I’m sorry.”  He’d broken his promise to never hurt her and was about to deliver pain no woman deserved.
    But dammit, Jacob was his son. No one who looked at the boy could doubt that.  The thick black hair, lanky length of him, and dark eyes were a dead give-away about who’d sired the kid.
    Hamilton felt his chest swell with pride. He had a son, even though it had been an ill-considered moment of jealousy and anger years before that had