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  AMETHYST

  By

  Sharon R. Barrett

  ********

  PUBLISHED BY

  Sharon R. Barrett at Smashwords

  Amethyst

  By Sharon R. Barrett

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  copyright 2010 Sharon R. Barrett

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Adult reading material

  The book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The Characters are production of the authors imagination and used fictitiously.

  I also wish to thank all those friends who let me practice on them with all the revisions; a special thank you to my niece Melissa to whom I delicate this book too.

  Cover picture by Robyn Swaim

  Prologue

  Casper, Wyoming, U.S.A.

  In the corner of the office hung an old clock from the eighteen century which did not fit in to the ultramodern furniture of the high-rise office. A large glass desk sat near the floor to ceiling windows with the name plate Mark Hartman President. Two pictures on one wall gave way to a warped view of life with abstract paint marks on canvas. On another wall framed diplomas from UCLA. The walls painted a cream color to give the brown carpet a feeling of warmth. A door to a private bathroom was on the left. Double doors lead out of his office into the secretarial area.

  The man sitting at the desk in a deep brown plush high back office chair looked like a weasel. His sharp pointed nose stuck out from to thin a face. His gaunt appearance made him appear shorter then his five foot ten height. His dark brown suit was tailor especially for him; Italian made shoes, giving off the outward aspect to having money. He said nothing as his mind dismissed plan after plan that would not work in his favor. From the sixteenth floor he could see all of Casper and the day proved to be a sunny day, but his mood was less than sunny! He was down right angry!

  Two men stood waiting for their boss to speak. Finally speaking both men jumped slightly as his voice boomed across the room. "We have to get the girl!" Good he thought they were scared of him. Put the fear of God into a man and he will do anything you ask. Or put enough money in his pocket!"

  "Her father is out of the picture now, nice and tidy; work well done! But he left a will with his only daughter Amethyst as beneficiary. I tried to find the damn will and could not, searched the entire house, found nothing, but then didn't find the money she had to have taken with her to get away. We have to get her to sign over everything to me then we can sell her off to some slave trade in Asia. I am sure I can make a nice tidy sum for her. To bad we cannot get the lawyer to bend to our will. The damn man is faithful to his clients I'll give him that. And his life has been clean; he has never gotten a parking ticket in his life. The man is a new description for squeaky clean and should be in the dictionary."

  "Boss you want for me to rough up the lawyer a little?" The tallest man Big Red said with a sneer. Hartman looked at Big Red and thought, "he is really a big man, over weight by fifty pounds, must be six foot five. He had been in the minors as a wrestler and never made it to the big time. An accidental blow to his head left him slightly incapable of thinking things out. He was good at taking orders and nothing more.

  The other man Ray was shorter, hot tempered, and just as mean as Big Red. The stupid man never thought first then acted. Just reacted to what ever was happening around him. The fool would get himself killed one of these times; maybe that would be a good thing the man was dangerous when out of control.

  "No, damn it, that is too risky. As for Amethyst, after marrying her, I would have screwed her a few times, he laughed. Tried black mail, but she saw right through me. Now either way we are going to have to kill her!" A smile crossed his lips as he thought about how great it would have been to poke her a few times; maybe I could have kept her for a while, but I know I could not keep her for good. That would be too dangerous to do, she knew too much. People who know too much it is best to get rid of them, no telling when they might turn on you. Damn the bitch ruined all my plans!"

  "The lawyer's telephone is bugged, there is a man watching him all the time. So far he has done nothing out of the ordinary. Hired a private investigator named Zanderland he specializes in run a ways and people in hiding. Told the stupid investigator she was my niece and she had run away from home. The damn fool believed me when I told him her father passed away and she was out of control. Told Zanderland I was worried about her and what might happen to her with her so distressed. I hired him because I understand he has special talents for his work. His rate of success is extremely high. It is as if he has a six sense about run a ways. He damn well better find her for what I am paying him a day! It will be well worth it when he finds her; I can then dispose of her. I have the house phone bugged, a man watching the house keeper Anna. Amethyst has not tried to contact her; Anna truly does not know where Amethyst is. I slipped her a drug; she talked about everything, but knew nothing about what I needed to know. Anna and Amethyst were extremely close; it surprises me that she has not tried to contact Anna. Amethyst will want to contact Anna after a while just for nothing else then to let her know she is well. When she does, then we have her! Now the two of you get out of here and get back to work," Hartman's face turned red with anger.

  "Yes boss," Big Red said as he was leaving the room.

  Hartman shuffled a few papers around his desk, then got up and walked out of his office. Stopping at his secretary's desk; "Miss Marshall I will be back in an hour I am going out to lunch." Miss Marshall was an older woman in her fifty's. Small amount of gray hair at the sides of her ears, very nice looking, but not to his taste she was too intelligent. She was smart enough to keep her mouth shut mind her own business. One of the reasons she had been with Hartman for ten years. Walking out the glass door that said Richardson & Hartman Company, he walked quickly to the elevators pushed the down button and waited; when the doors opened he stepped in side. Pushing the button for lobby the doors closed.

  Chapter 1

  Lifting her ass off the car seat for the tenth time and trying to move a little was impossible. "The next small town I drive into I am staying the night! My butt and my one leg is a sleep. Should have my head examined for being alone on this damn trip! But then I could not endanger another person. Darn how many miles has it been since I left the last big town heading north. Seems like days instead of hours. At least the roads are decent to travel on," she thought.

  When her father had told her she was born on the dark of the moon moving to the waxing moon of the dark moon on an eclipse. She laughed then needed to know what it all meant. Her father had told her she was capable of thinking first then action. She was a warrior type. "Oh sure warrior what am I doing running not fighting. Father would say I was smart enough to run to fight another day. And he had said she was a survivor!"

  Knowing you can't win where you're at then you move to a place you can. Laughing we are to make good mothers, great lovers and intelligent. Her father had nearly named her Sliver because that was what the moon was when she was born. Amethyst knew her father was teasing. She had been sixteen when they had the talk that all she wolves got from their fathers. She had been amazed at how much the moon effected were
's and more so with her. Memories flooded her mind and a tear ran down her cheek to be quickly wiped away with her hand. "No time to cry now, oh a road sign."

  Five more miles to the next small town, the bottom of the sign is obscured to see the town clearly, I've driven enough miles for one day; my eyes do not want to focus on the last part of the name! Was it Coyote Ridge or Coyote Run? I hope to God they have a motel, sick and tired of sleeping in this vehicle. At least there is some day light left to check the town out. Could be a safe place to stay for a couple of days", she said to herself out loud.

  "Small northern town; damn right" she swore! "Population hundred and twenty-one is a really small town; yes Coyote Ridge." It is made up of two streets the main street she noticed had a gas station, diner, a bar, clinic, bank and, grocery store combination with a small hardware store, newspaper office and a few houses. The second street has houses and a saddle shop, dentist office, and an antique shop, fur traders' store, but no motel! At the bottom of the first street, awe yes cabins for rent that works for me since there is no hotel or motel in the whole town," she thought." Slowly driving to the northern end of the town to the sign saying cabins for rent she pulled her vehicle into a parking spot. "Well let's hope one is available."

  Climbing out of the SUV she almost slipped to the ground. Hanging on to the door, waiting until her feet and legs could hold her. She grabbed her purse and slowly walked up the four steps and into the small building to a counter. Sitting at a table was a man who appeared to be around fifty and a woman who seemed to be around the same age playing crib. Both were in excellent shape for their ages. The woman was tall around five foot seven, slender with a pretty round face, she didn't appear to have any gray hair and it was not dyed. The man was more than likely six-foot, looked like a lumber jack from an old-time movie. Nice looking guy with brown hair that was a little to long. It looked more like the hippie style of the seventy's, the style suited him. The office was spotless, counter shined; floors looked as if they were cleaned after someone walked in to the office.

  Looking at the couple Amethyst felt uncomfortable at first as if she was intruding on their date night. "Do you have a cabin available for me to rent?" Saying with more confidence then she felt, and her voice sounded tired, other wise OK.

  The woman looked her way and smiled, "sure do. You could take your pick we have six. Too early for summer vacationers and hunters, so they are all empty."

  "One bedroom will do nicely, thank you. How much for a week? I can use a break. Relax; see some of your beautiful country side. Take a picture or two."

  "My name is Paula, husband here is Ned, rent is seventy-five dollars a week, have you been driving a long distance?" Paula asks with a big smile.

  "Amethyst instantly liked Paula and Ned. Paula had a way of making a person feel relaxed and trusting. For that reason she felt it was safe to tell Paula her real name and where she was from. Yes, all the way from Wyoming!"

  "My, that is a long drive! What brings you up this far north? Certainly not our weather this time of the year and there are no fancy or historical sites around here. Please sign the register".

  Once Amethyst signed the register Paula turned it and looked, "so your name is Amethyst Richardson. Welcome to our small town Amethyst I hope you enjoy your stay. How long will you be staying?"

  "I am sure I will like it here, thank you. Just needed to get away for a while, maybe take some pictures as I said before, take some home with me of the local wild life." Feeling as if she pulled that lie off the woman seems to believe her thank goodness. "Just a few days to a week is all."

  "Cabin six has a single bedroom; here is the key, just drive around the back of the building here, and down the narrow road about a quarter of a mile. Bedding and everything is in the cabin. You will have to go up to the store and get some groceries otherwise; you will have to eat at the diner. Foods good, home style cooking, all you can eat on Wednesday nights. They open at seven in the morning and close around eight at night. If you want to eat after that you will have to go to Wylie's Bar, you can get sandwiches, hamburgers and fries there. People here are friendly, mind their own business and don't get involved in vacationers. If you need anything Amethyst just drop in."

  "Thank you Paula, I think I will head up to the store and get groceries. Then hit the diner for something to eat, then crawl into bed and sleep for a day or so." Paula's laughter filled the room making Amethyst smile. She liked Paula she was warm, friendly and smiled the entire time she talked.

  Walking out the door she stopped at the top of the steps and looked up the street then down. "Not much to look at but still it might be safe for a couple of days or so." Feeling as if someone was watching her, Amethyst pulled her long hair around to the front of her and slowly walked down the steps to her vehicle. All the while she searched the area but saw no one. Walking across the street to the grocery store the uneasiness continued, but it was not a feeling of being in danger. A feeling of being watched, her senses were on over load, she wondered why.

  Rain moved away from the front door, down one of the aisles and out a side exit. His heart was beating out of control, "Darn it any how, she is the most stunning woman I have ever seen. I will have to get a better look at her! She knew she was being watched; sense females seem to have with all the other little quirks, idiosyncrasy and idealistic attitudes they have. Things about the fairer sex he loved so much! Females don't think like men, sometimes they don't make sense, and they can irritate us no end, but the trip down the road is always well worth it, pot holes and all." He laughed out loud!

  After shopping for some groceries to make sandwiches, she slipped over to the diner. She looked around the diner not to many people in to eat. So taking a seat at the bar instead of a table or at a booth seemed like the thing to do. Booths ran down two walls and the floor was filled with tables.

  A waitress in jeans, blouse and an apron came to her immediately. "Can I help you?"

  "Yes, a bacon and lettuce and tomato sandwich with mayo and a cup of coffee please."

  "Sure thing," the waitress moved to a small window behind the bar, gave the order to the cook. Susan returned with a pot of coffee and a cup. "My names Susan if you need anything just yell."

  Susan seemed really friendly, young around her age twenty-one or two. Light brown hair that was short and curly, straight white teeth showed when she smiled. It suited her perk little nose and brown eyes. She had a small figure and stood about five feet tall. Making small talk was fun. Well not in a bad way. She had good things to say about the community, and the people who lived here. She truly did love the society she lived in. She seemed as if growing up here in this small town was her entire life. Maybe it was she was happy with it, most young girls would rather leave and head out to the larger towns. Myself I could leave the big city and settle in a small area.

  Listening to the waitress chat was refreshing. Her mind now concentrating on what Susan was saying. "A little over four years ago, two guys moved in named Rain and Pend, they purchased some land five miles north and west and east of town. Rain is single, Pend married a while back. Then some more guys moved into the area. They are all to die for. Joe, Matt and Raw, are single and Markus is engaged. The rest of Rains friends are married I believe. It seems they attract women like sugar attracts ants. I dated Matt for a while, but it did not last. They all have this animalistic wild aura about them. They have a way of making a woman feel like she is the only woman in the word that means anything to them." Susan laughed when Amethyst gave her a raised eye brow.

  Amethyst spoke softly and sweetly saying, "They sound absolutely yummy! Not interested in getting to know any of the men in the area. I am here on vacation; won't be here long, only couple of days more, then I will be moving on. Then on the other hand, maybe I should; have some fun. It sure cannot hurt, but nothing permanent," she said to Susan with a change of the mind

  Susan laughed, and said, "Men do not grow on trees in small towns like this one. Most of the young men head so
uth to the bigger cities where all the excitement is. Myself I love small towns, you know everyone, and the crime rate is low if nonexistent."

  "If the young men leave, head south to the larger cities, then why did Rain and Pend move into the area?"

  Susan smiled," they came to work in the lumber mill south of town. The lumber mill put an advertisement in the big city papers for lumber yard workers."

  Handing Susan cash for the meal and a nice tip she thanked Susan and walked out. Getting into her vehicle it was not long she was on the small road to the cabin. The cabins were back a ways from the main house. "I suppose people like to be left alone when on vacation. In a way kind of lonesome, but that suits me just fine." She thought as her SUV moved towards cabin number six.

  Cabin number one set far to the left in the woods a little and cabin two and three to the far right. There was plenty of room between the cabins for privacy. Jack pines were over eighty feet high and were cleared of lower limbs. Further down the lane she came to cabin four and five off to the left and then saw cabin six to the right and further down. Cabin six looked lonely since it set back in the woods and further apart from the other cabins. The cabins were actually real cabins made with logs and mud. They were well taken care of and even had porches. In places it appeared that mud had been replaced or repacked. The roof looked as if it had been repaired recently with new cedar shakes. Looking around a little more she expected to see a teepee or two. Then she laughed at the thought of an Indian coming out of the woods heading to his teepee. She could almost imagine an out-door fire and a deer roasting over it; an Indian maiden waiting for her brave with a child in her arms. Beyond the cabins was a medium size lake. More then likely people fished in the lake.