Read Over the Barrel for Free Online Page B

fish in the river.   Have you ever fished before?"
    "No."
    "Then it sounds like a perfect time
to learn.   Do you think you can
strip off a couple of those underskirts?   You'll move through the bush much better.   You would also be more comfortable in
the summer heat with fewer layers."
    "I cannot."
    "Do it your way, you stubborn
chit.   You are worse than a squirrel
refusing to budge from a branch," Sloan shrugged, and led the way back
down to the stream where small pools housed a number of rainbow trout
scrambling through the water.
    Blair watched, feigning disinterest, as
Sloan tried time after time to snatch a fish with his bare hands.   Becoming quite wet in the process, he
stripped off his shirt and washed his upper body in the cold water, scrubbing
trail dirt off with handfuls of grass.   Blair's lips parted and her breath quickened as she observed him.   His hands seemed to move in slow motion
over the rigid muscles of his shoulders, arms, and abdomen.   Her breath caught deep in her throat as
she openly stared at the ripples of his belly and the balls of muscle that
undulated under a dark gold tan.   A
golden shimmer rose from his skin as the dark sunlight of the departing day
shone down upon him, making him glow in the warm light.   He stood, his back facing her, and
revealed a carved physique from the back of his neck that disappeared in a
slender V-shape under the waistband of his heavy trousers.
    "I'm gonna make a spear.   I… what in blazes are you doing, woman?"
Sloan asked as Blair reached under her dress and untied one of her cotton
petticoats.   Without a word, she
pulled the ribbons tightly to cinch the waistband closed and then gathered the
open hem in her hands.   She
carefully picked her way over the rocks and studied the stream before piling
some larger rocks to dam one side of a very narrow point.   Tossing some rocks inside the skirt to
hold it under water and anchoring it on either side of the little canal, Blair
positioned herself to hold the 'net' in place.
    "Now is a good time to put your
commanding disposition to the test, Mr. Adkins.   Stomp around and scare the fish into
this channel."
    "That is …"
    "If you are going to say what I am
doing is stupid, then I will ask you to keep your opinion to yourself."
    "I was going to say brilliant.   I am intrigued.   Ready?"
    Blair bit her lower lip, hiding her
excitement as she saw four fish tumble into the basket made by the
undergarment.   She quickly drew the
hem edges together and gathered the catch.   Looking up at Sloan with a face-splitting smile, she offered him the net
to carry.
    "Would you take this, please?   It's heavy.   The water needs to drain out of
it."
    "Certainly.   I must say, Miss Farbor, that your
ingenuity is mighty impressive.   Please, allow me," he offered his arm to assist her out of the
shallow water.
    Blair paused to look up into his
face.   He had removed the eye
patch.   She gently touched the top
of his cheek to look at his injured eye.   "Your eyelid still looks swollen.   Does it hurt?"
    "Just annoying, especially if I get
dust in it.   How is your
bottom?" Sloan asked in return.
    Blair blushed.   "I am just fine, thank you.   You had no reason to ask that of me
except to cause me embarrassment!"
    "Girl, you really need to learn to
put those claws away.   I was
genuinely concerned.   I know I have
a heavy hand, especially when I mean business.   Not every question is meant to cause
offense."
    "My back end recovered several days
ago from your 'heavy hand', Mr. Sloan.   Further, if you kept my personal parts out of the conversation, I would
not be offended.   It is quite
simple."
    "Just when I think you are warming
up and becoming a human being, you turn your tongue on me.   Pitiful, that's what I think."
    "You are calling me
pitiful?"   Blair was aghast.
    "Pitiful, tragic, sad … take your
pick.   You have the opportunity to
change your life for the better and break away from the