Read Rachel's Totem for Free Online Page B

abide by that minor instruction, the entire property goes to Monty GrayClaw or his descendants.”
    “What?”
    Gerald sighed. “Just read the damned letter and burn it, Burke. It’s easy enough to understand. Rachel, you okay with this?”
    “Sure. I guess.” She gave Burke a wary look and turned her attention back to her envelope. Opening it, she read the letter, her frown growing as her eyes flew over the page.
    Burke muttered under his breath about contrary females and did the same, thinking Charlotte’s grand, flowing script fit with the larger-than-life, autocratic woman who liked to boss him at every turn. Even in death she reached out to tell him what to do.
    Dear Burke,
    As the hotheaded leader of your pride, I expect nothing less than your very best in regards to my lovely niece, Rachel. You’ve been after my land for some time, and I know you only have the town’s best interests at heart. To that effect, I bequeath to you the care of the totem’s guardian and all that comes with her, with the exception of my house, which Rachel needs more than you can know. Of course, this is conditional on Rachel accepting you—truly accepting you.
    She’s a Penny through and through, and needs a strong man by her side. It’s my deepest wish that you take her as a mate and as a wife, or if you refuse to see her coming as the gift it is, as at least a member of your pride. But make sure she fulfills her 34
    responsibilities to Cougar Falls. She was born to summon the totem. Stand by her as she learns what to do, and whatever you do, don’t desert her in her time of need. Be the strong male presence in her life I never had. And don’t even think of working around me on this. You’re not nearly as smart as you think you are. Help my niece and help yourself.
    Lead her, Burke, show her the way. All or nothing. And you and the town will find a treasure to preserve the past.
    Sincerely, a pain in the ass ’til the end,
    Charlotte
    Glancing at Gerald, Burke wondered what the hell to make of this. “You know what it says?”
    Gerald nodded. “I’m the only one. You finished?” He reached for the letter, taking it from Burke’s limp hand. In seconds the lighter he held burned the letter to ash, and they both turned their attention to Rachel.
    Scowling, she gripped the page tighter as she finished, then reread her missive. “This is nuts.” She stared at Gerald. “You actually encouraged my aunt with this nonsense?”
    “It’s not nonsense.” Gerald nodded to the letter. “Read it again until you’re sure you won’t forget what’s written there. I’m not allowed to assist you any more than I already have. From now on, if you have questions, Burke’s here to guide you with regards to the actual property and what’s in it.”
    Burke didn’t know how the hell he was going to guide Rachel in anything considering he had no idea how to “call” the damned totem, or how to make the thing work. When Charlotte’s health had begun to fail, the totem’s magic had wavered, then weakened. And when she’d died, the magic and the large relic had vanished. A twenty-foot tall hunk of wood just…gone.
    Now Charlotte implied Rachel was here to take over where she’d left off, hell, maybe even to be his wife, if Charlotte had her way, and Gerald, that asshole, had known about this the whole time.
    35
    “We’ve been without protection for a week.” Burke took a threatening step in Gerald’s direction. “If you knew, you should have—”
    “I’ve done as I’ve been told. Now it’s up to you and Rachel. Sink or swim, this town needs its defenses before the others step in. And I think you know who I’m talking about.” Gerald stared beyond Burke toward the woods.
    Yeah, Gerald had smelled the wolves as well. The encroaching bastards. The gray wolves wanted the totem for themselves, not content with their large territory in Glacier National Park. The mangy canines wanted a better handhold on “civilization,”