aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) (3 page)

He
wasn’t right in the head of course. His contention that he was a hunter, but
didn’t hunt animals was just silly. If the tribe had found him poaching they
might have roughed him up a bit, or called the police. They certainly wouldn’t
have beat him to within an inch of his life and left him for dead.

“How
did he get to your place?” Ann’s voice brought her back to the present.

“Bobby
brought him.” Kimi shook her head. “The man has tattoos on his arm that look
like Star People symbols. My grandfather’s out of town, so of course he
delivered him to me.”

Ann
grinned. “You can always trust Bobby to blow something out of proportion. Did
you tell Jake about him?”

“Are
you crazy?” Kimi’s fingers clenched her books. “He would hit the roof if he
knew.”

Ann
opened the classroom door and held it until they were both in the hallway.

“He
only wants what’s right for you.”

“True,
but he doesn’t trust me to make my own decisions.”

They
walked outside and Ann stopped beside her blue compact. The clouds hung low in
the sky and promised rain. Kimi moved her books to her other arm.

“At
least your brother cares.” Ann unlocked her door. “I haven’t spoken to mine in
years.”

“I
suppose you’re right.” Kimi glanced at the playground and waved her children
over.

Ann
threw her books in the back seat of her car and then got in. “Let me know if
you need help with the stranger.”

“I
will.”

Kimi
waved goodbye and then met her kids at her battered, red truck. It had a king
cab and could hold several people. She could have afforded a newer model, but
this one moved around the back roads with ease. It suited her needs.

“Let’s
get home.”

She
opened the truck door. Peta and Wil jumped in and settled as she put her books
on the back seat. The ride home was filled with the children’s chatter about
their day. The time passed quickly. A flutter of excitement settled in her
lower belly when she pulled the truck to a stop in her driveway.

“I
hope Niail is still here.” Wil unbuckled his seatbelt. “I want him to tell me
about Hunters.”

Peta
jumped down from the truck. “He’s a man. He probably left.”

Kimi’s
heart constricted. Peta thought all men were like her father, Sam. He had left
without a word of goodbye. Despite her guest’s injuries, she should never have
let him stay. When he moved on, he would only confirmed Peta’s beliefs about
men.

The
house was quiet when they walked in. Everything in the kitchen was how she had
left it. Surely he didn’t have enough strength to leave? She dumped her books
on the table and then opened the guest room door.

He
was there.

He
was magnificent.

Niail
was asleep, sprawled out on the bed with the bedcovers thrown off. He slept on
his back, and except for a pair of briefs, he was nude. Her breath stilled as
she stared at him. She had never seen such raw beauty in a man before.

Every
part of him was massive. Her eyes skittered away from his lower body, but not
before she had noted how well-endowed he was. Sam had been average in that
department. Size wasn’t supposed to matter, but a fleeting curiosity had her
wondering if that were true. It took her a second to realize that the kids were
pushing behind her.

“Is
he here?” Wil’s voice was excited. “I need to show him my painting.”

Before
she could stop him, Wil had squeezed past her, and was at the bedside. He
touched Niail’s arm and started to shake him awake.

“Let
him sleep,” Peta ordered from beside her.

Niail
jolted and his body tensed. The size and definition of his muscles could have
only been accomplished through years of body building. A shock wave went
through Kimi, and for a second, she was frozen in place. Whoever this guy was,
he healed quickly. His bruises had lightened so that they were almost
imperceptible.

Niail’s
eyes locked with hers and everything faded. She was lost in his dark gaze. She
felt her cheeks heat and her breathing slow as the awareness of his strength
and masculinity overwhelmed her. She had never been attracted to muscular men
before, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Niail.

She
inhaled a quick breath, and broke the connection.

She
needed to keep her distance from this man. He would leave once he was better.
She couldn’t risk having her heart broken again. The next man she invited into
her life would have the same traditions, and heritage as her. He would be
Blackfeet.

“Look
at the painting I did of you today.” Wil shoved his artwork into Niail’s face.
“The teacher didn’t believe me when I said you were a superhero.”

Niail
pulled his sheets back over his body and then took the painting from Wil. “It
shows me with a cape.”

“Most
superheroes have them.” Wil looked about the room. “Mom must have washed
yours.”

“I’m
not the kind of superhero who wears one.” Niail handed the painting back. “You
have talent.”

Peta
pushed in beside her brother. “Are you staying for supper?”

Niail
looked up at Kimi. “You will have to ask your mother.”

“You’re
in no condition to leave for a few days yet.” She opened the door wider. “You
guys go and start your homework. Our guest needs quiet.”

When
the kids had left the room, Kimi walked to Niail’s bed. “How’s your head?”

“It’s
still foggy.” He grimaced. “Every time I try to focus I end up feeling worse.”

“Bobby
thought you were thrown from a truck.” She pulled up a chair and sat down.
“Your head hit a rock on the road. He didn’t think anyone could survive a blow
like that.”

“Where
did he find me?”

“You
were on the southeastern edge of the reservation. He had been out stargazing
when he heard the roar of engines. There were gun shots and that’s when he ran
to see who it was.”

“Most
would have run in the opposite direction. Bobby must be a brave man.” Niail
cleared his throat. “Did he see who did this to me?”

She
shook her head. “All he saw was the dust of the vehicles, and you lying on the
road. He ran after them, but there was no hope of him catching up.”

“I’m
grateful he tried.”

“Bobby
is my grandfather’s apprentice. My grandfather, Eluwilussit, is a healer.” Kimi
clasped her hands together. “Bobby said a normal man would have died, but other
than the near miss we had last night, you seem to be in perfect condition.”

“I’m
far from it.” Niail’s voice was wry. “My head aches, my brain is muddled, I
cannot remember anything about the attack, and I don’t know how to contact
help.”

“Time
will heal most of that.”

“I
hope so.” Niail gave her an unwavering stare. “Why did he bring me to you?”

“He
saw the markings.”

“That
is what Peta said.” Niail glanced at his arm. “Why should they be important?”

“Bobby
thought they made you special.” Kimi smiled. “I wouldn’t let that go to your
head. He thinks everybody is special.”

“So
you are the person who knows about these symbols?”

“My
grandfather is the expert. He’s in Billings right now, so Bobby loaded you onto
his old pickup and drove you here.”

Niail
looked straight ahead for a few seconds, and then turned back to her. “I’m
grateful, but that doesn’t explain why you agreed to take me in.”

“I
could hardly leave you in Bobby’s truck. You would have been dead before
sunrise.”

“It’s
not that easy to kill me.” Niail’s voice was dry. “Many have tried.”

“I
did notice quite a few scars. I don’t know what line of work you’re in, but you
might think about changing careers.”

“There
is only one life for a Hunter.”

Niail’s
words were spoken without emotion. There was no eagerness or enthusiasm in his
voice, just acceptance. It was almost as if there was no other choice for him.
She had never run across that from a hunter before. It was a sport that they
enjoyed.

He
was awake, and aside from a bad headache, there didn’t seem to be any signs of
confusion. It was obvious they were talking about two different things.

“What
does a Hunter do?”

Niail
looked at her without blinking for several seconds. His chin lifted. “We are an
ancient warrior race.”

For
a second, Kimi thought he was joking, but his face and voice were serious. “How
old would that be?”

“We
have existed since the start of civilization. The Kaladin forefathers altered
and modified us to be warriors beyond compare.”

Kimi
pursed her mouth. It sounded like a fantasy, but who was she to question it?
The man believed what he said. Given the number of traditions and stories of
her own people, she dare not judge too quickly. He wore the Star People
markings. The symbols were considered ancient time by the Blackfeet.

“Where
did you get the tattoos?”

“They
are tokens of my campaigns and achievements.”

“Do
you know what this symbol means?” She pointed to what looked like two mountain
tops with two circles below them.”

“Shield.”

“Why
do you have it?”

“It
is the symbol of my clan.” Niail rubbed the small tattoo. “I am clan Giath. We
are the first to enter a battle. Our aim is perfect.”

“My
people were given a similar symbol, but it means Protection.” Kimi cleared her
throat. “Our legends say the Star People came from the heavens and gave us
universal laws. The law of protection was one of them.”

“So
this is why I was brought to you.” Niail leaned back against his pillows. “Here
I would be accepted.”

Kimi
nodded. “Bobby was afraid to take you to the hospital. He thought if you were
one of the Star People it would be dangerous. The government might take you
away.”

Niail’s
dark eyes didn’t leave hers. A shiver raced across her head and goose bumps
raised on her arms. His eyes spoke of knowledge that she was afraid to know,
and yet intuitively, she knew it was necessary.

The
truth was in his gaze.

“Bobby
is very astute.”

Kim
looked closer at his arm. There was another symbol she recognized and she
pointed to it. It was a circle split in two by a vertical line. “What does this
one mean?”

Niail
looked at where her finger pointed. “It is a reminder that all Hunters are
brothers.”

Kimi
bit her lip. It was uncanny how similar, yet different, the symbols were. “It
means the law of equality for us.”

There
was one other symbol she thought was familiar. It was the very first marking on
his arm and looked like a lower case letter d. It meant the law of creation.
“What does this one mean?”

“It
was the day I was brought into the world.”

Kimi
inhaled. “The day you were born?”

“We
are birthed outside of women.”

A
chill went through her.

He
spoke as if he were a machine.

She
had seen his blood and injuries. He was a man.

“That’s
a strange way of putting it.”

“Since
time began, Hunters have been altered and bred to be the best warriors. We do
not have parents. We are created.”

Kimi
looked back at his arm and pointed at the symbols after the sign. “Is this the
date?”

“Yes.”

“How
old are you?”

“I
have seen twenty-eight years.”

“How
long have you been a warrior?

“I
was born a Hunter.” Niail’s voice was low. “I have seen battle for over fifteen
years.”

Kimi
swallowed. “By battle I’m assuming you mean war?”

“There
are many battles that do not involve war.”

Kimi
shook her head. “Who are you?”

“I
am a Hunter.” Niail shifted on the bed. “One who must rely on your
hospitality.
”

“You’re
welcome to stay here until you’re better.” Kimi stood up. “That gash on your
head is going to need a dressing change.”

“It’s
not the outside of my head that concerns me.” Niail turned to give her access
to the wound.

“It
should.” Kimi unraveled the gauze. “Infections are not easy to fight.”

She
frowned. Last night it had been an ugly wound that slashed across the right
side of his head for several inches behind his ear. There had been gravel and
dirt embedded, and it had taken a while to cleanse it. She had thought it
needed stitches. Bobby had insisted she not notify anyone, so against her
better judgement, she had just applied antibiotic lotion and gauze.

“Is
there a problem?” Niail grunted as he tried to look back at her.