Page 60 of Defying the Relic Hunter

The stucco warrior led us to Kanab, Utah. Yep, the place where in 1921 Freddy Crystal, an Indiana Jones type, had convinced the town folk that his four centuries old map would lead them to Montezuma’s lost treasure. Those poor farmers had been digging in the wrong place. The treasure wasn’t in Johnson Canyon, it was at a nearby lake. I just had to figure out which one.

Kanab is a pleasant, mid-size town geared to tourists and treasure hunters. Every business had treasure maps for sale and a directory of guides willing to take you to Johnson Canyon.

Xenia and I wanted to explore some of the intriguing antique stores listed on the city’s website, but our cranky mates were in a hurry and would only stop for lunch and gas. Thewarlordshad decided for security reasons to use Xenia’s gas guzzling Hummer. Cause no one knew about it.

Xenia was utterly fascinated by the gas pumps and asked Quinn to show her how to fuel her vehicle. I quickly volunteered to get lunch. It’d give me time to browse the gift store attached to the gas station.

The minute Ethan and Quinn stepped out of the Hummer it was instant chaos. You’d think the women of this town had never seen a hot guy before. I mean, my God, they weren’t vid stars, they were Coletti. Severalladiesjockeying for the pump next to the Hummer kissed bumpers and all hell broke loose.

Ethan seemed more annoyed than interested in the scantily clad females and once he gave them his scary face, the girls all flocked over to Quinn.

Xenia waved the gas nozzle at them. “He’s mine. Get lost.”

The women took one look at her glowing eyes and backed off.

I shook my head in disbelief as more cars full of excited women squealed into the parking lot. Entering the store, I headed to the racks of colorful tee-shirts.

“Get our food Kizzy. You can shop all you want after we find the treasure,”Ethan rumbled in my head.

“What’s the hurry. The treasure has been lost for hundreds of years. An hour or two isn’t going to make that much of a difference.”

“Have you forgotten about the Bjarke hunters searching for us.”

“Good point.”Grabbing a basket, I filled it with pre-packaged sandwiches, chips, chocolate bars and cold drinks.

The bell on the shop door dinged and Ethan strolled in. “Got everything?”

“I do.” I gave the stink-eye to the women peering through the window, but they just on kept waving and making kissy faces. Ugh.

Totally ignoring them, Ethan commandeered the basket, added some beer and pushed it over to the cash register.

Even though the cashier was pushing seventy, she ogled Ethan like he was a rock star.

“I snapped my fingers in her face. “Could you ring us up?”

“Yes, oh yes.” The cashier’s eyes never left Ethan.

“Today would be nice.” I piled everything on the counter.

A silly grin on her face, the cashier slowly rang up the items. “A big guy like you must eat a lot.”

I smothered a groan.

Ethan smiled politely. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You can call me Mabel.”

I glanced at her wedding ring. “How many grandchildren do you have, Mabel?”

“Eighteen and I’m a widow. A very lonely widow.” Mabel rapidly fluttered her eyelashes.

I plucked a bottle of eye drops off a display and slapped it down in front of her. “This might help that twitch you’ve developed.”

“Thank you, dearie.” Her irritated gaze swept over me before focusing back on Ethan. “That’ll be twenty-eight credits, honey.”

Ethan held his bracelet against the scanner.

“There’s a church social tonight, please tell me you’re coming,” Mabel gushed.

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