Free Wolf Hiding (A Wolf in the Land of the Dead Book 2) by Toni Boughton Page B

hawk, the closeness of her death was evident in her eyes. She spoke in a pleading whisper. “I didn’t kill anyone. I had nowhere else to go, and they took care of me. I just worked with them. I never hurt anyone. I swear. I swear . And, if Willie and Mac killed anyone, I never knew about it.” Her voice trailed off
    “How could you not know?”
    “When Willie and Mac showed up, I would go back to the car and wait for them. They’d bring the supplies over and I’d drive us back to our place.” Tears overflowed the pale green eyes and tracked down the woman’s colorless face.”They told me that they let the people go. I believed them.”
    Nowen snarled and let the other woman go. Suzannah raised a trembling hand to her neck, and Nowen stepped back and pierced her with an amber gaze. “You were either woefully or purposefully ignorant. Killing you is more trouble than you’re worth. I won’t stop you from coming with us. But I have a goal, and if you do one more thing to keep me from that goal, I will make you regret it.” She turned away from the other woman and crossed to the door. Her hand was on the doorknob when Suzannah called out.
    “What happened to them?” The words were colored with uncertainty.
    Nowen looked back over her shoulder. “Do you really want to know?”
    Suzannah just stared without answering.

Chapter Ten
    They crossed into Montana three hours after leaving Douglas, and an hour after that the city of Billings rose out of the prairie before them. Anton and Suzannah talked quietly in the front seats. Nowen tuned them out and watched the landscape fly by, her mind in turmoil. She endlessly debated her decision to spare Suzannah’s life until she tired of the thoughts and shoved them ruthlessly away. She’s not trustworthy, but neither is Anton. I let her live; it’s over and done with. She rubbed her aching temples and looked at Sage.
    The girl was turning something over and over in her hands, but her dark brown eyes were staring at Nowen. Nowen stared back, and the girl looked down at the object she was holding. I should say something. Right? “What do you have there?” Nowen asked awkwardly.
    Sage held her hand out. Balanced on her flat palm was a small snow globe. A tiny deer in a tiny forest stood in the midst of a miniature snowstorm. Diamond-white flakes settled slowly to the forest floor, and when the water had cleared Sage gave the globe a gentle shake and set the snow flying again.
    “Oh, that’s nice. And pretty. Did you get that back at the motel?”
    Sage nodded and drew the little souvenir back. She held it up to her face, her gaze tracking the bits of glitter as they drifted around the globe. Now what? Nowen cast about for something else to say. “I bet you don’t get much snow in Texas, huh?”
    Sage gave her a look, a mix of pity and humor. “I’ve seen snow before.”
    “Ah.”
    “Two years ago, when I was visiting Uncle Fernando in Amarillo, it snowed so much everything closed. That was fun.”
    “I see.” They looked at each other, and Nowen thought that the girl wanted to talk about as much as she did. But it’s not right, is it, to just ignore her? Think of something to say! She cleared her throat and said “Do you like school?”
    Again the pitying look. “Yes. But there’s been no school for awhile.”
    “Oh, right. Right.” I’d rather face down a rampaging horde of fast Revs. “Well, do you like to...read?”
    Sage tilted her head to one side. “You’re not very good at this, are you?”
    Nowen surprised herself by laughing, something she’d not done in months. She smiled. The girl gave a small answering smile. “No, I’m not too good at this. I thought it wasn’t right to share this space with you and not try to talk. But if you want me to shut up and leave you alone, just say the word.”
    Sage’s face grew serious. “Can I ask you something?” the girl said, so low it was almost a whisper.
    “Sure.”
    Her dark brown eyes seemed to