Free The Lady in the Mist (The Western Werewolf Legend #1) by Catherine Wolffe Page A

Major Perkins,” the whip-thin storekeeper said as he peered at the union soldier over his spectacles.  “Would you be wanting them?”
    “Perhaps,” Perkins said as he cut his gaze in their direction.  His eyes never left Ty’s.  Ty could see the faintest hint of consideration in the soldier’s face.  “Put them on my tab,” Perkins told the storekeeper.
    “So many to choose from,” Sonja quipped as she studied the guns under the glass topped cabinet.
    Doing a fine job, Ty mused, as he gave her a lighthearted smile along with a pat on the back before peering into the case.
    “Hum, lots of nice ones,” he said loud enough for others to hear.  “Which one do you suppose I should get, cousin?”  Ty smelled a strange scent emanating from Major Perkins direction.  Without glancing over, he could see the man watching them intently.
    “I don’t know, Jacob.  Which one do you like?”  Sonja had to tug on his coat sleeve to bring him back.  Major Perkins’ perusal of her wore at his patience.  He didn’t like the gleam in the man’s eye.
    Taking her by the elbow, “Let’s look at these before we make a decision, shall we?”  Guiding her further away, he switched sides to block Perkins view.  The man had a lustful gaze, which went well beyond a normal appreciation for Sonja.  Ty wouldn’t allow him to enjoy the view any more than he could prevent.
    “What’s wrong?” Sonja whispered.  Her eyes bore into his with a cool intensity.
    “Don’t look now, but I think you have an admirer,” he told her.  “The man doesn’t have respectable intentions.  Stay close to me.”
    “I can take care of myself,” she snapped for his ears only.  “You don’t have to worry about me, Lieu…cousin.”
    “Maybe not, but indulge me, won’t you, my dear?”  Ty’s grip made her wince.  Giving him a truly sinister look, she smiled politely.
    They examined the guns for a few more minutes, before moving on to the staples.  Sonja purchased a half a pound of flour as well as a dram of sugar.  With her purchases tucked neatly in the crook of his arm, Ty escorted her toward the door.
    Perkins stepped up effectively blocking their way.  Tipping his cavalry hat, he smiled thinly.  “Excuse me.”
    Ty itched behind the faux beard but dared not make a move.  Instead, he cut his gaze hard at the man.  If he wasn’t mistaken, Perkins smelled like something he’d encountered before, recently.
    “Yes, Major?”  Sonja’s cool question cut the tension building between the two men.  Making a point of stepping in front of Ty’s ramrod form, she sweetened her voice a tad.  “What can we do for you?”
    Perkins drug his gaze away from Ty’s steely stare to bow at the waist for her.  “My apologies, ma’am, but if since you live near the swamp off Tanner Hill Road, I needed to ask you something.”
    Sonja’s breathing shortened while her spine tightened in Ty’s hand.  “Yes, what’s that?”
    “Have you seen any unusual activity which might indicate someone hiding out in the vicinity?”
    Her brow furrowed in honest concern.  “No, why?”
    “We have reason to believe Rebels may have escaped into the swamp after a skirmish along the road.”  He eyed Ty silently.  “If you come across anything, do report to the authorities, won’t you?”  His smile remained greasy as he glanced from her to Ty.  “I’d hate to have to bring you in for questioning.”
    Ty’s stare proved as blain as unleavened bread.  Making a point of sliding his hand in his front pocket, he cocked a hip sideways, he offered Perkins the slimmest of sneers like something stank.  Something about the man smelled literally as well as figuratively.
    “Yes, of course we will.”
    Ty steered her around Perkins before heading out the front door of the store without so much as a tip of his hat in dismissal.  With a glance behind them from under his hat, Ty growled low in his throat.  “This was probably a bad idea.