Free Evangelina Green by Susan Firtik

never told her to chill . It was always
just understood that Tashi knew best—in her mind anyway. She didn’t
understand that Lina let her think she knew everything about everything, so long as
she didn’t interfere or hurt anyone. Lina was the momma hen and
deep down they all knew it.
    Netta was in the kitchen, sitting in the
only chair available at the moment. It was an overstuffed living
room chair. The dining chairs were being refinished in a deep, rich
oak color to match the new table coming next week. She looked tired
but her beautiful face lit up in a welcoming smile when she saw
Lina come into the room.
    "Oh my God, I’ve missed you!" She sobbed as
she hugged her sister. Lina made her sit back down and offered her
a cup of hot tea.
    "What has Tashi in such a twist? Good tea.
The place looks like a tornado hit here. Farther along than I
thought it would be though. Sorry we’re early. Oh, and sorry about
the vase. And a man? Tell me everything!” She didn't even take a
breath.
    "You’re getting as bad as
she is, Netta! She...uhhh...well kinda caught me with that man in my
room."
    And before she could finish, Netta squealed
with delight and started with more rapid-fire questions.
    "What’s his name? Where
did he come from? How did you meet? Where is he now? And
he's hot! He
walked through here a minute ago and I nearly swooned. He's even
hotter close up ,
am I right? And you’re smitten? And it’s about time! This is
wonderful!”
    Lina had to wave her hands in Netta’s face
to get her to halt.
    " Breathe !" she ordered.
    Netta drew in a huge lung full and then
started laughing at herself. She was just so happy for Lina. She’d
been alone and working too hard for too long!
    Lina was standing at the sink, just staring
out the window, slowing sipping her tea. Lina had a lot of
questions herself.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
    The house settled into a quiet routine by
that evening. Lina was cooking. Tashi was gathering dishes,
silverware, and napkins. Netta was cuddled up in the chair with a
blanket having become chilled. Her health was not improving and
Lina was very, very worried. She whispered to Tashi.
    "What did that last hematologist say about
Netta’s white blood count?”
    Tashi took a quick glance over her shoulder
to make sure Netta wasn’t listening. "The initial report said they
found some anomalies, but they couldn’t expand on that. And we
already kinda knew there was something odd going on. So again, we
wait for more information from the lab. She seems stronger today
than last week. But, she had a setback, about a month ago, and I’m
not sure it didn’t do some permanent damage somehow."
    There were indeed some deep dark circles
under Netta’s eyes and a sunken look to her cheekbones. Gaunt. That
was the word to describe her haunted look.
    Netta rose to rinse her cup. They knew she
must have overheard them but rather than get into the same
discussion they always had, with either of them, she looked to be
feigning disinterest and sipped the last of her tea, watching out
the window.
    Netta stiffened and
squeaked, "What the hell is that?”
    Tashi and Lina ran for the window in time to
see two dark wolves slowly canter around the end of the house,
headed toward the front. It wasn’t the silver wolf she’d been
warned about. So now that took the wolf count up to what...three?
It was that time of day between broad daylight and dusk.
    The shock of seeing wolves after the long
trip to get here was a bit too much for Netta. "I’ve never seen
wolves out this early in the day. Could they be rabid? Or have you
pets we didn’t know about, Lina?" Netta grinned, apparently trying
to lighten the mood.
    Lina had a feeling it
wouldn’t be the last they saw of the wolves. Yet, she wasn’t
frightened and strangely she felt safer knowing they were out
there. She saw them waiting for an answer. "Not my pets, thank you. However, I’ve
seen them out and about for couple days and they aren’t as wild and
ferocious as TV