Read Online Lone Star 04 by Wesley Ellis - Free Book Online Page B

worry. I am half Japanese and half American. As far as I know, there are no Transylvanians on either side of my family.” His smile faded and he stared into the fire. “I see, though, what has happened to these people. And I understand how it could happen. I think you do too.”
    â€œOh, yes. I do, Ki.” She sipped her coffee and set it down.
    â€œThis is a strange business, Jessie. I don’t know what to make of it. There were no stock out there by the creek, you know. The few animals they have are all penned up right here in the village.”
    â€œWolves have been known to attack people before,” Jessie reminded him.
    â€œYes, they have. But not without some reason. If they are starving, for instance. Or cornered, with no way out. Neither of those things happened here.”
    â€œNo, so what’s the answer?”
    Ki shrugged. “I don’t know, but—” He stopped abruptly and turned, peering about the room. “Jessie, where is Feodor? I just remembered I haven’t seen him since I brought in Gustolf.”
    Jessie winced. “I forgot to tell you. He went out there, Ki.”
    â€œIn the fields?” Ki shook his head in wonder. “Is everyone crazy around here? I don’t suppose he’s armed, or that anyone went with him?”
    Before Jessie could answer, Sonia came in from the back room, slumped wearily against the table, and ran a hand through her hair.
    â€œThere’s still some coffee,” said Jessie. She got up and laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Why don’t you sit down and get some rest? Your father’s going to be just fine, Sonia. He’s a strong man, and he’ll heal fast. In a few days—”
    Sonia jerked away, dark eyes blazing with anger. “My father was right. You understand nothing, do you? He will not be ‘just fine,’ Miss Starbuck!”
    â€œBut he will, Sonia—”
    â€œNo!” Tears streaked her cheeks. “Do you know what our people are doing now? They are gathered in one of the cottages. They pray to the saints that Gustolf dies, that his wounds will not heal. That is my prayer as well!”
    â€œWhat?” Jessie caught the girl and turned her roughly around. “Sonia—you can’t mean that!”
    A low cry caught in the girl’s throat and she sank to a chair and buried her face in her hands. “If—if a werewolf brings blood to a human, the blood of the creature itself taints its victim.” She peered up at Jessie, her features strained with fear. “If my father should live, then he will become as the man-wolf himself, at the next full moon!”
    Jessie moved toward her. “No!” The girl shrank away. “You don’t understand. You don’t know about these things.”
    â€œI know that you’re terribly frightened. That you believe that’s what will happen. But it won‘t, Sonia, really.”
    Sonia laughed through her tears. “You would know this, of course. A rich lady from America has great knowledge of my country and what happens there.”
    â€œI don’t know Transylvania, or anything about you and your people,” Jessie admitted. “I do know men don’t turn into wolves.”
    â€œYou know nothing!” snapped Sonia.
    â€œPlease.” Ki stood and faced the girl. “Can you tell me what Feodor is doing in the fields? Why did he go there?”
    Sonia’s face fell. “He had to. There was no one else.”
    â€œNo one else to do what?”
    â€œTo get the cane, of course!”
    Ki sighed and let out a breath. “Yes. The cane. Your father was raving about that when I carried him back.”
    Sonia turned her anger on Ki. “He was not raving at all. He knew he had lost the cane, and that it had to be retrieved. Even at the price of his life—even if he had not been bitten by the thing. You should have let him do as he