Read Online Smoke Signals (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 4) by Joseph Flynn - Free Book Online
Authors: Joseph Flynn
Tags: Mysteries & Thrillers
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nodded. “ Sí. ”
Chapter 15
Cascade Mountains — Washington State
Watching from her hiding spot in the forest at the edge of the meadow, Valeria Batista saw Ernesto become a man completely unlike the one he showed to the rest of the world. He slipped past the tree line and dropped into the high grass leading up to the camp where she’d lived the past four months. In a heartbeat, he was out of sight. She watched for the grass to move, disturbed by the passage of his body. But the wind was blowing just hard enough to cause large swatches of the fine stalks, parched green fading to dull gold, to bend and rebound.
Somewhere out there, Ernesto was working with the wind to camouflage his own disturbance of the grasses. Her husband had left his assault rifle with her, after he was sure she’d understood the rudiments of using the weapon he’d demonstrated for her. He’d taken with him only a long, serrated edge knife she hadn’t even known he possessed.
He’d shown it to her and said, “This is a much quieter way to kill.”
A chill had run down her spine when she heard that, but it had passed quickly. Why had she married Ernesto? Not only because he’d saved her life, but also because he was kind to her. Because he let her lead their love-making, making her feel wonderfully powerful. But most of all because wherever they went he made her feel safe in a dangerous world.
Now, however, even with the rifle in her hands, she began thinking of the bear again. Both she and Ernesto had heard it as they’d made their way back to the camp from which they’d escaped. They’d planned to observe what was happening there and at least sneak into the tent where they’d slept and reclaim their pitiful few belongings and steal enough water and food to make it out of the mountains.
Ernesto also had his far grander plan: waylay one of the guards he was sure knew where Julián and Basilio kept their big stash of money. If the fellow cooperated, Ernesto would allow him to accompany them and give him a share of the money. If he resisted, Ernesto would slit his throat.
Valeria had suggested an alternative.
“What?” Ernesto asked.
“Besides saying you’ll give him some of the money? Tell him I have a sister.”
Ernesto laughed. “Yes, we know that one works.”
It wasn’t that Valeria objected to drastic measures. She just wanted to keep the blood on her husband’s hands to a minimum. He really was a good, kind man, and she didn’t want his conscience to persuade him otherwise.
Meanwhile, she couldn’t help but fear for herself. That damn bear was getting closer. She could feel it. She listened for its approach. Steeling herself, she turned her head to look back the way she and Ernesto had come. Maybe the damn thing was sneaking up behind her.
She strained her eyes to see the creature. It had to be big from the sounds they’d heard. How in the name of God could it hide so perfectly? A loud grunt finally gave its position away. The noise came not from behind her but from ahead. The beast had looped around her.
Valeria spun her head around, the assault rifle coming to her shoulder just as Ernesto had showed her. She looked down the barrel at the iron-framed sight-picture and … that’s when she saw the grasses move in a way not caused by the wind or Ernesto. Something very big pushed them aside, heading not toward her but in the direction of the camp.
The bear was going after Ernesto. Who had only a knife to defend himself.
Forgetting stealth and everything other than the terror she felt for the man she loved, Valeria stepped forward and yelled, “Ernesto! The bear is coming for you!”
As if in anger that its plan had been revealed, the huge animal stood on its hind legs and looked back at Valeria. All but telling her, “You’ll be my second meal today, after I eat your chubby husband.”
Valeria clicked the rifle’s shot selector to automatic and let fly with a long burst of fire.
The recoil was far
Chapter 15
Cascade Mountains — Washington State
Watching from her hiding spot in the forest at the edge of the meadow, Valeria Batista saw Ernesto become a man completely unlike the one he showed to the rest of the world. He slipped past the tree line and dropped into the high grass leading up to the camp where she’d lived the past four months. In a heartbeat, he was out of sight. She watched for the grass to move, disturbed by the passage of his body. But the wind was blowing just hard enough to cause large swatches of the fine stalks, parched green fading to dull gold, to bend and rebound.
Somewhere out there, Ernesto was working with the wind to camouflage his own disturbance of the grasses. Her husband had left his assault rifle with her, after he was sure she’d understood the rudiments of using the weapon he’d demonstrated for her. He’d taken with him only a long, serrated edge knife she hadn’t even known he possessed.
He’d shown it to her and said, “This is a much quieter way to kill.”
A chill had run down her spine when she heard that, but it had passed quickly. Why had she married Ernesto? Not only because he’d saved her life, but also because he was kind to her. Because he let her lead their love-making, making her feel wonderfully powerful. But most of all because wherever they went he made her feel safe in a dangerous world.
Now, however, even with the rifle in her hands, she began thinking of the bear again. Both she and Ernesto had heard it as they’d made their way back to the camp from which they’d escaped. They’d planned to observe what was happening there and at least sneak into the tent where they’d slept and reclaim their pitiful few belongings and steal enough water and food to make it out of the mountains.
Ernesto also had his far grander plan: waylay one of the guards he was sure knew where Julián and Basilio kept their big stash of money. If the fellow cooperated, Ernesto would allow him to accompany them and give him a share of the money. If he resisted, Ernesto would slit his throat.
Valeria had suggested an alternative.
“What?” Ernesto asked.
“Besides saying you’ll give him some of the money? Tell him I have a sister.”
Ernesto laughed. “Yes, we know that one works.”
It wasn’t that Valeria objected to drastic measures. She just wanted to keep the blood on her husband’s hands to a minimum. He really was a good, kind man, and she didn’t want his conscience to persuade him otherwise.
Meanwhile, she couldn’t help but fear for herself. That damn bear was getting closer. She could feel it. She listened for its approach. Steeling herself, she turned her head to look back the way she and Ernesto had come. Maybe the damn thing was sneaking up behind her.
She strained her eyes to see the creature. It had to be big from the sounds they’d heard. How in the name of God could it hide so perfectly? A loud grunt finally gave its position away. The noise came not from behind her but from ahead. The beast had looped around her.
Valeria spun her head around, the assault rifle coming to her shoulder just as Ernesto had showed her. She looked down the barrel at the iron-framed sight-picture and … that’s when she saw the grasses move in a way not caused by the wind or Ernesto. Something very big pushed them aside, heading not toward her but in the direction of the camp.
The bear was going after Ernesto. Who had only a knife to defend himself.
Forgetting stealth and everything other than the terror she felt for the man she loved, Valeria stepped forward and yelled, “Ernesto! The bear is coming for you!”
As if in anger that its plan had been revealed, the huge animal stood on its hind legs and looked back at Valeria. All but telling her, “You’ll be my second meal today, after I eat your chubby husband.”
Valeria clicked the rifle’s shot selector to automatic and let fly with a long burst of fire.
The recoil was far
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