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Hoain
I’m still a redhead
Before we left Texas, I touched up the roots, and then I had souess that meant I intended to keep this color for a while Symbolic—I’d made a commitment, at least to my hair
Too bad I couldn’t do the same with Chance I didn’t trust him entirely, and as ht I’d leave, which I had done; die, which I’d nearly done; or break his heart I just hoped I wouldn’t combine the three
Until we resolved the conflict between us—such as his luck, which ht kill me, and the former lover he wouldn’t talk about—I couldn’t be more than a friend to him He knew it too I think he’d known as much even when he pressed the point back in Laredo
The Mustang purred along, e Chance’s silence He wasn’t happy about this trip to Kilia, but he’d promised, and I wanted answers He owed me
When he’d shown up atfor reed because he swore to turn his luck toward helping ht otiable I needed to understand why it happened, and as responsible I wanted justice for her death Now that I’d fulfilledhis promise
We passed the woods that encircled the town Sometimes, when I was a kid, it had seemed toforest, and there, Kilrew back in around it, overhanging the rutted road
With the s open, I sht filtering through the canopy overhead threw a sickly green glow over the car as Chance drove McIntosh County didn’t get snow or earthquakes, and the rees It was also deeply historical, containing forty-twoGeorge was built nearby in 1721; how the Highlanders voted against slavery in 1739, not that it did the run; and how the War of Jenkins’ Ear motivated early settlers to attack Spanish forts There were still ruins on Sapelo Island
Just a piece up the road, there lived the only known band of Shouters, a Gullahshout once at Mount Calvary Baptist Church I couldn’t remember which foster parent had taken ht I could benefit froion in some form or another On paper, this seee and tradition
On paper
In Kil after laws and social expectations changed in the wider world White men did as they pleased, and everyone else kept their htly say I’d missed it
“This place has a weird feel,” Chance said, breaking the silence at last
“You’re getting it too?” I’d always thought it was the trees, but we’d passed beyond therass lay between us and the weathered buildings of town Overhead, the sky glowed blue and white; it was a pretty, partly sunny day that should’ve warmed me a lot more than it did
“Yeah” Before he could sayChance slammed on the brakes, and only the seat belt keptthe dash The car fishtailed to a stop
Butch whined and popped his head out ofthe way; I’d resignedhim, but I hoped we hadn’t scared the shit out of him I had important stuff in my purse
I soothed hi like a jackhammer
“What the—”
Chance , I needed two tries to do the sa into the dead air beneath the tunnel of trees Black skid marks smeared the pavement behind us
He knelt and peered under the Mustang Despite ment, I joined hi ferociously A low anirowl answered him
Near the tires, a big black dog lay dying—a Dober out of his ragged wounds told rass that lined the road, or maybe froh ht
“Soot at him,” Chance said finally “Are there bears here? Wolves?”
I had no idea I wasn’t a wildlife expert in any location, and I hadn’t been back to Kiled; habitats evolved But tih if wild anis
I couldn’t seeave one final whine, as if he understood we couldn’t help, and then he died I saw theto dead meat There was a blood trail we could follow, but I didn’t think that was a good idea Sizable claws created those wounds; nothing we need to htfall
I glanced down at the Chihuahua as he sniffed around next to nize?”