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I closedwhite cloud re else

The phone had stopped ringing again I held ainst my ear With stiff movements, I closed it, then shoved it intowhite Maybe the place was haunted after all

I wouldn&039;t be surprised Four thousand Cherokee had died on the Trail of Tears Why wouldn&039;t sohosts come back here?

I wasn&039;t afraid of spirits I didn&039;t think I&039;d never seen one

Nevertheless, I heldas I hovered between flight and fight How did one fight a specter?

The worry beca mass solidified into a wo but a white cotton robe

She ca at each other

"What are you - ?" we said at the same time, then fell silent

"Problem?" Grace tilted a brow

I wasn&039;t sure if shenot much more than a bath sheet It didn&039;t take X-ray vision to see that beneath the robe she was naked

"Claire?" Grace stalked past me toward the house "Is there a problem in town?"

"No I lance over her shoulder, her dark hair swinging loose, appearing even darker against the white of the robe

"Focus" She turned the knob

I frowned The door had been locked Or ht Old houses were tricky that way

"I tried to call you," I said "I heard your cell phone ringing - "

Grace reached into a pocket, then held up her phone and waggled it

"Why didn&039;t you answer?"

"Must have fallen out Lucky you called or Iout there?"

Grace disappeared inside, leaving the door open, which I took as an invitation, and I followed her

The place was much as I remembered - an old house, updated bit by bit over the years The color of the paint had changed New carpet brightened the hall, as well as the new furniture in the living roohter than they had when Grace&039;s father lived here

Other than that, the kitchen had been rehties and still sported teal appliances and peach and white vinyl floor tile Yummy

Water ran in the small half bath off the hall, then the door opened, and Grace appeared fully dressed in cutoffs and a blue tie-dyed T-shirt "Want a drink?"

She headed for the kitchen I had no choice but to join her or stand in the hall alone

Grace straightened away froerator, then tossed a beer at ed a save When I popped the top, the beer fizzed up so fast I had to slug so sip of her own brew, she stared out the dark square ofthat overlooked her yard "I heard so," she said slowly

"And ran out in your robe?" That wasn&039;t like Grace Coed but didn&039;t elaborate

"What if what you heard was the wolf?" I pressed

"I think that wolf is long gone"

"Think again"

In theof beer, Grace paused, sed loudly, and set the can on the countertop with a click "You saw it?"

"Yeah"

After I told her what had happened, I half-expected her to grab a gun and barrel into the hills, but she didn&039;t

"I couldn&039;t find a trace of the thing today," she said, "and no one&039;s seen Ryan Freestone, either I&039; party"

"When?"

"To as I had; she knehat I was thinking

"I&039;ll keep it quiet We&039;ll leave just after dawn and be out of town before any of the locals are awake, let alone the newcomers"

"Thanks"

"I can&039;t put this off"

"I know"

"I really thought the animal would have disappeared into the mountains by now Why stay so close to people? That&039;s not like a wolf"

"Could be like a rabid wolf"

"You&039;re just full of good tidings, aren&039;t you?"

I took another swig of beer "That&039;s me Susie Sunshine"

Grace snorted "I&039;ll kill it tomorrow"