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She studied the way the leaves fluttered on the trees above, a canopy stirred by the wind, showing bits of the late-afternoon sky Shards of dying sunlight found their way through, touching her face Now that she’d stopped shooting, she heard birdcalls, the rustling of squirrels foraging on the forest floor She stopped rocking, because filtering through those noises was so on booted feet

He could h not to sneak up on a woround, she realized she hadn’t showered after the grueling coven practice Her hair was scratched up into a tail, and her hike through the woods with munitions and multiple firearms had left her sweat-stained in her T-shirt and jeans She told herself she didn’t care she looked like she’d been working with a railroad gang

He was following the sah there were several from Linda’s house that led to this place Had he woken Linda and asked her where Ruby had gone, or had he just tracked her? She was guessing the latter

He wore his hat with his jeans and boots, of course Since it was still winter, technically, and the early evening was bringing back a touch of that chill, the battered long coat and long-sleeved shirt under that wasn’t out of place, but she wondered from what cold environment he’d come that he needed more than he’d usually wear in a Southern cliaze so that the hat brim revealed his face, she tried hard to remain unmoved, but it was pretty much pointless She hadn’t taken any Deception, hadn’t expected him here, so she was defenseless

She’d spent the week teaching the coven to be prepared in every instance, but she’d lowered her own guard

There was so different More cautious, as if he was holding so to a halt a few feet away froaze Stayed silent an unco time

"You should have called Linda to let her know you were co" She cleared her throat "She would haveinto the pocket of the coat, cae of beef jerky and a cold beer She expected he’d swiped the latter froed,roo the jerky, he offered some to her She made a face at the smoky s her to take soestured with the Dr Pepper "Is beer and jerky all you’re having for dinner?"

"Had a late lunch Twelve-pack of beef tacos at Taco Bell This will hold me awhile"

She shook her head "When you die of heart disease, if the Pearly Gates are guarded by cows, you’re going to be in deep shit"

"My cholesterol’s pretty good for a h jerky His hip was pressed against hers, his shoulder sliding along hers in casual fah she was trying to be discreet about it, she was inhaling his scent with the desperation of a coke junkie He was staring into the forest in kind of an absent pretty weighted between the well," she ventured "The coven"

"I expected nothing less, especially with you as their teacher"

"You chose good students"

He looked down at the arsenal at her feet "Can I ask you a question?"

"I don’t know Can you?"

At his expression, she shrugged "You so rarely ask per Were you attacked by a Miss Manners demon on the way here?"

"I vanquished it, but the residual effect is lingering" His gaze lifted to her face "Why did you choose to do this, Ruby? The gun shop? I’ht I want to know"

It was a fair question, and one she could probably ansithout getting into so for Raina and Ramona