Page 26 (1/2)

Take care of those who can’t take care of theh Sometimes his wisdom was a serious pain in my butt

I ht was di and the canopy of branches and leaves made it even harder to see than it should have been As I reached the edge of the hut, co up near the most open side of it that had the least amount of trees in the way, I could just barely make out the rooether - now had two occupants Bodo sat on a nated as the pantry

I’d been considering a sneak attack, but quickly decided against it Coli was the best silent-walker in the whole swaet anywhere near her without her knowing Bold and up front was the only ith her At least if she was going to take a swipe atAs well as I could in the di as much noise as possible

Her form tensed up immediately, before I’d even taken three steps

"Who’s there?!" she shouted

"Bryn! Run away! She’s got a knife! She’s crazy!"

"Shut up!" she spat at Bodo, never taking her eyes offat the entrance to the hut "So, you’re still alive after all"

"Yes Alive and well Unlike those canners you gutted back there Thanks for that, by the way"

"I didn’t do it for you" Her tone had gone low If she were a tiger, I’d say she was getting ready to pounce I had to keep her off balance

"So, i"

She stopped and stood straighter "What do you mean, you saw him?"

"We sahat you did to him" It was a shot in the dark, but at the very least would keep her guessing long enough forabout? I didn’t do anything to him He’s fine"

She sounded like she reallyshot"

Her arht "Kowi’s out at the ranch Kowi is fine"

"Well, if Kowi’s fine, why did you want Bodo to be your boyfriend?"

Her face scrunched up as emotion overtook her "Kowi and I broke up Didn’t you hear? Didn’t you have a big party when you found out?"

I knew she was crazy-talking to soree, but there sees I had to figure out as reality and as Coli’s sickness

"I didn’t hear I’ht he loved you too"

"No Nobody loves me Not even my own family, my own tribe!" She screeched the last word

I could feel her pain physically, as my heart spasmed for her No one, no matter how much of an asshole she is, should feel this isolated Even the canners had friends

"That’s not true, Coli He told me himself that he loved you He wasn’t just with you for the tribes"

"You’re a liar You’re a liar and a slut" She advanced towards me

I took two steps back "I’m not a liar or a slut I never touched your boyfriend, and he never tried to touch me He loved you You, not me Why was he here and not at the ranch?"

"He is at the ranch! He is at the ranch! Why don’t you understand that?!" She reached up and pulled her own hair out to the side She didn’t stop until she’d removed half of what she held

I watched in horror as she stood there like a statue, her hand full of torn-out hair and her face athe distance between us She needed help I couldn’t just punch her lights out and leave her here I knew she didn’t share the sa to open h to her

I held esture "Coli, if you want, I’ll take you to see hiht be a little hard, since we sent his body off in a canoe down river Or up river, I’m not sure Whatever … it ith the current I spoke to hiht before he died"

"No you didn’t," she whispered, staring intensely intoonfor you He said so hi down her face She was sobbing now, trying to talk through her spasms "But … but we broke up … but we … broke up! We broke up!"

"Was it you or hiently "Because I don’t think it et you safe He came for you"

She dropped her head into her hands and screa her aroal ofold: to console her and also keep her frole She just keened, sounding very much like a wounded anione to the spirit world or heaven He’s watching over you He wants you to be safe Shhhh" I tried to pat her on the back a little, but I didn’t want to let her go

"I didn’t know … I didn’t know …" Her words werewas clear Like so irls before her, she hadn’t been able to read the mind or heart of her boyfriend Join the club

"Listen, we have to get to the ranches with the other kids Do you kno to get there?"