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I ju before my shift was scheduled to start

It didn’t hitto catchNaalyehe had been wrong The eagle wasn’t a sy a pack of coyotes Thatthe pack had been around, because, looking back, I had seen that eagle every single time I went to work for the past week

But ould a pack of coyotes be following me?

28

The ood, ere low on refried beans, and what self-respecting Navajo Mexican restaurant doesn’t have refried beans?

Once again, the restaurant was packed with tourists This time, instead of cowboy boots and hats, they all had on sily around their necks

The restaurant was so busy with tourists that I did not get h lunch and right into dinner Toblue corn and beef enchiladas--minus the refried beans--and let me eat it in the kitchen

Customers came and went, soination, orthe restaurant today were paying special attention totowhere I was from, how old I hat my last naining it or lances and small talk than I should But it wasn’t only the , too

I shook it off and went aboutup orders or spilling anything

And then Yana pulledon with you? Do you know any of these people?"

"No Why?" I asked, but I already knew the answer

"They keep staring at you and asking me questions, like how old you are and where you’re froht it was just one ofto ask for your nuh he was totally too old But then I noticed it’s lanced around the restaurant, at all the eyes staring atfear of the coyote incident, I told myself

"Are you okay?" Yana asked "You’re really pale Paler than usual, even"

"Totally fine," I lied, wiping my sweaty palms on my apron

"Did you notice their chokers?" She nodded to the nearest table of tourists

"Yeah What are they?"

"Heishe beads Have you ever heard of the the strands of turquoise on the closest custo them, but the Navajo wear the the truth--if they lie the choker strangles them Or"--her voice dropped to a whisper--"they wear it to keep a secret If a witch gets caught, his heishe chokes him before he can na Yana to see if she was teasing et I said that Let , and I’ll kick his butt" She strode off

"Excuseher hand at me I forced half a smile to my face She wasn’t a tourist, but a little old lady that ate at the restaurant every Monday night

"Yes, ma’am?" She always ate alone I assumed she was a

"I ordered coffee withit out," she said, patting ht up, lad that fate hadn’t destined ive her that, but she tipped only fifty cents, two shiny quarters, every single tienerous tip

I hurried toward the kitchen when the bell over the front door rang I’d get the coffee after I seated the latest custo in the dooras the one person I thought I’d never see again I looked around the dining roo Yana or Penney would decide to seat the latest customers, because I wasn’t sure if I should

But then she smiled, a soft, shy smile I took a deep breath and walked to the front of the restaurant

"Hi Table for three?" I asked

"Yes, please"

I walked toward the only e to be thrust into lance over my shoulder told me how absurd that was Danni Williams could hardly walk

When we reached the empty booth, her parents sat But Danni put a chilly hand onon the brink of death lanced at her parents Herout to her and smiled at me "I’ from her mom and pressed it into my hands "It’s another jacket, sa cut in two"

"Wow Thanks" I took the bag froer’s scum," she said, venom in her voice That caht?" I asked, utterly confused

She frowned "What night? Savedogs?"

She studied ot attacked at your house?"