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will win this last round, William.
What now? Tavernier looked at his employer in confusion.
It was so hard working with someone who had no imagination. We stir up
trouble.
How?
The townspeople are worried about the wolves. We give them something to really
worry about. Before Tavernier had time to react, Absolon reached into his overcoat
pocket and pulled out a long-bladed, rake-like weapon that had five razor-sharp
prongs. He slashed the blades at Tavernier tearing through clothes and flesh. Blood
spurted through the deep cuts in his arms and chest as he tried to defend himself.
Tavernier fell to the ground bleeding profusely. What are you doing? Are you
mad?
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Absolon looked down at his handiwork. It was just enough not to raise suspicion
but sufficiently gory to horrify the locals as he dragged his colleague back into town.
You ve been attacked by a wolf. I think the locals need to go hunting.
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Chapter Four
Bess! Truro was amazed to see the older woman. Her last visit down from the
mountains had been almost four months ago. How are you? Truro constantly
wondered how this seventy-year-old woman managed to look as fit and as spry as she
did. She lived in a remote location alone. To Truro s knowledge she had no help at all
and yet Bess seemed none the worse for any of it. In fact she looked pretty good in her
faded jeans and flannelette shirt. The only sign of her age was the curly gray hair she
had bundled up on the top of her head.
I ve come to see how you are. Bess dumped her backpack on the ground at her
feet.
That was typical of Bess. She was always caring for others. Oh, muddling along. I
am having amazing sex with a hunk of man and can t stop thinking about him but other than
that just swell. Like Bess would want to know that. Wanna check the books? Truro
asked, hoping she would say no as she always did. Truro was a terrible record keeper.
While she made sure everyone paid on time and followed the caravan park rules, she
was lax in recording the details. The most she managed each couple of days was filling
out a bank deposit slip and banking the money in Bess account.
No, I m sure you re doing a good job. Bess moved over and sat down on one of
the split post-and-rail beams that were fashioned to make a seat. I want to talk to you.
Truro felt a sudden shiver shoot down her spine. Oh yeah? She crossed her legs
and sat down in one fluid move on the grass beside Bess.
It s about the wolves.
Yeah what is it with them? They seem louder and closer this year. Not that it
scared Truro. She just couldn t fathom why she was more aware of them this year than
in the past.
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Bess nodded her head in confirmation. They are closer but there s no need to be
frightened. They won t harm anyone.
They re wild animals, Bess. As an ex-city girl, Truro was no expert on anything
with four legs. But anything that had a mind of its own and could not be controlled was
something to be wary of. Rodney was killed by one.
Yes, they are but they re not. The older woman s eyes were intense and bright.
And something else killed Rodney. Most likely his own greedy and ignorant heart.
O-kay. There were times with Truro wondered if Gil and Bess were related. Each
had the ability to look at you as if searching your soul.
What was he even doing in Ludlum? Bess looked at her with concern.
Well, he s probably between girlfriends and looking for a warm body to slide
into. He would be damn wrong it he thought it would have been me. If he had even
suggested it to her, Truro may just have tried taking him out herself. She looked at the
older woman with interest. It s not that I m not glad to see you, Bess, but I m
wondering what s going on. She had the look of a woman who had something on her
mind.
I want to tell you something but I want you to remain open-minded, my dear.
To Truro s way of thinking that was never a good way to start a discussion. It
usually meant it was going to be something she didn t want to hear. I always am,
Bess.
Yes. The older woman nodded her gaze shrewd on Truro. But this will test you.
Tell me, what do you know about werewolves?
Whatever Truro thought Bess was going to say it hadn t been that. Um well, only
what I see in late night television when I can t sleep. They hang out with Dracula and
Frankenstein. They are generally in need of a shave and they tend to terrorize people. I
think it s because of the no shaving thing. Stubble rash can be a killer. Truro knew. Her
skin was red and blotchy from the ardent kisses Murphy had placed on her body. Just
thinking of him made her wet.
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Bess snorted in derision. That s Hollywood. I mean real werewolves.
Real werewolves? Wow. Bess needs to come into town more. Well gee, Bess, I can t say
I ve met one. Have you? That would be something. Werewolves in Ludlum. That
would set the town on its ear. It would be bigger than when someone who looked like
George Clooney passed through town driving a cattle truck.
Yes.
Right. The word dementia shot into Truro s mind. Maybe Bess being alone in the
woods wasn t a good thing. Although Bess had always appeared capable to Truro, she
was now beginning to wonder about the state of the older woman s mind. It had to be
lonely at the old homestead. Truro had only been there twice at Bess invitation. Each
time she knew in her heart she was a city girl and that scenery belonged on postcards.
Bess, I think maybe you should move back in here with me. Although Truro had no
family of her own, she considered Bess to be the closest to that she had. Besides, she
wanted to help the woman who had given her a job and a home and a new start in life.
Truro owed Bess that.
The older woman reached down and gripped Truro s shoulder. It s important you
listen to me, Tru. What I m about to say effects your destiny.
For a woman Truro had been worrying about getting older and more fragile, Bess
had a powerful grip on her shoulder. My destiny? Truro rarely thought beyond what
to eat for dinner. Destiny sounded ominous and like it needed planning. Truro didn t
plan. She stumbled and fell into things and made out as best as she could.
Yes, your destiny. Bess gaze never left hers. The stranger who has come to you.
Tell me about him.
While Truro knew that gossip was an art form in Ludlum, Bess didn t strike her as
being an advocate of it. Besides, Truro doubted anyone had seen her with Murphy.
Though there was that meeting at the diner and the moment yesterday in the van.
Hmmm. We get lots of strangers staying at the van park, Bess. You know that. Truro
decided it was best to act vague until she knew more about what Bess knew. Besides the
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caravan park was halfway between Brisbane and the whale watching tourist spot of
Hervey Bay. People often stayed over in transit. Bess could be talking about anyone.
The one who has touched you, Tru.
Okay, well that narrowed the field down to Murphy.
Well Bess, the thing is Truro wasn t about to explain her sex life to anyone.
However, she didn t want to hurt her friend.
Not just your body but your heart.
I don t have one of those. That was Truro s usual response. It was the line of
defense she hid behind. If you believed something enough then eventually it made it
true. Besides, hearts got you in trouble. It was better not to acknowledge one.
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