When a woman moves into the sleepy town, it rouses everyone's tongues to start wagging. She is strange and distant in her manner. Tia Frost is blissfully unaware of the townsfolk's discomfort with her. With Burt at her side, she wonders about the wo...
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"Mac." I sat up the book falling away from my chest. "Oh good your awake." Roland stood at the bottom of the bed looking at me. "I'm glad it was me that came to wake you and not the chief"
"Why?" I rubbed my face to wake up more.
"Because you're asleep in Tia's bed." I looked over at Tia as her eyes came open. She lay facing away from me cuddling Burt. She sat up and stroked Burt's head. "How did you get him to go to sleep while he was wound up?"
She looked at me and smiled. "I gave him a book to read. How far did you get Maverick?"
I frowned at her. She was flat when talking to Roland, but when she talked to me her voice was warmer.
"They met the Queen. You failed to mention this creature finding a human they have feelings for."
The smile touched her eyes for the first time and my heart warmed. "I didn't want to give away the plot."
I picked up the book and offered it back to her. She shook her head still giving me a very genuine smile. "You will have much time to finish it, most of what comes next is waiting. Now Roland I assume the builder is waiting for his check?"
Roland nodded giving me an odd look and heading back downstairs. I'm not surprised.. she was warm with him too! Because she's happy?
Tia swung her legs out of the bed and stood. "Why did you write this?"
She walked to a dresser and picked up a hairbrush. "That is my style before the cult. I started writing like that again a few years ago. The need to expose all the cults was gone. It's a great way to feel less alone. When you write a book like that you feel like you're there with them."
She finished brushing her hair and then turned to the stairs. "This is how you've made your money?"
She turned back smiling "Some of it." She glided down the stairs followed by Burt.
I stood walked to the wardrobe and opened it. Started pulling the riot gear out and lying on the bed. One set was mine and the other set was smaller made for a woman. It was Janna's old set. It still looked good.
Sitting on the bed I felt how hopeless this situation was. This is crazy! Plastic shields against bullets! There must be another way. "Maverick?" I looked up to see Tia standing at the top of the stairs. "You looked angry again."
"Not angry. Just trying to figure out if there's another way."
She came closer slowly. "I'd happily listen to anyone with a better idea."
She stopped in front of me and fingered the kit I'd laid out. "I don't have a better idea at the moment." I said.
"Then until you do we will stick to this one." I took her hand and she knelt next to me.
