Page 39 of Wolf

“Why?” Miriam seemed to hold her own just fine the one time I saw her out but maybe I’m missing something.

“I’m not like the women around here. They sometimes, I don’t know, tease me and stuff.”

“What?” I say, glancing around for one of these women. They better leave my sister alone.

“It’s fine. I’m overreacting. Hormones,” she says with a chuckle.

Studying her pale face, my heart sinks because now I’m about to add to her worry.

She searches my eyes, before squeezing my hand. “Tell me about Mercy. She still battling it out with that teacher of hers.”

Chuckling, I wave my hand. “Yes, but I think they’re at a stalemate. Mercy came home the other day with a new project—write a paper about the history of the Cold War.”

Miriam laughs and grabs her belly. Touching her hand, I ask, “How are you feeling?”

A smile lights her eyes, and she rubs her stomach, saying, “So far, other than a bit of heart burn, I’m good. Tired, you know? But we found a sweet little house out on old Route 20. We’ve been shopping for baby stuff.”

“Do you know what you’re having?” I ask, a lump in my throat. It’s so good to see the shine back in her eyes. Maybe leaving home and creating her own destiny really was the right idea. This despite it being with a no-good biker as Daddy would say.

“No.” She shakes her head. “We want it to be a surprise. Now, what was so important that you’re risking Daddy’s wrath to see me?”

Wincing at the reminder, I shake my head before saying, “I heard them talking. Mama’s angry, about…” I wave my hand, and she nods, touching her belly. “Anyway, she, um, she threatened you.”

“Huh?

“She said something about making you lose the baby.”

She stares at me blankly before looking away. Her lips wobble as she whispers, “She hates me, this…that bad?”

Shoot. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. If Miriam is here, she’s got to be safe. Right?

“I’m sorry,” I say, and she sucks in a breath, her spine stiff. Now I know I shouldn’t have said anything, and I hope that I’m not adding to her stress when the only thing she should be worrying about is her baby.

“Mir–”

“Whatever,” she says, rubbing her hands down her thighs. “I don’t need her shit anyway.”

Nodding miserably, I turn away, watching as Wolf greets a newcomer and follows him outside. He’s leaving? Without even a goodbye. Shoot.

“What’s going on, anyway? Were you in Wolf’s room?” Miriam asks.

Jumping on her it-couldn’t-possibly-be bandwagon, I laugh and wave my hand. “He wasn’t there.”

“Oh.” She nods as though that makes perfect sense and I bite back my retort. I guess I am that boring.

“Anyway, I should go,” I say, standing, and wobbling in the damn boots. Not only are my feet killing me but I’m sure I look completely ridiculous. I’d like to walk out of here with some dignity…what’s left of it anyway.

“Do you have anything I could…wear?” I ask.

Chuckling, Miriam points at the boots and says, “Where’d you find those?”

“Don’t ask,” I mumble.

“C’mon.”

After pulling on a T-shirt over the tube top, I greedily grab the sandals she offers and hug Miriam goodbye before sliding into Duke’s car.

Not only didn’t I come home last night, but I’m wearing clothes that for this sin alone could get me a whipping. It’s these thoughts that roll through my brain as Duke drives me back to the woods.

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