Page 84 of Girl in the Shadows (Shadows 2)

---

looked through her hair. "She'll need a good bath and

shampoo."

"That's disgusting, Ma. We're not dirty slobs." "Until someone invents a better way to describe

you two, I'll stick with that." Mrs Westington said.

"This is no hour to bring home this girl. She has to let

her sleep."

"It's Saturday night, for chrissakes," Rhona

said. "Are you still living in those dark ages?" "I'm still a responsible person, if that's what you

mean. yes."

"I don't expect to frustrate the girl the way you

frustrated me. Ma. Here I was locked up in this house

while my friends were out there having fun all the

time. You have to trust the people you love and not

expect they'll do something terrible all the time." "In your case. Rhona, you exceeded my

expectations," Mrs. Westington said, and turned Echo

toward the stairs. She signed and told her she would

help her take a bath and get to bed.

Rhona and Skeeter watched them start up the

stairs and then Rhona turned and glared viciously at

me.

"Did you work her up into this mood?" she

asked.

"I just came down myself, surprised you

weren't back yet."

"Oh, so you let her know you were surprised.

Very convenient. I'm warning you. I'm not going to let

you turn her against us." Rhona said, stepping toward

me.

"I don't have to do that. You do it so well

yourself," I replied and, even though I was trembling,

---