Strained by Marcia Colette

Author:Marcia Colette
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: suspense, paranormal, werewolf, shapeshifter, bounty hunter, shifter
Publisher: Purple Sword Publications

Chapter 18

Another shot whizzed past my ear.

I dove to the ground for cover and rolled out of the way. My eyes panned the thicket.

Three hunters hid themselves behind a thick set of chaparral over a hundred feet away. A rifle barrel pointed through the shrubbery.

“You asshole!” I shouted, hoping they were human enough to identify the language. “Stop shooting!”

“What the hell are you doin’ out here?” a voice yelled back, laced in a thick, southern accent.

Movement ruffled the shrubs. Two men rose. I stood and brushed myself off before edging closer.

A stout man turned his red cap around so that the brim faced forward. The hat hid a receding, reddish-blond hairline. He kept his gun low to the ground in an unthreatening manner. The second man had more of a brash edge to his sunken face and empty eyes. He wore a blue cap and carried his rifle pointed straight up in the air, hence the brashness.

I whiffed the air. Something about them wasn’t right. Even though it smelled like firecrackers around them, they weren’t lighting roman candles.

“What on earth are you doin’ out here?” red cap asked, closing the distance. “Do you realize we could’ve put a bullet between your eyes?”

“I was out walking my dog,” I lied. “He got away from me, so I went looking for him. What are you guys doing out here?”

Blue cap came up to his friend’s side. “What the hell do you think, lady? Does it look like we’re whitewater rafting?”

“No, but it looks like you’re trespassing. This land is owned by my friends Seth and Isabella Lockwood. You might want to check with them the next time you decide to go hunting—illegally—on their land.”

“Look ma’am,” red cap said, a nervous chuckle filling his tone. “We didn’t mean any trouble. We’re only doin’ a little campin’ is all and lost our way. A few beers and a deck of cards to get away from the wives. Nothing more. We normally go huntin’, but we brought the rifles for protection.”

Wow. Their story changed in just a matter of seconds. They must have forgotten they were wearing hunting gear and carrying rifles. They must have been planning to shoot the fish rather than get worm guts all over their precious little fingers.

Red cap waved his friend off before he could go beyond opening his mouth to speak again. “By the way. We thought we saw a large, black dog roamin’ around all by herself. You look more like the poodle or toy-dog type, so…?”

“You were wondering if he was mine or whatever you’re hunting.” I started walking away. “Don’t you worry about what my dog looks like. I’ll find him. I suggest you find yourselves off this property before I make it back to the main house. That way, it’ll be harder for the cops to find you.”

“Hey, wait,” blue cap said. He grabbed my arm to stop me. “You sure you don’t want an escort back to wherever it is you came from? Maybe we can smooth things over with the Lockwoods.

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