Wild Country (The World of the Others #2)- Anne Bishop Page 0,34

I’m not feeling any indication that he would kill her for any reason.”

“We’ve been warned that unauthorized humans will be arriving in Bennett looking for work, looking for … opportunities,” Tolya said. “That’s why I want you to join me and Virgil when the train gets in. Your instincts are different from ours. I’m not opposed to additional workers, but we need to be careful.”

Jesse sat back and looked away from the picture. “Yes, we do.” She ran a hand over her hair. “I’ll let Tobias know we’ll be here for a while.”

“I was about to walk up to the train station, but I can arrange for a ride if you prefer,” Tolya said.

She let out a little snort that sounded equally amused and annoyed. “The train station is just up the street, and I’m not infirm. A walk will suit me just fine.” She looked troubled. “I’m not happy with Abigail at the moment, but I don’t want her to come to any harm.”

“Then let’s try to keep that from happening.” Tolya slipped the picture back into his briefcase, led Jesse out of the office, and locked up. “And let us both remember that a warning is intended to help prevent something from happening.”

* * *

* * *

Virgil didn’t like having a human behind him, even if it was an older female who didn’t meet his eyes or challenge him in any way. But she was there, standing in the space Tolya Sanguinati had left between the two males.

he growled at Tolya.

All right. He couldn’t argue with that, because all humans were the enemy but some were also a threat to the terra indigene and the humans who were, regretfully, considered not edible.

Humans who were threats to the terra indigene or broke human laws would be bitten. Savagely. Maybe lethally. But he was going to get Tolya to agree that nipping the nonedibles was permitted by the sheriff and his deputy—just in case he had another reason to haul Barbara Ellen to jail for some “me time.”

The baggage door opened at the same time Nicolai Sanguinati walked out of the delivery area of the train station, pulling a cart that had webbing on two sides that could be raised and lowered for loading.

“You expecting anything in particular?” Nicolai asked, looking from Tolya to Virgil.

Some meaty bones would be nice, but Virgil figured he and Kane would have to hunt those down for themselves.

“Passengers,” Tolya replied.

A man wearing a shirt with the railway’s logo on the pocket and across the back stepped down from the baggage car while another man tossed him the mailbags, which he and Nicolai loaded into the cart. Next came the luggage and packages that were designated for the Bennett station. The railway men moved quickly, efficiently. Nervous, but not afraid. Bennett might be controlled by the terra indigene, but the men understood they were safe at the station—or as safe as any human could be in Thaisia.

“That’s the last of the cargo,” the man on the platform said as he held out a clipboard for Nicolai to sign. “Anything to go out?”

“One bag of mail to the Northeast Region,” Nicolai replied. “I’ll bring it out.”

Virgil caught Kane’s scent before he heard Jesse Walker’s quick intake of breath. The Wolfgard were significantly bigger than regular wolves and could take down prey a wolf couldn’t. He looked back at Jesse Walker. “You’ve never seen one of the Wolfgard in that form?”

“Haven’t seen an adult in a while,” Jesse replied. “Rachel is a juvenile Wolf, so she’s not nearly as big as your friend. I guess she still has some growing to do.”

Virgil knew Morgan and Chase had taken over the Prairie Gold pack, but if Jesse Walker hadn’t seen them in Wolf form, it sounded like they weren’t inviting the humans to howl with them and weren’t expected to be that friendly.

He envied them.

Then the first humans stepped off the train.

A pack of five young males, all dressed in dark trousers, white shirts, and the straps that held up clothing instead of using a belt. And hats.

The wind conveniently changed direction, bringing their scent to him and Kane. They smelled of clean soap and animals—and nerves.

“Simple Life,” Tolya said