Starseed by Jude Willhoff Read Free Book Online Page A

me.”
    He took the card and clutched it to his chest as if it were a lifeline . Then he glanced out the window. “You girls better get on home. It's getting dark. That's when they come out.”  He took charge of the situation with a quiet assurance. “Or you can stay here and sleep in the back room. You both know it's safer to be inside at night.”
    Elle peeked between the curtains of the side window as the sun slipped lower behind the mountain range and she saw a huge wolf run across the backyard . Why was she seeing this wolf everywhere? She shook it off and turned back to Herman. “We appreciate the offer, but we can get back to town before dark.”  She gave him a hug. “Thanks for being so courageous and showing us your proof. I’ll have my dad come out to see you.” 
    He grinned and escorted them to the door . He stood in the open doorway still waving to her as they got into the car.
    Looking back at him she had the strangest sensation that Herman was in danger . . . and not just from aliens.

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Elle watched Sara slide behind the wheel and start the engine. “It's probably best we don't tell anyone about what Herman showed us except Dad,” she said as she closed the car door and fastened her seat belt.
    Sara’s forehead wrinkled . “Of course, I totally agree. It was the same thing we saw and nobody will believe us, either.” 
    Through the windshield Elle saw the wolf running at full speed up the side of a mountain in the distance . Damn, why am I seeing this wolf everywhere I go? There’s something odd about that wolf. “Maybe, we should go talk to my Dad.”
    “ Great idea.”  Sara nodded. “At least, he won't think we've gone bonkers. Call him.”
    Elle pulled out her cell phone and punched in the private number . Pressure burned in her chest as she waited for him to answer. He always had a hard time with this sort of thing when she was involved and she hated to make things more difficult for him.
    “ Hello. This is Sheriff Thomas, how may I help you?” 
    She could tell by the tone of his voice that he was up to his ears with the town folk snapping at his heals with all these new sightings.
    “Dad, it’s me. If you have time, Sara and I would like to come by and talk to you about what we discussed this morning.”  Not wanting to cause him any more problems she held her breath waiting for his reply.
    “ Sure, honey. Are you girls, okay?”  He hesitated for the blink of an eye. “I've been worried about you.” 
    She could feel his unease, but it was okay as she read between the lines . As always he was there for her. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, we’re all right. I just need to see you.”
    “ It's crazy around here, but come on down to the office. Of course, I always want to hear what you have to say.”
    “ Thanks, Dad. We're on our way. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”  She flipped her phone closed and put it in her purse. “He wants us to come to the office.”  Elle pinched the bridge of her nose as Sara pulled away from Herman's house. The beginnings of a tension headache played across her forehead as they drove toward town.
    Thirty minutes later, the noise of ringing phones drowned out any possible conversation as they walked into the police department . The receptionist had left her desk.
    Elle walked back to her father's office and stuck her head around the open doorway not knowing quite what to expect . And there he was—her dad, a good and honorable man. His familiar warm brown eyes and hair falling like short silver wings around his ears made her smile. Her heart pounded with affection. Even with their differences, she knew she could always count on him. Never knowing her biological parents, she had been one of the lucky ones. She loved this man with all her being.
    “ Hi Dad. Sherry wasn't at the desk so we came on back.”  She could feel the heart-felt emotion radiating from him when he looked up at her from his paperwork.
    He