The Graves of Plague Canyon (The Downwinders Book 3) by Michael Richan Read Free Book Online Page B

Archaeologist gifteds, presumably.”
    “Like a sign within a sign?” Deem asked.
    “Yes,” Carma replied, taking another sip of her cordial. “One
sign for normal folk, but within it a sign for someone with the gift.”
    “Getting back in there is going to be tricky,” Deem said.
“They patrol the area pretty tightly.”
    “Oh,” Carma replied, waving her hand dismissively, “you’ll
figure that out.”
    Easy for her to say, Deem thought. She watched Carma sip at her drink again and
thought she looked different than normal — tired.
    “You going to stay here tonight?” Carma asked.
    “If it’s still alright with you?” Deem replied.
    “Of course it is; I’ve said so.”
    “I think I’ve got another full day of scanning, and I’ll be
done. My mom probably wonders what I’m up to.”
    “You’re calling her, I hope.”
    “She’s in Arizona,” Deem replied. “I call every other day.”
    “What’s she doing in Arizona?” Carma asked.
    “She went down with my aunt, her sister,” Deem answered.
“Probably doing a ton of shopping and dining out. That’s what they usually do.”
    “Everyone’s busy!” Carma replied. “We’re all industrious
little bees.”
    “You seem tired, yourself,” Deem observed. “This project with
Lyman, I’m guessing?”
    “Yes, dear,” Carma said. “It’s been a lot of work. But I
think it will be worthwhile.”
    Carma didn’t seem to want to provide details, and Deem didn’t
feel like prying, so she changed the subject.
    “I called Ester with an update. Lizzy’s still the same —
unresponsive.”
    “Poor thing, I’m sure Ester’s a puddle of worry,” Carma
replied.
    “I have a date tomorrow, with the guy I met at Plague
Canyon,” she said. “The one who stopped us from going in.”
    Carma turned to her, her face lighting up more than usual.
    “A date?!” she exclaimed. “Oh, how terribly exciting! Is he
handsome? Is he a charmer?”
    Deem thought for a moment. Warren didn’t have model good
looks, he was more of a rugged guy. She couldn’t help but notice, though, that
as he rode the horse, his legs looked plenty thick and muscular through his
jeans, and his chest had filled in from the thin, teenaged chest she knew in
high school. His shoulders were broad, his voice was low and masculine, and his
face looked manlier than it had the last time she saw him, covered in a day’s
stubble. His eyes were the real standout — endlessly blue.
    “Yeah, I guess so,” Deem said. “I knew him in high school but
haven’t seen him since. He’s changed; he’s grown up. We’re going to the Bear
Paw for lunch tomorrow.”
    “So you can manipulate him into letting you into the canyon?”
Carma asked. “Or because you like him?”
    “A little of both,” Deem answered.
    “Mixing business with pleasure can be deliciously exciting,
my dear,” Carma said. “Just make sure no one gets hurt, if you can help it.
Hurt people do stupid things.”
     
    ▪ ▪ ▪
     
    Thank god he’s dressed casually, Deem thought as she saw Warren
sitting at a table at the Bear Paw. When he saw her approaching, he hopped up
from the table and pulled out a chair for her.
    “Thank you!” Deem said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
    “Of course I do,” Warren said, sitting down across from her.
He wasn’t shy, and he wasn’t awkward like the boys she remembered from high
school. He was staring her right in the eyes.
    “A man always gets the chair for a woman,” he said, then
glanced down at the menu.
    “I often like to get chairs for myself,” Deem replied. “I
hope that won’t destroy any macho illusions you may have.”
    Warren looked back up and placed a hand over his heart. “You
think I have macho illusions?” he asked with a smile.
    “Most guys do. That stuff just never matters to me.”
    “I think that’s one of the things I always liked about you,”
he replied. “You always spoke your mind. I remember an American History class
where you did