Changeling Dawn Read Online Free Page B

office in Glennallen loud and clear, no problem. But since I’m here, there’s no one to answer it. And the local garage only takes phone calls.” He balanced the tire against his leg and stuck out a large hand. “Josh Talarkoteen. Sorry about the dirt. I had to use the spare this morning already so I’m reduced to begging for a ride to town.”
    “Kenzie Macleod.” Her hand was engulfed by his, but the sensation was more than pleasant. “Two flats in one day? That’s just cruel.”
    “No, that’s just backcountry Alaska.”
    She grinned then. Flat tires were also the stuff of backcountry Chile, backcountry Egypt and backcountry Oregon. “Sure, come on.” She led the way to her truck.
    He rolled the tire behind her. “You’re not worried that I’m a serial killer? I can ride in the back, no problem.”
    She turned and looked at him with amusement. He was much too tall for one thing. He’d practically have to fold himself in half to fit beneath the truck canopy. For another, humans were usually only dangerous in a group. A single human—even one with an official sidearm—wasn’t a match for a Changeling, even if she didn’t take on her wolfen form. She couldn’t say that , of course. “I have four older brothers who’ll hunt you down like a dog if you try anything.”
    “Duly noted. I’ll be sure to control my tendencies, homicidal and otherwise.”
    She flipped opened the canopy and yanked down the tailgate, began shoving gear to one side. He heaved the tire in and quickly brushed away the smudge of dirt it left on her sleeping bag.
    “Going camping?”
    “I work outdoors.”
    “Me too, most of the time. I was just checking out a report of someone taking deer out of season. What is it you do?”
    “Dig in the dirt. Archaeology, ancient history.”
    “I’ve heard the National Park Service is doing some excavations in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. That you?”
    “Nope, completely different project. Aas t projend I work solo.”
    He didn’t say anything to that, but looked like he was considering it as he got into the truck. She paused with her hand on the gearshift. “So what town are you going to?”
    “Copper Center. We’re about 50 miles from Glennallen, so no point going back there since we’re more than halfway to Copper. How ’bout you?”
    Copper Center? That didn’t sound one bit familiar. Kenzie fumbled for her map, ran her finger over her planned route. It was true—she’d turned the wrong way at the intersection. “Dammit,” she said aloud. She’d been too busy thinking about other things, something which seemed to be happening with alarming frequency lately.
     
    Josh ducked as she threw the map behind the seat without folding it. “I take it you hadn’t planned to visit the fair village of Copper?” he ventured.
    “No. No, dammit, I turned right instead of left at the tee. I’m heading up near Chistochina.”
    “Well, the tourism committee at Copper Center will be deeply disappointed. Myself, I’d be more than pleased to go back to the turnoff. I can call Frank’s Garage in Glennallen to come get me from there.”
    “You’re sure?”
    He nodded. “Frank’s a buddy of mine.”
    She put the truck into drive, then swung a U-turn that a stuntman would be proud of. For a moment, he was glad he’d put on the seat belt. They settled into an easy pace, however, not too far above the speed limit, and he relaxed.
    “So, you must be looking for old Ahtna stuff,” he ventured.
    She looked over at him, and there was a quick punch to his senses as her eyes, silver gray with long thick lashes, met his. Her fair skin was tanned and her dark hair was naturally tousled into pleasant waves. Like she’d just gotten out of bed ...
    “I’m looking for an Athabaskan fish camp north of Chistochina. The Ahtna tribe gave me permission to dig up along the river.”
    “That’s pretty impressive. They don’t give permission to just anyone to dig on their ancestral