The Way Home Read Online Free Page B

seemed a logical place to find more information about The Hunters. We've been here for three days without any sign of the pack, The Grievers or Michael. Time is not something we have the luxury of wasting.” Shepard spoke bluntly, as was his way.
    “Without any new information, we won't be here more than another twenty-four hours.” Lina spoke up, though she didn't quite sound like herself. Gone was the tone of authority; she hadn't said anything about her loss, but they all felt it. It was still hard for him to believe that Josiah had been her brother, they'd never really given any hint of it. Still, she had to be hurting even if she was hiding it very well. Houdini also realized that she was about as pissed as Deacon and Vera over Adelaide being gone.
    “Me and Vera will head out to the woods, see if we can track scents.” Deacon offered.
    “Good idea.” Shepard nodded his head. “I think I'll join you.”
    “As will I,” Lina rose to her feet. “The four of us should be able to cover a lot of ground.”
    Susan had been just about to stand up, get ready to go with them, when she realized that the four Lina mentioned didn't include her. She was used to Houdini not being invited along when the situation required heightened senses, but for her to be excluded spoke volumes.
    “Alright then, let's not waste any more daylight.” Vera rose to her feet, stretched her arms over her head. Without so much a glance over at Susan or Houdini, she started for the door.
    Susan shifted uncomfortably. She'd never done awkward situations well. Maybe it was time to consider finding somewhere else to stay, give them all a little space and see what came of it. Disappointment took root in her stomach. She'd believed that she'd finally found people who wouldn't turn their back on her when it really mattered, and yet here they were.
    Shepard was the only one who lingered behind. He regarded them with an unreadable expression; Susan met his gaze head on. “Letting her go was a kindness, though they cannot see it.” He cleared his throat and turned his back; he'd said his piece, and he was leaving.
    “It was the right thing,” Susan was sure of it now. She'd had moments of doubt, but after hearing Houdini's story of revenge and with time to think, she knew that Adelaide would never forgive them if she didn't get a chance to try. “And if they can't see that, well maybe we're not all family.”
    “Families fight, Susan. And we are family. Speaking of family, since we're in the area, do you want to go see yours?”
    “They're not in the area anymore. My father retired a few years back and they live in Arizona now. And even if they were, we're not all that close anymore,” Susan admitted. Maybe they never had been close. As a child she'd felt adored, but it wasn't adoration, it was grooming. From the time that she was old enough to realize it, she was pushed towards medical school. She'd become a doctor, like her father, and take over his practice when he was ready to retire.
    It had been a plan that she was okay with. In fact, she spent a good deal of time planning that life, especially after she and Rick got serious. They'd get married, have a nice house and maybe a couple of kids and a dog. She'd spend her days in the office and her weekends cooking delicious meals for her loving family. Of course, that had all gone to hell.
    “What about you? Got anywhere that you want to go? Anyone you want to see?”
    “I was thinking about going to the warehouse,” he admitted. “It withstood the fire pretty well. I thought maybe there'd be something left. Something of mine or Viking stuff.”
    “Let's go,” Susan told him. “We can take the truck—they left on foot. Or we can walk.”
    “You okay?”
    “I'm fine, maybe a little bit of a headache, but I'm fine. Let's go.”
    “I think we should run there. Screw the truck. Besides, I need a good run. We can loop around town, stop at the warehouse on the way back.”
    “Deal,”