White Wolf 2: The Call of a Soul Read Online Free

you to put that back. It’s not right to invade Mama’s privacy like that.” Melanie dropped her purse on the dresser and then set her cell phone to charge. The phone was her prized possession given to her and paid for by her brother, Gray, who had provided phones for all of them out of his first paycheck. It had galled Gray to no end when Shuman, the reservation’s chief, had refused to allow them a landline.
    “It’s not Mama’s journal. I think it might’ve belonged to our great-great-great-great-great-grandmother on Papa’s side.”
    Susie grinned when Melanie did a double take.
    “No way. Let me see it.” She walked over to Susie’s bed, sat on the mattress, and held out a hand.
    Susie shook her head. “Sorry. No go. I hid it in the laundry hamper. I was going to put it back when Mama was having her shower, but I got so engrossed that I didn’t have time.”
    “I’ll put it back when I get home from work tomorrow—I mean this morning—after reading it first, of course. Are there any dates? Names?” A burst of excitement lifted her exhaustion. Maybe there would be a clue about how to develop her maggishahwi healing skills. She knew hearing the last call of a soul shouldn’t be the extent of her capabilities.
    “No dates, but I think it must be very old. As far as I can figure, it’s the legends of the Cwaatchii. How we came about. The writing’s difficult to read. I don’t understand half the words. If only…”
    Melanie filled in Susie’s unsaid words. If only Papa hadn’t been injured. If only the doctors hadn’t given him addictive-to-the-max pain pills. If only when the doctors stopped prescribing the drug, he hadn’t turned to alcohol to alleviate his debilitating agony. If only one of their parents had taught them about their heritage. If only Gramps and Papa hadn’t died and Mama and Jack Daniels hadn’t become best friends. So many if onlys. She sighed.
    “You won’t be able to finish it in one go. I know you understand more than I do, but the ink’s blurred in a lot of places, and it becomes a fill-in-the-blank puzzle.” Susie rolled her eyes. “I swear my head’s spinning trying to figure out all I read.”
    Melanie reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. “Do you realize what this might mean? If we can figure it out, we all won’t be so in the dark. Especially Gray. He’s had no alpha male model to guide him. I know he’s way past the mentoring age, but it could fill in some blanks for him. He doesn’t complain, but he’s become so reticent.” Secretive was the word Melanie wanted to use, but Gray and Susie had a special bond, and Susie would go all defensive if she voiced her other concerns about their brother.
    “Yeah. I know. I worry too. Lately all he’s done when he comes home is eat and sleep. He doesn’t consider making it into the Arena Football League and then being kept there for three years as a good sign.” Susie drew her knees up and propped her cheek on them.
    “He’s still playing for the Warriors. They haven’t dropped him from the team.”
    “Yeah, but I think his twenty-fifth birthday hit him hard. He figured he would’ve been called up to the NFL by now. He’s depressed about the whole situation.”
    “Oh my goodness, look at the time.”
    Melanie glanced at the clock: 2:37. She yawned.
    “You should go right to bed. You have to be up in two hours.” Susie gave her a gentle push. “Change and tell me why you’re so late. Then we’ll hit the sack.”
    Melanie yawned again and forced herself to stand. She pulled off her uniform as she related Pincer calling Doc G. and then sat on her bed to roll off her socks.
    “Who was killed?”
    “Eddie Mato.”
    All the color drained from her sister’s face. “Eddie Mato?”
    “Yeah. I didn’t expect that one either. But he has been in trouble with the law before.” Though Eddie hadn’t struck her as the violent type.
    “There hasn’t been a murder in Chabegawn since Boyd Dorland