Lone Wolf Read Online Free Page A

instructed. The stain all but disappeared.
    â€œI tend to be a messy eater myself.” She smiled as she took back the pen. “So what kind of work do you do?”
    â€œI work for myself. I’m a consultant—a liaison between government and indigenous groups, both on an official level and non-government level.”
    â€œThat sounds interesting. What does it mean, though?” She lifted a brow as one corner of her mouth turned up.
    â€œI’ve worked on a variety of projects—business opportunities, joint ventures, heritage sites…whatever. You call, I answer.” He grinned and took another bite, careful this time to lean over his plate.
    â€œStill not sure what you’re talking about. Your command of bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo is impressive, but how about an example?”
    â€œWell, right now I’m finishing a project out at a site near the town of Marshdale. Old Man’s Lake. We’re building a cultural center there and my job is to make sure all the interested parties get along. Kind of like a baby-sitter, only I get paid a lot more.”
    Nicole nodded. “Ah. Babysitters I understand. And I’ve heard of the project out there, too. It’s been in the news a few times over the past year or two.”
    â€œOld Man’s Lake was a huge gathering place for tribes across the western plains, not just the Cree. It’s got real historical significance and there have been some amazing finds there. Not to mention, it’s kind of personal for me, as well. My great-grandfather was one of the last medicine men to visit the area before wide-scale homesteading took place.”
    â€œI also remember hearing something about some racial stuff going on out there.” Nicole furrowed her brow and her chewing slowed until she swallowed. “Wait a minute. Now I remember. Something about the project organizer getting stabbed…”
    Thomas just nodded, a slightly awkward smile playing on his lips until he took another bite of his sandwich.
    â€œWas that you?” She looked straight at him and her eyes were wide.
    Thomas nodded again.
    â€œDid it hurt?” Maggie asked, speaking up for the first time.
    â€œYes, but I’m better now,” Thomas responded.
    â€œHow can you stay in a place where racial discrimination is that entrenched?” Nicole asked.
    Thomas frowned. “It’s not really like that. At least not any more. And the woman who stabbed me was a nutcase, as in loco . She ended up in a facility.”
    Nicole scrutinized him a little more closely. “Well, at least you recovered. You don’t look any worse for wear.”
    â€œAnd the center is almost ready to open, so all’s well that ends well.”
    â€œWow. That was pretty crazy.” Nicole shook her head.
    â€œTell me about it.” Thomas laughed.
    Nicole cocked her head to one side and squinted at Thomas. “You know, you might be just the person to help with a problem back at my home reserve.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œWell, there’s been a huge rise in cancer rates since all the oil and gas activity started near there fifteen or twenty years ago. Government regulations have stopped some of the pollution, but there is still a lot of contamination getting into the water system from upstream. The people are just now looking into ways to fight for better regulations and maybe get some kind of compensation for all the damage it’s caused.”
    Thomas nodded. “I just read something about that. It was in your office, actually, in a magazine article.” He looked over at her. “Jackfish Landing? Is that your community?”
    â€œYes. That’s it.”
    â€œMy kookum lives there,” Maggie informed him, using the Cree word for grandmother.
    â€œI’m not really sure what I could do,” Thomas said. “My area of expertise is in business. Getting projects off the ground. That sounds more like a