ng　me；　and　now　I'm　afraid　he's

part　of　that　bizarre　gang

down　there；　Sam's　gang。　Sam　Uley's　gang。〃

〃Sam　Uley？〃　Charlie　repeated；　surprised　again。

〃Yes。〃

Charlie's　voice　was　more　relaxed　when　he　answered。　〃I　think　you've　got　it

wrong；　Bells。　Sam　Uley　is　a

great　kid。　Well；　he's　a　man　now。　A　good　son。　You　should　hear　Billy　talk　about

him。　He's　really　doing

wonders　with　the　youth　on　the　reservation。　He's　the　one　who—〃　Charlie　broke

off　mid…sentence；　and　I

guessed　that　he　had　been　about　to　make　a　reference　to　the　night　I'd　gotten

lost　in　the　woods。　I　moved　on

quickly。

〃Dad；　it's　not　like　that。　Jacob　was　scared　ofhim。〃

〃Did　you　talk　to　Billy　about　this？〃　He　was　trying　to　soothe　me　now。　I'd　lost

him　as　soon　as　I'd　mentioned

Sam。

〃Billy's　not　concerned。〃

〃Well；　Bella；　then　I'm　sure　it's　okay。　Jacob's　a　kid；　he　was　probably　just

messing　around。　I'm　sure　he's

fine。　He　can't　spend　every　waking　minute　with　you；　after　all。〃

〃This　isn't　about　me；〃　I　insisted；　but　the　battle　was　lost。

〃I　don't　think　you　need　to　worry　about　this。　Let　Billy　take　care　of　Jacob。〃

〃Charlie〃　My　voice　was　starting　to　sound　whiney。

〃Bells；　I　got　a　lot　on　my　plate　right　now。　Two　tourists　have　gone　missing　off

a　trail　outside　crescent　lake。〃

There　was　an　anxious　edge　to　his　voice。　〃This　wolf　problem　is　getting　out　of

hand。〃

I　was　momentarily　distracted—stunned；　really—by　his　news。　There　was　no　way

the　wolves　could　have

survived　a　match…up　with　Laurent

〃Are　you　sure　that's　what　happened　to　them？〃　I　asked。

〃Afraid　so；　honey。　There　was—〃　He　hesitated。　〃There　were　tracks　again；　and