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