The Black Feather by Olivia Claire High Page B

deserves to pay for giving everyone the runaround.”
    “That’s some kind of hold he has over you.”
    Her jaw clenched.
    “You don’t have to tell me something I already know.”
    “Then why don’t you stop trying to save your father and concentrate on trying to save yourself?”
    “I assume you’re referring to the years I’ve spent trying to please Dad and not about escaping the Montanes. Well, I don’t know how. Now are you going to help me find the bag or not?”
    “What does it look like?”
    “Green and canvas.”
    “A green bag hidden among a forest of green plants. Wonderful. Not that it matters in the dark. I don’t suppose it occurred to your father that it’d be more logical for you to wait until daylight.”
    “Dad doesn’t do logical.”
    “I’m beginning to think that might be a family trait.”
    Suzanne glared at him.
    “Could you just please help me find the stupid bag, or would you rather sit here going on about fixing my screwed up genes?”
    “Lady, there isn’t enough Super Glue or Duct tape on this planet to fix what ails your family.”
    “Well, that made me feel better.”
    He removed his hand from her wrist.
    “I’m sorry. You have my permission to take a swipe at me.”
    “Forget it. I can’t very well deny something when I know it’s true. ”
    “All right then, let’s see what we can find here.”
     
    Thad sat back on his heels after they’d finished searching as much of the yard that was possible to reach.
    “Either you misunderstood him, or your father’s playing games with you.”
    “I know what he said. That bag has to be here.”
    “If it is, I don’t think we’re going to find it tonight. There’s something else to consider.”
    “What?”
    “Someone else knew about the bag and got here before we did.”
    “That means they saw my dad put it here. He said the Montanes were getting too close.” 
    “Or he’s playing this from both sides. There might be someone in the Montane camp that’s willing to help your father for their own benefit.”
    “Which would mean he doesn’t care what happens to me; as long as he gets to leave the country with the stolen cash and his woman on his arm?”
    Suzanne pushed the hair out of her eyes.
    “Nice of him. You’d think I’d be used to his conniving by now. He pulled the guilt trip on me again. I foolishly tried to be the obedient daughter and help him like I’ve always done. It burns my butt that he can still make me feel like I’m five years old. He didn’t even care that I’d been shot. Well, I’ve had it. I came for the bag, and I couldn’t find it. My conscience is clear.”
    “I’ll have someone come back and look in the daylight. I’ll need that number you used to reach your father to see if we can track him down.”
    “Okay, but I’d like to get out of here first. My clothes are filthy, I’m full of stickers, and I’m pretty sure there’s something getting ready to crawl up my pants leg.”
    Suzanne walked to a pool of light coming from next door and started to brush at her clothes. The music suddenly went to an ear piercing high. Thad shoved her to the ground seconds before a tiny missile shredded the bush above their heads.
    “What the hell were you doing, standing up in the light like that?”
    “Please tell me that wasn’t what I think it was,” she said, ignoring his question.
    Thad pushed her head down when Suzanne tried to take a look.
    “Stay down!”
    Another bullet slammed into the dirt near them making Suzanne tremble.
    “Oh dear God, not again!”
    “Listen to me,” he commanded. “We’re going to crawl to the back gate that leads to the empty field.”
    “It’s too overgrown with tangled vines. We’ll never be able to get it to open.”
    “Yes we will. Stay low and move away from any light. Now go. I’ll be right behind you.”
    Suzanne swiveled her body around, encouraged by his calm confidence and headed for the gate in a commando crawl just as two more