Hettie smoothed out the wrinkles in the one dress she’d packed as best as she could, but decided a little dishevelment wouldn’t hurt her cause. Late in the morning, Ling dropped her about half a mile outside of Hawksville. The healer didn’t like her plan one bit, but he couldn’t go with her—he’d be recognized for sure. She promised she would rejoin him before nightfall—at least, that was the hope.
She walked into town, gathering plenty of dust on her boots and the hem of her skirt. She’d smeared some of the red mud from the creek bed along her front, as well. It looked like dried blood.
As the buildings came into sight, she focused on her weariness, staggering, trying to bring tears into her eyes. It wasn’t hard to look pitiful. She was thirsty and hungry, and her various injuries still
