Chapter Fourteen
Nose in the air, sniffing the merest whiff of what could be her father's scent, Collie St. John, 8 year old intrepid explorer, is leading the group, consisting of her mother in the middle with young Spike Kostan on the tail. After yesterday's near mishap with her mother, Collie's not taking any chances of losing her again. They wanted to leave her behind at the cabin, but Mom was being stubborn so here they were: ah, there it is again.
"Stop. Spiked one, do you smell anything, sort of like rancid fat?"
"Bear maybe?"
"No, it's got a human tinge to it. It leads up over towards the Maroon Bells. I think we need to head that way."
"Collie, where did you get that ability?" But Beth knows. Mick's nose. I remember kidding him about his vampire ability being a mobile lab. Jacob's kidnapping. We've seen him grow up and personally, I think Bio Nalysis made a mistake. That high forehead and straight nose was definitely St. John. And when they visited Robert last time, she noticed that the Army picture was gone from the wall.
"Mom. Are you falling asleep again? What have you got – some kind of sleep disorder? What do they call it, Spike?"
"Collie, I'm fine. Just wool gathering, I guess. A senior moment remembering your father's ability to use his nose, too. If you say head that way, then I'm ready."
And Beth gives her daughter the special smile, the one that makes everyone around Beth love her. The one that says I have complete faith in you.