Black Smoke by Robin Leigh Miller

continued his interrogation. “Why didn’t you tell us you spoke Afghan?”
    “I don’t.” Sam regretted it as soon as she said it. Her temper was ruling her now and that always led to trouble.
    “Then how the hell did you know what they were saying?”
    Sam just looked at him, then turned and went back to her spot among the rocks. She couldn’t lie to him if she didn’t answer him.
    But Kong wasn’t having it. “Tell me damn it, how the hell did you know they were Taliban, and they were looking for Americans?”
    “I can only ask you to trust me,” Sam said with a softer voice.
    “Trust you? You’re keeping secrets from us and you expect us to trust you? Good one.”
    Instead of Kong’s anger ebbing, it was growing. Was she taking risks with their lives? Sure she kept them away from the Taliban in the desert, but if she couldn’t speak their language, how did she know they were Taliban? Then another thought crossed his mind, one that disturbed him even more. Were there actually men there? Was she working her own agenda on her own private mission? Couple this together with the way she seemed to be talking to someone on the plane and he was sure she was up to no good.
    Kong looked to his two companions, he could tell her “trust me” statement had them disturbed as well. Even Boomer who thought she walked on water seemed perplexed. Well, he’d just have to keep her in his sights tomorrow, let one of the other two take point. That would royally piss her off, but at this point in the game, he didn’t care.
    When he looked back at her, she was eating and paying him no attention. Well, he thought to himself, if that’s the way she wants to play it, so be it. He walked over to the area where Ricochet and Boomer were seated and sat with them.
    “What do you guys think?” he asked in a whisper.
    Ricochet shook his head. “I don’t know man. She’s skilled and from what I hear, damn good at what she does.” He shrugged again. “Still, I don’t like not knowing how she knew who those men were if she doesn’t speak their language.”
    Kong looked at Boomer. “What about you?”
    Boomer sat a moment staring at his meal. He trusted her and from what he’d heard, she’d keep them from getting killed, but something inside him was beginning to doubt. “She hasn’t really let us down yet, has she? I mean, you’re pissed because she did something that any of us would have done. Why is that?”
    “That’s not the point and you know it,” Kong ground out between his teeth.
    Boomer just shrugged. “I think it is. I think you’re looking for something to bust her on and that’s your problem. But I’m like Ricochet, something bothers me.” He shrugged again. “Maybe I’m just tired.”
    “Yeah.” Kong got up and went to retrieve his pack. He took a quick glance over at Sam and saw she seemed to be sleeping. She was stretched out with her bare feet crossed and her left arm was slung over her eyes. Her right hand was lying on her stomach and she was breathing in a deep steady rhythm.
    He stood and watched her for a few moments, taken back by the sight of her. Even though he questioned her motives, his body still reacted to her. Angry with himself, he swore under his breath and returned to his men.
    “Ricochet, you take first watch tonight. Boomer, you take second, I’ll take third,” he said pulling a bottle of water and a granola bar from his pack.
    “What about Sam?” Boomer asked.
    “I’m not sure I trust her to watch over us while we sleep,” Kong replied dryly.
    “Okay boss.” Ricochet stood, grabbing his gun and found a position to watch from. Kong and Boomer settled in for a few hours of rest.
    Sam lay still listening to the men. She knew Kong thought she was asleep and that was the way she wanted it. Tears stung at her eyes while she listened. His words cut deep into her, much like the knife did to her back when she was eight. She had no idea why it mattered so much what he thought of