by Tess Oliver
“Well?” Libby asked. “What happened?”
“I told him to mind his own damn business.” Cade glared back at the man as he spoke. Samuel seemed to be trying his best to placate Carson.
“It was about me,” I said.
Cade looked down at me. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” He looked so confident and I felt extraordinarily safe with Cade, but deep down, the gnawing truth pained me. Cade imagined himself protecting me from another man, a mortal man. But the man I was hiding from was more dangerous than a thousand mortal men. The truth was always there, I’d just chosen to ignore it. For Cade’s sake, I had to leave him long before Angus found me. I was slowly giving up hope that Nonni would find me first. I was certain she would have come for me already, and the longer it took her, the better the chance that Angus would get to me first.
“Maybe Deputy Carson can help us find Poppy’s grandmother. Surely he has contacts with the sheriffs in Salem. Perhaps he could get word to them.” Cade had obviously not told Libby that I was hiding from someone.
“No,” I blurted, “my grandmother will find me. I won’t be a burden much longer, I promise.”
Libby put her arm around my shoulder. “You’re no burden, Honey. In fact, I’ve never had such an industrious and pleasant helper. But I know you’re homesick. I can see it in your face sometimes when you don’t know anyone is looking. And if I were your grandmother, I’d be worried sick about you.”
“I’m sure I’ll be with her soon.” Even I could hear the lack of confidence in my tone.
The music started up again, and I wanted nothing more than to leave. Within moments, my wish was answered, although not in the way I’d planned.
“My ankle!” Charlotte cried from across the room. Samuel held his wife’s arm as she hobbled to a chair and sat down. Libby pushed through the crowd. Cade and I followed.
“I told you not to wear those silly new shoes,” Samuel scolded as we reached them.
Libby placed an arm on Samuel’s shoulder. “That is certainly not going to help matters now.” Libby leaned down and pressed on the ankle. Charlotte sucked in a sharp breath. “We need to get her home so I can get a salve on it.”
Samuel scowled down at his wife. “Home, so soon? Maybe if you just rest it, you’ll be better in an hour.”
Virginia looked over our shoulders. “Yes, perhaps if she just rests it.”
Charlotte’s eyes watered, and the usual pink in her round cheeks had vanished. She’d not been overly kind to me these last few days, but I felt truly sorry for her now. Her husband showed absolutely no sympathy for her at a time when she was in obvious distress. In fact, he seemed far more upset about having to leave the dance early.
Samuel’s sigh dripped with irritation. “Fine. Put your arm around my shoulder, and I’ll help you to the door so we can hoist you up onto the wagon.” His description made it sound as if she was a sack of flour.
“You know, I think I’ll get a ride home with the Edmonds,” Virginia said casually. “I mean, no sense in all of us leaving so early.” Loyal friend that she was, she hurried away. It seemed my second wish of the evening had been granted.
Cade stepped forward. “Get her wrap, Libby.” He leaned over, swept Charlotte up into his arms, and carried her through the maze of spectators and out to the wagon. Libby and I grabbed up our shawls and hurried behind. Charlotte was no small woman, but Cade carried her easily up to the box and lowered her gently to the seat. I handed him up her wrap. Charlotte looked up at him admiringly as he covered her shoulders.
A figure walking up the dimly lit road caught Cade’s attention. He finished tending to Charlotte and then nodded at the man. “Evening, Sheriff Stanton.”
The man, who had now reached the wagon, had shoulders as broad as the width of the wagon bed and a full head of white hair. He wore the same silver star as Carson.
Cade looked pointedly at the long gun hanging from the man’s hand. “You going out hunting at this hour?”
Sheriff Stanton picked up the gun and placed the barrel over his shoulder. “As a matter of fact, I am. James Perkins, out on the west road, saw a wolf tonight. Said there was something strange about the animal. Rabid, no doubt. Came to find Carson.” The man nodded at Libby and then looked up at Cade again. “I was hoping I’d find you too. You’re the steadiest hand and best marksman in town.”
Cade nodded. “I saw the animal on the road north of my ranch. We can start there. I’ll get my rifle. Jackson is inside. He’s great at tracking them.” He jumped off the wagon and put out his hand for me to take. There was a glint in his green eyes as he helped me up into the wagon, and his hand lingered on mine for longer than necessary.
Samuel helped Libby up and then climbed up himself. He pulled a rifle from beneath the wagon seat. “I guess I’d better have this handy in case we meet up with the wolf on the way home.”
Cade looked up at his brother. “Don’t hesitate to shoot. It didn’t look rabid, but it was the biggest wolf I’ve seen around these parts.”
I leaned over the side of the wagon and looked down at Cade. “Be careful.”
He smiled up at me. “I plan on it.” He smacked the side of the wagon. “You’d better get Charlotte home, Samuel. And keep out a watchful eye.”
Chapter 17
Cade
The four horses seemed to sense danger as we headed down the road. River held his head uncharacteristically high, and I had to hold him back. Even at a walk, the nervous horses lifted their legs faster than necessary. Hooves pounded the hard ground, alerting the prey to our presence. Carson, who normally despised having me near, appeared more than relieved that I was going along on the hunt.
We headed back toward the ranch to retrace the path I’d taken when I first saw the wolf. The wagon was well out of sight and hopefully very near home by now. I had hated leaving them, but Samuel was skilled with his hunting rifle. I assured myself over and over again that they would be fine.
“Where did you say you saw this beast?” Sheriff Stanton asked.
“Just up ahead here. It was hiding in the shrubs watching the road with odd blue eyes. Big one too. But I didn’t see any signs of it being rabid. It ran off once it saw me.”
“We’re probably just chasing shadows,” Carson said. “It’s probably long gone by now.”
Like me, Jackson struggled to keep his horse from bolting. “I don’t know, Carson, these horses smell something out here.” Jackson looked up at the night sky. “That sliver of a moon isn’t going to be much help. I’m going to need to get off and follow the tracks on foot, but I need to get this horse off the road. Sheriff, you and Carson ride up ahead and take our horses with you. They’ll calm down once they are out of smelling range. If I can find the tracks, we might be able to get closer to its hiding spot.”
“You’re going to walk on foot out there?” Carson asked. “With a rabid wolf lurking in the dark?”
“Cade said it wasn’t rabid.” Jackson climbed out of his saddle and I hopped off River. Carson stared down at him, the weak moonlight reflecting off his star. “So, you’re going to risk getting your throat torn out all based on Cade’s word?”
Jackson handed Carson the reins. “Yep.”
I pulled the rifle from my saddle and handed the reins to Sheriff Stanton. “Now don’t go after it alone, Cade. You whistle when you need us. We’ll let the horses go if necessary. They all know how to get home from here.”
Jackson and I hiked through the dry foliage lining the road to where the ground smoothed enough to see tracks. It was dark and cold, and I would have much preferred to be home with Poppy.
“Too bad you don’t have your guardian angel with you right now,” Jackson commented, as if he’d read my thoughts. “But then, after the way you walked into that hall tonight, it seems like you’ve decided to take on the role of guardian.”
“Yeah? I’m surprised you saw me walk in at all the way you had your eyes glued to Maryann’s cleavage.”
“Can yo
u blame me? I would just love to get my hands around those plump—”
“Just look for the tracks before we freeze our asses off.”
Jackson leaned over and examined an area of the shrubs that was flattened as if an animal had been sleeping on it. He crouched down and brushed his fingers over something in the soil. “This drought has made it harder than ever to track anything, but you were right.” He peered up at me. “This is one massive wolf we’re chasing.” He stooped over and walked along for several hundred feet before pointing toward a copse of trees. “It headed that way. That must be how old man Perkins came across it. His farm is just past those elms.” Jackson swung his rifle up over his shoulder. “That beast is long gone. Let’s go home. It’s damn cold out here.”
We headed back to the road until a snapping sound cracked the frigid night air. We froze and listened for another sound. Behind us, feet, or in this case giant paws, crunched the dry leaves. Simultaneously, we lowered our rifles from our shoulders.
“Should I whistle?” Jackson whispered.
I shook my head and turned around slowly. A large wolf stood in the field several hundred yards away. The silhouette of the animal was black and menacing, and its cold blue eyes glimmered in the weak glow of the moon. I lifted my rifle and stared down the barrel at the animal. Its unflinching, hungry gaze stared me down as if we were in a battle of courage.
“What are you waiting for?” Jackson muttered from the side of his mouth.
Its white fangs glistened, and it remained still as a statue, watching us as fiercely as we watched it. I took a steady aim and fired. It ran off into the darkness.
Jackson stared at me with a look of utter disbelief. “You missed.”
“Really? What gave it away?”
“I’ve seen you hit a penny off the wheel of a wagon from three hundred yards and you missed a wolf that was as big as my horse?”
I shrugged. “Maybe it was the lighting. I’m a better shot in the daylight.” Truthfully, I was certain I had shot true and straight.
Horses whinnied on the trail behind us. “Did you get it? “ Sheriff Stanton called down from the road.
“He missed,” Jackson called back enthusiastically. “I guess you’re just plain mortal like the rest of us, Buddy.” He slapped my back.
“Guess so.” We hiked back up to the horses. I looked back once more to where the wolf had stood. There was something definitely not right about that animal.
I grabbed the reins and climbed into my saddle. River had settled down. “That wolf isn’t rabid— just hungry. It’s unusual for one to get so close to a farmstead and to the road, but I don’t think it poses any more threat than ususal.”
“Anyhow,” Sheriff Stanton said, “there’s no moon for proper tracking. We’ll let it be and hope it moves on soon.”
The road back was dark and deserted, but the horses had apparently spent all their nervous energy on the wolf. Their big heads hung low as they plodded toward home.
Jackson sighed dramatically. “Too bad we had to leave early. Now I’ll have to spend all night dreaming about what could have been.”
“I think you would’ve been doing the same even if you and Maryann had been the last people to leave.”
“You underestimate me, my friend. But I’ll forgive the insult. It’s been a bad couple of days for you, what with almost drowning in mud and missing an easy target.”
“Jackson,” I said.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Stop talking.”
A light was on in the kitchen as we rode up. Jackson and I had not been dressed for a late night hunt, and the cold had seeped through to our bones. The horses were all too pleased to get home as well.
Samuel, Libby, and Poppy sat around the small kitchen table picking at the cake Virginia had left. But the hot pot of coffee was what held my interest.
“Did you kill it?” Samuel asked.
“Had it in our sights, didn’t we, Cade?” Jackson poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down.
Samuel looked confused. “But you didn’t shoot it?”
I sat next to Poppy with my steaming cup. “Missed it.”
Samuel looked at Jackson for confirmation. Jackson took a sip and placed his cup on the table. “Biggest, blackest wolf I’ve ever seen. And he just stood there like a picture waiting to take a bullet.” Jackson took another long sip for effect. “Even I could have shot it from the distance we were standing.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you?” I asked.
“Why? Because I was standing next to the best rifleman in the valley, that’s why.”
I took a sip and slouched back. “Everyone has an off day.” It had been a long evening and I was in no mood for Jackson’s mocking. “How’s Charlotte?”
“I think it’s just a sprain,” Libby said. “But Samuel is going to drive her into town tomorrow to see the doctor just in case. So, was the animal rabid?” Apparently, we were not ready to drop the wolf subject.
“Wasn’t acting like any rabid animal I’ve ever seen,” I said. “I’m sure the drought has driven it from the mountains. Plenty of fresh meat down here. I’m going to do a perimeter check in the morning to make sure the fences are secure.”
Samuel chuckled into his cup of coffee. “I guess that’s a chore you could have saved yourself if your aim had been better.”
Jackson laughed over a mouthful of cake.
“And, my large-mouthed friend, you will ride through every pasture to make sure the herd is all right,” I said.
Jackson sucked in some crumbs and coughed. Samuel helped him out with a sharp smack on the back.
“Occasionally, we would spot a wolf in the surrounding woods near home,” Poppy spoke up. She’d taken the pins out of her hair, and it cascaded around her slim shoulders. “But they were generally more interested in grabbing up chickens and goats than harming people. It sounds as if they are more dangerous here in Montana.”
“Only more dangerous to ranchers because they prey on cattle,” I said. “And that costs money.”
“Of course. That makes sense,” she said. “Does anyone else need more coffee?” She pushed up from the table.
I threw back the last drops of my coffee and followed her to the stove. My fingers took the opportunity to caress her hand as I passed her my empty cup. Her lips turned up in a sly grin as she lifted the pot and poured the hot coffee.
“Whooee, that beast had the most wicked pair of eyes.” Jackson was obviously still obsessing about the wolf. And I was busy with my own obsession. Poppy handed the cup to me and I placed it on the stove and grabbed her arm. I glanced back at the table. Samuel and Libby were still enthralled by Jackson’s slightly embellished, chilling details of the wolf hunt. I took the opportunity to press Poppy’s wrist to my mouth. I kissed it firmly and then released her hand. Her smiled widened as she picked up her own cup to fill.
“Even in the yellow moonlight,” Jackson went on dramatically, “it had the most intense, evil stare I’ve ever seen. And here’s the strangest part— its eyes were icy blue.”
Poppy startled next to me, and her filled cup slipped from her hands. Somehow, it managed to right itself and land coffee side up on the stove without spilling a drop. We both stared down at the amazingly acrobatic cup. Her fingers trembled as she reached for it. A moment earlier she was gazing at me flirtatiously, and now she kept her brown eyes averted.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that,” I said without hiding the suspicion in my tone. “First the cow and then the cup. Things seem to be righting themselves very easily these days.”
She shrugged nonchalantly but something had shaken her. “I suppose some days are just unusual like that.”
Chapter 18
Poppy
Milking Libby’s cow brought on another pang of homesickness. I rested my face against the animal’s warm belly and sang the same song I used to sing for our cow, Charlotte. Nonni had always thought me daft when I insisted the milk pail filled fa
ster when I sang. After a restless night of sleep, the warm, earthy moisture of the cow barn and the rhythmic churnings of the cow’s stomach made me drowsy.
I’d been so startled by Jackson’s vivid description of the wolf’s blue eyes, I’d completely forgotten where I was standing. And when the cup fell from my fingers, I’d instinctively used my magic to keep it from spilling. And it hadn’t slipped Cade’s attention. I’d made an oath to be more careful in the future. I had, no doubt, been overreacting to Jackson’s description, and halfway through a bout of wakefulness, I’d convinced myself that it was the word wolf coupled with blue eyes that had alarmed me. Angus was monstrously powerful, but I had no idea if he the power to shape shift. I’d never seen him do it.
I closed my eyes and continued my song until footsteps caused both the cow and me to raise our heads. Cade stood in the open doorway looking down at me. As usual, the seriousness of his expression was edged with a cocky, almost mischievous air that always made me smile.
“No wonder the cream has tasted so much sweeter these last few days,” he said. “You’ve been serenading the milk cows.”
“I’m pretty sure my singing would have the opposite effect on the flavor, but it does seem to lull them into giving the milk more freely.”
“Once you’re done here,” he said, “I’m going to ride around the perimeter of the fences. Would you like to come along? It’s a pretty ride. Some of the wildflowers are starting to bloom. And I think Red would love to get out of his stall.”
I took a fortifying breath, pulled the pail out from under the cow, and faced him. “I would love to go, if I’m not too much of a burden.”
Whenever we were alone, it seemed he somehow always managed to put the least amount of space possible between us without actually touching. And I never moved out of his reach. “You’re the furthest thing from a burden, Poppy.”
There were times when his gaze was so intense, I could not help but blush beneath it. “I’ll just get dressed then.”