A dark rolling cloud stole away what was left of the sun. Jessup glanced up at the sky and saw the black storm clouds gathering fast. Already the light breeze had turned into gusts.
"I suppose we better get inside." Jessup stood. "Looks like we’re in for a good one tonight."
Kenny followed his example, pulling himself up from the porch. "Yeah, I need to make a phone call to the Shiprock Police. Maybe I can talk them into running out to Glass Mountain to check on things for me."
"I should be getting back anyway. Why don’t you just follow me and you can use the phone there at the office?" Jessup suggested.
"Sounds like a deal to me." Kenny looked to where Laura still reclined on a lawn chair. She hadn't said a word since dinner. Laura had managed to retreat into a world apart from the rest of them.
A silent message passed between Kenny and Busby.
"Laura ... let’s go get a fire going inside," Busby coaxed his granddaughter.
Laura snapped back to reality. "Sure Grandpa."
Jessup nodded his head toward the car. "Let’s go kid, before it starts dropping buckets."
* * * *
Laura could hear her grandfather and Two-Bears chatting in the living room as she dried the last of the dishes and put them away.
What if they were right?
Doubt nagged at her, causing her insides to churn. Someone burst through the front door and she was jerked away from her thoughts. Dropping the dishtowel, she ran to the living room.
By the sight of the two men who stood in the doorway, Laura could tell right away that something was dreadfully wrong.
Awakening shone in Jessup’s eyes.
"I see you have had your first run-in with the Sungmanitu," Two-Bears stated.
"We had a run in with a living nightmare, that’s what we had a run-in with." Jessup slumped down on the sofa, his knees feeling weak.
Laura was silent--listening in disbelief.
"I have a question for you." Jessup spoke up. "I’m almost positive that neither one of those things were wolves. Why are they called wolf people?"
Two-Bears smiled. "They are shape-shifters. They can take the form of many different animals. Legend says that the wolf is the most common and that is why they are called wolves."
"What happened?" Laura finally found the will to ask.
"We were attacked while leaving your office. I think they were some kind of large cats. They attacked me while I was in my car. Luckily Jessup scared them away with a shotgun." Kenny paused trying to read Laura’s eyes.
"We had to leave my car there. It would have been too risky to try and drive back in it," Kenny was the one to explain.
"They were jaguars," Jessup told her.
Two-Bears studied the fire, as if it held the secrets that were evading them all.
"They could not have been jaguars. They had to have been mountain lions." Two-Bears spoke to Jessup.
"No, they were much larger than mountain lions and resembled jaguars. I should know! When I lived in Houston, I worked at the zoo helping with the big cats. And I’m here to tell you they may have been very large ones, but I’m sure they were jaguars."
"It can’t be," Two-Bears insisted. "They are only known to take the form of animals native to their surroundings, and as far as I know, there are no jaguars this far north of Mexico."
Laura had been listening with a mixture of amazement and horror, but she could take no more.
"I’m glad you are both okay." She smiled. "But I need to lie down. My head feels as if it will split at any moment."
They bid her goodnight and Laura retired to her room. Lying on her bed, she listened to the drone of conversation in the next room.
Her heart ached to hear Justin’s denial of these horrible accusations. Laura hadn't the strength to wipe away the tears that fell to her pillow.
* * * *
Silver moonlight blanketed the desert floor. It was so peaceful--the lullaby of the wind comforting to her aching soul. She could hear the flapping of a bat’s wings as it dove nearby to seize an insect. Far off in the distance a coyote yapped.
Spread out below, silent and empty, was Sweet Water City. Laura picked her way through the sage until she was on the town’s main street.
It was so still. She feared if she breathed too loudly she would wake some long-dead cowboy.
If she closed her eyes, she could almost see the town in its heyday. The clip-clop, clip-clop of hooves as horses pulled carriages down the dirt street.
The saloon was animated with the laughter of dancers and lively piano music. What was that song they were playing? Dixieland--she recognized the tune.
Somewhere at the other end of town, gunfire erupted.
She could make out the clank, clank of leather heels on the wooden plank sidewalks as ladies strolled with their sweethearts on this beautiful summer night.
Laura was stunned to realize that her eyes were no longer closed. She was really seeing what could not be seen; the images were no longer in her mind’s eye.
Were these ghosts, only visible when the moon was high and the rest of the world slept?
"Howdy, miss." The voice that came from behind caused her to all but jump out of her skin.
Justin’s dancing eyes laughed at her. "Would you care to walk with me in the park?"
He took her arm and led her down a side street past the blacksmith shop. In the park she could hear the soothing sound of a gentle flowing creek. Justin pulled her down into the grass.
Reaching up with one hand, he tenderly caressed her cheeks. "I hunger for you with a craving I cannot control."
Laura could feel his hot breath on her face before his lips touched her. She kissed him back with the same desperate intensity.
Too soon he pulled away from her. The moon reflected the pain that shone in his eyes.
"I love you, Laura. Never forget that."
Laura opened her eyes to the dimly lit living room and the curious faces of her guests. Kenny had a vice grip around her sweat drenched body.
She had been struggling to free herself.
Still delirious, Laura pleaded with Kenny, "Let me go! Justin needs me!"
"Laura, wake up!" Busby’s stern voice broke through to her.
The tension drained from Laura’s body and she went limp against Kenny.
Two-Bears had brought in a damp towel so that Busby could bathe the perspiration from her face.
Laura wobbled a little with the effort of standing. "I’m okay now. It was just a dream," she explained, feeling very foolish.
"Who is Justin?" Kenny asked.
"Just a friend." Laura was evasive.
Jessup raised his brow. "Should I tell them, or will you?"
"He’s just this guy that I’ve been kind of seeing." Laura became agitated.
"He’s one of those Indians up there," Jessup finished explaining for her.
"He’s a Sungmanitu?" Two-Bears asked in anxious concern.
Laura nodded reluctantly.
"You have to stop--he is very dangerous," Two-Bears warned.
"He’s never hurt me in any way," Laura defended her lover.
"He was calling for you tonight. That is why you were trying to leave," Busby told her.
"How could he have done that?" Jessup was still skeptical. "I thought all they could do is change?"
"Stranger things have happened ... where love is concerned." Two-Bears was grim. He didn't want to tell them that they may have infected her mind.
Laura could take no more and she fled to her room, shutting the door behind her.
Her tears came unrelenting. They had to be wrong!
Justin could not be the evil creature that they were trying to convince her he was. Her heart just could not accept it ... but ... what if he was...?
Chapter Thirteen
The sky dawned purple marking a new day. Sometime during the night the storm had passed, leaving a chill in its wake. The air was moist and Laura shivered pulling her robe tighter.
A gust of wind whipped her hair into her face and she had to hold it back with one hand to keep it out of her eyes. Remembering her dream the night before, Laura trembled. It had seemed so vivid; she could still feel his touch.
"Lauraaaa...." The sound of her name floated on the wind so softly to be almost indistinguishable.
"Lauraaaaa ... Lauraaa...."
There it was again--echoing. It seemed to be coming from the trees.
Laura left the porch and followed a well-worn path leading into the woods. The trees were deep in shadow and morning dew still coated the ground. Here, the cold fingers of night hadn't released its grasp to the sun’s warmth.
The eerie voice called her name again, but it was still no clearer than it had been from the cabin.
Laura closed her eyes, concentrating, hoping that if she heard it again, she would be able to tell from which direction it was coming.
"Lauraaa ... run!" This voice seemed to be right in her ear.
A hand clasped Laura’s arm and her eyes flew open. Laura’s screams erupted, shattering the morning calm.
"Laura ... what are you doing out here all alone?" In all the years that she had known him, this was the first time she had ever seen Kenny really angry.
"I heard ... someone," she stammered.
"I have no doubt of that," he told her, and she was astonished by the fury in his eyes.
Laura flinched and Kenny was instantly sorry for his anger. "Laura ... something is very wrong here and I think there is a lot more to it than just the clear-cutting." He paused. "I can’t explain it, it’s just a feeling."
His features softened. "I'd like you to ride to the office with me and Mr. Jessup when we pick up my car. There’s something I want to show you."
* * * *
Speechless, Laura surveyed the damage to Kenny’s Nova. In several places the metal had been peeled back, reminding her of an aluminum can that had been cut with a dull knife.
"Now do you understand how dangerous it is here?" Kenny needled her.
"I’m so sorry Kenny, but I just can’t believe that Justin is some kind of monster." Laura’s eyes misted with tears.
Though knowing there was someone else in her life cut deeply, so did her pain. Kenny took her hand in his. "Laura ... I'm afraid for you. He may not harm you ... but what about the others?"
"No Kenny!" Laura denied the possibility. "The Sungmanitu are no different that you or I--they have just chosen to live a more isolated existence and I think they are being persecuted because of that."
Jessup had been silently watching their exchange, but now he cut in. "Laura, I shot at those things last night, and I’m here to tell you they were no ordinary animals. Now, I’m not saying those people are some kind of spooks, I’m just saying there is something not right about this."
Laura said nothing. She could think of no words to defend Justin. Reason and logic didn't seem to apply any longer.
Jessup gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "Go find your man, Laura ... and put your doubts to rest ... one way or the other. Then do what you feel you have to do from there."
"I don’t think that’s such a good idea." Kenny tried to intervene.
Jessup held up a hand to stop him. "She’s a big girl, Kenny. And I think if they were going to hurt her, they have had every opportunity do so already." He motioned to the trailer. "It’s not like there is anything to do here. I think this is one that Duccini’s going to have to quit." Jessup didn't seem too disappointed.
* * * *
Laura sat in the idling truck and peered at Justin’s cabin. After several moments of limbo, she warily looked to the Beaver Creek road.
Would he be there?
Maybe, his bike was parked on the side of his cabin, so he could not be far.
Before she lost her nerve all together, Laura put the car in gear and started down the road. Coming to a halt in the town circle, she knew that Beaver Creek was still deserted.
But there was one person sitting in the grass of the town circle, busily whittling away on a piece of wood.
Leaving the truck, Laura closed the distance between herself and the elderly Indian. Soon she could see the pipe that he was working on. There was a beautiful image of a wolf carved into the wood.
"Excuse me, sir." Laura’s raw nerves lent a high pitch to her voice.
The man turned his wrinkled face in her direction and Laura was shocked to see that he was blind.
She bit down on her lip, almost afraid to ask about Justin. Chiding herself for letting their spook stories get to her, Laura asked, "I was wondering if you might know where I can find Justin Gray Eagle?"
He slowly shook his head, as if he were trying to remember for sure.
Laura let out a sigh of frustration. "Thanks anyway."
Her eyes began scanning the town hoping there might be someone else she could ask. There were only three small girls playing jump rope in the street. The thought crossed her mind to knock on a few doors, but she suspected that she would get the same answer from anyone here.
Simultaneously, she heard a dull thud and felt sharp pain crawl up her leg. The old man had struck her with the long pipe.
"Puta! It's too late for you now. You can never turn back!" The man’s lips were moving but it was not his voice, it was that woman’s voice.
Laura backed toward her car, her eyes never leaving the bent over form of the man. Wasting no time, Laura had the car started and was spinning tires as she shot forward, slowing only when passing the little girls who played in the road.
Giggling, the girls continued singing and jumping in rhythm.
"One, two, the moon means food
Three, four, he’s going to eat some more
Five, six, the blood runs thick
Seven, eight, it’s too late
Nine, ten, he’s a beast again."
Laura’s hands shook violently. Her grip tightened, turning her fingers white from lack of blood.
The voices followed her, haunting her long after she had left them far behind.
Once she felt that she was far enough away to feel comfortable, Laura pulled to the side of the road. Her tears came in torrents.
"Please don’t let them be right!" she cried.
More than her next breath, right now she needed Justin. She needed to feel his arms around her, and to hear him tell her that they were wrong.
An explosion of thunder sounded in the distance, rolling through the hills like a buffalo stampede. The western horizon was painted black with vicious clouds.
Goose flesh rose on her skin and she began to tremble again. Laura tasted blood, becoming aware that she had been biting her lip so hard that she had drawn blood.
Laura eased the car back on the road. There was only one other person that might be able to tell her what she needed to know.
Lost in thought, Laura had little memory of driving to the Sweet Water Mine, but the sight that greeted her caused her to bring the car to a sudden stop.
Terror clutched at her throat, but she knew she must fight it.
Dewey Hughes was on the ground, struggling with the large cat. Its jaws clamped tight around his calf, Dewey kicked furiously with his other leg.
Laura laid on the horn, hoping to distract the animal. It worked long enough for Dewey to get to his trailer and through the door.
But that seemed to deter the animal only slightly. Now it circled the structure, looking for a way in, waiting for him to come out.
Too frightened to think, Laura was operating on instinct alone. Leaving the safely of her truck, she picked up a rock and hurled it at the huge jaguar. She missed and the cat didn't even turn in her direction.
Picking up several more rocks, she began throwing them in earnest. There was a thud and a roar.
&nb
sp; The animal turned its attention to her--now she would be its prey.
In her haste to climb back into the car, her shoulder hit the door, slamming it shut. She pulled on the door handle but it was jammed. There would be no time to try and get it open. Her only chance was to run.
It was ten feet away, now nine. Laura turned her back on it and ran.
She looked back at the snarling commotion behind her and tripped.
The ferocious fangs of a large wolf sunk into the cat’s haunches. The jaguar roared its fury. Razor sharp claws swiped at the wolf and there was a yelp, but the wolf kept coming. Its vicious jaws tore at the cat’s flesh.
Grasping at her chance for escape, Laura scrambled to her feet and ran straight for some cliff formations straight ahead.
If she could just find a place to hide in the rocks, and if it rained, just maybe they would lose her scent.
Climbing the sharp, jagged rocks, she dared not look back. Laura found a very little cave--the size of a small closet. Crouching inside, she held her breath.
A shadow loomed over the entrance.
Laura knew she was dead. Closing her eyes she awaited the razor-sharp teeth that would rip the meat from her bones.
Something had her wrist, pulling her from the shelter. Her eyes flew open and a scream tore from her throat, echoing through the small rock canyon.
At first, she was too terrified to see him. It was after he shook her that she came back to reality, only to wish that she hadn’t.
Justin stood before her in naked splendor--hard muscles rippling beneath copper skin.
But his eyes!
Laura gasped for air.
He peered at her through eyes of yellow fire.
Again her terrified screams ripped through the silence of the canyon. She struggled frantically to free herself from his death grip, but he only tightened it.
"Laura, stop!" His words were more like snarls and served only to frighten her more.
She kicked and clawed like a trapped animal but he wouldn't budge.
"Laura, please stop. Let me explain." His voice sounded more like his own and his eyes were changing to that familiar golden-specked brown.
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