by Betty Bolte
Four of them wore gray and black coats of fur with massive paws and long twitching tails. The leader, however, bore a majestic air in his black-and-rust-tipped coat, three of his paws also rust, the color of dried blood, but the front right white as the moon. Five sets of yellow eyes trapped them in place. No way could she outrun the beasts. Or climb a tree before they’d rip her to the ground with those paws and teeth. The space between the wolves and them charged with tension. Tara swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing down the fear with the effort. The leader seemed to study her in silence while the others intermittently snarled and growled.
“What should we do?” She gripped the straps of the backpack, prepared to move when told in which direction.
“I’m working on it.” Grant shifted beside her to load the gun.
She shot a glance at him, shaking her head. He firmed his lips and slid the cartridges into the chamber. The lead wolf raised his gaze to meet hers. When he blinked and opened his mouth to reveal sharp canine teeth and a large dark pink tongue, she sensed a change come over the pack. Was he smiling at her? She blinked twice. Detected a difference in the air as well. Almost as if the leader had come to a decision. He raised his massive head, amber eyes staring at her for several moments. She nodded to him and smiled, understanding filling her head without knowing exactly how.
Grant aimed the gun at the pack and Tara quickly laid a hand on his arm. “No. They won’t hurt us.”
He kept his gaze on the beasts, ready to shoot if provoked. “I’ll protect you. Get behind me.”
“Against five wolves?” She gripped his arm, shaking her head. She had to convince him she knew they were safe without revealing how she’d obtained the knowledge. He’d dismiss her claim as utter nonsense. Still, she had to try. Before he took a chance on pulling the trigger on an unknown and unreliable gun. Squeezing his arm, she peered into his eyes. “Trust me; they won’t harm us.”
He studied her, eyes dark with concern and deadly intent. “How could you possibly know that? They’re wild animals, hunters. We’re their damn lunch.”
She chuckled which made his eyes darken even more, and his brows draw down. “Don’t be silly.” She glanced toward the path and the wolves and then smiled. “See, they’re leaving.”
Grant jerked his gaze toward the hunters that had simply turned and trotted on up the trail, slipping into the woods at the turn in the path. The lead wolf paused long enough to look back at them before loping out of sight. Grant remained on guard, searching the area for several moments. When he turned to meet Tara’s gaze, she smiled at him.
“Like I said.” Tara bent to lift the backpack and slip it into place on her shoulders. Glad to have the standoff peacefully resolved without having to explain. “Shall we go?”
“What just happened?” Grant checked the gun before slipping it into his belt. “I thought those wolves intended to attack when I first saw them. Why did they turn and leave like that?”
“Maybe the leader decided we weren’t worth the trouble?” She giggled with relief and at the astounded expression on Grant’s face. If only she had her camera, what a great picture to share on social media. Maybe not. Better to be living in the moment after all since she wouldn’t want to try to explain any of their day to her friends. Or her sisters. “I don’t know that for sure, since I don’t speak wolf.” She chuckled as she led the way down the trail, preferring not to have to endure his questioning glances which were sure to happen.
Better to keep him wondering than to reveal her hidden talents. Her keen ability to sense what others are feeling, even in animals. She could tell when a dog felt afraid and thus would more likely attack. The wolves harbored only curiosity and recognition. Strange. At least they hadn’t attacked so Tara and Grant could search for the right path home. Grant needn’t be bothered by the whys and wherefores. The less he knew, the better for her. And him. She hoped.
Chapter 13
The unusually warm fall made sweat bead on his brow as he forged a path through the underbrush toward the narrow end of the valley. Grant rubbed a hand across his forehead and then dried it on the jeans covering his thigh. After the trials they’d faced, surely they would find the main trail and a way out of the forest. Safely. That was the key.
Without a working compass or being able to see the sun’s position, he walked blindly through the trees. They followed a narrow strip of a path made by animals moving through the undergrowth. He couldn’t go back the way they had come for two reasons. First, the fog continued to push them in one direction away from where it blocked out all light. Second, he couldn’t tell where they had come from any longer. They were lost and he carried no functional tools to determine the right direction to seek help. The selection of tools and instruments only served as dead weight in his backpack.
“Grant, can we stop for a minute?” Tara sounded tired, her voice weaker than when they’d started on the day hike.
He glanced over his shoulder. Tara had dropped onto the edge of a large rock half buried beneath a fallen oak tree. He strode over to rest on a log beside the boulder, examining her face for evidence of fatigue. They’d been walking for hours with few stops. Retrieving a water bottle, he offered it to her.
“Take sips since we don’t know how long we’ll be los…out here.”
“I am thirsty.” She peered at him with worried eyes and took a quick sip. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she frowned and gave him the bottle. “You were going to say lost, weren’t you?”
He wished he could deny the charge with all his heart. Despite his training and his equipment the simple fact remained. “Yes.”
She looked away, her gaze slowly scanning the surrounding barren deciduous and evergreen trees and underbrush. “Why didn’t you say something?”
He perused the forest instead of looking at her. Noted the stark outlines of the branches hibernating until spring. The leaves clustered around tree trunks and bushes. Let his gaze drift anywhere but toward her for several moments. Delayed seeing the disappointment in her pretty eyes replacing the trust they once held. “I promised to protect you and I will.”
Silence met his statement. Curiosity forced him to turn. He met the unblinking serious regard of the woman he had vowed to keep safe. She slowly shook her head, though not with disappointment. Instead, a hint of vexation glinted in her hazel eyes.
“You’re upset.” Not that he blamed her. After all, his track record appeared to be repeating itself. Failure loomed.
After what happened to Jeremy so long ago, he had studied every survival training handbook he could find as well as took first-aid classes. Scouts taught him self-reliance. He became a volunteer fireman to learn how to perform rescues. Instead of summer camp, he convinced his parents to send him to wilderness survival school. Learning how to live with the provisions of Mother Nature and his own intelligence gave him confidence. He might be rusty on the details, but he could and would get them out of their predicament even without functioning tools. But the woman gazing at him with sad eyes did not know the extent of either his capabilities or determination.
“Only that you didn’t share the reality of our situation.” She braced her hands on her thighs and then pushed to her feet. “I don’t like being misled.”
“Literally?” He stood, adjusting the pack into place.
“Or physically, but knowledge is power. Tell me that we need to look for clues as to which way to go instead of letting me follow you in circles. Two heads are more effective than one.”
She had a point. But his pride still smarted. “Fine. Now you know.”
Grabbing the straps of her backpack in each hand, she smiled up at him for several moments. She took two steps toward him and then took hold of his shoulder straps, pulling him to her. “Kiss me.”
“After all I’ve put you through I don’t deserve your kiss.” Desire and pride battled in his chest. Her lips tempted even more when the smile softened and emphasized her full mouth.
“I do.” She pulled
him closer to claim her reward.
He savored the sweet touch of her lips on his for the brief moment they shared. When she pulled away he longed to drag her close again. Feel her in his embrace, inhale the scent of her sweet self. Even as he considered the possibility of following his desires, Tara had already increased the distance between them. She glanced over her shoulder as she pivoted and took two strides on the ghost of a trail, beckoning him with her smile to follow. Putting his feet into motion, he soon caught up. But had he caught her? That was the bigger question.
She held out a hand, and he wrapped his fingers around the warm flesh. If she wanted a say in their dilemma, he was all ears. “Which way do you think we should go?”
Tara took a minute to scan the surrounding hardwood forest before squeezing his hand and shrugging. “If we pick a direction, we’ll eventually find someone who can help us. After all, there are always park rangers patrolling the trails.”
“And people on ATVs and horseback who explore these hills.” She’d been right. Together they could find their way out of the mess they were in. She released his hand and started down the path. “Let’s go.”
The trail wound along the upper edge of the valley. As they picked their way over fallen limbs and around tree roots, he kept a watchful eye on the mostly deciduous forest. While most of the wildlife he’d seen so far had been prey not predators, black bears, cougars, coyotes, and of course wolves, all populated the area. Not to mention timber rattlesnakes and other venomous reptiles. The threat most definitely existed in the form of the animals living in the shadows of the plateau. Best he kept both eyes wide open.
As they made their way around a bend in the trail, Tara tapped his upper arm with a playful swat. “I’m enjoying being with you, Grant. The fresh air made me forget for a while the daunting challenge Roxie laid on me. And put the event in perspective since we’ve gotten lost together.”
“What challenge?” He grasped her forearm and tugged her a couple of steps closer. He wanted her near to him in a way he’d never felt before. And also within reach should she need his help traversing the uneven ground.
“You’ll laugh.” She chuckled and broke her arm free of his grasp.
“No, I won’t.” He took her hand again and squeezed her fingers. “Try me.”
“Okay, but no laughing.” She pierced him with her gaze, a light smile flitting on her lips. She slid her hand free and readjusted her backpack. “Promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
“Making dessert for Thanksgiving.” She sidled down the left split in the winding track along a rocky outcrop, diffused sunlight softly illuminating the uneven surface.
“How is that a challenge?” Whipping up a batch of brownies and adding a dollop of ice cream couldn’t be that difficult. Could it? He peeked at her as he avoided the large rock pushing out of the earth in the center of the trail, noted her frown and nod.
“Ever since my mother died, everything I try to bake flops.” She glanced at him and then to the dirt trail, one hand tapping the rocks as she went. “Spectacularly.”
She started singing a campfire scout song as she walked, not entirely in tune but she seemed to be having fun. He had to admit he’d never would have guessed that taco shells could catch on fire in the oven. He opened his mouth to offer to help her with the dessert when he heard the distinctive sound of a rattler. A quick perusal of the rocky ledge she nonchalantly touched to steady herself yielded the beast’s location. The beige snake with dark chevrons down its back blended with the surrounding collage of rock and stone. More disturbing was the large triangular head with staring eyes fixated on his woman. He grabbed Tara’s arm to pull her to him, away from the dangerous snake coiled on the ledge. She stopped singing and playfully jerked away from him and stumbled on a root in the midst of her reflexive action. Yelped when the fangs struck her left forearm before he could complete his attempted rescue. The whole episode took a split second, not enough time for him to make a second try. Again he’d failed in his primary objective.
She recoiled into him, cringing away from the pit viper slithering out of sight. Blood tinged the holes in her jacket sleeve. She laid a hand on her arm and stared at him with shock in her eyes. He might not be able to get rid of the shock, but he could do something about that bite.
“Take off your coat and roll up your sleeve.” He dropped his backpack on the ground and searched inside for the first-aid kit. Searched his memory for the steps for treating a snake bite. The first of which was to call 911, which they couldn’t. Damn. Second, to wash the area with soap and water. Like that could happen. Still… “I need to clean the wound.”
After several seconds, she reluctantly pulled the jacket off and dropped it to the ground. Rolling up the torn left sleeve of the sweater, she angled her arm up to permit a closer examination of the damage.
“It’s okay.” She quickly gripped her arm, covering the wounded limb with her palm. “It’s just a scrape. All I need is a…something to cover it.”
“Keep your arm down, below the level of your heart.” Damnation, he needed to think. Not stare at the pain and shock reflected in the widened eyes staring at him. Was there a hint of fear in those gorgeous hazel orbs fixed upon him? Retrieving a gauze pad, he ripped open the paper wrapper and then poured some water on the pad. “Let me help. I know what I’m doing.”
“No, really, I’m fine.” She eased a step away, pressing her hand to her forearm as she blinked slowly.
Why was she resisting? Did she not want him to see her arm? She seemed uneasy, nervous, as well as reluctant to comply with his directions. But what made her feel so insecure in his presence all of a sudden? Peering at her arm, he didn’t see any swelling. Not yet, anyway.
“Are you wearing any jewelry?” He hadn’t noticed any rings she’d need to remove if her hands became swollen, not that he’d looked too closely. Well, he had glanced at her left hand, but it wasn’t like he’d gotten up close and personal about it. He’d been very relieved to see no ring on her left hand.
“Just a necklace.” She angled toward him so he could see the pendant hanging on a chain around her neck.
“That’s okay. If you’d had rings or a bracelet on, then you’d want to remove them.” He attempted a smile, but he was too worried to drag one onto his face. “You must trust me. I’m concerned the venom will spread through your body, and you’ll die.”
“It just scraped me. A mere scratch.” Cautious and defensive, she regarded him with a solemn tilt to her head. “Do you have a Band-Aid?”
He blinked at her in surprise and consternation while the hand holding the dripping gauze tightened into a fist almost of its own accord, forcing the water to trickle between his fingers. She wanted to bandage a snake bite and continue on their way? “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head and stared at him, then slowly lowered her gaze to the wound site where her hand remained hiding the puncture holes left by her attacker. “It doesn’t hurt.”
“It may be numb from the shock.” Probably not, but how else could he make sense of the situation? “At least let me take a look and make sure you’re right.”
“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.” She peeled her hand away, revealing the precisely spaced holes made by razor sharp fangs. Holding out her hand, she raised both brows and smiled. “My bandage?”
What the hell was she thinking? Still, he didn’t see any immediate signs of infection spreading up her arm. Or swelling, for that matter. The glimpse she’d afforded him left him perplexed. When a snake tangled with his old dog years before one of the first signs of the bite was the swelling. The poor beast had not survived the snake bite, even though the vet had done her best. Injecting the antivenin within an hour of the attack. The complications from the venom led to the ultimate death of his pup. Since Tara didn’t appear to have any inflammation, the first sign of trouble after the bite, perhaps she spoke the truth.
“If you’re sure…” At her nod, he fumbled in
the kit to locate the thin paper package containing a sterile strip. He’d seen the snake strike with his own eyes, and yet the aftermath ended up nothing like he’d ever witnessed. How was that possible?
“Thank you. Now, how about you fetch some water while I apply this thing.” She shooed him toward a lower ledge of rocks a little ways up the trail. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
Mystified. That’s what he was. Could the day get any stranger? “Okay, but I still—”
“Go on. I’m fine.” She pulled at the paper tabs to peel out the bandage and turned her back to him. “I’ve got this under control.”
Dismissed, he sauntered away, hesitant to leave her alone. Vaguely aware of her keeping some secret from him. What if she collapsed despite her assurances? She’d been snake bit and brushed it off like it was a mosquito bite. Even those could prove deadly what with the lethal viruses the insects could carry. He repeatedly glanced her way, reassuring himself she remained on her feet. After a couple of minutes, she strode toward where he waited with a protein bar and water. She donned her jacket again and acted like nothing adverse had occurred.
“All is well, Grant.” She unwrapped her bar and took a bite, chewing with a smile barely lifting the corners of her mouth. “Let me finish this and then we’ll press on. While I was taking care of my scrape, I spotted a chimney farther down in the valley.”
Grant frowned, confusion replacing the mystification. Or compounding it. “There’s a house in a state park?”
“Maybe it’s the park lodge or something.” She took another bite and studied him. “Or rental cabins. They have those, too.”
“A logical explanation.” The kind he preferred over any other, especially the inexplicable and unprovable kind. “Help may be closer than we thought.”
He’d give just about anything to will an escape from their present circumstances. Whoever might be in the building Tara had spotted would likely have some means of solving the problem. At this point, he wanted nothing more than to end the hike and return Tara to safety. That might mean calling for a ranger to drive them back to the car. Or lead them to the trail head. Point them in the right direction at a minimum.