The
Patient
Wolf
By
Karen Hodges Miller
An Imprint of
Open Door Publications
The Patient Wolf
By Karen Hodges Miller
Copyright © 2016 by Karen Hodges Miller
ISBN: 978-0-9972024-2-7
The following is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States
Cover Design by Genevieve LaVo Cosdon, Lavodesign.com
Published by
Can’t Put It Down Books
An Imprint of
Open Door Publications
2113 Stackhouse Dr.
Yardley, PA 19067
www.OpenDoorPublications.com
A gentleman is simply a patient wolf.
Lana Turner
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
About the Author
Chapter 1
Ana breathed in the early autumn air as she headed away from the university and onto the darker streets of the neighboring suburb. It was an older neighborhood, built in the 1920’s when the town of Rivelou had begun to spread from its central location on the river across the railroad tracks to the north. This particular section of the town had been built for the railroad workers, with tiny shotgun houses lined up on even tinier lawns.
As Ana crossed Roosevelt Avenue and headed into her own neighborhood, the streetlights ended and the sidewalk became lighted only by an occasional porch light or walk light. She loved walking home from her night classes at this time of the year. The air, while it could not yet be called crisp, had lost its summer sultriness, a welcome change from the blistering heat of a Midwest summer.
And these walks home after her night classes were one of the few times during her week when she could be truly alone. No bosses, no teachers, not even Sophie chattering away in her ear. She’d been a mom long enough not to feel guilty at enjoying a a little time alone without her child. Her thirteen-year-old daughter was the light of her life, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy a little time by herself, too.
As she headed down Harlan Street, farther from the more heavily trafficked avenue, the street became even darker. It was too soon for most of the leaves to have fallen, they were just beginning to turn red on this last week in September and they were so thick on the trees that they hid the full moon. Part of the charm of the old neighborhood was the beautiful, large old maples and oaks, but their roots also tore up the sidewalks. Ana tripped on one of those cracks, and shook her head in disgust. How could she always trip in the same spot, night after night? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t memorized the bad spots in the sidewalk after years of walking this way.
She smiled; only one more year of classes and, with luck, she wouldn’t be taking this same walk anymore. She would have her teaching degree, be able to quit her job as an admin at the university, and start a new life with her daughter, maybe somewhere else. She would enjoy teaching, preferably high school, but she’d take whatever grade she could get to start. Sophie would miss her friends; they would both miss their family. They’d come back a lot to visit. She was sure of that—her family, particularly her grandfather, would certainly insist on it. But it would be nice to start over. Of course, Jonathan, her ex, would probably object if she moved even to the next county. The one good thing she could say for the man was he always fulfilled his obligations to their daughter, even if it was only because he thought about running for political office someday and didn’t want to ruin his reputation with the other lawyers and judges in Rivelou.
She shook her head as if to change the direction her daydreams had taken her and sidestepped another large crack in the sidewalk. She wasn’t going to let thoughts of Jonathan ruin a lovely evening. Maybe after Sophie was in bed she’d have a chance to get outside again and enjoy the full moon and beautiful weather. She wouldn’t indulge herself in a run; she couldn’t leave Sophie alone, but some time out in her backyard to appreciate the full moon would be good.
She stopped and looked around, working to regain her pleasure in the evening, when she heard a low growl nearby.
A dog? No one on this block had a dog big enough to make that sort of sound. That growl had definitely come from something larger than Mrs. Ahearn’s yappy little Pomeranian. She began to walk more quickly. Only a half block until she turned onto Sycamore, then another half block until she arrived at her own home.
The growl came again. She tucked her purse more securely on her left shoulder, her computer bag on her right, and doubled her pace. There were no lights on at any of the houses on that part of the block, and of course, the moon took that moment to hide behind a cloud. She took a deep breath and tried to walk at a steady pace. She wouldn’t run, even though she could hear the animal behind her as she rounded the corner. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her own porch light on, as well as that of her neighbors, Joe and Lindsey, who kept Sophie evenings when Ana had class. Only a few more steps to safety.
She was almost in front of her own door when she heard the rush of paws with nails clicking on the sidewalk. With a howl, the animal knocked her down.
She held her computer case in front of her face, “Take a bite of that, you nasty beast,” she said, pushing the case at its huge, dark head. It was all teeth and glowing eyes as it stood over her, growling. “What do you want?” she shouted.
Though it had her on the ground, it didn’t make a move, just stood gazing at her. Somehow she sensed if she did move, it would strike. She had to do something. She drew a deep breath and prepared to scream when she heard someone running up behind her.
“Hey, you, get back! Get back!” She turned her head and saw a man come running toward her and the slobbering animal. The man grabbed a stick from the ground and waved it at the animal as he rushed forward. “Back! Get back, you ugly beast!” he shouted again, striking the creature who turned, snarling at him. They stared intently at each other for a moment when the dog finally dodged the stick and lunged to take a bite out of the man.
The man got in a couple of good blows before the dog suddenly grabbed the stick, tugged at it, and knocked the man to the ground. Ana decided it was time to take action. She fumbled through her purse as the dog leaned back on its haunches preparing to strike. Just before he lunged on the fallen man Ana found her can of mace and hit the dog in the face with the noxious spray. With howl of pain, it ran into the darkness.
Several more porch lights suddenly popped on to light the night, and the street was filled with neighbors coming to check on the unusual commo
tion.
“Are you all right?” her rescuer, still gasping and out of breath, asked. “It didn’t bite you, did it?” He made his way to his feet and held his hand out to her.
“No, no. I’m fine,” Ana replied as she was suddenly bowled over by an armful of an anxious thirteen-year-old. “Mom, mom, are you okay?” Sophie asked.
“What happened?” her neighbor, Joe, questioned her at the same moment.
“It was a dog. A huge one. I’ve never seen it before. This man chased it away,” she said, turning to the man who was wiping his face with a handkerchief and coughing.
“I think you were the one who chased it away. Wish you’d had a little better aim with the mace, but under the circumstances I don’t think I can complain,” he said between coughs.
“Hey, are you okay?” Joe asked, looking the man over. “You’d better come in and let us take a look at you. My wife’s a nurse. She can check you out. Just a whiff of that stuff can be torture on the eyes.”
“No, I’m fine, I’ll …” he protested, but Ana cut him off.
“I insist. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have been bitten by that animal.”
“I think we’d better make a police report,” Joe said as they headed for his house. “Joe Lessing,” he added, holding out his hand to the stranger. “And this is our neighbor, Ana Dugan, and her daughter, Sophie.”
“Good to meet you. Chris Spier,” the man said, shaking hands with Joe as they reached the porch. At the top of the steps he turned to Ana, where, under the porch light, she got her first real look at her rescuer.
He was just shy of six feet, with the build of teddy bear, the kind you’d like to give a big hug and take to bed with you, Ana thought, then inwardly blushed. Where had that thought come from? She didn’t have time for men. It wasn’t that he was soft, or fat, she added, mentally adjusting her initial teddy bear image. He was muscular, and he had a kind face, soft brown eyes, shaggy light brown hair and beard, both of which needed a trim. There was something about his worn khakis and wrinkled plaid flannel shirt that said he wasn’t used to being cared for.
“I’m so sorry if I hurt you,” Ana said, taking his hand. Chris held onto it until Joe said, “Come on in. You need to wash off that mace.”
He guided Chris into a small, warm living room and back to a kitchen where Sophie was animatedly, if with little accuracy, describing the incident to Joe’s wife and daughter.
Chapter 2
“No escape,” Chris thought to himself. “Now, how am I going to explain being here?”
Before he knew it, he had been led through the cozy living room and dining room and into the kitchen at the rear of the home, seated at the breakfast table, and was being fussed over by what seemed like far too many people for the tiny room.
“Kaylee, you and Sophie go upstairs to your room now and finish your homework,” said Joe’s wife Lindsey, a long-haired blonde still dressed in her nurse’s scrubs. “We’ve got too many people in this kitchen.”
“But mom, we want to hear…”
“None of that, right now. Go!” said Lindsey, pointing her hand in the direction of the living room.
The two girls headed out of the kitchen as Joe got some beer from the refrigerator and handed one to Chris and one to Ana. “I think you both could use one these,” he said. “I’ve already called the police. It could be awhile before they get here, though. I doubt a stray dog takes precedence, even in a town as quiet as Rivelou.”
Chris grimaced at the thought of answering police questions, and Lindsey, coming back in with a cold washcloth mistook his look for one of pain.
“I think you need this for your eyes,” she said, handing him the cloth. “And is that blood on your leg?”
“Oh no! That animal didn’t bite you, did it?” Ana asked with concern.
“No, no. It’s just a scrape. I must have gotten it when I went down on the sidewalk.”
“Let’s take a look and make sure.” Lindsey knelt down and rolled up Chris’s khaki’s.
Joe rolled his eyes at Chris. “My wife. Always the nurse and mom. He’s not one of your patients, or your child, Lyn. He can probably take care of himself.”
“No, that’s okay,” Chris said as Lindsey blushed and backed off. He rolled up his pants leg. “See, just a scrape. No bite marks.”
“Good. I’m still going to get some Neosporin and a bandage.” Lindsey said, heading to the bathroom.
“I’m so sorry I got mace on you.” Ana handed him a new cold washcloth which felt incredibly refreshing as he wiped his face and still-watering eyes.
“No, no, it was a good thing. It’s probably what actually chased the animal away.”
“So what, exactly, did happen?” Lindsey asked, returning with the first aid supplies. Ana took them from her and knelt down to doctor Chris’s leg. “It’s the least I can do,” she said at Lindsey’s questioning look.
At that moment the doorbell rang.
“Hold that thought,” Joe said. “It’s probably the police. You don’t want to have to tell the story more than once,” he called over his shoulder as he headed for the living room door.
Two large uniformed officers followed Joe back into the kitchen, which seemed about to burst at the seams with all the people now crowded into it.
Ana and Lindsey sat down at the table with Chris while the cops, who introduced themselves as Officers Lambert and Abello, asked for their stories.
“The animal was big. He was black, with just a touch of grey around his ears and he had these blue eyes, almost iridescent blue; that startled me. He was shaggy, with eyes like a Husky, only… well more intelligent somehow. And I’ve never seen a Husky that color before,” Ana told them.
“I was out for a walk when I heard the growling and Ana scream. I’m just glad I was nearby,” Joe put in.
“You live where?” asked Officer Lambert, who was taking down notes.
“I’m visiting my sister. She just moved in a few weeks ago around the corner on Westbridge. I’m helping her get settled.”
“You mean the old Victorian? It’s been for sale for at least two years,” interrupted Ana. “We wondered who they finally unloaded it on. Oh, I’m sorry.” Ana put her hand to her mouth. “That didn’t sound very nice. It’s just that the house has been on the market for so long. It’s a mess. The last owner was really elderly when she died. I hope your sister and her family are prepared to do a lot of work.”
“It’s just my sister now. That’s why I came down to help,” Chris said. “I figure we can get a lot of the basics taken care of in six or eight weeks.”
“So your sister must be Shannon Kelly,” Officer Lambert said. “She’s on days so we haven’t seen much of her yet, but we’re hearing good things about her. She’s going to be an asset to the force.”
“Yeah, she’s really happy she’s moved down here,” Chris said.
“Shame what happened to her husband.”
“Yes, he was a good man.”
“Okay, let’s get back to the report,” chimed in Officer Abello, to the disappointment of Ana, Lindsey, and Joe, who had been following the exchange between Officer Lambert and Chris with great interest.
Ana and Chris gave their statements. The two policemen left, cautioning Ana to be careful walking home after dark. “This isn’t the first time in the last few months we’ve heard about a large, stray dog in the area. Make sure you keep that mace handy. We don’t know if it’s one animal or more. We’ll report this to animal control, but so far they seem to have had no luck finding it.”
“I’ll be careful,” Ana promised as Lindsey showed the men out.
“So what do you do, Chris, that you can take that kind of time off to help your sister? I wish I had your boss,” Joe said.
He’s trying just a little too hard to sound casual, thought Chris with a small smile. Well, he’d known he had to expect that in a small town. He had his story ready. “I’m self-employed, a consultant, so I get to set my own hours.”
&nb
sp; “Oh? What do you consult about?”
“I help people solve problems,” Chris said evasively.
“Joe, don’t grill the man,” Ana said as Joe opened his mouth to continue the questioning.
“I’d better be getting back. My sister will start to wonder where I am,” Chris said, standing up.
“Let me drive you home,” Ana said. “It’s the least I can do after you got injured on my behalf.”
“Just a few scrapes, and I’m just around the corner…”
“No, I insist. Joe, I’ll be back for Sophie in a few minutes. Chris, my car is parked in the driveway right between the houses. It’s no bother.”
Lindsey said “Well, goodnight Chris, I hope we see you again soon.” She nudged Joe in the ribs and gestured for him to say something.
“Yeah, we’ll see you around the neighborhood,” added Joe, walking them to the porch.
“Your friends seem very nice,” Chris said as they got into the car.
“I’m lucky to have such good friends next door. I couldn’t work and take classes if they didn’t help with Sophie.”
“So you have class every evening?”
“Monday through Thursday, yes.”
“And you walk home every night?”
“It’s just a few blocks to the university, and frankly the parking is so bad it is easier to walk. Not to mention all the money I save on parking passes and gas.”
“And there’s no Mr. Dugan?”
“Mr. Dugan has a new wife,” Ana said with a small snort, “And frankly, Sophie and I are better off that way.”
The ride around the corner had only taken a few moments. “Thanks again for the rescue.”
“I hope I’ll see you again,” Chris said, getting out of the car and heading for the front door of the old house.
~~~
Once inside the house, Chris sagged against the hall table he and Shannon used to hold the mail and all the usual clutter of daily life. He was suddenly exhausted. “Shannon, I’m back.”
The Patient Wolf (Wicked Urban Fantasy #1) Page 1