Wendigo Conjuring

by Wendie Nordgren

  He tore down the road, leaving the wolves miles behind. When he turned into Wolf Ranch, it appeared a party had recently begun. Several yards from the main house, a large, square two-story hacienda had been built with an open area at the center. Fresh concrete had been poured, and motorcycles were parked in neat rows upon it.

  “Well, this is nice. I take it several of your men remained here, hard at work, while we were away?”

  “Yep, they can do some impressive work when they set their minds to it. The second floor isn’t finished, but when it is, they’ll have eighteen rooms each with a full bath. They still need to go pull tubs and fixtures from the motel to complete it.”

  People were coming out of the original house to greet us and were scenting the air suspiciously as they did so, and they didn’t look happy about what their noses were telling them. Dunstan got to us first. A low growl rumbled in his chest. “What’s this about?” He tugged on Holden’s jacket.

  Turning off his bike and waiting for me to dismount, he put down the kickstand. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it. It’s handled. My mate had my back. She gave a whole speech warning them about not coming after what’s hers and everything. Ain’t that right, sweetheart?” He took off his ruined jacket and passed it to John. He was so calm.

  The cold ride hadn’t done enough to cool my temper. “Cooper and Hart had better hope that Colby straightens them out before I do.” I stuck a finger in one of the holes in his previously white T-shirt where claws and teeth had left behind bloody evidence of the attack from which Holden had already healed. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” I held my hand out to him. He winced as he lifted his arm to take my hand. I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t even try and pull that crap with me. I know you’re not hurt.”

  His grin was full of mischief. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Nice eyes,” Shana said. She was walking toward us from the house and had a couple of beers with her. “So, I hear congratulations are in order, and yet again, I wasn’t invited.”

  “Shana….”

  “I’m just teasing. I’m happy for the two of you. I don’t think even eyedrops will help with those.” She pointed to my eyes.

  “Oh, I forgot I’d shifted.”

  Holden’s grin got bigger. I thought it might match his ego. “Yeah, you did it right before jumping onto the seat of my bike and hurling yourself onto the back of a fully shifted wolf to protect me.” He said it loudly. He was bragging.

  “It infuriated me, alright? Is that what you want to hear?”

  His grin got bigger.

  “We were having a nice evening, but they had to go and try to spoil it.” I frowned at him. He was scratching at some dried blood on his chest.

  Shana said, “The night’s not over. In fact, Zeb and Gage were just about to build us a fire. We’re going to make s’mores in the great room. Join us.”

  “When?” Holden asked. He didn’t sound eager.

  Getting his subtle hint, she said, “Oh, in about an hour.”

  “Sounds good. I’d like time to get cleaned up. Come on, sweetheart.” Holding hands, he led me over into the new building.

  His room was on the end farthest from the road. Inside, it was decorated in a southwest theme. Terra-cotta tiles, whitewashed walls, and a colorful painting of the sunset surprised me. I wasn’t expecting for him to have such a pretty room. The bed had a wood headboard, white sheets, four pillows, and a few thick blankets in vibrant shades of blue and orange.

  “Like it?”

  “Very much. It’s beautiful.”

  “If you like this, come see the bathroom.”

  I followed him and admired the artistic, hand-painted tiles on the walls surrounding the tub and behind the sink. On a wooden shelf between the tub and sink, there were neat stacks of blue towels. “Gorgeous. Where did you get these?” I traced the blue and white design of one of the orange tiles.

  “A family makes them quite a way from here. We did some work for ‘em, and they wanted to do something to show their appreciation.” He took off his ruined shirt and tossed it in the hamper. Closing the lid on the toilet, he sat and pulled off his boots.

  “What kind of work?”

  Standing, he stoppered the tub and turned on the water. Then, he unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them down his hips and thighs. “You don’t want to know.”

  Mesmerized by the impromptu strip show, I asked, “Don’t want to know what?”

  He tossed his jeans and socks into the hamper and stepped into the tub. “Get in here with me. I know you’re freezing. Hey, toss me a washcloth.”

  Taking one from the stack, I handed it to him and debated what to do. We were married, and I was cold. Steam rose from the water’s surface from around Holden’s hard, tan body. I did come out to Wolf Ranch to spend some time bonding with him. I slipped back into my own skin, but it seemed wrong to think of it as such. My Wendigo now felt as natural to me as the skin into which I’d been born. Water continued to fill the tub while he soaped his chest. I took off my boots and folded my clothing as I removed it, placing my backpack and things in his room. When I returned, he watched my every movement, studying me as if he meant to commit me to memory. He leaned forward and shut off the water. As he did, I stepped into the water behind him, held onto his wide, muscular shoulders for balance, and sat with my legs around his outer thighs.

  “Give me the soap and rag, and I’ll wash your back.” He handed them to me over his shoulder. “Holden?”

  “Yes?” He lowered his chin to his chest and swayed a little from side to side while I scrubbed his back. If werewolves purred, he’d be doing it.

  “I really liked it when you shaved….”

  “Is that so?” His voice was calm and relaxed.

  “Yes, I hadn’t realized how very handsome you are until I’d seen you without the beard.”

  “Thank you.”

  I waited, hoping he’d offer to shave, but he made no mention of it. “Thank you for showing restraint tonight with Hart and Cooper. I was trying to decide whether or not to unmake them.”

  His hands had ventured to my legs. His elbows bent back toward me as he moved his palms from my thighs down to my ankles and back again. “I knew I could handle those boys with my bare hands. For your sake, I’m trying to learn to be more diplomatic.”

  I dipped the washcloth in the water and began rinsing his back. Tiny soap bubbles slid down his skin to the water’s surface where they continued to cling to him. Even the bubbles must have thought he was too sexy to stop touching. I heard a mechanical click and then a gurgling sound as the water started circling down the drain. I watched him rise from the water and felt the water level drop by half. As he reached for a towel, my eyes were drawn to his manhood. An irresistible urge to cup him overcame me as I stood, and I gave into it. Turning toward me, he used the towel to dry my back. All the while he gazed into my eyes and hardened with my touch. My nipples ached where they brushed against his chest. Lifting my arms, I put them around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist. He stepped from the tub and walked with me clinging to him from the bathroom and over to his bed. He was inside of me before my back had hit the bedspread.

  By the time we had made it to the great room, several people, Shana, Abigail, and Henrietta included, were already trapping toasted marshmallows between chocolate and graham crackers. Holden took a couple of metal skewers and speared marshmallows onto them, handing one of them to me. Together, we sat by the fire and toasted them. Holden laughed when I took a bite of my s’more and got the chocolatey gooey mess on my chin. His good mood had Gage and Henrietta silently communicating with each other. I had picked up on it and was about to ask when Shana gave me a subtle shake of her head. She seemed nervous which worried me.

  Gage cleared his throat. “Holden, there’s something Henrietta and I would like to discuss with you if now is a good time.”

  Licking melted chocolate from his fingers, he said, “Sure. What’s up?”

  Henrietta cast a worried l
ook at Gage. He held her hand and gave her a nod of his head. “Well, seeing as how our circumstances have changed, we were wondering about the pack’s policy in regard to children. Would they be allowed?”

  “No kids allowed? Why in the world would you have a rule like that?” I busted out in shock. Horrified, I faced Holden. “Don’t you want kids?” We hadn’t discussed it, but Sam, Hunting Wolf, Colby, and I wanted children, and we hadn’t been doing anything to prevent a pregnancy.

  Holden’s lips parted as he looked at me. Quietly, he said, “I want ‘em. Running with a pack is dangerous.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

  “We’re staying here, though. Right?” Gage asked.

  Holden nodded.

  I asked, “What if one of us gets pregnant? Do we get kicked out?”

  “No, of course not. Things are different now. Shit.” Holden shook his head. “Any children born of the pack are welcome and will be considered the blessings they are.” Henrietta covered her face with her hands and cried. Gage put his arms around her and held her. Holden and I locked eyes. I got excited. Her behavior and his question could only mean one thing. Holden asked, “Are you expecting?”

  Henrietta nodded. “We’ve been together for so long. I’d given up hope.”

  “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! A baby!” I clapped my hands together and then got up to hug her.

  Shana and Abigail looked relieved.

  Holden said, “There are rules, though. No more riding for her. It’s too dangerous. I don’t want her shifting either.”

  “Or lifting anything heavier than a cup,” Gage added.

  The conversation in the room transitioned into talk of nurseries and the types of things the baby would need.

  Holden took my hand and led me outside. “I hope you don’t think I’m an ogre or anything. It’s not like I’ve forced anyone out of the pack for getting knocked up. Since before the war, we’ve been living fast and hard. Hell, we’ve been living wild since the 1960s. I didn’t realize any of our females were feeling maternal.”

  “What about your son?” Pain entered his eyes, and I felt badly for having brought it up. “I’m sorry.”

  He put his arms around me. “It’s alright. Sophia wasn’t pack.”

  Changing the subject, I asked, “So, the men are opening a couple of businesses. Are you going into ranching like the rest of us?”

  He looked at me like I was crazy. “I’m no farmer, sweetheart. We’ll have some crops and livestock out here so we’re self-sufficient. Some of the boys enjoyed that sort of thing in other lifetimes, but I’ve got something else in mind.”

  “I don’t know. You might look cute in coveralls and chewing on a piece of straw.”

  “Not happening. Do you really want to know what I want to do?” He waited for me to answer and placed his hands on my hips, pulling me closer.

  “I am curious about what the alpha wolf wants to do with his life.” I moved a little closer and put my arms around his neck.

  “I’m gonna open a saloon on the outskirts of town.”

  “A saloon?”

  He nodded. “A real saloon with moonshine, poker tables, and dancing girls.”

  “Dancing girls? That’s sexist.”

  He smirked at me. “How come? Do you want male dancers?”

  “Yes.”

  “Alright. Fine. Once a week, we can have a ladies’ night.” He looked down at me.

  “This isn’t going to be a strip club, is it?”

  “No, I don’t want that kind of dancing. I envision more of a burlesque show, comedians, and live music.”

  Now, he had my interest. “That sounds fun.”

  “Do you want to see the plans I’ve drawn up?”

  “Yes, I do. I’d like to get warm, too. It’s freezing out here.” I shivered and stayed close to him while we hurried back inside.

  Back in his room, we ditched our clothes, cuddled in bed, and looked through his designs. They reminded me of the old-timey saloons from black and white western movies. “These are great. Really. If it’s safe without brawls and stuff, I think you’ll do a lot of business. There’s not much to do for entertainment around here. I see you’ve got plans to put in a stage. Will there be a dance floor?”

  “Would you like that?”

  “It would be nice to have a place for couples to go out on dates as long as you’re going to keep it classy. If there’s live music, I might enjoy a few dances in your arms.” I hoped it wouldn’t become a place where people drank themselves into mindless stupors.

  “We won’t begin construction until after the women are satisfied with the ranch, but once it opens it will be a good way for us to pull in some honest money.” He pointed out an upstairs apartment and a basement in his plans.

  “Who is going to stay there?”

  He shrugged. “Staying in one place can be difficult when you’ve grown accustomed to roaming free. It’ll be an option from time to time for whoever needs it. Hell, if their baby is a screamer, I just might hide out there.” He straightened up his plans and put them away. “So, you want kids?”

  I realized the question was rhetorical when his lips prevented me from answering.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When Holden dropped me off at the library the next morning on his motorcycle, I thought Gene’s jaw might unhinge. She waited for me by the door. After he had sped off, she asked, “What were you doing with him?”

  “Oh, Gene, use your imagination.” I winked at her.

  “But, you’re married!” Her tone was both hushed and horrified.

  “I’m married to Holden now, too.”

  “Oh, my Lord! Does Colby know?”

  “Yes, he, Sam, and Hunting Wolf were there. It’s okay, Gene. By the way, one of Holden’s men has the hots for you. His name is Cord, and he asked me to introduce him to you.” I worried her eyes might pop out. Envisioning her with a dangling jaw and googly eyes had me grinning at her.

  “Me?”

  “Yes.”

  “A werewolf?”

  “Yes, and he’s huge.” I raised my hand and went up on my toes to show her about how tall he was.

  “Oh, my.” She started having a hot flash and excused herself to go to the restroom to splash some cold water on her face.

  Smiling to myself, I got to work shelving books. Mrs. Delaney had her hands full in the children’s section. The elementary teacher had brought her small class, which had grown by two due to our influx of new citizens. Watching the kids as they sat, hugging their knees, while listening to Mrs. Delaney read, I was struck by how small they were.

  “Excuse me. I need help finding some information.” He was middle-aged. His faded black T-shirt was mostly covered by his flannel shirt, and he had a baseball cap shoved into his back pocket.

  “I’d be happy to help. What can I help you find?”

  “I need a picture showing what’s wrong with some of my crops and soil so I can take it to feed store to get some help. None of my neighbors know what it is.”

  “Right this way.” I showed him to our agricultural section, pulled some books for him, and got him set up at a table. Then, I went back to my cart and continued shelving books. After a few minutes, I went to check on him. “Any luck?”

  He shook his head. “No, my winter crops have started getting some sort of black rot. The leaves crack like they’re dry and turn to dust, or else I’d have brought a few of them with me to the feed store. I’ve never seen its like.”

  His words triggered the memory of a dream, and it made my guts clench. “I’ve heard of something similar and know someone who might be able to help. May I have your address?”

  “Sure.” He stood and pushed in his chair.

  We walked over to the circulation desk where I slid a piece of paper and a pencil over to him. “Is it okay if my friend and I drop by later today? I’m Rozene by the way.”

  He held out his hand, and we shook. “Bob Hughes. Nice to meet you. Sure, that’s mighty helpful of yo
u. I’ll leave the gate unlocked and keep an eye out for you. Just drive on up to the house, and don’t let the dogs scare you. They’re all bark and no bite.” With a nod of his head, he left, so I shelved his books.

  I had a feeling that I knew exactly what was killing his crops, and it wasn’t a fungus but the bitch sure was like one. Sophia. It had to be her or have something to do with her. As soon as I got to the Sheriff’s Office, I picked up the CB microphone and made a call.

  “This is Rozene at the Sheriff’s Office calling Four Bears, over.” I released the call button and waited. Mato brought me a cup of coffee. I smiled at him. He bent down wanting a kiss on his cheek. I gave him one and a hug to go with it.

  “This is Chenoa at Four Bears, over.”

  “Hey, I need to talk to Cecil. It’s important. Is he around?”

  “I can send someone to find him and call you back.”

  “Great. Thank you.” I placed the microphone on its cradle and waited.

  “What’s wrong?” Mato asked.

  I told him about Bob’s blight and the dream I’d had where I’d punched Sophia in the face.

  “So, you believe Cecil will be able to tell if the ruined vegetation is because of a witch?”

  I nodded. “My instincts are telling me it’s her. I hope I’m wrong, but either way, he might be able to help. So, where is everyone?”

  “Avonaco is getting us some lunch. Everyone else stayed home today.”

  “Why?”

  “There’s a lot of work to do at home.” The legs of a chair squeaked against the floor a little as he dragged it over to sit beside me.

  “How do you feel about the new guys being on our land?” Suddenly, I was worried. “If you want them gone, they’re gone.”

  “No, Rozene. Drink your coffee.” He pointed at my cup. “I can speak for all of us. We like having them around. Cooper is kind of dumb, but the others are interesting. You forget. For decades, we enjoyed the company of the Smitty family, but aside from you and yours, we have had only each other for company. Having others with whom to converse is a welcome distraction.”