The Wolf Wore Plaid

by Terry Spear

  “I would not want to be one of Colleen’s cousins tomorrow.” Heather was proud of them, though, for volunteering to do the job.

  “I would do it, but they need two of the original wolves who have been seen in the film up until the end. It seems fitting that two of the wolves that were injured by the McKinley wolves would take down the villains in the film.”

  “Since they were supposed to be one and the same in the film,” Heather agreed.

  “Aye.” Then Enrick kissed her head. “Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow in the thick of the mist, everything will be decided.”

  * * *

  Very early the next morning, Enrick and Heather and the rest of those living at Farraige Castle had a quick breakfast and then cleaned everything up in the great hall for the filming of a breakfast scene. Heather was in charge of that while Enrick watched in the wings.

  Everything went according to plan, and then Guy went with his men and the wolves on a hunt.

  With his loyal adviser and guards and his beloved wolves, Guy led the hunt for wild boar or deer.

  “I believe we should have brought a larger guard force with us,” Guy’s adviser said.

  The wizard agreed.

  “We beat him in the earlier battle,” Guy said. “By all accounts the villain died of his wounds in that encounter.”

  Enrick and many of his people and those from the MacNeill clan were watching from behind the scene, anxious to see the final fight between Guy, his men, and the main villains and their men, which were a mix of MacQuarrie and MacNeill clansmen. Enrick wouldn’t be fighting this time but waiting to hear if he was needed to be Guy’s stunt double. As far as he knew, he wasn’t needed.

  Then shouts rang out in the woods as the men found themselves surrounded on all sides by the villains and their men. The battle between good and evil was on.

  Heather soon joined Enrick and held his hand, looking just as anxious as he felt about the wolves biting the humans. Never in a million years had he ever thought they would have two of their wolves bite humans on purpose!

  Spencer, playing the lead villain, fought against Guy, both of them gaining ground and falling back until Guy stumbled over an exposed tree root behind him. He fell and landed on his back. Spencer looked a little surprised. Guy didn’t spring to his feet, which had Enrick a wee bit worried.

  Heather squeezed Enrick’s hand. He shook his head at her, indicating it wasn’t part of the scene as far as he knew.

  Guy tried to get up, but he looked like he was struggling.

  “Cut!” the director called out.

  Guy looked crestfallen that he couldn’t finish the scene, or at least that was what Enrick suspected. Enrick didn’t jump in to check though. He let Guy talk to the director about it. But the film’s set doctor hurried in to check on him.

  “I pulled a back muscle.” Guy appeared exasperated now. “I’m okay otherwise.”

  “Do you want to try to do this in a few hours?” The director surprised Enrick because time was money, the director was always saying. “We could shoot the indoor scenes now instead.”

  Now that sounded like the director, though it would still take time to move the equipment to the castle after everything was set up out here for the fight scene.

  “It could be a few days before he’s able to handle a sword fight. Doing light activities will probably be fine. But fighting with a sword?” The doctor shook his head. “He would aggravate the condition.”

  Guy grimaced as the doctor and Spencer helped him to stand and moved him away from the battle in the woods. “Call Enrick. He can take my place.” Then he saw Enrick headed that way. Smiling in a pained way, Guy shook his head at Enrick.

  Aye, Enrick had a wolf’s hearing, just like Guy did.

  The director got on his phone and called Enrick.

  “I’m almost to your location, sir.” Enrick had really believed he wouldn’t be doing any more stand-ins for Guy, so he was surprised, but he wished Guy hadn’t injured himself in the scene. At least Guy would heal faster than a human would.

  As soon as Enrick took Guy’s place in the woods, the director told Enrick that he would continue to fight Spencer until one of Spencer’s men ganged up on Enrick and he was injured. Then there would be a break and then two of the wolves that had been fighting the extras would attack the doubles who would take Spencer and the other main villain’s place.

  Enrick would then attack Spencer, and Guy’s adviser would attack the other, and the two main villains would be dead.

  “You will stand over the fallen villains, heaving with exertion, and raise your sword in victory. Two of the extras will be fighting still, and then silence and everyone on your side will shout with exuberance. Any questions?”

  Enrick had watched Guy practicing this scene yesterday, so he hoped he would get it right. He nodded, assuming he would figure it out as the scene played through. If the director didn’t like it, Enrick knew he would stop them and give Enrick more guidance. He was ready to get this over with.

  “All right. Action!”

  Enrick fought Spencer as if his life and the lives of his men counted on it, just like he would have done in the old days. He thought Spencer looked a little surprised at the zeal Enrick used in the fight. But that was how he fought, whether in practice or in a battle. It made it real, it looked real, and on the screen, it would be just right.

  Then he remembered Spencer had asked Heather to show him some Scottish hospitality. Maybe Spencer thought Enrick was trying to get him back for it. But he wasn’t. He realized he was wearing Spencer out, the man swinging not half as rigorously. Enrick wanted to smile, but bit back on the inclination. Instead, Enrick was supposed to fall back, look ready to be beaten, be attacked by the other man, and fall, and then two of his wolves would attack those men.

  They were growling and fighting other men for now.

  That was when the other main villain attacked Enrick—he’d forgotten about him. Now with fighting two men, Enrick was working up a real sweat. Spencer was driven to beat him, and Enrick knew Heather would be watching. Hell, at least half their people not involved in the battle would be.

  Redoubling his effort, Spencer knocked Enrick down as he took another swing at the other man.

  The director called, “Cut! Fred, take Spencer’s place, and Allan, you take Martin’s.” The doubles for the main villain actors took their places before the wolves attacked.

  “Action!” the director called.

  As if in retaliation for seeing their master knocked down, the two wolves tore into Spencer’s double and the other man, mindful, hopefully, not to bite through the armor.

  In the meantime, Enrick realized Spencer had cut through the padded armor and he was bleeding, damn it. Hopefully not too badly, and the padding seemed to help to stem the blood flow. He finally managed to get to his feet and, with a real effort, readied his sword to kill off Spencer’s double—for the film. Oran came in to take care of the other stunt double so the two wolves would release the men’s arms.

  Enrick fought for some time, every swing harder to make, the adrenaline flooding his system for the fight, keeping him from feeling the pain in his arm. But he was feeling weaker. He finally managed the final blow, pretending to stab Spencer’s double in the heart.

  The director called, “Cut!”

  And the doubles were replaced by the main villainous characters again for their death scenes.

  Spencer clutched his bloodied chest as he looked up at Enrick, mortally wounded. “This isn’t the end between us. Only the beginning.” And then he gave Enrick an evil glower.

  Enrick wondered if the guy was supposed to vanish on the screen or something and then come back for a sequel to the movie.

  As soon as the scene was done, the director called, “Cut!”

  Immediately, Enrick asked the stunt doubles if either of them
had been bitten.

  “Yeah, man, those wolves can sure bite,” the one man said.

  The other agreed. “Your men look like they’re unafraid of the wolves. I was shitting bricks.”

  “Let me see your arms.”

  The men pulled off the padding and then the armor, but neither had a scratch on them.

  Enrick breathed in a sigh of relief.

  Most everyone was moving to the great hall for a celebratory feast—part of the story—but the director stayed back to see what Enrick was concerned about and patted him on the shoulder. “I told you they would be fine. Your wolves haven’t hurt anyone so far.”

  “Right. Good thing too.”

  Heather had already left to help take care of the feast in the great hall, so Enrick texted her: The scene was a success. No problem with the wolves biting through the armor.

  Heather texted back: Thank God for that. How are you doing?

  Enrick texted: I’m good. Headed in now.

  Then he slipped his phone into his sporran. He favored his injured arm, the burning pain just now beginning to kick in. He didn’t want to worry her, not when it was something minor and she had an important job to do. He didn’t want to distract her, but he had wanted to let her know right away that neither of the humans had been bitten.

  He and the rest of the people were headed inside when Lachlan caught up with him and slapped him on the shoulder. Enrick groaned.

  Lachlan immediately glanced down at Enrick’s arm and swore. “You’ve been wounded.”

  “Aye, but don’t make a big deal of it. I don’t want Heather to know until after she’s done with her scene.”

  “She will be furious with us if you don’t let her know.”

  “Know what?” Grant asked, he and Colleen catching up to them. “Fine job on the wolves’ part, and Enrick, you were superb while taking Guy’s part.”

  Lachlan was frowning.

  Grant asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “Our brother is injured.”

  Grant pulled Enrick to a halt and looked over his arm. “Hell, Brother.”

  “Oh no, Enrick.” Colleen immediately took the wool scarf she was wearing around her neck and began wrapping it around Enrick’s arm, delaying him from reaching the castle.

  Enrick wanted to watch Heather’s role in her last scene! And he sure didn’t want her to catch a glimpse of him wearing Colleen’s scarf as a temporary bandage.

  “How’s Guy doing?” Enrick asked, changing the subject.

  “He’s good. He said he could make it through the celebratory dinner as long as he doesn’t have to stand up and dance a jig,” Grant said.

  Enrick laughed. “Poor guy. I was thinking we could put him up here for a while until he needs to go back to the United States for another film production. We could get to know him better.”

  “Aye, I already asked him. Colleen begged him to stay. Guy said that decided it for him.” Grant smiled and hugged Colleen as they walked back to the keep.

  “Good. Then he can get the rest he needs and—”

  “You too,” Colleen said, frowning at Enrick. “I texted the doctor and he’s on his way.”

  “It’s just a scratch.”

  She glanced down at his arm and he did too. A small amount of blood had stained her scarf red.

  “I’m so sorry about your scarf,” Enrick said.

  “Are you kidding? You bleeding to death is more of an issue.”

  Enrick laughed.

  Neither of his brothers did. They both gave him scowls that said he should not take this business so lightly.

  “You do realize the last scene they’re shooting is of Guy in bed with Missy,” Lachlan said, his scowl turning to a smile. “His back might not be good enough to handle it.”

  “Well, Brother, I am incapacitated.” Enrick elevated his injured arm a little to make his point.

  “Not that it would stop you when it comes to Heather. I bet for the film you could work around it. And if you’re all bandaged up, it would even look more realistic.”

  “I’m sure Guy can work around it.” Though Enrick thought Lachlan might be right. Trying to pretend to make love to a woman in the throes of passion with a bad back could be more of an issue. “How about you? You could play the role, and it wouldn’t be any trouble for you.”

  “Nay. You’ve got this, if Guy doesn’t.” Lachlan smiled at Enrick, enjoying the idea a little too much.

  “I wonder if they caught you bleeding in the film,” Lachlan asked. “You might want to tell the director so he can check it out and make sure Guy is wearing the same wound. Or a pretend version of it.”

  “Aye, I guess you’re right.” Enrick texted the director: I managed to get a little cut while battling it out with Spencer. You might want to see if it shows up in the film.

  The director texted back: Will do. Where were you injured?

  My right arm, Enrick replied.

  There was a significant delay and then the director texted: Yeah, it shows up on the film, thanks. How are you doing?

  Enrick texted: I’m fine, thanks. Colleen called our doctor to look at the wound.

  Let me know if you need anything.

  Enrick texted: Will do.

  When they reached the castle, Enrick was surprised to see Guy walking toward the entryway with a definite limp to meet up with him. “Hell, we’re a pair. How bad is the cut?” Guy frowned at seeing the blood on Colleen’s scarf.

  “It’s not bad. How’s your back?”

  “A damn nuisance.”

  “You’re staying with us until you’re well, and I’ll teach you not to fall and break your back during a sword fight,” Enrick said.

  Guy laughed. “I’ll have to show you how to parry better when you’re being attacked by a second threat.”

  Enrick smiled. He was glad they were on the same side.

  “I thought you were giving Spencer a bit of grief during the battle. I heard he wanted to take Heather out,” Guy said.

  Enrick chuckled. “I was just being my usual focused self, until the other villain attacked.”

  “Hey, I’ve got to get on set, but let me know what the doctor says about your arm. I have a new scene we’re doing before we have the dinner. Missy’s got to bandage up my wound that you got in the woods.”

  Enrick smiled. “You know, on the beach scene, you should have tackled Missy instead of having your guards take her hostage.”

  “Hell, that’s a great idea. Only now my back is injured. You would have to play the role.”

  Enrick showed him his arm.

  “Talk to you in a little while.” Guy hurried off as fast as he could with his back hurting him.

  Enrick felt for him, but he figured Guy’s injury would heal quickly. Enrick wanted to watch Heather next, but since the director was doing the new scene with Missy and Guy and his “new wound,” Heather’s scene would follow that.

  Enrick would have some time to get checked out, since Colleen and Enrick’s brothers were ensuring the doctor arrived and looked at his wound. When the doctor removed Colleen’s scarf and Enrick had to strip down to his waist, he saw the cut was deeper than he’d thought it would be. The doctor sewed him up, gave him antibiotics, and told Colleen to call him if Enrick started running a fever or the wound looked infected.

  “No more fighting for you,” the doctor said. “Not for about three weeks.”

  At least Enrick’s fighting days were over, as far as the film went. The battles were all done. The villains dead. The lord victorious.

  Suddenly, Heather rushed into the room looking worried and annoyed. “Guy was doing a new scene where he had been injured. He said you had been injured and he was stuck having to pretend he had been. And you didn’t tell me about it!”

  “Aye, I didn’t want to upset you, lass.”

/>   “I’m upset, all right? Because you didn’t tell me. When I was texting with you on the phone, all you said was that the humans hadn’t been bitten.” She folded her arms and scowled at him.

  “Which was true. I wanted to let you know right away.”

  “And not about you? Were you trying to be all macho, or what?”

  “Nay, lass. I was afraid you would be upset and couldn’t concentrate on the scene you had to be part of. I didn’t know Guy was going to do another scene before that.”

  “And? You couldn’t have told me after that? Fine.” She stormed out of the room.

  Colleen raised her brows as she considered Enrick. “You should have told her.” Then she left the room.

  The doctor shook his head. “Let me know if you begin to feel poorly. Otherwise, you should be fine.” Then he left.

  Lachlan and Grant smiled at Enrick.

  “Hell,” Enrick said. “I didn’t want to worry her.”

  “That worked out well,” Lachlan said. “Did you need me for anything?”

  “Nay, thanks, Lachlan.”

  “Okay. I need to take care of the wolves. They will be at the celebration meal.” Lachlan hurried off.

  Grant cleared his throat and folded his arms. “You will have to make it up to the lass. But first, if I were you, I would get changed. If you need to be Guy’s double again because of his back this time, you’ll be ready.”

  “You won’t stand in for me?”

  “Me? Nay, you have nothing but a scratch.” Grant left the room.

  Enrick frowned. He wondered how Missy was dealing with Guy’s injured arm. A lot better than Heather had treated Enrick, he’d bet.

  Chapter 25

  For the film, Heather was busy with her scene in the kitchen and serving food in the great hall, the wolves enjoying the feast while she tried to avoid being knocked over by them. She saw Enrick watching her from the other entryway, and she gave him a peeved look. He should have been lying down, not watching her in the scene. She wanted to make love to him, to show him how much she cared about him, if he could handle it after being injured. So he had to rest.