Of Wolves and Men by G. A. Hauser

room for life.” ~
    By six in the evening, Charlie was lying on his sofa staring into space. He had work to do. Oh yes. Plenty. He just couldn’t leave the cabin right now.
    A light knock sounded at his door.
    “Oh no.” Charlie rubbed his face in exhaustion. “I’m not feeling well,” he yelled, trying to be heard.
    Suzie’s voice replied, “I have your dinner, Charlie. You have to eat.”
    He looked down at his stocking feet and jeans. After letting go of a big, exhaled sigh, he managed to get off the sofa and open the door.
    Freshman college student Suzie Norman was a petite, blueeyed blonde ex-cheerleader from Wasatch High. He could just about see her shaking her gold and black pompoms on the football field, yelling, “Go Wasps!”
    “Charlie Mosby…look at you.” She set an aluminum foil wrapped plate on the coffee table and embraced him like she was his long-lost girlfriend.
    He winced as she rubbed a raw spot on his back but hid it behind clenched teeth. Parting from her, he asked, “So? How’s college?”
    “We can catch up while you eat. Come on, handsome.” She picked up the plate and set it on the small table, unwrapping it. “Pork chops, hash, and Mom’s apple pie.”
    Charlie sat at the table as she hurried to get a fork and knife from a drawer in the kitchen, opening the fridge. “I knew I should have brought you a cold one. Butch said you always have some, but you don’t.”
    “I’m all right.”
    Suzie gave him the utensils and a glass of juice, then she sat down. She leaned her jaw on her palm, staring at him.
    He tasted the food. “Mm. I was hungry.”
    “How’re you feeling now? You still tired?”
    “A little. I’m all right. Been some crazy things goin’ on lately.”
    “I heard about the deer. Oh, Charlie, that is so scary. But Butch and Goat said nothing’s happened since then. Are you going back up to watch again tonight?” She leaned closer. “I can go with you.”
    A bang was heard on his window.
    Suzie jumped out of her skin and spun around.
    Charlie grumbled. “There’s a crow that keeps flyin’ into my window. Ignore it.”
    “How bizarre!”
    “I think it’s confused.” He kept eating.
    “Anyway, like I said, if you want, I can saddle Petunia up and we can ride up the mountain. It’s cold, but it’s a beautiful night.”
    Another bang came from the glass.
    “You sure that’s a bird?” She shivered visibly.
    “Yeah. Hang on.” Charlie walked to the window and peeked out of the blind. The crow was tilting its head at him. “You behave!” Charlie wagged his finger.
    Suzie laughed. “You are a real riot, Charlie. Telling a bird to behave itself. I never met a fella like you.”
    Charlie made eye contact with the crow. He gave it a scolding glance. If it was Roman, he’d better stop what he was doing.
    He felt Suzie standing behind him. She leaned against him to look outside. “You always feel and smell so nice, Charlie.”
    Her breasts pressed against his back. Just as Charlie was about to step away from the window, a large black wolf with its canines bared began biting at the glass.
    Suzie screamed and jumped backwards, so terrified she nearly knocked over the kitchen table and chairs.
    “Stay there.” Charlie pointed to her.
    “You can’t go out there! Charlie! There hasn’t been wolves out here forever. He’s got to be rabid biting at a window. Where’s your shotgun?”
    “I said stay here! Ya got me? It ain’t a wolf. Okay?”
    “Ain’t a wolf? I saw that thing with my own eyes!”
    “Are you gonna listen to me?”
    “Yes, Charlie.” She bit her nail and wrapped her arms tightly across her chest.
    Charlie stormed outside and walked to the side of the cabin. Roman was standing behind the shrubs, naked of course.
    “Don’t you go with her,” Roman said, looking ragged.
    “Go away!” Charlie looked over his shoulder. “You’re causin’ more trouble, bitin’ like a rabid hound at my window.”
    “Charlie…promise