had kissed and, he was sure, been about to do so much more.
* * * *
The wolf dogged James and Court McClary’s trail all the way back to Wolf Creek.
James thought he had picked up the animal’s presence soon after leaving Nellie’s and mounting his horse, but he didn’t let on. No need in riling his detainee anymore than necessary, especially over an improbability.
When James mounted his horse to make it back to Nellie’s before twilight and the wolf continued his tracking, however, James became a mite concerned.
Wolves spurned human contact as a rule, and this one acted more like a loyal, domesticated dog than a feral predator.
James had second thoughts, however, when the animal boldly circled in front of his horse, growling and baring his teeth, nothing like a domesticated anything. Not to mention he was bigger than the average wolf by about sixty or seventy pounds. The animal could probably take down a stallion with not too much difficulty, or easily rip out James’ throat once he did. He leaned forward to speak to Midnight in reassuring tones before his horse got good and spooked 50
Gigi Moore
enough to throw him. Already, the large stallion backed up, blowing rollers to signal his distress. James stroked his neck soothingly before he slowly dismounted so’s not to antagonize the wolf. Once standing on the ground, he held his hands up in the most unthreatening manner he could manage.
“Easy, boy, real easy now.”
The animal, a timber wolf as far as James could tell, tilted his head back, snout pointing at the darkening, rose-hued sky, and let out a loud howl as if calling for reinforcements.
James glanced around him to make sure they were still alone and that the wolf’s pack wasn’t nearby. Even if he was a lone wolf, which looked to be the case, he still posed a danger—probably more than if he had a pack. Lone wolves could be unpredictable—both the human and the animal variety. He knew from experience.
This wolf, however, seemed like he had a personal beef to settle.
He acted like he wanted to sit down for a pow-wow with James.
He didn’t want to shoot the animal and vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to keep from doing so—unless the wolf made any threatening moves.
For now, the animal seemed satisfied that James had stopped and gotten off his horse.
“Okay, boy, you got my attention. Now, what is it you want from me?” He knew he was barking at a knot, trying to accomplish the impossible in trying to have a conversation with the animal. And, as if to punctuate that point, the wolf walked in a tight circle several times before settling himself down on the dirt road. He silently curled his legs beneath himself and watched James with a piercing gaze, unmoving.
Getting back on his horse and galloping off would have probably been a good idea, but the wolf had roused his curiosity, even if he couldn’t exactly play chin music with the animal.
Midnight had calmed down considerably, so James got down on his haunches to better look at the wolf, breaking another law of the Three Men and a Bounty
51
wild—never look an animal in the eye. He couldn’t help it, though.
There was something familiar, almost friendly, about the silver-gray gaze the animal fixed on him, at once intense and serene—beautiful.
“You’re not exactly what you seem, are you?”
No response from the wolf.
Not really expecting one, James grinned and said, “Bark once for yes and twice for no. Are you what you seem?”
The wolf barked twice before falling silent again, looking at James.
James’ heart sped, kind of like it did when he was on a pursuit. He felt that thrill of closing in on a man among the willows. His blood pumped through his veins and warmed his body with a sense of insight and accomplishment when he brought in a man dodging the law.
He had the wildest idea about camping out for the night and hanging with the wolf before heading back to Nellie’s. Then he remembered
* * * *
The wolf dogged James and Court McClary’s trail all the way back to Wolf Creek.
James thought he had picked up the animal’s presence soon after leaving Nellie’s and mounting his horse, but he didn’t let on. No need in riling his detainee anymore than necessary, especially over an improbability.
When James mounted his horse to make it back to Nellie’s before twilight and the wolf continued his tracking, however, James became a mite concerned.
Wolves spurned human contact as a rule, and this one acted more like a loyal, domesticated dog than a feral predator.
James had second thoughts, however, when the animal boldly circled in front of his horse, growling and baring his teeth, nothing like a domesticated anything. Not to mention he was bigger than the average wolf by about sixty or seventy pounds. The animal could probably take down a stallion with not too much difficulty, or easily rip out James’ throat once he did. He leaned forward to speak to Midnight in reassuring tones before his horse got good and spooked 50
Gigi Moore
enough to throw him. Already, the large stallion backed up, blowing rollers to signal his distress. James stroked his neck soothingly before he slowly dismounted so’s not to antagonize the wolf. Once standing on the ground, he held his hands up in the most unthreatening manner he could manage.
“Easy, boy, real easy now.”
The animal, a timber wolf as far as James could tell, tilted his head back, snout pointing at the darkening, rose-hued sky, and let out a loud howl as if calling for reinforcements.
James glanced around him to make sure they were still alone and that the wolf’s pack wasn’t nearby. Even if he was a lone wolf, which looked to be the case, he still posed a danger—probably more than if he had a pack. Lone wolves could be unpredictable—both the human and the animal variety. He knew from experience.
This wolf, however, seemed like he had a personal beef to settle.
He acted like he wanted to sit down for a pow-wow with James.
He didn’t want to shoot the animal and vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to keep from doing so—unless the wolf made any threatening moves.
For now, the animal seemed satisfied that James had stopped and gotten off his horse.
“Okay, boy, you got my attention. Now, what is it you want from me?” He knew he was barking at a knot, trying to accomplish the impossible in trying to have a conversation with the animal. And, as if to punctuate that point, the wolf walked in a tight circle several times before settling himself down on the dirt road. He silently curled his legs beneath himself and watched James with a piercing gaze, unmoving.
Getting back on his horse and galloping off would have probably been a good idea, but the wolf had roused his curiosity, even if he couldn’t exactly play chin music with the animal.
Midnight had calmed down considerably, so James got down on his haunches to better look at the wolf, breaking another law of the Three Men and a Bounty
51
wild—never look an animal in the eye. He couldn’t help it, though.
There was something familiar, almost friendly, about the silver-gray gaze the animal fixed on him, at once intense and serene—beautiful.
“You’re not exactly what you seem, are you?”
No response from the wolf.
Not really expecting one, James grinned and said, “Bark once for yes and twice for no. Are you what you seem?”
The wolf barked twice before falling silent again, looking at James.
James’ heart sped, kind of like it did when he was on a pursuit. He felt that thrill of closing in on a man among the willows. His blood pumped through his veins and warmed his body with a sense of insight and accomplishment when he brought in a man dodging the law.
He had the wildest idea about camping out for the night and hanging with the wolf before heading back to Nellie’s. Then he remembered
Similar Books
