“I’m okay. Thanks.” Sakari shows her to the table and hands her a menu.
“I know you don’t know me very well, but if you ever need anything I hope you will consider me a friend,” Sakari tells her.
Makenna looks at the beautiful woman and smiles. “Thanks, he gives me the creeps.”
“Call me Kari, you should always trust your instincts. They were given to you for a reason, my grandmother said they are our built in warning system. You should meet her sometimes she helps out here in the kitchen.”
Loud voices can be heard out front distracting the girls, “I was trapping for coyotes on my own land, Dr. Slade! I didn’t do nothing illegal.”
“All I am asking, is that you call next time, instead of trapping a wolf. They are endangered and protected by law. I would be more than happy to sedate the wolf, and remove it from your land for relocation. Fur trapping is illegal, Sam.”
“I will say this one more time, Eric, I wasn’t fur trapping, It was an accident. Something’s been terrorizing my animals, thought it was a coyote. Nothing protected about that species, Doc.” He spits on the ground and jumps in his truck tearing off down the road.
Eric rubs his neck and sighs walking back inside. “That went well.”
“He was trapping wolves, Eric?” Kari asks helping him remove his coat.
“He says it was an accident, but this is not the first time I have had to talk to him. We had a report of a wolf seen dragging a chain and trap behind it, but the wolf was not recovered.”
“That’s terrible.” Makenna whispers thinking of Frisbee and his mother.
“I’m sure it was just an accident, sweetie.” Kari says to reassure Makenna but she is not so sure.
Kari takes their orders and Makenna can’t stop watching them together. She wonders if he ever thinks of dating again. Kari can’t stop smiling when he is close and her dad gets flustered around her. She decides to help him out.
“So, Kari, we are having a party on Sunday for my cousin Caleb. Wanna come?” her father looks at her with surprise.
Sakari smiles in surprise and looks at Eric. “I’d love to. We are closed Sundays. Tell me when and where?”
“Yeah Dad, when and where?” Makenna smiles and kicks her dad under the table.
He jumps and says, “Oh, how about three o’clock?”
“Sounds good, here’s my number. You can call me with directions.” Kari scribbles her number down and hands it to Eric. “I will get your drinks.”
He looks at his daughter closely. “What was that about?”
“I like her, Dad and so do you. It’s time for you to be happy again. Mom would want that for you.” she answers softly.
He reaches out and takes her hand across the table, “When did you get so smart?” he asks.
“It runs in the family. So should I plan a party?” she asks grinning. He laughs out loud and they get down to business.
Sam watches them enjoy their dinner and follows in his truck at a safe distance without his lights. He chose the wrong wolf pack last time. Once again, he did not receive the gift and the wolf died. Maybe the girl is the key to capturing the Arctic wolf. He has been waiting close to fifty years for this chance and tonight he found them again!
Chapter
5
Caleb broke the only rules they gave him within the first two hours of arriving at his grandfather’s ranch in the Canadian Rockies. Don’t go into the woods alone and never go out at night. He was sixteen now. They can’t expect him to sit here all winter break and do nothing. His grandmother had to go to town for supplies and his grandfather wasn’t home yet from work. They had a neighbor pick him up and drop him off.
“Whatever, some Saturday night,” he thinks grumpy after the long flight from South Carolina. He tosses his duffel bag onto the floor of his room and stretches out on the bed. Staring up at the wood beams crossing the ceiling he wonders if his parents are enjoying their anniversary. His father surprised his mother with a cruise to Greece and surprised him by sending him to this ranch. It wouldn’t be so bad if he had a brother or at least a kid his own age around. At least he will get to see his cousin Makenna tomorrow. In her email she told him she had a special surprise for him. The sun sets early in this part of Canada. Its only six o’clock and already the sun has gone down. It sure messes with his body clock.
Duchess the family cat interrupts his musings and leaps onto his bed. She proceeds to crawl up his body, taking her place on his chest. Caleb looks at her and smiles. “Hey Duch’. Did you miss me?” he asks and laughs when she stares at him with one blue eye and one green eye. He sinks his hands into her white fur and her motor turns on. She closes her eyes in ecstasy and purrs loudly while he rubs her.
“I’m surprised you remember me girl, it’s been three years.” When he stops rubbing her she reaches out gently with a paw and pulls his hand back towards her. “Okay, bossy.” He says and rubs her, closing his eye he drifts to sleep to the sound of her purring in contentment.
Caleb startles awake and tries to calm the pounding of his heart. Once you hear the sound of a dog in agony you never forget it. It sounds off like a siren in an air raid, over and over, the yelping continues. The sound echoes through the woods surrounding the cabin and he leaps from his bed and runs to the window. He squints
