The wolf chuffs at them as if to say, “Of course,” and pads out of camp.
Harris sighs in relief when the wolf retreats and pulls Kimani in for a quick hug.
“Can you explain what just happened?”
“I’m not sure you’d believe me,” she murmurs against his shoulder.
The noise from the wagons grows louder as voices join in. “It’ll wait till later. I’ll go see what’s going on and you stay here,” Harris orders and hands her his second pistol. “Do you remember how to use this?”
A flash of white teeth in the darkness, “Steele taught me well,” she teases and accepts the pistol.
“Good. Shoot that beast if he shows up again,” Harris says with trembling breath.
“We need to talk about him,” she tries to say, but he is already gone. Kimani closes her eyes annoyed at the way he orders her around and starts to count in Shoshone to calm down. When she reaches twenty, she opens her eyes and sees the wolfs tracks in the slush.
“Harris saw him too! That means he’s real!” Confusion flickers as she stares at the paw prints. “He’s real, not a figment of my imagination.” Every time he’s shown up, he’s protected her from danger. From driving her across the river into the canyon to attacking the soldier who was after her and even helping with the tracker.
“Why have you come this time?” she asks softly.
Holding the pistol close, she follows the tracks out of camp. They lead her around the boulders and down away from the protection of the hill towards the plains. She’s so busy tracking the paw prints that she almost misses the boot prints.
Dread fills her mind and her stomach drops. Harris didn’t walk this way, they stayed on the other side of the boulders, using the rock as a blind of sorts. Slushy prints circle a tree. Kimani glances back towards the camp, “I should’ve waited,” she whispers and turns to leave. She takes a step, and the blow to her legs sends her to the ground with a yelp of pain. The impact of her body hitting the ground sends her pistol flying from her hand. The rope wraps around her legs and the ball smacks above her thigh. Kimani loses her breath as the pain rolls through her body.
“That right there is what you call a Bola,” the male voice chuckles. “But you know that don’t you.” Craig points her fallen pistol at her face and glares at her. “Move, and I’ll put a hole in that pretty face of yours,” he sneers, leaning down over her, he shakes his head as if trying to clear it.
“I know, brother, I know!” he hisses spraying her with spittle. “The boss was very clear,” he steps on her hand, and she screams out in pain. “Kill, Dr. Harris and bring him both scalps, but first we play.” He grins at her look of horror mixed with pain.
Harris is staring through his binoculars at the army soldiers unloading a Gatling gun from the back of a wagon. Soldiers, sixteen at his count, are armed and preparing for something, but what?
A growl from behind has him rolling over and raising his pistol with a glare. The wolf is back and holding something in his mouth. With a flick of his head the animal tosses the item at Harris’s feet. A canvas pouch stamped with the Army logo. Recognition flashes through his mind, and he glances up in shock at the animal.
The Wolf glances over his shoulder, growling low and starts to trot away. The animal pauses and chuffs at him. Kimani’s short scream of pain causes them both to jump. Harris runs with his gun ready, no longer concerned with the wagons.
Kimani’s scream is short lived when she realizes what his plan is. “Please,” she pleads, “He’s not involved. Don’t hurt him…” he presses down on her hand harder sinking it even further into the soft muddy ground.
“So that’s the way of it then? You care for this Doctor? Maybe even love him!” He grins and evil grin. “Perfect! You can watch him die the way I watched my brother…” the ear-piercing howl of a wolf causes Craig to stop and turn in surprise, looking for the threat. Again, the wolf wails, this time from behind him.
Craig whirls around with a crazed look and Kimani desperately fights with the leather strap and ball, trying to untangle her legs as quickly as she can. The third bay from another direction has Craig shouting, “Stop it! No brother! We are surrounded!”
He leaps backward, grabbing for Kimani, and jerking her up by her arm. The loosened leather falls to the ground freeing her legs, but Craig shoves the pistol against her temple and whirls in the direction of the next howl.
“Craig, I can help you!” Kimani pleads.
“Shut up! I can’t hear Evan!”
Evan? That was the brother she shot! A flash of movement has her wondering why the wolf doesn’t attack. Instead, he is circling the camp. Harris will come, buy time, Kimani tells herself.
“What do I do, Evan?” Craig whispers.
“The wolf is a soul eater, Craig, and he’s hungry,” she laughs, taunting him.
“You shut up!” Craig throws her to the ground and kicks her in the stomach.
Kimani rolls over coughing and struggling to catch her breath. “Do you hear the drums?” She croaks out at Craig, and his eyes grow wide as the sound of a drum beat fills the air.
“What’s that!” he hisses.
The wolf howls again, filling the night with the sounds of the tribe. A drum-beat followed by a haunting melody of the flute. Kimani’s rises up to her knees and taunts him, “It’s the
