When the wolf appears on the tracks in front of him, he glares in frustration. “What now? I’ve done what you asked? I will go after Barclay. He must be stopped.”
The wolf snarls and causes his horse to stop and whinny in fear. “Easy,” Blood Eagle murmurs.
“What do you want me to do now?” he asks.
Throwing back his massive head he howls loud enough to cause Blood Eagles ears to ring and the horse to try to run. “Damn!” Blood Eagle struggles to control his horse as the beast howls again.
When he stops baying, he turns his golden eyes on him and chuffs softly. Then pads away, stopping as if to say, ‘Well?’
“That’s how you ask me to follow you?” he grins and kicks the horse into a trot. They travel through the night, man following beast in the pure black darkness of the night.
Chapter 33
Harris laughs as Vanessa grumbles. “Harris, this would be much more productive if you did the wash and I caught our lunch.”
“I’m wounded woman, don’t you trust me to keep you satisfied?” his teasing question causes her to blush.
“That’s not funny,” she turns away to hang a shirt on a rope Harris had strung up between the branches of two trees.
Warm arms embrace her, and she leans back into him with a sigh. “I wasn’t teasing. I will make it my life’s work to see you happy and safe,” his kiss sends shivers down her body. She twists in his arms and grins at his look of surprise.
“What of our clothes? We should wash them first.” She slowly begins unbuttoning his shirt, “This is filthy.” Her teasing grin has him throwing back his head with laughter and lifting her from her feet in his arms.
Vanessa stiffens in his arms and whispers, “No,” with a fear-laced gasp.
Harris lowers her and draws his pistol, keeping her behind him he turns to face the unseen enemy. The wolf has returned, and he is growling at them, deep in his throat. Vanessa peeks around Harris and sensing the danger, leaps in front of him with a hand raised.
“No, Ahote!”
“I’d step carefully, he’s pretty determined to have his way.” A deep voice says from behind them. Harris turns to face a second enemy and stares at the strangely dressed Indian.
“Who are you?” Harris asks.
Vanessa refuses to take her eyes from the wolf. She steps forward only to have Harris grab her arm, “Don’t even think about it?” he hisses.
The moment he touches her the wolf snaps and snarls at him. Harris keeps his pistol drawn and pointed at the Indian.
“What business do you have here?” Harris demands.
Blood Eagle shrugs and sits on a large boulder, suddenly exhausted. “The beast here, drove me hard all night. He was determined to get to you, or rather her, I think.”
Vanessa watches the wolf slink around them to stand next to Blood Eagle, and when her eyes meet his, she gasps in recognition. “You!”
“Yes, I can’t explain…”
“You don’t need to,” Vanessa turns to look at the wolf and steps forward this time, ignoring Harris’s shout of warning. Her eyes fill with tears as she closes in on the animal.
“Ahote?” Her trembling hand reaches out to touch his fur and tears stream down her face. He rumbles and nuzzles his massive head into her hand.
“Oh, God! How is this possible?” she murmurs.
The beast sniffs her, and a rumble of anger rips through him. He can smell Harris all over her, and it infuriates him.
Blood Eagle leaps to his feet before Ahote rips into Harris and throws up a hand, shouting at him.
“Enough! Your time is running short, Spirit Walker.”
“Why would you kill the man who saved my life, Ahote? Can you not face me in your true form?” Vanessa demands. Harris stalks over to her, ignoring the eyes of the beast tracking him.
“Why have you come?” Harris demands of the Indian again.
“I don’t know. The Spirit Walker came to me in a dream and showed me your woman.” A ripping snarl erupts from the wolf.
Vanessa glares at him. “You’ve no right to be angry, not after what you did!” Fearless now, she stomps over to glare into the eyes of her dead husband. “No one survived! Two hundred and nineteen of our tribe and families butchered,” she sobs and turns away.
“What?” Blood Eagle demands.
“Harris?” She calls, and he pulls her into his arms, but keeps his pistol raised.
“Our people are gone, Barclay slaughtered them all,” Vanessa’s muffled voice says.
“Barclay?” Blood Eagle hisses and demands, “Tell me everything.”
Vanessa turns to look at the wolf who sits with his head hanging low and her heart breaks. “I can’t. Harris will you explain it to him.”
“If you’re sure it’s safe?”
“I’ll be fine,” Vanessa says wiping her eyes. Harris takes Blood Eagle inside the small cabin and offers him coffee. He leaves the door open, so he can see Vanessa and explains the situation to the Indian.
Ahote walks over to her, and she sniffs, stroking a hand over his lush, black fur.
“Why are you here?” She ignores the tears streaming down her face. “Am I to be punished for surviving?”
He lifts his head to hers and licks her cheek, causing her to jump in surprise and laugh softly. “This is strange.”
His head cocks sideways, and he stares at the cabin and grumbles.
“I’m sorry, Ahote. I know this is unexpected, but I love him.” She drops her face to her hands and covers it in shame.
A soft grumble from the beast has her jumping in surprise. He
