Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX
In the trees about fifty yards away was a huge grey wolf standing completely still.
The worst thing they could do was run.
But feeling Luna’s heart thump against his leg he knew she wanted to do just that.
“It’s okay, Luna,” he purred, moving his hand down her neck. “Just stay still.”
As his mare and the wolf stared at each other he considered reaching for his gun and shooting in the air to scare it away. Though under normal circumstances a shot wouldn’t bother Luna, the circumstances weren’t even close to normal. But to his amazement the wolf sat down. It was a posture of relaxation.
With his heart still racing, and keeping his eyes on the predatory animal, he slowly turned Luna towards home. Though she was antsy he managed to keep her at a quick walk. When she finally let out several snorts signaling her brain was back in control, not her flight response, he too, let out a relieved sigh.
Reaching the barn, he led her inside, pulled off her saddle and brushed her off, but all the while the wolf remained at the forefront of his mind. He’d never seen one in the forest, though a few had been sighted in the hills east of the town. After returning Luna to her paddock, he lifted his phone from his pocket and placed a call to his lifetime friend and next door neighbor, Hank McLean.
“Hey, Brody, what’s up?”
“Mornin’, Hank. Hold on to your hat. I just saw a wolf.”
“Damn. Where?”
“Up the Smoky Hill trail. He was a beauty. I’m assumin’ it’s a male because of its size. Strange thing though. I was on Luna and he stood and stared at us for a minute, then sat down.”
“Sat down? Are you sure you didn’t dream this?”
“If you were tellin’ me the story I’d ask the same question. I know you like to ride naked but—”
“Will you stop with that? I do not ride naked. My horses are naked, not me.”
“I can’t help myself,” Brody replied with a chuckle. “Anyway, if you plan on goin’ up that trail without your tack I’d think twice if I were you.”
“Probably good advice. Uh, Brody, have you listened to the news lately?”
“Not this mornin’, why?”
“There was a press release put out by Pilot Records, Annie’s label. She’s gone missing.”
“Yeah, I heard, the sheriff came out and told me. He thought she might have come here.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she did,” Hank remarked. “I bet there isn’t a day she doesn’t think about bein’ with you. And I know the feelin’s mutual.”
“Yeah, well, there’s not much I can do about that.”
“They claim there’s no sign of foul play, but there’s no note either. Are you worried?”
“Of course I’m worried. I’m hopin’ she’ll call me.”
“Weird how a star like that can just disappear,” Hank remarked. “Mind you, she has the money. She could be on the other side of the world right now. Anyway, I’d better go. I have a new client bringin’ her barrel racer here.”
“Does she want to ride naked?”
“Ha, funny. She says she wants to understand the process.”
“Good for her. I need to get movin’ too. Take it easy, Hank, and keep your eyes open for that wolf.”
“Sure will, Brody. Thanks for the heads up.”
Ending the call, Brody walked back into the barn to muck out the stalls. In the summer months the horses stayed outside in the paddocks, but with fall around the corner the days were quickly becoming shorter and the nights chilly. There were six horses at his ranch, which took up the six stalls in his barn. Two mares, two geldings, and two colts. It was a nice round number. The mares, one gelding and both colts were his. The other gelding belonged to a friend and was boarded there.
As he pushed the wheelbarrow into the first stall, it occurred to him he could use someone to feed and clean in the morning. There were plenty of young, strong boys in the small town looking for part-time work. After cleaning out the first two stalls, he decided to call the local feed store and ask Joe, the owner, to put a card up for him on the bulletin board.
“Do you need another pair of hands?”
Spinning around, he saw Annie walking towards him. Dressed in blue jeans, boots, and one of his T-shirts tied in a knot around her waist, she looked sexy as hell.
“I hope you don’t mind me borrowing this,” she continued, touching it as she walked up to him. “When I threw my things into a bag I was in a desperate hurry and I forgot a bunch of stuff.”
“Are you kiddin’? Consider it yours. It looks way better on you than it does on me, but I thought you’d sleep through the day.”
“I did too, but when I opened my eyes I felt like getting up, so I took a shower, got dressed, and here I am.”
“You’ll probably want an early night,” he remarked, staring down at her. “Annie…are you okay? I mean, really okay?”
“I’m not sure how to answer that,” she murmured with a sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know anything anymore…except I’m very glad to be here with you.”
As her emerald eyes shone up at him, he read her unspoken invitation. Dropping the rake, he slid his right hand into her long, blond hair, and his left hand around her waist.
“Damn girl, it’s like no time has passed.”
“I feel the same. Now will you shut up and kiss me?”