Of Wolves and Men (21 page)

The noise of men running behind them, some on horseback, others on ATVs, clouded Roman’s hearing, but not his sense of smell. Even as a human, he would never forget that odor.

He kept pace with Charlie, who was sniffing the air as he ran. “
You got it now?”

“Yeah. I got it. Stinks to high heaven.”

“I know
.” Roman cut through the thick trees that edged the water. He slowed down and could see a smoldering wisp of smoke.

Behind him a legion of men filled the area, signaling to one another to fan out. Roman could tell no humans were there.

A ring of stones, burnt offerings of herbs, what smelled like sulphur or something sour and heavy, and dead birds, tied at the feet with their throats cut. That was it.

Roman grew furious. “
No! This can’t be!”

“Roman…calm down.”

He snarled and bit at the air in fury. Pain stabbed him. He fell to his side and began to writhe.

The icy air reached his naked skin as he changed. In agony, he clawed at the ground and cried out. The canine whimpers caught in his throat and his deep voice grunting in pain replaced it.

As he made the transformation, Charlie stood over him, pressing his wet nose against his skin to comfort him.

Shivering, gasping for air, Roman opened his eyes to see Charlie’s dark wolf eyes gazing at him, his ears perked upright.

Phil knelt beside them, giving Roman his jacket. “I’m sorry, Roman. But we must have missed them.”

His emotions getting the better of him, Roman sat up, the jacket around his shoulders, and he sobbed. Charlie shifted on his paws, making whimpering sounds.

“Who is that, Roman?” Phil asked.

“It’s Charlie.”

The look on Phil’s face was pure disbelief. “How?”

“How the hell should I know?” Roman petted Charlie’s neck. “You gotta get mad, Charlie.

That’s the emotion these witches love the best.”

Charlie snarled, snapping and making the hair raise on his back. Phil retreated but Roman stayed put. “That’s my man.”

Looking like a rabid wolf, Charlie began biting the low scrub, tearing it out by the roots with his teeth, shaking his head side to side.

“Get another coat, Phil. He’s changing.”

“Be right back.”

Seeing the transformation from the outside was amazing. Roman crawled beside Charlie, trying to get him through the pain. “Hang on. You’re almost there.”

Charlie lay on his side, shivering from the cold. He spit the dirt out of his mouth and looked at Roman. “Am I insane or was I just a wolf?”

“Yes. You and me both.” Roman rubbed his shoulder.

Phil returned with Nick’s jacket and two yellow emergency blankets in plastic bags. Most of the men were photographing and taking evidence from the scene, but the few who had witnessed the wolf-to-man change were standing still with their mouths hanging open.

Butch rode up on Scout behind Phil and Nick. “Well, now you’re two of a kind, Charlie. Looks like you won’t be riding Spirit anymore.”

Once he’d put the jacket on, Charlie wrapped the flimsy blanket around his waist. “Don’t tell Vernon.”

“Sure, Charlie. I’ll leave you to do that.” Butch tugged Scout’s bridle and walked him away from the scene.

Roman touched Charlie’s cheek. “Are you okay?”

“It was fun while it lasted.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be back. Just wait ‘til you’re a crow.”

“Let me give you a ride to the cabin.” Phil gestured to the two men.

Nick approached Roman. “We’ll find them. The boys will submit the evidence for DNA and fingerprint testing. Someone is bound to be in the data base.”

“Thanks, Nick. We’ll get the jacket back to you.”

“I’ll stop by the cabin before I leave.”

“Okay.” Roman helped Charlie into one of the all terrain vehicles. The helicopter flew off, vanishing into the blue sky.

In silent contemplation, Roman was driven back to the trailhead where Phil’s SUV was parked.

When they arrived at the caravan of cars, Roman and Charlie sat in the back seat with the heat blasting, as Phil drove down the trail back to the ranch.

“What time is it?” Charlie asked.

“Eleven,” Phil said.

“Maybe Vernon will get lucky and his tourists will miss the action.”

“There’s our clothing.” Roman pointed.

Phil stopped the car and got out, gathering it.

“Charlie?” Roman squeezed his naked thigh. “Don’t hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.”

Phil opened the back seat and handed them their clothes.

“Thanks.” Roman took the pile to sort through as Phil resumed their drive to the ranch house.

While they got dressed in the back seat, Roman tried to read Charlie’s mind. But for some reason he couldn’t any longer. The change had apparently made Charlie a closed book.

Chapter 15

Charlie had to admit visions of the ‘simple life’ began filling his head. Seeing the ranch house, Charlie knew Suzie and Sherlane were going to be around another week until they headed back to college. It made Charlie unhappy.

I’m sitting in an ATF agent’s SUV, getting dressed after being naked on the cold ground,
after being a wolf! Who needs this?

Charlie glanced at Roman as he put on his old, worn-out coat, one that was wearing

through at the elbows. It should have been thrown out when he got his new one, but Charlie saved things like that.

Roman and Phil discussed the follow up to finding these ‘witches’ or whatever they were.

Charlie didn’t know if he cared.

If all it took to not change was to stay mellow, that made Charlie’s life simple. He wasn’t brought to anger easily. All through his early years he’d been calm and sensible. People came to him for help, advice, and ultimately he was made manager or boss wherever he worked.

When Phil parked in front of the ranch house, Charlie got out without a comment. He had work to do. There were tourists coming to ride in an hour.

“Charlie.”

Hearing Roman’s call, Charlie had half a mind to keep walking, but stopped and looked over his shoulder.

“Babe.” Roman’s tone softened as he approached, reaching out to hold Charlie’s hands in his.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into my mess.”

“First of all, I’m not sure you are.” Charlie tugged free of Roman’s grip and said, “You used me to get help and now you don’t need me anymore. So? Let me go on with my life. Okay?”

“That’s not fair.”

“Life ain’t fair, Roman. You just learnin’ that?” Charlie let out a sarcastic laugh and noticed Suzie and Sherlane staring at them through the front window of the living room. “I’ll see ya later.”

A hand held him back, squeezing his arm. Roman’s warning filled in his ear, “Don’t go with her.”

Charlie wrenched his arm away and spun to face him. “You don’t own me. You got that? Now go get in the damn car with your buddy and drive back to Reno.”

“Stop taking this the wrong way. I’m crazy about you, but I want to get free of this curse. Can’t you get that?”

“I get it! Okay? I’m the fucking curse you want to be free of. You think I’m stupid?”

“What are you talking about?”

The long line of black vehicles began leaving the ranch. Phil was idling the engine, as if waiting for Roman to return. Charlie didn’t know what Roman’s plans were and was afraid to ask.

Vernon exited the ranch house to watch the exodus of officials.

“What did they do to the trail, Charlie?”

“The ground’s so frozen, boss, it didn’t mess it up much.” Charlie asked, “What’s the time?”

“Nearly noon. We have a group coming soon.” Vernon addressed Roman, “When are you

leaving?”

Without answering Vernon, Roman walked to the driver’s side of the SUV to speak to Phil.

“I’m sorry, Vernon.” Charlie stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I had no idea any of this would happen.”

“I’m not sure I even know what’s happening. Now Butch tells me you turned into a wolf too?

What am I supposed to believe?”

Charlie rubbed his face in frustration. “I don’t know. I thought I had my life together a few months back. Now I’m upside down.” The SUV turned around in the lot and left the ranch.

Roman watched it go. When it vanished, he walked the path in the direction of the cabins.

Suzie opened the door of the ranch house. “Come have a bite for lunch, Charlie.” Harley raced out and sprinted up the trail, away from him. Charlie was amazed he didn’t get attacked by the little terrier, but obviously Harley had other plans in mind.

Charlie was about to call Roman back to eat, but instead, he took off his hat and entered the house.

~

Roman shook off Charlie’s jacket and tossed it on the couch. He sat with a mobile phone Phil had given him and dialed. “Mom?”

“Roman! My God! You’re alive!”

He heard her shout to his father and her emotions brought a tear to Roman’s eyes.

“Where are you? Hang on, Roman. Your dad’s getting on the other line.”

“Roman?”

“Hi, Dad.” Roman slouched on Charlie’s sofa, staring at the fireplace, knowing he should light a fire since the cold was infiltrating the wooden cabin.

“How are you? Where are you?”

“I’m okay. I’m hanging out on a ranch in Heber, Utah, for a bit.”

“What happened to you? The agents at your office were very vague but they made it sound as if you were kidnapped.”

“I sort of was, Dad.” Roman had no idea how to explain his situation. “I’m okay now. They’re just trying to find the suspects that did this to me.”

“It’s so good to hear your voice, Roman. I can’t tell you how worried your father and sister were about you.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. This is the first time I had a chance to call.” He knelt next to the fireplace and tossed logs that were stacked beside it onto the grate. “Just don’t worry anymore.”

“Will you get any time off for Christmas?”

“No. I doubt it, Mom. But I’ll call you when I can.” He brushed his hand off on the sweatpants, staring at the spent ashes on the bottom of the hearth.

“I’m so glad you’re all right.”

He heard his mother crying. “I am. So don’t worry anymore. Okay?”

“Do you still have your old phone number?” his dad asked.

“No. Let me give you this one since I know it came up blocked.” He read the number engraved on it by the department and relayed the information to them. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Okay, son. You just take care and call as often as you can.”

“I will, Dad. Love you guys.” He hung up and set the phone behind him on the sofa, then lit kindling under the logs to get the fire burning. As it caught and crackled, he warmed his hands and sat with his back against the couch, staring at it.

He was attached to Charlie. Very much. If he had his way, Charlie would come back to Reno to live with him once he figured out how to get rid of the curse.
If
he had his way.

Unfortunately Charlie had a life too. And Charlie Mosby wasn’t the kind of man to drop everything to be with him. Maybe that was a good thing. But as far as the future of their relationship went…it left few choices.

“Roman?”

Roman glanced at the door, hearing Suzie’s voice.

“It’s not locked.”

She opened it and came in. “We prepared a nice lunch for everyone.”

“I’m not feeling very welcome or sociable at the moment.”

Looking concerned, Suzie crossed the room and stared into his eyes. “I’ve known Charlie for a few years. He’s worth fighting for.”

Roman smiled at the irony. “There’s nothing I want more than to have Charlie live with me.”

“Oh.” She appeared confused.

“But I live and work in Reno, and he loves you guys and this job.”

Suzie reached for Roman’s arm and coaxed him to sit with her on the couch. “Butch said both of you turned into a wolf together. I didn’t believe him.”

“For once, Butch isn’t lying. Charlie did too.”

“No! How?”

“I don’t know. But he did.”

“Then you have to be together. Don’t you see? It’s fate trying to keep you as a pair.”

“I’m not sure. I think it’s bad luck by association. Charlie was unfortunate enough to be close to me, and now he’s suffering for it.”

“You must be hungry. Come join us.”

“No. I’m sorry, Suzie. I just hate imposing on your good family. And Vernon is angry enough with the intrusion I created on his land this morning. I know you have a business to run.”

After a moment where they just stared at each other, Suzie said, “Well, for what it’s worth. I’m here if you need me.”

“Thank you.”

She stood and headed to the door. “And so is Charlie. If I were you? I’d never let that man go.”

Roman smiled to himself.
If I were me, I wouldn’t let him go either. But Charlie has a mind of
his own
.

~

Charlie ate his pulled pork sandwich with JP, Goat, and Butch. Vernon and Sherlane were outdoors meeting and greeting the twelve o’clock trail riding group in the parking lot.

When Suzie entered the ranch house, she walked by the men and began filling a plastic plate with food.

Charlie knew what she was doing and guilt surfaced. “I’ll take that to him, Suzie.” He was caught off guard by the glare she shot at him. Knowing he wasn’t winning brownie points with anyone here on the ranch any longer, Charlie didn’t know what to do to get back to normal.

Nothing felt normal anymore.

After she had filled the plate with everything Connie had cooked for their lunch, Suzie covered it with foil and stood still.

Charlie placed his empty plate in the sink. “Thank you, ma’am. It was delicious as usual.”

“Anytime, Charlie.”

He approached Suzie. “What’d I do now?” The plate was handed to him.

“Why don’t you ask Roman that?” She turned her shoulder to him and began taking the empty plates from the table of men.

One by one the guys thanked the ladies for the meal, leaving to return to their work. Charlie caught Butch’s eye before he put his hat on. The thoughts Charlie read from Butch were a mixture of jealousy and attraction. Charlie wasn’t prepared for either.

As he headed outside, he tilted his hat against the brisk wind and avoided eye contact with the group of city folk that wanted a day of riding horses up in the hills. Charlie hoped they didn’t run into any rude surprises, like an eviscerated deer.