Embrace the Wild Land (36 page)

He ran back toward them, and Jeremy watched in awe. No. He would never be like this brother of his. Wolf’s Blood was a wild thing, as wild as the wolves he was named after. There was no doubt now that there was only one path the boy would take in life.

Wolf’s Blood shoved the pup into his parfleche so that only the animal’s front paws and head stuck out. Then he let out a long, Cheyenne war cry, gazing out into the distant gentle hills and thick cottonwoods beyond. From the cottonwoods there came the long, lonesome wail of a wolf, and Margaret felt chills run down her spine. Her brother truly seemed one with the animal. Wolf’s Blood cried out again, and the unknown wolf howled again in reply, while the pup in the boy’s parfleche yipped excitedly. Wolf’s Blood laughed and picked up his hatchet, walking back to the tree.

“This is a good day!” he told the others. “This is the best day I can remember!” He chopped briskly at the tree until it fell, then tied it to his horse and mounted up.

“Do you think Father will play his mandolin for us when we get back?” Lillian asked Wolf’s Blood. “It’s been such a long time since he played his music.” She held little Jason close, and the boy’s eyes were beginning to droop sleepily.

“Sure he will, if we ask,” Wolf’s Blood answered. “Mother likes to hear him play.”

The seven Monroes rode off toward home, Wolf’s Blood dragging the tree and the pup gazing out from the parfleche, wondering just where its new master was taking him. A half hour later found them near the
cabin. It was growing dark and the cabin looked warm and inviting, a lamp lighting the windows, smoke curling out of the chimney of the potbelly stove. Wolf’s Blood turned to Margaret.

“I think perhaps this time we should knock before we go inside,” he told his sister.

“Why?” she asked.

He frowned. “You figure it out,” he told her. “Just do like I say.” They headed for the cabin, and Wolf’s Blood’s heart sang with happiness, something he once thought could never be his again. He would take the silly tree to his mother, if that was what it took to make her happy. And he was anxious to show the wolf to his father. Zeke would understand. He would know the pup was a gift from the spirits. His father was half wild, just like Wolf’s Blood. He would know.

In the distance wolves began howling then, unseen wild things that dwelled in an untamed land.