Of Wolves and Men (7 page)

Charlie held it in place. “Look, I’m not goin’ out tonight. I’m not feelin’ right and if I go anywhere, it’ll be back up the mountain to check on the fence.”

“I just got back from there.” Butch shoved at the door harder. “Why aren’t you lettin’ me in?”

Charlie glanced behind him and opened the door with reluctance.

“Mosby, there’s something seriously wrong with you.” Butch took off his cowboy hat and sat on a chair. “There are two pretty gals up at the house, dying for some fun time on their college break.”

“You ain’t even old enough to drink.”

“No one checks at the Other Side Tavern. You and I have been there together drinking, so you know that.” Butch rose to his feet and came within an inch of Charlie’s nose, suspicion written all over him. “You better come clean, Mosby. What the hell’s really going on?”

Charlie heard a low growl coming from the bedroom. Butch must have as well, because he perked up and stared at the closed door.

“You best be goin’.” Charlie began to lead Butch out.

“You didn’t even ask me what I found up the mountain. Do you even care about the ponies anymore? Or has everything sane been lost on you?” Butch jerked out of Charlie’s grip.

“Sorry. What did you find?”

“Wires cut again.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. But I didn’t find no dead animal.”

“Did you fix it?”

“Course I did.”

“I’ll head up there now.” Charlie picked up his coat and hat.

“What am I supposed to tell the girls?” Butch stepped outside when Charlie opened the door.

“Tell ‘em I’m busy. And take Goat or JP.”

The minute Charlie stood with his back at the open door, an enormous black crow flew out of the living room making both men duck and shout out in fright.

Charlie swallowed his nerves while Butch gaped in astonishment. “Did that thing just fly out of your cabin?”

“It’s been hangin’ around, hittin’ the window. I think maybe it’s stunned or somethin’.” Charlie shut the door behind him.

“You tellin’ me that thing was inside your place?”

“No. I don’t know.” Charlie looked around the area, keeping them both headed in the direction of the ranch house. He could see a dark shadow trailing them.
What are you doing, Roman? If
Butch catches sight of you like that, he’ll kill you! Just what we need. A huge black wolf living at
the ranch. Lord have mercy.

“Stop pushing me.” Butch jerked his shoulder away from Charlie’s constant nudging. “You’re lucky when you punched my jaw I didn’t hit you back.”

“Ooh, I’m so scared,” Charlie teased, laughing.

That appeared to anger Butch. He stopped short and wheeled around on his boot heels to face Charlie, his finger pointing into Charlie’s face. “Don’t make me kick your ass.”

“Look here, Crowell.” Charlie poked him in the chest. “I’m the boss of you. You got that? I got six years of life experience more than you.
You got that?
” He poked him harder. “An’ I’m not real happy with you either lately. Talkin’ trash about Vernon’s daughters, givin’ me lip constantly. You just watch yourself.”

A deep low snarl was heard distinctly by both men. Charlie rolled his eyes while Butch nearly jolted out of his boots. “Somethin’s out here, Charlie.”

“Nothin’ is. Go inside.” Charlie persuaded Butch to keep walking to the ranch house. When he opened the door, both girls were dressed to go out to the tavern, holding their purses and wearing their coats.

“Charlie!” Sherlane rushed towards him. “You are coming to the tavern for a drink, right?”

“No. I’m headed up the mountain. Sorry.”

Suzie nudged her sister out of the way. “Dad won’t let us go if you’re not there.” She glanced at Butch in annoyance. “So if you don’t go, we can’t.”

“Take Goat or JP. They’re great for chaperones and they’ll keep this wolf off you.” Charlie gestured to Butch.

“Speaking of wolves…” Suzie’s eyes widened. “While I was at Charlie’s cabin a big wolf-like dog bit at the window.”

Charlie tried to stem the tide of information before it instilled a panic. “No. I told you it was just a feral dog. Don’t go spreadin’—”

Harley bolted out of the open ranch house door, barking like he was about to kill something.

Butch pushed Charlie out of the way and rushed after the dog. “Get the shotgun, Charlie! I told ya somethin’ was out here!”

“Shit!” Charlie could see Vernon and Connie becoming aware something was going on. “Go inside, girls. It’s nothin’. I told you it’s just a lost doggie. Okay?”

“Charlie,” Suzie pouted as she spoke. “Be real careful. He was a big ole dog.”

He sprinted, trying to catch Butch and Harley. To his anguish, he found them all inside the open horse paddock. The horses were going crazy, rearing, making whining noises of fear and stampeding to and fro.

It was dark but for two spotlights attached high on the barn. Harley’s barking was keeping Charlie on target as to where the chaos was. When he spotted Butch with a shotgun Charlie gasped. “No!”

“Harley! Clear them horses back!” Butch chambered a round with a ‘cha-chunk’ sound and brought the shotgun up to aim.

Charlie grabbed the gun by the barrel and a blast of buckshot hit the dirt in front of them, blowing a hole in the ground and spattering dried mud into their faces. The horses went berserk at the blast.

As Charlie fought Butch for the gun, Vernon and the rest of the family finally caught up to the action.

“There’s a big black wolf in the horse paddock, Charlie! What the hell are you doing?” Butch yelled.

“You’ll hit the horses! You know the spread pattern on that thing? Are you nuts?” He jerked the gun away and removed the cartridges.

“He’s the nut, boss!” Butch pointed at Charlie, catching his breath. “There’s a huge timber wolf inside this paddock. I bet you that’s what’s doing all the weird killing.”

“Harley!” Vernon called and heard the dog yelp in pain.

“Roman!” Charlie jumped the paddock fence and scattered the already panicked horses. He spotted Roman, naked, crawling under the far side of the wooden fence in the dark.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Charlie stopped and spun around. He held up his hands. “It’s gone.”

“Where’s Harley?” Vernon looked for the dog.

He was wagging as he approached Vernon. Vernon picked the dog up to inspect him and got a lick in the face. “You’re all right, little buddy.” Vernon held him in one arm. “Who the hell is Roman?”

Charlie choked, not realizing he had actually called his name out loud. “Uh. Who?”

Butch folded his arms over his chest. “Yeah, Charlie. Who’s Roman? That your new dog who’s terrorizing everything?”

“I don’t have a new dog.” Charlie tried to see out into the darkness. “Why don’t you let me check on the horses and do my job?” When Butch just stared at him, Charlie said, “Go get Goat and JP. Let’s just make sure the horses are all right, then get them inside for the night. Can you do that, Butch?”

Vernon said, “All right, boys. Calm down. Butch, do as the man says.”

Connie touched her daughters on the shoulders. “Come on. Back inside. There ain’t no one going out on the town tonight. There’s too much insanity going on right now.”

Suzie gave Charlie her puppy-dog eyes but he turned away. He walked into the group of horses to see if anyone of them had been hurt. They were slow to calm down after being frightened. One by one, Charlie led them by the halter to Vernon, who walked them into the barn.

“
Charlie!
”

Charlie ground his jaw and looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was around before meeting up with Roman. “You have any idea the trouble you’re causin’ me?”

“You think I have any control over this bullshit?” Roman shivered, rubbing his arms. “And that stupid dog is the problem. Not me.”

“You’re not the one killin’ them deer up the mountain, are you?” Charlie could see Vernon walking closer to get another horse to inspect in the light. “Go wait at my cabin. I got to check all these horses out and get them in the stables.”

“They’re fine. I didn’t touch them.”

“Go.”

Charlie brought another two horses over to Vernon, seeing the other three men coming over to help out. “Boss, none of them are hurt. Harley just shook ‘em up.”

“No harm in making sure. And they’re used to Harley’s antics. No. The dog had something.”

He took another two horses by the halter and walked them to the barn.

JP asked, “What’s the plan, Charlie?”

“Just look ‘em over in the light. Make sure they didn’t hurt themselves. Then put them in their stalls for the night.”

JP and Goat immediately complied. Butch asked, “Who’s Roman?”

“There ain’t no Roman. Now go help out before I get mad.”

Butch entered the enclosed area and walked two more horses out. Charlie rubbed his face in frustration. He had no idea what to do about Roman.

~

Roman paced inside Charlie’s cabin. He felt pent up and caged. Dragging his fingers through his hair, he clenched his teeth, Roman didn’t want to mess up Charlie’s life. But he needed help.

And Charlie was the one to help him. He just felt it in his gut.

Roman looked down at his hands. He was filthy. Something he was getting used to. It had never been that way. He was a well groomed man before this happened to him. Figuring Charlie was going to be a while checking out a herd of horses that size, he stood in front of the bathroom mirror and stared at himself. It wasn’t often he could see his reflection anymore. He didn’t exactly live in his city apartment any longer.

He rubbed his hands over the scruffy black stubble on his jaw and looked at his teeth. “Fuck!”

He looked like a wild animal more every day. He reached into the tub, turning on the shower.

When was the last time he’d had a hot scrub down? Cold water dipping into streams and lakes, yes. That was his new bath time. Not fun. No. Not fun at all.

He stepped under the running water, moaning in pleasure. Using Charlie’s soap and shampoo, he washed himself over and over, as if he could rinse off the curse he was saddled with. He leaned both hands on the shower wall, letting the hot water run over him, knowing a hot scrub wasn’t going to happen often. His cock became hard and a shiver washed up his spine. “No.” He shut the water, standing still, dripping. “No!”

The first place he felt it was his teeth. Always his teeth. Then his cock. He stepped out of the tub and wiped the steam off the mirror, inspecting his mouth. His canines grew longer. Through the misty fog of the hot steam, a figure appeared in the mirror behind him. A hideous red mask of a painted woman. “It wasn’t me!” Roman spun around to nothing. He screamed into the echoing wet room, “I wasn’t the one who arranged the search. Why me? Why do this to me?”

He covered his face and slid down a wall to the corner, shivering and knowing he could not battle this curse that was sent upon him. He simply didn’t know how.

~

It was late and he was dead on his feet. Charlie had had intentions of going out to check the fence line but not after having to inspect sixty-five horses.

He opened his cabin door, taking off his coat and hat. “Roman? You here or did you fly out the door again?” He poked his head into the bedroom and noticed a light coming from under the bathroom door. “You all right?”

A low growl followed by scratching of wood alerted Charlie, Roman was not all right. He walked up to the door and put his ear against it. “Why? Why, Roman? How am I supposed to deal with this? I know what you are in there.” He heard snuffling and could see a shadow move past the bottom of the door.

“Great. Now I got a wolf the size of God-fucking-zilla in my bathroom.” He threw his coat and hat down in anger. “What do I do to change you back, Roman? Tell me. I don’t get this.” Charlie sat on the opposite side of the door, leaning his head against it. “I’m tired, babe. So tired. I don’t know why you came to me. I don’t know nuthin’ about nuthin’. I’m just a simple cowboy from Utah.”

The snuffling noises changed to something more human-like. Still, Charlie was not about to open the door. “All I want to do is take a piss and wash up. And I can’t do that with a timber wolf in my bathroom.” Charlie laughed sadly at the absurdity of his own comment. “Man, I am truly cracking myself up. And not in a good way, mind you.”

“Charlie.”

“Thank fuck.” He stood and opened the door, peering in. Roman was on the floor curled up in a ball, looking like he was crying.

Charlie knelt down and brought Roman into his embrace, sitting with him. He sniffed his hair and through the shampoo scent he caught that musky smell he was beginning to understand.

“Unreal. You smell like a wet dog. I kept trying to figure out why that smelled familiar.”

“Great. What a turn on.” Roman held Charlie close.

“You going to tell me what the hell all this is about?”

“I need to tell someone. I can’t deal with this alone.”

“If I get you out of here and on my bed, will I be fighting a wolf?”

Roman blinked, his green eyes so painfully lost, Charlie melted. He caressed Roman’s black hair, petting it away from his forehead.

“I can’t control it. I mean, I can a little, but not really.”

“Well, ain’t that a comfort.” Charlie shook his head. “Come on then. I have to take my chances.” He stood, taking Roman with him. “Let me wash up. Okay?”

“Yes.” Roman made his way to the bed, slightly unsteady on his feet.

Charlie shut the door to urinate and get ready in private. He looked at himself in the mirror and noticed he was filthy from the night’s work. He stripped off his clothing and stepped into the shower. Giving himself a quick wash, he filled the room with steam. Charlie then dried himself off and caught something strange in the mirror’s reflection. He jumped back and looked behind him. Nothing was there. He wiped the mirror off and shouted out in fear before he could prevent it.

Roman rushed in. “What happened?”

Charlie wasn’t sure he knew. He pointed to the mirror and couldn’t believe what he had seen.

As if he understood, Roman deflated. “Great.” He scuffed his heels to the bed.

Charlie gave the mirror a last look, shut the light and joined Roman on the bed. “I don’t even want to ask you to start at the beginning. I know it’s a long tale.”