Canyon Wolf Bride Page 24

  “What are you saying, Earl?”

  “I held the rifle to him. He tried to intimidate me, to scare me off. I could have killed him. He had no choice.”

  “No choice?”

  “He changed back into a man. Before my very eyes.”

  Joe stood, his eyes round balls of blue as he snatched up the photo of the alpha wolf again.

  “You think the ski champion is the alpha wolf?”

  “I’m certain of it. He moved here right after my heart attack. They broke their engagement off. Paige was there. She knows now. I think she broke it off when she found out about the wolf.”

  “Remember the John Doe with the wolf arm?”

  “That’s what I keep thinking about,” Earl said.

  “We saw them all one night. We saw an entire tribe of Indian males turn into wolves.”

  “You and who else.”

  “Bill Mattingly. He had to go home. His wife’s father died. He’ll be back in two days. But we both saw it and neither of us believed it. We need a blood sample.”

  Earl paced the room and checked the window again, then the peep hole.

  “Don’t worry, Earl. I don’t think they’ll come after us,” Joe said seriously.

  “How do you know?”

  “Oh, they seem to do fine. They managed to slaughter an entire herd of big horn sheep in one night. I don’t think humans are on the menu.”

  “My daughter was going to marry one of these monsters!”

  “Did you think he was a monster before you found out?”

  “Uh, no. I thought he was a fine young man. He made our country proud. I couldn’t have been happier for my daughter.”

  “He’s not a monster. The Havasupai have existed for hundreds of years in the canyon. They’ve thrived here. They possess another gene. An undiscovered gene, that’s all.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Yes,” Joe said as stared at a photo of the alpha wolf.

  “I would like you to introduce me to your future son-in-law.”

  “The engagement is off and for good reasons.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Earl. These things have a way of working themselves out.”

  “I’m not sure I even want to expose these people now.”

  “Are you crazy? It would be the scientific discovery of the millennium!”

  “For what? Just so millions can know and come gawk at them and ruin their way of life?”

  Earl shook his head. He didn’t have an answer.

  “Do you really want to discover the Sasquatch or is it the mystery that intrigues you?”

  “I never thought of that.”

  “What if you knew for sure. Would you keep that information to yourself or spill it out to the public? Both of us believe the Sasquatch exist and have existed for hundreds and possibly thousands of years. Would you really want to see them hunted? Their elusiveness has kept them alive. Would you want to help extinguish them?”

  “No, of course not.”

  Joe reached into his ice chest and grabbed a beer. “Want one?”

  “Sure.” Joe tossed a frosty can to Earl.

  Water droplets flew through the air before he caught it. He popped the top and listened to the fizz. Maybe Joe had a point. No, he was sure of it. Now he had a lot of thinking to do and suddenly he wanted to see his youngest daughter. The angelic faces of Meg’s girls flashed through his mind. He loved his granddaughters more than life. What would his grandchildren from Sean be like. Baby wolves? Maybe it wasn’t his decision to make. Maybe they wouldn’t carry the gene at all.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and combed through hundreds of photos of wolves. Wolves in circles, wolves in a procession, wolves during a kill, wolves eating bloodied, mangled flesh. One photo in particular caught his eye. It was of the alpha wolf. A close up of his face, seemingly looking into the lens with those fierce, intelligent cobalt eyes, daring someone, anyone. At that moment he was positive that he looked into the eyes of Sean Wilson. He had seen those eyes before. How disturbing it was to look into the eyes of a wild animal and see a man lurking beneath them. An intelligent, fierce and compassionate form of life that just so happened to be in love with his own little girl.

  Chapter 11

  White Feather sat on his front porch in an old wooden rocking chair he had whittled into shape years ago. His sandy boots were perched on an old tree stump that he unearthed in his own back yard. He packed fresh apple tobacco down into his pipe, the moist pressed leaves squished softly into place by his thumb. He lit it and it caught, letting off an aromatic apple-filled smoke puff into the night air. An owl took flight from the tree nearest to the house and he squinted at it, taking it as another sign. The time had come. He scratched at his white beard and began to rock. Sean was trotting by on his horse. They waved at one another as the sun began to set. White Feather inhaled deeply and puffed again. Sean could smell the familiar pipe smoke that he had come to associate with the old witch doctor.

  He watched Sean ride out of sight and guessed he was on his way home. It wouldn’t be long now, the woman was on her way. White Feather knew her father was already here, but it would do no good to tell the leader of the pack. His omen would mean nothing. It would happen regardless. These were the times White Feather felt the loneliest. His gift was sometimes a curse. He decided to tell no one and had made his peace with it days ago. Tonight would be a long one and harmony would be many moons away for the Havasupai.

  Sean was tying his horse to the post when he heard the explosion. He looked toward the east and saw the fireball rise. He could see a tree on fire on the canyon ridge. Untying his horse, he remounted him within seconds and took off in a full gallop, spanking his horse on the rump, racing toward the unknown disaster in the distance. Locals and tourists alike raced down the dusty road, some on foot, some on horses.

  Sean smelled jet fuel and noted the thick black smoke. He winced as he thought of Sam’s leathery face. Sean had even had him over for dinner one evening. Sam had flown hundreds of tribesmen and tourists into the canyon in his helicopter. He was also a transplant from Colorado and loved to snow ski. The two of them had become fast friends. Sam also knew about the wolf gene. One of the few in the outside world who respected the Havasupai and their way of life. Sean couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to his friend.

  His horse snorted in the polluted air. The deep canyon held the smoke from the wreckage like a smoking cigarette within a mason jar. The smoke filled his lungs. He covered his mouth with a bandana. As he neared the wreckage he saw a figure crawling out the side of the chopper. Jumping off his horse and tying him to a tree over the creek, he made his way toward the billowing smoke, gasping and coughing for air. He tied the bandana around his face leaving only his eyes exposed. Thank God. It was Sam. He recognized him from his limp. Sam was calling out for help and apparently going back inside the helicopter for something or someone else.

  “How many passengers inside?” Sean asked as he approached.

  Sam spun around and looked as though he’d seen a ghost. He ignored Sean and ducked his head back inside after someone had given him a wet towel to cover his face.

  “Hey, leave your gear. It’s not worth it. This thing could blow,” Sean hollered into the cockpit. He looked inside, but could see nothing but black smoke. Where was Sam? Suddenly he saw his back and he appeared to be dragging someone out. Sean climbed in to help. It was a woman. She was wearing tiny sneakers. Her body was covered in soot.

  “Take her out, there’s one more in the back,” Sam said.

  Sean carried the woman like a baby doll and walked her over to the creek, where the smoke was thinner. Villagers and tourists staying at the lodge began milling around, carrying buckets of water to the wreckage. Blue Flower appeared from no where with towels and blankets. Sean laid the woman beside the creek and felt for a pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief. She was breathing, but her breath was very shallow. One side of her body was badly burned and there was a gash near her
temple. Dark blood trickled down her face marking a line through the blackness covering her face. Blue Flower handed him a towel. He dipped it in the cooled waters of the creek, dabbing at the blood, removing a bit of the soot from her face. He gasped.

  “Oh my God! Paige!”

  Blue Flower screamed and fainted beside the woman, striking her head on a large rock. Sean began calling for help and more people came running. Suddenly he was angry at Paige for coming, but more angry at himself for not bringing her here sooner. None of the past mattered now. She was back in his life just like that and all he wanted was for her to live. He listened for her heartbeat and heard it faintly through her thin blouse.

  More and more people crowded around as another body was carried to the stream and laid beside Blue Flower who was still out cold. Sean began performing CPR on Paige when he glanced at the lifeless, half burnt body beside him. He could tell it was a man only by his size. As he came up to take another breath to breathe into Paige, he moaned in agony. He recognized the man’s boots. Coming Wind lay beside him. He was sure of it. Corn Flower was tending to Blue Flower and everyone seemed to be screaming. Corn Flower took her brother’s hand and began chanting in Indian. The village was in a state of shock and chaos as people poured out of the lodge. Two men knelt beside Sean and asked what they could do to help. Sean recognized a voice as Paige’s eyelids began to flutter open. She looked at Sean and then the man standing over her.

  “Daddy?”

  “Baby? My God!”

  Sean’s head snapped up and their eyes met. Both of them knew what the other knew, but it didn’t matter now.

  “We have to get her to the nearest hospital,” Earl said kneeling beside her and taking her hand.

  “Honey, can you move? Are you hurting badly?” Sean asked.

  “My left leg really hurts and my head is killing me.”

  Blue Flower had come to and was hysterical beside Coming Wind. He was already gone. He had been burnt terribly. Sean knew he was dead.

  “Let’s get her inside. I have to help Blue Flower,” Sean explained to Earl.

  Earl nodded and lifted his daughter, taking her inside the lodge and laying her on his bed. She had lost consciousness on the way and Earl was checking for a pulse while Joe was getting wet towels. Besides her burns, her only obvious injury was her head. The denim previously covering her left leg was gone and Earl could smell her flesh. Her thigh was exposed. He could see raw muscle. A sob escaped him as Joe handed him a towel. He cleaned off her face with shaking hands the best he could.

  While she was still out, he wondered what the hell the Indians did during an emergency such as this. He heard another helicopter and within minutes, paramedics rushed into the room. They quickly transferred her to a stretcher and they were back out into the darkness and smoke. Earl and Joe followed them. He looked for Sean in the few seconds it took to reach the waiting Care Flight, but he never saw him. Suddenly they were high above the canyon, leaving the black smoke, the Havasupai and the mysterious wolves behind.

  Paige’s life hung in the balance. Earl held her hand as the paramedics worked feverishly to keep her alive. She had tubes in each arm and they began tending to her burn. He prayed out loud, begging God not to take his baby girl away. When they reached the hospital, she was rushed to surgery. The paramedics had said something about her lungs and the pressure building on her brain. Joe led Earl to the family waiting room where he collapsed in a chair. Joe sat beside him for hours with no word from the doctors. Joe left twice to ask and was told each time that she was still in surgery.

  “You need to call Nan, Earl.” It was the only thing he had said to him since they had arrived.

  Earl looked up with red rimmed eyes. “I don’t want to call her until I have something to tell her.”

  Joe nodded. A few more hours passed and the doctors had finally sent a message out to the family. She was still in surgery and in critical condition. Earl was pacing the room, wringing his hands and staring at the phone in the corner. It was now four o’clock in the morning and his wife still had no idea. He crossed the room and snatched the phone off of its cradle. He dialed a number and sat down, sighing heavily.

  “Meg, this is your father. Put Frank on.”

  “Daddy, what’s wrong?” Meg asked, alarmed.

  “Put Frank on,” he commanded.

  Meg handed Frank the receiver.

  “Hello?”

  “Frank?”

  “Yes, I’m here. What’s wrong?”

  “I need you to drive to my house and get Nan. I want you to fly here on the next flight. Don’t leave her side.”

  “What’s going on, Earl?”

  “It’s Paige. She’s been in a terrible helicopter crash.”

  “Oh, my God! Is she going to be okay?”

  There was a pause and Earl’s throat constricted. “She’s on the edge, son. It could go either way.”

  Earl could hear Meg in the background, nearly hysterical, asking questions and begging to speak to her father. “I want Meg to stay home with the girls,” Earl said.

  “Yes, I think that would be best. I’m leaving now. It will take me a couple of hours to drive there, but we’ll be on the first flight out. Have you called her yet?”

  “No, not yet. I’ve been hoping her condition would improve, but it hasn’t.”

  “Earl, you need to make the call.”

  “Yes, son, I know,” Earl replied, his voice breaking up.

  “Nan is stronger than you think.”

  “I know. I’ll call her soon.”

  “Okay, call me with any news.”

  “I will. And, Frank?”

  “Yes?”

  “Be careful, son and give all three of my girls a kiss.”

  “I will. See you soon. Bye.”

  “Bye.” Earl hung up the receiver and sat with his head in his hands. Joe walked over with a styrofoam cup of coffee.

  “Coffee?”

  Earl looked up. “No thanks. I’m going to call my wife now.”

  “Okay,” Joe replied softly. He left the waiting room so his friend could have some privacy. He walked the halls and found himself in front of the nursery windows. He said a silent prayer for Earl’s daughter as he watched the nurses take care of the newborn babies. He walked outside and lit up a cigarette just as the first light of day was breaking. He sighed as he thought of all that had happened. He made his way back to the waiting room and found Earl sitting quietly in the same spot, his hand still on the phone.

  “You need more time?”

  “No. I spoke to her. She’s packing a bag before Frank arrives.”

  “Is she okay?”

  Earl nodded. “Much better than I expected. She must be in shock.”

  “That’s to be expected. How are you?”

  “I’m okay.”

  “Any more word from the doctors?”

  “No.”

  Sean walked through the door and immediately walked to Earl’s side.

  “How is she?” Sean asked, his face awash with worry.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Earl bellowed.

  Joe stood and came between the two men.

  “My little girl wouldn’t be near death if it weren’t for you,” Earl said pointing a thick finger in Sean’s face.

  Sean looked hurt and tired as he plopped down into the nearest chair.

  “Take it easy, Earl,” Joe said softly.

  “I would have come sooner. Coming Wind is dead.”

  “I’m sorry, son.”

  Sean nodded.

  “Did he have children?”

  “A son.”

  Earl shook his head and let out a big breath. “Any other casualties?” He sounded as though he were taking a count of the war dead and Sean knew it came from his days in Vietnam.

  “No,” he replied emotionless.

  Paige’s life hung in the balance as well as his. He knew he’d never be able to forgive himself if she died.

  Corn Flower told him that Comi
ng Wind had persuaded her to come see him and they were planning on surprising him, but Blue Flower had had no idea that they were on the same flight. Coming Wind was to come the following day, but Paige had asked him to accompany her. She was too scared to face Sean alone.

  Blue Flower had been sedated and was resting now. Sean had told Red Hawk himself and the little boy had taken it like a man, promising to take care of his mama. When he had stuck out his chest like a little warrior, Sean had nearly lost it. He was so proud of him and he knew Coming Wind would have been too.

  Sam was the least hurt of all. He had some secondary burns on his hands and arms. He had lost control of the helicopter on the descent into the canyon. The engine had failed and he tried unsuccessfully for an emergency landing, but the propeller had nicked the canyon wall. He had done all he could and Sean was thankful that he had survived and was able to pull Paige out. The fire fighters had been able to extinguish the fire before the chopper had a chance to blow. The entire tribe was in mourning and funeral arrangements were underway for Coming Wind. Corn Flower and White Feather stayed at Coming Wind’s house.

  He had called the hospital half a dozen times to check on Paige, but there had been no change. All they could tell him was that she was still in surgery and in critical condition. Sean wondered why Earl Wellington was in the canyon and how he couldn’t have known that Paige was on her way there. Was he there to confront him finally? Sean was surprised that he hadn’t shown up before now. In fact, he had expected it for far too long.

  A doctor materialized in the room and all three men stood. “Are any of you family members of Paige Wellington?”

  “I’m her father,” Earl replied in a deep voice.

  Sean had never been more scared in his life. He didn’t want the words to come out of that damn doctor’s mouth. He didn’t even know her.

  “Ms. Wellington is in very bad shape, sir.”

  “How bad?”

  “Her condition is grave. We’ve released pressure on her brain, but the fluid is building up too quickly. We’ve stabilized her leg, but her burns are third degree. If she recovers, she’ll need skin grafts on her entire left leg. We won’t know until later if she’s suffered any brain damage. Her heart stopped once, but we were able to quickly revive her. She’s a fighter.”