Longarm and the Cry of the Wolf (9781101619506) (13 page)

“Wait,” Catherine said, turning to Longarm. “What about Zeena?”

“Calvin's woman. He brought her into it because he needed someone with the blood of the original settlers from the Old Country to help keep the others convinced that the legend was true. To help spook 'em, most likely, during every full moon.”

And Kansas Pete was part of it, too, Longarm thought. Calvin had brought him into it because ole Pete was a damn good Curly Wolf and would be a good hand—not to mention a gun hand—when it came to mining the gold and getting it safely out of Crazy Kate. Zeena's story about her and Pete had most likely been hogwash. When Pete had failed to turn Longarm toe-down, Calvin had given her the assignment to get the federal badge toter out of their way before Longarm discovered their secret.

Longarm plucked the torch out of its bracket and drew a long sigh.

“It's been a long, terrible night,” the general said, sober now. “I've lost many friends. I think I'll go to bed.” He kissed his daughter on the cheek.

“We best get you over to the doctor, Father.”

“In the morning, my dear. I'll be fine till morning. Unless I change into a werewolf,” the old soldier chuckled as he climbed the ladder through the hole.

Catherine sighed and turned to Longarm. “What an awful thing Calvin has done. Will he be tried here?”

“Tried and convicted and hanged, most likely.” Longarm placed his hand on the girl's back and ushered her toward the ladder. “I best fetch the doc for Calvin. Wouldn't want him to die and cheat the hangman. And then I could use a drink.”

Upstairs, he closed the trapdoor and checked on Calvin, who slept restively, groaning and muttering. Longarm bit out a curse at the man and then followed Catherine back out into the cold night. He doused the torch in the dirt of the street.

“What about your prisoner?” Catherine said as a gust of wind blew her hair, making it shine like gold in the light of the westering moon.

“I'll hunt him down tomorrow. He won't be hard to track.”

“Hope he's not a werewolf,” Catherine said. From the way she stared up at him, brushing strands of hair from her face with her fingers, he couldn't tell if she was serious.

He chuckled as he walked away to fetch the doctor for Calvin and the Leonards.

•   •   •

Longarm was pumping away between Catherine's spread legs, when the wolf from the north ridge howled.

It was followed by another, similar howl from somewhere to the south.

Longarm stopped pumping. Catherine stopped moaning and writhing. She stared up at him, eyes startled. They both turned to the near window, through which weakening, pearl light angled.

The howling continued. Both wolves howled as though calling to each other, answering each other's plaintive, menacing wails.

Catherine opened her mouth to speak, but Longarm pressed two fingers to her rich, moist lips. “Don't even say it.”

He continued making love to the girl.

But with slightly less vigor than before.

Watch for

LONGARM AND “KID” BODIE

the 413
^th
novel in the exciting LONGARM series from Jove

Coming in April!