Laura was numbed with terror. The shadows
had created the illusion that he was half-man and half-wolf.
His long hooked nose, the snout—his blanket became his pelt.
99
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
She now saw that he was just an old man, much like her
grandfather. Laura laughed at her own foolishness.
Justin didn't seem at all surprised by the man's
appearance. "Hello, Uncle." He nodded to the old man.
The man spoke to Justin in a language that Laura had
never heard before, but she thought it sounded very similar
to the Lakota dialect.
Justin turned to Laura. "This is my Uncle Arch." He
introduced the older man.
Arch's smile was nearly toothless.
"Hello." Laura acknowledged him.
"I was told you were like a wildflower in spring, but he lied,
you are even more beautiful."
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she felt a little
overwhelmed. Never before had she received a compliment
with quite so much flair. "Thank you," she stammered.
The old man motioned to Justin. "My nephew has told me
much about you."
Laura glanced at Justin in astonishment. Had he actually
thought enough about her to talk of her to his family?
"My uncle has suggested that I invite you to our festival
tomorrow night. It's the night we celebrate the Wolf Dance, or
as the old ones call it—the Dance of Wolves. I think you
would find it interesting."
Laura didn't recall a dance by this name, but she reminded
herself of the fact that she really knew nothing of the
Sungmanitu culture.
"I think I'd like that very much. Thank you for asking."
100
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Strangely enough, Justin seemed troubled by her
acceptance of his invitation. This man seemed to be a mass of
contradictions. His deep desire for her was apparent, but at
the same time—he appeared determined to keep her on the
outskirts of his life, and heart.
Laura felt sure that his aloofness must have something to
do with what happened to his parents. He was making sure it
never happened to him.
After Laura bid his uncle goodbye, Justin walked her back
to her truck. Thanking him once again, she left.
That night, Justin's mysterious eyes invaded her dreams—
calling out to her with a hunger that she could not begin to
understand.
* * * *
[Back to Table of Contents]
101
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Chapter Eight
Laura was surprised to see the sheriff's car sitting outside
her cabin. Moss was out of the car even before she had a
chance to turn off the engine. He stood next to the Bronco,
waiting for Laura to join him.
"Miss Ellison ... I was beginning to think that you might
have disappeared on us too."
"I'm sorry if you had to wait long. I was up at Beaver
Creek."
He gave her a strange look. "Those people are not real
open to outsiders. I'm surprised they would even talk to you
... considering what company you represent and all."
Laura shrugged her shoulders. Some sixth sense warned
her to hold her tongue where it concerned her relationship
with Justin.
"What can I do for you, sheriff?" Laura asked as she
unlocked her front door. Moss followed her in.
"We found your missing man this morning," he informed
her.
The darkness inside made it necessary for her to turn on a
lamp. "Where did you find him?"
"In a pond, near where you found his briefcase. His body
was discovered by a fisherman visiting from Montana."
Laura froze. This didn't sound good at all.
"The body had been half-eaten by some kind of animal,
but we won't know the exact cause of death until we get the
coroner's report."
102
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Laura shook her head, as if it might help to clear away
some of her confusion. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, but after finding that body we decided to
drag the pond. We found another body and it turned out to be
another of your missing employees."
Laura felt her knees grow weak
had created the illusion that he was half-man and half-wolf.
His long hooked nose, the snout—his blanket became his pelt.
99
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
She now saw that he was just an old man, much like her
grandfather. Laura laughed at her own foolishness.
Justin didn't seem at all surprised by the man's
appearance. "Hello, Uncle." He nodded to the old man.
The man spoke to Justin in a language that Laura had
never heard before, but she thought it sounded very similar
to the Lakota dialect.
Justin turned to Laura. "This is my Uncle Arch." He
introduced the older man.
Arch's smile was nearly toothless.
"Hello." Laura acknowledged him.
"I was told you were like a wildflower in spring, but he lied,
you are even more beautiful."
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she felt a little
overwhelmed. Never before had she received a compliment
with quite so much flair. "Thank you," she stammered.
The old man motioned to Justin. "My nephew has told me
much about you."
Laura glanced at Justin in astonishment. Had he actually
thought enough about her to talk of her to his family?
"My uncle has suggested that I invite you to our festival
tomorrow night. It's the night we celebrate the Wolf Dance, or
as the old ones call it—the Dance of Wolves. I think you
would find it interesting."
Laura didn't recall a dance by this name, but she reminded
herself of the fact that she really knew nothing of the
Sungmanitu culture.
"I think I'd like that very much. Thank you for asking."
100
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Strangely enough, Justin seemed troubled by her
acceptance of his invitation. This man seemed to be a mass of
contradictions. His deep desire for her was apparent, but at
the same time—he appeared determined to keep her on the
outskirts of his life, and heart.
Laura felt sure that his aloofness must have something to
do with what happened to his parents. He was making sure it
never happened to him.
After Laura bid his uncle goodbye, Justin walked her back
to her truck. Thanking him once again, she left.
That night, Justin's mysterious eyes invaded her dreams—
calling out to her with a hunger that she could not begin to
understand.
* * * *
[Back to Table of Contents]
101
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Chapter Eight
Laura was surprised to see the sheriff's car sitting outside
her cabin. Moss was out of the car even before she had a
chance to turn off the engine. He stood next to the Bronco,
waiting for Laura to join him.
"Miss Ellison ... I was beginning to think that you might
have disappeared on us too."
"I'm sorry if you had to wait long. I was up at Beaver
Creek."
He gave her a strange look. "Those people are not real
open to outsiders. I'm surprised they would even talk to you
... considering what company you represent and all."
Laura shrugged her shoulders. Some sixth sense warned
her to hold her tongue where it concerned her relationship
with Justin.
"What can I do for you, sheriff?" Laura asked as she
unlocked her front door. Moss followed her in.
"We found your missing man this morning," he informed
her.
The darkness inside made it necessary for her to turn on a
lamp. "Where did you find him?"
"In a pond, near where you found his briefcase. His body
was discovered by a fisherman visiting from Montana."
Laura froze. This didn't sound good at all.
"The body had been half-eaten by some kind of animal,
but we won't know the exact cause of death until we get the
coroner's report."
102
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Laura shook her head, as if it might help to clear away
some of her confusion. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, but after finding that body we decided to
drag the pond. We found another body and it turned out to be
another of your missing employees."
Laura felt her knees grow weak
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