and she lowered herself to
a chair. To think that she had gone swimming in that very
same water—she was sickened.
"Who could have done this?"
"As I have told you before, I have a hunch that someone in
Beaver Creek is responsible for this. It just seems funny to
me that most of the locals around here are terrified of those
Indians—though they have never been anything but peaceful.
At least that's what's in the official records.
"We also have to consider the fact that so far, it has only
been Duccini people that have become victims," he added.
"But ... I have met a couple of them, and they seem like
normal, levelheaded people. Of course, there is some friction
due to the cutting, but nothing that you wouldn't expect,"
Laura defended them.
"To tell you the truth Miss Ellison, I think it would be best
if you stayed away from Beaver Creek all together ... at least
until we find out who's behind this."
Laura almost mentioned to him that she had been invited
to Beaver Creek tomorrow night, but thought better of it. "I
was just going to fix me a bite to eat. Would you like to join
me?"
He nodded and followed her into the kitchen. They made
small talk while she put together a hasty dinner of cold cuts
103
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
and iced tea. Laura wasn't comfortable with the sheriff's
presence at the moment, but it was the way of her people to
always offer refreshments to visitors.
Mustering enough courage, Laura put voice to something
that had been nagging at her. "Are there any suspects, or is it
just Beaver Creek in general?"
Their eyes met, and in his eyes she could see the hard
glint of determination. "Yes and no. I think their new chief
has a lot to do with this. I've had to lock him up a few times
for fighting in town, and I can tell you this ... he is one vicious
Indian. But we have no hard evidence against him ... yet."
"When I checked, there didn't seem to be a new chief,"
Laura told him.
He shook his head. "No, with these people—when a chief
dies the son automatically takes his place. If he declines ...
they would elect a new one. So even if old Gray Eagle isn't
officially dead, Justin would be the new chief, even if it were
just temporarily."
Laura was stricken, her faced drained of color. All this time
she had been talking to the new chief, and he had not seen fit
to let her know this. Was she that unimportant, or was he
indeed hiding something as the sheriff suspected?
Moss eyed her curiously. "Are you all right?"
Laura forced herself to act normally. "Yes, it's just a little
frightening to think we have a murderer running loose, but
didn't you say it could have been an animal?"
He rose to leave: "Yes, it could have been, but I doubt an
animal would hide the body in the pond. Like I said ... just be
careful and trust no one. You might even ask your boss about
104
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
staying at the office instead of all the way out here by
yourself."
"That is a thought," she told him as they were walking to
the door.
"Thank you for supper. It was really good."
"You're welcome." She offered her hand and he brought it
to his lips kissing it lightly.
Laura forced a smile. "Goodbye, Sheriff. Please let us know
if anything comes up."
"Will do, and you take care of yourself," he told her before
turning away. Laura closed the door and rested her head
against the cold, hard wood. She shut her eyes hoping to still
the pounding in her temples. Dread crawled over her when
she thought of the rapidly descending darkness.
Paul Moss fumbled with his car keys, his thoughts full of
images of Laura lying beneath him. The others wanted her
though, and they would never allow him to touch her. But
maybe he could find a way to have some fun with her before
delivering Laura into their hands.
He was to receive payment on delivery. They were paying
more than enough money, but he would be long
a chair. To think that she had gone swimming in that very
same water—she was sickened.
"Who could have done this?"
"As I have told you before, I have a hunch that someone in
Beaver Creek is responsible for this. It just seems funny to
me that most of the locals around here are terrified of those
Indians—though they have never been anything but peaceful.
At least that's what's in the official records.
"We also have to consider the fact that so far, it has only
been Duccini people that have become victims," he added.
"But ... I have met a couple of them, and they seem like
normal, levelheaded people. Of course, there is some friction
due to the cutting, but nothing that you wouldn't expect,"
Laura defended them.
"To tell you the truth Miss Ellison, I think it would be best
if you stayed away from Beaver Creek all together ... at least
until we find out who's behind this."
Laura almost mentioned to him that she had been invited
to Beaver Creek tomorrow night, but thought better of it. "I
was just going to fix me a bite to eat. Would you like to join
me?"
He nodded and followed her into the kitchen. They made
small talk while she put together a hasty dinner of cold cuts
103
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
and iced tea. Laura wasn't comfortable with the sheriff's
presence at the moment, but it was the way of her people to
always offer refreshments to visitors.
Mustering enough courage, Laura put voice to something
that had been nagging at her. "Are there any suspects, or is it
just Beaver Creek in general?"
Their eyes met, and in his eyes she could see the hard
glint of determination. "Yes and no. I think their new chief
has a lot to do with this. I've had to lock him up a few times
for fighting in town, and I can tell you this ... he is one vicious
Indian. But we have no hard evidence against him ... yet."
"When I checked, there didn't seem to be a new chief,"
Laura told him.
He shook his head. "No, with these people—when a chief
dies the son automatically takes his place. If he declines ...
they would elect a new one. So even if old Gray Eagle isn't
officially dead, Justin would be the new chief, even if it were
just temporarily."
Laura was stricken, her faced drained of color. All this time
she had been talking to the new chief, and he had not seen fit
to let her know this. Was she that unimportant, or was he
indeed hiding something as the sheriff suspected?
Moss eyed her curiously. "Are you all right?"
Laura forced herself to act normally. "Yes, it's just a little
frightening to think we have a murderer running loose, but
didn't you say it could have been an animal?"
He rose to leave: "Yes, it could have been, but I doubt an
animal would hide the body in the pond. Like I said ... just be
careful and trust no one. You might even ask your boss about
104
Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
staying at the office instead of all the way out here by
yourself."
"That is a thought," she told him as they were walking to
the door.
"Thank you for supper. It was really good."
"You're welcome." She offered her hand and he brought it
to his lips kissing it lightly.
Laura forced a smile. "Goodbye, Sheriff. Please let us know
if anything comes up."
"Will do, and you take care of yourself," he told her before
turning away. Laura closed the door and rested her head
against the cold, hard wood. She shut her eyes hoping to still
the pounding in her temples. Dread crawled over her when
she thought of the rapidly descending darkness.
Paul Moss fumbled with his car keys, his thoughts full of
images of Laura lying beneath him. The others wanted her
though, and they would never allow him to touch her. But
maybe he could find a way to have some fun with her before
delivering Laura into their hands.
He was to receive payment on delivery. They were paying
more than enough money, but he would be long
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