Taming His Montana Heart(32)

“What is he, or they, doing here now?” Haley asked. “With so much snow, how are they finding enough to sustain them?”

“That’s a valid question,” Echo said. “Some deer are still around, and there are a number of snowshoe hares. Fishers and martens.”

“Don’t forget the elk,” Kolina added. “One of them will sustain a wolf for a long time.”

As Kolina continued her explanation of wolf behavior and lifestyle, Haley noticed that Shaw was listening intently. She couldn’t be happier that they’d had this shared experience. Even though she appreciated being warm and fed, in some respects she wished the two of them were still in the wilderness.

“I’d give anything to see one,” Echo said.

Shaw nodded. “So would I. And I’m sure Haley feels the same way.”

“I do.” She didn’t care whether the others heard since her admission was meant for him.

“I’m sorry my gun startled you,” he muttered. “I should have said something before I pulled it out.”

“You were armed?” Rey shook his head. “Dumb question on my part. Of course you were.”

Of course you were. In other words, maybe Shaw saw carrying a weapon as an everyday thing. She couldn’t wrap her mind around why he thought as he did or rather how he could be so comfortable with a pistol on him. It was the last thing she’d ever be able to do.





Chapter Eleven




“I like what Echo and Kolina said about how wolves view dogs,” Shaw said after the others had left, and they had the table to themselves. Everyone had been of the same mind. They’d hold off making a public statement about what he and Haley had experienced until forest officials had been informed. When the time was right, Echo would approach the media. She’d downplay the non-encounter and say nothing about his and Haley’s belief that a wolf had watched them.

Haley stirred the chili she’d barely made a dent in. “It was interesting,” she said. “Wolves view domestic dogs as juveniles of their species so there isn’t much chance one would threaten the sled dogs.”

“What if it’s a pair?”

“That’s possible. After all, Kolina and Terron saw two.” The time they’d spent with the others had been good, a group of strong personalities who were comfortable in each other’s presence. Except for his ingrained awareness of his environment, he had been relaxed. He wanted to hold onto the mood—or even better, let it deepen. Let it revolve around Haley and him.

She studied the hand he was using to hold his water glass.

“Wouldn’t it be something if cubs show up in the spring. We could charge to take people out to the den.”

“You wouldn’t really do that.”

“Of course not.”

“No, you wouldn’t. I should have known you were teasing.”

“I don’t do much of that, mostly when I’m with my niece. She brings out my juvenile side.”

“I noticed that.”

“And I’ll need to remember that you’re observant.”

“I guess I am. My brother says there isn’t much I miss when it comes to studying humans.”

“Why is that?”

“Who knows?”

You do. He put a piece of meat in his mouth only to discover it was cold. No wonder since it had been delivered the better part of an hour ago.

“Maybe that’s why you picked up on the wolf’s presence. A case of heightened awareness of your surroundings.”

She stared at him without blinking. “I could say the same about you.”

“Oh?”

“That’s all you’re going to say?” she asked. “You aren’t going to tell me why you’re like that?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Irritated with himself for having said that, he turned his attention to what he could see beyond the closest window.

He didn’t really expect the winter night to understand him but thinking about the snow-covered world out there relaxed him. As long as Haley was with him, he didn’t want to leave.

She got up, walked over to the window, and flattened her hands against the glass. “Think about it.” Her back was to him. “Nature is going about its business all through the forest. Being born. Living. Dying. It doesn’t give a darn about humans. That puts us in our place.”

He wasn’t sure where her comment had come. Right now he didn’t care about the life forms out there. Kolina would be home in a few minutes where Terron was waiting for her. They’d eat their chili, talk about their respective days, go to bed, maybe make love. Rey and Echo might do the same thing.

He was tired of being alone. Tonight, knowing it was better this way didn’t help. Haley Walters whose hair was still flat from her helmet was trying to reach the outdoors from inside. If she succeeded, maybe they’d experience the wilderness together. Smell, touch, and see it.

Understand what the other was thinking and feeling.

Know what the other person needed.

“We are pretty unimportant in the greater scheme of things,” he said. He didn’t care that others might be listening. “If you and I stayed outside all through the next snowstorm, by the time it ended no one would know we’d been there.”