Page 20 of The Wolf I Sworn To Hate

Sean thought about doing the same when Sawyer said something shocking. “I’m thinking about quitting Doctors Without Borders and opening a practice in Angel’s Creek.”

“Would you be happy doing that?”

“I think so. Dakota Higgins made it work when he settled down with Sadie. He hadn’t even been back in Angel’s Creek for thirty years when he decided to hang up his traveling shoes.”

Dakota was a world-famous photographer who focused on endangered and threatened animals. He took pictures of the animals in the wild and wrote captivating books about the animals, their habits, and everything else a person might want to know. He was also featured in several documentaries on one of the nature channels.

Sean nodded. “Well, yes and no. He mostly stays in Angel’s Creek, but every so often he goes on one of his trips and might be gone a month at a time. He hasn’t totally settled down.”

“I think I’m ready. The idea of having a permanent home, with clean running water, good food, and no worries about being overrun by rebels, government agencies, and whoever else might have evil intentions sounds pretty nice. I enjoy helping impoverished people around the world, but I’m ready for home.”

“Are you going to compete with Dr. Carlisle or join forces with him?”

Sawyer laughed. “There’s no competing with him. He’s the finest doctor I’ve ever met and everyone loves him. He wants to retire so he and his wife can buy an RV and travel around the country. We’ve been talking, and I would simply take over his practice. People know me and like me, and once they accept the fact that they can’t have their old favorite doctor back, they’ll settle for me.”

“Settle for doesn’t sound good.” Sean grinned. “I would say that they would accept you with open arms.”

“Yeah, that, too.”

“I would love to have you back in town. I think it’s a great idea.”

William walked back into the room and looked at the three sleeping men and then at Sean and Sawyer. “I hate to ask. I know you guys are exhausted. But is there any way you could check on the main road to see what kind of condition it’s in? The radios are still down so I can’t get through to anyone.”

“Sure. We can do that,” Sean said. “Do you have a couple of large plastic trash bags we can take with us?

William looked at him strangely but nodded. While Sean and Sawyer put on their coat, boots, and other gear, he hurried into the storage closet and returned with the bags.

Sean took them with a smile. “Thanks. We’ll be back.”

The two men headed out toward the main road. Once they were sure they were out of sight, Sean and Sawyer quickly undressed, stuffed their clothes in the trash bags, and shifted.They could move a lot faster in their wolf forms than in human form, although standing naked in forty-below-zero weather, even for a split second, wasn’t fun.

Sean and Sawyer looked down the main road, their heart sinking. In some places, the snow was packed in fifteen feet high drifts. No rescue vehicles would be coming their way soon. It wouldn’t even be safe for snowmobiles because there was no way to tell where the snow might give way. No helicopter or airplane could safely land anywhere.

They looked at each other and shook their heads. Everyone would be stuck together at the resort for a long time.

8

Xyla

Xyla was sitting close to the fire reading a book when the front door of the resort burst open and two versions of the abominable snowmen stumbled in. It had started snowing again. Sean and Sawyer were covered in the cold, white, glistening crystals.

Sawyer pulled off his parka, sending a shower of snow to the floor. “Sorry. We shook off as much as we could outside.”

Sara grimaced. “It’s okay. We can sweep it up. You guys must be frozen to death. You didn’t get a chance to warm up from your day outside shoveling everyone out.”

Sean shivered. “I’m a little chilled.”

Sawyer growled at Sean. “Speak for yourself. I’m pretty sure that my blood has ice crystals on it.”

“What did you find out?” William asked.

“It’s as bad as you thought it might be.” Sean reported what he and Sawyer saw when they surveyed the main road.

“Well, phooey.” William wiped his hand across his brow as though he was sweating. “The bad news is that not only are the cell phones not working, but I still can’t get through to anyone on the CB or the walkies we use.”

Everyone looked at each other fearfully.

William held up his hand and continued talking. “The good news is that the rangers know we’re here and will send help as soon as they can. Plus, we have enough food to keep everyone fed for a couple of weeks. We have a big gas tank for the generators, so we should be good there, although we will conserve as much as we can. We’ll be alright as long as everyone gets along.”

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