Page 41 of Wolf's Chance

I never mentioned it when her stride got shorter or the fact that she was slowing down. I merely adjusted my own pace to match hers. If she noticed, she said nothing. I was lost in my thoughts when she spoke, surprising me.

“I went to school in Boulder.”

“Colorado?”

“Yes.”

“Nice.” It was a town I was familiar with. “The Flatirons are a good hike.”

“So I’m led to believe.”

“You’ve never hiked?” She shook her head. “You told me before you’ve had your illness since you were sixteen?”

“No, I got sick when I was sixteen; I developed ME after that.”

“Mono?” I tried not to laugh. “I forgot you said that.”

“I caught an infection. I hadn’t kissed anyone,” she snapped at me, causing me to grin at the scowl she sent my way.

“What age were you when you first kissed?” I had no idea why I asked it, but she was so adamant the other night about not being a virgin, and now she was telling me she caught mono fromnotkissing, I couldn’t help but poke the bear.

“That has nothing to do with you.”

“I know. Humor me, I’m bored.”

“It’s not my job to humor you.” Willow glowered at me once more. “If anything, I think I give you too much amusement as it is.”

I wisely said nothing.

We finally arrived at Main Street, and I was as relieved as she was. Willow was perspiring, her breathing was forced, and I felt like a dick for making her walk back here tonight. Inside, she pointed to one of the stools, and I nodded as she made her way to it.

“You have water in that fridge in the back?” She nodded and I went and got her a bottle of water. I hovered while she gulped it down, watching her hold the bottle to her forehead. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve been trying to increase my exercise, but it’s been a day.”

“Am I affecting you?”

Her eyes were closed as she cooled herself down, but I saw the twitch of a smile. “You are, but not in the way you mean.”

I looked away from her, and the first paintingthat caught my eye was hanging prime center of her gallery. Moving closer, I took in the waterfall, the pool below it, and the rocks that were large enough to lie out on nearby. Her attention to detail was to be commended, but it didn’t stop the fury that rode through my veins as I looked upon this sacred haven.

“The wolf,” she spoke from behind me, “it was sitting beside those large slabs of rock.”

I nodded. I wanted to reach out and touch the water, it looked so inviting.

“I tried to place it in the scene, but it didn’t fit.”

“Because he doesn’t belong there,” I murmured. “He hasn’t belonged there for a very long time.”

“He?”

Turning, I hadn’t been aware that she had moved, and she was behind me, within hearing distance. I’d been so caught up in the memories I never heard her moving. That was careless.

“You know this place?” she asked me curiously.

“I do. You need to stop painting.”

Willow’s eyes went from interested to outraged in seconds. “Why?”

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