Read Online Men of Alaska 2: Sterling Sunshine by Cheryl Dragon - Free Book Online
Authors: Cheryl Dragon
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spotted the big gray wolf.
“Get her to the ambulance.” The officer fired off a warning shot.
The wolf growled and stood its ground.
“What the hell?” Gretchen said.
Tony and Tiff moved the patient and loaded her into the ambulance.
“Go on,” the officer said.
“Is there a pack?” She looked around as fear made her feet feel like lead. She tried to move but couldn’t.
Tony walked up and pulled her away. Finally she could move and piled into the front seat pressed to Tony.
Another shot went off and she shivered. They weren’t driving away. She looked at Tony, then out the window. The officer gave them a thumbs-up, and Tiff hit the lights and sirens.
After they stopped at the medical center, Tony and Tiff were talking. Gretchen felt like she failed a basic Alaskan test. But shouldn’t the wolf have run at the gunshot?
“We’re going to have Ross come and pick you up. You’re shaken up. You won’t get anything from the rest of the day,” Tony said.
“Sorry. Guess maybe I’m not like most Alaskan girls around here. I just couldn’t stop looking at it.” She tried to shake off the feel of those predator’s eyes on her.
“The police officer was right there. I’ve got a gun. Tony has a gun. No reason to panic,” Tiff said.
“You carry a gun?” she asked him.
“It’s Alaska. Assume that everyone is carrying a gun. A bear can turn up in your yard or you find a lone wolf on a hike. That wolf could’ve been overly aggressive because it’s injured or protecting pups. You never know what you’re walking up on. Good thing you’ve got three men to protect you.” Tiff walked away.
“Be nice,” Tony shot at his partner.
“She’s right. I choked and could’ve made it worse. All I had to do was walk away.” Gretchen shrugged.
Tony hugged her. “Most wolves would’ve run at the shot. This one might be educated to people and testing us. Some animals learn that a shot means hunters, and there might be something to go scavenge. Animals are smarter than we give them credit for. Lone wolves can be a little more aggressive when they’re trying to build their own pack. But he didn’t look right and they’ll take the body to the vet so he gets checked out.”
“He’s dead?” she asked.
“Yes, a wolf that’s sick or that aggressive this close to town is a danger. The officer probably put it down so it’s not our problem. We didn’t hear any pups. It could’ve been wounded after being attacked by another predator. It happens. Ross is better at talking about this stuff but we don’t get a lot of wolves around here.” Tony sighed.
“Why?” she asked.
“He’s part Native. It’s part of a natural cycle, and he explains it better. Using all the animal, taking what you need, and honoring animals. I deal with emergencies. I don’t overthink. Blood attracts predators so we have to be quick and on guard when you’re in the wilderness. If I had to shoot it, I would’ve. That’s a big animal and it can rip you to shreds in minutes. If you get surrounded by a pack, you better have a lot of ammo and be a quick shot. I know Michigan has wolves and bears, but I bet you don’t run into them daily.” Tony grinned.
“I lived in the city. The odd wolf report, but police and animal control went after them. You can go camping or into the woods to see bears. I know the drill. Keep garbage inside and tight lids when it’s out for pickup. But carrying a gun everywhere?” Her hands shook. “Can we go to Ross’s now? I want to get out of your way.”
“He’s coming to get you.” Tony nodded. “There he is now. And he has a gun as well. You’re not in any danger.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I’m sorry I freaked out.”
“You didn’t. It was your first wildlife encounter with something that could kill you. Honest reaction. If you want to stay, it won’t be the last time you spot a wolf.” Tony kissed her forehead.
“Tony, we got a call. Cuddle later,” Tiff shouted
Gretchen
“Get her to the ambulance.” The officer fired off a warning shot.
The wolf growled and stood its ground.
“What the hell?” Gretchen said.
Tony and Tiff moved the patient and loaded her into the ambulance.
“Go on,” the officer said.
“Is there a pack?” She looked around as fear made her feet feel like lead. She tried to move but couldn’t.
Tony walked up and pulled her away. Finally she could move and piled into the front seat pressed to Tony.
Another shot went off and she shivered. They weren’t driving away. She looked at Tony, then out the window. The officer gave them a thumbs-up, and Tiff hit the lights and sirens.
After they stopped at the medical center, Tony and Tiff were talking. Gretchen felt like she failed a basic Alaskan test. But shouldn’t the wolf have run at the gunshot?
“We’re going to have Ross come and pick you up. You’re shaken up. You won’t get anything from the rest of the day,” Tony said.
“Sorry. Guess maybe I’m not like most Alaskan girls around here. I just couldn’t stop looking at it.” She tried to shake off the feel of those predator’s eyes on her.
“The police officer was right there. I’ve got a gun. Tony has a gun. No reason to panic,” Tiff said.
“You carry a gun?” she asked him.
“It’s Alaska. Assume that everyone is carrying a gun. A bear can turn up in your yard or you find a lone wolf on a hike. That wolf could’ve been overly aggressive because it’s injured or protecting pups. You never know what you’re walking up on. Good thing you’ve got three men to protect you.” Tiff walked away.
“Be nice,” Tony shot at his partner.
“She’s right. I choked and could’ve made it worse. All I had to do was walk away.” Gretchen shrugged.
Tony hugged her. “Most wolves would’ve run at the shot. This one might be educated to people and testing us. Some animals learn that a shot means hunters, and there might be something to go scavenge. Animals are smarter than we give them credit for. Lone wolves can be a little more aggressive when they’re trying to build their own pack. But he didn’t look right and they’ll take the body to the vet so he gets checked out.”
“He’s dead?” she asked.
“Yes, a wolf that’s sick or that aggressive this close to town is a danger. The officer probably put it down so it’s not our problem. We didn’t hear any pups. It could’ve been wounded after being attacked by another predator. It happens. Ross is better at talking about this stuff but we don’t get a lot of wolves around here.” Tony sighed.
“Why?” she asked.
“He’s part Native. It’s part of a natural cycle, and he explains it better. Using all the animal, taking what you need, and honoring animals. I deal with emergencies. I don’t overthink. Blood attracts predators so we have to be quick and on guard when you’re in the wilderness. If I had to shoot it, I would’ve. That’s a big animal and it can rip you to shreds in minutes. If you get surrounded by a pack, you better have a lot of ammo and be a quick shot. I know Michigan has wolves and bears, but I bet you don’t run into them daily.” Tony grinned.
“I lived in the city. The odd wolf report, but police and animal control went after them. You can go camping or into the woods to see bears. I know the drill. Keep garbage inside and tight lids when it’s out for pickup. But carrying a gun everywhere?” Her hands shook. “Can we go to Ross’s now? I want to get out of your way.”
“He’s coming to get you.” Tony nodded. “There he is now. And he has a gun as well. You’re not in any danger.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I’m sorry I freaked out.”
“You didn’t. It was your first wildlife encounter with something that could kill you. Honest reaction. If you want to stay, it won’t be the last time you spot a wolf.” Tony kissed her forehead.
“Tony, we got a call. Cuddle later,” Tiff shouted
Gretchen
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