Read Online Of Wolves and Men by G. A. Hauser - Free Book Online

can’t.”
    “Take Goat or JP. They’re great for chaperones and they’ll keep this wolf off you.” Charlie gestured to Butch.
    “Speaking of wolves…” Suzie’s eyes widened. “While I was at Charlie’s cabin a big wolf-like dog bit at the window.”
    Charlie tried to stem the tide of information before it instilled a panic. “No. I told you it was just a feral dog. Don’t go spreadin’—”
    Harley bolted out of the open ranch house door, barking like he was about to kill something.
    Butch pushed Charlie out of the way and rushed after the dog. “Get the shotgun, Charlie! I told ya somethin’ was out here!”
    “Shit!” Charlie could see Vernon and Connie becoming aware something was going on. “Go inside, girls. It’s nothin’. I told you it’s just a lost doggie. Okay?”
    “Charlie,” Suzie pouted as she spoke. “Be real careful. He was a big ole dog.”
    He sprinted, trying to catch Butch and Harley. To his anguish, he found them all inside the open horse paddock. The horses were going crazy, rearing, making whining noises of fear and stampeding to and fro.
    It was dark but for two spotlights attached high on the barn. Harley’s barking was keeping Charlie on target as to where the chaos was. When he spotted Butch with a shotgun Charlie gasped. “No!”
    “Harley! Clear them horses back!” Butch chambered a round with a ‘cha-chunk’ sound and brought the shotgun up to aim.
    Charlie grabbed the gun by the barrel and a blast of buckshot hit the dirt in front of them, blowing a hole in the ground and spattering dried mud into their faces. The horses went berserk at the blast.
    As Charlie fought Butch for the gun, Vernon and the rest of the family finally caught up to the action.
    “There’s a big black wolf in the horse paddock, Charlie! What the hell are you doing?” Butch yelled.
    “You’ll hit the horses! You know the spread pattern on that thing? Are you nuts?” He jerked the gun away and removed the cartridges.
    “He’s the nut, boss!” Butch pointed at Charlie, catching his breath. “There’s a huge timber wolf inside this paddock. I bet you that’s what’s doing all the weird killing.”
    “Harley!” Vernon called and heard the dog yelp in pain.
    “Roman!” Charlie jumped the paddock fence and scattered the already panicked horses. He spotted Roman, naked, crawling under the far side of the wooden fence in the dark.
    Hearing footsteps behind him, Charlie stopped and spun around. He held up his hands. “It’s gone.”
    “Where’s Harley?” Vernon looked for the dog.
    He was wagging as he approached Vernon. Vernon picked the dog up to inspect him and got a lick in the face. “You’re all right, little buddy.” Vernon held him in one arm. “Who the hell is Roman?”
    Charlie choked, not realizing he had actually called his name out loud. “Uh. Who?”
    Butch folded his arms over his chest. “Yeah, Charlie. Who’s Roman? That your new dog who’s terrorizing everything?”
    “I don’t have a new dog.” Charlie tried to see out into the darkness. “Why don’t you let me check on the horses and do my job?” When Butch just stared at him, Charlie said, “Go get Goat and JP. Let’s just make sure the horses are all right, then get them inside for the night. Can you do that, Butch?”
    Vernon said, “All right, boys. Calm down. Butch, do as the man says.”
    Connie touched her daughters on the shoulders. “Come on. Back inside. There ain’t no one going out on the town tonight. There’s too much insanity going on right now.”
    Suzie gave Charlie her puppy-dog eyes but he turned away. He walked into the group of horses to see if anyone of them had been hurt. They were slow to calm down after being frightened. One by one, Charlie led them by the halter to Vernon, who walked them into the barn.
    “ Charlie! ”
    Charlie ground his jaw and looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was around before meeting up with Roman. “You have any idea the