Read Online The Barefoot Bride by Rebecca Paisley - Free Book Online

thur feedin' grounds. They won't foul up the place whar they eat. That mess you stepped in is a shore sign the bahr that was here moved on."
    "Some things are better learned by myself, right?" He threw her a crooked grin.
    They moved quickly through the dense brush. Saxon examined everything they passed, hoping to pick up signs of a bear. But Chickadee's trained eyes frequently rolled when he showed her something he was certain was evidence of a bear. He soon gave up trying to impress her. This was her territory, her domain, and he let her lead the way.
    "Y'got to use yore ears too, Saxon. See how thick that laurel is? Well, you jist cain't believe how fast a bahr can git through it. You can hear it a-goin' at it, but you cain't see it. 'Course, most times Khan can flush one outen thar. 'Cept fer when he don't got no hankerin' to do it. He ain't like no reg'lar dog, y'know."
    Saxon glanced at the white wolf. Khan returned the glance with blue-eyed disdain before turning his attention back to Chickadee.
    "I don't think Khan likes me, Keely. Every time I try to pat him, he walks away, and he never comes when I call him. He eyes me as if he'd like to rip me to shreds, and though you say he doesn't mind sharing his bearskin during the day, he won't let me near it."
    She bent and kissed the top of Khan's head. "Never knowed him to be jealous afore, but I reckon that's what he is. It's usually jist me and him, and he prob'ly ain't a-takin' too kindly to havin' you around. He'll git used to you. Ever'thang takes time, Saxon. I done tole you that afore, but you keep a-rushin' thangs."
    "Still, it would be nice if he and I could get along."
    She took a moment to think about the problem. "Tell you somethin' about wolves, outlander. In thur minds, they thank they deserve respect. And they do, the way I see it. I been with Khan fer gwine on four years, and I've noticed a lavish o' thangs about him. A-seein' as how yore a lot taller'n he is, he's prob'ly a-thankin' that you believe yore better'n him. Git down on yore knees and make shore yore head's lower'n his. That way, he'll be bigger'n you, and he might see you in a different way."
    He looked down, watched the wolf yawn, and thought of Little Red Riding Hood. My what big teeth you have, Grandmother, he mused, staring at the inside of Khan's mouth.
    "Git on down thar, Saxon."
    "He'll probably bite my nose off."
    "Yore nose is long. Wouldn't hurt yore looks nary a bit to git a smidgeon of it nipped off."
    "Are you saying my nose is ugly?"
    "Does it differ? What you got is what you got."
    "At least I've got a nose. With that tiny thing you've got, it's a wonder you can breathe."
    "I can breathe jist fine. Now, are you gwine git down thar on the ground with Khan, or are we gwine stand here all day a-talkin' about noses?"
    He thought maybe talking about noses was a hell of a lot safer than coming nose to nose with a wolf. Taking a deep breath, he bent to the ground directly in front of Khan. He made sure his head was lower than that of the wolf, and when it was, he raised his eyes to meet Khan's curious gaze.
    They stared at each other for several minutes before Khan yawned again and went to relieve himself on a nearby tree.
    "Well, reckon that's what he thanks about you, Saxon," Chickadee said.
    Still on his hands and knees, Saxon laughed out loud.
    As they continued the trek through the woods. Chickadee began walking a bit slower. "It's jist a feelin'. Don't go a-gittin' all excited. I ain't seed or heared nothin yet."
    But Saxon was excited. He was beginning to understand the thrill hunters experienced tracking wild animals. Risky, to be sure, but when man was pitted against nature, the atmosphere itself took on an air of stimulating expectation.
    "Look here, Saxon," Chickadee said in a low voice while she pointed to a rotten stump. "Bahr tracks. This here stump's so soft with rot, the bahr sank right inter it when it got up on it. And look up thar," she said softly, gesturing at a