The Guardian (The Wolfe Series)

by Donna Oltrogge

  The female panther would not have come so close to the horse and rider or considered them prey if she had not been starving. She preferred to stay away from all contact with humans if at all possible. She had no choice now, though, the pain had grown too great. The tear in her right front paw had become infected making it extremely difficult to walk much less to hunt.

  Panther, puma, cougar, mountain lion, all were names given to those of her kind. Her fur was thick, dark yellowish above and lighter on the sides. Her muzzle, chin, throat, breast and insides of the legs were white and her tail was long and slightly coiled. She was normally a large, agile cat that could leap great distances, but not today, and not on this hunt.

  The female panther growled low in her throat and stretched her gaunt body full length atop a boulder. The boulder was near a game trail and if she was patient enough, if she was lucky enough, she might just be able to leap from the boulder onto the back of the horse, dislodging its rider as it passed nearby. The struggle would be brief once she sank her fangs deeply into the neck of her prey. She would be the victor of that she was certain, whether animal or human, she was too far gone to know the difference.

  All that remained was to wait, wait so that she could keep herself from starving.

  Laurie froze and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the mountain lion crouched on a boulder above her head. She gasped and remained perfectly still as she reached down and patted Sugar’s sweaty neck. Don’t panic, girl, whatever you do. If you panic we may both die. Sugar seemed to understand Laurie’s unspoken command, and stood stock still. Quivering, the little mare twisted her head from side to side trying to locate the threat.

  Laurie’s eyes never left the huge cat. Instinctively she knew that there was no time for indecision. She sensed that the cat was poised to strike a lethal blow and that she and her mount appeared to be the animal's target.

  When the cat jumped Laurie screamed and hauled back on the reins with all her strength certain that she on her horse were doomed. As the big cat leapt toward her, it’s amber eyes filled with grim determination, Laurie saw a black wolf slam into the mountain lion in mid leap, the two animal’s bodies tangling together as each fought for supremacy over the other. Both animals fell to the hard packed earth in a flurry of claws, snarls, growls and blood in an awesomely savage spectacle.

  A wolf was normally no match for a mountain lion, this Jake new as he and the cougar sprang apart and warily circled each other. Normally a lion would stalk and kill a wolf from behind, pouncing as it does upon other prey. Such deadly confrontations, cat-and-dog fights in the wilds, were extremely rare, both animals preferring to avoid each other. To their advantage, wolves could run extremely long distances, exhausting a lion, which was built for short, quick sprints and leaping. Therefore, a lion’s normal means of survival when confronted by a wolf was often to run and find high ground or a tree that the wolf could not reach.

  Jake noticed the big cat’s limp and the fact that the animal appeared extremely thin, almost to the point of emaciation. He didn’t know what had caused the animal to attack such large prey, and a human at that, and he really didn’t care. He just wanted the big cat gone and was determined to make sure it did just that.

  Even in the dark Laurie had no trouble seeing the two combatants circle, each looking for a weakness in the other. She feared for Jake’s safety and tried to think of a way to help him even though she doubted a wolf of such massive proportions would have any trouble defending itself. We can do this, Sugar. We can help Jake, you and I. Laurie hoped the little mare was listening as she took her courage in hand as well as Sugar’s reins. “Now!” Laurie shouted, gouging the mare’s flanks with her heels which sent the horse charging toward the unsuspecting mountain lion, her teeth bared and her ears back flat against her head.

  Jake had never seen anything like the avenging angel he saw bearing down on the startled cougar on her silver charger. The cougar hissed and crouched low at this knew threat before whirling around and disappearing into the night.

  How in the hell did Laurie make Sugar do that? A horse’s first line of defense was flight for fright and it was instinctual. For a horse to actually confront a deadly predator like the cougar was unheard of. When Jake had found Laurie gone he’d panicked, realizing how much the woman had come to mean to him. How much it would have destroyed him if he had lost her.

  Changing quickly and effortlessly into his human form, Jake stalked toward Laurie and dragged her out of the saddle. “Don’t ever do anything like that again,” he snarled, crushing her in his arms and running his hand over her hair, holding her close, enjoying the moment and wishing they could shut the world out if only for a little while and forget about everything, including the men who were hunting her. “How could you leave after what we shared tonight?” His voice was rough with the emotion he was unable to hide. “Not to mention the fact that you could have been killed?”

  She loved the way Jake’s breath quickened and testosterone filled the air as his muscles tightened like a wolf ready to take down its prey. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I never meant to hurt you. I was trying to protect you.”

  Jake kissed her then, not a tender kiss but an all consuming one that left Laurie breathless. His tongue plundered the recesses of her mouth and she found her own tongue dueling with his in an erotic dance of passions and need. She closed her eyes and matched the rhythm of Jake’s breathing. He ran his hand down the hollow of her throat, his lips replacing his hand. Laurie felt like purring as Jake kissed her shoulders, her chest and moved lower, ripping open her blouse and pushing her bra aside he captured her left breast in his hungry mouth and sucked gently, his tongue swirling over the tender tip. Laurie’s breath came in short, panting bursts and she felt wetness between her legs. She strained upwards putting her arms around Jake and drawing him closer as his lips claimed hers again in a bruising kiss.

  This was what she had wanted, what she had dreamed of finding with a man. Not just any man, either, but a man she could love, could share her life with, have children with. The wetness between her legs increased and she yearned to have Jake inside her.

  Jake felt Laurie opening her body to him, total and unconditional surrender, which for someone like Laurie was an amazing gift, a gift not to be squandered.

  Laurie opened her eyes and began to protest when she felt Jake draw away.

  “We need to get back to the ranch,” he said, heedless of his nudity as he lifted her back into the saddle and swung up behind her. There were better times and better places for what he had in mind.

  The saddle blanket was rough against Jake’s backside but he hardly noticed as he reined the mare toward home. Laurie was safe for the time being at least. He hoped she had learned her lesson and wouldn’t try anything foolish like that again. “Where did you think you were going, anyway?”

  Laurie leaned back against Jake’s rock hard chest, luxuriating in the feel of his arms surrounding her. Safe. She felt safe in those strong arms. “I was going after Aragon. After that I didn’t know. I just wanted to find a place where I could hide.” She knew now just how foolish that had been.

  Jake sighed and rested his chin on the top of her head, enjoying the soft scent of jasmine that clung to her hair. “Don’t worry, we’ll get your horse back. One way or the other. Just promise me you won’t do anything that foolish again.”

  Laurie wasn’t sure she could keep such a promise. “I’ll try, Jake. You could have been seriously wounded by that mountain lion. I left trying to ensure your safety only to have placed you in even more danger. Your wolf was magnificent, though.”

  “You liked the wolf, did you?” Jake laughed in spite of himself.

  “Oh, yes.”

  “You’re likely to see a lot more of him in the future. You’ll soon start to feel the urge to shift, to Change so let me know if you start to feel differently. You’re going to love running thru the wild in our wolf forms, the feel of the wind in our faces and the heady taste of freed
om coursing through our veins.”

  Laurie wasn’t so sure about that. “You think so?” She remembered the sudden heat that had engulfed her before the lion had attacked.

  “I know so.” Jake kissed the top of her head.

  As he guided the little mare toward home he felt his muscles start to relax at the thought of running wild and free with this woman who had come to mean the world to him.

  Dawn seeped through the bedroom drapes, turning the room to molten gold. Dust motes danced in the air and the sound of morning doves cooing to one another in the courtyard filtered in through the open windows. Laurie turned and snuggled closer to Jake, her leg slipping over his as he turned toward her, his body warming hers as no other ever could or would. They’d made passionate love for hours after they’d returned to the ranch, their joy in each other manifest in their total inhibition and surrender to one another.

  Jake inhaled the subtle scent of jasmine in Laurie’s hair before pulling her beneath him. He lowered his body onto hers and drew her scent deep into his lungs.

  Laurie captured Jake’s lips with her own and he sighed, savoring the moment. He’d waited so long for her, he didn’t want to rush things. His mouth caressed her neck and shoulders, her throat and earlobes, creating a fever that awakened the desire to take him into her body, to have him deep inside her.

  Her nerves throbbing with need, her core burning as though from a fire within, Laurie said, “I want you, Jake, all of you,” she whispered as she pulled his head to her breast where he suckled gently. “I want you to touch all of me, every single inch of me, so that I’ll know you’re mine.” Mine! All mine!

  “I want you, too, Laurie.” His mouth melted into to hers and he kissed her, a long, drawn out, tumultuous kiss that bespoke of the passion he was barely able to control.

  Jake’s hands caressed her thighs and buttocks and she opened willingly for him. He rubbed his throbbing erection against her, his need increasing with every beat of his heart, the desire in him so strong he didn’t know if he could hold out.

  Laurie explored every inch of Jake’s body, from his muscled shoulders to his amazing rock hard six-pack to his firm buttocks. She moved against him, wanting him to enter her right that very moment, as though this had been the moment she’d been waiting for all of her life.

  Her body arched to meet his as he positioned his body between her legs and thrust deep. He smiled at her moan of pleasure and felt her body surrender to his. He was wolf large and filled her, stretching her, making her his mate, now and forever. He kissed her and thrust deeper and deeper, until they found glory in the fiery passion, a sexual completion.

  He loved watching Laurie climax. He’d done that for her as she had done it for him, with love. He loved her. She was so infinitely desirable he knew he was going to have trouble keeping his hands off of her.

  “I love you, Laurie,” Jake said, gathering her into his arms and pulling the covers up over their bodies.

  “I know, Jake, I love you, too.” She sighed, her fingers feather light across his chest. “I never thought I’d find you,”

  Jake could feel her tears dampening his chest and he drew her more tightly into his arms. “You’ll never be alone again,” he growled deep in his throat. “And no one is ever going to hurt you or take you away from me, either.” He’d give his own life without reservation to protect her.

  She had become his whole life, his love, his reason for being. There would be no life without her.

  ChapterTwenty-One

  Laurie awoke sometime later and found the bed beside her empty. She stretched luxuriously before sitting up and hugging herself, the joy she felt undiminished by the threat that still faced them. She and Jake would face Enrique together, and defeat him together. She had to believe that or she would go mad. They couldn’t lose what they had found in each other. They simply couldn’t!

  After a quick shower Laurie headed for the kitchen where she could hear voices and smell coffee brewing. She stopped in the doorway when she saw an unfamiliar couple seated at the kitchen table with Jake.

  Jake immediately got to his feet and placed his arm around Laurie’s shoulder. “Mat, Jane, this is Laurie Kincaid,” he said as he pulled out a chair for Laurie at the table and she took a seat. “Laurie, this is Mat and Jane Harris. They have a ranch southwest of here. They’re helping organize the Ranch Roundup we have here at the ranch each year.”

  “It’s nice to meet you. Looks like Jake’s found himself a winner.” Mat Harris said, a big smile lighting his weathered face. He was a big man, with silver hair and light blue eyes. What he lacked in looks he more than made up for with a jovial personality. “Bout time, too, I’d say.”

  Laurie laughed when she saw Jake’s face flush in embarrassment.

  “Leave those two alone,” Jane Harris punched her husband in the arm affectionately before settling her intense violet gaze in Laurie’s direction. “How long you planning to stay, hon? Hope you’ll be here for the roundup. Sure could use your help.”

  Laurie like Jane Harris and felt an immediate kinship. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here.”

  Jake rescued her from having to explain further. “Still having trouble out your way, Mat?” Jake turned toward Laurie and explained. “The Harris’ live every day with barking dogs, vandalism, guns at their bedside, trash on their land, and most tragically, human remains. The bodies of seven illegals were found on the Flying H last year.”

  “That’s horrible,” Laurie said aghast.

  “Can you imagine dying of heat prostration out in the desert?” Jane asked. “If you’re unable to cool down, shock will set in which can cause damage to your major organs. Even if you don’t fall into shock, your overheated body will cause your internal organs to swell, leading to internal damage and death. Nausea, seizures, hallucinations, they’re all a part of it.”

  “Yea, my Jane knows her business, been a nurse more than twenty years.” Mat glanced affectionately at his wife. “The Flying H is located thirty-eight miles north of the border, which means that by the time the illegals arrive there, they’ve been walking for days and are in desperate shape.”

  For nine years, their family had been unable to leave home unless someone stayed to guard against burglars. Their daughter could no longer do chores unless accompanied by her father or a brother, and taking her 4-year-old daughter out on horseback wasforbidden.

  “I know Jake and his brothers try to help with the illegals but it’s impossible to stem the tide.

  “There are dozens of smuggling trails. I’ve seen sophisticated brush huts in which illegals rest during trips north,” Jake added, trying to educate Laurie about the serious problem they faced.

  “Isn’t there anything we can do to help?” Laurie hated the fact that she’d been associated with Luzaro Rivera, who trafficked in the misery of others.

  Jake covered her hand where it lay on the table with his. “We deal with it the best we can. We don’t have it so bad here on our ranch but people like the Harris’ are under constant siege.”

  “Let’s not spoil this beautiful day with such dire conversation,” Mat said, getting ponderously to his feet. “You two girls can talk about the food, raffles and auction to your hearts content. Jake and I need to map out some of the areas where we’ll be holding the other events.”

  The slight nod of Laurie’s head toward Jake signaled that she was in agreement with this. He followed Mat out of the house, reluctant to leave Laurie and the new closeness they’d found.

  Laurie couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips as she watched Jake leave. Her man was so beautiful inside and out. She couldn’t believe that he was all hers, and she his.

  Jane’s eyes missed little of what went on around her. She was thrilled at the thought of Jake and this beautiful young woman having found such happiness. It radiated from their very pores. Jane only wished that Jake’s mother could have been here to see it. Jane and Victoria Wolfe had been the best of friends since early childhood. S
he still missed Victoria’s kindness and her smile that could light up a room. “We’ll need Jake’s computer for what’s left to do. I’ve got most of it done already.”

  Jane smiled as she rose from the table and led Laurie toward Jake’s office. Let’s you and I get better acquainted, shall we?

  It was what they called a harvest moon, a big, beautiful, golden disk that rose slowly from the eastern horizon to glide across a midnight sky. Laurie could see the full moon through Jake’s bedroom windows where she sat on the edge of the bed in a frilly white confection of a nightgown. She smiled at the thought of Taggert buying such a frivolous garment and the fact that Jake’s jealousy had run rampant when he’d seen it. He could say little, however, as he’d been the one to send Taggert on the shopping expedition, purchasing several sets of clothing as well as a few unmentionables and the provocative nightgown. She could almost see Tag’s wolfish grin as he’d dealt with the sales women.

  She’d be able to remove the clothing easily as there were no buttons on the shirts or zippers on the pants. She wouldn’t be able to wear a watch or jewelry either, which she had been told would be dangerous during the Change.

  Laurie had felt different the last couple of days. Her senses seemed sharper and she was experiencing flashes of heat at unexpected times, like now as she sat waiting for Jake’s return. He’d ridden out with Anthony earlier, something about a young foal that had been attacked by what appeared to be a mountain lion. Laurie wondered if it was the same lion that had attacked her and cringed at the thought of a helpless little foal being at the big cat’s mercy. There would have been little the foal’s mother could have done to protect her baby against such a large predator.