Holdin' On for a Hero

by Ciana Stone

  Iris laughed and leaned over to him. “Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  * * * * *

  Swain County

  Chance arrived at the spot she had told Wa’ya to meet her with Tsa’li. There was no one there. Walker’s hand clamped down on her shoulder from behind, squeezing hard enough to make pain shoot down her arm. She jerked and pulled free, backing away from him.

  “Give me what you promised.”

  She tried to think of a way to stall but at the moment her mind was blank. All she could think of was the malice in his eyes and the way her heart was pounding in fear. “Walker,” she started, not having any idea what she was going to say. Before she could do more than utter his name, Wa’ya appeared. With him was the pack. The wolves circled Chance and Walker.

  Walker looked around nervously at the wolves that stood with heads lowered, hackles raised and ears flattened. They all eyed him, growling softly but menacingly. Chance realized from watching Walker that he was afraid of the wolves. She was surprised. Wyatt hadn’t been afraid of Wa’ya—respectful, but not filled with fear like Walker appeared to be. That gave her an idea.

  “Wyatt. Wyatt, please, if you can hear me, you have to try and come back. Walker’s afraid and that makes him vulnerable. You have to try and take over now. Please, Wyatt. I need you. John needs you. Wyatt, please try.”

  Walker turned on her with a snarl. Chance didn’t have time to evade him as he grabbed her. She heard the growl of the wolves at the same time she screamed. Wa’ya edged closer, snarling and snapping at Walker. The other wolves followed his lead, inching closer to Walker as he held Chance tightly by the arms.

  “Wa’ya, no,” Chance pleaded with the wolf. “Please. If you kill him Wyatt will die too.”

  Wa’ya stopped his advance, effectively halting the rest of the pack. But he didn’t alter his stance or move his eyes from Walker. Chance looked up at Walker. His eyes were like black coals that burned with rage.

  “Wyatt, please!” she whispered. “I need you, please fight him.”

  “He cannot fight me. He is no match for me. He allows himself to be weak, drained of power by a woman. He cannot stand against me.”

  Chance racked her brain for something to say. She had to find something she could use against Walker. Suddenly it came to her. “But he will win. Don’t you remember? It’s love that will determine who emerges victorious.”

  “Love? Love is for the weak.”

  “Then the weak will overcome, because we both know that’s the rules of the game. You can’t win without love.”

  “Then love it shall be,” he growled.

  Chance didn’t know what he meant but she had no time to think about it. Walker started tearing at her clothes. She fought him with every ounce of strength she had but it was not enough. He tore her shirt to shreds with his bare hands then threw her to the ground and started tearing at her pants.

  “No!” She screamed and kicked at him. “Stop!”

  He laughed and slapped her hard enough to make her head spin. “But this is what you want,” he said mockingly. “Have you forgotten your own rules so fast? Love wins. So, love it will be. I will make you mine and erase all feeling you have for him. You will be mine and he will be obliterated for all time.”

  “Nooooo!” she screamed as he jerked her pants down. He slapped her again and she saw spots dance in front of her eyes as a wave of dizziness made her incapable of fighting. She shook her head desperately, trying to clear it, and realized that he was positioned between her outspread legs. She saw him lower his pants and fear gave her a fresh burst of strength. Kicking him in the stomach, she started scooting backward.

  The kick did little more than make him angry. With a howl of rage he grabbed her by the ankles and jerked her to him. Chance closed her eyes, tensing with fear and dread.

  Even with her eyes closed tightly she could see the sudden flare of light. She felt Walker release her and her eyes flew open. Everything was bathed in a blue-white light so brilliant that it was hard to see. Shading her eyes with her hand and squinting she could just make out Tsa’li’s form standing beside Wa’ya. The source of the light appeared to be coming from his outstretched hand.

  Walker stood and turned to Tsa’li. “Your magic will not change anything, old man.”

  Tsa’li looked at Walker without anger or expression. “You have no place here.”

  “No place? That has a familiar ring, doesn’t it? How many times did I hear you say those words to me as a child? How many times did you say it to him? Walker, you have no place here. Wyatt, your brother has no place here. It was always you and Wyatt! Wyatt the kind, Wyatt the compassionate, Wyatt the smart, the perfect, Wyatt the next wise man of the people. You had nothing but time and love for him but what did you offer me? Nothing except, ‘you have no place here, Walker. This is not for you, Walker.’ You taught me well, despite your efforts not to. You taught me that hate is stronger than love and with hate I will see you and he both vanquished. Then I will take his woman and your precious crystal and no one will be able to stand against me.”

  “Uluhsati will not allow its power to be used for evil,” Tsa’li responded. “Its power will not be bestowed on one who has no love in his heart, on one who walks the path of evil. And the victor in your battle will not be decided with hatred and killing, but by matters of the heart. If you had listened to me at all in your youth you would know that. Wyatt did.”

  “Is that so, old man? You think you taught him what he needed to know? I don’t think so. I think you failed. You had your chance with Wyatt and he walked away and now you’re out of luck. There will be no one to follow in your footsteps. My hate is strong enough to defeat both of you. You think you have won some victory this night? I laugh at your foolishness just as I laugh at his. There will come a time when you are not around to save him. Then I will destroy him and reclaim that which was taken from me. I will live and not you or your petty magic will stop me.”

  “Perhaps not,” Tsa’li said calmly. “But you will not succeed this night. Even as we speak he grows stronger.”

  “No!” Walker grabbed his head in both hands. “No, damn you! I won’t be pushed back into the darkness. I won’t let you. I won’t—”

  A scream of rage drowned out his final words. Chance saw him stagger, still holding his head, then he abruptly fell to his knees on the ground. She could see that the transformation was trying to start and rushed over to him. “Come on, Wyatt,” she encouraged him, “you can do it. You’re stronger than he is. Come on.”

  He groaned and fell forward onto his hands and knees. Chance crawled around in front of him and lifted his face up to look in his eyes. “Wyatt, I know you can do it. Please come back. Do it for me. I need you.”

  Another groan that sounded as if he were in pain came from his lips. Then the transformation came over him. Within moments Walker was gone and Wyatt was once more himself. The brilliant light faded, putting them once more in darkness. Chance wrapped her arms around Wyatt as they knelt on the ground. “Thank god!” she breathed and hugged him tighter. “You did it, Wyatt. You beat him.”

  He shook his head and sagged down to the ground. Chance looked up at Tsa’li. “This has to end! Please, Tsa’li, tell me what to do. We have to get rid of Walker. Wyatt can’t take much more of this. Please, he’s your only grandson. You have to help us!”

  Tsa’li nodded and walked over to her, stripping off his jacket. He helped her put it on, then knelt down in front of her to look into her eyes. “You must discover the truth.”

  “The truth? Tsa’li, I need help, not advice I don’t understand. I have to find a way—”

  “You must discover the truth. You must find the point at which the hate became manifest. The seed that was planted that has now grown and bloomed into a festering rage. Only when the hate is destroyed will the land and the people be free and safe once more. Only then will it stop.”

  “And how do I go about finding this truth? Where do I look?”
>
  “That is not for me to say,” he replied as he stood. “Perhaps the starting point for all searches is within.”

  Chance stared at him in confusion as he turned and walked away. Within moments he had disappeared into the darkness. One by one the wolves turned away, melting into the darkness like phantoms. Finally there was only Wa’ya, Wyatt and herself. Wa’ya walked over and licked her across the face. She rubbed his head then turned to Wyatt.

  “We have to get back, Wyatt. Your father needs medical attention.”

  Wyatt looked up at her and she could see the desperation and fear in his dark eyes. “I don’t know if I can fight him much longer. He’s getting stronger every time.”

  “Not stronger than you,” she said and extended her hand to him.

  Wyatt took her hand and stood. “Are you sure you’re okay now?” she asked. “We really do need to get back to John.”

  “I’m fine,” he said after a moment’s hesitation. “For now, anyway. Thank you. You seem to be making a habit of saving me.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Just returning the favor. Besides, I’m acting purely for selfish reasons. I don’t want to lose you.”

  Wyatt pulled her to him and held her tightly. “I love you, Chance. More than you can imagine.”

  She hugged him tightly. “Then how can we lose?” she asked, hoping that in reality they just stood a fighting chance.

  * * * * *

  Winston Holling slammed down the phone and barreled out of his study like a man possessed. Puffing and panting, he ran up the long curved staircase and down the hall. He burst into Greg’s room, only to find it empty.

  “Where is he?” he shouted.

  “Sir?” The butler appeared at the top of the stairs.

  “Winston?” Clara, his wife, opened the door of her suite and looked out. “For goodness’ sakes! What are you shouting about?”

  “That no-account, imbecile son of yours! Where is he?”

  “I haven’t seen Gregory today,” she replied coolly, giving him a pinched-face look of disapproval. “And I will not tolerate you shouting and disrupting this household in that manner.”

  “Put a sock in it,” he groused as he walked past her and started back down the stairs. “Where is he?” he asked the butler.

  “I do not know, sir.”

  “Well, find him! And do it damned fast!”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Winston returned to his study and poured himself a stiff drink, despite the earliness of the hour. He needed something to fortify himself with. According to the information he had just received, the men Greg had sent to John Wolfe’s house had not only failed to compete their assignment, they had managed to make a complete mess of things. Less Turner’s son was dead, apparently mauled by a wolf, and Graham Dickerson was in the hospital. Sheriff Smith had charged him with breaking and entering, assault and battery, as well as attempted murder and rape. From what Winston had been told there was a witness to what had happened, some reporter from CNN was swearing that Hank and Graham and another unnamed man broken in and tried to kill John and rape her.

  A tap on the door of the study got his attention. “What is it?”

  “Master Greg just arrived,” the butler informed him. “I just now saw his car out front.”

  “Well, tell him to get his ass in here!”

  The butler disappeared and Winston paced back and forth, drinking and muttering to himself. He had finished his drink and poured another by the time Greg walked in.

  “I hope you have some explanation!”

  Greg looked at him in confusion. “For what?”

  “For once again fucking up!” Winston shouted and proceeded to tell Greg what had happened. For a few moments Greg didn’t speak. He just stood staring at his father in shock.

  “Well? Do you have anything to say?”

  Greg looked at his father and smiled. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I have a plan that will take care of everything.”

  “A plan?” Winston laughed. “A plan? God help me, he has a plan. Should I just shoot myself now and get it over with?”

  “Well, if you’re not interested, just forget it,” Greg said and started out of the room.

  “Wait!” Winston called out just as he reached the door. “What’s this plan of yours?”

  Greg grinned and closed the door. “The way I see it this can work in our favor. Right now that Indian sheriff thinks he has the goods on us. But what would happen if suddenly the story took a whole new slant?”

  “I’m not following you.” Winston’s voice had dropped several decibels.

  “Okay.” Greg took a seat. “The way I see it, if we can make it look like Wolfe is trying to set us up, then that’ll convince the authorities that what happened at his house is all part of some plan of his. Now, it just so happens that I know for a fact he’s been sticking it to that CNN lady. As luck would have it, I just happen to have a date with her. So, all we have to do is grab the bitch and let Wolfe come after her. When he does, we kill the woman, make it look like he did it and also make it appear like he tried to kill us. Then he takes the fall and we’re in the clear.”

  Winston thought about it for a few seconds. “I still think we should just kill the sons of bitches and be done with it.”

  “I thought you didn’t want the old man to die?”

  Winston frowned thoughtfully. “You’re right. Not ‘til I get what I want from him. But this plan of yours—it’s risky. If you do something to the woman, Wyatt and his old man are likely to come gunning for you.”

  “So, we grab old man Wolfe and the medicine man and that makes even more bait.” Greg smiled. “Wyatt won’t be able to turn his back on his father and the old man. He’ll come for them, all right. But by then you’ll have whatever the hell it is you want from the old man and the entire Wolfe clan will be history.”

  “I do like the sound of that.” Winston smiled. “But I think that I should call Maurice and fill him in.”

  “Why? What business is it of his?”

  “Let’s just say that Maurice and I have a mutual interest in seeing John Wolfe and his son go down.”

  “Oh?” Greg raised his eyebrows. “That’s news to me.”

  “Not anymore. Okay, you set your scheme in motion. But you listen good. You don’t get Wolfe the first try then he’s mine. I’m not for waiting around any longer. I want this thing settled and over, you hear me?”

  “Yeah, I got it.”

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  Greg stood up and turned then stopped and looked at his father. “There is one other thing. Don’t you owe me an apology?”

  “For what?”

  “For underestimating me.”

  Winston smiled despite himself. Greg really was a chip off the old block.

  * * * * *

  Chance answered the door to find Sheriff Tom Smith standing on the porch. “Come in,” she said and stepped aside. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

  “How’s John?” he asked as he closed the door behind him.

  “Resting,” she replied as she walked to the stove. “Want a cup of coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

  “Sure, thanks.” He took off his hat and sat down at the table. “Where’s Wyatt?”

  “Right here.” Wyatt walked into the room. His hair was still wet from the shower. “What’s up?”

  “I think you should know it’s like a pressure cooker over this thing. And I don’t know if I can hold the lid on. Holling’s attorney has already called twice, demanding to speak with Graham Dickerson. Claims he’s representing Dickerson. And I got a call from the capital this morning. Seems like Winston called and raised hell to some of his bigwig friends. They want me to turn Dickerson over to the State boys.”

  Chance handed him a cup of coffee, set one down on the table in front of Wyatt then took a seat herself. “Then we need to move fast.”

  Tom and Wyatt both looked at her, clearly not understanding what she meant. “Look, we
all know that as it stands right now, it’s Wyatt’s, John’s and my word against Dickerson’s. Now, in a perfect world that would be enough. But as we all know, it’s not a perfect world and we’re up against people who play dirty. Believe me, I know. I grew up with those kind of people. So, the way I see it, we have to convince Dickerson that it’s in his best interests to come clean and confess and maybe in return some of the charges against him can be dropped.”

  “What?” Wyatt barked. “You can’t be serious? That man tried to rape you and he almost killed my father and you want to drop the charges?”

  She put her hand on his arm. “Wyatt, I’d like nothing better than to see him put in jail for what he did and tried to do, but to be honest, he’s more valuable testifying with us than against us. And besides,” she looked over at Tom, “it’s our best chance of winning against them in court.”

  Tom took a drink of his coffee then nodded. “I have to agree. The problem is how do we convince him to go along with us?”

  Chance smiled and winked at him. “Tell you what, you decide what charges we can drop and I’ll take care of the rest. I think I know something that just might convince him it’d be beneficial to switch teams.”

  “That sounds suspiciously like you’re going to bribe him,” Tom commented then held up his hand as Chance opened her mouth to speak. “No, don’t tell me. The less I know the better off I am.”

  “So?” she asked.

  “So, okay. I’ll take care of the paperwork and give you a call later then you can take it from there.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled as he stood up. “And I’ll tell John you were here.”

  “Wyatt.” Tom nodded at him. “You take care.”

  “Will do,” Wyatt replied. “See ya, Tom.”

  Chance let Tom out then turned to Wyatt. “What?” she immediately asked as he sat looking at her with lowered eyebrows and his arms crossed in front of his chest.

  “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re in the wrong line of work?”

  She laughed as she remembered where she had heard that question last. “As a matter of fact, yes. I seem to remember someone saying something about me selling ice to the Eskimos.”