by Alisha Paige
“You know how I get the munchies in the middle of the night,” Sean replied in between chews.
“Would you like a glass of milk?”
“Please.”
Aunt Bette retrieved a gallon of milk from the fridge, pouring some into a large mug. Taking the mug from her, Sean sat at the table with the plate of cookies as Aunt Bette stood over him. Glancing over his shoulder, Sean smiled with a mouthful of cookies.
“Want some?”
“No.”
“Well, sit down,” Sean replied as he pulled out the chair next to him.
Aunt Bette took a seat and sighed. “I’m worried about you, Sean.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sean said before gulping down half the milk.
“You’ve got to be more careful. You can’t roam these woods on a full moon.”
“Where do you suggest I go?”
“Anywhere but here. There are hundreds of traps out there. Just yesterday, they set twenty on my property alone. When Charles I moved here these mountains were so remote, we were able to hunt for miles and miles without being seen by a single human being. Not now, especially since the incident with Dark Horse. They won’t stop until they’ve killed a wolf. As much as I love our brothers, I hope it’s only a wolf they kill and not one of us,” Aunt Bette said with tears in her eyes.
Sean patted her hand and turned to her. “I won’t let that happen. I’m very careful. Don’t worry. I think all the hype will die down soon. I’ll stay close to the cabin and only hunt on a full moon. I’ll only change into the wolf if necessary. I hadn’t intended to change the night I attacked Dark Horse, but the clouds drifted away from the full moon. I had no choice. I wish I had beat him to death with my bare hands. God, how I wanted to kill him.”
“You need to be careful what you say to Paige. Do you hear yourself?”
“I know, I know.”
“When do you plan on telling her?”
Sean turned and stared at his aunt in disbelief. “You must be joking, right?”
“No, I’m not,” his aunt replied bluntly.
“How should I tell her? By the way honey, I’m not merely a man. You get the entire package. Half-man, half-wolf. Ever heard of a werewolf? Don’t make dinner on a full moon. Why don’t you have a girl’s night out while I feast on live creatures?”
“Very funny,” Aunt Bette said dryly. “Your Uncle Charles told me.”
“Not because he wanted to. He was forced to when you had a shotgun jammed against his skull.”
“Imagine how frightened I was when I watched him turn from a wolf into my husband.”
“He had no choice. He was facing death. You would have watched him change back after you killed him anyways and he’d be dead.”
“You don’t want Paige to go through the same thing,” Aunt Bette explained.
“She won’t and she’ll never be a werewolf,” Sean spat back.
“Why not? I made the change. It took some adjustments but I survived it.”
“Not by choice. How was Uncle Charles to know that a grizzly would attack? He had to turn into the wolf to protect you. You got in the way and got bit by accident. I’m sure he was mortified.”
Aunt Bette laughed. “He was and I was scared to death, but it really wasn’t so bad. The first time we went on a kill together was exhilarating. To see the world from a wolf’s eyes is amazing. I never imagined life could be so vivid.”
“So you’re happy to live with the werewolf curse?” Sean asked skeptically.
“It’s not something I would have chosen for myself, but I’ve lived with it for so long that I don’t know any other way of life. I’m part wolf and I don’t really think of it any more. It’s just part of my existence.”
Sean sighed. “I know what you mean, though I never knew life as only a man. I was born with the curse.”
“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” Aunt Bette said as she rose and turned off the oven light.
“I will. I promise,” Sean replied as he crossed the kitchen, returning to bed.
****
Paige hated to return back to work after such a dreamy weekend with Sean. They spent most of Sunday making love by the fire in Sean’s cabin while a big snow storm blew in from the north.
She read her daily agenda three or four times before tossing it aside and rising to fetch another cup of coffee. Her co-workers were acting strange. No one seemed to know what to say to her after the incident with Dark Horse and everyone was shocked that she had even come to work.
The story ran on the news all weekend. There was even a wolf hotline the public could call to report wolf sightings. Paige hoped they didn’t catch the wolf. She felt strange about it, but she held an odd affection for the wild creature. She wouldn’t dare tell anyone about it.
When she had mentioned to Meg that she felt sorry for the wolf, she thought she’d never hear the end of it. Meg went on and on about how horrible it would have been if Paige had to endure a series of injections for rabies.
Meg told her she was crazy, but Paige didn’t think so. She really believed that Dark Horse would have successfully raped her if the wolf wouldn’t have attacked. Oddly enough, the wolf didn’t frighten her near as much as Dark Horse. She was convinced that the wolf saved her, but she knew everyone would think she’d lost her marbles.
She was still confused as to why it took Sean so long to get his rifle. It seemed like he was gone forever, though she had no way of knowing how much time had passed. She had heard that people lost track of time during traumatic events and a few minutes could seem like an hour.
How could Sean have forgotten about the gun in her back room? He had even cleaned it for her once and told her to keep the drawer unlocked. He had said if she really needed it in an emergency, she wouldn’t have time to find the key.
She shrugged it off and decided it didn’t matter. She had been extremely lucky that night. Dark Horse didn’t rape her and the wolf didn’t lay a paw on her or Sean. Everything turned out exceptionally in her favor and she was very thankful. She decided to keep her strange appreciation for the rabid wolf a secret.
After two meetings with important art dealers and a conference call with a museum in Montana about a traveling Egyptian exhibit, Paige was exhausted and it was only eleven o’clock in the morning. Perhaps she should have taken a few days off like Sean had suggested.
She glanced at her watch and realized that Sean’s morning ski session with the kids would be breaking for lunch soon. The thought of him made her smile as she reclined in her chair and twirled around to stare at the angel statue out the window. Her intercom buzzed four times before she finally answered.
“Yes?”
“Coming Wind is on line two, Mrs. Wellington,” her secretary said.
“Thank you.”
Paige took a deep breath as she pushed the flashing red button and picked up the receiver.
“This is Paige Wellington.”
“Hello Mrs. Wellington. This is the real Coming Wind,” he joked.
Coming Wind sounded much bolder and kinder than Dark Horse to Paige’s ears. Dark Horse seemed much more mysterious. She was instantly at ease.
“It’s so nice to finally speak with you. I’m so sorry about what happened. We had been in contact with who we thought were your people and the art arrived just as planned,” Paige stammered. “I had no idea. Nothing like this has ever happened before and I plan to take new precautions...”
Coming Wind cut her off.
“Please, Mrs. Wellington. I am the one who should be apologizing. There was no way you could have prevented what happened. My brother is very crafty and unfortunately, we look exactly alike. He’s been very successful in impersonating me before. He’s really done it this time. After he recovers he won’t have a chance to pretend to be me again. He’s going straight back to prison.”
“I’m sorry for that. I realize it must be hard for you. He is still your brother,” Paige replied sympathetically.
Paige nearly jump
ed back when Coming Wind laughed loudly into the phone.
“I don’t mean to be crass, but my brother has been trying to sabotage me since we were kids. In fact, I don’t even claim him as my brother any more. He burned that bridge years ago and was even banished from the tribe. He has no one to blame but himself. I stopped feeling guilty about it a long time ago.”
Paige didn’t know what to say. It seemed so sad to her, but Coming Wind was laughing about it.
“I don’t mean to go on an on. I really wanted to thank you for pulling off such a successful exhibit, even though I had no knowledge of it.” Coming Wind roared with laughter.
Paige started to laugh herself.
“I’ve sold six paintings since your exhibit and all to Colorado residents. A lot of money you folks have up in those mountains. I never thought I’d get half of what I was asking for the pieces.”
“Now I feel better,” Paige said as she breathed a sigh of relief. “By the way, how did Dark Horse get the paintings for the exhibit if you don’t mind my asking?”
“That’s a funny story, actually. He stole them right from under my nose one day. My people helped him load them into a truck,” Coming Wind explained.
“He impersonated you,” Paige guessed correctly.
Coming Wind laughed as he explained. Paige was impressed by the humor he saw in such a mess. The fact that he chose to make light of such a sinister character did not go unnoticed.
“For the hundredth time. I finally started giving my assistant a schedule of my clothing for each day of the week and we started using code words.”
Paige laughed again and felt as if she were talking to an old friend. Coming Wind was much more likable than Dark Horse. He was witty and charming and very inviting unlike his more serious, less engaging look alike.
“Listen, Mrs. Wellington, I’m really sorry about what my brother did to you and then the shock of the wolf attack, though I’m glad the wolf saved you from his advances. I can’t imagine what that must have been like, but for whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t owe me an apology, but I really do feel much better just talking to you. You may look like your brother but your personalities are worlds apart. It’s been such a pleasure to speak with you. I wish I would have met you in person under better circumstances,” Paige added.
“I hope I can fix that, too. I would love it if you would come visit me and my family in Havasu Canyon. I really want to make it up to you and also to thank you for pulling off such a successful exhibit for me.”
Paige hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. She couldn’t just take off and head to The Grand Canyon to visit a tribe of Indians or...could she? It would be nice to get away from the press and she wondered if Sean could go.
“You think about it. You can come whenever you have some free time. It’s really beautiful here. I think you’d fall in love with the canyon. Just let me know if you decide to or not and bring your family, too.”
“Thank you. It does sound lovely, but I don’t have a husband or children. Would it be all right if I brought my boyfriend?”
“Of course. He’s more than welcome. Why don’t you talk it over with him and get back to me.”
Suddenly Paige was excited. A vacation was exactly what Sean and she needed. She longed to get away from all the media hype about Dark Horse and wolf traps. If she had to listen to another wolf sighting on the radio she might throw herself off a cliff.
She didn’t want to go without Sean, but she felt sure he could get away for awhile. His schedule was flexible and he didn’t need the income anyways. Teaching at ski school was something he did out of sheer enjoyment and love for the kids.
“I’ll speak to Sean tonight and call you tomorrow,” Paige replied, anxious for the day to end and speak to Sean.
“Sounds good. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“You too and thanks for the gracious invitation. It sounds lovely.”
Paige hung up the phone and immediately called the airline, checking flight times for Arizona. After jotting down departing times for Tuesday and Wednesday, she began making a list of things to pack. She would have to go shopping tonight. What would the weather be like in the Grand Canyon?
She clicked onto the internet and brought up the national weather map with a few more mouse clicks. She glanced at her watch and decided to take the afternoon off to go shopping. The Grand Canyon was much warmer than she thought. She’d need a summer wardrobe and a new bathing suit.
Jotting down a quick note to her secretary who was now at lunch, she locked her office and headed out the door. Jumping into her car, she headed toward the nearest mall thirty miles away.
Chapter 3
The seatbelt sign started to flash when Sean awoke with Paige’s head nestled into his chest. He sighed deeply, kissing the top of her hair while looking out the window at the blue sky and feathery clouds whipping by.
“Wake up, baby. You need to fasten your seatbelt. We’re about to land,” Sean said as he nudged her awake.
“Open your eyes, sleeping beauty. Grand Canyon, here we come.”
Paige smiled and stretched before clicking her seatbelt into place. The flight attendant pushed up the few remaining trays and tossed empty soda cans and peanut packets into the trash before hurrying to their own seats to prepare for landing.
Neither Sean nor Paige had seen The Grand Canyon and the thought thrilled both of them. They were like two kids on vacation. Sean had already calculated how long of a drive it was from Kingman to the canyon and then how long it would take on horseback with a guide to reach the bottom of Havasu Canyon where Coming Wind was awaiting their arrival.
After departing the plane, Sean found the luggage claim and in a few minutes had the keys to their rental and was shoving their bags into the trunk.
“How long of a drive did you say?” Paige asked as she fetched her sunglasses from her purse, smiling at the sun.
“Three hours and forty-one minutes,” Sean answered precisely as he slammed the trunk, then opened the door for her.
Paige slid into the rented convertible as Sean ran around, jumping into the driver’s seat.
“This is going to be a great trip. We both needed this,” he exclaimed, squinting at the sun as he headed out of the airport and onto the main highway.
The wind whipped their hair like a mini tornado. Paige laughed as she tried in vain to fasten a scarf around her head, finally giving up and stuffing it back into her purse. Sean smiled at her and took her hand. Both of them were transfixed with the unfamiliar territory. They were surrounded by desert terrain decorated with giant cacti and orange sand glistening brilliantly in the bright Arizona sunshine.
As they turned onto historic Route 66, the radio played old songs from the Eagles. Sean pointed to a roadrunner running through the desert. Paige nodded that she saw it. She laughed out loud thinking how poor Wylie Coyote was always outsmarted by the roadrunner, usually with dynamite or a large boulder.
Sean laughed with her, reading her thoughts. He couldn’t believe how his life had changed over the last month. It was hard for his brain to register that Paige was no longer simply his neighbor and friend on the mountain. They had grown to depend on each other and Sean realized he needed her as much or more than she needed him. He marveled at the fact that now she was his lover and everything told him that she was much more.
Deep down he believed that they were meant to be, even though a terrible tragedy had brought them together. He had long ago stopped feeling guilty about taking her from Rob and had even been to a therapist about it.
In the past he’d felt guilty just for chopping her wood, but with support from friends and help from his therapist, he moved beyond that and began seeing that a possible future with Paige was okay.
How was he to know that he would fall in love with his best friend’s wife? He was comforted by the thought that it happened after Rob’s death. While Rob was alive, he rarely saw Paige. Ever so often, Rob would have
him over for steaks, but Paige was usually only there for dinner and would leave to go shopping with Meg or had some more research to do for an upcoming exhibit. Their relationship had seemed stale to him, void of affection, at least from what he witnessed.
He never saw Rob kiss Paige, though he seemed respectful enough. Once Rob won the gold, he changed. His new star status formed him into a more self absorbed version of the old Rob.
If Sean turned down an offer for a sports advertisement, Rob was quick to jump on it. Sean did a few endorsements in the beginning, but after a while, he decided he had plenty of money and wanted to concentrate on teaching the kids and enjoying his life.
Rob had even talked about moving to a larger home and living an extravagant lifestyle, but Paige didn’t want to leave her job at the museum. Sean knew this was a bone of contention between the two and Paige had felt horrible after his death because of it. She was tormented by the fact that she could have prevented his death if they would have moved. He told her over and over again not to blame herself and he had finally decided not to blame himself either.
Sean’s dreams were finally coming true. He knew how lucky he was to have achieved great financial success at such a young age. He was set for life, except for one thing. He wanted Paige and though he didn’t realize it until after Rob’s death, he knew it now.
He had just spent the most romantic weekend of his life with Paige. She was not only his best friend, but his fantasy woman. Daydreaming about having children with her and seeing her pregnant with his child made his chest swell. Depression and sadness kicked in when Monday rolled around and they both had to go to work, but the fog was quickly lifted when Paige had called by noon to invite him to go with her to meet Coming Wind.
He had told her that she would have been in serious trouble if she tried to go alone and pretended to be teasing her, but he was very serious. Even though Coming Wind was very apologetic and felt bad about his brother’s behavior, he didn’t trust the man until he met him. There was no way he would have let Paige take a horse down into the mouth of The Grand Canyon and cavort with a tribe full of Indians.
