We rode at a robust pace until the paved roads had become trails. The land on both sides changed from houses and communities to plains filled with farms. There were still many people on the road behind us and in front. They greeted us with the occasional good morning. The sun was no longer above, but coming to settle on our backs. I knew when we got by the creek and made the right, the numbers of these people, civilized as they were, would diminish.

My left hand shook, holding the reins. Was Tom dead? I still couldn't fathom it. It had to be a sick joke.

"Karen?"

A sick joke that Saul had made. It had to be to get me back home. My hand gripped tighter on the reins. My brother couldn't have died. Damn you, Saul. I knew somehow that my father had to be involved. He had to be for me, running away all those years ago.

"Karen!?"

"What!?" I shouted, turning my head towards him.

Ron gave me a blank expression, trying to collect himself. I slowed the horse, riding more to his pace until we were side by side.

When I reached eye level with Ron, I let out a sigh. "Darling, I am sorry, had some stuff on my mind."

"Whatever it is you saw on that paper, it seems to be eating you alive. We are in this together, remember?"

"Yes, we are both in this together."

"I wanted to ask you how you feel about coming back to Black Water again?"

"If I had to choose, I wouldn't want to come back."

"I know it must be difficult, besides dealing with this case coming back to where both your parents had died." Ron paused, and the only noise was the wagon's wheel and the horses riding alongside each other on the road for a while. "Is there a grave by the church we can pass before we get there?"

I shook my head from side to side. "My parents didn't have the luxury of getting a burial."

"I see."

"Thank you, Ron," I replied. "It's going to get dark soon. We should find a place to camp."

I had this feeling that we were being watched. Was it my instincts? There was no one on the plains. It was the same with the road, both behind and in front of us. Ron was waiting for me to decide.

"What about over there?" Ron pointed to a small trek of land off the road.

"Ron, we can't. It's too close to the road." I slowed down to a halt. Ron matched my pace. A small patch of forest was further away from the road. It was concealed behind a huge rock, blocking some vision from the road.

That should work. I pointed. "We camp right over there." I didn't wait for Ron. I rode my horse in the direction to scout it out. Rocks and humps caused the horse to bump up and down. Ron followed as close as he could, but it impeded him.

I brought Sally to a halt, and a smile came to my face. Yes, it was perfect for camp. Saul, at least, had taught me something valuable.

We made camp. Ron unpacked prog stuff from the wagon and tried to make it cozy. When he was finished, he hid the wagon with our stuff behind the huge rock. I used the flint to start a fire, getting it done before we were in darkness. The moon hid in the clouds. We sat on the grass around the fire. Insects chirped while a chilly breeze blew upon us.

"Hungry?" Ron hit the knife in his hand onto the can to pry open the baked beans.

I took a sip from the canteen, and my eyes trailed the road. "Not really."

There was no light, but figures moved around in the dark. People, perhaps? But I wasn't entirely sure. I knew the light would draw a crowd, so I had to be vigilant.

A hand ran across my waist. The scent of baked beans was upon me, and Ron's kiss on my neck.

"Stop, Ron."

"Why? There is no one around." Ron rested the baked beans down, which rattled on the ground.

"Because —"

Ron placed the blanket around me, and his other hand slipped around my waist. His breath was now on my neck, and he kissed me again.

It was tender, and it made my body shiver.

"Right now, nothing else matters," Ron whispered, "except me and you."

I turned to him. My ginger hair fell on my face. Ron's chest pressed deeper on my back. His hands slide from my stomach to my breast, unbuttoning my shirt.

My hand touched his face, feeling the prick of his beard in my hand. Ron's green eyes stared into mine. We both leaned forward and kissed.

It was quick, and we broke away after. Ron released me, and I turned toward him. His hands shuffled around me. I gave Ron one gentle push, causing him to fall back. I sat on his hips as he lay now on the ground.

I looked at him. "Ron, I love you."

Ron chuckled. "I know."

"You're not supposed to say that."

"I love you too, Karen."

Ron's face taunted me for more. I relaxed upon him, and Ron's hand rose upon my leg.

Shifting his hand, I took the blanket and wrapped it around us. I laid my head down on Ron's chest. His beard rubbed upon my forehead. The sky was cloudy, and the moon created a grayish light cast upon the plain and the forest behind us. There was a low howl that dominated the land.

Ron turned in the howl's direction.

"Scared?" I asked. "They won't attack us. They have seen too many humans for that."

"Okay, you know best." Ron's head faced back to the moon. "It's beautiful."

The fire crackled in response.

"More beautiful than me?" I peeped up at him.

Ron placed his arm around me. "Of course not."

I went to laugh, but my ears twitched. Pounding on the ground were approaching horses. I knew they were heading in our direction like moths drawn to the flame.

I sat up and grabbed my barking irons.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone's coming. We have to move. Hide behind the rock."

I wasted no time pushing him up and drawing my barking irons.

"Can I have one?"

"No."

We hid behind the rock and foliage. It gave us a line of sight towards the approaching horses. They were three of them, and even in the dim light, I made them out well. The man leading was a deputy, and the others had their face covered with bandanas. The sheriff's words returned to me: the roads aren't safe.

"Ron, darling," I whispered, "I need you to go into the forest."

"What?" his voice rose. "I won't."

"I can't protect you and fight at the same time. You will slow me down don't argue, just do. There isn't much time, trust me."

Ron grunted, got up, and headed towards the forest. "How will I —"

"I will find you."

I didn't look back at Ron. After a while, his hurried footsteps disappeared. The horses had come to a stop, and the bald head deputy got off. They were planning the attack.

There was low deep breathing behind me as a nose nuzzled my back. "Artemis gazes."

"How long were you following me, Winston?"

The black wolf's steel-blue eyes were upon me. Winston had brought with him several native wolves and stood like a giant amongst them.

"I have been following since you left the city," Winston responded. "It seems like you're having some trouble after you."

"It seems like it," I replied. "Don't kill the deputy. You can take out the others in the bandana. How far did he go?"

"He's far away."

"You saw me with him, didn't you? Will you tell?"

Winston grunted in response. "I am not interested in what you do in your free time. You know it is forbidden."

Winston shifted his position from me along with the wolves trailing him. I approached the fire and sat down, my barking iron held close by.

The deputy was approaching the fire, and the other two were trying to circle me. Even in the gray light, it was easy to make them out. If only they knew, they were already dead.

The fire revealed the deputy's face. The deputy was a well-shaven bald man I had known for a while, a man who didn't like me.

"Deputy Karen," he called, a smile on his face. It was the same deputy that wanted my horse, Sally. The deputy's hand lowered to his waist.

I fired a shot into the hand that had reached for his lead pusher. The deputy yelled and fell back. The two men went to spring their trap. The wolves, however, pounced upon them, tearing the men apart.

"Wait, wait, Karen," the deputy said.

The wolves came out, surrounding him.

"Oh shit, oh shit. I never seen a wolf that big. It's like a goddamn bear!"

"Did the sheriff send you?" I asked and took a seat on the ground.

The deputy didn't respond.

"You're thinking about your chances, I suppose, and how fast you can draw that six-shooter of yours? Just give up. You will be dead before you fire off one useful shot."

"Will you let me go?"

"Maybe it depends on if you answer the question or not."

The deputy swallowed his saliva. "The sheriff sent me. He said it's best to do it now. He paid me and threatened me. I had no choice. Wasn't going to kill you, only scare you, that's all. I swear."

"I see. What do you think I should do, Winston?"

"Kill him."

"Oh, shit! It can talk? The fucking wolf can talk. What the fuck are you, woman a damn witch?"

Winston towered over him. "If he goes back, they will send more. You don't have to worry about the sheriff. I took care of him already, a man for breakfast."

I holstered my barking irons. "You killed the sheriff already?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I was much closer to you than you think. In that jail cell when you left this morning, I heard his threat. That man was a bad egg."

The deputy held his hand and wiggled in pain. "The sheriff's dead, then that means no harm done then. You can let me go. I was just being forced."

"Balderdash," Winston replied.

"If you can't —"

I drew my barking iron and shot the deputy. His body collapsed backward on the dirt. I took a deep breath before holstering it again.

"You weren't going to give him an easy time. You can take him away from here and I will scatter the horses."

Winston silently dragged the body with him.

"Is my brother really dead?"

Our gaze met.

"I don't know. I was only told to follow you." Winston dropped the deputy from his mouth. "Karen, protecting you is more important to me, for you will become alpha."

I got up. "I don't want to be anything."

"It's not by choice, it's what you are. The further you drag that man along, the more danger you will expose him to. I will say nothing more on the matter."

"I didn't ask for your opinion. Things will work out. Tom is alive and when that's confirmed. I don't intend to stay. I will leave when this pretense is over."

Winston looked at me for a while before he gripped the deputy's body in his mouth. I turned my gaze while Winston dragged the body away.

I entered the forest when it was done, following the easy-to-spot tracks Ron had left behind. Ron stumbled out when the trail ended between the lofty trees and shrubbery.

Ron's hand shook with his knife clasped. "Is it over?"

"Yes, Ron."

I approached Ron and hugged him. The knife fell from his hand.

"Everything's going to be okay."