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.Somewhere a gun went off.The bullet should have hit the wolf in the middle of its skull, but theanimal was no longer in the bullet s path.It stood several yards away, grinning at Sean througha muzzle stained with his blood. Kill it! Sean yelled.Another bullet whizzed past him, and another.The wolf danced out of theway with a few neat steps.Sean would have sworn it was laughing.He fumbled for his gun withhis left hand, but by the time he got it out, the wolf had disappeared. Mr.McCarrick! He heard Gus s voice through a haze of pain. Go after it, he said. Hunt it down! I can t leave you like this, Gus said. I ve got to bind up your arm, and Sean lashed out blindly, catching Gus across the face. I want that vermin s hide, do you hear? Iwant it skinned alive. El knelt beside Gus. He s half-crazy, Gus, he whispered. We got to get him back to the houseright quick, else he ll bleed to death. A long shadow blocked the sun from Sean s face. Now, wouldn t that be a cryin shame. Sean raised his head, struggling to focus on the man standing over him.Renshaw, grinning justlike the wolf, all teeth and bloodlust.Joey leaned against him, shivering but smiling just astriumphantly. You done a very stupid thing, Sean, Renshaw said in a low, easy voice. You hurt one of myboys. Sean pushed himself to one elbow, cradling his mangled arm against his chest. Gus, he said, help me up. I think you d best stay put, Gus said, the words coming out as if someone were holding him bythe throat. Bride of the Wolf 19th Century Werewolf 06 Page 71 of 236 That s right good advice, Renshaw said.He glanced down at Sean s wet trousers. Best sendyour boys to bring you some clean britches before the Blackwells see what a coward you are. The humiliation almost gave Sean the strength to rise, but he couldn t get any farther than hisknees.His gun had fallen to the dirt beside him.He felt for it carefully, pretending to catch hisbalance.Renshaw s boot connected with his wrist, knocking his arm from under him. Now, that ain tpolite, he said as Sean lay drowning under another wave of agony. Joey, you have anythin tosay to this fly-blown skunk? Joey spat with perfect aim at Sean s feet and leaned more heavily against Renshaw.Theforeman shifted his hold around the boy s shoulders. We got to get you home, he said gently.His eyes fixed on Sean again, tearing at Sean s fleshas viciously as the wolf s teeth had done. I can t give you the whuppin you deserve right now,but this ain t the last you ll be hearin from me.I ain t no little boy. He turned his back on Sean,every motion shouting his contempt, and helped Joey into his saddle.He jumped up behind theboy, took the roan s reins and urged the horse alongside his own waiting mount while Joeyslumped against his chest. Help me up! Sean snarled.Gus and El lifted him to his feet.He pulled off his bandanna withone hand and tried to bind it around his arm, compelled to accept Gus s help to tie it off.Hewas already weak from pain and loss of blood, but if he were of a mind to be grateful, he wouldhave been forced to admit that he was lucky to be alive.A slightly different angle of attack andthe wolf could have torn out his throat.The torment was excruciating as the hands half carried Sean to his horse and maneuvered himinto the saddle.He refused to allow the animal to be led; he d already shown far too muchweakness in front of the men.He looked over his shoulder.Renshaw and the boy had gone only a short distance, movingslowly to accommodate Joey s lacerated back.Sean turned Ulysses around to watch them.Theywere still within rifle range for a man with the necessary skill. Shoot him, he ordered Gus.Gus and El stared at him as if he d lost his mind. I don t want you to kill him.I just want to give him a little taste of what he can expect if heever tries to make good on his threats. But& but, Mr.McCarrick, he ll come after me. I ll protect you. Bride of the Wolf 19th Century Werewolf 06 Page 72 of 236 But he s You ll be safe from him at Blackwater, but you won t be safe from me. Like most men, Gus was ill equipped to conceal his true feelings.He was scared to death morescared, at the moment, of Sean than Renshaw.He pulled his rifle from its scabbard and lifted itto his shoulder.He was good.Sean saw Renshaw jerk and slap his hand against his shoulder.Sean wheeledUlysses in a tight circle and rode down the other side of the hill, Gus and El on his heels.He onlyslowed when he was sure that Renshaw hadn t come after them.His assumption had been accurate; the foreman was soft when it came to the boy.He wouldwant revenge, but he wasn t going to seek it at Joey s expense.Sean reined Ulysses to face the hands, swallowing a cry of agony.They refused to meet hisgaze. You didn t see what happened here today, he said in his softest voice.El blinked and licked his lips. I wouldn t say nothin , Mr.McCarrick. Sean looked at Gus.He was hesitating just a little too long. Do you have some difficulty with my request? Sean asked.The hand kept his eyes fixed on the ground. Won t Renshaw tell? That was a question Sean had already asked himself and answered with hardly any thought atall.Renshaw wouldn t have the nerve to approach the law or the Blackwells.He wouldn t tellanyone in Javelina.There was no predicting what he would say to Rachel, but Sean didn t thinkRenshaw would involve a woman.His pride would prevent it.He would keep the whole incidentto himself until he could take justice into his own hands. He won t talk, Sean said. He knows my word is worth fifty times as much as his and theboy s. You are goin to protect me? Oh, yes.And you will always be on my side, Gus, because if you don t do as I tell you withoutquestion or complaint, I ll inform everyone that you tried to kill Renshaw. I& I understand, Mr.McCarrick. Gus s Adam s apple bobbed under his bandanna. What aboutthe wolf? I will inform the Blackwells of the attack and advise them to gather a hunting party, which I willlead myself. Bride of the Wolf 19th Century Werewolf 06 Page 73 of 236Neither of the hands had anything more to say.Sean ordered El to stay with the Blackwatercattle and told Gus to ride with him back to the house
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