Spirit of the Wolf by Loree Lough Read Free Book Online Page B

holding since he made the decision to put Matt's welfare ahead of his own.
    The first man held out a big, calloused hand. "Name's Luke. Luke Elliot," he said. "Sorry to make your acquaintance this-a way."
    He pumped the man's arm. " Chance Walker. This is Mark." Chance then gestured to Matt, who lay motionless on the ground, "and Matthew Beckley."
    For what seemed like an eternity, no one spoke. Finally, Mark broke the endless silence. "So what're we gonna do about Matt, fellers ?"
    Richie and Luke rubbed their bearded chins. "Well, we might - could help you whack d own a couple of those saplings over yonder," Richie said, nodding toward a thicket. " Wrap some blankets 'round 'em nice an' tight , and they’ll make a right passable litter."
    Chance placed a hand on Mark's shoulder. "Stay here with your brother," he instructed, handing him the canteen and a neckerchief. "Dribble a bit of water on his lips from time to time."
    Mark immediately fell to his knees and began drizzling water over Matt's forehead and cheeks. "Hey, there, big brother," he said, his voice quaking slightly, "you'd better wake up and start thinkin' up some good excuses, 'cause when Bess sees that nasty rip in your britches, she's gonna give you the worst tongue lashin' of your life...."
    The men walked several hundred yards due east in search of strong, young saplings. It took several whacks of Luke's hunting knife to cut the small trees down, but soon, they were with the boys again.
    After placing all their blankets one atop the other, Chance tethered them to the now-branchless trees with strips of cotton torn from his shirttails and cuffs.
    Richie's contribution were two, long, leather bootlaces. Chance cut each in half, and used the four strings to bind the litter to his saddle girth. Once he'd tested it for strength and durability, Chance gently eased Matt's unconscious body onto the litter. Even out cold, the boy moaned with pain.
    "In his condition, it'll take us a day just to get him back to the house," Chance said to the group. To Mark, he added, "Ride on ahead and fetch the doc. See that he's waitin g when we get there, y'hear?"
    Mark climbed onto his horse and gathered the reins. "Yessir!"
    "And mind that you avoid those confounded mole holes . We've only got one litter, after all !"
    "Yessir!" the boy said again as he rode off.
    The men mounted their horses, too. "We were on our way to Morris Meadows," Richie said. " H eard-tell that Isaac Junior had a wagon for sale. Luke, here, wants to buy it for his girl. She's gettin' hitched next week." Richie elbowed his friend. "He's gonna deck it out in baubles an' bows for the weddin', ain't ya Luke?"
    The bigger man nodded. "Thought we'd take us a shortcut across Foggy Bottom. Sure would save us a heap o' travelin' time...."
    Chance patted his horse's withers to keep the agitated animal calm and still. "I'm foreman here," he informed them. "Anybody gives you any sass, you just tell 'em I gave you the go-ahead to cut through."
    Each man saluted with a fingertip to the brim of his hat. "Thanks, man," Richie said.
    "Hope the boy'll be all right," Luke said over his shoulder as they trotted off.
    "So do I," Chance said to himself. "So do I."
    ***
    Every few minutes, Chance looked back to check Matt's condition. When the boy finally woke up —nearly an hour after he'd fallen from the horse — Chance told him he'd have to work an extra half day to make up for his lazy afternoon nap. Matt, despite being drowsy and in obvious pain, chuckled at Chance 's joke. He apologized repeatedly for causing so much trouble. "Pa is gonna be mighty upset," he said. "He's already got so much on his mind...."
    Chance couldn't help but wonder if the pain in Matt's voice was only due to his injuries , or to the distance Micah had put between himself and his sons. But the boy had lapsed back into unconsciousness before he could offer a word of assurance.
    He'd been two years younger than the twins when his own parents died.