Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon Read Free Book Online Page A

not as bad as they’d been in the early summer, mosquitoes still pestered him. He slapped one of the annoying insects dining on his forearm, then flicked off its remains.
    Don’t recall feasting bugs in San Francisco. His mind carried him back to his home. He remembered cool summer days with fog-laden mornings, and sunlight gleaming off the bay. He missed it. But there was nothing for him there, nothing but reminders of all that he’d lost and the shrieking blare of guilt.
    He took another drink. He’d add one more tree to the cart, then go back to the house and get Buck and Jackpot. The two of them should be able to pull the load easily enough. He replaced the lid on the canteen and looped it over the cart handle.
    A branch cracked in the underbrush. Paul studied the dense woodland, but didn’t see anything. Breathing easy, he listened. Something was out there—he could feel it. Cautiously he moved to the tree where he’d left his rifle. He picked it up, cocked it, and waited.
    And then there was something . . . a shadow that moved in the deep green. A grizzly? This time of year, the huge carnivores were scavenging the last of the berries and any grubs they could find before denning up .
    Several minutes passed, and when Paul heard nothing else, he decided whatever it was had moved on. He rested the gun against a tree and walked to a downed birch and set to work, hacking off limbs with his axe. Then, from the corner of his eye he caught movement.
    He straightened just as a wolf darted into the shadows. His heart rate picked up and he grabbed his rifle. The large canine came out of hiding. Its golden eyes stared, challenging him. This wasn’t normal behavior .
    Paul kept his gaze fixed on the animal. Its lips curled back and it showed its teeth. A snarl came from deep in its throat. Paul held his gun ready. The wolf took a step toward him. To his left he heard the snap of a branch. Another wolf appeared. Like the first, it stared at Paul. And then there were three . . . four . . .
    Tension ignited the air. Paul barely breathed. Palms sweaty, he gripped his rifle. This was bad. How could he hold off a whole pack?
    The predators paced back and forth. Paul took a step up the trail, then another. They kept their distance. Maintaining eye contact with the wild animals, Paul moved toward the cabin, one determined step at a time. They followed.
    Although wolves were not known for their aggression toward humans, Paul’s mind raged with stories of attacks. He’d never been overly concerned about the predators, but now had to fight to quiet his racing imagination.
    Before he could see the cabin, he heard the fierce barking of his dogs. They knew the wolves were here.
    The first one who’d shown himself moved closer. He’s most likely the alpha. Paul counted them again—one, two, three, four, five . . . six. Were there more? They kept pacing and darting in and out of the underbrush, tongues lolling, yellow eyes staring.
    He raised his rifle and fired one shot into the air. They backed off, but only momentarily. Paul kept moving. They were all around him. He took longer steps and fought panic that told him to run.
    The cabin was close now. He could see his dogs lunging on their leads. A large wolf sprang at Paul. He lowered the rifle and shot. A blast and a yelp splintered the air. The animal fell. Another charged from the opposite direction. Paul fired again. This time he missed and the wolf seized his upper arm, tearing cloth and flesh. Pain flashed through Paul’s bicep.
    He pushed his rifle against the animal’s gut and pulled the trigger. The wolf dropped to the ground, lifeless. The others kept their distance. Paul finally made the porch steps where he stood with his back to the cabin. His dogs strained against their leads, snarling and barking viciously. If the pack came at them, they’d have no chance while tethered, but Paul dared not release them. I should have closed them in the shed , he thought, angry with