Page 83 of Repentance and Absolution

“Neither do I,” Clarence agreed.

He walked to the front window and moved the curtain aside, peering out into the darkness. He was quiet for a moment. Then he cursed.

“What is it?” Irene said.

“Wolves. A whole pack of ’em. Maybe nine? Could be more.”

A chill slid up my spine.

We were safe, there in the house, and the animals were secure in the barn. The wolves couldn’t get at any of us. But the idea of being surrounded and unable to go outside without risking life and limb was not something I enjoyed, it turned out.

“I guess it’s a good thing we’d planned on staying the night,” Oscar said in a quiet, frightened voice.

The wolves started howling again, as if they were telling each other how clever they were to have trapped us here. Hopefully, they weren’t trying to figure out how long they’d have to pen us in before we got desperate. I reckoned they weren’tthatsmart. But they were intelligent animals—pack hunters that used strategy and cunning to get their prey. I knew that much.

“It’s all right. They can’t get at us or the horses.”

Clarence looked at me. “That’s true. But those horses are gonna need feeding and watering come morning.”

I gave a little nod. “Hopefully they’ll be gone by then.”

“Hopefully.”

“Well, there isn’t much we can do right now,” Irene muttered. “We might as well carry on with our evening. Those wolves can prowl around all they want, but they’re not going to ruin our fun.”

“Sure,” I said. “Let’s try and forget about ’em.”

We did try—and partly succeeded. T’would have been easier if they didn’t start howling every twenty minutes. There was a tension in the air, because we could sense them, and they could sense us. I only wondered when they’d give up hope that they could have us.

Oscar asked if Poke was safe in the stables at our place, in case the wolves gave up on us and went there.

“The stables are sturdy, and the door is latched. He’ll be just fine.”

I didn’t mention to Oscar that Poke would shudder in fear if a pack of wolves surrounded the stables and started howling, as they were doing here. I tried not to worry about that. Of course, even if this pack of wolves wasn’t right outside of the place in the morning, they might be nearby still. We’d have to be real careful doing the chores and riding out.

Anyway, there was nothing we could do about that now.

Clarence got out the whiskey and the gin and that settled some of our uneasiness. We played checkers and ate popcorn that Irene made and slathered with salt and butter. T’was just as pleasant as usual, only with this thing hanging o’er us that we knew we’d have to deal with tomorrow.

Around about midnight, I realized I hadn’t heard their howls in a while. I glanced at Clarence.

“You think they’re gone?”

“Maybe. Anyway, at least we’ll be able to sleep.”

Turned out that was a wildly optimistic statement. Clarence and Irene said goodnight and went into their bedroom and shut the door. Oscar and I laid out our bedrolls on the floor in the sitting room and doused the lamps. Before we went to bed, we peeked out of the curtains.

“I don’t see any,” Oscar said.

“Me, neither.”

The night seemed peaceful and quiet, though the moonlight showed us dozens of tracks in the snow outside.

Oscar and I huddled together in our union suits under the blankets, the fire banked but still providing heat, and the wood stove burning hot and bright between the hinges in the iron door. It took me a long time to fall asleep, although Oscar started snoring softly, wrapped safe in my arms.

I finally dozed off. When I woke, sunlight streamed in between the curtains and Oscar stirred in my arms.

“What time is it?” he whispered, covering my hand with his and playing idly with my fingers.