Page 90 of Repentance and Absolution

What in tarnation?

I heard them before I saw them—the jangle of harnesses and the whoosh of a sleigh, and Clarence’s voice yelling out, “Haw, haw! Go on! Git!” as he rode his team hard and fast toward the pack of wolves in our yard.

The wolves scattered, but not before Irene had aimed and shot at one of them. Oscar and I watched as the wolf jerked back and fell, blood oozing from a fatal shot to the side. T’was so quick it didn’t even cry out.

The sight of Irene Trelawney, standing up in the sleigh, wearing a buffalo coat like Clarence and aiming her rifle at those goddamned wolves, would be seared into my memory for the rest of my sorry life.

She aimed at another wolf and shot again, hitting her target, while Clarence kept up his yelling and yipping.

“Stay here,” I said to Oscar. “Don’t you dare leave this house!”

“I won’t,” he said, and I believed him. He was glued to the window, watching our rescuers disperse the wolves that had kept us pinned all night and most of the day.

I jammed on my boots and grabbed my rifle. Making sure there weren’t any wolves right out front, I unlatched the door, stepped out into the snow and shut it behind me. I heard the latch click as I raised my rifle, scanning the snow for the retreating pack.

Chapter Nineteen

A Wagon Ride

“They’re gone,” Clarence said. “My wife scared them away.”

He slapped his thigh and laughed, the sound ringing in the air.

“I reckon they won’t be back,” I said, grinning.

Irene, still upright in the sleigh like a warrior priestess, her hair gathered in an untidy bun, face flushed and a huge smile spanning her pretty face, lowered her rifle and nodded. “I got three of those bastards. Did you see me, Clarence?”

“I saw you. I did.”

“Jimmy? Did you see?”

“Mrs. Trelawney, you may be as good a shot as I am.”

“Is that good?”

She delivered that line so serious that for a moment I took it to heart and felt a bit…insulted. But then I saw the glint in her eye, and all the stress from the last twenty-four hours came out in huge breathless guffaws. I was laughing so loud I almost didn’t hear Oscar’s voice.

“Can I open the door? I feel like I’m missing a party.”

“Sure. No wolf is gonna go near that woman—or any place she’s ever been, I figure.”

The latch scraped, the door swung open and Oscar grinned, squinting into the sunlight.

“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!” he said. Then he frowned, as if the words he’d said had jogged an unwelcome thought.

He glanced at me, and I saw the memories of an outlaw being blown to bits all o’er him by a perfectly aimed bullet.

I shook my head. We didn’t have to revisit that right now.

Oscar’s smile returned, though t’was somewhat shaky. “Well, Jimmy’s a good shot, too. I feel so protected with the two of you watching my back…and Clarence.”

Clarence hitched the horses and got out of the sleigh. He walked around and helped Irene down. Irene leaned her rifle in the front of the sleigh and gave her hand to Clarence.

“My lady,” Clarence said, leading her down like an empress.

“Good sir.”

Clarence wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight, kissing her on the lips with obvious passion. Irene giggled like a girl and let herself be manhandled.