Chapter One

Rachel Douglas shivered beneath the brittle cottonwood. The light was failing, but she could see the wolf's spiky fur. He watched her, head lowered, shoulder blades making peaks in his back. Though he was a dozen paces from her, she smelled his hot, fetid breath. She squeezed the stick she held until the bark pricked her palms.

"Ellie, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she whispered to the little girl in the tree above her. Whimpers were her answer. "You're going to have to get yourself back to the wagon train." More whimpers. "Do you hear me, Ellie?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"Do you know which way is west?"

"No. Miss Rachel, please don't stay down there." Rachel heard the catch in Ellie's voice. "He's gonna eat you. Please, ma'am, please come up here."

"You'll have the sun on your back in the morning and on your face in the afternoon," Rachel continued, ignoring the child's plea. "Stay close to the river. Are you listening to me, Ellie?"

"I can't do it." She was crying now, in full-belly sobs that excited the wolf. He growled, his lips wrinkled into a snarl, baring white fangs. Rachel steeled herself to the heart-wrenching sound of Ellie's fear as she considered the animal before her.

Wolves had often followed the wagon train, but Rachel had only seen them from a distance. Captain Norbeck said they wouldn't attack people. What was wrong with this one? White foam dribbled from his long jaw, and his steps were unsteady, his strong legs wobbly. He coughed and shook his head, sending spittle everywhere before settlin