Page 21 of Scout’s Honor

“Strange how?”

“… blurry?” Dallas said, knowing how he sounded.

Aven smiled. “Is this a joke?”

Dallas shook his head. “Serious.”

Aven’s smile faded and concern replaced it. “No, they looked normal.”

“Oh,” Dallas said. Aven probably thought he was getting soft in the head. He changed the subject, pulling the cuff out of his pocket and handing it over.

“Warrior Woman came while me and Maze were talking to Thorn. She gave me that, and she attacked Maze with magical snakes when he tried to touch it.”

Aven searched his face like he was looking to see if Dallas was bullshitting him. Dallas shook his head. “Swear, Skree.”

Aven turned it over in his hands, examining the symbols. “What does it say?” he asked.

Dallas shrugged.

“Did you tell Jameson?” Aven asked.

Dallas shook his head. “I told him about Warrior Woman, but not the cuff.” He gave his friend a grave look. “I don’t know why, but it didn’t feel right.”

Aven spread his hands. “He’s the boss. He needs to know, especially something like this.”

Dallas nodded. “Okay. Okay.”

He would tell Jameson… when it seemed relevant.

13—Mystery Wolf, Mystery Cabin

Early the next morning, Bonhi stood at the checkout counter of the Black Bear Outfitting Company, a whitewater rafting and kayaking tour company positioned on the banks of the Nantahala River. The place was crowded and there were men everywhere, carrying paddles and boats and calling to each other loudly.

Bonhi was buying hiking boots and more bear spray. Her private investigator was out of the state and his backup was busy, so she was on her own. She was a little out of her element, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She had a case to win.

Because she had no private investigator, she’d filed a motion for another 48-hour extension, knowing Judge Sturn wouldn’t like it, but also knowing Judge Sturn would like it even less if she asked for it at the last minute.

She went out to her car and put on her hiking boots, pulling the cuffs of her jeans down over them. The bear spray was big, like a small fire extinguisher, and she didn’t know where to put it. She finally decided to hold it in her hand. Tucking it into the backpack she wore might mean it took too long to get out if she came upon a bear. A family jogged past her, laughing, wearing life jackets and helmets, and carrying a bright yellow raft over their heads.

All suited up, she checked the map Vernon had drawn for her, and then she set out on her way, bear spray in one hand, map in the other. She hit the trail and started walking, rather enjoying herself. Maybe she should get out and do her own investigation work more.

An hour later, she decided she would never set foot in the field again. Her legs ached and she was developing a blister on one of her toes. Her shirt stuck to her, and mosquitos buzzed around her head.

Panting, she crested a small rise and stopped short at the view. A circular pool of water spread out in front of her, and though she had no way to tell, it felt deep. Willow trees lined it, making it look like something out of a fairytale.

Cove Springs—It was the last landmark before she got to the cabin.

It was quiet. There was no birdsong or frog noises, or even bugs buzzing. The water was unnaturally still. No leaves floated on the surface; no dragonflies landed and took off. The pool could have been made of glass.

Exhausted, Bonhi slumped to the ground to just sit for a little while. The sun beat down on her from overhead, and she sought the shade of a large bush, sitting on the ground for several moments, her feet throbbing.

In the quiet, she heard a cellphone ringing. She peeked out but saw nothing. The phone rang again and Bonhi peeked out of the other side of the bush, looking until she saw something big and dangerous lope through a copse of nearby trees.

Bonhi held her breath, her arms and legs shaking, her eyes wide. Something stepped out into the open… it was the White Wolf of Nantahala!

Pure white from muzzle to tail and bigger than any wolf should ever be, he stopped and stood proud and erect. His ears twitched in all directions, listening. The cell phone rang again, and it seemed to be coming from the wolf’s body!

Bonhi watched, entranced, her fear forgotten in her elation that such a marvelous legend could be true.