The Lady in the Mist (The Western Werewolf Legend #1)

  ***

  "Where did you find him?" Sonja's words held frustrated impatience.

  "At the battle site." Hortence checked the crockery jar Sonja kept cookies in and helped herself to one. "Keep an eye on him, I said!" She wagged a finger at Sonja. "But did you listen?"

  Sonja scowled at the old woman. "I can't be everywhere at once. I left him on the porch when I went to gather something for dinner from the garden." Unable to decide if her words had even registered, she scrutinized Hortence closely. Unperturbed, the old woman closed her eyes over the last bite of cookie murmuring to herself.

  "Good." Hortence smacked her lips together in satisfaction.

  "I can take care of myself," Ty called from the bed.

  He'd been fuming since Hortence had escorted him home. Sonja couldn't help herself as she stepped to the door. Wagging a spoon, she gave him her most serious glare. "Yes, we see how well you take care of yourself, Lieutenant." The emphasis on the words proved she respected his words very little.

  "I don't need a woman worrying about me. I've been doing just fine for thirty years. I 'spect I'll be able to do the same for thirty more." His tone held his temper. Sonja had wheeled away from the portal before she said something she would regret. Checking on the pot of stew on the stove, she cut a glaring look at Hortence, who eyed the cookie crock again. "Are you staying for supper?" Sonja asked with impatience in her voice.

  Hortence ideally glanced in her direction before giving her a shrug and venturing over to the door to peer at their patient more closely. "His color's coming back. His pupils are the right size. He'll be fine."

  Ty glared back at her and grimaced. "What are you looking at?" he growled.

  She said nothing, merely stared speculatively.

  "Go on, old woman, before I get up from here to send you on your way."

  "You may want to hear what I have to say, Rebel."

  Ty's grumbled response was not understandable to either of the women.

  "There's a man in my cabin who says he was held prisoner by Yankees at a prisoner of war camp nearby."

  Sonja turned to Hortence. "There's no prisoner of war camp nearby."

  Hortence glanced in her direction before nodding in agreement. "He said the place resembled hell on earth to be sure." She glanced back at Ty. "He's in pretty bad shape, this fellow. Says he escaped there two or three nights back." Hortence stared at Ty, waiting. When the recollection came, he sat up in the bed.

  "My unit was attacked several nights back. What's his name?"

  "Goes by Clemons," Hortence said.

  "Jebediah? Jebediah Clemons?"

  Ty's voice held hope, Sonja mused. He had told her plain, he had an obligation to find out what happened to as many of his men as he could. She dried her hands, before walking over to the bedroom door. "What are you planning, Lieutenant?"

  He glanced in her direction before throwing the covers back. "I don't know yet until I talk to Jeb."

  "He doesn't need to be walking on that leg yet," Hortence observed as Sonja checked the stew once more.

  "Keep your opinions to yourself, witch. I don't need you butting into my business."

  Sonja appeared in the door. "She's my guest. Besides, you have no say in the matter, since this isn't your house." With a curt nod for emphasis, she disappeared again.

  "Oh, for the love of God!" The bed ropes sang out as Ty flopped back on the mattress. "I'm prisoner in a house of opinionated women."

  "He has spirit. That's good," Hortence said as she continued to stare into the bedroom. With a splinter of wood she pulled from her pocket, the old woman picked at her teeth, giving each careful attention.

  The sucking sound she made when she had finished grated on Sonja's nerves, but she had questions she needed answering before Hortence disappeared as she tended to do at any minute. "The stew has to simmer. Let's go out on the porch to let the lieutenant rest." She glanced at him as he lay staring at the ceiling with his jaw clenched in what Sonja could imagine meant temper about to boil over.

  "I've been having a hard time sleeping lately," she told Hortence. Shuffling the old woman out the door, she settled in one of the chairs and reached out to pet the goat when he came up wanting attention.

  The old woman nodded. "This is all part of the change. You have a great capacity for caring, my child."

  Sonja frowned at the statement. "I guess so."

  Hortence glanced out at the sky with its dwindling light. The moon's phase is less than a week away. Soon you'll experience the awakening. Are you ready?"

  Grounding down on her molars, Sonja closed her eyes to wish for patience. Talking to Hortence always resembled a test. Of that, she had no doubt. "If I knew what to plan for, I'd be ready, but since you haven't shared any of that with me, how can I be?" Her voice rose as she glanced at the door. The lieutenant shouldn't hear their conversation.

  Hortence followed her gaze. "Don't worry. He's asleep. He doesn't need to concern himself with needless worries." She waved a hand in the air and winked at Sonja.

  Sonja cut a cool eye at Hortence. "You cast a spell over the lieutenant."

  Hortence merely shrugged.

  Sonja searched the porch rafters for divine intervention. Her normalcy continued to spin out of control. Wanting to scold the old woman for interfering in Sonja's house had the blood heating in her veins. "What will happen once I change?"

  "That will be up to you, my child." Hortence sat back and laced her fingers over her belly. "You will see as the wolf sees and understand apprehension, danger, friend, and foe. I can give you this much." She wagged a bony finger at Sonja. "How you use that knowledge will tell the tale."

  Sonja pursed her lips in consideration. "You mean I will have free will? I'll be able to decipher good from evil?"

  Hortence let out a cackle that sent the night birds fluttering off in all directions. "Yes, my child. You'll be able to choose good over evil. To recognize the danger in time to react." She slapped both gnarled hands on her thighs. "My work here is done." She rose.

  "Wait!" Sonja jumped up as well. "I still have questions. I still need answers. Like." She waved toward the door. "What will I do with him while I'm a werewolf?" She hated the anxiety in her voice.

  "Ah, planning is good." Hortence reached into the pocket of her skirt and brought out a small leather pouch. "On the night of the full moon, give this to him in his dinner. He'll sleep like a baby."

  Sonja looked down at the pouch in her hand. Scanning Hortence's face, she nodded. If she understood, she would incapacitate the man with a sleeping potion. Clutching the pouch tight to her chest, she took a deep breath before her nerves got the better of her. The very idea distressed her. She would drug the lieutenant so he would not follow. Sonja had to admit the plan sounded good. Before she could share the opinion, the old woman disappeared. So much for dinner guests.