Grace was just hopping out of Zack's lap just as that rhinestone cowboy had to pipe in to her business. And then never-failing, Marette who was clearly drunker than a alcoholic on payday. Hefting the strap of her gun over her shoulder, she was casting both of them a weary look. Trying to think of what she could say that
wouldn't be offensive. Jack was trying to avoid a bar room brawl, after all, and she just wasn't in the mood.
"All in their nature up until the maul somebody's kid, eh? Go sleep off the booze, Marette. And you-" she pointed over at Alex, "mind your own business, Sparkles."
She squeezed Zack's arming, giving a lopsided grin. "I'll see you tonight." Then she was leaving the bar before anyone else decided to get chatty. Sure it was great living in those small quaint towns where everyone knew everyone, but hashing out those same tired old arguments every time someone tossed back a few beers got old real fast.
Saraliya was sneering at Zack even after Grace left. As if him protecting his fragile human girlfriend weren't bad enough, having a couple of the meatbags stand up defending wolves was laughable. Grace Colton had one thing right. Saraliya would
love to chew on their bones and maul them to pieces.
"Whatsa matter, Zackie? Gettin' too hot for ya? What. Ever. You know Nat's about as dangerous as a fly." Rolling her eyes, Saraliya stepped away for a second, and sent a hand flying out until collided with the back of Jason's head. "THANKS A LOT. By the way. Look at the shit you just caused! I'm probably going to find the fuzzed up twat puking her guts up at home."
Meanwhile, Grace's trip home wasn't a long one. She had her pop's old beat up truck. Just as she was pulling in to the driveway, a couple of her cousins came running out of the house to greet her. The eldest boy was fawning over the new gun, while a couple of the little ones blabbered about wanting mac and cheese for dinner.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Grace, hey, hey, hey! Are we gonna play Candyland tonight? Is Zack coming over? Can I shoot the gun?"
"No way, you're too young for the gun. Can -I- shoot it? We got an hour or so before sunset!"
Grace snatched the gun back from the teen. It wasn't loaded, but knowing these kids they'd still find a way to shoot themselves in the face and get her in trouble. "Cut that out, your parents would kill me. Everybody done their homework, right?"
An hour of making sure cousins were fed and entertained went by before Grace was able to untangled herself to get back to work. She had one of the rifles loaded and a flashlight in hand when she stepped outside to walk the grounds. The sky had beautiful orange hues where the sun was setting to the west. Casting soft, quiet shadows over the ranch where the trees and surrounding mountains were blocking out the last of the light.
Starting close to the house, she checked in on all the small animals. Chickens, pigs, goats. No tracks besides the scattered foot prints of her family and the Ranch staffers. Next she walked off to the horse stables. A few stomping hooves the only complaint about her intrusion. Each of the beasts bedded down for the night in their stalls.
Everything was all routine. By the time she headed out to the field where most of the cows were snoozing and having an evening meal, Grace didn't notice anything wrong at first. Her headcount was off by one, and thinking she miss-counted she did it three more times before she was concerned. Now she held up her rifle, stepping through the grass looking for tire tracks or footprints. Signs of thieves. What she found was definitely footprints, but not human. Wolf! Grace came across a patch of grass, bloodied from a struggle and then a path where the carcass must have been dragged.
A lot of 'told-you-sos' were running around in her head as she cocked the rifle and followed the drag path. Here was proof wolves didn't do anything but kill and eat! Grace stopped cold when the cow's body came in to view. There, still chowing down was a wolf, a
huge wolf. Bigger than she had ever seen one! White fur stained red with blood. Grace didn't even give it a second shot as she aimed and fired.
The wolf went down with a strangled yelp! The body hitting the ground just a few paces away from the carcass from the force of the shot. Grace stood still for a moment, rifle aimed and ready, but when the critter didn't move she inched forward. The amount of blood everywhere had her stomach churning from the smell. An entire portion nearly the size of the wolf itself was missing from the cow. Obviously it had been gorging itself on the meat.
Grace cocked the rifle again, aiming at the wolf's head to make sure it was dead. But the moment of that
click there was a sudden SNARL. Off the ground the wolf lept, tackling Grace to the ground! Her gun when swinging out of her hands, landing somewhere in the distance out of reach. As she was screaming, the wolf had her arm clamped down in it's jaw, growling and holding even while Grace struggled to get herself loose. Her other hand grasped at the dirt, flinging it up in to the wolf's face as she tried to kick it off her. Just as suddenly as it pounded, it released her arm. Whimpering in pain as it took off in to the trees with it's tail between it's legs.
For a moment, Grace lay there trying to catch her breath and flexing her fingers to make sure her arm was still attached. Nothing felt broken, but then wasn't
feeling it yet either. Those teeth were so sharp they had cut through her skin and muscle like it was nothing.
But the feeling was starting to come back real fast. Hissing to herself, Grace struggled to her feet and headed back to the house as fast as she could walk. Her gun and flashlight left behind. When she stepped inside, there were a few startled squeals, that she quickly silence with a SHUSH and order to go upstairs.
"Holy shit, Gracie, what happened?!" asked one of the teens, looking white as sheet.
"Don't curse. An accident, watch the kids for me." Grace muttered through clenched teeth. She stopped at the kitchen skin, trying to rinse away as much of the blood as she could before snatching up a kitchen towel and wrapping her arm with it. "Don't let ANY one go outside, tonight."
Keys and a cellphone in hand, Grace trotted out to the truck. It was a pain in the ass trying to get on the phone and pulled out of the driveway, but she managed. She dialed the local doctor's house. "Margie, I am on my way to the clinic, is your husband in? Got myself a nice little bite..."
"Another one? Oh lords it's one of those nights! Honey, he's already at the clinic now waiting on a patient. Those rangers at the station called in about an accident with Charlie Morris, and it sounded awful. You go one and get yourself down there."
When Grace hung up the phone and continued on her way to the Raymond clinic, she was left wondering
another one, what? Accident or wolf?
SUMMARY: Grace blows off both Alex and Marette as she leaves the Howling Hippo. She goes back home to do her rounds, where she finds a WOLF (Natasha) eating up one of her cows. She shoots the wolf! When she goes in for the kill shot, the wolf bites back! Calling the doc to meet her at the clinic, Grace discovers he's already there and waiting...as the rangers called in about Charlie. DUN DUN DUN.
I'm just about to reply to the man's question when everything seems to happen at once.
