Heart of the wolf Read Online Free PDF

were not unusual in traversing the mountains and jungles. And judging from the black-and-purple bruises showing on Sarah's thin ankles above her hiking boots, her injuries were extensive.
    Settling Sarah on the plastic-covered seat of the forest-service truck, Wolf ordered Skeet into the rear of the vehicle. He always carried a wool blanket for emergencies, and now he covered Sarah with it. Hurrying back up the slope of the mountain, Wolf retrieved both rifles and slid back down to the muddy, little-used road.
    Hospital or cabin? Wolf's hands tightened on the steering wheel as he turned the vehicle and headed back out. The forest blocked out the stormy sky. The trees reminded him of soldiers standing stiffly at attention. Thunder rolled ominously, and it began to rain again. The already muddy road became worse. The truck didn't have four-wheel drive—and that was exactly what he'd need to make it the eight miles to the main highway.
    " Dammit ," he whispered, glancing down at Sarah. Her hair, the color of sunlight, despite the mud, lay limply around her face, her thick braid curving across her shoulders. Once again he was stuck making do with little help. It seemed that every time one of his friends got wounded, there wasn't a prayer of a helicopter rescue or a nearby hospital. And this was no exception. The road was turning ugly, and Wolf knew he couldn't make it many more miles without getting stuck. It looked like Sarah would get her wish. At this point they'd be lucky to make it to her cabin—a hell of a welcome for his first day on the job. He reached for the radio that would link him with headquarters in Philipsburg. Maybe he could get someone out to rescue them. To his dismay, the radio didn't work. Apparently the unit had shorted out.
    Wolf slammed his palm against the steering wheel in disgust, then gingerly began turning the truck to head for Sarah's cabin.

    Sarah resisted pulling awake until a combination of pain and the crash of thunder forced her to open her eyes. The bare hardwood beams on the ceiling of her cabin met her gaze. Slowly, heeding her stiff, sore body's complaints, she moved one arm from beneath the blanket covering her. Frowning, she realized she was dressed in one of her long cotton nightgowns.
    "The thunder wake you?" Wolf asked, rising from the hand-hewn oak rocker nearby. He watched Sarah's drowsy state turn to terror and then subside into a guardedness when she recognized him. Why was she so fearful? What was going on?
    "You!"
    Wolf nodded and halted by her bed, which occupied a corner of the cabin. He placed his hands on his hips. "Why not me?"
    Sarah refused to meet Wolf's cool, steady eyes. "How did I get here?" she demanded, her voice scratchy. Then she realized that not only was she in her nightgown, but she'd been cleaned up, as well. Her hair was wrapped in a towel that smelled like mud. Her alarm growing, she met Wolf's unreadable gray gaze. "And who cleaned me up? And how did I get into my nightgown?"
    "Guilty on all counts." Wolf crouched next to her and carefully removed the blanket covering her feet. "You were out like a light, so I did the best I could to clean you up. Your hair still needs to be washed." He noticed that the swelling had gotten worse since he'd removed her boots two hours earlier.
    "I don't care about my feet!" Sarah struggled to sit up in bed, her every movement excruciating. "You undressed me!"
    "I didn't have a choice," Wolf said in a quiet tone, holding her blazing blue gaze. "You were going hypothermic on me. I had to get you out of those clothes and into something warm. But first I had to clean you up."
    "You had no right!"
    "I had every right, dammit . Why don't you say thank you for saving your neck instead of chewing me out? In case you don't know it, that One of thunderstorms across the mountains is still hanging around. You could've frozen to death out there tonight."
    Chastened, Sarah picked nervously at the quilt covering her. Her mother had made it