An updated Cold Winter!

The wind was blowing and the air was freezing as Shelana walked from her car into her house. She had barely made it home before the snow began to fall. If she had been still out she never would have made it. Her drive is a mile long and curvy which makes traveling in snow dangerous, but she needed food for the storm and ventured out.

After she put everything away she lit the fire and started the stew. While peeling the potatoes she heard a sound from the back door. It was almost a cry. After looking out and seeing nothing she finished simmering the stew.

She counted the logs of wood and knew she'd need at least four more so she bundled up. Opening the door she found a wolf that was iced over. He must have been out and couldn't make it back to where he slept she thought.

"Damn, if you were a dog I'd take you in, but being a wolf I don't think that's wise." She told it.

After hauling the logs in, she decided that the wolf would be fine inside the porch and out of the wind and snow.

"Come, it will be warmer on the porch." It followed slowly, almost as if it were afraid of her. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just don't want to find a dead wolf in the morning." The wolf tilted its head as if trying to figure out what she was doing. Once inside she laid out a blanket and a bowl of water. "I'll bring you something warm to eat in a bit." she smiled and went in the house. She heard nails scraping on the wooden porch floor as the wolf moved to the blanket and turned several times before settling down to rest.

She tended the fire and read while her dinner was cooking. Every now and then she’d hear the canine walk to the bowl for a drink and then back to the blanket. She wondered what would have happened to him if she left outside.

She finished her bowl of stew, refilled it and took it out to the porch. The wolf had thawed out leaving a tan male wolf with an under-coating of grey. There was a white splash on its nose. What a gorgeous wolf she thought to herself. “Here you go; it is stew. I don’t know what else to feed you so it’ll have to do. Oh my! You need more water; I’ll be right back with it.”

When she returned the stew was gone and the wolf was looking at her as if he was thanking her. “You’re welcome.” She said as she went back to reading.

The wolf began to pace back and forth across the porch. Shelana got up to check out what had him so antsy. He looked at the door as she opened it and he whined. “What do you need? Do you need outside?” she asked and went to open the front door. He lunged at her, knocking her down. “What was that?”  The wolf straddled her and sat down. Making a growly noise he shook his head. “Ok, I get it. You don’t need out. Get off now.” He didn’t move. “You’re starting to scare me.” That was what got him to move. “Do you understand me?” She thought it was silly but he was acting as if he did. The wolf just tilted his head. That’s when she heard a shot in the woods, too close to her house for the neighbors. She crawled into the house with the wolf on her tale. Reaching for the phone she heard another shot ring out. She dialed the sheriff’s number.

“Hey Robert, I have someone out here shooting off their shot gun.” She told him

“I know; there is a fugitive running out that way. Lock your doors and stay down. Whatever you do don’t let anyone in.”

“Thanks Robert.” Shelana hung up and repeated everything to the wolf while gathering blankets and her book so she could sleep on the floor. Once she was lying down the wolf came up sniffing her. Once around her and he lay down behind her knees.

“Oh, you think you are going to protect me, huh?” she asked. He just looked up and stared. “Ok, I see. That’s fine; just don’t go near the windows.” She fell asleep with his warm body heating her.

Shelana woke to something licking her face, not remembering the wolf she let in the night before. Opening her eyes, everything came back to her. “Thanks for the shower boys.” He whined and looked toward the door. “Let’s let you out.” Wagging his tail she let him out.

She got into the shower and was dressing when she heard the wolf howl. ‘Damn!’ she thought. ‘I better let him in and make sure he isn’t hurt.’ She always worried about the wildlife around her.

He came right in as she opened the door. “I’m going to check you to see if you’re hurt. OK boy?” He just whined. “It’s alright, I won’t hurt you.” She proceeded towards him, got to her knees and placed her hand on his head. Shelana petted him before moving towards his back. He laid down and exposed his belly. “Good boy.” She found nothing wrong; no cuts or blood. “You sure are a beautiful wolf. Your fur is so soft I could pet you all day. Now, I’m going to get breakfast. Will you eat eggs and bacon boy?” He got up and wagged his tail. ‘Gee, he acts as if he understands me.’ She thought.