The Wolves

by Lucy S.

Chapter 1

            “Class dismissed” sounded like the best words to Andi after a long day of school. She ran down three of the schoolhouse steps and took a leap. Landing on the ground, Andi looked over at Cory. “Hey, Cory. Do you want to go frogging with me today?”

            “Sure, I’ll meet you there as soon as I’m done with my homework,” Cory responded.

            Waving over her shoulder, Andi skipped across the long patch of grass. Turning around, she saw Justin in the buggy, all ready and waiting for her. That’s surprising, Andi thought. Justin is usually late.

            “Hello, sweetie,” Justin said, helping Andi into the buggy. “How was school?”

            “It was okay,” Andi responded.

            Justin sat down next to Andi and reached for the reins. “Mother said to pick you up as soon as possible,” Justin remarked, getting the horse into a gallop.

            Andi jerked up her head. “Why?”

            “Well…” Justin said. “Many livestock have been killed on nearby ranches. It appears wolves have been doing it, although it seems odd to me, because they have been leaving the dead livestock behind. Just in case, however, Mother wants you home.”

            “Wolves?” Andi sighed, fell back on her seat, and tried not to think about what day it was going to be.

Now that wolves are here, Mother will keep me cooped up in the house all day, and I wanted to go frogging with Cory.

Chapter 2

            Arriving home safely, Andi finished her homework and chores. Skipping over to the kitchen where Mother and Luisa were preparing dinner, Andi sat down to watch them.

            While Luisa made chicken and mashed potatoes, Mother made corn and bread.

            “Mother?” Andi asked.

            “Yes, Andrea?” Mother said, rolling up the dough for the bread.

            “May I go please go frogging with Cory? I said I would.”

            Mother stopped and looked at Andi. “Andrea, I don’t know—”

            “But Mitch could go with me,” Andi cut in, looking over at her brother hopefully.

            “I don’t think so,” Mother said.

            “Well, Mother,” Mitch said, “I have to go brand some more cows near the creek. I’ll be in sight of Andi if something happens.”

            “Well…”
            “Please,” Andi begged.

            “Alright,” Mother agreed.

            “Thanks!” Andi said.

***

            Riding to her special spot with Cory at her side, Andi had nothing to worry about. Pushing a long, dark braid out of her face, she looked up to see Cory’s arms stretched out in front of her, urging her to stop. What’s wrong? Andi thought. She jerked on Taffy’s reins.

            Andi saw what appeared to be a large, black dog. It was caught in one of Chad’s traps that he’d set out for the wolves. She quickly jumped down from Taffy. With Cory following, Andi ran towards the dog.

            “What should we do?” Andi asked. “We can’t just leave her here.”

            Cory stroked the dog’s back, waiting a minute to reply. He pointed to the trap. “Help me open it,” he said.

            “Wait a minute,” Andi said, grabbing Cory’s arm. “This is too fast a decision. I think we should do something else.”

            Cory let go of the trap and sat down. “Like what?”

            “Letting her go is alright, but she’s hurt and can’t take care of herself.”

            “I know.” Cory leaped to his feet. “We’ll take care of her and keep her in your barn.”

            “Alright,” Andi agreed.

            After opening the trap, something odd happened. The dog didn’t want to go with them. She started walking away. “Where’s she going?” Andi asked.

            “I don’t know,” Cory replied. “Let’s follow her.”

            Near Andi, where she had been with the dog, was a small bush. The dog had climbed in, and Andi and Cory dashed over to the bush. Then they pushed away the leaves and peered in.

            “Aw.” Andi gasped at the sight of three little puppies lying next to the dog they’d rescued.

Andi held up one of the puppies to Cory. “Look, Cory. She has babies!”

Cory picked one up, but then looked at Andi. “Yeah, they’re nice,” Cory said. “But how are we going to take them home?”

Andi’s smile turned to a frown. Andi looked at the dog and the puppies and thought, Cory is right. There’s no way we can take both the dogs and our horses home. Unless…

Andi quickly handed her puppy to Cory and ran to her horse. Andi grabbed her lasso and cloth bag off Taffy and ran back to Cory. “Here, look,” Andi said, sitting back down. “We can use my lasso to lead the dog, and use my bag to hold the puppies.”

“Okay,” Cory agreed.

Andi put the puppies in the bag and made sure the top was open so they could breathe. Cory tightened the rope around the big dog’s neck like a leash. Then they headed home.

    Chapter 3

            Mother sighed and sat down on the kitchen chair. “How are you doing, Luisa?” Mother asked.

            “I’m done right now, ma’am,” Luisa replied, putting away the last dish.

            “Well, I sure do not want to have cold food. I wonder where Andrea is at,” Mother said.

            “I bet the senorita is out in the barn.”
            “That’s a good idea,” Mother said. “Let’s go check.”
            “I can do it, ma’am.”

            “That’s alright, Luisa—we can both go.”

***

            As soon as Mother touched the barn door, she heard growling nearby. Looking over, she saw a herd of wild dogs coming close.

            “Quickly, Luisa, help me get the animals into the barn,” Mother said.

            Without wasting another second, Mother helped as many animals as she could into the barn. “Luisa, get in the barn,” Mother said.

            Once safely inside, Mother and Luisa slammed the door shut.

            “What’s wrong, Mother?” Andi said from the corner of the barn.

            Hearing Andi’s voice, Mother whirled around. Mother walked over and sat down next to Andi. “There’s a herd of wild dogs outside.”

            Mother looked over at Cory in surprise. “What’re you doing here, Cory? I thought you were at home having supper.”

            “Uh, well you see, Andi and me found these dogs and I wanted to feed them before I went home.”

            “Can we keep them, Mother?” Andi added eagerly.

            “Well—” Mother started.

Scritch-scratch!
            “Mother, what’s that sound?” Andi asked.

“I don’t know.” Mother looked over at the barn door.

“I’ll go see, senora.” Luisa got up from where she sat next to Mother.

Luisa checked around the barn, then looked down under the wall. “They’re digging through!” Luisa said suddenly.

Mother leaped to her feet and looked around. Then she pointed to the hayloft. “Quickly, everybody, up there!”

Andi climbed up to the hayloft. Luisa and Mother followed. “Wait a minute,” Andi said. She looked down from the hayloft. “Cory, grab the dog and her puppies!”

Cory leaped down from the ladder then handed the puppies, one at a time, to Andi.

“Cory, get up here,” Mother said frantically. “They’re coming in.”

Cory started climbing up the ladder. Halfway up, the wild dogs broke in. They charged at Cory. He gasped and tried to grab the next rung, but his fingers slipped.

“Cory!” Andi shrieked.

The dog Andi and Cory had rescued leaped up from where she had been laying in the corner of the barn. Then she began guarding Cory as he climbed back up the ladder. She snarled and bit at the dogs who were coming close.

Once Cory got up into the hayloft, he pushed the ladder to the ground and huddled next to Mother.

The barn door flung open. Shotguns went off.

Yes! Andi thought with joy. Someone has come to rescue us.

Justin pushed the ladder back into place. He appeared in the hayloft. “Is everybody alright?”

“Yes, Justin, we’re alright.” Mother sighed.

Andi leaped into Justin’s arms. “Thank you, Justin.”

“Well,” Justin said. “I wasn’t the only one who came.” He motioned behind him.

Chad, Mitch, and a few ranch hands stood there.

“Thanks,” Andi said to them.

“You’re welcome.” Justin pulled Andi into a hug.

“Oh no!” Cory said.

Andi whirled around. “What’s wrong?”

“Look,” he said, “the dog died protecting me.” Then he looked over at the puppies. “They don’t have a mother now. What should we do?”

Mitch climbed up the ladder into the hayloft and knelt down beside them. His mouth dropped open. “Uh, Cory? Andi? Those are wolves.”

            “Wolves?” Andi repeated. She clenched her teeth. Now what’re we going to do?