“It is only the dog that belongs to Pierre, the owner of the trading post,” Dancing Cloud said, as he steadied his own steed. “It is a way to let Pierre know someone is advancing on his cabin. It is good that he is cautious. The pelts and the ginseng at his trading post, if stolen, could make a white man wealthy in the way white men measure wealth.”
“How can the dog know if whoever is approaching the cabin is friend or foe?” Lauralee said, her eyes wide as she watched the large German shepherd run toward them.
“You will soon see,” Dancing Cloud said, drawing his steed to a halt. He dismounted and settled on his haunches as the German shepherd came to him, his tail wagging, his tongue searching out Dancing Cloud’s hand, licking it.
“Good dog,” Dancing Cloud said, smiling up at Lauralee. “He can tell by smell and attitude if he is among foe or friend.” He gestured with a hand for Lauralee to come to him. “Come. Pet him. You will have a friend for life.”
Remembering another day, another time, another dog, a beautiful collie, brought Paul Brown to mind. She would always remember Paul Brown with much affection. If she had not already met Dancing Cloud she could have felt so much more for Paul.
Deep down inside her heart she knew that she had for a brief moment allowed herself to love him. She would never forget his mesmerizingly blue eyes nor his gentle kindness.
She wished everything good on this earth for him.
Casting thoughts of another man from her mind, not wanting guilt for having thought of Paul Brown to ruin this day for her, Lauralee slid from her saddle to the ground. She went and knelt down beside Dancing Cloud, giggling when the large dog’s tongue soon found her cheek and eagerly licked it. She wrapped her arms around its neck and gave it a hug.
“I’ve always wanted a dog,” she murmured. “A dog all my own. There was one at the orphanage. Only one for so many people to love and hug. I scarcely ever got my turn before the dog was taken back outside to its pen.”
“You will no longer be deprived of anything,” Dancing Cloud said, swinging himself back in his saddle. “Stay. Enjoy the dog’s company. But don’t wait long. Come to the trading post soon. I’ll go on to Pierre’s cabin and start unloading my horse.”
Lauralee nodded. She watched him ride away, then hugged the dog and played with it, laughing.
Then recalling her fears earlier of feeling watched, she pushed herself to her feet, grabbed her reins, and walked toward the cabin that she now saw in the clearing up ahead.
She paused again to pat the dog’s head, then gave it another hug.
But she drew sharply away from the German shepherd when it suddenly bared its teeth and growled low and menacingly.
“I thought we were friends,” Lauralee said, slowly backing away from him.
The dog made a lunge.
Thinking it was toward her, a scream froze in Lauralee’s throat.
She was surprised when it jumped on past her in several wide bounces.
Just as she turned to see what it might be after, thinking perhaps it was a squirrel or some such forest animal, Lauralee felt faint when the dog was stopped in midair by a knife as it came whizzing through the air.
“No!” Lauralee cried, as the German shepherd fell heavily to the ground, the knife lodged in its right shoulder.
She moved to her knees beside the dog as he lay panting, its eyes hazed over with pain. She started to touch him, to try and comfort him.
Lauralee sucked in a wild breath of terror when the one who had done this to the dog stepped out into the clearing, his blue eyes almost hypnotizing her.
She didn’t have time to get up and run.
Nor did she have time to scream.
Clint McCloud was there too quickly.
Leering down at her, he lifted his rifle and brought the butt end of it down across the back of her head.
Lauralee’s body lurched from the blow. She grabbed at her head, then sank to the ground, unconscious.
“Got’cha!” Clint snarled.
He gagged Lauralee with his handkerchief and tied her hands together behind her, tied her ankles together, then grabbed her up into his arms. He carried her through the thick underbrush until he reached his tethered horse.
After tying Lauralee behind the saddle, he mounted his horse and rode away.