Free Small Treasures by Kathleen Kane (Maureen Child) Page A

fact that he was isolated from his fellow creatures. In a cage far back from the others, the wolf appeared to be so… alone.
    Somewhere in her mind Abby told herself that he was much like Samuel. Living near those who would be companions, but separated by the bars of a cage. She took another step and thought that a cage didn't have to be a physical one.
    Hadn't Samuel distanced himself from her ever since their trip to Rock Creek the day before? He'd said hardly a word to her and had made himself so scarce around the cabin that she was beginning to wonder if he'd left the mountain altogether. In fact, she hadn't seen him at all since the night before.
    He was gone before she got up that morning, and now, at late afternoon, there was still no sign of him.
    She was almost within reach of the cage. Smiling softly, she stretched out one hand, moving as slowly as possible.
    Strong hands clamped around her waist and lifted. Her feet left the rocky ground, and Abby felt herself swinging effortlessly through the air. Before she had the time to screech her surprise, though, she was set back to her feet with a thud that jarred her teeth. Somehow, she wasn't surprised to look up and find Samuel glowering down at her.
    "What the hell do you think you're doin,' Abby?" She winced at the booming thunder of his voice. “I told you to stay away from the animals! Didn't I?"
    "Yes, Samuel" &mdash she smoothed her pale green skirt &mdash "you did." Raising her gaze to meet his, she added, "But you weren't here, and they have to be fed."
    "Fed?" He pushed his bushy hair out of his eyes and hollered, "What were you plannin' on feedin' that wolf there? Biscuits? Or maybe your arm?"
    She frowned at him. "I hardly think a caged animal would chew off my arm, Samuel."
    He shook his head, clearly frustrated. "Abby," he said, taking a deep breath, "that wolf could tear a little thing like you clean in two. Cage or no cage."
    Abby threw a measuring glance at the still-unmoving animal, then looked back at the huge man in front of her. "He doesn't hurt you, Samuel."
    "Yeah, well, he knows me. He knows I ain't gonna hurt him."
    Abby smiled. "Good. Soon the wolf will know me, too, and I'll be able to help you."
    "He ain't gonna get to know you, Abby, 'cause you're gonna stay the hell away from him like I said."
    Abby leaned back as Samuel's huge body loomed over her. He seemed to think that if his words wouldn't convince her, his size would intimidate her. He was wrong.
    "I've told you more than once, Samuel, that I am not deaf and that I don't approve of swearing." As her words picked up speed, she leaned toward him now and was justly satisfied to see the big man shift backward a little. "I'm living here, too, and I don't understand why you should resent my offers to help. I only want to make myself useful. There is simply no reason for you to carry on as though you were still alone."
    His lips were moving. Abby squinted up at him. She knew he was saying something, but she couldn't hear it. "Will you at least have the courtesy to speak so that I can hear you?"
    Samuel's chest expanded with the long breath he drew in. He pushed his scraggly hair out of his eyes and managed to grind out, "I wasn't talkin' to you."
    "Hmmph!" Abby brushed past him and began to move along the line of cages. He was right behind her, and she could feel his annoyance. He made no attempt to soften his footsteps, and the ground trembled with every step he took.
    Abby tried to ignore him and concentrate on the animals. It wasn't easy. Still she managed to speak a few, soft words to each of the animals that surrounded them, from the cougar to the rabbits, to the doe and her fawn. Before he could stop her, Abby even made a point of stopping beside the wolf’s cage one last time. She held her ground stubbornly, even when the animal curled his lip back, exposing several deadly-looking teeth. A low, thunder like growl rumbled through the animal's chest, and Abby instinctively took a step