Free Quinn's Christmas Wish by Lawna Mackie Page B

wildlife as well. I need to know you will be able to protect yourself if we are gone.”
    Those thoughts hadn’t played out in her mind, but of course the possibility existed. She didn’t like guns, but could use one if needed. “Yes, I’ll be fine.”
    “We’re gonna wait for daylight,” Quinn stated.
    “Amanda, I brought your things in, but didn’t know where to put them.”
    “Thank you,” she responded.
    With dawn on the horizon, Amanda stared out the window. “Quinn, you’d best get cleaned up and put on some clean clothes before you go…warm clothes,” Amanda shouted as he jumped from the chair to grab the bag he’d packed for the stay.
    “Yes, Ma’am,” he answered before running down the hall, leaving Samuel and Amanda alone.
    “I thought bringing home a tree might help with his mood, but what he really wants is to look for the wolf.”
    Nodding her head, she replied sadly, “He hasn’t cared much about Christmas. We didn’t even have a tree last year.”
    “He’s a great kid, Amanda.”
    He was and she knew it. Again, she looked around at the large cabin. “Samuel, I have to ask…why did you build such a large home, complete with extra bedrooms and even a train track. It’s like you were expecting something,” she said.
    “I was expecting someone,” he sighed, “but I got something better.” He reached out and took her hand. “I have a sister back in Alaska. She has a little boy just a bit younger than Quinn. She was going to come and live here for a while, but things didn’t quite work out as planned. I’ve always enjoyed building besides the prospecting. I’ve done quite well for myself, but thought I’d find Bandit Creek a tad warmer than Alaska and I could still stake a claim. I did have substantial help building this place, but I hadn’t expected to arrive to a flooded town surrounded by superstition.”
    The coffee warmed her hands while she took a sip. “It seems you’ve done very well.”
    “I have, now that you and Quinn are here.” His eyes gleamed.
    Quinn came tearing around the corner. “I’m ready and it’s almost daylight.”
    Samuel laughed. “I guess I’d better get ready, too,” he said, standing from the table.
    Soon Amanda stood at the large window, looking out at the glistening snow, watching her son and Samuel trudge down the way they’d come last night. Daydreaming was a luxury she didn’t have time for. She unpacked their things and began rummaging through the kitchen and the icebox. Baking was needed. She’d prepared bread, biscuits and perhaps some desert. The morning flew by and before long, all was under control. Only then did she decide to tidy herself in the large water closet. Dinner was cooking when she decided to think about Christmas decorations. The boys had to be home soon.
    Red ribbons would be a must, she thought, heading to the box of items she’d brought. She knew Christmas was coming so she’d packed a few things. Taking the ribbons and some material from old rags, she sat in the comfy chair by the fire where she could also see out the window. Before long she had ornaments piled in a bucket ready for the tree.
    She jumped when there came a large thump at the door. Dropping everything, with her heart pounding, she peered out the window cautiously. The doorstep was out of view from the window. What she did notice were the large tracks leading up the steps. Oh God, could it be? The whine told her it was true. Amanda reached for a rifle just in case and approached the door. She closed her eyes and put her faith in God and her son.
    Yanking the door open, the wolf creature fell half way in to the cabin.
    It was a giant, with an odd gold stripe down it’s back and funny looking feet. It lay unmoving. Warily, Amanda set the rifle aside and bent closer to the beast.
    Her hands were sweaty. She didn’t know what to do.
    “Jazira?”
    The animal opened its red eyes and blinked. Amanda’s heart broke. The animal’s face conveyed