David C. McLavic - 36. Chapter 36

With all the furniture David wanted installed, he was ready for the winter. Over the next few days, he and Bobby searched the woods, gathering branches that had fallen from the trees. They would cut the branches to fit the fireplace and the cooking stove. Any branch not cut would be put in the storage shed.

A week after all the furniture was in place, David made a list of needed things. With his sidekick, Bobby, he was making his last trip home until spring. When he arrived, his dad and Uncle Joe along with Beth Ann’s family, had a going away party for him. David made sure that they all knew they could visit him anytime and would be welcome.

During the party, they reminisce about old times. That was when Uncle Joe told David to look and take black stones home. The black stones were coal, which David could use in this fireplace.

Now Bobby learned about black stones and coal.

Before arriving at the Lodge, they stopped at the grocery store. With Bobby picking out food he likes, mostly candy, David bought food that could be cooked over the fire in the fireplace as well as his stove, which could provide heat for cooking from wood or coal.

That evening, David was sitting outside on his little porch when this dog came to him limping. David got up to check his foot and found several splinters. Going back for his first aid kit, he began to remove the splinters. When all of the splinters he saw were removed, he sprayed a disinfectant on the paw.

“David, stop. That’s a wolf.”

“It’s okay Bobby. He hurt his foot.” David had never seen a wolf. He knew they existed Peter and his uncle had told him about them. “Bobby, go inside and bring me out several hot dogs.”

Bobby wasn’t sure if he should do that or run for help. “Bobby, the hot dogs.”

Bobby went and came out with the pack of hot dogs. David takes out three and offers them to the dog/wolf. They watched as the animal sniffed them and then with one gulp ate half of the three David was holding.

David laughed but Bobby was scared. David petted the dog/wolf as he would a dog at home. “You going to keep him?”

“No, but if he wants to visit, it’ll be okay.” Saying that, David with an arm around Bobby’s shoulders, headed for the cabin door,

Opening the door, the guys entered and before the door was closed, there was the dog/wolf looking at them. David opened the door wide, the animal entered and laid down on the rug in front of the fireplace.

David went over and scratched the animal behind the ear, “Okay, you can stay here and your name is Wolf. Wolf looked at David as if he was deciding whether he wanted to be with David or not. David waited for the wolf’s decision. The Wolf looked at David, then Bobby, then his paw. The guys weren’t sure but Wolf was. A warm place and food, Wolf licked David’s hand. Deal agreed.

Bobby left, and David chuckled, he knew where he was going. The next morning this was confirmed when Michael from the Lodge came with Bobby. David had fed Wolf, who went out to do his business and to mark his new territory. Michael and Bobby standing on the small porch, and before they could knock, they heard a growl. There was Wolf behind them. Bobby opened the door and moved to the side as Wolf entered. David laughed as Bobby and Michael entered the cabin.

“David, I couldn’t believe what Bobby said about you having a pet wolf. This has never happened before. They are wild and the men don’t go out into the woods in the evening or early morning.”

“He was hurt. All I did was treat his wound. I think people tend to cause their own problems. He came to me with his paw hurting. I bet if he came to one of the other men, they would hit him, or shoot him. All I did was help him. He comes and goes as he wants. I think I’ll put a dog door on the bottom of my front door.”

David made tea for the guys and gave Wolf a bone. He had some cookies he bought at the store when they were shopping. The guys sat at the table and watched as Wolf chewed on the bone David gave him.

Michael left and David wondered how long before the other men came. More importantly, he wondered if they came to shoot the animal.

All was quiet. The only visitor was Bobby and soon Wolf and Bobby became friends, thanks to David letting Bobby give Wolf his bones.