Code of the Wolf Read Online Free

might have to forbid Frances to go anywhere near the barn.
    She waved the younger woman away and went on,measuring each step. She would deal with this man. She would allow him to stay until he was fit enough to be taken into town and not a moment longer. She would keep him tied up at night, and at least one woman would guard him at all times.
    It was a damned waste of precious resources, and Serenity hated him all the more for that.
    A shout brought her out of her grim thoughts. Caridad rode with her usual flourish into the yard, Zora and Judith right behind. Caridad leaped from the saddle, removed her hat and unbound her straight black hair with a flick of her fingers. She studied Serenity’s face, her grin giving way to a frown.
    â€œWhat is it, mi amiga? ” she asked. Zora came up behind her on silent feet. Her sun-bronzed face showed little expression, but Serenity could see the concern in her eyes.
    Serenity told them in as few words as possible. Caridad’s face went slack with astonishment. Judith shot a wary look toward the barn. She was the oldest woman at Avalon and didn’t say much, but her disapproval was manifest.
    â€œI need to talk to Victoria,” Judith said. “I’ll take the horses.”
    Once she was gone, Caridad burst into an eloquent string of curses. “ Madre de Dio s! How can this be, mi amiga, that you should bring such a man here?”
    â€œI am sure Serenity had her reasons,” Zora said. She met Serenity’s gaze. “Do you think he is dangerous?”
    â€œDangerous enough to warrant careful watching,” Serenity said, glad to dodge Caridad’s incredulous question. But the former bandida wasn’t finished.
    â€œIf only I had been with you,” Caridad exclaimed. “I would have stopped you from making such a mistake.”
    And Serenity would have been forced to defend the man, which would have been unbearable.
    â€œI’m glad you weren’t there, Cari,” Serenity said, touching the woman’s arm. “You would have gotten yourself killed.”
    â€œAy! To miss such a good fight…”
    â€œThere may be another, if those outlaws decide to come after us.”
    â€œWe will be ready.” Caridad glanced at Zora. “We can ride out again and watch.”
    â€œI don’t think they’ll come at night, but we’d better be prepared in the morning. If they haven’t shown up in a few days, we should have no reason to worry.”
    â€œAnd by then we will know who this man is,” Caridad said. “And whether or not we must be rid of him.”
    For a woman who had once ridden on the wrong side of the law in her native land, Caridad was far from merciful to one who might be in the same profession. But then, she had no reason to be, no more than did Serenity herself.
    â€œI may need you in the morning,” Serenity said. “You should sleep, Cari.”
    â€œNot yet. I must see this man.”
    Serenity knew better than to argue. Caridad charged ahead, and Serenity might have been worried if she’d thought for a single moment that the Mexican woman would act against her wishes.
    But she wouldn’t. For all her wild talk, Caridad accepted Serenity’s leadership, just like the others. Sometimes, in her darkest hours, Serenity wondered why.
    â€œDo you want me to come?” Zora asked behind her.
    Serenity shook off the desire to lean on Zora’s quiet, seemingly unshakable strength. “At least you should get some food and rest. Helene has a pot of beans on the stove.”
    Zora obeyed without protest. Serenity went on alone, her feet as heavy as Victoria’s anvil. The barn door was open, spilling light from the lantern hung just inside, and she smelled the comforting scent of fresh straw, the warm bovine bodies of their two milk cows, and the newly sawn planks where Victoria and Judith had made repairs to the back wall. A horse nickered from the stable on