COYOTE SAVAGE Read Online Free Page A

think they’re beautiful animals. I just wish they didn’t have the reputation they did. It’s
    going to be hard to convince the council that most of what they’ve read simply isn’t true when
    sheep are disappearing. You said you had records…something concrete I could show to help
    your case.”
    “Like Talon said, we keep records of how many animals we have, when we hope to
    release them and where. We also have sensors that set off an alarm if any of the animals manage
    to break free. We can show the council that they haven’t been activated in the last few years. But
    all that will prove is that it wasn’t a coyote from the refuge…it won’t discount the ones in their
    natural habitat.”
    Talon joined them, shouldering up beside Caden, as he handed Rebecca a clipboard.
    “And Carson will most likely claim that the proximity of the refuge encourages the wild coyotes
    to venture into the town. In the end, it’s our word against his, and we all know how the council
    will vote when the time comes.”
    “Don’t count anyone out yet, boys. I plan on getting to the truth, regardless of who’s
    ultimately involved.” She handed Talon back the clipboard. “Would you mind faxing that
    information over to the office when you get a chance? It’s better than nothing, and as long as
    there’s evidence that the refuge isn’t behind any of the livestock disappearances, I’m not sure
    what the mayor can do. Forcing me to hand out hunting permits is one thing—closing you boys
    down is another.”
    She turned back, scanning the area as the animals rested in the snow. Caden watched her
    survey the fence line, smiling at the way her brow scrunched up into a vee as she tried to
    decipher how the gates worked. He was just about to offer to show her when his breath caught,
    the cold bite of the air freezing his throat. He glanced over at Talon and motioned toward the
    snow by the entrance. Talon followed his stare and Caden watched the man wince, then turn his
    head and curse. A few stray coyote tracks dotted the path in front of the gate, the paw prints
    larger than normal. Apparently, they hadn’t swept the damn things away after their visit the
    previous night.
    Caden wanted to lunge forward and grab Rebecca’s arm before she noticed them, but
    there wasn’t any way he could do that without raising suspicions. Instead, he held his ground,
    trying to think of a viable answer. He didn’t have long. He’d no sooner glanced back at Talon
    than Rebecca took a few steps forward and bent down, tracing one of the prints with her
    fingertips. Something akin to a sigh drifted along the breeze and she looked over at them, one
    eyebrow raised slightly.
    “Looks like you guys have had some company. They’re definitely coyote tracks, but I’ve
    never seen any this large before. Have you seen the animal that made these?”
    Talon stepped forward, saving Caden from tripping over his tongue and making a
    complete fool of himself. “Some of the mountain breeds can get between eighty and a hundred
    pounds…for the odd male. There have been a couple of large ones around a few times, but they
    disappear as soon as we try to get a better look at them.”
    Rebecca nodded, still tracing the paw’s outline with her hand. “Well, I hope your ranch is
    as far as they got, because if the mayor gets wind that there are some big males around…his head
    is going to pop clear off.” She chuckled and stood up, finally turning to face them. “Thanks for
    the tour, boys. I appreciate your help.”
    “Don’t you want to see the rest of the place?” Caden gestured toward the house, wanting
    any excuse to keep her around. Just being close to her made his skin tingle and his senses go
    wild. “As I recall, you haven’t had a proper visit since you got back.”
    “I’d really like to, but I need to get to the park and check out some of the local packs
    before a new snowfall erases any evidence. Can I take a rain check? Maybe later this