On the Murder We Write Mystery Blog Tour
An excerpt from Gray
Wolf Mountain by Jean Henry Mead
Gus Blake’s house was even older
than its owner. The patched, multi-colored shingled roof drooped above a square
of dried, splintered logs. Yellow wildflowers bloomed near the entry and
Gladys, his ancient truck, was parked in an old shed adjacent to the cabin.
When Sarah knocked Gus failed to
answer. She thought he may be around back caring for his wolves. So she and
Dana trudged through ankle deep weeds and they found him in an old shed the
size of the one that housed Gladys. His back was turned as he bent over a
makeshift bed perched on a battered table. The wolf appeared asleep but they
stood back in case it wasn’t. A dark cloth muzzle insured that Gus wouldn’t be
bitten if the wolf regained consciousness. Dana also noticed straps that held
the animal in place.
Gus turned briefly to eye them. “I
knowed you’d show up sooner or later. How’d you find me?”
Dana smiled. “We never reveal our
sources. Why did you leave so early this morning?”
“Sylvia here ain’t doin’ so good.”
He pointed to a large wound on the wolf’s shoulder. “Lost a lotta blood.”
“Poor thing.” Sarah reached to pet
the wounded animal.
“I wouldn’t do that, ma’am. She
might come to and try to defend herself.”
They watched as Gus changed a bloody
bandage before Dana asked what they could do to help.
He stopped what he was doing to
stare up at Dana, who towered over him. “If you really wanna help, buy a new
shed with bunks and cages for the wolves.”
Dana didn’t hesitate. “ Consider it
done. How about a metal building with a heavy lock so the shooter can’t burn it
down. Or get inside.”
Gus’s grin was wide and Dana
thought he was going to hug her. “You’re the angels I been prayin’ for.”
“I think you’re the angel, Gus. I
don’t know of anyone else who would risk his life to save the wolves.”
“They’re just wild dogs that most
people don’t care about. But there is some that do, like the Wild Life people.”
“I don’t understand why they were
taken off the endangered species list. Weren’t they nearly wiped off the planet
during the nineteen thirties?”
The little man clinched his fists,
his face an angry crimson. “It was Congress that done the deed back in April,
two thousand and eleven. They took protection for wolves in the northern Rockies off the budget. A Montana
senator and Idaho
If they could destroy the wolf
population, Dana thought, they could do the same to all wildlife, one animal at
a time. . .
Buy link for Gray Wolf Mountain: http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Cafferty-Mystery-Suspense-ebook/dp/B008UEH6ZA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1350675171&sr=1-1&keywords=gray+wolf+mountain
A print or ebook copy of Gray Wolf
Mountain will be awarded at the end of the tour to someone who leaves a comment
at Jean Henry Mead’s various hosted blogsites.
Bio: Jean Henry Mead is the author of 18 books,
including the Logan & Cafferty mystery/suspense series, Hamilton Kids’
mysteries, historical fiction and nonfiction. She’s also a national
award-winning photojournalist published domestically as well as aboard. The
former news, magazine and small press editor has also edited five books of
interviews with celebrities, politicians and bestselling authors such as Sue Grafton (The Mystery Writers) and Carolyn Hart (Mysterious Writers).
