Why a Wolf Cries, Julie Steimle [ebook reader macos TXT] 📗

“Are you a phlebotomist?”

Grinning, Doug gave a half nod. “More a hobby these days. I’m studying all kinds of blood. I just have one blood question. How many blood types are there in dogs?”

“Doug, we need to go,” Audry said, heading toward the door, not willing to get into this conversation.

But Randon replied, “About twelve. Why do you ask?”

Audry huffed.

Randon looked to her as she said, “Doug is researching weird blood.” She shook her head at her brother. “We really do have to go. Another second delayed is another second the wolf is closer to death.”

Randon and Silvia nodded to Doug as they hurried off after Audry with renewed urgency.

Skyler noticed his father sighed with disappointment. Obviously his dad wanted to talk more about blood. It was one of the reasons Audry called him a phlebotomist all the time, never mind his advanced degrees and published work.

It got boring again after that. Skyler had seen several loops in the reports on the TV news. There as a lot of local news, though it rotated between the global reports. Once more they got reports of car crashes on winding roads, bear warnings due to droughts, and even a brief report about the cougar attack. He was sure it their family they were mentioning. No names were given, but then no one had interviewed them yet. It was just a report.

His dad sat down next to him on a waiting room chair, picking up a magazine. He seemed to be waiting for something. His eyes kept tracking to the outside doors.

“Did Mom kick you out again?” Skyler asked.

His father nodded, sighing. “Apparently dads are not allowed during this time. Mom has made today ‘girl time’. I think they intend to finish that novel.”

Ugh. Skyler huffed.

And things were boring again. His dad just read the magazine in silence.

Things would have stayed boring had not a knightly sort of man with red hair and freckles marched in through the front doors to the main desk. His stride was huge, and he wore a tan trench coat over his jeans and white collar shirt. For a moment, Skyler was sure he saw a sword underneath his coat. But as the man turned, it as not there. A trick of the light, possibly? But the most peculiar thing about him was this red crystal he wore on a leather loop around his neck. He didn’t seem like a hippie.

Skyler overheard him say, “Hi, I’m looking for Howie Deacon?”

“Howie…?”

“I’m sorry. I meant Howard Richard Deacon the Third.”

Both Skyler and Doug perked up. They had only ever heard that name from two places—from the news, and Audry. They watched the tall, red haired man with the regal back converse into a lower voice with the nurse. But they could still hear him.

“Are you family?”

“I’m one of his emergency contacts. Can I go see him?” He took out a business card, handing it to her. She seemed to recognize it.

The nurse was peering at her registry along with the notes. She took a little longer than normal to respond as she typed into her computer and made whispered calls. “One moment please. Dr. Scholl would like to have a word with you first.”

Dr. Scholl, Doug recalled, was one of the doctors he had spoken with the previous night. The name he had forgotten. Doug peeked to his son, wondering if Skyler had picked up anything about what he had been involved in the night before. So far, he had not been able to speak with Jean about it. She thought his obsession with strange blood peculiar, if not a little disturbing, so he usually kept those conversations to a minimum.

The nurse soon directed the red haired man down the hall. It was as if he were a dignitary from a foreign country. She was even blushing.  

Not too long later, in strode a tall, pale man with lean shoulders, wearing a three piece gray suit and a dark red tie. His hair was platinum blonde, cut somewhat punkish at the top, not quite a fauxhawk, and he wore a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. Everything about him said he was some sort of secret agent—though there was nothing actually subtle about him. The man stood out like a road flare. And when he spoke to the nurse at the main desk, his voice hit an odd place inside their ears, with the impression that he was begging them to do something unexpectedly naughty.

“Hi. I’m looking for Rick Deacon.”

This time, Doug and Skyler exchanged looks as the nurse flustered.

“Sorry.” The man laughed an infectious cackle that meant he was up to no good. “Uh. His full name is Howard Richard Deacon… and the Third, if you want to throw that on too.”

The nurse did. “Are you family?”

“Nope,” the pale agent replied cheerily. “Old friend. But I would be on his contact list.”

“Can I get your number and name?”

“Sure. Henry Davies.”

But when he gave the stream of numbers after it, both Skyler and Doug got the impression this man was lying.

“Very well. He’s in isolation. I’ll call someone to escort you.”

“Escort me?” The man laughed. “Lady, just give me a room number. I’m not likely to get lost. I’ve been in plenty of hospitals.”

And he hurried on before anyone could stop him.

Doug and Skyler exchanged looks. Another for ‘Rick Deacon’. But why in the world would the famous H. Richard Deacon be in their hospital?

Just before noon, Mr. Deacon the Second rushed in. And it clicked in Doug’s head. The father was in the area, the doctors had said. But they could not get hold of him. Doug and Skyler recognized him from the day before in nearly the same clothes. Mr. Deacon also went to the front desk, only this time, the nurse beckoned to Doug to come forward when the man inquired after his son. Skyler followed him.

“This is Mr. Deacon. Mr. Deacon this is Doug Bruchenhaus, our on loan phlebotomist who had been working on your son’s case. If you will follow him, we can arrange a blood transfusion immediately.”

He and Mr. Deacon shook hands. But as they did, Doug realized now why no one had told him who the patient was. Mr. H. Richard Deacon was already a scandal-wrought man with a history of tragedy. He remembered the story about the wolf attack in Germany. Now it was a car wreck in Yellowstone. That guy just could not catch a break.

But Doug led the way, hoping he could be helpful.

“How’s your daughter?” Mr. Deacon asked as they walked along the corridor.

Glancing back, Doug sighed, remembering the man had been there just the day before. “Better. They’re keeping her here for observation, just in case the cougar has passed on anything from its bite.”

The venerable salt-and-pepper haired man nodded, deeply understanding. He had a rather healthy build. And his presence was intimidating. As for his peculiar amber eyes, they seemed to bore into your soul much in the way some animals could. It was odd how well the man truly did understand.

When they passed through the door to go into the room, an odd scene played out before them. The redhead who had come first, was pulling the pale blonde guy away from the sleeping patient, with a pen in hand. Three letters were already written on the patient’s forehead in black: F O O.

Doug assumed it was missing an L.

Mr. Deacon cleared his throat. Both men quit wrestling immediately. The redhead shoved the blonde away from the patient. 

“Sorry. He was…” The redhead gestured to the sleeping man.

Sighing, Doug spotted fatherly glares cast from Mr. Deacon to the both of them. “If you two would behave, we can actually save my son’s life before tomorrow.”

The blonde saluted him. But then he immediately looked to Skyler who had snuck in after his father. “Hello there! I’m Tom!”

Skyler eyed Tom’s extended hand, possibly searching for a joy-buzzer as that Tom looked the type to have one. “You said you name was Henry to the nurse.”

Tom cackled, grinning wider. It gave Doug the deepest impression of a jester… and a devil.

The redhead stepped up to Doug, angling to push him out. “I’m sorry. This is a private room.”

But Mr. Deacon shook his head, placing a hand on the redhead’s wrist. “No. He is going to perform the blood transfusion. He already handled Howie’s blood last night. He’s a phlebotomist.”

Doug decided not to correct him, ignoring the impulse. It was better that way.

Funnily enough, that Tom grinned wider and winked. However, he did not say a thing.

The nurses came in and neatly drew up a bed for Mr. Deacon. As they did this, he removed his flannel shirt and gently pulled up his short sleeves to allow Doug to find a vein. As Doug went to clean his hands, the nurses prepared all the supplies. When he returned, nitrile gloves on, Doug did the actual work. It was odd, really, as the nurses could have done this. But… Doug had a feeling they were uneasy at handling this particular blood. They knew something important, and were again not telling him all the significant things. Clearly they wanted an expert.

Skyler stood in the back corner of the room, watching his father and the two strangers as his father made the transfusion.

“You know,” the redhead said to Mr. Deacon as he lay there allowing the needle to be inserted into the crook of his arm as he pumped the squishy ball in his hand. “I could have done it. It’s why I came.”

“It’s not why you came, Andrew,” Mr. Deacon muttered. “You came to guard him.”

Coloring a little, his blush matching his freckles, Andrew amended, “I can come for both.”

But the older man merely shook his head. Then he gazed at Doug who was monitoring the blood flow. “Andrew. Meet Doug Bruchenhaus.”

“Bruchenhaus?” Andrew perked up. He turned toward Doug. “Do you know Audry Bruchenhaus?”  Skyler made a yip, quickly slapping his hands over his mouth, watching them. “She’s an animal rescue worker, I think working on her—”

“She’s my kid sister,” Doug replied, surprised. “How do you know her?”

Nearly laughing, the red haired man breathed easier, genuinely relieved. “Ah… then everything will be all right. You’re her brother.”

Doug nodded this time, amazed. … Especially as that Tom was grinning wildly at him. The redhead had also dodged the question.

“So, do you work here?” Andrew asked, eyeing Doug’s camping clothes as he continued to ignore the question.

Doug shook his head. “No. I was camping in Yellowstone when a cougar attacked my daughter. She’s here for treatment. Now how do you know my sister?”

“Tell him about the wolf,” Mr. Deacon said to Doug, not allowing Andrew to respond. He gazed pointedly at Doug.

Cringing, Doug shook his head then checked the blood flow. They were nearly done. “Audry mentioned that, huh?”

Mr. Deacon nodded. “Yes.”

“What wolf?” Tom said, eying the sleeping patient who was finally getting more color under the letters FOO. Andrew eyed the unconscious man also, which was weird. What did he have to do with the wolf?

Skyler spoke up, to Tom. “The wolf that fought the cougar off.”

They looked to Skyler.

Doug rose to take care Mr. Deacon as he closed off the tubing in proper order, ending the transfusion. He methodically treated each stage until all was cleaned up and small entry wounds were healed. No blood spilled.

Seeing he had an audience, Skyler elaborated, “We were just camping, you know, when this cougar jumps out at Maris. It bites her. And then out of nowhere comes this wolf, but he attacked the cougar. He bit right into the big cat’s throat and hung on. Aunt Audry said she was only able to shoot the cougar when the wolf won the fight and killed it.”

“And she rescued the wolf?” Andrew asked breathlessly, his eyes gazing with hope.

Skyler nodded.

“She insisted on it,” Doug muttered, shaking his head as he remembered it. “She wouldn’t leave it behind, insisting it was her wolf.”

Tom choked on a laugh. Andrew shot