The Heartwood blackwound

I tried to be as quick as my little fingers could go. Reno doesn't need to hang around at all depending on how this goes. Sorry to you both. :(

The dusty road had diverged the path of Reno and Amalia. He’d enjoyed his time with the friendly young woman, even hoping that he might cross paths with her again. There would be plenty of chance for such things as the rangy man made his way across the unknown expanse of terrain. There would be plenty of chances for many things.

The rain did not bother Reno. He’d prowled through worse than the tumble of droplets. What he had not anticipated was that he might cross paths with another wolf. More surprising was that she appeared to him from the brush like a flame-touched ghost.

Reno regarded her from several paces away. The light gold of his eyes shifted along her frame, recognizing the signs of motherhood that she wore. The season for families was upon them, but the dust wanderer had not been made aware until he had seen the stranger emerge from the rain-touched foliage. Her frame stretched and he found himself burning at his cheeks.

Howdy, ma’am, the rough-edged wolf chuffed to her.

There was another, though. One who had not mesmerized the cowboy in the same way. A slender man stepped forward, seeming to know the woman. Reno stepped back, feeling that he’d intruded on a secret meeting that had been designated only for those two.

M’apologies, partner. Didn’t see ya there. A swift and roguish grin.