Flaming Hearts (Beyond Reality Book 2) (10 page)

Becky listened as their guide, Sarah, took them around and explained the process of how the various animals came to be at the refuge and what they did once they were here. She talked about the horses that were abused and neglected, she told stories about some of the dogs and cats and how they ended up with them. She even explained how coyotes don’t necessarily mate for life like wolves do, but that the mated pair would usually stay together for a number of years before they went their separate ways.

The refuge even had some cubs born on the property in the past as well. Sarah explained how they prepared the food and how they even had some live food out in the boundary as well. They didn’t want the coyotes to be bored or get too used to people, which could happen if they were always fed prepared slabs of meat. There were plenty of squirrels, mice, birds, snakes and other live animals they could feed on.

“Are you ever scared of the coyotes or other animals?” Marissa interrupted, not being able to stand not being the center of attention.

“Not really,” answered Sarah. “We learn to read them pretty well and know the signs if they are feeling aggressive and when we should avoid them.”

“Do you go into the pen?” asked Becky, unable to keep her questions to herself anymore.

Sarah smiled at Becky. She knew all about Becky and how she was Dean’s woman, even if Becky herself didn’t know it yet. It was good she was showing interest and asking questions since she’d be in the family soon.

“We do,” she answered. “You have to understand, these are wild coyotes, but some have been here a while and do recognize us. They are
not
domestic dogs, as some people like to think, but they’re also not aggressive killing machines as others believe either.”

Becky smiled and the little group continued walking around, observing some of the other animals and generally getting a tour of the property. As soon as they walked into the barn Marissa couldn’t stop complaining about the smell. She’d pretended to gag and covered her nose and mouth with her hand.

David happened to have a handkerchief with him and gave it to her. Becky thought it was extremely rude. The barn smelled like…well, a barn. Becky thought to herself that Marissa was born to be melodramatic.

Sarah rang the bell that hung outside the back of the barn and soon Becky saw shapes running toward them from the tree line.

“Oh my gosh,” she said quietly, “they’re beautiful.”

Ten coyotes came running to the fence. They were different shapes and sizes and even ages. They did look a lot like dogs. Becky couldn’t take her eyes off of them. She stepped up to the fence and grasped the chain link and just stared. She didn’t notice the crowd of people off to the side. Many of the employees at the refuge wanted to meet the woman Dean had claimed, and even more so because she was on a television show.

They weren’t sure what to think, especially after seeing how Marissa acted with the men and her attitude toward all of them. The employees all hoped Becky was good enough for their employer’s son. They were all relieved to hear Steve approved of her, but they also wanted to see for themselves.

“Would you like to feed them?” Sarah asked the group.

“Ick!” Marissa immediately said disgustingly. “No way!”

The men agreed, which was no surprise, they wouldn’t disagree with anything Marissa said.

Sarah looked expectantly at Becky.

“I’d love to,” Becky said quietly. “Will they let me? I mean, they don’t know me.”

Sarah nodded. “I’ll be right next to you, it’ll be fine.”

Marissa and her dates, at least that was how Becky thought of the men at this point, sat on a set of bleachers nearby. They were set up for demonstrations such as this one when groups came to the refuge. Marissa was between her dates and not paying any attention to the coyotes or anything Becky was doing. She’d turn from one man to another, flirting with all of them, trying to hold all of their attentions.

Becky followed Sarah into the pen, oblivious to the crowd of people. She’d gotten so used to so many people being around the shoot that she tended to just ignore them all. Dean stood with his mom and dad along with some of the other employees and watched the interaction between Sarah, his woman, and the coyotes.

Becky watched carefully how Sarah threw the meat toward the group of coyotes, then stepped back. When it was time, Sarah told her to go ahead and throw the meat toward the coyotes. Becky threw it exactly where Sarah told her to aim.

The coyotes basically ignored the humans and feasted on their meal. Becky noticed a small coyote slinking toward the others. She hadn’t noticed it before. It was smaller than the others and hesitant. Becky asked Sarah about it.

“Oh, that’s our newest arrival,” Sarah told her. “We don’t know her story yet, but we think she was a part of a traveling zoo. She was kept in a small box and beaten by the humans who kept her locked up. Eventually the zoo was raided by the humane society and the cops and she was freed. We were contacted and she came here to live. She doesn’t trust us, and she doesn’t trust the other coyotes in the sanctuary yet either. We aren’t sure what to do about her. If she’s not accepted by the other coyotes then we can’t leave her here. They’ll turn against her and she’ll be worse off than she was before.”

Becky thought that was the saddest thing she’d ever heard. For an animal to live through all that abuse and then not be accepted into the group of coyotes here at the refuge was just so awful.

“How long has she been here?” Becky asked, not taking her eyes off the coyote.

“For about two weeks,” Sarah told her.

Becky gasped. “Has she eaten at all since she’s arrived?” It certainly didn’t look like it as the coyote was very skinny.

“I’m not sure,” Sarah answered honestly. “She might be catching some of the small rodents and animals that are around their penned in area, but we have no way of knowing for sure.”

Sarah knew she and the other employees at the refuge had tried everything they could to get the coyote to trust them. They’d tried to approach her, but the animal was so scared that she wouldn’t let them anywhere near her. They’d even thrown the food so it would land right in front of her, but she always ignored it and another one of the coyotes ended up eating it instead. Sarah had told Becky the truth. They weren’t sure what to do with the little coyote. It was breaking their hearts, but if she couldn’t bond with them or the other coyotes, she’d have to go elsewhere for her own safety.

Becky continued to look at the little coyote. She could see she was scared to death, and had only come near the other animals and the fence because she was probably starving. Becky couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Do you think I could try to feed her?” she asked Sarah. Sarah looked at Dean’s woman. The match couldn’t have been more perfect. Sarah knew Dean liked to protect people and even made a career out of it. Becky was trying to protect the little coyote as best she knew how. Sarah thought she’d do Steve’s family proud. She didn’t think she’d be successful with the little coyote, but it wouldn’t hurt for her to try.

“Of course you can, Becky, just don’t feel bad if she won’t come near you or if she won’t eat.”

Sarah went over with her again about the proper way to feed a coyote and what to do. She didn’t think Becky was really listening to her, though, and finally just told her to go ahead.

Becky didn’t know what she was doing. She only knew that if she didn’t try to help this little coyote she’d regret it forever. The animal didn’t deserve to be in a traveling zoo. She didn’t deserve to go through her life rejected and not trusting. Becky watched the coyote flinch when Marissa’s shrill laugh suddenly sounded loud in the clearing. She took her eyes off the enclosure long enough to glare at the woman, only to see Steve striding over to the woman and her dates. Thank God. Steve would take care of her and make her shut up.

After entering the fenced-in area Becky walked about forty feet away from the feeding area. Far enough away that she’d be in big trouble if the coyotes decided they wanted to eat
her
, but she didn’t care. She was focused on the little scared coyote. She thought it’d be best to get it away from the humans, the barn, and the other animals. She sat down cross-legged with her back to the barn and the people. Becky knew they were all still there, watching her, but she didn’t care, she was solely focused on the sad little animal in front of her.

She sat very still, with her head down but had her eyes up, watching the little coyote. She held the small piece of meat in her hand, outstretched on the ground in front of her. And she waited. For ten minutes the coyote didn’t move. She didn’t move toward her, but she also didn’t run away either. Becky decided to be encouraged by that rather than discouraged. The other coyotes finished eating and, taking a wide berth around her, headed back toward the wood line, and still she and the coyote sat still, waiting each other out.

Becky sat very still. Her legs were asleep, but she didn’t move. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the small coyote took one step toward her and then sat again. That one step lifted Becky’s spirits immensely. She’d sit out there all day if that was what it took. Becky decided to start talking to the coyote. She spoke low and quietly. She crooned nonsense to her. She told her how pretty she was and how she didn’t blame her for not trusting people. She told the little coyote that it wasn’t her fault. That if she trusted these people they’d help her. That this was a safe place, one where she could heal and grow big and strong. She continued to murmur nonsense to the coyote in the hopes the animal would hear the lack of anger and encouragement in her voice.

Dean’s family and friends watched silently from nearby. They were standing close enough that they could hear everything Becky was murmuring to the little coyote. They held their breaths. They wanted Becky to succeed just as much as she herself did. When the little coyote took another step toward her they were amazed.

One employee whispered, “She’s gonna do it.” Everyone else just nodded in agreement and held their breaths. They all felt humbled watching Becky charm the little coyote and get her to trust again.

Becky held her breath as well. This was it. The little coyote was only about four feet from her. Sweat ran down the side of Becky’s face, but she ignored it.

“Okay, little one. I’m going to throw this meat toward you…don’t be scared, okay? Here it comes.” Becky gave the meat a light toss and it landed right in front of the coyote. At first the animal backed up, but suddenly she shot forward, snatched up the meat, and backed up about ten feet and stared at Becky.

“Go ahead, it’s okay,” Becky soothed, her voice quivering with excitement. “It’s all yours. You just go ahead and eat it. These people are here to help you. They won’t hurt you. You have to trust them. They only want you to get better.”

She watched as the little coyote gulped down the meat. Then instead of running off, the coyote sat there and stared at Becky expectantly.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any more,” Becky told the coyote sadly, holding her empty hands out.

She held out her hand toward the coyote. “Come here,” she coaxed, not knowing what she was doing. Was she even supposed to be touching a wild coyote? Should she be trying to touch a wild animal that was abused? She figured probably not, but this coyote needed some sort of comforting touch. She’d probably never experienced such a thing before, not even from another of her kind.

“Come on,” she said again, wiggling her fingers, half wondering if she’d lose them. Becky didn’t hear Sarah or anyone else complaining or freaking out, so she continued to try to coax the coyote toward her. As slowly as before, the coyote made her way toward Becky. Finally, when she was about two feet from her, she dropped to her haunches and crawled toward her outstretched hand.

The first time her hand touched the top of the little coyote’s head, Becky fell in love. Her coat was rough and coarse. It was also matted and dirty, but the head under the fur was so tiny and delicate. Becky knew this coyote would be gorgeous once cleaned up and given some love.

“Come on, come here,” she continued to coax. Slowly, ever so slowly, the little coyote crawled closer to Becky until her head was in Becky’s lap. Becky stroked her head and shoulders, murmuring the whole time what a good girl she was and how pretty she was.

Dean looked over at his mom and saw tears streaming down her face.

Bethany turned toward her son and said, “Do you know how many of us have tried to do what your woman has just done? We tried everything, but that little coyote wouldn’t come near us. We’re so fortunate she came by today and we’re so happy for you.”

Dean beamed, but said with caution, “She doesn’t know she’s mine yet, mom. She has no idea how I feel or about our family history with the
One
and all that.”

Bethany scolded him with her eyes. “Look at her, Dean, does that look like a woman who’ll freak out when you tell her?”

Dean chuckled. “No, but I also don’t want to scare her away just yet.”

“Take your time, son. She’s yours and you have plenty of time to get her used to the idea. Just don’t wait too long. It’s obvious this place needs her.”

They looked back toward Becky just in time to see the little coyote stand up and push Becky over. Dean was about to burst into the pen and save Becky from a mauling when they heard her laugh. The little coyote was actually playing with her!