“Who would fear me?”

Previously:

Marshal Blackmon and Grey Cloud knew that not enough Ojibwe warriors would arrive on time to even the odds against the raiders, they would still be outnumbered by at least two to one, but they had, if used properly, the element of surprise.

Their “line” was spread out to the point that they believed each person was covering as many as two or three raiders—they still needed something to even the odds.

Inside the cabin, Big Mac continued to tend the wounded Bart Nathaniel, whose condition, though grave, remained stable—for now, at least.

Season VI, Chapter 2, Episode 35:

Kidd met Fensterwald privately in the hotel.

Randolph Kidd met with Chauncey Marion Fensterwald in the hotel lobby. Fensterwald excused himself from the others who returned to the adjacent common room, “What may I do for you, deputy?”

Kidd explained that all new arrivals must appear as horse-wranglers, not ex-border raiders; something that was good news to Fensterwald, “We seem to have run out of ex-raiders, but there are others willing to make the trip who we have not invited. I’ll send a telegraph message to my partner in St. Louis and in a few weeks I would expect the first to begin arriving. How many?”

“No more than twenty, for now.”

At this point, GENTLE READER, we leave Grand Marais, Marshal McGillicuddy, Deputy Kidd and Mr. Fensterwald behind—they’ll have no further contribution this story-line.

Their human allies would soon join them on the west side of the besieged cabin and Wolvenking L’étoile du Nord (Star) was discussing their plan, “When I give the order, everybody must begin to howl, as if to the moon—the longest most eerie howl you have in you—that should send chills down the spine of the pluckiest human. And then we attack, I hope with human assistance, but even without—we attack.”

“It is a good plan,” Renegade whispered to PepperCooper, “You and I to battle, together.”

“But I am so small…” Buttons arfed, “who would fear me?”

“Bite their ankles, little one,” the Wolvenking replied.

“Bite their ankles, little one,” the Wolvenking replied, “I shall run beside you, and the two of us will do damage enough.”

“And I on the other side,” Wingfoot added.

Benji and Alice would charge in the center, being the largest canines, they were confident knowing the wolves would be to their left and right.

To be Continued…