She Wolves

By Duke Morrison

Three hunters journey to New Mexico for a weekend of big game hunting. They enter a bar where they try unsuccessfully to pick up on a group of young women only to find out later that the women are werewolves...turning tables on the men as the hunters become the hunted in the New Mexico desert.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201449841

Book preview

Chapter 1

Zeke froze as he heard another howl. He could tell it wasn’t a wolf, he should have known the first time he heard one of them. Even though he knew there was a round chambered in his 30.06 he pulled the bolt back and using the light provided by the full moon saw the brass shell was right where it was supposed to be. He could have used the flashlight but he wanted to be ready to fire his rifle at a moment's notice. Besides the large blood moon rising into the night sky was providing plenty of light at the moment. Knowing the gun was ready, he kept moving up the road.

He looked up at the moon as the creature howled again, thinking he might not be in this mess if Brian hadn’t insisted on getting green chili cheeseburgers.

Chapter 2 - Four hours ago

Are you sure this is the place?  It looks like a total dive. Zeke asked as Brian pulled into the gravel lot in front of Chainey’s Bar and Grill, Did we seriously drive by every restaurant in Taos for this?

Yes, we did. And you’re right, it’s a total dive, Brian replied, but trust me, they have the best green chili cheeseburgers in all of New Mexico.

That’s a bold statement, Dave said from the backseat.

Not a lot of customers, Zeke observed, we’re the only car in the lot. You might the best green chili cheeseburgers in the state might draw more of a crowd.

We’re too early for dinner and too late for lunch, plus this ain’t exactly on the beaten path, Brian said, adding, Have I ever steered you guys wrong?

Yeah, Zeke told him.

Plenty of times, Dave added.

Okay, let me try again, have I ever steered you guys wrong when it comes to food?

Uh, yeah.

Plenty of times.

If I’m such a total screw up how did I get my uncle to loan me his sweet cabin for the end of deer season? Brian asked.

Fair point, Dave replied.

Did you and your uncle go to this place? Zeke asked.

Yeah, and while I might have steered you wrong you know Uncle Dusty wouldn’t, not when it comes to food.

Is Dusty the crazy one? Dave asked.

All my uncles are crazy, but yeah he’s the craziest.

Crazy or not I remember that dude, Zeke said, He does like his food.

Exactly, so quit bitching and let’s go eat. Brian said as another car pulled into the gravel lot.

They sat in Zeke’s Jeep and watched as three women got out of the aging sedan and went into the bar.

I’m thinking Brian might be right about this place, Dave said as he watched the last pair of tight jeans walk through the door, We’ve got some serious Milf action going on.

Keep in mind I’m still married, Zeke said as he opened the car door.

I’m not, Dave said.

Brian slipped off his wedding ring and put it in one of the pockets in the front of his jeans as he said, As of tonight neither am I.

Don’t worry Zeke, I’ll take two of them if need be, Dave said as he got out of the Jeep.

I thought this was all about getting up here so we can get an early start on hunting tomorrow? Zeke asked.

It is, Dave replied, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some good food, a few beers, and maybe, just maybe a bit of female company, does it?

Yeah, Brian added, Deer tomorrow, but tonight it’s burgers, brews, and babes.

Zeke decided he probably didn’t have anything to worry about anyway. The three women were probably married or at least had boyfriends. Three women looking like they did wouldn’t have any trouble finding a man, especially if they were local. Up here, deep in the hills of Northern New Mexico there were a lot more men hanging around than women. They’d have their pick. Of course if the locals were anything like Brian’s Uncle Dusty there might not be much to pick from.

The inside was covered in dark wood and the only light was from small fake candles at each of the handful of tables and the television’s, all showing the local news, mounted between the heads of dead game along the walls. It was more bar than grill and the room was dominated by an oak bar going from wall to wall.

A fat man wearing a dirty apron across his belly and a dirty truckers hat on his head said, Sit anywhere you like.

They took a table next to the three ladies.

Without moving from his spot behind the bar the fat man said, You ladies having the usual?

The red head twisted in her chair to face him and smiled, Of course we are Lon.

Shots and beers too?

You have to ask? the red head replied.

The bartender didn’t move anything but his head as he turned to the back of the bar where the kitchen must have been and yelled, Hey Bean, three burgers with the works and fries.

He managed to keep his seat while he grabbed the bottle of whiskey off the shelf. Drawing the beers and pouring the shots, however, required him to get up.

While he was up he looked at Zeke, Brian, and Dave and said, Do you guys want a menu? Or I can just tell you what we’ve got to eat.

What have got? Dave asked.

Burgers and fries. I can put green chili and or cheese on them if you like.

They waited for him to recite more items but he stayed silent.

I’ll have a burger then, Brian said, with green chili and cheese.

Fries?

Yeah, put the chili and cheese on those too.

Dave started to order but the bartender held up a meaty palm and then pointed to the television before saying, We’re on the news.

He grabbed a remote from under the bar and turned up the volume.

While rescuers say they are not giving up the search, officials are not holding out much hope that the pair of hunters who did not return from what was supposed to be a weekend trip last Monday, will be found alive, the statuesque blonde news girl said as she stood in the parking lot of Chaney’s Bar and Grill.

The picture cut away from the reporter and too a man in a sheriff’s uniform.

We know from the families they only had two days food, the sheriff said, and most of that was still at their abandoned campground along with their gear. If anyone has seen them it would be helpful.

Off camera they heard the reporter say, Locals including some on the search and rescue teams seem to believe the pair may have been victim of some kind of animal attack. Does the sheriff’s department have any comment on that?

We don’t have any direct evidence of an animal attack. The way the campsite was abandoned certainly raises the possibility but we don’t want to draw any conclusions at this time.

The screen changed to a picture of the two hunters with a phone number below them. The news reporter’s voice came on asking for anyone with any information to call.

Happens every year up here, the redhead said as she turned towards Zeke, Brian, and Dave’s table.

Is that so? Dave asked.

Sure does, the brunette said as she turned to face them. Zeke noticed despite her dark hair her eyes were a bright green.

It’s the woods, the last of the trio said. She was a blonde, but she had the same big green eyes, City boys come up here and get lost. Then the woods just eat them up.

The woods eat people? Dave asked.

Not literally, the red head told them. She had the same eyes as well. Zeke wondered if they were sisters.

Something eats them, the brunette said, though it isn’t the woods, as much as it is something in the woods.

That’s just what I want to hear before I spend a weekend up in the woods, Dave said, I don’t want to get eaten by anything.

You sure? the brunette said as she smiled, Because I was thinking you look delicious.

Why thank you. You look kind of tasty yourself, Dave said returning the smile.

Now Luna, the redhead said, don’t tease the city boy. I bet he has a wife back in Albuquerque.

Not anymore, Dave said.

What happened? Luna asked him.

You ever hear about a boss getting it on with his secretary?

You cheated on your wife with your secretary?

No, but my wife is a secretary, or was. She managed a promotion.

Before the girls could respond the bartender yelled over, Did they rest of you decide?

I’ll have what he’s having, Zeke said.

Me too, Dave told him.

Bean, three more with cheese and chili on everything, the bartender shouted towards the kitchen before asking, Drinks?

What do have on tap? Brian asked.

Beer.

What kind?

Both kinds. Light and regular.

Give us three regulars, Brian said. He looked over at the empty shot glasses at the girls table and the half empty pint glasses in front of them. They had downed a lot of alcohol in the short time they had been sitting there. Brian asked, Do you ladies want anything?

Are you offering to buy us drinks? the redhead asked.

Yes.

She looked back at the bartender, who said Three more of the same on his tab?

The brunette raised her glass and downed the rest of her beer before saying, Thanks.

My pleasure, Brian said as Lon the bartender brought out a full tray of drinks and started distributing them.

So, do you ladies live around here? Brian asked.

The Blonde laughed before she said, No, not year around.

If Lon would hire some waitresses maybe I’d be a resident, the brunette told them, but right now we are staying at my uncle’s cabin.

No kidding, Brian said, So are we.

You’re staying at my uncle’s cabin?

No, Brian said with a laugh, We’re staying at my uncle’s cabin.

We’re up here a lot. What’s your Uncles name? the redhead asked.

Speaking of names, Dave said, What are yours?

This is Luna, the redhead said as she pointed to the brunette. She motioned to the blonde and said, This is Lorna, and I’m Linda.

The three L’s, Dave said, Are you like sisters?

We get that a lot, but no, Linda replied.

You never said who your Uncle was, Lorna said before Dave could ask a follow up question.

Dusty.

We know Dusty, Linda said as the food arrived, Our cabin is just up the road from his. Less than a mile in fact.

Dave smiled as he said, Is that so?

I wouldn’t lie to you about something like that, Linda said.

The next set of burgers and fries arrived. They continued to make small talk with the girls as they ate and drank. After polishing off the food, which was as good as Brian claimed and another two rounds of drinks Zeke said, We probably better get going.

You sure you don’t want to have one more round of drinks? Linda asked.

Yeah, Lorna added, Lon has the best regular beer around for miles.

Yeah Zeke, where else are we going to find regular beer? Dave asked.

In the cooler in the Jeep? Zeke said, Remember I still have to drive.

He might be right girls, Linda said, It’s going to be dark soon and the road to Dusty’s is awfully curvy.

Sure, but Zeke looks like the kind of man who likes curves, Lorna said.

Zeke’s wife didn’t screw her boss, so Zeke isn’t as big on curves as he used to be, Dave said.

Good for Zeke, Lorna told them.

Speaking of dark curvy roads, Linda said, We’ve had enough ourselves. We should hit the road as well.

If you want another round you can stop by our place, Dave said, we’re well stocked.

I don’t think so, Linda told him, but thanks for the offer.

You sure? Brian asked.

Two of you have wives back home who would probably frown on hanging out with us, Lorna said.

Brian started to protest but saw how pale the skin was where his ring had been compared to the rest of his hand. He considered telling a story but the girls were already getting up and walking to the bar to settle their tab.

After paying the bartender Linda turned and smiled at them before she said, Maybe we’ll see you later.

I’d like that, Dave said.

I bet you would, Lorna said as the three walked out the door.

Damn, Dave said quietly as they watched the trio leave.

No kidding, Brian said, Last thing I expected to run into up here.

The guys settled up their tab and were in the parking lot when Zeke said, You know what I’m going to take one more piss before we hit the road.

We’re in the mountains dude, you can just stop and pee where you want, Brian said.

Sure, but I have to pee now.

Trees are cleaner than that bathroom, trust me, Dave told him.

I won’t be long, Zeke said as he turned and went back inside.

He had done his business, finding Dave was right about the state of the men’s room, and was heading for the door when an almost impossible skinny man wearing a grease stained apron and a hair net over his mostly bald head stepped in front of him, blocking his way to the door.

Best thing for you boys would be to keep to your own place tonight. Ought to stay inside when the blood moon is up. Everyone knows that. the skinny man said to Zeke.

Excuse me?

Before the man could answer the bartender shouted, Bean, leave the man alone.

Bean looked back at the bartender but didn’t say anything.

Things like this are why I make you stay in the kitchen, the bartender told him.

It’s the blood moon tonight. Ought to stay inside when the blood moon is up. Everyone knows that, Bean said to the bartender.

If everyone knows then you don’t need to tell them, do you?

Bean lowered his head and seemed to be thinking about this.

Did you clean up the grill? the bartender asked while Bean was thinking.

Bean shook his head no, before walking back into the kitchen area.

What was that all about? Zeke asked the bartender.

Don’t pay him no mind. Bean can cook burgers with the best of them, but otherwise he isn’t all there.

Zeke nodded and made his way out of the bar.

Chapter 3

What do mean you’re going to go their cabin? Zeke asked after Brian told him the plan he and Dave had hatched while they were unloading the gear into Dusty’s cabin, I’m pretty sure if they wanted to see us they would have accepted the offer to come here.

No, I don’t think so. You saw the way they were flirting. Why else would they tell us where they were staying if they didn’t want us to come over?

Making conversation?

Maybe, but I don’t think so. They volunteered that information. They wanted us to come over, they just wanted it to be on the down low.

Why would they do that?

Lots of reasons. Could be they have boyfriends or even husbands. It’s not like three hot chicks like that are going to have trouble finding men. Maybe they don’t want the bartender telling everybody their business.

Maybe you and Dave are just making excuses to go to their cabin.

Maybe, but you saw them, it’s a chance worth taking. The blonde and I definitely had a bit of chemistry going, I could tell.

Yeah, I guess, but I think I’m going to stay here, Zeke said, I want to clean my old rifle anyway.

Bullshit, you could eat off that thing, Brian told him.

Look, I get it for you. You and Paige hardly get along and Dave’s wife dumped him, but I’m still a happily married man and I don’t want to screw that up.

Just come and have a few drinks then. You can be the wingman.

Nah, it’s like you said, I saw what they looked like. I get a few drinks in me and any one of them gets a bit friendly I’m going to have a hard time saying no. It’s be better for me if I don’t put myself in that position.

"Yeah, I guess I see your point. It’s kind of crazy meeting three hot women like that