The Dog People (The Colter Saga Book 4) Read online

  The Dog People

  The Colter Saga

  Joel K Baker

  Book 4

  Introduction

  This is the fourth in a series of novels entitled The Colter Saga.

  The first novel, entitled Friends of the Family followed the struggle of Jesse and Sarah Colter and their family as they face the overnight end of civilization. They are forced on a journey through a desolate and dangerous landscape, testing the courage and resolve of the family and the friends they meet along the way. As they reach Haven, Jesse’s childhood home, they struggle to fight evil and build a life of love and decency for their family.

  The second novel, entitled The Way of the Dogs begins some eighty years after the Colter family arrived at a place called Haven. Sarah and Jesse’s son Paul, now in his nineties, is the sole survivor of the family. The extended Colter family has prospered, unaware of the gathering storm of wickedness surrounding them. James Colter, the only grandson of Mark, is a loner and very much like his great grandfather Jesse. Not comfortable with the progress around him, he could be the last best hope as evil descends on Haven.

  The third novel, entitled The Dogs of Liberty begins with the Cherokees and Gypsies move north. James Colter was asked to lead the expedition with his wife Molly. James ancestors had settled Haven at the time of the Go Back, and now with civilization returning, James was anxious to leave all that behind. Leading the wagon train north seemed an ideal solution. Molly knew of James need for wide open spaces and there was nothing holding them to Haven. When their daughter had told them the Colter dogs were dying, she hoped the move north would enable the dogs to recover and remain friends of the family.

  This fourth novel, entitled The Dog People begins with the James and Molly Colter, once again on the move. This time the family fulfills their destiny by taking a trip west. They and their friends hope to find a home where they, and the dogs, can live in peace. Faced with the unexpected, there are challenges to the bonds of dog and man alike.

  The Colter family faces an ever changing future, where dogs evolve, and the loyalty of the dogs to the Colters are tested as never before.

  Chapter 1

  The warm June breeze moved through the long grass on top of the hill. The grass rustled, moving back and forth with each gust. The noon day sun warmed the backs of the two dogs sitting shoulder to shoulder, watching the river below. Jake and Luther were waiting for Matthew to catch up so they could continue their hunt.

  Matthew approached the two dogs from over the rise, and stood next to Jake. Without thinking, Matthew laid his hand on Jakes head. Jake felt the weight on his head and sat looking at the river.

  What are you doing? Luther asked Jake.

  Nothing, Jake answered.

  You sit there and let him put his hand on your head, Luther said.

  Matthew is my brother, Jake answered. Leave me alone.

  The two dogs had been at odds for some time over Matthew Colter. Matthew and his sister Shannon had been imprinted as babies, by Samson, the leader of the Colter dogs. The dogs were the result of genetic experiments, highly intelligent, and able to communicate with each other by thought alone. Since the imprint, Matthew and Shannon could communicate with the Colter dogs as well.

  Matthew Colter was almost twenty, tall, and muscular from a life outdoors. He kept looking over his shoulder, impatient for the rest of his family to catch up. His parents, Molly and James Colter, had decided to take the family west. Dalton had lived with his mother’s people, the Crow. He told wonderful stories about life in the Yellowstone region. So, shortly after Shannon and Dalton were married, the whole family packed and headed towards the western regions and the Rocky Mountains.

  Matthew wondered if the rest of the family was close behind him. He and the dogs were scouting in front of the rest of the party, looking for a safe way to cross the Mississippi river. As near as Matthew could figure, the rest of his family were a half day behind him. Dalton had told him they would try to catch him, before he reached the river. That wasn’t going to happen.

  Matthew looked down at the dogs and smiled. Jake and Luther came from a long line of Colter dogs. Generation after generation of the dogs had been a part of the Colter family for over a hundred years.

  The dogs avoided human contact when they could, and were only dangerous if they or the Colters were threatened. When they were threatened, someone died. The dogs asked and gave no quarter. This was why they were created all those years ago. This is what they did.

  The government researchers, who created them, had made one significant mistake. They improved the dogs by turning on their genetic mutation. Then, perhaps as a simple oversight, the researchers forgot to turn it off. The dogs continued to evolve and they learned to communicate and imprint each other.

  Shannon and Matthew’s imprint, and ability to communicate with the dogs, was a closely guarded family secret. It was another reason they decided to leave the close knit community of New Liberty.

  Matthew, why do we wait? Jake asked.

  “We’re waiting for the others to catch up,” Matthew answered.

  The dogs come, Jake said.

  Matthew looked over his shoulder at an array of dogs that had arrived undetected. All the dogs sat in semi-circle behind where Matthew, Luther, and Jake stood.

  Should I take the other dogs and scout ahead on this side of the river? Jake asked.

  “Luther should take the dogs, but don’t get too far ahead of us,” Matthew said. “Jake, you stay here with me.”

  The dogs moved as one, flowing down the steep bank towards the river. When they reached the bank, they split into two groups. One group went south following the river’s edge, the other north. The dog’s ability to move as one, seemed eerie to those not a part of the Colter family. It was so coordinated, it appeared almost unnatural to the uninitiated.

  Matthew sat down on the ground watching the dogs disappear in both directions. Jake came over and sat down by Matthew and leaned hard against him. The pressure on Matthew continued until he finally put his arm around Jake’s back and scratched his ear. Jake gave a big sigh and closed his eyes.

  ***

  I’m sorry for slowing you down,” Willie said. “You should just go on without me. Just leave me here. I’m too old for this. I never should have come along in the first place.”

  Willie Anderson was a close friend of the Colter family. No one knew Willie’s age or much else about him either. They did know Willie knew more than anyone about living in the wilderness.

  He’d once helped Molly and James kill a bear threatening their homestead, when they still lived in Haven. He’d lived by himself for a long time. It was rumored he’d had a wife that died in childbirth. Little else was known about him.

  When James and Molly had been asked to lead a group north to establish a new settlement, they insisted Willie come with them. His only real family was the Colters. He’d jumped at the chance to go west with them. Willie, like everyone not related directly to the Colter family, didn’t know how special the dogs were, or about Shannon or Mathew’s ability to talk to them.

  “You hush, Willie,” Molly said. “Just lay still and let Shannon and Jezebel look at you.”

  Shannon had developed healing skills, when she studied medicine under a Gypsy healer for some years. When just a pup, Jezebel had befriended Shannon, shortly after she was imprinted by Samson. Jezebel was devoted to Shannon, as Jake was to Matthew. It was what Samson had wanted.

  Jezebel helped Shannon as she worked to heal people of whatever might ail them. With her incredible sense of smell, Jezebel was able to diagnose most illnesses and conditions. She and Shannon had been a healing team ever since
.

  “Don’t let that dog bite me,” Willie said as he doubled over in pain.

  “Jezebel won’t bite you, Willie,” Shannon said. “Even though, I’ve asked her to bite you many times.”

  The dog walked in a circle around where Willie lay. She stopped and sniffed several times, before walking over and sitting on the ground by Shannon.

  “Well?” Shannon asked.

  The man is dying,” Jezebel said. It is a bad thing growing inside his stomach. He will suffer pain and die in a matter of days.

  “Jezebel says that Willie should feel better by morning,” Shannon said. “She also says we are a short distance to the river and we can rest there.”

  “What do you mean Jezebel says?” Willie asked.

  Molly rolled her eyes at her daughter, knowing she’d just opened a can of worms.

  “You might as well know, Willie,” Molly said. “Shannon and Matthew can communicate with the dogs. They’ve been able to since they were babies.”

  Willie at first looked bewildered. Then a look of recognition crossed his face.

  “I knew it!” Willie said, before doubling up in pain, waiting for it to pass. “I knew there was something odd going on, now didn’t I?”

  “It was hard to keep it from you,” Molly said. “We thought the fewer people who knew about this, the better.”

  Willie looked over at Jezebel and then Shannon. The dog sat looking calmly back at Willie. He had another spasm of pain, although less than before. After a while most of the pain receded. Willie felt he could ride so they were able to arrive where Matthew sat, looking over the river at the setting sun.

  ***

  Luther led the group of dogs headed north, following the bank of the river. After an hour the ridge running along the east side the river, flattened out. A short distance ahead, a large Sioux camp covering a vast area, came into view. The dogs immediately dropped to their bellies and waited for the sun to set.

  Several groups of Sioux riders came from the east into camp, but none from the north or the south. None of the groups of Sioux arriving seemed in a hurry. The mongrel dogs in the camp quieted as the cooking fires were lit, knowing their supper was not far off. In the gathering dark, Luther crawled closer to the camp.

  Luther reached out with his mind and searched the camp. The mongrels were hungry, had fleas, and thought of little else. The Sioux were busy doing human things. One was beating a woman because his dinner was not ready. Several others were on lying on top of females. Most were eating, or doing nothing in particular.

  They will soon sleep, Luther told the other dogs. We wait for dark.

  ***

  Matthew had a small fire going and water heating in a pot. James took the horses and hobbled them, a short distance from the camp. He and Matthew brushed the horses down, after carrying the packs back into camp. Shannon poured half of the hot water through a cloth bag, with sassafras root and aspen bark, and into a pot for tea. She gave a tin cup of it to Willie, and his pain slowly diminished.

  “Where are the dogs?” James asked.

  “I sent them up and down river to see if they could find a crossing,” Matthew said. “Luther led the group going north.”

  “I hope Luther doesn’t come across anyone,” James said. “You know how he is.”

  “He’s not that bad,” Matthew said.

  “Yes he is,” Molly said. “He enjoys fighting and killing. You know it, and I know it.”

  “He just doesn’t like to be confronted by anyone,” Shannon said. “If you leave him alone, he’s fine.”

  “God help anyone who crosses his path,” James said, shaking his head.

  ***

  Shannon asked Dalton to go on a walk with her. They walked toward the river and found an overlook with a large rock. The sun was setting behind some clouds and lit the sky with an orange glow. Already the evening stars were beginning to twinkle. There would be no moon tonight, so the stars should be brilliant.

  “Are you still glad we came?” Dalton asked.

  “Yes,” Shannon said smiling at her secret.

  Jezebel had told Shannon that she was going to have Dalton’s baby before they had left. Shannon had kept it a secret from everyone including her husband.

  It wasn’t until just before they were married, that Shannon finally told Dalton about the dogs and her special relationship with Jezebel. Dalton found the story hard to believe, but eventually became reconciled to the relationship between his wife and Jezebel.

  “I guess you should know,” Shannon said. “The Colters are not much for settling down. We’ve been known to move at the drop of a hat.”

  “That was another thing I loved about you, Shannon,” Dalton said. “It’s not the destination with me. I love the journey. Besides, with the Colter dogs, I imagine you could raise some eyebrows from any neighbors. You probably wear out your welcome pretty quickly. I’m getting used to them, but I could see how some people might find the dogs a little on the creepy side.”

  “Creepy?” Shannon said. “They may be scary, but I don’t get creepy at all.”

  “You don’t find those dogs always walking in lines, or showing up out of nowhere when you least expect it, a little creepy?” Dalton asked.

  “No,” Shannon said. “But I’d be more careful what you say about the dogs.”

  “Why?” Dalton asked.

  “They’re all sitting right behind you, listening,” Shannon said.

  Dalton turned quickly and saw that the dogs were nowhere around them.

  “You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you, dog lady?” Dalton asked, grabbing her in a hug.

  “No,” Shannon said, smiling. “I’m just smarter than you.”

  Chapter 2

  The dying campfires of the Sioux camp lit the field below, like the stars lit the sky. On a signal from Luther, the Colter dogs spread out and started towards the sleeping Indian encampment.

  A lone coyote trotted around the edge of the camp looking for discarded bones or scraps from the dinner. He never saw the approaching dogs. Luther caught his scent, as the coyote came towards where Luther waited. When the coyote was close enough, Luther snapped his neck like a rabbit and left the body lay where it dropped.

  The Colter dogs drifted through the camp, like a silent blanket of fog, swirling around and between the tents. The camp dogs were asleep or held mute by the size and vicious appearance of the dogs walking slowly through the camp.

  One of the men decided to answer the call of nature at a bad time. He ducked his head and came out of the tent. Luther and the other dogs strolled slowly past the campfire in front of where the man stood. Luther looked at the man without breaking stride; then raised his lips in a silent snarl. The hair on the ridge of Luther’s back stood on end. The dog issued a low growl, his eyes burning like red coals.

  The man scrambled as fast as he could back into the tent. He hid much of night under a blanket. The next morning, no one believed his hysterical story about a group of bears prowling around the camp in the night. They found large dog paw prints, and teased the man about his imaginary bears.

  ***

  Willie’s pain began to concentrate in his lower right side. It came in waves and was excruciating. It was obvious to everyone, Willie was suffering. They made him as comfortable as possible, unsure of what they should do. They waited for the dogs to return.

  In the middle of the night, Jezebel came to where Dalton and Shannon slept. She nudged Shannon’s shoulder, waking her.

  “What is it?” Shannon asked.

  Willie is dying, Jezebel said.

  “I know,” Shannon said. “I don’t know how to help him.”

  I think I know, Jezebel said.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Shannon asked.

  His little finger is sick, Jezebel said. We have to cut it off.

  Shannon was awake by this time, and stirred the fire back into life. She heated some water for tea. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east. She thought what Jezebe
l said made no sense. It wasn’t like Jezebel to be this wrong. Soon Molly was up and helped Shannon with the fire.

  “Jezebel,” Shannon finally said. “I think you must be wrong. There’s nothing wrong with Willie’s fingers.”

  It’s the little finger inside him, Jezebel said.

  “What is Jezebel saying?” Molly asked.

  “She keeps insisting there is something wrong with Willie’s finger,” Shannon said. “She says we have to cut it off. It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “What did Jezebel say, exactly?” Molly asked.

  “She says the little finger inside of Willie needs to be cut off,” Shannon said shrugging her shoulders.

  Molly thought for a minute staring into the fire, before the answer came to her. When it did, Molly stood up and grabbed Shannon by the shoulders.

  “It’s his appendix,” Molly said. “Jezebel is talking about Willie’s appendix. He’s having an appendicitis attack.”

  Shannon ran for the packs and unlashed one that belonged to her and Dalton. It contained her medical books she’d brought with her from New Liberty. She took the one on internal medicine back to the fire and in the gathering light, began to read. When she was done, it was light and the men had washed and dressed. She knew what she had to do.

  Willie laid on his side in what seemed to be, growing discomfort. He had vomited several times during the night and was running a fever. Shannon went over and touched his lower right side and he winced in pain.

  “Everyone, we’ve got news” Shannon said. “Molly and I have figured out what is wrong with Willie. We have to take out his appendix before it bursts. These are terrible conditions for an operation. But it seems we don’t have any choice.”

  “What do you need?” James asked.

  “Boiling water,” Shannon said. “Also bandages, alcohol, my instrument bag, and something to knock Willie out.”

  Willie woke up long enough for Shannon to explain what was happening. He was in so much pain; he wanted Shannon to operate immediately.