The Blessing Way

In the morning, McKee lays in a thicket of willows and hears Ellen Leon’s car approaching. He worries his wild appearance will frighten her, but he needs her help to escape. He walks onto the path as she speeds past, and he yells at her to stop. He tells her that he’s a friend of Dr. Canfield, and she unlocks the car to let him in. He makes her turn the car around and promises to explain as they drive. Overnight, McKee slowly made his way down the canyon as the Wolf stalked him from above. He kept still in the shadows and ran to the opposite side of the canyon when he was sure the man left. McKee understood that Canfield likely wasn’t coming back, and that his note was a warning. Just before dawn, a rock gave way and McKee tumbled to the canyon floor, dislocating his pinky and hitting his head. He cleaned his wounds in a pool of water, and as he wandered in the growing daylight, he began to fret about Ellen.

Back in the car, McKee explains Canfield’s note and the man stalking their camp. He wants Ellen to drive to Shoemaker’s, where they can call the police.