Sierra put both hands on her dad’s face. “Daddy! Did you bring my puppies?”
“They’re waiting on the porch.” He watched as she scrambled down out of his arms and scampered toward the house. “I’m just the guy who brought along the dogs,” he cracked, loud enough for Travis to hear.
“Welcome to having unappreciative kids,” Travis grumbled while he unsaddled Sunflower. “Is everything else okay?”
“Not really. It seems this time around, we have a serial killer who’s also a hitman.”
Travis stopped what he was doing and stared at Josh. “That’s a new one. You’re saying he’s killing people for money?”
“Looks like. Yeah. We’re up to fifteen victims, definitely more we probably don’t know about.”
“Ah. Sounds like what you guys need is some clarity. That only comes when you bother to recharge your connection with your spirit guide.”
“You’ve been talking to Skye.”
Travis grinned. “I often talk to my daughter about such things. Does she listen? That’s the question. Remember, you guys aren’t the only one with an active spirit guide. I knew when you decided to make the drive up here why you needed to come. It makes sense. I don’t think you do it often enough. You work too much.”
“We’re here now,” Josh replied, breathing in, filling his lungs with fresh air tinged with a whiff of horse manure. “Maybe one day, we’ll do this, buy a spread away from the city and just live.”
“Sierra would like that. The smell of horses doesn’t even faze that girl.”
Josh looked over as his daughter. The four-year-old played tag with Atka, Bella, and Cody. “She adores animals, says she wants a bunny next.”
“Uh oh,” Travis declared. “Guess she didn’t mention the rabbit here that she named Dudley.”
Josh shook his head. “Pretty soon, we’ll look like a zoo.”
“There are worse things,” Travis added. “She could want her pony in the city.”
“Don’t kid about that. The neighbors would run us off. We’d have to move back to the farm if that happened.”
“Come on. We’ll eat supper and talk about buying out here. I know just the place. It’s been on the market for over a year. Nobody wants to live in the country anymore.”
“You’re not kidding.”
“Now, why would I kid if I could get to see my granddaughter more often. She’ll want to ride her horses for the rest of her life. You’ll need to get used to that.”
Josh slapped Travis on the back before they started walking toward the house. “You see her plenty. How many times do we call on you guys to pinch-hit with very little advance notice?”
“We don’t mind. Lena loves having her here. She spoils Sierra, especially since Zoe stays in Seattle most of the time.”
“Have you talked to Zoe lately?”
“I don’t like the sound of that question. What’s she up to now?”
“I’ll let her tell you.”
Travis stopped walking. “No, you brought it up, you tell me.”
“Lately, she and Brayden have been all over each other.”
“Brayden? Brayden and Zoe? Well, that’s not so bad. Brayden’s an okay kid.”
“He’s a great kid who’s been through hell and back. I think they might be good for each other.”
“But she’s only nineteen. Maybe they’re not serious.”
“Maybe.” Josh left it at that. He didn’t intend to tell him they’d declared their love for each other in front of an entire room full of people. Maybe it was nothing more than a summer fling anyway. He’d leave that up to them.
Skye greeted the two men on the porch, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. “Perfect timing. Lena’s taking the rolls out of the oven. Wash up. I’ll get Sierra…where is she?”
Josh glanced around in the front yard. “She was right here a minute ago.”
“Where is she, Josh?” Skye demanded as she dashed past him and down the steps in a panic. “Sierra? Sierra, where are you? I need you here right now, young lady! Supper’s ready.”
Sierra stuck her head around the corner of the house, picking at a scab on her arm. Surrounded by dogs, she raised her voice in a quiver, “What’s wrong? What did I do wrong?”
With her heart in her throat, Skye raced to swoop up her daughter. Letting out a huge sigh of relief, she swung her up to her hip, clutching her tight. “Nothing, baby. Where were you just now?”
Sierra stuck a grubby finger in her mouth. “Um, I was playing in that sandbox over there. Why are you so mad?”
“I’m not mad. When I didn’t see you playing in the front yard, I got scared, that’s all. You’re supposed to stay where we can see you at all times. You know that.”
“But the sandbox is right there on the side. I didn’t do nothin’ wrong.”
“We’ll discuss this later. Right now, let’s get you washed up and get some food in your belly.”
Sierra giggled and hugged her mom. “You’re worried about the bad man.”
“What do you know about the bad man?”
“He likes fire.”
The burning Audi came to mind, the one he’d set on fire Thursday night. Skye skittered to a halt and looked at her daughter’s sweet little face. “What do you mean?”
Sierra lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “The bad man likes fire.”
“What did she just say?” Josh asked.
“I’ll tell you later. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. Right now, she needs a nice normal evening surrounded by her family.”
“You’re spooked.”
“Shh,” Skye said quietly. “I don’t want to scare her or make it like I’m grilling her about it. Is it too much just to want a nice, normal evening for a change?”
“I’ll get her cleaned up. You go help Lena get supper on the table.”
They sat down in the dining room to eat. But the joy of the trip had turned to worry. Fretting that this was all too much for a four-year-old, Skye couldn’t take her eyes off Sierra. Should she press her daughter later for more details about something as horrific as a fire? Had the child witnessed arson or death in a vision? What if Sierra had experienced the same evil she’d seen at the second dumpsite? Wouldn’t a child so young need to talk about it?
Travis noticed Skye’s concerned look all through dinner but waited until the meal was over to corner her in the kitchen. “What’s wrong with you? You were so happy when you got here. Now you look as though you’re terrified. Did you get a text about the killer or something?”
She went through the conversation she’d had earlier with Sierra. “Should I press her for details? How did Mom handle these things when I was a kid? I never saw anything as disturbing as anyone getting murdered. I’d remember that, right?”
“That’s not entirely true. Jodi once mentioned a disturbing nightmare you kept having, a recurring dream that wouldn’t go away. It probably lasted a week or at least several nights in a row. You’d wake up in the middle of the night, thrashing about, wet with sweat. You’d describe a horrific double murder to your mother about a couple before anyone knew a murder had even taken place. It bothered her enough to talk about it to me. And then when she picked up the paper one morning, there was the story laying out the details you’d seen in your vision. The couple had been dead at least a week. If I recall what happened correctly, it had something to do with a handyman they’d hired, angry over not getting paid enough for the job. He’d taken a knife and stabbed them, left them in the house, and moved on.”
“Why wouldn’t I remember something like that? I swear I don’t.”
“That’s just it. The nightmare must have dissipated over the years. If it didn’t stick with you, then it won’t stick with Sierra. That’s the point.”
“So you think I should let her talk about?”
“I’d encourage it. I don’t think it’s good to have those kinds of visions bottled up.”
Skye playfully hit her dad on the arm. “That coming
from the man who can keep my paternity a secret for twenty-five years or so and not say a word about it.”
“I had my reasons. At the time, I thought it was the best thing for you. None of us can go back and correct our mistakes. I wish I could.
“Ancient history. I’m sorry I brought it up. Maybe I’ll approach this thing with Sierra and gauge whether she’s comfortable talking about it. Let her bring me into what’s happening in her little head.”
“Do it. Take her for a walk. If she’s comfortable, she’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, Pop,” Skye said as her arms wrapped around her dad.
“Pop? That’s a new one. I like it.”
She patted his face. “I’m lucky to have you.”
“Don’t I know it. Let me know what you get out of our girl.”
“Will do,” Skye told him as she went out into the dining room. “Lena, leave those dishes. I’ll do them later. Right now, Josh and I want to take Sierra down to the barn to say goodnight to Sunflower.”
“Yay!” Sierra shouted, scrambling out of her chair. “I thought you forgot about Sunflower.”
Josh caught the hint and reached over, took an apple out of the fruit bowl, tossed it up, then caught it in midair. “We wouldn’t forget Sunflower. Let’s go give her a bedtime snack.”
The trio left out the backdoor. The cool summer air hit them in the face as they headed to the barn. The sun sat low over the cliffs, the waning tips of light streaming through the trees.
Down a slope, Sierra pulled ahead, racing to get there first. But she couldn’t open the barn door by herself. “Daddy, help.”
“I got it. Take the apple to Sunflower.”
She hurried past the stalls until she got to the right one, then handed up her offering to the pony. Looking up, she stood back to watch Sunflower munch on the fruit. Patting the horse’s nose, Sierra blurted out, “The bad man won’t hurt my horse, will he?”
“No way, kiddo” Josh said, scooping her up in his arms. “What makes you ask that? Talk to us. What have you seen that worries you?”
“He has scary eyes. Like this.” Sierra widened her eyes, held up her hands like claws, and made a monster face before she growled.
Skye had to hold back the laughter. But she realized the seriousness of the description—her daughter mimicked what she feared most. It might be a break-through of sorts. “When did this happen?”
“Last night. And then another night.”
“When you’re trying to sleep?”
“Uh-huh. I don’t like him.”
Skye ruffled the girl’s hair. “I don’t either. Let’s take a walk outside before you get ready for bed. That might make us all feel better. Say goodnight to Sunflower. See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Sunflower,” Sierra repeated, then stretched and bent downward, still in Josh’s arms, to kiss the horse on the nose.
They shut the barn door and headed around the house. It was darker now, but swaths of fading light still spilled over the grounds waiting for nightfall to takeover.
Josh took advantage of the evening stars popping out overhead to point skyward. “See the North Star, Sierra?”
But she’d already fallen asleep in Josh’s arms. “Good. That means she was no longer scared or thinking about the bad guy.”
“For now,” Skye pointed out. “Let’s get her to bed. I’ll feel better when she’s tucked in for the night, knowing I’m right down the hallway if she wakes up.”
After getting Sierra down, they sat on the porch and watched the sun go down with Lena and Travis. The dogs had been walked for the night and were ready to plop down in between the chairs.
“You might as well leave the dogs here when you go back to Seattle,” Travis suggested. “Sierra wants them with her. You know she does.”
“Sure,” Josh said. “They’ll sleep with her, though, and they’ll have to go out the minute they wake up.”
“Sierra’s good about taking care of that,” Skye bragged. “She’s an exceptional dog owner for a child her age..”
Lena got to her feet. “This girl is headed to bed. Sorry to say goodnight so early, but it’s been a long day for me. Why don’t I take the dogs in with me and let them into Sierra’s room?”
“Good idea,” Travis said, shoving to his feet and arching his back to stretch out the kinks. “I’m a few minutes behind you.” He turned to Skye. “Why don’t you guys take advantage of the lodge tonight? Wouldn’t hurt to do a cleansing ritual before heading to bed, certainly might help get rid of the pent-up angst you brought with you.”
Skye twisted in her chair toward Josh. “It’s a good idea. It’s helped us before. We might find out the reason he’s connecting to Sierra. She’s seen his eyes. She knows he likes fire.”
“She knows he’s mean,” Josh added. “For a four-year-old to see even that much is concerning.”
“You need clarity,” Travis stated. “A cleansing ceremony is the way to go. It’s all set up. The earth lodge. I keep it that way in pristine condition for just such occasions, keep the embers fired up. Whenever I’ve had a bad day, it works for me.”
She got to her feet, wrapped an arm around her dad’s shoulder. “Thanks, Pop. We’ll try not to make too much noise when we head upstairs.”
Travis placed a kiss on his daughter’s hair. “Take all the time you like. I keep flashlights in that bench at the end of the porch. When you leave tomorrow, you be careful out there chasing down this guy. You need help. Let me know.”
“We will. Goodnight, Pop.”
“Night.”
After Travis had disappeared into the house, Skye reached out her hand, pulled Josh to his feet. “Come on, it’s a nice night for a walk.”
They took off down the steps, strolling along the path past the barn. The air smelled sweet with freshly cut hay and alfalfa. Somewhere the buds on night-blooming jasmine had opened, releasing an intoxicating scent that danced on the gentle wind.
Changing course, they veered toward the in-ground lodge, a separate structure, dome-like in shape, located fifty yards or so away from the house.
With her flashlight in hand, she opened the door, propped it back before stepping inside. The smell of sage met her as she led Josh down a flight of steps into the depths of the earth, twelve feet down, through a tunnel, lighting candles and lanterns as she went.
Stopping before the alter, a stone circle, she dipped a finger into a clay pot containing burned sage, used her thumb to smudge her forehead with the ash to ward off evil, and waited for Josh to do the same.
She removed the lid from the firepit and stoked the embers to life. They stood feet apart around the twelve large stones glistening now with glowing coals, sizzling and popping. As the fire simmered with fragrant cedar, the wafts sent smoke trails curling upward while soft shadows danced on the mud walls.
They sat down together, legs crossed, put the flashlights down between them.
Skye laid out the herbs, twigs of lavender for healing, juniper for protection, and sweetgrass thrown in to attract the mother spirit.
The scent blended, wafted, the aroma purifying the air. Mists of smoke swirled around them, the haze getting thicker.
Skye picked up the sacred Chanunpa pipe, loaded it with ripe tobacco, and lit it. She inhaled, filling her lungs, taking in one puff, then two, before handing it off to Josh, who did the same.
They began to chant in unison. “We call now to Grandfather Sky and Grandmother Earth, our ancestors, our forefathers. We plead for guidance tonight. To make our quest successful, we ask to carry out our mission in the shadow of the Great Spirit. We ask that our words drift on the smoke. Hear us, Great Spirit. Answer us, Great Spirit.”
Josh waved his hands through the air to make sure the smoke moved and began to chant. Skye joined in, singing, “Ee ah hay, ee ah hay, ee ah, ee ah hay. Oh, Great Spirit, we come before you to help our daughter Sierra. Protect her, Great Spirit, from the evil we sense is out there, from the evil she sees in her visions. Make her
strong, strong enough to ward off that evil if it tries to breach our defense. Ee ah hay, ee ah hay, ee ah, ee ah hay. Guide this child along whatever path she follows. Lead her strong into the Land of the People. Ee ah hay, ee ah hay, ee ah, ee ah hay. Renew our link to our spirit guide. Renew Kiya’s wolf spirit, strengthen our ties to the wolf, let Kiya’s spirit run through all of us, run through our blood. Return our faith in Kiya so that we may continue to walk the path of our destiny. Lead the wolf through the Land of the Spirits so that she may continue to show us the right path, the right way. Ee ah hay, ee ah hay, ee ah, ee ah hay.”
The couple took up the refrain again while alternately smoking the pipe. As the ceremony came full circle, the two sat there for a while, taking in the mood, taking in the power.
“Feel better?” Josh asked.
“A little. You?”
“I do. It always recharges me to come down here. Maybe because I remember when it brought me back from the brink.”
She squeezed his hand. “We should never forget how close you came to dying. That’s why we don’t take anything for granted now.”
“You ready to get out of the sweat lodge?”
She laid a hand on Josh’s shoulder, brushed her fingers through his hair. “I guess. It’ll be hard to leave tomorrow.”
“If nothing’s going on, there’s no reason we can’t stay another day.”
“That’s true,” she said as she stirred the fire pit, placed the lid back over the hot coals. As Josh grabbed the flashlights, he turned the light toward Skye. She blew out the candles on her way out of the circle and back through the tunnel.
Travis met them outside, shoved a bottle of water into Skye’s hand. “You guys, okay?
Skye noted the air around them felt cleaner. The breeze felt stronger. “We’re fine, Pop. You didn’t have to come out here.”
“Sure, I did. I thought I heard someone out here nosing around, realized it wasn’t you guys.”
Josh frowned. “We’ll do a perimeter check, make sure everything’s okay.”
“Could be I’m just edgy after knowing what the guy you’re after does for a living.”
Down Among The Bones Page 19