White Deception

by Susan Edwards

  * * *

  The moon was high, the stars bright when Kealan woke with a start. He jumped to his feet. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, just to rest. His horse, he reminded himself; it was the horse that needed to rest. He could have ridden all night. Never mind the fact that he’d fallen asleep on Rider’s back more than twice.

  Sitting back down on the grassy bank, he stared out at the shimmering water. He wanted the sun to hurry and return so he could get home. To Mattie. His sister would know what to do. She and that man, Mister Reed, they’d find Matt and Renny. Then Daire and Caitie.

  Kealan tried not to remember all the blood, but he knew Matt was hurt bad. And Renny too. He stood again. Maybe Rider was rested. Maybe they could go. But it was so dark. A distance chorus of wolf howls also reminded him that there were animals out there.

  “I have my rifle,” he said, reaching over to be sure it was still nearby. He might be small, but he could shoot. Even if it wasn’t as big a shotgun as what Daire had. Or Matt.

  Grabbing his blanket, he wrapped it around himself, wishing there was something he could do. On and off, he dozed, determined to remain awake and on guard, but the needs of a young boy won out.

  The next time he woke, it was still night but not so dark. The stars were fading from the sky as a grayness chased away the black. A dark shadow flew over him.

  Kealan pushed himself up and stood. It was just an owl. The bird flew over his head, circling. Excitement sang through him. His brother and sister were always telling tales of how animals and birds knew things and tried to tell the humans, but most people didn’t understand.

  Matthew and Mattie did. Owl was his sister’s helpmate. She wore his feathers and a claw in her medicine pouch. Putting his hands on his hips, he called out, “Owl!”

  To his surprise, the bird swished lower. Kealan tipped his head back, felt the push of air from the wings. Something soft drifted down.

  “A feather!” He ran to catch it. Staring at it, he saw the bird flying away.

  “Thank you, Owl,” he cried out.

  He ran a finger over the long feather. Now what should he do? What would Matt or Mattie do? He’d thanked the bird. He frowned, then grinned. They’d try to find out what message there was for him.

  He turned in a circle and stared at the feather. It was a long feather. The feather Mattie carried in her medicine pouch was small. He’d seen her pick one up and tuck it inside. He also knew she had the talon of an owl.

  Kealan grinned. The owl was his sister’s totem, and the owl had come to him. “Mattie is coming!” His voice shouted the words. His sister knew things. Saw things no one else could see. He forgot what they all called it. He just remembered how neat it sounded to be able to see things that no one else could—except when she really did know when he’d broken the rules, without Caitie or Daire tattling even.

  Matt and Renny and even Daire were always telling him to be good when they went out because Mattie would know.

  He grinned. Sometimes, she didn’t know. Sometimes, he just couldn’t help doing something he oughtn’t. Like teasing Caitie. Or like sneaking off to practice shooting his bow and arrow.

  He touched his owl feather carefully. Maybe it was Owl who saw things and told Mattie. Maybe Owl had told her about Matthew and Renny. And him. He glanced up into the sky.

  He hoped Owl had told her how brave he’d been. He hadn’t cried at all! His lips turned downward. Well, maybe just once. Or twice.

  But he didn’t care, as long as she was coming.

  He grabbed the sack of food, the blanket and the water skin that he’d managed to unload from Rider, and stuffed it all back in his saddlebag. Then he mounted, using a fallen stump to regain the back of the animal.

  “Come on, Rider. Let’ s go. We gotta go find Mattie!” He clutched his feather in his hand as he directed the horse to head toward home.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Riding along the James once more with Mattie at his side, Reed took the time to notice his surroundings. The land was all shades of green—pale bushes, bright, rich grass and deeper hues among the trees. Earlier, he’d made a stab at describing what he saw to Mattie.

  She’d opened his eyes to so much, he wanted to do the same for her. Of course, it helped that she asked very specific questions instead of leaving him floundering for the words.

  Still, he thought, he could grow used to this. All of it: her, the untamed land, her family and the wondrous feeling of renewal taking place deep inside him.

  He glanced at Mattie. Last night had been incredible. She’d given him so much. Hope, love and joy now filled him so deeply, so fully, that he thought for sure he’d burst. It was almost more than a man could bear.

  She’d given herself to him last night with no hesitation, no doubts. She’d accepted all that he was, and made him see that without being the boy he’d been, the young man he’d been a year ago, he would not be the man he was today.

  Thinking back on his childhood, his youth and even only a few years past, he saw what Mattie saw: his will to survive. But, would he survive the day he had to leave her? Could he live without Mattie?

  That worried him. He didn’t think he could. She was the air he breathed, the music in his ears and the most beautiful sight he’d beheld. He watched her as she rode. Sometimes he felt guilty for staring at her so much, but he couldn’t help it.

  The proud tilt of her chin, the gentle slope of her nose, the soft fullness of her mouth made him feel like a smitten boy in love for the first time. But when he looked in her eyes, he saw so much more.

  He saw wisdom that made him want to beg her to teach him all she knew. He saw kindness, tenderness and the love that had freed his heart and put light back into his soul. There was also sadness, fear and worry. Those he would take from her if he could, and replace them with the light of laughter.

  How could he walk away from all that this woman was? Yet when the time came, he would return to his children. He had to.

  “Come with me,” he said suddenly.

  Mattie turned her head. “Where?”

  He hesitated. “Never mind.” He couldn’t tell her where he meant. He could name a town, a city, a bunch of places, but he had no idea where he’d end up. All he knew was that he had to return home to his children. Then what?

  He had no job. No money. No place of his own to call home. In short, there was nothing he could offer.

  Except his love.

  He firmed his lips. Love wouldn’t feed her, clothe her or provide her with a place to call home.

  “You know I would.” Her voice was soft, compelling.

  “I know. And that’s why I can’t ask.” But he stared at her hungrily.

  She smiled. “You already did. Before you leave, you’ll have my answer.”

  “I can’t ask you to leave your family. The youngsters need you as much as I need Danny and Lizzie.”

  “And as much as they need their father,” she added.

  “I’d like to believe that to be true.” He worried about how they’d react when he went back to see them and claim them. Would they hate him for inadvertently killing their mother? Would their grandfather and grandmother fight him? Reed knew he wouldn’t take the children from them if they did, but he would insist on seeing them, and on being a part of their lives.

  He glanced at Mattie. She had her eyes closed, a dreamy expression on her face. He reached over and touched her shoulder lightly. She turned her head and smiled.

  “Tomorrow will take care of itself,” she said. She didn’t know how she fit into the future, but she knew Reed would be with his children. As it should be. She was determined that it would be so. A faint sound came floating on the breeze. The call of a bird. She frowned. No.

  She whipped her head around. “Kealan,” she whispered.

  Reed
stopped their horses, his hands over hers on her reins. “Where?”

  “I hear him,” she said.

  “There. I see him. He’d riding toward us.” Reed took off. Raven followed.

  Mattie gripped her horse’s dark mane. Her heart pounded. “The others. Where are they?”

  “Don’t know,” Reed shouted back.

  Minutes later, Reed brought them to a halt. Mattie slid down, then used her horse to steady herself. “Kealan! Reed, is he alright?” Where was he? “Kealan!”

  She stepped away from Raven, placed each foot hesitantly, held her arms out before her like a toddler just learning to walk. Like she’d done when first blinded.

  “Got him, Mattie.”

  Reed was beside her, his arm around her as her brother rushed into her outstretched arms.

  “Kealan!” she cried, running her hands over his face, down his shoulders. Relief poured through her. He was here. Safe. Unharmed. She cried and hugged him tight. Even when he pulled back, she couldn’t let go. He was here. With her. She ran a hand back over his face.

  “I’m fine, Mattie,” he said, breathless. He took her hand with his. “I knew you were coming. Owl told me so. Feel this.”

  For the second time in as many days, she felt a feather thrust into her hand. “Owl came to me. Like he comes to you. He gave me a feather.”

  Mattie couldn’t help but smile at the pride in the boy’s voice. “That’s wonderful, Kea.” She released him from her arms but kept hold of his hand. “The others, where are they?”

  Kealan tightened his hold on her hand and started walking. “Have to come fast, Mattie. Matt and Renny are hurt. Bad.”

  Mattie’s heart stopped. “How bad, Kealan?” Please, don’t let us be too late, she begged the spirits. In her heart and mind, she both thanked the spirits for Kealan’s safe return and asked them to look after the rest of her family.

  “They were both bleeding. Matt woke up. He talked to me. Made me leave to get help. Said I was big enough to do it.”

  Her heart pounded. “And so you were,” Mattie said, stroking her hand through his hair, striving to remain calm for all of them.

  “What about Renny?”

  “She…she wouldn’t wake up.” Kealan’s voice broke.

  “They are where the river splits?” Mattie had to fight to keep the terror from her voice.

  “Yep.” He threw himself back into her arms. “I knew you’d know. Did you know I was coming like I knew you were coming?”

  Mattie saw he needed comfort and took a moment to give it to him. She was tempted to lie to him but didn’t. “No, I only knew that something bad had happened. I’m glad Matt and Renny had you, Kealan.”

  She was afraid to ask about the rest, but did so. “What about Daire and Caitie?”

  She felt his forehead furrow. “Some bad men took them.”

  Mattie felt sick. Her legs gave out and she sat heavily, pulling Kealan into her arms. She needed him as much as he needed her.

  Reed hunched down beside her. “Easy, Mattie. We’ll find them. Remember my dream. Kealan was very brave. You have to stay strong as well.” He slid his hand across her back as he addressed Kealan. “Did you pay attention to where they went?”

  At the firm, no-nonsense, authoritative tone, Kealan stood. “Yeah. Back there.” He pointed the way toward home. “I waited until they got past where I was hiding, then I left Rider tied and hidden in the bushes. I ran really fast to find Matt and Renny, but I made sure no one saw me.”

  “Very clever,” Reed said. “Now, we need you to lead us back to Renny and Matthew. Can you do that?”

  “Of course I can,” Kealan said. “I might be a hokshila, but I am a brave hokshila. That means ‘boy’ in our tongue,” he told Reed. “I was smart and cunning. Just like Matthew said I was. Today I am Matohoksila. Bear Boy.”

  Mattie was grateful for Reed. She was so overwhelmed by emotion, she felt sick and dizzy. The calmness in his voice and the strength in his touch kept her from breaking down.

  She mounted her horse. When she asked Kealan if he wanted to ride with her, he agreed. Both brother and sister needed the comfort of the other.

  * * *

  “Why are you stopping?” Breathing heavily, Matthew leaned heavily on the branch Renny had managed to find for him to use as a crutch.

  The last thing Renny wanted to do was stop. She was too worried about Daire and Caitie. Where were they? Were they alive? Her mind was tortured by both fear and pain. She rubbed her head. But, “You need to rest,” she said, dropping the supplies and rifle she carried.

  Matthew glared at her.

  “All right, we both need to rest.”

  She dropped down and put her head in her hands. Her head felt like it was going to explode. She carefully touched the back of her skull. It was still bleeding, but not as badly. Whoever had bashed her had done a good job. She tried to swallow her moan of pain. A hiss escaped.

  She supposed she was lucky. Matthew had found her in the bushes where she’d fallen off her horse. Her head had hurt so bad, it had been all she could do to tend Matt’s wound.

  Her brother put his arm around her. “At the rate we’re going, it’s going to take us weeks to go home.”

  Renny didn’t care at the moment. Her head ached fiercely, her vision blurred and she still felt sick to her stomach. Traveling yesterday or the day of the ambush had been impossible. Today she was determined to start on their trip back. Maybe.

  The grass felt cool against her neck, the breeze soothing and the sun warm and comforting. Maybe they’d just stay right where they were. The deep sighs coming from Matthew told her he was in as bad a shape as she.

  His wound was nasty, but the bullet had passed through the flesh, leaving a torn and gaping hole that she’d mustered up the courage and stamina to stitch and pack with herbs.

  “You better not pull any of my stitches out,” she grumbled. “You know how much I hate to sew. I’m gonna be pissed if I have to do it again.”

  “I’m going to have a scar the size of a dinner plate,” Matthew replied.

  Renny grinned. She couldn’t stand to sew clothing and such, but when it came to stitching up her brothers, she wielded a needle like a pro. “Better be nice to me. I might not be so gentle next time.”

  “Gentle, hah! It felt like you were using your knife to sew me. You probably made it worse.”

  They both laughed. Renny moaned as the movement sent pain radiating through her head. “Come on. Let’s get going.”

  She rolled over and got slowly to her feet, trying to minimize her dizziness and nausea, then helped Matt get steady on his feet and pulled his arm over her shoulder. “Come on. If they find us only this far, we’ll never live it down.”

  Renny kept a sharp lookout for Kealan as they went. She’d been horrified to find that Matt had sent him off on his own. But he’d had a point when he’d said he hadn’t known if Renny was dead or alive, or whether the men who’d attacked would be back. He’d wanted his small brother out of danger.

  “Kea’s fine. He’ll make it.”

  It didn’t surprise Renny that Matt knew what she was looking for. He read them all well. “I hope so, Matt.”

  “And Mattie will know what to do. She’ll likely see him coming.”

  Nodding, Renny agreed. Mattie’s visions were powerful, and they had returned. She’d know something was wrong and come after them. Unless the Troll stopped her. She grimaced. He always thought he knew best for them. She kicked a rock. He made her so mad sometimes, but never as furious as when he’d tried to take their three young siblings away.

  Yet look where fighting to keep together had gotten them. The O’Briens were scattered. She and Matt were hurt, both lucky to be alive. Kea, she could only hope was okay. Caitie and Daire were gone.

  Ren
ny had to believe they were alive. She couldn’t bear anything else. Which left Mattie. Who also had to be all right. And on her way, for Renny didn’t think she could make it much farther.

  In fact, she didn’t think she’d make it another step. But she had to. Matthew wasn’t complaining, though she’d noticed him slowing. His breathing was harsher.

  They were in truly bad shape. Renny stared out into the distance. The river and grass and sky seemed to stretch forever. One more step. Two. Make it to that tree. Those rocks. Renny pushed herself by giving herself small goals.

  Her head pounding, her vision blurring, she tried to pick out the next easy goal. Her eyes widened. She rubbed them, then her head, and blinked. “Matt?”

  They both stopped. “I see them,” he said, his voice weak with exhaustion.

  “They really are coming for us! I could jump for joy.”

  “Yeah, okay. Do it,” he teased.

  She grinned. “Later.” Much later. Maybe in a week. She winced. Or two. She gave in to her need and sat.

  “Renny, what are you doing?” Matthew had started forward, one painful step at a time.

  She laughed softly. It turned to a groan. “I’m waiting. Right here. I’m going to let them come to me. You want to be brave, go for it.”

  “I’ll save the brave for another time. I’m with you on this one.” He lowered himself to the ground. Both brother and sister kept their gazes on the riders coming toward them, as if afraid their rescuers would veer off the trail and leave them behind.

  * * *

  Reed watched from his saddle as the O’Brien sisters and brothers hugged each other. He slowly dismounted and stood off to the side. He didn’t want to intrude, but inside, he was as excited and relieved as they.

  He shared a connection with them through not just Mattie, but his own feelings of coming home. The O’Briens had started out being strangers, then a job. Now they were much more.

  He glanced at Mattie. Especially Mattie. He loved her. Awe filled him. Even saying the words in his head gave him a thrill. Reed hadn’t planned on falling in love again. Truth was, he hadn’t thought it possible. Anne had been his life.