by Ruff, K. S.
Rafael eyed me curiously. “What, if anything, could Ethan and Brady teach in your conflict analysis and resolution trainings?”
I grinned, thoroughly excited by Lexie’s innovative solution. “Well, for one thing, they could teach students how to read body language. Non-verbal communication is just as important as verbal communication when you’re negotiating. They could also teach students how to assess the conflict environment, de-escalate a conflict, reduce risk, and improve personal security.”
Lexie shoved her chair back from the table, folded her arms across her chest, and settled back into her seat. “Dang. I am brilliant.”
Rafael’s gaze flitted between the two of us. “I think you two may actually be on to something.”
I jumped up from my chair.
Rafael looked surprised by the sudden burst of energy. “Where are you going?”
I yanked on the sliding glass door. “I’m going to call Paul and offer this hybrid team up as a potential solution to our security problem.”
Lexie laughed. “There’s no stopping that girl when she’s got her heart set on something.”
“I know,” Rafael groaned. “I just wish that something was me.”
* * * * *
I dropped down next to Lexie in the grass. Rafael and Nate were standing in line, waiting to order our fry bread and Indian tacos. The Little Shell Chippewa were forming a circle in front of us. “You truly are brilliant,” I remarked.
“Do you think he’s enjoying the pow-wow?” she asked. Bells jingled softly with every step the dancers took.
I glanced over at Rafael. “Yes. He’s thoroughly enjoying this. I’m so glad you suggested coming out here.” A chill shot down my spine when one of the dancers cried out. The drums sounded, and the dance began at a slow, methodical pace.
We had spent the past two hours touring the First Peoples Buffalo Jump. It was windy, but the copper colored sandstone that formed the barren cliff was breathtaking. We were sitting on a patch of wild grass among a handful of white teepees. A bunch of sticks were poking out of the top of the teepees, but that wasn’t what I was looking at. I was admiring the miles and miles of golden wheat that was rippling in the wind.
“When I think about what these people went through,” Lexie said, shaking her head. There were a few drops of Native American blood coursing through her veins, and she was keenly aware of the hardships her ancestors had faced.
“I can’t even begin to imagine,” I replied. I studied the Chippewa’s regalia… the colorful feathers, ribbons, beads, and fringe that flowed from their headdress and clothes. They’d been persecuted, slaughtered, and stripped of most of their land... land they’d held sacred. They looked so proud. I wondered if they ever felt broken.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly released it into the wind. I could feel the Chippewa’s drums and the tapping of their feet in my legs, back, and chest. They beat in time with my heart.
“What you went through makes me very mad,” Lexie confessed. “When I learned what those Russians had done to you...”
“We have to let it go. It will kill us if we don’t,” I whispered numbly. “Do you think that’s what they’re doing?” I nodded toward the dancers. Their heads were thrown back and then down as they poured their grief into the sky and ground. Their haunting song was tugging tears from my eyes. I couldn’t understand the words, but it was clear they were mourning something.
Lexie stared at me, then burst into tears.
* * * * *
“What happened last night?” Rafael asked. We were driving through Wolf Creek Canyon on our way to Helena. I could tell he was missing his Enzo with the way he was hugging the twisting road.
I was staring out the window at the canyon walls and the large battalion of trees guarding the river down below. “The Chippewa made us cry.”
He glanced at me. “Seriously? You’re going to blame the Indians for that?”
I chuckled softly. I tore my eyes from the breathtaking view so I could look at him. “The song they were singing was very sad. Couldn’t you feel that?”
He frowned. “I might have felt it if I hadn’t been juggling four tacos, fry bread, and a girlfriend who was bawling her eyes out.”
“I wasn’t bawling my eyes out,” I protested.
He offered me a crazed look. “I think you made the native’s cry.”
“That was the song,” I insisted. “Did you like the fry bread?”
Rafael nodded. “Once I brushed the sand off of it. Does the wind always blow that hard around here?”
I shook my head. “The wind won’t be blowing like that in Helena. The mountains help buffer the wind.” I perked up excitedly. “There it is.”
Rafael’s head tilted as he studied the town. Helena was still quite a few miles in the distance. “It looks very small.”
“Nearly thirty thousand people live there, close to sixty thousand if you count the surrounding area,” I replied a tad bit defensively.
“That is very small,” he announced even more decidedly.
I huffed out a breath and folded my arms across my chest. “I grew up in a town with less than eleven thousand people. That is not small.”
He laughed at my theatrics. “Who are we seeing first?”
I recited the agenda I’d so carefully crafted in my head. “We need to stop by Walmart first, so we can buy Siobhan a birthday present. We’ll swing by the law library to grab the booster seat from her mom. Then we’ll pick Siobhan up from the childcare center so we can take her to the carousel for ice cream.”
“That sounds fun,” he remarked. I couldn’t tell if he was being serious.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re just relieved we aren’t seeing Dan.”
Rafael laughed. “No. I like ice cream, kids, and amusement parks.”
I shook my head. “We’re not going to an amusement park, just a carousel.”
He looked thoroughly confused. “Just a carousel?”
“Trust me. This is no ordinary carousel. When you see it, you’ll understand. We’ll be there for a few hours. Siobhan’s mom has invited us over for dinner, so we’ll eat at their house before we head over to Kimme and Dan’s.”
“Are we spending the night there, or are we getting a hotel?” he asked.
The tiniest bit of fear nipped at my heart. “Kimme would be crushed if we didn’t stay with them. We’ll sleep at their house as long as Dan doesn’t try to kill you.”
Rafael rolled his eyes. “Dan’s not going to kill me.”
“He might try,” I warned in all seriousness.
Rafael laughed. “Let him try.”
My eyes drifted back to the window. “Maybe we should stay at a hotel…”
* * * * *
I handed the childcare director my driver’s license. “I’m here to pick Siobhan up. Her mother sent a note in with her this morning authorizing me to pick her up.”
The woman nodded as she scrutinized my ID. She pushed a bright red binder across the counter and opened it in front of me. “Yes, Ms. Stone. I just need you to sign here.” She handed me a pen before pressing a walkie-talkie to her mouth. “Please send Siobhan to the front office for early dismissal.”
I scratched Siobhan’s name and mine on the first available line, then noted the time.
She compared the signature on my driver’s license to the signature in the binder before handing the driver’s license back to me. “Does Siobhan know you’re picking her up?” she inquired amicably.
I shook my head. “No. It’s supposed to be a surprise.” My heart stalled when I saw Siobhan walking down the hall. Her head hung low, and her tiny shoulders were slumped as if bearing some unfathomable weight. She’d grown taller. Her long legs and willowy frame hinted at an inner grace which made her slumped shoulders seem terribly out of place. Her long blond hair cast a soft glow around her face and brushed wistfully against her tiny waist.
“Is that her?” Rafael asked with whispered awe.
I sank to my knees so we’d be at eye level when she finally looked up. “Siobhan,” I called in a hushed tone.
Her head popped up when she heard my voice. “Kri?” Her feet slowed, then bolted toward me. She nearly bowled me over when she leapt into my arms. “Kri!” she sobbed.
Her tears beckoned mine with hurricane force. “Siobhan… honey… I’ve missed you so much.” We clung to each other while slowly mending our grief-stricken hearts.
Rafael’s hand rested firmly on my back, a comforting anchor in a formidable storm. When the tears finally subsided, he handed me a box of tissues.
I dabbed at Siobhan’s face before drying my own. “This is my friend, Rafael,” I explained, my throat still choked full of tears. “Do you mind if he hangs out with us today?”
Siobhan’s eyes widened when she peered up at him. “He’s kinda big,” she noted a bit uncertainly.
I laughed. “Yes, he is.”
Her little fingers untangled some illusory knot in her hair. “He has long hair like you and me.”
Rafael quirked his eyebrows questioningly as he glanced at me.
My smile widened.
“Do you go to school like Kri and me?” she asked curiously.
He gently shook his head. “No. I used to go to school, but I’ve already earned my degree.”
She studied him, obviously weighing his credentials. “Where do you work?”
“I manage a security firm in Washington DC,” Rafael responded vaguely. I suspected he was trying to protect her from the more frightening aspects of his work.
Siobhan’s face wrinkled up in a rather charming display of thoughtful deliberation. She glanced at me, seeking clarification.
“He used to be a police officer,” I explained. “He protects people and helps keep me safe.”
Siobhan’s eyes widened with understanding. “Can you keep me safe?” she asked, turning toward Rafael.
A concerned look flitted across Rafael’s face. He knelt down beside us. “I would consider it an honor to serve as your bodyguard, Siobhan.” He glanced around the lobby, then lowered his voice. “Who am I protecting you from? I need to know who to watch out for.”
Siobhan pushed off my knees and inched a little closer to Rafael. She glanced at me questioningly when she did.
I nodded encouragingly.
Siobhan cupped her hands around Rafael’s ear and whispered her response.
He nodded before he leaned back to study her face. “Does she pick on you?”
Siobhan sighed dejectedly. “She pulled my hair, and she won’t let any of the other kids play with me. She said she doesn’t like blond hair, and she hates ballerinas.” Siobhan’s bottom lip quivered. “I’m a ballerina.”
Rafael’s eyes widened. “I’ve never met a ballerina before.”
Siobhan’s chin lifted a little higher. “I’ve been studying ballet since I was four. I perform in the Nutcracker every year. I was a mouse last year. I didn’t want to be a mouse, I wanted to be a flower, but that’s the role Ms. Rousseau assigned me. I’ve been practicing really hard so I can be a sugar plum fairy this year. Auditions are next week.”
Rafael held out his hand. He waited patiently for her to slip her elegant little fingers in his. He bowed his head and planted a kiss on the back of her hand when she did. “I would very much like to serve as your bodyguard, Siobhan. May I?”
She giggled, thoroughly enamored with Rafael’s knightly behavior. She nodded. “I like him,” she confessed as her eyes met mine.
Rafael kept her hand tucked inside his as he rose from the floor. He and Siobhan walked up to the counter, where the childcare director was still standing. She had been observing the entire exchange. “We do need to alert the authorities,” Rafael explained, glancing briefly at Siobhan. “We don’t want your classmate hurting any other ballerinas.” He reached for a piece of paper and a pen, then scribbled something down.
The woman read the slip of paper before meeting Rafael’s fiercely determined gaze. “We don’t tolerate bullying in our facility. I promise, I’ll take care of it.”
I set the tissue box on the counter. “I thought we might take Rafael to the carousel for some ice cream,” I said, turning toward Siobhan.
Her porcelain face brightened even more. “You can ride my favorite horse,” she told Rafael. She reached for my hand as we walked out the door. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Me too,” I responded softly.
“How did you get my booster seat?” Siobhan asked when she climbed inside the jeep.
I waited for her to get settled, then snapped her seatbelt into place. “We stopped by to see your mom at the law library before we came to get you.”
She twisted around in her seat so she could study the gigantic box stashed in the back of the vehicle. Rafael and I had wrapped the box in bright pink paper, so she couldn’t see what her present was. A large pink bow was nestled among silver curling ribbon at the top. “What is that?” she asked, pointing to the large box.
Rafael and I exchanged smiles as we settled into our seats. “That is your birthday present,” I explained, “but you don’t get to open it until we get to your house. Your mom and dad want to see you open it.” I turned toward the carousel as I pulled out of the parking lot.
“But my birthday isn’t until next week,” Siobhan noted, still twisting in the seat.
“You get to open your present early, since I can’t be here next week. I have to go back to school,” I stated apologetically.
“Can we have cake?” Siobhan asked. “I think we should eat cake if we’re celebrating my birthday.”
I laughed. “Of course. Your mom is picking the cake up after work, and your dad is insisting we eat pizza.”
“I get two birthday parties!” Siobhan exclaimed excitedly.
“Did your mom and dad video tape you dancing in the Nutcracker last year?” I asked. “Maybe we can watch that while we’re eating dinner, so Rafael and I can see you dance.”
“I’ll give you a live performance,” Siobhan offered. She settled into her seat as she began interrogating Rafael. “How old are you?”
Rafael turned to face her. “Thirty-two.”
She nodded politely, although the look on her face suggested she thought that was incredibly old. “How tall are you?”
He grinned. “Six foot three.”
“Do you own any guns?” she asked.
“Yes,” he responded hesitantly.
“My daddy has guns too,” Siobhan replied. “Do you hunt?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Have you been to Montana before?”
He nodded. “Yes. Once.”
“Where are you from?”
“Portugal.”
“Is that far from here?”
Rafael chuckled softly. “Yes. Very.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How did you meet Kri?”
“I used to be her bodyguard.”
Siobhan looked thoughtful. “You’re not her bodyguard anymore?”
He glanced at me questioningly.
“Rafael is my boyfriend,” I explained.
“And your bodyguard?” Siobhan asked. She seemed enthralled with the idea that we might share the same bodyguard.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Do you two kiss?” She wrinkled up her nose as she awaited his response.
He laughed. “Sometimes.”
“Do you love Kri?”
He looked at me. “Yes. I love her very much.”
“Are you going to marry her?”
He grinned. “If she’ll let me.”
She looked pleased with his response. “If you have a little girl, will you name her after me?”
Rafael raised a single eyebrow questioningly. “Do you want me to?”
“Yes,” she replied emphatically.
He glanced at me.
I wondered if Rafael realized I’d already named one child after her. I’d never really mentioned that this was the person
who’d inspired Genevieve’s middle name. “We’ll see,” I responded softly. I pulled into the parking lot next to the building that housed the carousel. “We’re here.”
We spent a couple of hours at the carousel eating ice cream and furthering our quest for the brass ring. The Great Northern Carousel was no ordinary carousel. The detailing in the stained glass murals and the hand carved animals was elaborate, the paint pristine. The carousel was a breathtaking piece of artwork. A bison, bobcat, wolf, big horn sheep, otter, and grizzly danced among the beautifully painted horses. We rode the carousel until each of us had won the brass ring. Rafael seemed to enjoy grabbing the rings and tossing them at the targets just as much as Siobhan and I did.
Siobhan’s interest and excitement over the gift sitting in the back of the jeep eventually drove us to her house. Rafael lugged the enormous box up the driveway. Her parents met us at the door.
“Can I open it before we eat?” Siobhan asked excitedly.
“Why not?” Rita answered with a laugh.
We trickled inside the house. Greg remained standing at the front door so he could sign for the pizza, since the delivery boy had just pulled up. “Wait for me!” Greg hollered as he carted the pizza inside the house.
Siobhan waited until her dad set the pizza on the coffee table. Then she ripped into the wrapping paper. Her hair lifted off her shoulders as she ran around the massive box at Mach speed. Abruptly, she froze. “A Barbie dream house?” she inquired breathlessly.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “I think you’re old enough now. Don’t you?”
“Oh, yes!” she agreed.
“I guess I know what we’ll be doing for the next few hours,” her dad noted with a chuckle.
We stuffed our faces with pizza and cake while assembling the Barbie dream house. Rafael and Greg snapped the larger pieces together, while Rita, Siobhan, and I assembled the furniture and applied all the stickers. When the construction was complete, Rita popped a recording of Siobhan’s Nutcracker performance into their DVD.
“I didn’t realize mice could dance like that,” Rafael noted admiringly. “Can we see the dance you’ll be performing for the upcoming auditions? I want to see you dance like the sugar plum fairies.”