Love's Dream Song

by Leesmith, Sandra

  An uneasiness crept into his heart. He cared too much for this woman. He couldn’t control his feelings, even when logic told him she might be the criminal he was after. How had he let that happen? It wasn’t like his usual hard professionalism. There was no room for personal caring in this business, especially with Autumn.

  Before Jess could speculate further, the helicopter hovered and then lowered toward a flat stretch of rock about forty yards from where they stood. Wind from the blades tugged at their bodies. Jess draped his arm around Autumn to keep her from falling. The silence was almost deafening when the engine was shut off and the blades finally wound down.

  The pilot climbed out of the small bubble and approached. “I’m from channel four news.”

  “What brought you here?” Jess asked.

  “Your horse and mules made it back to the ranch. Your hands became concerned when they trotted in without riders.”

  “How did you find out?” Jess asked. “I know my men would call the sheriff, not the TV station.”

  “No. Actually, we got a request from Senator Dirk Carson’s office. Seems he’s been keeping track of the dig.”

  “Lucky for us,” Jess said, but regret was in his eyes as he looked at Autumn. “We could have been stuck there for days.”

  “Where are the others?” the pilot asked.

  After a brief explanation, they all squeezed into the cramped quarters of the helicopter. Jess directed while the pilot flew them to the cliff above the other caves. Dr. Davidson and Wayne waved from the mouth. Ken and the anthropologist huddled behind them. The craft hovered away from the dangerous walls. “I can’t carry everyone. It’ll put me over my load limit,” he shouted above the noise of the engine.

  “Can you make more trips?” Jess asked.

  “I’ll have to. We’ll take you two back and I’ll return for them.”

  Jess glanced at Autumn and saw a reflection in her eyes of the same questions he had. They had to get the men out of the dangerous canyon, but would the packs be safe?

  “Maybe I should return and camp here until you get back with reinforcements,” Autumn commented.

  Jess waved off her suggestion. He didn’t want her there alone—for more reasons than one. “We’ll go back. Dr. Davidson is there. He’ll make sure nothing happens. Then, on the last run, you can come back and see to the packs.”

  Autumn didn’t agree, but he took the decision out of her hands. After they announced on the loudspeakers to the occupants of the cave that they’d return, the helicopter headed west. The dark caverns, like eyes in the red rock wall, grew smaller and smaller. The helicopter swung around and headed toward Coyote Springs.

  .

  CHAPTER 9

  Red dust billowed out as the helicopter landed in the gravel wash away from the trees. Jess swung out and reached up to help Autumn. Before she could follow, Frank and Connie came charging through the cloud of dust. Even in the haze, Autumn could read the looks of anxiety on their faces.

  “What about the others? Are they alive?”

  “Where’s Ken?”

  Both shouted at once. Jess quickly assured them that the four men were safe. “The pilot’s going to go back for them.”

  “I can’t,” the pilot spoke up.

  Autumn looked at the man. “What are you talking about?”

  “Our boss from the station just radioed in. There’s a hijacking at the Phoenix airport. He wants the chopper there as soon as possible.”

  Her first reaction was to rebel. “You can’t go. You have to get the others.”

  The pilot rubbed his jaw and frowned. “You’re right. We can’t leave them stranded. I can get them back in two trips—an hour at the max.”

  “And the saddlebags?” She knew it was asking the impossible.

  “No way. Lives I can rationalize to my boss, but a bunch of old packs—forget it.”

  Disappointment must have shown on her features.

  “Look, I’m sorry.” He patted her hand. “You better get out so I can go.”

  She looked at his hand where it still covered hers and placed her free hand on top. “Thanks for your help,” she told him before she climbed out of the craft. “Safe flying.”

  She stood back with Jess and watched the helicopter disappear from sight. A movement in the blue emptiness caught her attention. The eagle followed the giant metal bird as if it resented the intrusion into its territory.

  * * *

  The red dust that had billowed from the chopper’s final lift-off had settled long ago. Once again, the air sparkled with dry clarity between the canyon walls. Autumn breathed deep and looked around the secluded spot. With her back against the steep canyon wall, she could see several yards in any direction. The only people in sight were Frank, Dr. Davidson, and Jess, who had called the meeting. He sat on the rocks in front of her. She stared at the sky, trying not to keep looking at Jess. He’d avoided her since their return to camp—a clear indication that he did not wish to pursue the feelings that had flared between them.

  It was probably just as well. There were still moments when she sensed hostility radiating from him. He presented an enigma. Even though he appeared to ignore her, he noticed her presence. Like now. He addressed the group, but she felt he spoke directly to her. She didn’t look at him to find out.

  “We can’t get any of the helicopters from the sheriff for another few days. We’re going to have to retrieve the packs ourselves.”

  Dr. Davidson’s hands clenched into fists. She understood his feelings. Frustration churned inside her also.

  “It’s too bad the news chopper couldn’t come back,” Frank commented. “Does Senator Carson have pull with any of the other networks?”

  “They’re all involved with the hijacking at the airport,” Jess commented.

  “Why did the blasted hijackers have to pick now to pull their stunts?” Dr. Davidson voiced the feelings of all of them. It had been a bad break.

  “At least we had their help getting out of the canyon,” she reminded them. It took effort, but she was trying to remain positive. “And with the radio contact, we were able to get word to Arlo to bring in the mules.”

  “But, what about the artifacts? When can we go get them?”

  “The canyon floor isn’t safe for travel,” Jess explained. “We’ll wait at least two days, and then go…”

  “We can’t leave them that long,” Dr. Davidson interrupted. “What’s to stop someone from going to the caves before us and taking off with them?”

  “The same quicksand that’s preventing us from going will stop the others. It’s too risky in the sandy narrows.”

  “I say we go around and climb the mesas. We could get to them with ropes,” Frank advised.

  “It would take just as long, and we don’t know what other canyons were flooded. Chances are, the other washes are full of water.”

  Frank frowned, but Jess ignored it.

  “Thank goodness we don’t have to worry about floods here,” Dr. Davidson said as he absently traced designs in the sand with a stick. “It’s too wide. I suppose that’s one of the reasons the Anasazi chose this site.”

  Pain tugged at Autumn’s heart with the reminder of the lost ruins, now buried to the right of them under tons of rock.

  Frank, with his usual insensitivity, blurted out his opinion. “Don’t think of that now. We’ve got to come up with a plan to get those relics to safety.”

  “I’ll hike to the caves tomorrow afternoon,” Jess volunteered. “You two come the next morning with the mules. Arlo should be here by then.”

  “What are you going to do by yourself at the caves? If you can go, why can’t we all?” Dr. Davidson asked.

  Jess took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “It won’t be dry enough for the animals. I can climb over rocks or skirt around the edges.” Standing to stretch away some of the tension, he began to pace. “I’ll be able to keep watch to be sure no one else makes it there until you come.”

  �
�Bull!” Frank bellowed a couple of other obscenities. “I say we go around.”

  “I’m in charge, Frank. You’re going to wait here and bring the mules later.”

  His face turned red with anger, but Dr. Davidson interrupted his protest. “Let him go, Riker. I don’t think much of the idea, but at least someone will be there with the artifacts.”

  So the plan didn’t appeal to Dr. Davidson. She couldn’t blame him. In all honestly, she didn’t particularly relish the idea much herself. There were too many unsolved puzzles. What were the vandals really after? It could be more than just the destruction of the tablets. None of it made sense. Was someone out to discredit Dr. Davidson? Was the clan threatening her? Would this lead to more than vandalism?

  “What about the others?” Frank interrupted her thoughts. “I suppose you’ve got some clever excuse to give them?”

  “We’ll tell them as little as possible. We still don’t know if someone in this group is involved.” He paused and Autumn took a deep breath to still the distaste of that idea. “In all likelihood, someone is, so keep your eyes open and stay alert. All we’ll tell them is that we have to wait two or three days to get to the packs.”

  “Be sure and tell them why,” Autumn inserted. “The threat of quicksand will keep them here.”

  “Right,” Frank added. “And especially, keep your eye on the men who were there. They’re the only ones who know which caves the packs are in.”

  “Right now everyone is suspect.” It would have given her a small measure of satisfaction to tell him that as far as she was concerned, even he was under suspicion.

  Frank stood and shifted uncomfortably. “We’ve got to be sure we keep an eye on them and that no one leaves camp in the next two days.”

  After agreeing with Frank and scheduling a watch between the three of them, Jess headed back to the campsite. Autumn waited until the others had left before she stood. At the edge of the clearing, she paused and looked up in search of the eagle. He wasn’t there—only empty blue sky.

  Heat shimmered. Autumn moved under a nearby saltbush and studied the rows of tents. Several campers were cooking by the fire. Ken was chopping wood and someone was carrying water from the spring. She spotted Wayne helping Connie with her equipment and watched the pair. Neither of them had been mentioned, but remembering the conversation she and Jess had overheard, she kept them high on her list of suspects.

  She closed her eyes. Would this nightmare end or was there more ahead? Her thoughts went back to a week ago. Then she had wanted some excitement and adventure. She had wished too hard. This was more than she needed and perhaps more than she could handle.

  * * *

  Several hundred yards down the canyon, Jess watched Autumn stop under the brush and wondered what she was thinking. She had to be worried, Jess thought, as he moved out of the hot sun and into the shade of the butte that towered behind him.

  He looked again across the plateau to where Autumn stood. It didn’t make sense. Something was distorting the pattern. He sensed her innocence, but there were too many inconsistencies in the picture. He had a gut feeling they were because of her.

  From habit, he reached for the knife he kept strapped in his boot and tossed it at the ground in front of a bush. The handle vibrated from the force. Again he aimed the knife and plunked it into the ground. Each throw uncoiled some of his tension.

  What should he do about her? He wanted to get her out of the picture, but that idea always produced an immediate negative. Even if she got in his way, he wouldn’t let any harm come to her. He promised himself that.

  For several more minutes he resisted the urge to go to her. The attraction called, but he didn’t want it. He even managed to convince himself of that, but then she looked skyward. The cascade of hair and her upturned features were too strong a pull.

  He approached without making a sound. There was an earthy quality to her stance and he didn’t want to disturb it until he had to. Her hair feathered around her curves, which rose and fell with her steady breathing. He wanted to become tangled in those heavy strands and caress her satin skin. He paused and took a deep breath before stepping behind her.

  “You look deep in thought.”

  Autumn spun around. He started to reach for her, but paused when he saw the new wariness in her expression. Then her look softened. Warm light in her dark eyes drew him. He started to lean toward her, but he backed away.

  “Dr. Davidson asked me to tell the crowd of our plans. I was trying to figure out how I was going to say it.”

  “Have you?”

  “I hope so.” She smiled and started walking toward the campfire. “Come with me. You can give me moral support.”

  She didn’t wait to see if he followed. He watched as she proceeded to gather everyone together. She took deep breaths, he supposed to call upon her inner strength. He admired her proud bearing.

  As she spoke, he searched the faces of the crowd. Nothing was said. The main reaction was unrest at the delay and impatience at being stranded. They wanted to go home.

  Finally, the cartographer spoke up. “While we’re waiting, can we map out the kiva?”

  An anthropologist had joined the group and added, “How about letting us explore around it? We might find something else.”

  Good idea, he thought. It will keep everyone busy. All of the items of value had already been taken out.

  To his surprise, Dr. Davidson came charging out of his tent to protest the move. “We should stay here.”

  Autumn looked as puzzled as the others.

  “There’s nothing left here,” the cartographer insisted as he gestured toward the rubble. “At least we would be able to do something productive at the other site.”

  For several minutes the professor argued. Jess could understand his reluctance to move. They’d be out of sight of the canyon leading to the artifacts. The professor couldn’t explain that to the scientists, since he didn’t want to arouse their concern.

  Jess stepped forward and pulled Dr. Davidson aside. “We can post a guard and assign someone here to keep watch. But everyone will be more comfortable if they are kept busy.”

  There was obvious reluctance, but finally, the professor relented.

  “We’ll pack up our belongings and move camp to the rise of ground where the kiva is,” Jess directed. “That way you can work or rest, as you please. At any rate, I insist we all stay together.”

  It didn’t take long to move camp. Autumn supervised the procedure with her usual efficiency. The new site wasn’t as nice as the one at Coyote Springs—there weren’t as many trees and the plateau wasn’t as large—but it would suffice. At least with the people confined to a smaller space, it would be easier for her and Dr. Davidson to keep track of them.

  Shortly after the tents had been pitched and camp established, the archaeologists were digging around the new site. Connie had her cameraman busy as she interviewed several of the participants for reaction to the recent events. Autumn still found it hard to believe that the young reporter would go to such lengths as to blow up the cave just for a story. But she had to admit, Connie was getting great news footage.

  Later in the afternoon, all work stopped at the sound of approaching hoof beats—the mules. Would there be rangers? She hoped Sam would be able to spare a couple. There were too many people for Frank to keep an eye on—that is, if she counted Frank as help.

  When the first mule rounded the bend into view, Autumn’s heartbeat quickened. It was Real Tall Man. His presence was better than that of ten rangers. At last, there was someone she could trust. Behind him she saw Arlo. The sight of him cooled the joy she felt at seeing her grandfather, but one fact encouraged her—Arlo must have been on the reservation when the explosion occurred.

  Real Tall Man lifted his hand in greeting. She ran to his side and helped him down. He stood, slightly bent from arthritis, and spoke. “You are in danger, child. I have come to take you home.”

  Had she heard him correctly? Had he said ho
me—as if she belonged? Her mind soared until the meaning of his words hit.

  “I can’t leave now. Dr. Davidson needs my help.”

  “I’ve heard about what has happened. It saddens my heart.”

  “Mine, too.”

  Footsteps neared. Arlo had given the lead rope to one of the other guides and moved toward them. “The spirits are angry and displeased. You have disturbed the ancient ones.” He spoke with cold conviction.

  She fought to control her temper and glared at Arlo. “The spirits didn’t do this.”

  Arlo’s eyes glittered with defiance and pious pride. “But no man would have dared anger them if you’d left the ruins alone.”

  “Were you the one, Arlo Ross?”

  Arlo stepped toward her. Autumn backed away as Real Tall Man put out his hand. Someone clasped her shoulders and she spun around to see Jess standing behind her. She stilled when she saw the look exchanged by the two men.

  “Enough,” Real Tall Man ordered with the authority he had earned over the years. “Arlo, see to the mules. Autumn, I want to speak with you. You have much to tell me.”

  Arlo glared and then huffed away toward the other guides, who were tying up the mules by the saltbush. Autumn turned to Jess and let him know with her nod that she appreciated his defense.

  The two men spoke in Navajo for a few minutes. Autumn had the feeling that the conversation had nothing to do with what had just happened. Did they know something she didn’t know? She gave herself an inward shake. She must be getting paranoid.

  Finally, Jess left her alone with Real Tall Man. While she showed him the campsite and the kiva, she explained what they had found and what had happened. He listened intently as she told him of their plans to leave the next afternoon.

  “I don’t like your going to the caves,” Real Tall Man told her. “I will go with you.”

  Autumn smiled her thanks and said nothing. It took all her effort not to let her emotions show. She wanted to express her joy and give him a loving hug, but the display of affection would embarrass him. It was not his way.