There had to be more pieces to the puzzle yet to find. Jess could have confronted her with his suspicions. He could have continued with their relationship at the physical level, if nothing else.
Meg’s explanation about his conflict with the two cultures explained some of it. The ways of The People were opposite those of Anglos. That was a fact she was learning more about each day. Real Tall Man had tried to explain the differences. Communal property and harmony with the land weren’t that difficult to understand, but values were a different matter.
Absently, she sat on a bench as she thought about Real Tall Man trying to explain to her the incredible differences. She still remembered his concept of a poker game. To a Navajo, the point was not to win but to trick your opponent. It was a sign of cleverness to do so without being caught. The People found that great sport, while an Anglo would call it cheating.
No wonder it was a strain for Jess to be part of two conflicting worlds. It became difficult to understand who you were.
The sound of a helicopter broke the silence and Autumn welcomed the interruption. She sighted the craft heading toward the ranch and quickly went to the landing pad.
At last, Sam was coming. He must have news, and Autumn had plans of her own. She wasn’t going to hang around here any longer doing nothing.
Sam did have news. “I just took Frank Riker to the hospital,” he said.
Autumn felt momentary remorse as she listened to Sam’s quick explanation. She personally disliked the ranger, but she didn’t wish him harm.
Frank’s injury reminded her of the danger Jess was in. Sitting around at the ranch bred frustration and a sense of helplessness. She would be more useful back at Coyote Springs.
She waited while Sam advised Jess’s hands that he’d be airlifting the professor and his party to the ranch. “The sheriff’s got a posse looking for the killers. He asked me to use my bird for the evacuation.”
After plans were made, Autumn had a chance to talk to Sam. “Can you take me back out there?”
“It’s dangerous. I think you’d better stay here,” he told her.
“Which is exactly why I need to return.
“It’s too risky,” Sam apologized, “I don’t want anyone else shot around here.”
Autumn refused to listen. While the pilot was refueling, she talked nonstop. When he was ready to leave, Autumn made one last try. “Someone in that group is in on this.”
“You sure?” Sam’s scrutiny penetrated Autumn’s stoic expression.
“I’m positive,” she told him. “I need to go to Coyote Springs. There are questions to be asked, and I want to see people’s faces when they answer.”
He finally conceded with a resigned shrug. “As long as you’re coming with me, let’s buzz up and down a few of these washes and see if we can catch sight of anyone.”
“Good idea, but I doubt our two murderers will be that foolish. They’re holed up somewhere around here, and you can bet it’s a place we won’t see from the air.”
“You’re probably right.” Sam moved the jacket and binoculars off the passenger seat to the floor in the back of the helicopter to make room for her. “But these two might not be that familiar with this country. They might make mistakes.”
Autumn shrugged. She doubted they were that green. They hadn’t left any tracks when she and Jess had followed them, and they’d known about the cave—something Jess hadn’t been aware of. These men were pros.
They flew down the sixty miles of the main gulch and managed several side canyons, as well. Jagged pillars of stone jutted from the steep canyon walls. Piles of boulders that had washed down the gulch in storms provided too many places to hide.
“This is like finding a needle in a haystack,” Autumn admitted. “There are too many caves in these cliffs. It’s why the Anasazi liked it here so well. There were plenty of places to make homes.”
“Wait a minute,” Sam interrupted with a shout to the pilot. “Can you fly down there? I saw something move.”
The chopper’s sudden descent left Autumn’s stomach with a hollow feeling. The canyon walls closed in, bouncing the engine’s noise back into the helicopter with deafening loudness. The pilot’s voice could barely be heard. “I can’t get much closer. The canyon’s too narrow.”
When they cleared the rock walls the noise lessened. Sam explained, “It was just some deer. They scattered from the racket.”
I missed them, Autumn thought. She was more distraught than she’d imagined. She vowed not to let anything else slip by her as she focused her attention back to the rugged desert below.
“We’re almost there,” Sam told her.
“Keep as low as you can toward Coyote Springs,” Autumn suggested. “I want to take a close look at that spot where they holed up before the explosion.”
“No problem,” the pilot assured her. “It’s wider in that part of the canyon. I won’t get any tricky updrafts.”
The chopper banked as it came around the last bend in the canyon before arriving at Coyote Springs. The tilt gave Autumn a perfect view of the rocky wash, which was littered with brush and limbs caught in the twisted trunks of now-dead saltbush.
The trail she’d hiked down was visible as it skirted the shrubbery framing the spit of sand. But from the air, she caught sight of a shiny object she’d missed from the ground.
“Look, Sam.” She tugged on his arm and pointed to a rocky ledge a few feet from the floor of the canyon. “Do you see that”
“A portable microwave dish,” he exclaimed.
“It must be how they contacted camp.”
“The only one with a transmitter is Connie Turner.”
They both cast meaningful glances. Connie could be the inside link to the hoodlums.
“We’d better keep a close eye on her,” Sam advised after hearing Autumn’s conjecture. “We’ll need proof to connect her with the others.”
“How are we going to do that?” Autumn asked after the helicopter landed in a cloud of churned-up dust.
“We’ll notify the sheriff. He’ll assign someone to keep an eye on her.”
The spit of sand where the helicopter landed wasn’t too far from the campground. Autumn knew they had only a few minutes before the group would gather around for news.
“There are more suspects than Connie Turner,” she told him hurriedly. “Wayne Carson could be working with Connie, or on his own. There’s also Frank.”
“Riker?” Sam looked surprised. “You’ve got to be kidding. I doubt he could organize something this complex.”
“That’s what I thought, too, Sam. But he’s turned up everywhere he shouldn’t be.”
“I sent him out when I didn’t hear from you. Besides, they shot him,” Sam informed her.
“My bet is that they had a disagreement,” Autumn argued. “What about Frank’s presence at that campsite? How did he find it unless he knew where to look?”
“I see your point,” Sam conceded. “We’ll have to take precautions. Maybe I should take you back.”
“No. You need me to keep an eye on them while you’re operating this shuttle service.” She could see he was reluctant to agree, but Autumn pressed her point.
Sam finally conceded. “It’ll be easier to keep tabs on everyone when we get more manpower. Until then, you be careful.”
“You can count on that,” Autumn promised as she prepared for their landing.
The approach of the crowd brought their conversation to an abrupt close. A rumble of voices reached them before the group came into view. She peered at the curtain of saltbush that lined the clearing and looked for signs of the approaching men and women. She spotted Dr. Davidson first. He had on his usual baggy pants and loose-fitting shirt, and was leading the scientists and newsmen. Wayne flanked him, while Connie practically ran to keep up with the lead. The others followed in a scattered group.
It took an hour to explain the facts and another to convince the party they had to pack up and evacuate to Eagle Heights Ranch. T
hey were indignant, but with one man murdered and another shot, Sam refused to take chances. The area would be sealed off until the criminals were found.
The canyon echoed with the sounds of clanging tent poles, the clank of trunks being loaded, and the snort of mules. Autumn helped the professor with his packing. He was extremely nervous, but it seemed a normal reaction to the situation. As it turned out, most of her attention was focused on Wayne. He appeared unusually subdued, and he had avoided her and the professor since her arrival. She’d remember to tell Jess.
It wasn’t until the last group waited to be lifted out of the canyon that Autumn finally sat back and caught her breath. A couple of Jess’s hands had returned on the last flight. They had taken the mules and some of the gear. The chopper was flying out the scientists, the reporters, and all of their boxes of personal items. They only had one more trip to make.
Autumn glanced across the plateau. Except for the professor’s tent, which was still standing, it looked like it had before they’d arrived. Dr. Davidson and Wayne were taking one last look at the kiva. Sam was instructing the two deputies assigned to stay and guard the ruins. She closed her eyes until she heard footsteps approach. Dr. Davidson.
She patted the sand beside her for the professor to join her. “They were all upset about leaving.”
“I don’t blame them. In the course of a few hours, they’ve had history uncovered, destroyed—and now this.” Bitterness sounded in his voice as he sat beside her.
Autumn glanced from the nearby kiva to him. “You still have the kiva to map. There are paintings on the wall.”
“The artifacts were stolen.”
“We don’t know that for sure. Jess will find them,” she assured him, knowing there was very little chance he actually would. The professor needed a boost, even if it was temporary. “You also have photographs of the stone tablets. Won’t they be proof enough to establish your theory?”
“I hope so.” The professor rubbed his stubble of beard. “The dates weren’t authenticated, but all of those experts can testify to having seen them.”
“So you see, not all is lost. When everything settles down to normal, you will have your position paper to present to the archaeological world.”
“If they don’t accept it, my tenure goes down the drain.” Again, bitterness echoed in his voice.
“Think positive,” Autumn encouraged him. “Don’t allow those negative thoughts to take control.”
“But I have lost control. Who could plan on murder and theft?”
The strange words and vehemence in his tone startled Autumn. She shook her head. The man had been through a lot. He was entitled to his confusion, as long as he didn’t let it take complete control of his reason.
“What about my grant?” she asked to change the subject. “Do you think they’ll cancel it?”
He didn’t answer for a moment, but finally shook his head. “No. There’ll still be work to do. We’ll have to document what’s left.”
In spite of the professor’s disappointment, Autumn sighed with relief at that news.
* * *
It was past midnight by the time Jess rode into the barn of his ranch. When he saw the pile of gear stashed near the door, he knew that Sam had been able to evacuate the professor and his party of scientists. It was a relief to know the men and women were safe, but he wondered how much privacy he’d have at the house.
Most of the men could be put up in the bunkhouse, but the women were probably divided between Meg’s place and his. Where was Autumn? Had she been flown to the hospital, or was she here also?
He peered out the open door of the barn to the ranch house. Most of the windows were dark, but the soft patio lights sent a welcoming glow.
Jess stretched, feeling every muscle ache and groan with the movement. He couldn’t remember being this tired. He’d check his mother’s room. He couldn’t begin to explain why he wanted Autumn there. It had seemed the right decision at the time he’d given directions to Sam. Maybe it had something to do with wanting her to belong. It had, after all, been designed for the woman of the house. If Autumn was in fact there, he’d bathe and then stretch out beside her. The promise spurred him into action.
The saddle felt heavy as he hefted it off Real Tall Man’s horse. His strength had been drained. He unsaddled the pinto that Real Tall Man had left for Autumn to use and wondered where help was when he needed it.
A movement from one of the stalls startled him. The horses whinnied. “About time someone showed up,” Jess muttered grumpily. “Give these animals a rubdown. I’ll be…”
“I am your friend, but I don’t follow your orders.”
Jess spun around when he recognized the voice that had interrupted him. “Enrique.”
“You look like hell.”
“I’ve been there and back.” Jess accepted the handshake. “So take pity on me and help me with these horses.”
“Have you been to the house?” Enrique grabbed a brush and started on the pinto. “What’s going on there? You having a party or something?”
While Jess fed and watered the horses, he explained what had happened, including Autumn’s innocence.
“Aaii. This must be bigger than we thought if they’re going to all this trouble.”
“You’re right. At least we know Autumn’s not in on it.
“I’m glad for you.” He paused from brushing the horse. “You tried to deny it, but you care for her.”
“You’re right,” Jess conceded, but he still didn’t know what that meant for the future.
“That’s too bad about Ross. He was a strange hombre, but I liked him.”
Jess let a few minutes of silence pass out of respect for the dead. It was always a sobering blow in this business when one of their team died.
“Does anyone know you’re here?” Jess asked as he guided the horses into two empty stalls.
“Just the boss,” Enrique said, referring to their task force leader in Phoenix.
“Good. Let me get a bite to eat and a change of clothes. We can head out to Coyote Springs before anyone knows you’re in the area.”
“What’s the hurry? You should get some rest.”
The thought of crawling in bed was tempting, but business came first. He had to leave instructions for his foreman and check on a few items of ranch business. Then he and Enrique needed to get back to Coyote Springs. Gut instinct told him they were too close to breaking this case to let a matter of sleep slow him down.
“I can get that when we’ve cleared out of here,” Jess answered him. “Autumn’s innocent, but someone in that party is in on this. I think it’s Wayne Carson.” Jess pulled Enrique back into the stall where the man had been waiting earlier. “If they don’t know you’re here, you can be an extra set of eyes and ears.”
“Comprendo.” Enrique nodded. “You go eat. I’ll get the horses ready.”
“We’ll take my stallion. You ride that mare.” Jess pointed to one of his most reliable quarter horses.
Enrique nodded, but grabbed Jess’s arm before he left the stall. “Give her my love, too.”
Jess swore as he shook off Enrique’s hand. He ignored the muffled laughter. They’d been friends for so long they could read each other like a book. Jess left the barn and grinned. He’d be damned before he’d give Valdez’s love to his woman.
His woman. The idea pleased him. Right now he wanted to see her. His steps quickened as he neared the house.
Jess bypassed the kitchen. Though he was hungry, food was the last thing on his mind. He skirted around the house and headed for the courtyard so as not to disturb the other occupants. His bedroom door was unlocked. He peered in. Good, it was empty.
As he was about to step inside, he paused. He should go shower before checking on Autumn, but her presence lured him to the sliding glass door next to his. He’d just look in and make sure she was here.
Quietly, he slipped into the room. It took seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dark. When they did, he c
ouldn’t stop staring.
Her long hair was splayed across the pillow, its shiny darkness framing her face. The sheet had slipped, leaving her exposed to his view. The sight took his breath away. The lemon-yellow gown slid across her curves like a second skin. His fingers itched to touch her.
The shower was forgotten. So was common sense. Operating on pure reaction, he closed the distance between them and sat on the edge of the bed.
She stirred. He watched, fascinated by the movement of silk over the satin skin. A strand of hair fell against his hand. He picked it up and sifted it between his fingers. Her perfumed scent drifted up to him. Wanting more, he lifted her hair and feathered it against his lips, the fine wisps catching on the whiskers of his chin. He breathed in the fragrance.
He wanted to trace the curves that were silhouetted in the moonlight, but his hands were too dirty to touch her. He contented himself with a visual caress, but he ached with longing. A moan escaped his lips.
She rolled onto her back and her hand slid across her abdomen. Jess watched the movement with envy until the backs of her fingers pressed against his leg. He held his breath. This wasn’t fair.
Suddenly, he knew she was awake. Even in the shadows he could feel her stare.
“Jess, is that you?”
Her voice caressed him like velvet. He had to swallow hard before he could speak. “Yes. I just rode in.”
She twisted her head to look at the clock. He wanted to smooth his fingers along the lines of her neck.
“It’s after midnight. You must be exhausted.” She yawned sleepily. “Are you coming to bed?”
The invitation was sweet torture. He longed to stretch his body next to hers, but he still had business to take care of.
“I’m riding out in a few minutes.” He couldn’t hide the regret.
The announcement brought her upright. “You just got here.”
“Careful.” He leaned away from her. “I’m covered with trail dust. I came in to see if you were all right.”
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