by Gerri Hill
Kate held up her empty glass. “I’m going to need a refill after that.”
“Of course, darling. Come with me. I’ll introduce you to the others.” She pointed to the sofa, where four women sat talking quietly among themselves. “I’ve never met them before. Like I said, you never know who will be here.”
Kate was more interested in touring the house than meeting new people, but she followed Brenda into the kitchen. Unlike the living room, the kitchen was well lit and decorated in a more modern style. Perhaps it was only the living area that had been transformed into the sixties. She smiled politely as Harmony stared at her. For some reason, Harmony didn’t like her. She would ask Brenda about it later. But now she nodded when Harmony offered more wine.
“Have you met everyone?”
Kate shook her head. “Brenda was about to introduce me around.”
Harmony frowned. “Who?”
“Brenda.” Then Kate sighed, barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “Simone is going to introduce me.”
“Oh, of course. And I have some colleagues from Santa Fe who made the trip up. I’ll introduce you personally. One of them is a fan of yours, I hope you don’t mind.”
Kate smiled. “Of course not.”
When Brenda turned to speak with someone else, Harmony leaned closer, pressing something hard into her palm. A stone, no doubt.
“Sunshine says you are here for a reason, that it’s your destiny. She also says you will fight it,” Harmony whispered. “It will do no good.”
Kate pulled away, angry. “Look, I don’t care what Sunshine says. This has nothing to do with destiny. I’m simply spending the summer here to write. And come fall, I’ll be heading back to Dallas.” She shrugged. “So you see, there’s nothing really to fight.” She opened her hand then, finding not the expected crystal, but a beautiful jade stone.
“Green is the color for healing and hope,” Harmony said quietly. “It also is a symbol of calm and serenity.”
Kate sighed. “Look, I can’t—”
“Jade brings serenity to the mind by releasing negative thoughts. It also opens the heart to love,” she whispered, looking quickly over her shoulder. “You will tell no one I gave this to you.”
“But—”
Harmony quickly closed Kate’s hand, pressing the stone more firmly into her palm. “Do not fear Ariel,” she whispered before leaving.
Oh good Lord, these people are crazy.
“What was that about?” Brenda asked as Harmony hurried away.
Kate discreetly slipped the stone into the pocket of her jeans. “I’ll have to tell you later,” she said quietly. “Apparently I’m sworn to secrecy.”
Brenda simply raised her eyebrows.
“And I’m telling you, they’re all borderline nuts.”
“Oh, darling, they’re just unique.”
“No, they’re weird.” Kate led Brenda from the kitchen back into the living room. She glanced once at Lee, watching as Brandy hung on her every word. “She’s practically in her lap,” she muttered.
“Who?”
Kate shook her head. “Nothing.” She turned her back to Lee. “Why do they call her Ariel?”
“Lee?” Brenda smiled. “Harmony says it’s a Hebrew word. It means lion, or God’s lion, I can’t remember. You’ll have to ask Harmony.”
Kate smirked. “Right. Next time we’re having lunch together, I’ll ask her.”
By the time dinner was served, Kate had switched from Lee’s wine to water. For some reason, the wine made her irritable as she watched Lee with the young blond. So she suffered through the informal meal, sitting at the bar in the kitchen with Brenda. The others were scattered across the living room as the dining room table only sat four.
“What is this?” she whispered as she shoved the food around with her fork. She thought she recognized spinach in it.
“I call most of Harmony’s dinners tofu surprise,” Brenda said with a laugh. “But they’re actually very good.” Then she lowered her voice. “We’ll have a steak on the grill tomorrow night.”
Lee watched Kate and Brenda leave, thinking she should go out and give Brenda the wine she’d brought for her. But she could always drop it off at the house. When the door closed, she turned back around, finding the expectant eyes of her date. Brandy. Lee sighed.
“You ready to go somewhere a little quieter?” Brandy purred, her hand snaking up Lee’s arm.
Lee nodded. “Sure. Let’s get out of here.”
On the way out, Sunshine intercepted them. She pulled Lee aside, moving away from Brandy.
“Ariel, how do you feel?”
Lee frowned. “I feel great. Should I not?”
Sunshine squeezed both of her hands, then closed her eyes. “Do not fight the Fates, Ariel. You will try, but it will do no good.”
Lee gave an amused smile as she looked to the ceiling, wondering what in the world Sunshine was talking about now.
“Sunny, it depends on what the Fates have planned. Besides, I like fighting them.”
Sunshine’s smile was coy. “Not this time, Ariel,” she whispered. “Not this time.” She walked away quickly, leaving Lee staring after her.
“So what about your destiny, darling?” Brenda asked on their drive home.
“I don’t know what they meant. But both Sunshine and Harmony mentioned it. And Harmony was downright spooky about it.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out the jade. “She gave me this.” She held it out to Brenda. “She said it would calm me and release my negative energy.”
“My God, darling.” Brenda turned on the interior lights, holding the stone up. “It’s a jade the size of a walnut.” She looked closer. “Is it real?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why would she give you this?” Brenda asked, handing the stone back to Kate.
“Because they’re weird, Brenda. She said it’s going to heal me and open my heart to love. What the hell does that mean?”
“It has to be from something Sunshine said. I told you she was a seer, darling. She knows things.”
“Well, before Harmony left, she said I shouldn’t fear Ariel.
What to you think she meant by that?”
“Fear Ariel? But why would you fear Lee?”
“Exactly.”
“Your friends are a little odd, don’t you think?”
Lee laughed, turning the Jeep back toward the river instead of her cabin. “That’s one way of putting it,” she said. “I guess I’ve gotten used to them over the years.”
She tensed up only slightly when Brandy’s hand slid over her thigh, threatening to slip between her legs. Lee stilled the hand before it could do just that.
“You’re heading back to the lodge,” Brandy observed. “I thought we were going to your place.” Then she moved closer. “Of course, I’m fairly certain Trudy would love to do a three-way.”
There was a time Lee would have jumped at the chance. In fact, early spring, she’d done just that. But something wasn’t right and she couldn’t put her finger on it. Just the thought of having sex with Brandy—and her friend Trudy—nearly repulsed her. So, she lightly squeezed Brandy’s hand before removing it from her thigh.
“I don’t think so. Not tonight.”
“No? Did you not enjoy yourself the last time?”
Did I? She couldn’t recall, actually. It was but a blur, so much like all the others, just stolen minutes with complete strangers.
“You know, it’s not that, Brandy, it’s just . . . I don’t think dinner agreed with me,” she lied. “I’m not feeling all that super right now. Maybe we’ll hook up later in the week.”
“That might be kinda tough, Sheriff. My girlfriend comes in on Thursday.”
Lee sighed with relief. “Oh yeah? Is she going to stay with you for awhile?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately? I would think if you’ve got a girlfriend, you’d want her around.”
“I just turned twenty-two,” she said.
“I’m too young to be attached and serious, you know what I mean. Like you, you don’t have a girlfriend. Now’s the time to play. Maybe when I’m older, twenty-seven or so, I might be ready.” She turned in the seat, watching Lee. “What about you?”
Lee laughed, debating telling her how old she really was. And old was what she suddenly felt. Instead, she tried to find a graceful way out of the conversation. “I’ve not really put an age on it, Brandy. I guess, when you meet the right woman, you don’t worry about how old you are. And maybe that’s what’s wrong with you, your girlfriend’s not the one.”
“Oh, I know she’s not. But my mom hates her, so it’s fun to irritate her by bringing Jules around.”
“Great reason to have a girlfriend,” Lee murmured.
Chapter Fourteen
Kate sat in the shade, her legs stretched out on the chaise lounge, her laptop open as she reread what she’d written while still in Dallas—it was garbage. Just a bunch of ramblings going nowhere. She sighed, leaning her head back, wondering what in the world she was going to do with Jennifer and Paul. Dare she follow Lee’s advice? Would her readers totally flip out if Jennifer discovered she was gay?
They investigate a cheating wife, only to find that the wife is cheating with another woman. Jennifer follows them, taking pictures. At first, she’s appalled. Then, she feels a kinship. The light bulb goes off. She likes what she sees.
“Oh, good Lord, that sucks,” Kate murmured. She looked to the sky, her mind reeling.
The local police request Jennifer’s help with locating a former client. A client now accused of murder. The detective she’s assigned to is another woman. A beautiful woman. A beautiful gay woman.
“Wonder why they’re always beautiful?” Kate said out loud, her thoughts going to Lee. She shook her head, again focusing on Jennifer.
They bicker. The detective thinks private investigating is for losers who couldn’t cut it as a cop. Jennifer thinks the detective is arrogant . . . beautiful, but arrogant. Her name is . . . Shane.
Kate rolled her eyes.
Okay, her name is . . . Jordan. Yes, Jordan. They travel together day and night, looking for the client. They run into trouble. Jennifer holds her own, impressing Jordan. Jordan begins to see Jennifer in a different light. And Jennifer, after spending so much time with Jordan, begins to feel an attraction. A physical attraction that she can’t explain. She feels drawn to the detective, so much so that she can’t concentrate on the case any longer. One night, at a dingy motel, where they’re forced to share a bed—
“What are you doing?”
Kate jumped, nearly spilling her laptop. Lee grinned down at her, laughing before pulling over another chair.
“Did I scare you?”
“And what gives you that idea, Sheriff Foxx?” Kate found herself staring at Lee’s gun. Somehow, that seemed safer than staring at her legs.
“Maybe it was the tiny scream I heard.” She pointed to the laptop. “You working on our Jenn?”
“Maybe.”
Lee moved closer. “Can I see?”
Kate slammed the laptop closed. “You most certainly may not!”
“You’re not going to make them have sex, are you? Because that would just be disgusting.”
“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with them,” Kate said honestly. “And what are you doing here? Lunch break?”
“Sort of. I was coming by to see if you wanted to go to the oasis,” Lee said, wondering at the nervousness she felt.
Kate’s eyes widened. “The oasis? But you said I couldn’t make it.”
“Well, I went out there the other day. I put a few pitons in and left a rope anchored. There’s only one really steep area and I think, with some help, you could make it.”
Kate smiled. “With some help? I’m assuming you’re not referring to search and rescue?”
“No. Just me.” Their eyes met, and Lee smiled. “So, what do you say?”
“What are pitons?”
“They’re these pointed metal things, you hammer them into crevasses. Climbers use them to hook their ropes onto. Well, they’re not so popular anymore, but I thought they’d be good footholds for you.”
Kate nodded. “And you want to go . . . like now?”
Lee shrugged. “If it’s good for you. But I guess you are working, huh?”
Kate hesitated. She really needed to work. But she really wanted a close-up of the oasis. Playtime won out.
“Now’s good. What do I need?”
Lee stood, pleased that Kate had agreed. “Hiking boots and a camera, that’s it.”
“Problem then,” Kate said.
“You never bought hiking boots? If you didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg at Potters, why haven’t you asked Brenda to take you down to Santa Fe?”
“Actually, we’re going tomorrow. Shopping is not really my thing, but Brenda says she knows of a place to get boots. Then we’re doing a tour of Harmony’s gallery, then she’s promised to treat me to dinner.”
Lee followed Kate inside, looking around for Brenda. “Where’s Brenda?”
Kate shook her head. “She and Harmony drove to the river this morning.”
“Painting?”
“Yes. And I never would have guessed it in a million years, but Brenda’s paintings are actually starting to look good.”
“Harmony is really talented. They all are, for that matter. But I prefer Starlight’s work best. She’s got one where the sun has just set, but there is still color in the sky and the full moon is hanging over the canyon. The moon is orange, the canyons are orange, yet it’s a night scene. It’s awesome. You’ll see it at the gallery. If there was one painting I wished I owned, that would be it.”
“Why don’t you buy it?”
“Oh, no. Starlight gets big bucks for her paintings. I couldn’t even begin to afford it.”
Lee followed Kate to the edge of her bedroom, leaning casually on the doorframe as Kate slipped off her sandals and changed into her athletic shoes. The bedroom was neat and tidy, nothing personal of Kate’s to see. She watched Kate, a little amused at herself that she actually found her attractive. Not that Kate wasn’t cute, she was. Blond hair, blue eyes—Lee’s favorite combination. It was just . . . well, Kate wasn’t exactly her type. Kate wasn’t anywhere near her type.
“You’re staring.”
Lee blinked several times, finally meeting Kate’s eyes. “Sorry. I was lost in thought, actually.”
Kate walked closer, playfully patting Lee’s flat stomach. “You were picturing having to haul me out of the canyon, weren’t you,” she teased.
Lee smiled, turning to follow Kate back down the hallway. “Yeah. Good thing you’re a lightweight.”
Kate enjoyed the trip up the mountain, dusty as it was. The sun felt good on her skin, the wind refreshing as it blew through the open Jeep. She thought she’d miss the greenness of the Dallas area, but she found she loved the red rocks, the striking colors of the cliff walls, the starkness of it all. It was all so wild here and she felt a connection to it that she couldn’t quite comprehend. Like Brenda, she was falling in love with the area. She looked off in the distance, enjoying the views around her. The road was somewhat familiar and Lee occasionally pointed out the landmarks.
“I didn’t even think to take you down to the pueblos,” Lee said. She pointed to a rugged looking peak to their left. “There’s a pueblo at the base of Cerro Pedernal. They say it was built in twelve seventy-five and could house about a thousand people,” she explained.
“Forgive my ignorance, but what are pueblos?”
“You’ve heard of Mesa Verde in Colorado? The cliff dwellings?”
Kate nodded. “Yes, but I’ve never been there.”
“Those are pueblos. It was like a city. It’s awesome how they built all that with only primitive tools. The pueblos around here aren’t nearly as extensive as Mesa Verde nor do they get the tourists.”
“They’re probably more preserved without a bunch of to
urists traipsing about,” Kate said.
“There’s a lot of prehistoric art and native dwellings in this area that few tourists know about. They’ve uncovered pithouses that the Anasazi people built in about the year five hundred and what they call cave art—pictographs and such. I know of a few places, if you’re interested,” Lee offered.
Kate smiled. “You’re not native to this area, but you love it like you were.”
Lee nodded. “Yeah. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. This has definitely become home.”
Kate watched the scenery as they bounced over the dirt road, the scrub oaks giving way to piñon pines the higher they climbed. Finally Lee pulled off the road, again bouncing them down the makeshift path she’d created. She parked beside the same piñon pine as before.
Lee turned in her seat, watching as Kate surveyed the area. The roar of the falls filled the air and Lee hopped out of the Jeep, scanning the sky out of habit, hoping to catch an eagle soaring overhead. Nothing moved except two lone vultures in the distance.
“You got your camera, right?” Lee asked. She pulled her backpack from the Jeep and slung it over her shoulder. She then took a small waist pack and held it out to Kate. “Here. Use this. You can put your camera inside.” She handed her a water bottle she pulled from a cooler. “This goes in the clip there.” Lee then removed her holster and gun, tucking it under the front seat of the Jeep.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you. Is it required you carry a gun? I mean, you said yourself, there’s no crime,” Kate said as she slipped the small pack around her waist.
“Funny story about that,” Lee said. “You may have noticed, I don’t wear your normal sheriff’s uniform. They are hideous.” Lee grinned. “Kinda hard to pick up chicks.”
“Oh, I’m sure.”
“So, I ordered all these T-shirts with the sheriff’s logo on them. And no, I didn’t carry a gun. Like you said, what’s the point. But Old Man Carpenter said either I wear the uniform or I carry the gun, one or the other.” Lee shrugged. “The gun won. Besides, girls seem to love it.”