Wolf Dance
Page 14
"I am sure that is so ... especially for you." Justin narrowed his eyes on Kenny, "but ... I have no intention of harming her."
"Her feelings for you have already done enough damage." In his anger, Kenny disregarded caution.
Justin stiffened. He turned to Laura. "Is this the way you feel?"
Laura’s eyes clouded. "No! What we have had I wouldn’t change for the world."
She looked to her grandfather. "I’m sorry, but I have to go with him. I’ll be okay," she added.
Justin took her hand in his. The others started toward them. Swinging around to face them, a yellow gleam had entered Justin’s eyes.
Baring his teeth, he snarled, "Back off!"
The men froze, having no choice but to let him lead her into the trees. Before disappearing behind the tree line, Justin turned back.
"And, sir ... I do love your granddaughter," he spoke to Busby.
The couple disappeared into the darkness.
"Now what?" Kenny was paranoid.
"I don’t think he’ll hurt her, and I don’t think he means to keep her." Two-Bears tried to soothe their worry.
"We cannot be sure of that. Love is as powerful as hate, and can be just as destructive." Busby’s voice seemed to betray a painful secret as he spoke.
* * * *
In the shelter of the trees, Justin took her into his arms, burying his face in her fragrant hair. "I had to hold you in my arms ... once more," he whispered.
"Why does it have to be this way?" she cried.
He stepped back and looked into her eyes. "Our worlds are so different, tehila. If you were to stay with me, it would destroy who you are and I could never live with that. And I could never survive in your world. You saw how your people reacted to me." His smile was bitter.
Laura’s eyes flashed with anger. "But I don’t care if they approve of us."
He took her face in his hands and gently kissed her lips. "Maybe you don’t right now ... but what about later? What about when you have to feed our children raw flesh to keep them from killing?" He pleaded with her to understand.
Laura shook her head violently, refusing to accept the truth of his words. Justin pulled her close, claiming her mouth with a passion unmatched. Moving his lips to her neck he lit a trail of fire, while his fingers worked to remove her clothing.
She caught her breath, but gave no resistance when he laid her back. Closing her eyes, she relished the feeling of his hands and lips on her breasts.
"I love you." Her words were softly spoken.
"And I love you," he whispered. "You will remember this night forever."
Justin loved her with a tenderness which she was sure no beast could know. The sizzling heat of passion pushed them over the edge to a place that only the senses of the flesh were allowed.
There were no thoughts of tomorrow, only the feel of his hard body next to hers and the ecstasy of his touch.
Still as one ... they slept. Awaking some time later, when the moon was high. She caught her breath when she saw that he was staring at her. He reached out to stroke her cheek with his fingers.
"You must go back now," he told her.
She tried to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss.
"Laura, I can no longer protect you and your friends. You must leave."
"Why would the Sungmanitu want to hurt us?"
He moved away from her, "It's not the Sungmanitu. There are others. We do not know where they came from but they are deadly."
"Others!"
"I do not know what they want, but they are the ones that have been killing ... not us," he paused. "Except for Mitchell, I killed him," he admitted.
Laura gasped.
"He murdered my father after forging his signature on that contract. In our culture, that offense is punishable by death. He got what he deserved."
"But wasn’t your father Sungmanitu? How could he have managed to kill him?"
Justin hid his pain behind a smiling mask. "My father was old, and unlike legend suggests... we are not immortal. We can die the same as you, and it doesn’t take silver bullets."
Laura could think of nothing to say that would ease the pain of his loss.
"I need you to leave." He encircled her in his arms. "I cannot do my duty and protect my people from these others, if I'm looking after you."
"Will you come for me later?" she asked.
He avoided her eyes when he answered. "I don’t know, but if you truly love me Laura... do this for me. I could not bear to see you hurt."
Laura’s throat tightened. He had made it clear--the only way to love him was to leave him.
Chapter Fifteen
Laura tossed the last of her clothing into the suitcase and then took one last look around the bedroom to be sure she was not forgetting anything. The hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach grew. She just could not accept that she may never see Justin again. The very thought of it caused her throat to constrict painfully.
In defeat, Laura closed the suitcase and took it to the living room setting it next to the rest of the luggage.
Grandpa Busby stood next to her and gave her arm a squeeze. "All will turn out well" he tried to reassure her.
She gave him a weak smile and turned away.
When Jessup drove up, Kenny was loading the car with their belongings.
"The sheriff wants me and Laura to go to Beaver Creek. He said the entire crew is dead." Jessup was still in a state of disbelief.
"You two cannot go up there alone." Two-Bears had crept up on them, unnoticed. "We will all follow you in Laura’s truck."
* * * *
Bile boiled up into her throat as she looked onto the grisly scene.
"You cannot possibly think that Laura is responsible for this?" Jessup was astounded.
"Not alone, but we do think she's conspiring with the Beaver Creek people." The sheriff frowned, but his eyes danced with amusement. He seemed to find their distress entertaining.
"I do have to take you in now ... Laura. If you don’t fight I will not have to handcuff you."
Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Sheriff, you know I didn't do this and I think you know full well that the Sungmanitu didn't do this. How long have you been working with the others?" she asked.
The sheriff looked at her in surprise.
"Justin knows about them," she added in triumph.
Moss smiled nervously. "I think that you are becoming hysterical, Miss Ellison. No one but the Sungmanitu would have a reason to do this."
"Yes ... them, but not Laura." Busby’s voice rose in his anger.
Two-Bears held up his hand. "No ... Laura is right. This isn't the work of the Sungmanitu. I have suspected as much for some time, but I was not sure until now."
He turned on the sheriff. "I think you know who they are," he stated.
"Are you all crazy?" Moss backed away, dropping his hands to his pistol.
"What is the real reason you want Laura?" Two-Bears took a step toward him.
In a flash, Moss drew his gun and fired. Two-Bears was sent flying back by the blast.
Laura’s screams pierced the stillness of the morning. Kenny made a move toward the fallen man, but the sheriff’s gun was turned on him.
"I guess I have no choice but to kill you all now." His lips curved into an evil smile.
A flash of movement caught his eye and turning suddenly he fired.
Laura’s eyes widened in pure horror, the scene played itself out in slow motion. Her shocked system wouldn't digest what she was seeing.
First, a spray of blood and Justin was falling to the emerald carpet of grass. The contrast of crimson blood against the green earth played itself over and over in her head until she was too dizzy to stand on her own.
"Justin!" she screamed, but her world wouldn't stop spinning. She could not stay on her feet.
Now his gun was trained on Kenny, whom he figured would give him the most resistance.
Click--the sound of the hammer being pulled back.
Detective Gates stood above him. "I don’t think so ... Moss."
* * * *
Staring out the window, Laura saw only the painful life ahead of her and not the beauty of the land. Her heart bled for the only man who would every truly possess her. Tears of anguish came again. She didn't even bother to brush them away. Her pain was too vast to care what others thought.
The dark forest seemed to be pulling at her soul. She had to close her eyes and mind to it, or go mad with despair.
Before leaving, Busby had made arrangements to return Two-Bears to his people. Jessup said an emotional goodbye, promising to visit the reservation soon.
The Wind River Mountains held fast to its dark secrets and Laura knew that its mysterious forests would forever haunt her dreams.
Chapter Sixteen
The warmth of the rocks felt strangely seductive on her bare feet. The setting sun cast a red-hue on the desert cliffs. The old-fashioned dress she wore hindered her progress up the rocks.
Stopping to catch her breath, Laura stole a glance at the mesa. Her body shook--a scream lodged in her throat. Justin stood near the edge of the mesa, his eyes glowing with hunger.
"Justin!" Laura called out in a shaky voice. "Wait for me! Please wait!" She began to cry.
He slowly shook his head. An instant later a wolf stood in his place.
"No!" Laura screamed. The wolf backed away from the edge until she could no longer see it.
Finally reaching the top, Laura looked around, but there was no sign of Justin or the wolf.
"Laura...," a voice called from behind.
She whirled around to look upon Two-Bears. He sat next to the flames of a small fire. In his hand he held a braid of sweet grass. Sacred smoke rose from its burning end.
He raised his dark eyes to hers and she felt a sense of peace enter her soul.
Though his lips never moved, the voice that spoke to her was clearly Two Bears’. "Dark spirits haunt you--reaching out like the wisps of smoke to work their way into your spirit. A soul that was once good has been touched by the evil of the others. Do not trust her. You have found that love tames the beast, but in doing so you have enraged them. They will destroy you and all that is within you. Go to the Shadow Mountains. Only there will you be safe."
She was overtaken by a vision so strong it staggered her. A light brighter than the moon shone behind the waterfall--a jaguar guarded any entrance to the light.
When Laura’s vision cleared, Two-Bears was gone. She was filled with an intense feeling of loss. Grief stricken, Laura ran wildly until her feet no longer touched the earth. She was falling--reaching out with thrashing arms to grab something, anything to stop her fall, but found nothing.
Laura woke to her own screams. Thrashing about she had hopelessly tangled herself in the blankets. Perspiration had matted her hair against her skull.
Her eyes had been open for no more than a moment when nausea overtook her. Fighting to escape from the tangle of blankets, she ran for the bathroom. Laura braced herself for the retching that she knew would follow.
When she was finally able to move, she went to the sink and soaked a rag in cold water and used it to bathe her face. This did wonders in making her feel better, but the reality of her situation still sat in the pit of her stomach like a rock.
This was the third morning in a row that she had been sick. Laura knew with a certainty what her illness was. Reaching down she patted her stomach, already feeling an attachment for the child that grew within.
She was overjoyed to be having Justin’s child, but the fear of what that child might be like gnawed at her nerves.
Laura looked below her stomach to the feet that protruded from the bottom of her nightgown. Bewildered, she lifted the nightgown and saw that red dust coated her legs as well as her feet. Her dream came back to her with the force of a bullet.
It was impossible to bring back physical evidence of a dream, but then again she had seen more remarkable things lately. Before going to Wyoming, she would never have believed that shape-shifters were anything more than legends--now she would not question their reality.
Laura examined the dream, aware that Two-Bears had been trying to warn her about something ... but what? It could not be the Sungmanitu. They were too far away to be a threat.
Laura pondered this as she began her day. It was time she cleaned her grandfather’s trailer. For the past week he had been in Shiprock visiting relatives. The task would be much easier while he was gone. If he were here while she cleaned, he would be constantly over her making sure she didn't disturb some sacred possession.
Laura wanted the place to be somewhat presentable when Kenny drove over to pick up her grandfather today. First thing on the agenda was to gather the laundry and take it to a laundromat.
As of yet, she had told no one of her pregnancy. Laura wanted to put it off as long as she could. She didn’t want to put more stress on her grandfather than he already had.
In her grandfather’s room, she began to throw discarded clothing into a bag she held. Her eyes caught sight of something protruding beneath the nightstand.
Dropping the bag, Laura kneeled down to examine the object more closely. It was a photo album--one that she had never seen before. On the first page were several pictures of her mother as a child, of her wedding and others that Laura vaguely remembered seeing.
The second page contained pictures of herself as a child--many of them whispering of cherished memories. There was the one when she was ten years old. She stood next to Kenny--both of them in traditional attire. It was taken at one of the several powwows they had attended that summer.
When Laura turned to the next page, she felt the room begin to spin. There, staring back at her from a time long ago was that same hard granite face that had haunted her for several months--she even wore the same cotton skirt.
Laura dropped the album to the ground and backed away. When her trembling subsided, she opened her eyes to again peer at the picture.
The woman was her grandmother, Isabelle. Not until now did she become conscious of the fact that she had never seen a picture of her. Rarely had her grandfather ever mentioned his wife.
Why had she never thought to question the lack of information before?
Laura closed the book and put it back where she had found it. Why had she never seen a picture of her grandmother?
And why was the woman making contact with her?
The Dineh were a very superstitious people and Laura knew there must be a reason why Isabelle was kept in the closet. Whatever the reason, it was more than just the common fear of the dead ... much more.
All thoughts of housework fled. Laura slipped on some shoes and left the trailer. She took a path which led to the resting place of her relatives. Laura had never gotten very close to the cemetery. She had always been forbidden to go there. Before now ... she had never had the desire to.
Her family had been laid to rest for the past hundred years near the entrance of Snake Canyon. Laura’s footsteps disturbed a nesting hawk and it flew from the rocks, screeching at her.
Ignoring the bird, Laura took slow, careful steps, making sure not to disturb any graves. At last she reached the grave of her mother.
Autumn Ellison
Born: June 2, 1947
Died: October 15, 1979
Laura felt tightness in her chest. What would it have been like to have had her mother with her as she was growing up? Though Laura had many women within her clan to talk with as a child, she could not help but wish it had been her mother.
"Laura...," a singsong voice called out to her.
Startled, Laura’s eyes sought out the intruder. Sitting on a grave about fifteen feet away was a little girl.
She giggled at Laura’s fright.
Laura felt a curtain of darkness come down on her. It was the same girl she had met in Wyoming. It was Rosa.
How could she ha
ve gotten here?
The question crept into Laura’s thoughts as she tried to rationalize the apparition.
"There once was a girl who loved the beast, but her heart and soul were too weak. One day he was there, the next he was not, and now his love ... she has not." The girl’s rhyme ended in another burst of giggles.
"Rosa!" Laura called.
The girl’s face turned serious. "Go away, Laura. Go to where your child will be safe. They want to destroy your son, for he will one day be their king." With that, the girl turned to a misty vapor and seeped into the ground.
Laura ran to where the girl had been sitting. Her heart skipped a beat when she read the inscription on the headstone.
Rosa Ellison
Born: September 20, 1972
Died: October 15, 1979
Laura quickly scanned the remaining graves until she found Isabelle’s resting place. She had also died on the same day as her mother.
What could this mean?
She began to shake, the shock taking hold of her.
All these years, this had been kept from her, why?
Who was Rosa?
Her sister, logic whispered.
As far as Laura knew, she and her mother had been the only Ellisons in the area. If there had been another child before her...?
Laura did not finish the thought, but took the trail home at a run. Grandpa had one heck of a lot of explaining to do. Nearing the trailer, Laura saw Kenny’s new truck sitting out front. They were here!
She burst through the door with wind-tangled hair and a wild gleam in her eyes. Startled, both men looked up when she entered. Laura pushed the door shut against the sudden windstorm.
"What’s the matter?" Grandpa Busby asked.
At first no words would come to her. She was not sure if she felt more like crying or screaming.
"Who is Rosa? And why did she die on the same day as my mother and grandmother?" her words came out a mixture of sobs and gasps.
A strange looked passed between the two men, and was followed by a long, drawn out silence.