by Ciana Stone
Chance jumped up as her idea took more definite shape. “What if…” She paced excitedly as she talked. “What if it was Holling and his men who followed her and Wyatt that day? What if it was really the crystal he wanted? From everything I’ve been told, he’s about as power-hungry and greedy as they come. And we know he’s in thick with my father, who would stab his own mother in the back if it made him a buck. So what if they knew about the crystal and followed Sarah to try and force her to tell them where it was?”
She stopped and looked at Tsa’li. His expression didn’t change, nor did he speak. He simply stared at her. “That could be it, couldn’t it?” she persisted, kneeling down in front of him. “I mean, it makes sense. But something went wrong. Something—”
She jerked in shock as an answer came to her. “Walker! That’s it! Walker took possession of Wyatt because Wyatt wasn’t strong enough alone and he killed those men.”
A frown appeared on her face as she considered her own scenario. “We know that two men escaped. But who were they? Whoever they are, they know what happened that day!”
Tsa’li stood, tucking the crystal into a large pouch tied to his belt. Chance stood, watching him for some sign of reaction as he walked into the house. She sat down on the step and propped her chin in her hand. She had to think. Almost an hour passed before he returned. Chance looked up at him as he walked outside, carrying a steaming mug in each hand. She accepted one from him and blew on the hot liquid before taking a sip. It was strong, dark tea of a kind she had never tasted.
“Do you think that maybe the crystal doesn’t belong here anymore?” she asked, still thinking about it. “I mean, it comes from a time that sounds more like myth than reality. And maybe that’s where it really belongs—with the Uktena.”
“What makes you say this?” Tsa’li asked as he took a seat on the steps and regarded her thoughtfully.
“I don’t know.” She shook her head, not sure if she could put into words what she felt. “I guess it’s just that…well, maybe aside from you there’s no one really worthy of safeguarding the crystal. I can’t think of anyone else who could keep it and not be tempted to use it for their own means. Bad as it is to say, I just don’t think there’s anyone selfless enough to resist using its power.”
Tsa’li looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face for a long time. “There was a time when I had hopes that my grandson would be the next caretaker of the Uluhsati.”
“And I’m sure he would make an excellent choice,” she agreed then added, “under normal circumstances. But let’s face it, Wyatt has problems of his own right now. And unless you can tell him how to deal with Walker then I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
She looked down at the cup in her hands for a moment. “I’m really afraid for him. I remember what you’ve told me and I think I understand—at least intellectually. But I still don’t see how love is going to determine the outcome. If love is all it takes then why is Walker still here? I know Wyatt loves his father, you, his people, and me. Isn’t that enough?”
“Is it?”
She considered it for a moment. “Is this like the old biblical thing? Love thine enemy?”
Tsa’li’s lined face rearranged into a ghost of a smile. “It is not just a biblical thing. It is universal.”
Chance wasn’t sure she followed him and so despite the fear of appearing dense she voiced her questions. “Okay, so we all should love everyone. I can follow that. But what if it was Holling and his men who killed Sarah and Wyatt is just now remembering? If that’s true then not only did they murder his mother, but set him on a course that is coming close to destroying him!”
“Did they?”
Chance looked at him like he had lost his senses. “How can you even ask that?”
“How can you not? Do you truly believe that it was those men who charted Wyatt’s destiny? Or was his destiny written long before? What of your own? Whose hand wrote your destiny? Your mother, your father, Wyatt?”
“No.” She shook her head, “I don’t think that. And I suppose I agree with you. Someone once told me that destiny is something that is recorded for us by the universe, but that each of us has free will to chart our own course. Even now I’m not sure it makes sense, but something inside me tells me it’s true. So, I suppose I can’t blame Holling for what happened to Wyatt, any more than I can blame Walker. But that still doesn’t answer my question. How much love is enough? Can Wyatt overcome the dark half that resides in him or will it consume him?”
“That is not for me to say.”
“And what of the crystal?”
“The crystal will reside where it is meant to. When and if it becomes time for it to return home, it will leave. Until then we protect it from those who seek to use its power for evil.”
“Return home?” Chance’s memory was jogged by the phrase. “You mean as in where you originally came from? Is that where the crystal originated?”
“What do you know of where my people come from?”
She set her empty cup down on the step and stood up. “A long time ago Wyatt told me about something he read that was written by a Cherokee from Oklahoma. He said that the Cherokee believe they originally came from somewhere in the Pleiades. I think he said it’s called the Seven Dancers. Is that right?”
Tsa’li nodded and smiled at her. “You may have white skin, but your soul is of my people. I am pleased that my grandson saw the wisdom of taking you for a mate. You will help him find the path to freedom.”
Chance extended her hand to him and he grasped it firmly in his. “I hope you’re right,” she said, her voice was almost a whisper. “Because without Wyatt my life would be too empty to bear.”
* * * * *
Wyatt was just getting ready to leave when he heard a car pull up out front. He walked outside and saw Iris Waters getting out of a blue Ford Taurus. She was dressed in a very tight and extremely short white leather skirt and a sheer white top that was stretched tight across her breasts which were visible as the white leather jacket she wore parted.
She smiled seductively as she walked up to the porch. “I was just leaving,” Wyatt said before she had a chance to speak. “I have to go to Bryson. My father isn’t here, so I guess you’ll have to come back later.”
“It’s you I wanted to see.” She walked up the steps and stopped just inches from him. “We need to talk.”
“It’ll have to wait.” He started to walk around her but she grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“Running?” she asked, rubbing her breasts against his arm.
“No.” He pulled free from her grasp. “Just busy.”
“This is important,” she insisted. “There are still a lot of questions being asked about what happened that night at Black Gap and unless we have some very convincing answers, there’s still a good chance that charges could be brought against you.”
“We’ve already been over that.” He stepped back from her. “Besides, Tom’s already dropped all the charges. He said it was behind us and he won’t go back on his word.”
“I’m sure he won’t. But he’s not the problem. Winston Holling’s attorney called me this morning and said that he’s going over Sheriff Smith’s head. He’s calling in some markers with some big boys at the state capital. So, unless you like the idea of spending time in jail, you’ll make time to talk—now.”
Wyatt ran one hand across the stubble of beard on his chin and frowned. “Fine, but can we talk later? I need to get this window replaced and I’d prefer to wait until my father and Chan—and Miss Porter get here and—”
Iris burst out laughing, effectively stopping him. “What’s so funny?” he demanded.
“You.” She giggled and moved closer to him. “You’re afraid.”
“Afraid? Of what?”
She ran one finger down his chest. “Of me.”
“That’s absurd!” He moved away from her as he spoke.
“Is it?” Her tone implied she didn’t believe hi
m.
“Of course it is.” Wyatt was beginning to feel foolish. He had been shot at, attacked with a knife, swum through snake-infested swamps, shark-filled oceans and survived minefields and explosions. There was no way he was going to be intimidated by one woman.
“Then prove it,” she challenged him.
“I don’t have to prove anything.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“Fine.” She tossed her hair. “Have it your way. You’re scared to be alone with me. Is it because you’re scared Miss Porter will get mad? Is that it? She’s jealous of me and you’re afraid if she finds out we were alone she’ll think something happened? Is she that unsure of you? Why is that, Wyatt?”
“What do you want?” he barked, tired of her taunting and wanting to shut her up.
“I want you to show me exactly where you went that night after you left me standing in your father’s backyard. I want to see the route you took and I want you to walk through what happened when you reached Black Gap, step by step.”
“Why?”
“Because only by knowing what really happened can I come up with a defense.”
“All right,” he replied, checking his watch. It would take a couple of hours, but at least it would get her off his back. He looked at her, taking in the white high-heeled boots. “You’re not exactly dressed for hiking.”
“Don’t worry about me,” she said and waved her hand in front of her. “After you.”
Wyatt walked down the steps and started around the house with Iris right behind him.
* * * * *
Chance entered the house through the back door. “Wyatt? Hey! Anyone here?”
“Just me.” John walked in from the hall.
“Where’s Wyatt?”
“Don’t know. George dropped me off after the morning council meeting and his Jeep was gone. There’s a car in the drive.”
“Whose?”
John shrugged. “Never seen it before.”
Chance frowned. She hoped nothing was wrong but since she had no idea where Wyatt was she didn’t see what else she could do but wait for him to return. Except send someone who can find him! she thought.
She walked outside and called Wa’ya. He trotted up from the woods and wagged his tail. “Would you please see if you can find Wyatt? I’m worried. If you find him bring him back here, okay?”
Wa’ya barked once then ran across the yard and disappeared into the trees. Chance walked back inside. While she waited for Wyatt to return there were some things on her mind, and John was probably the best person to talk to about it.
He was sitting at the table when she entered the house. “John, can we talk?”
“Sure, what’s on your mind?”
“Well, it’s…I’m not sure I have the right to ask you this, but I’d like to talk to you about Sarah.”
“Sarah?” He looked up at her in surprise. “What about her?”
“Well,” she said and took a seat across from him. “I’ve been thinking. Tsa’li told me that I had to discover the starting point and I think it was when Sarah was killed. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Did Sarah know Winston Holling?”
“As a matter of fact she did. She even dated him for a while.”
“Really?” Chance was surprised but also curious. If Sarah and Winston had dated it was possible that she had told him about the crystal. “What happened?”
“I don’t really know. I know that Winston was in love with Sarah and begged her to marry him, but she said no. She told me that Winston could never be the kind of man she could love. You see, above everything, Sarah valued honesty. She was one of those people who believed in telling the truth, even if it hurt. When she broke off with Winston she said that she didn’t want to have anything else to do with him ever.”
“And that’s when you started seeing her?”
“Well, yes and no. See, I was in love with Sarah most all of my life. I guess the first time I saw her I knew she was the one for me. She was about five and I was eleven. I never cared about any other girl. But I always thought that I didn’t stand a chance with her. She was beautiful and smart and I always thought she saw me as kind of a big brother—you know, someone you can talk to, but not someone you fall in love with.”
“Then how did you two end up falling in love?”
John smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Sarah had been away at school. I think she was still seeing Winston. Anyway she came home for the summer before her last year at school and I was helping Tsa’li make some repairs on his house. We got to talking one day and before we knew it we’d spent the entire afternoon just sitting there. Things were different after that. About a week later she came to my house and told me that she was finished with Winston and that she loved me. We got married the day after she graduated from college.”
Chance thought about what he had said, imagining him and Sarah as they had been back then, young and in love, looking forward to sharing a life, having a family and growing old together. Neither of them had ever imagined that her life would be cut short.
“I know this is painful for you to talk about, but the day Sarah died—I think that Winston Holling was one of the men who survived. But there was a second man. Do you have any idea who it might be?”
John looked away, as if not wanting to meet her eyes. “John, please,” she pleaded softly. “I need to know.”
“Chance, I…” his voice trailed off. “That time’s so hard to think about. And I wasn’t there, so I can’t be a hundred percent sure and…”
“Then just tell me who you suspect. Please, John, we have to figure this out.”
“Well, if it was Winston then there’s a good chance the second man could have been your father.”
“My father?”
“Yes,” John sighed. “You see, Maurice used to date one of Sarah’s best friends, Doris Stillwater. Matter of fact, most everyone, including Doris, thought that Maurice would marry her. It was a surprise when he married your mother.”
“How so?”
“Well, he was still seeing Doris and suddenly one day he was married and no one knew anything about your mother. Doris told Sarah after she and Maurice had a big fight about it, that the only reason he married her was because she was wealthy.”
Chance looked down at the table. She had never known her mother,who had died during her birth, but she did know her father and she wouldn’t doubt that he had married only for money.
“What happened to Doris?”
“Well, she and her daughter stayed around for a while. But it was pretty hard for a single woman at that time with a child. Marisa, her daughter, was kind of a shy, gangly girl that didn’t make friends too easy. They eventually moved away and no one’s heard from them for years.”
“A daughter? You mean—”
Before she could finish the question the sound of gunfire made them both jump. John ran to the front room and looked out the window then raced back to Chance. “We gotta get out of here!”
Just as they ran for the back door they heard a man’s voice call out from the front, telling them to come out and they wouldn’t be hurt. John shouted that he was coming out then pushed Chance out the back door. They raced across the backyard and made it to the cover of the trees. Working their way around they could see about a dozen men in front of the house. All except three were armed. Two of the unarmed men were pulling big containers of gasoline from the back of a pickup and another was lighting a homemade torch.
Wasting no more time, John and Chance headed for Tsa’li’s house. Chance was worried about John. He hadn’t recovered from the beating he’d received and having to run through the woods was taking a toll on him. After a few minutes she stopped. “Let’s take a break,” she suggested, seeing that his face was pale and covered in sweat.
John nodded, and leaned against a tree, trying to catch his breath. Aside from the sounds of his breathing, everything was still. When a sudden noise came from behind them they both jumped. Wa’ya bounded ov
er to Chance and took her sleeve in his mouth, tugging at her.
“What’s he want?” John asked, pointing to the wolf.
“I asked him to find Wyatt. Come on, let’s get you to Tsa’li’s then I’m going after Wyatt.”
John nodded and allowed her to drape his arm over her shoulders. Walking slowly to accommodate John, Chance felt panic mounting. Suddenly she was sure something was terribly wrong. She had to get to Wyatt.
* * * * *
Wyatt’s pace was swift as he made his way through the forest. He did not look back to see what Iris’ condition was. He was doing as she had asked and showing her the route he had taken that night. He heard her scream behind him and stopped to look back.
She was about twenty feet behind him, holding on to a stout pine and holding one foot off the ground with a grimace of pain on her face. “I turned my ankle,” she moaned. “I don’t think I can walk. It feels like it’s broken.”
Irritation rose immediately. He did not want to be with her in the first place, much less have to baby her all the way back to his father’s house. He wished now he had just refused to come out here. He should have had better sense. He turned around and backtracked to her, knelt down and pulled off her boot. Iris transferred her hands from the trunk of the tree to his shoulders as he examined her ankle. “I don’t see anything wrong.” He released her foot. “There isn’t any bruising or swelling. It should be fine. Put on your shoe and we’ll rest a few minutes then head back.”
“I don’t think I can,” she complained, keeping hold of his shoulders as he stood. He made a move to step back from her but she held on, still standing on one foot so that his movement made her lean forward against him.
Wyatt could feel her warm breasts pressed against him and tried to ignore it. Iris looked up at him pleadingly. “I can’t walk. It hurts.”
With a grimace he put his arm underneath hers and wrapped it around her then helped her over to a fallen tree so that she could sit.