“All right, here’s the plan. I’m going to climb up those rocks, and when the car comes by, I’m going to drop down on top of it. Hugh, give me one of your knives. I hate to cut up my baby, but I need to be in the car before I can slip into Shadow.” Hugh handed an obsidian-bladed knife to Derek.
“What about us?” Stacey asked.
“Stacey, you stand up on the road and try to look sexy. Hold out your thumb for a ride. I want the criminal’s eyes on you when I jump. Hugh, you stay out of sight until I’m on the car. Aim for one of the tires with your crossbow. Joe will be here with an SUV. He’s following whoever took Katherine. Get in your places. They should be here in three minutes.”
Derek started climbing up onto the ledge of the canyon. Thank goodness, his speed and agility had increased since taking Isanti’s healing potion. He reached the top and ran along the edge until he came to the portion that hung over the road. He crouched down. The road curved before it came into the canyon so he wouldn’t be visible to the driver.
Stacey reached the spot up the road where he had directed her. She unbuttoned her blouse, letting it drape open, showing her breasts. She fluffed her blond hair before placing her hands on her hips. If that didn’t make the driver slow down, nothing would. Derek chuckled. He didn’t see Hugh but knew he wouldn’t be far from Stacey.
The sound of an engine could be heard approaching. Please Great Spirit, help me get Katherine back. Derek’s blue convertible drove into the canyon. Stacey stepped up to the road, smiling and waving her thumb. Derek waited a split second and jumped.
He hit the top of the convertible, his knife slicing through the fabric top, and landed in the back seat. In a moment he slipped into Shadow.
“What the hell?” the driver swore, and looked up at the torn roof. A loud bang sounded, and the car swerved to the right.
A litany of curses came from the driver. Derek visualized the inside of the trunk. In a moment, he peered into the space. A large canvas tarp sat rolled up inside. He opened a small door from Shadow into the Earth plane and dragged the tarp into the Shadow dimension. As he pulled it into the swirling eddies of mist that made up Shadow, the canvas disintegrated, leaving Katherine lying unconscious.
Derek gathered her up in his arms and pictured the inside of the clinic at Isanti, Inc. Holding her tight, he moved forward through the Shadow Dimension and into the clinic.
I’ve got Katherine, Joe. Capture the driver.
Roger that.
Dr. Rick and the nurse rushed forward, helping Derek support Katherine until they lay her down on one of the gurneys. “What’s happened?” the doctor asked.
“She’s been drugged. Kidnapping attempt.”
Dr. Rick nodded as he checked her pupils and her pulse. “Any idea what they gave her?”
“No, why?”
“Nurse Eschback! She’s going into cardiac arrest.” Dr. Rick ripped Katherine’s shirt open, then reached for the automated external defibrillator on the wall. “Get her bra out of my way.”
Derek cut Katherine’s bra with the obsidian knife as the doctor leaned forward. Nurse Eschback attached the defibrillator pads to Katherine’s chest.
“Move back, Derek. Clear.”
Derek stepped back. Praying, he watched the doctor and nurse trying to save Katherine, her body jerking with the shock to her heart. What would he do if he lost her? Raven and Cara rushed into the room. Cara held a bottle of Isanti’s healing potion. She thrust it into Derek’s hands.
“Doc, let me get this into her. It’ll help.” Derek leaned down as the doctor muttered curses. Derek lifted Katherine up in his arms, reaching for her telepathically. He dove into the darkness of her mind, searching for her spirit. A small flicker of light caught his attention, and he surrounded it with his brighter light. I need you to stay with me, Katherine. Swallow this potion and live for me, baby.
He poured the potion down her throat, controlling the muscles in her esophagus telepathically. “I can’t wait any longer, Derek. Get out of the way. Clear.”
Derek stepped back, and the doctor once more shocked Katherine’s heart. Derek held on tight to her spirit, feeding her his strength, trying to give the potion a chance to work. Come on, baby. Come on.
There was a blip on the monitor, then another, and another. They all sighed in relief. Derek wobbled on his feet. Raven grabbed him around the waist and helped him to a chair.
“Pulse at 60 beats per minute, doctor.”
“Get her started on fluids, nurse. I’m sure Isanti’s potion will take care of the rest.”
Derek looked up at his brother, tears in his eyes. He had almost lost Katherine. Thank the Great Spirit that Cara had brought the healing potion.
“Sorry we were late getting here,” Raven said. “Cara made us stop to get the potion from Isanti. Katherine’s going to be all right, Derek.”
Derek nodded. Feeling a little stronger, he moved his chair to the side of the cot and took Katherine’s hand in his. He still held her spirit tight, and it began to expand and grow in light.
Sighing in relief, he leaned his head against the bed and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her soft skin. Her fingers slowly opened, and Derek entwined their fingers together.
“Joe brought the driver of the convertible in. He’s a little banged up. I guess he rolled the car. Joe says it’s totaled. I’ll have to buy you a new one as a wedding present.”
“Derek shook his head. “No. That part of my life is over. We’ll need a minivan. I plan on having children as soon as Katherine will agree to it.”
“I’m going to interrogate the driver. Are you coming?” Raven asked.
“No, I’m staying here until Katherine opens her eyes and looks at me. Raven, I want this stopped today. I almost lost her.”
“I don’t think they meant for her to go into cardiac arrest,” Dr. Rick said. “I think she had a reaction to whatever they gave her. Not that they shouldn’t be punished.”
“They almost killed her in the car bomb,” Derek said. “They sent an assassin after us. I don’t care if they were trying today or not. Find out why they’ve targeted her!”
“Calm down, Red Hawk. I’ll take care of it.” Raven ushered Cara from the room.
“If Isanti’s potion works as quickly as it usually does, Katherine should be waking up anytime now. I’ll be right outside if you need me. Nurse, it sounds like we have another patient.” Dr. Rick followed the nurse to the door, then paused, turning back. He opened his mouth as if he would say something. But then, shaking his head, he left the room.
Derek felt Katherine’s spirit grow stronger, until it pushed against his. He released her, his spirit sinking back into his body. He shuddered and gripped her hand. Blinking his eyes, he opened them when he heard her sigh. He stood and leaned over, kissing her on the forehead before he brushed a lock of hair off her face.
Her eyes fluttered and she looked up at him. “Derek?”
“I’ve got you, baby. You’re okay.”
“Derek, you’re crying.”
“Am I?” Derek wiped his face, surprised when his hand came away wet. “I almost lost you. I’m still not over it. In fact, I think it will be a long time before I can allow you out of my sight.” If ever.
“What happened?”
“You were kidnapped. Rest now, tehila. When you feel better, I’ll fill in the blanks for you. Don’t worry. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
Derek kissed her lightly and watched as she closed her eyes and her breathing slowed. He continued to hold her hand and sat back down at her side. He leaned his head against the edge of the bed and let the tears flow. Each drop of moisture that rolled down his face carried his fear.
“Derek, Raven wants to know if you’d like to watch the interrogation.” Joe Running Bear stood at the door. “How is she?” Joe stepped up to the end of the bed.
“She’ll be fine when she wakes up.” Derek rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I can’t leave her, Joe. The criminal almost took her fr
om me today. He has to pay. I want him to pay. I want to be there and see his face ... I can’t leave her.”
“Then, you should stay. I would stay if it was my mate lying there. You don’t have to worry about this guy. Raven and I will take care of it.”
“Quiet Thunder warned me that I could no longer be the warrior and also be the shaman, He said that instead of fighting, I would need to care for my patients. I never thought the lesson would be so drastic or personal. But, as much as I want to beat that guy to a pulp, I want to be right here by Katherine’s side more than anything.”
“Being the shaman doesn’t mean you won’t have battles to win. It means you will have battles of the heart, fighting illness and death to protect those you love. You are one of the strongest men I know. You will be a good shaman for the tribe. I’ll make sure not to get sick or hurt in the future.” Joe grinned and winked.
“Thanks, Joe.” Derek chuckled.
“No problem, Red Hawk.” Joe cracked his knuckles. “Now, to the interrogation room.”
“Make sure you get the whole story, and find out if there are any other threats out there.”
Joe waved in response as he sauntered out of the room.
Chapter Nine
“His name is Tom Kincaid,” Raven said later that evening. “He was Amanda Patterson’s step-brother. We didn’t catch the relationship because they weren’t blood relations.”
“So it was about Derek shooting Amanda,” Katherine said.
“Not at first. At first, Kinkaid thought Derek cheated on Amanda,” Raven said. “Kincaid worked in the motor pool. He admitted to knowing Derek left gifts for you, Katherine. I guess Derek had one in the car, and Kincaid saw it. Later, he heard that you received a gift from your secret admirer, and after pumping Nurse Eschback for information, put it together.”
Katherine sat up in the hospital bed. Derek squeezed her hand in reassurance. Raven stood next to Cara who sat in the chair near the door. Joe leaned against the doorframe, while Hugh and Stacey stood on the other side of the bed.
“What now?” Derek asked.
“We hand him over to the police. We have footage of him carrying Katherine’s body down in the canvas tarp and putting her in the trunk of the car,” Joe said.
“I don’t want Katie to have to testify.” Derek squeezed her hand again.
“I don’t think she will,” Joe said, straightening. “I removed his memories from the time Amanda was shot until he was riding up the elevator. He has no recollection why he wanted to kidnap Katherine. He already admitted to the kidnapping. We have his taped confession. I assume he will be put in an institution.”
“Is he the one who broke into my apartment?” Katherine’s voice quavered. Derek got off the chair and sat on the edge of the bed, gathering her into his arms.
“Yes.” Joe sent an apologetic look to Derek before turning back to Katherine. “He was enraged that Derek had not been assassinated or caught in the car bomb. He ran out of resources, which is why he kidnapped you, Katherine. The information that you were leaving for the weekend sent him over the edge. I’m sorry I didn’t see that possibility. I thought we were working with a professional.”
“Well, the general will be relieved to know it had nothing to do with Derek’s spying. I guess I can get back to the Pentagon.” Stacey headed for the door.
“Stacey, wait. We need to talk.” Hugh hurried after her.
“Don’t forget to come back for the wedding,” Cara called after the couple.
“If you people will please remove yourselves, Mrs. Sloane needs to be resting.” Nurse Eschback entered and started shooing everyone from the room.
Derek gathered Katherine closer in his arms and shadow-walked to their cabin in Montana. He smiled, thinking of Nurse Eschback’s face when she turned around and they were gone. Quickly opening a door onto the Earth plane, he walked into the master suite and carried Katherine to the bed.
“That wasn’t nice, you know. She’s just doing her job.”
“She’s a pain in the ass. She did help save your life, so I won’t say anything further.” Derek pulled back the covers and lay Katherine in the bed. He tucked her in and kissed her on the nose. “Can I get you anything?”
“Just you. I need to feel you inside me, connecting us heart, body, and soul. I need to feel alive.”
“Honey, you almost died this morning.”
“All the more reason you should make love to me tonight.”
§
Derek’s lovemaking had an edge of desperation to it, and Katherine realized he had been deeply traumatized by the day’s events. He lay sleeping, wrapped around her, holding her close to his heart.
She had been surprised to find him next to her, holding her hand every time she woke up in the hospital today. Not once did he leave her. Normally, he would have been in the thick of things, helping to interrogate the prisoner.
Not today. Today, he acted like she was all that mattered. Today, he put her first. That’s what she wanted, someone to put her first. So why did she feel guilty?
The next morning the sun rose over the lake and filled the bedroom with a warm glow. Katherine woke up and stretched. She ached in a few places, which probably should be expected after yesterday. She smelled the wonderful aroma of coffee coming from downstairs. Derek was so good to her. She slipped on a robe and slippers and headed for the kitchen. Coming down the back stairs, she saw Derek standing in front of the stove. A pile of moving boxes stood next to the back door.
“What are these?” she asked.
“Your grandmother’s china and your jewelry box. They arrived by truck a few minutes ago.”
“Thank you. You and the guys are so wonderful. I used to find their attitudes demeaning and sexist. Now I see they are just trying to take care of the people they care about.”
“I know we can be irritating, Kate.” Derek laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I wondered how you were going to react when I asked you to have children with me. You know, barefoot and pregnant?”
“I have slippers on.”
“True, it wouldn’t be hard to take them off.”
“Don’t start. You’ll burn the bacon.”
“Okay, okay. Raven said to take the day off. We could go look at baby furniture.”
“You’re really serious aren’t you? What about your job with the company? You haven’t been back to work since being shot.”
“I have a new job, taking care of you and our future little ones. Plus, being shaman to the tribe if they need me. I won’t really take over as shaman until Quiet Thunder passes on. I know how much you love your job. I’d hate to ask you to quit.”
“Wait, you’re going to be a stay-at-home dad?”
“Why not? Honey, I own part of the company. I don’t have to work. I would love to be a stay-at home dad.”
“I think I need to sit down.”
“Good because breakfast is ready. Grab the orange juice.”
Katherine obediently went to the refrigerator and fetched two glasses from the cupboard before returning to sit at the table. Derek set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her.
Children. She’d always wanted children. Her first husband was never home, and what kind of life was that for a child. Then, she was alone again. Now she had Derek. Children, an adorable little boy with his father’s good looks and a little girl with her eyes. She could have everything she ever wanted with this man. All she needed to do was reach out and take it.
“Okay, baby furniture it is.”
§
“Kathy, you’re glowing,” Gwen Quiet Thunder said as she pulled Katherine into a hug. “How are you feeling?”
Katherine led Gwen and her sister Lindy into the living room of her home in Montana. “Now that we are past the first trimester of the pregnancy, I feel a hundred-percent better. That morning sickness was a real killer. Derek was so wonderful, holding me while I was sick.”
“Where is Derek? He isn’t go
ing to try and butt into our girls’ night, is he?” Lindy asked as she sat down. Gwen joined her on the couch.
“No, he and Raven went out to dinner. They were complaining about Cara and me leaving them alone, so I suggested they go out together. You should have seen their faces.” Katherine laughed as she sat down. You would think that she told them to dance naked in the moonlight. After a few minutes, they agreed it was a good idea. Not that they wouldn’t occasionally check in telepathically. The two brothers were over-protective to the extreme.
“Where is Cara?” Gwen asked.
“She’s making some snacks in the kitchen. Is Tatiana going to make it tonight?” Katherine asked.
“I’m afraid not. She’s in China right now and couldn’t get away,” Gwen said.
“Darn it. I’d hoped she would give me another lesson in knife throwing. I still can’t hit anything half the time,” Katherine complained. “Now that I’m pregnant, Derek won’t let me practice my shadow-walking. He doesn’t want the baby exposed to the cold, so the only time we go in Shadow is on the way to the clinic.”
“Yeah, he made it perfectly clear that we were to come to you tonight and to make sure you didn’t overdo. You have him wrapped around your little finger. Who would have thought that the playboy of Isanti, Inc., would fall so hard?” Lindy laughed. “Remember, Sally Black Feather? She was Derek’s first crush. I think they were eight at the time.”
“Oh, yes. Derek was so shy back then,” Gwen said. “He could hardly speak to her. He agonized for weeks on what to get her for Valentine’s Day.”
“She broke his heart when he gave her his valentine, and she promptly threw it in the trash,” Lindy added.
“But she didn’t leave behind the candy he gave her. Unbeknownst to Derek, Lindy laced the chocolate with chili powder. We were always pulling pranks like that.” Gwen shook her head.
“Hey, I knew Sally would hurt him. She thought she was too good for an orphaned boy.” Lindy shook her head. “Derek came home so broken-hearted. When he heard about the chili powder, though, he laughed until he cried.”
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