There was a tap on the door. Nadine glanced at it. “Later,” she silently mouthed and turned. “Come in,” she said.
A girl with long, straight jet-black hair that shined like obsidian came through the door with two cups of piping hot coffee in her hands. “Would you hurry up and get this – it’s burning my hand, Mother!” she grumbled.
“Myra, this is Sara, Jared’s girlfriend. Sara, Myra is Jared’s sister.”
Myra’s attitude changed, almost as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. “I am so pleased to meet you Sara. We’ve been waiting a very long time for you.”
Sara furrowed her brow in confusion. How can they all know so much about me? I’ve been accepted as a member of their family even before I met them, and I hardly know their names. “It’s nice to meet you too Myra.”
Myra glanced at Nadine, her mood serious, “Have you told her yet?”
Nadine glared at Myra. “No, I haven’t, not yet.” Myra cowered. Apparently, she’d said too much.
Sara glanced from Myra to Nadine. “Told me what?”
There was another tap on the door. Jared and David Whitefeather, the old man’s doctor, walked through. “What is this?” Dave looked annoyed. “I told you, two visitors at a time.”
Sara stood, volunteering. “I think I could use that coffee now.”
Myra stood too. “I’ll go with you.” Nadine gave Myra a look of warning and so did Jared. “I’m just going to show her where the coffee shop is – ok? Geez!” Myra rolled her eyes.
What was going on in the Thundercloud triangle of secrecy? Why were Jared and Nadine so concerned for Sara to be alone with Myra? Was Myra likely to tell Sara something she needed to know, or maybe something Sara didn’t want to hear?
Chapter 11
Jared fixed a warning glare on Myra, his voice strained. “Myra, I’m sure Sara doesn’t want someone tagging behind her like a lost puppy.”
Jared’s response piqued Sara’s curiosity. She slightly furrowed her brow. “No, I don’t mind Jared,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue. “I would appreciate the company. Without somebody’s guidance, I probably would have gotten lost anyway,” she added, now even more determined.
Jared moved toward them, keeping his fixed gaze on his sister. “Then I’ll go with you.”
Myra drew in a quick, shallow breath, looking nervous.
Sara glanced from Myra to Jared, bewildered and confused. She sighed and swallowed hard. “No, Jared. You stay. You need to be here for your grandfather. Besides,” she added, faking a smile. “Myra can get me there and back. Can’t you Myra?”
Myra nervously glanced from Jared to Sara, as if she were afraid to answer. Finally, she sighed and smiled, moving towards the door with Sara. “Sure I can,” she scoffed, but Sara could tell Myra’s smile was forced.
Myra seemed frightened of Jared in some way. To a certain extent, he frightened Sara too. She’d seen Jared upset. He’d even been upset with her, but this was new. Almost as if Jared had a split-personality. A dark side, fearful, intriguing, but filled with mystery.
Sara was now eager to be alone with Myra. Whether it was good or bad, if there were something Sara needed to know, she wanted to know about it before it caused problems between her and Jared.
Myra smiled, nodded, and attempted to move closer to Sara. Jared grabbed her wrist, hard, holding her firmly. For that few seconds, he locked eyes with her. Myra’s smile faded. She looked as if she might cry.
“Don’t!” Jared said in a low, guttural growl, squeezing her wrist.
Myra’s eyes widened. She nodded submissively, blinking a couple of times as if she were in a trance. “I won’t Jared…” her voice was barely above a weak whisper. She grimaced. “I promise,” she stressed.
There was no mistaking the expression on Myra’s face. It was a mixture of pain and fear. Sara could see it in Myra’s eyes, and hear the threat in Jared’s voice. He wasn’t making a request. He was giving her a command.
Why is he acting like this?He never acted that way around me. Whatever it means, and whatever is going on, it isn’t right….
There were dark secrets in Jared’s family, and now, thanks to Jared, Myra wasn’t going to share them with Sara – or was she? Maybe Jared had decided Sara wasn’t who he thought she was. Maybe there would be a curse put on his family if he stayed with Sara. One way or the other, whether Jared liked it or not, Sara was determined to find out, somehow.
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Myra started towards the elevator. “Do you mind if we take the stairs?”
Myra held the door for Sara. “No, I don’t mind.”
Sara tried to sound casual, as they started down the first flight of stairs. “What was that all about?”
Myra scoffed, trying to play it down. “Oh, Jared is sometimes overbearing.” Especially when it comes to you. She chuckled. “Don’t pay him any mind – I don’t. He’s just being paranoid.”
Sara raised an eyebrow. Oh no you don’t! I’m not buying that. They neared the next flight of stairs. “What did Jared mean when he said, ‘Don’t!”
Myra stopped, locking her eyes on Sara’s, her voice steady and determined. “I can’t tell you,” she said, as they started down the next flight of stairs.
“Why?” Sara was persistent. “Is it because you’re afraid it will make Jared mad?”
Myra nodded, sighing. “That’s part of it….”
Sara was getting desperate. They were nearing the exit door. She gently held Myra’s wrist. “So tell me now,” she insisted, studying Myra’s eyes. “I won’t tell him, and he’ll never know – I promise….”
Myra glanced down at her wrist, and back into Sara’s eyes, her voice remorseful. “I can’t Sara! It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I can’t.” She swallowed hard and sighed. “Jared knew you were going to ask, and if I tell you….”
“How could he know that?”
“Because he knows you,” she blurted. “Probably better than you know yourself. You’ve shared secrets with him - in his dreams. He knows what you’re going to do, or better yet… what you’re likely to do.”
Sara rolled her eyes. “Oh this is hopeless. I don’t believe in all that hocus-pocus stuff,” she lied. That wasn’t entirely true. Sara reasoned if Myra thought she didn’t believe in legends and stories, if there were secrets, Myra would be more inclined to share them with Sara.
Myra turned, her eyes pitch black, and somber. She quickly glanced around as if she were being watched. “Has he shown you the sketches?” she asked in a loud whisper.
“The ones from his dreams?” Sara countered.
Myra nodded, and again, glanced around nervously. “Yes….”
Sara narrowed her eyes in curiosity. “Yes, he has. They’re remarkable, to say the least.”
“All of them?” Myra pressed. “How many has he shown you?”
Sara shrugged, running her fingers through her bangs. “I don’t know – ah, let me think. Let see… he showed me one where I was ten, one where I was thirteen, one where I was sixteen, one where we met and one where he was holding me out over the rock cliff – why?”
“That’s all… he’s shown you?”
Sara leaned forward. “Yes. Are there more?” she prompted.
Myra drew in a deep breath and exhaled forcefully. “Talk to Jared. Ask him that question Sara. It’s not for me to say, and if I did, he’d never forgive me.”
Sara studied her eyes a few more seconds and then let go of Myra’s wrist. No matter what she did, it didn’t look as if Myra would break. Myra held the door open, and they stepped out, walking down a short corridor. Inside, through some double doors, the coffee shop was buzzing with life. They bought their coffees and sat at a table toward the back of the room.
“Look Myra,” Sara said, making another attempt – a last desperate attempt. “If there are more sketches, I’m not asking you to show me the pictures – if there are more that I haven’t seen. I’m just asking if there are more.
”
Again, Myra quickly glanced around the room with anxious eyes. “Yes,” she said after a long pause, her voice barely above a whisper. “But, if you want to know more, you’ll have to ask Jared,” she added forcefully. Myra was as determined to keep the secret hid as Sara was to discover it. She wasn’t going to help Sara.
“Ok,” Sara sighed, disappointed. “I will, but can you tell me one more thing?” she asked, determinedly.
“Jared was right – you are stubborn. I shouldn’t have told you what I have.”
Sara placed her hand over Myra’s. “Please, Myra.”
“All right, go on – but if it’s something I’m not supposed to….”
Sara waved her hands in defeat. “Then you don’t have to answer - fair enough?” Myra nodded. “Are there any books where I can find out more about these dreams and visions, and what it is that you’ve been forbidden to tell me?”
Myra furrowed her brow, agitated. “I haven’t been forbidden not to tell you Sara.”
“Then why are you afraid of Jared?”
Myra scowled. “I’m not afraid of Jared!”
Sara leaned forward. “Then why won’t you answer my questions – even about a book?”
Myra studied Sara’s eyes for a while. Finally, she sighed. “There are books, but not all of them tell the truth. Many of our sacred and secret legends have been printed. Most, I’m afraid you’ll find, have been colored to suit the commercial needs of the authors. Truth seldom makes money Sara. Hollywood and authors have all but destroyed our sacred rites and ceremonies, and they don’t understand them – what they mean, and what they can do – if misused.”
“All right,” Sara said, sighing again. “I understand that, and that’s why I’m asking your advice now, before I make a stupid mistake. Will you help me sort through the truth and fiction?”
Myra drew in a deep sigh, “As much as I can, but I will not….”
“Fine,” Sara interjected. “I won’t pressure you.”
“When did you want to go?”
Sara was anxious. “How about now?”
“Now would not be a good time Sara. Jared knows where we are. If we’re gone longer than he expects us to be, he will become suspicious, and we’ll both get into trouble. If there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s to get on Jared’s bad side.” Myra laughed, trying to diffuse the atmosphere. “Not that you could ever bring out that side of him anyway.” Myra started sipping her coffee, signaling to Sara that the discussion was closed.
Sara sighed in frustration. Man… this family keeps a tight lip about certain things. “So when do you want to go to the bookstore then?” she asked again.
“This will have to be a joint effort,” Myra said. “Jared, knowing what he knows…” she said, raising an eyebrow at Sara as a warning not to ask. “He’s going to be on his guard around you. He’s probably not going to let you out of his sight without a good reason. Let me talk to Mother. She might help us. She’s not quite as rigid as Jared, but she’s still more likely to listen to him than I am,” she said, laughing again. The atmosphere had become extremely tense. Sara could tell Myra was trying to throw her off.
I can play this game too. Sara smiled. “That would certainly explain why he didn’t want me to be alone with you.” Sara knew there was more to this, but for now, she was letting it slide.
“You got it!” Myra said. “Older brothers,” she scoffed.
Sara grinned slightly, satisfied her plan had worked. Myra wasn’t as tense. “How long will it take you to set this up?” Sara pressed, anxious to get started. Sara liked solving mysteries, and she was willing to work to find the answer, but not when it involved something about Jared.
Myra cunningly narrowed her eyes again. “Well, first, I didn’t say I could do it, I said I would talk to her. Mother can be as stubborn as Jared, when she wants to. I’ll talk to her when we leave. We’re supposed to go by the feed-n-seed, and get supplies for the horses.”
“You have horses?” Sara asked, trying to sound excited. She would try anything to win Myra’s confidence. “Where are they? I didn’t see any.”
“That’s because the barn is a few miles away from the house, next to the river. We use that part of the land for grazing because of the river. It’s a fresh water supply for the horses.”
“How many does your father own?”
Myra laughed. “None. They’re Jared’s. We take care of them for him because he doesn’t have the land at Wisteria Hall. He keeps talking about building a barn and corral, but honestly, I don’t think he has the time.”
“Ok, how many does Jared own then?”
“Twelve – no wait – thirteen. Jade has just foaled. Her colt is as cute as can be. She looks just like her mother but has her father’s attitude. I’m surprised Jared didn’t tell you about them. Apart from you, his sketches, and ‘Raging Storm’, the horses were Jared’s pride and joy – once.”
Sara sighed. “I guess he didn’t have time for that either.” And, apparently a lot of other stuff. “Do you think he would mind if you showed them to me? I’d love to see them sometime. Right now, I want to be there for Jared in case….”
Myra smiled. “You really love my brother, don’t you?”
“Yes Myra. I do. I just hope I’m the right person for him.”
Myra smiled again and stood. “One thing’s for sure,” she said, pushing her chair under the table. “Jared is crazy about you. We better get back before he thinks I’ve gone behind his back, and told you all the things I’m not supposed to tell you,” she said laughing.
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When Sara and Myra got back, Jared was sitting in a chair, next to the old man’s bed. Nadine was over in the corner, napping. Jared put his finger to his lips, as they entered the room. “Shh! She’s just gone to sleep,” he said in a loud whisper, motioning toward Nadine. “Dad said she’s been here all night. She’s only sleeping now because she knows I’m here.”
Sara bent down and kissed Jared. He put his hand behind her neck, holding her in place, deepening the kiss, and making it last longer than Sara had originally intended. Sara wasn’t complaining. It was just a little embarrassing in front of his sister, who was still standing by the door.
“Ahem,” Myra said. Jared stopped kissing Sara, and turned. “I’ve told Sara about the horses, and she wants to see them,” Myra continued. “Especially Jade’s new foal.”
“Really,” Jared responded with a raised eyebrow. “What else did you tell her?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Nothing Jared,” she said, sounding both disappointed and annoyed. “You know I would never go against your wishes.”
He eyed her suspiciously. “You did before….”
“That was different. I knew I was doing the right thing then. Anyway, I need to go to the feed store, and get some things for the horses. Dad is exhausted from being here with Granddad, so I thought I’d do that for him. Sara wants to come along. That is if you trust me enough to let her.”
Jared glanced at Sara, and she smiled. “I need to pick up some things at the store anyway – remember?” she prompted.
Jared stood. “Then you’ll need me there to unload the truck.”
Myra exhaled in exasperation and rolled her eyes. “No, you stay here with Granddad. I’m sure we’re not as muscular as you, but I think Sara, and I can manage.”
Besides,” Sara added. “You shouldn’t leave your mother alone right now. We can manage.” If you’re there, I won’t get my books, and Myra will clam-up again. If you won’t give me answers, I’ll have to find them on my own.
Jared stood, and walked next to Sara. He scribbled something on the back of one of his ‘Raging Storm’ business cards. He took out his wallet and handed Sara his credit card, and the card. “Here, take this. Get whatever you want. Just make sure you get at least a week - maybe two weeks’ worth of clothes. If Granddad stays like this, I know we’ll be here at least that long – maybe longer.” Sara nodded, knowing it would d
o no good to argue the point with him.
Jared kissed Sara. “If you have any problems at the store ring me on my cell. Have fun.” He kissed Sara again and shook a finger at Myra. “You, be careful. Don’t let anything happen to her.”
“I won’t Jared,” Myra said, sounding like a little sister who’d just been reminded of her age. She took Sara by the arm. “Come on Sara. Let’s get out of here before he changes his mind.”
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Sara followed Myra out. “Well, that was easy enough,” she said with a sigh.
Myra turned and studied Sara’s eyes. “Don’t be so sure about Jared. He’ll do that. Just because, we got away from him, don’t think he doesn’t know what we’re doing. Remember what I told you,” she stressed. “If there is anything that you were going to do in the waking world, that would have affected yours or Jared’s future, you’ve probably already told him about it, and he will know. One thing’s for sure,” she said, attempting to change the subject again.
Sara grinned. “What’s that?” she asked, stepping to the back of the elevator. Myra pushed a button and turned.
“Now I know he loves you!” Myra shifted her weight from one foot to the other as they rode the elevator to the ground floor.
Sara leaned forward. “Pardon?”
Myra smiled. “Jared gave you his credit card. He doesn’t do that with anyone! He certainly never gave it to Eve!”
Sara followed Myra out to the parking lot where they stopped by a metallic, black Audi Roadster. Myra punched her key control, and the locks opened with a chirp. “Nice car….”
Myra beamed. “Thank you. You really like it? It was a graduation present from Jared.”
“Yes, I do. Jared bought you a car for graduation!”
Myra grinned. “I guess being the baby has its advantages. Either that, or Jared felt overly generous that day.” She laughed. “I’m not complaining. Ever since Jared moved to Louisiana, and started making a decent salary, he’s been spoiling me.”
Sara narrowed her eyes and grinned. “Then why did you say what you did about Jared giving me his credit card?”
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