Blood of the Rainbow

by Shelia Chapman

  Sara couldn’t make up her mind. About that time, Myra’s cell rang. Sara jumped again. Myra eyed Sara suspiciously as she read the message. “Sara… is something wrong?” What are you so nervous about?

  Sara tried to keep her voice as evenly as possible. “No - why do you ask?”

  “I don’t know. You seem - nervous.”

  Sara sighed. “I am. I’m nervous about using Jared’s credit card,” she lied. She clutched the bag with the mysterious book closer to her, as if Myra might snatch it from her arms. She motioned to Myra’s cell. “Was that your mother’s list?”

  Myra stared at Sara a couple more seconds, as though trying to read her mind. Finally, she spoke, sounding as if nothing were wrong. “Yep – let’s get the shopping done so I can show you my pride and joy.” She led Sara into a Jeans Specialty Shop.

  Sara took a deep calming breath and let it out slow. She bought it! God, after all this, I don’t think I could ever be this nervous on stage – even if I were stark naked!

  ------------

  Myra took Sara where she shopped for clothes, and even convinced Sara to buy some things Sara normally wouldn’t buy. But Sara was trying to keep her mind off Jared, and his accusing eyes.

  Sara bought several pairs of jeans, some pullover t-shirts, a couple of nice blouses, and some dresses. Myra tried to convince her to buy a mini-skirt, but Sara put her foot down on that purchase. She didn’t like short skirts.

  Sara got everything on Jared’s list, plus some extras Myra assured her Jared would like. Sara wasn’t sure he would agree, but she took Myra at her word. After all, she’d known Jared longer than Sara. Unless, of course, you counted the times she and Jared had been together in his dreams. If Sara had been the one in Jared’s dreams….

  ------------

  After they had finished shopping for clothes and shoes, Myra and Sara stopped for lunch. Sara was enjoying being with Myra. She was like the sister Sara never had. They finished their lunch, picked up Nadine’s things, and then went back to the ranch. They changed over to a black Dodge Ram and headed for the feed store. Sara was starting to see a pattern developing. It appeared this family was partial to the color black – especially in vehicles. She wondered why.

  Myra pulled around the back of the feed store, and they got out. She spoke to the man, sitting in a chair, leaned back against the wall on two legs. They went inside. Myra showed the man behind the counter the text on her cell. “I need some supplies for the horses.”

  The man entered the details in the register and gave Myra a total. She told him to put it on her father’s bill. The man asked after her grandfather, and she told him there was no change. He said he hoped her grandfather got better. Then Myra and Sara got back in the truck and headed back to the ranch.

  ------------

  The road down to the barn was uneven and full of potholes. Myra maneuvered around them like a pro. She turned the truck around and reversed in the barn. Together, Myra and Sara unloaded the truck. Myra was better at it than Sara was, but Sara held her own.

  Myra loaded the supplies and a bale of hay, in a trailer behind an ATV. She climbed on, and Sara climbed on behind her. Myra drove across the road, and waited while Sara opened the metal gate, and locked it, after she’d driven thru. They stopped at various feed troughs, hayracks, and iron rods sticking out of the ground where they setup the salt and mineral licks.

  Myra made a loud whistle between her teeth, and a few seconds later the ground rumbled beneath Sara’s feet. A small herd of magnificent looking horses galloped up to where they stood. Myra reached in her pocket and gave Sara a handful of sugar cubes. “You’ll need those... they’re spoilt. If you forget to bring them some sugar cubes, they’ll nibble at your clothes and hair.”

  Sara laughed and took the cubes. She was beginning to feel a little less stressful, but she was developing a slight headache.

  Myra chuckled as Sara took a step back. “Don’t be afraid Sara. They’ll come right up to you. They’re not afraid of strangers.”

  A solid black stallion walked up in front of Sara. She swallowed hard. When he whinnied, Sara jumped. Myra laughed. “Here you go,” Sara said, cautiously holding out her hand with an offering of sugar cubes. In no time, the horse had eaten all the cubes. Myra laughed and gave Sara some more.

  Myra started stroking the black stallion’s face. “That’s Satan, my baby. He loves his sugar cubes, don’t you Baby. He was a wild mustang before I raised him. I named him Satan, because when he was a young foal, he could kick like hell.” She laughed again.

  A beautiful black and white Appaloosa walked up to Sara, and started nibbling sugar cubes from her hand.

  “That’s Jade and her foal. Satan is her daddy. Isn’t she magnificent?”

  Sara stroked Jade’s face. “They both are. What’s the foal’s name?”

  “Jared hasn’t named her, yet.”

  “Why hasn’t he named her?”

  “Since he moved to Louisiana, he doesn’t get home a lot. The last time we saw him was in January. He came down for New Years. I guess he hasn’t had time to think about naming her. I’ve been taking care of Jade and the colt for him.”

  Myra setup the last salt lick. “I still can’t believe he hasn’t told you about them.”

  It appears Jared hasn’t told me about a lot. She stroked Jade’s face as she nibbled on the rest of Sara’s sugar cubes. “Myra, you’re doing a wonderful job.”

  “This big guy is another one of Jared’s babies,” Myra said, patting the rump of a large chestnut stallion. “He’s letting me train him for the rodeo. He’s only two years old. Jared used to ride Jade in the circuit, until he got involved with - Eve.”

  “Jared never said he used to ride in the rodeo….”

  Myra laughed. “It sounds like my brother hasn’t told you a lot of things about him.”

  Sara sighed. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

  They walked back to the ATV. “Speaking of that, I’d better get you back, or he’ll never let you go with me again. Jared is very protective of you, even before you met. He mentioned something about you to Eve. She was jealous of you, even though you were no more than an element in one of Jared’s dreams. She insulted you in some way, and Jared tore into her.”

  “Was that when they broke up?”

  Myra’s cell rang. She looked at the name on the display, “Speak of the devil,” she said, putting the phone to her ear. “Hello Jared…. Yes, she’s right here – hang on.” She handed Sara the cell.

  “Hello….

  “Hi Angel. Why haven’t you been answering your cell?”

  Sara’s heart fluttered every time he called her Angel. “You called me again?” Sara was surprised. “My cell hasn’t rung since we left the - since I talked to you last.” Sara made a quick recovery. She almost blew it. “Have you tried to call me?”

  Jared’s tone was worried. “Yeah, several times….”

  “Hang on a second, let me check something.” Sara brought out her cell. “Oops! It was turned off - sorry.”

  Jared groaned. “Sara, cell phones are no good if you keep them turned off. Where are you?”

  “We were just fixing to head back to the hospital. We’re feeding the horses. You never said you had horses. Jade and her colt are beautiful. Myra also said you used to ride Jade in the rodeo.”

  “Yeah, well, that was a long time ago. I’ve been thinking about taking her and her foal back to Wisteria Hall.”

  “Where would we - you keep them, you don’t have a corral.”

  Jared smiled at Sara’s comment. “That was my next building project. I miss you,” he said, changing the subject.

  Sara smiled. “I miss you too. How’s your grandfather?”

  “Still no change, I’m worried about him. The longer he stays in the coma, the less chance he has of coming out of it and his heart is getting weaker. Neither Dave nor I think he’s going to pull through,” he said - a quaver in his voice.

  “Have you told your Mom and
Dad?”

  “Yes.”

  “How are they…?”

  Jared cut her off. His voice turned to ice – professional. “Sara, Granddad is an old man. He’s lived a long and happy life, at least until my grandmother passed. It’s his time. Dad knows that, and he’s prepared for it. Mother - she understands too, but, she’s more emotional, as you would expect.”

  “And you?”

  “I’m ok. Death is just a part of life. I’m a doctor Sara. I stare it in the face every day.”

  Sara glanced at Myra, smiled, and walked out of earshot. “Jared, you don’t have to be a doctor with me. You’re his grandson, and apparently, you and he were very close before you left Arizona. Just because, he’s in a coma doesn’t mean you can’t still reach him. Talk to him. Tell him how you feel, and that you’re scared.”

  Jared sighed, annoyed. “I’ve gotta go Sara. I’ll see you when you get here. Be careful. Let me talk to Myra now.”

  Sara handed Myra her cell. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Myra raised an eyebrow. Her face filled with dread. “Hi Jared,” she said, and then listened to him for a few seconds, giving Sara worried glances. “I know,” she said sarcastically shaking her head. She turned her back to Sara and said something in Navajo.

  Sara never realized Jared was so fluent in his native language. It seemed odd in their day. The other Indians she had come across, no longer used it. Most of them had left the old ways behind. Jared and his family were an obvious exception.

  Myra locked her cell and crawled on the four-wheeler. “Come on, let’s get back before Jared goes on a war path. He’s upset.”

  Sara crawled in behind Myra again and put her arms around Myra’s waist. “He didn’t seem upset to me.”

  Myra scoffed. “That’s with you. I’m his little sister, remember?”

  “Why is he so upset Myra?”

  “I’ve already told you more than I should have, or at least he thinks I have.”

  “But you haven’t told me anything I wouldn’t have found out on my own anyway.”

  “Yes, I have. I told you about the book. Very few people know about it. If I hadn’t told you, especially with the book being out of print, you would never have found out about it on your own. Only locals know about it. Granddad didn’t go national.”

  Ah, Jared’s grandfather obviously is the author. “And why would that upset Jared?” Sara was getting more and more confused by the moment. After reading Jared’s dream diary, how could anything in this book affect or influence Sara?

  “Sara, in order to keep the peace in the family and not put you in an awkward position with Jared, I think it’s best if he answers your questions about this, unless he tells me differently. Jared loves you, and you apparently love him. I wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that – no matter what. Jared has waited a long time for you. Try to be a little more patient with him. I’m sure he’ll tell you everything if you ask him. Make him understand how important it is to you to know these things, and don’t let him side-step you.”

  Myra kick started the ATV and headed back to the barn.

  Chapter 12

  Myra and Sara made a quick trip to the house. Myra wanted something to drink before they went back to the hospital. Coffee in the cafeteria wasn’t much better than their food. It bordered on horrible. After tasting one of their donuts, if that’s what you could call it, Sara agreed. It tasted more like a puff of flour with a bit of sugar on top than a donut.

  While Myra made their drinks, Sara made a quick trip upstairs. She wanted to move her precious book to a safer location. One that Jared was sure not to bother - among her personal possessions. By the time she’d done that, Myra was waiting for her. They changed vehicles again, getting back in Myra’s Roadster.

  For no apparent reason, Sara felt dizzy and nauseated. She drank some of her Coke, thinking it would help. It didn’t. In fact, the more she drank, the worse she felt. She felt odd. Things around her seemed different. Colors were more vivid and textured, than Sara had noticed before. She took some deep breaths, to try and quell the nausea, but that wasn’t helping either. Sara’s headache had gotten worse too. She blamed it on the blazing sun.

  Myra was quite; she wasn’t saying a lot. When they did talk, their conversation was brief, and didn’t involve anything to do with Jared’s people, or the book. The one Myra was unaware, that Sara already had.

  ------------

  They were about five minutes from the hospital when Myra’s cell rang again. She pulled to the shoulder and got out of the car. Sara couldn’t hear what was being said, but she could tell Myra was getting upset.

  Myra jumped back in the car. “Hang on to something, and make sure your seatbelt is secured. We’ve gotta hurry. That was Jared.” She waited for a break in traffic, and then pealed down the highway. “It’s Granddad, he’s dying,” she softly said, her eyes glossing with tears.

  Sara and Myra ran from the elevator to the old man’s room. Things around Sara still seemed strange. Her legs had pins and needles, as if they’d been asleep. When she and Myra got to his room, the rest of the family were in there, along with his doctor. Tom was in the corner, holding Nadine and trying to keep her calm. She was almost in hysterics. Jared was by the bed, trying to assist, but it didn’t matter. The old man was beyond help.

  Within seconds of their arrival, it was over. Jared’s grandfather never suffered, or even struggled for breath. His heart stopped beating, and he slipped away. No matter what Jared or the doctor did, they couldn’t revive him. Time of death was called, and Jared pulled the sheet over the old man’s face.

  Jared hugged his mother and father, and then walked over to Sara. He stood there. Staring into Sara’s eyes for a while as if she might disappear. His eyes filled with tears. Sara’s were glazing over because it hurt her to see him upset. He didn’t say anything. He took her in his arms and held her, his body shaking with silent tears. Sara wiped her eyes. “I’m so sorry Jared.”

  “I love you Sara. Please don’t ever leave me – I need you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Jared. I’ll stay with you as long as you want me to.”

  “Then you’d better be planning to stay forever.”

  Although she didn’t realize it, Sara staggered. “Sara, you’re pale, are you ok?” Jared was worried.

  “I’ve got a headache, and I’m a little dizzy and nauseated. I think all this adrenaline is getting to me.”

  “Do you want me to get you something for your stomach? I can ask Dave to write you a prescription for….”

  Sara held up her hand forestalling him. “No, I’m fine. I just need to sit down for a few minutes. You could see if they have some ginger ale though. That usually helps to settle my stomach.” Sara was trying to keep her face as straight as possible, so he wouldn’t realize she was faking.

  “Wait here, I’ll get you some.” Jared kissed Sara’s forehead and left.

  Sara waited until Jared was out of sight before she relaxed the muscles in her face, reflecting how weird and miserable she felt. Oh God! What’s happening to me? Sara started thinking fast. Could it have been the sandwich at lunch? Surely not. If it had been the sandwich, Myra would be sick too, and she seems healthy. It’s the adrenaline Sara. Everything is just happening too fast. You need to calm down. If you don’t, you’re not going to be any use to Jared or his family. Just breathe Sara - breathe.

  Sara closed her eyes, trying to take her own advice. She took some deep breaths, resting her head against the back of the chair. She heard a shuffle of feet near her, and immediately tried to look lively. From the worried look, in Jared’s eyes, Sara’s acting wasn’t convincing.

  “Here, sip on this.” Jared wiped Sara’s face with a cool cloth. “I grabbed this from one of the nurses. She said we didn’t need to bring it back.”

  “That feels nice.” Sara wondered if it were the nurse who’d tried to flirt with Jared earlier.

  Jared pressed the back of his hand to Sara’s forehe
ad. “You’re a little warm, but it could just be the heat. Have you been drinking plenty of liquids while you were out with Myra?”

  “Yes Jared,” Sara chided. “Just let me sit a while. Go - be with your family. I’ll be fine here.”

  “No, I’m not leaving you like this!”

  Sara was adamant. “Jared, I’ve got a slight headache and an upset stomach. You need to be with your family.”

  Jared sighed. “All right, but I’m just going to say goodbye, and then I’m taking you home.”

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  Another five minutes past. Sara sat in agony, desperate to feel better. Nothing helped.

  Jared came back. “Come on, let’s get out of here. Dad gave me his keys. He and Mom are going to ride to the funeral home with Myra.” Jared lifted Sara from the chair, put his arm around her waist, and led her outside.

  He drove to a nearby lake. They walked down to the edge of the water. Sara felt a little better, but her head still felt like it wasn’t connected to her body, and the hurricane in the pit of her stomach kept churning away.

  Jared picked up some flattish stones, and started skipping them across the water. As Sara watched, the stones seemed to be moving in slow motion, skipping across the surface of the water. She blinked her eyes, and shook her head to clear it. Jared hadn’t said anything since they left the hospital. “How do you make them skip across the water like that?”

  Jared’s eyes widened. He furrowed his brow. “Sara, don’t you remember? You skipped stones with me at the river by Lucy’s house. You just put it in your hand like this, pull your arm back, and flick your wrist like a sling shot,” he explained as he tossed another one across the lake. “You don’t remember when we did that?”

  Sara looked at Jared, confused. “We did?” she asked, her voice trailing off as she watched the rock. As it bounced across the water, the rock looked as if it left a faint bluish trail behind it. Sara rubbed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Things were getting weirder by the moment.

  Jared passed her a couple of the stones from his hand. Sara flicked them across the water, watching them bounce across the surface. The more Sara watched the display, the more fascinated she became. The trails behind the rocks were changing to different shades of the spectrum. Even some not visible to the naked eye. She threw the ones Jared had given her, and then reached down for some more. “That is so cool!” she remarked, with glassy eyes.