Blood of the Rainbow

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Blood of the Rainbow Page 43

by Shelia Chapman


  Then she heard Jared retrieve his cell. “Ok – sorry, I’m back…. Yeah, it was room service…. I want to leave again, right after breakfast, and I knew having the food brought to our room would be faster.”

  Jared laughed, “Oh yes, she’s excited all right. I think I might as well start looking for a place down… well, I had given that some thought, but I didn’t know how Dad would feel about…. Well, at least I know we have that option, but, I’d still have to find us a place to stay. You know, Mother,” he hesitated for a few seconds. “I think Sara wants to get married in Arizona…. I don’t care….. If I knew she hadn’t been kidding, I would marry her on Mother’s Mountain,” he chuckled. “Yes, you heard me right…. No, of course not…. Mother, I love Sara so much, I would lasso the moon if I knew she really wanted it.”

  Sara keened her hearing, eager to hear this conversation. She smiled inwardly, so Jared couldn’t see.

  “Oh no – no doubts. She’s the one for me…. Not at all Mother…. I told you, I don’t care about that…. Oh, I’ve already taken care of that part – we’re safe…. Mother, I am a doctor, remember…? No, I haven’t told her, and I see no reason to do so as long as there’s no possibility that she could get…. That’s where modern medicine comes in, Mother. It takes away that possibility….”

  Sara stopped listening to the conversation for a while, thinking about what he’d just said. It was obvious; he was discussing their intimate relationship with the one other person, besides Sara, that he could trust – his mother.

  A tiny ripple of deception went through Sara. She reminded herself that Jared and his mother had a different relationship than Sara and Kaye had. It was much more open and honest. Sara envied them.

  It seemed Jared didn’t want to make her pregnant because he was afraid she might not survive the birth of their child. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to have children, as she’d feared; it was more fear than anything else. Knowing this, made Sara feel a little better but more curious than she’d ever been to know the reason why.

  Sara’s mind kept wandering back to the conversation she and Myra had on the subject. “Look, Myra,” Sara had said. “I’m not asking you to show me the pictures - if there are more I haven’t seen. I’m just asking if there are more.”

  It had taken Myra a long time to answer. “Yes, but, if you want to know more, you’ll have to ask Jared.”

  Sara heard Jared about to end the conversation, pulling her from her silent reverie. She yawned and stretched, blinking as she pretended to wake. He looked across at her, smiled, and held up one finger. “Listen, Mother, I’ve got to go, we’ll see you soon…. Yes, she’s awake now,” he raised his voice to normal volume. “I will,” he said, holding his hand over the microphone. “Mother sends her love and is excited we’re coming back so soon. She’s already got our room ready,” he said, smiling, and then finished his call. “Sara sends her love too…. I know Mother…. I will. We love you too – bye.” He put his cell in his back pocket, and crawled across the bed until he was on top of Sara.

  “Good morning Angel,” he said, kissing her. “Hungry?”

  Sara smiled wryly, “I could be.…”

  Jared laughed. “I meant for food Silly. Breakfast is waiting for you.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  “No, I was waiting for you. I’ve showered, dressed and packed, apart from a few things I thought you might need. Once you’ve decided on your clothes, you can pack the rest,” he said, going to the table where the food was spread, ready to eat.

  Sara slid to the side of the bed, wrapping the sheet around her naked body. Jared smiled at her. Sara wasn’t embarrassed for him to see her; it was just out of habit and reflex. “I’ll go have a quick shower. Then we can eat and be on our way,” Sara said, gathering her hair and fastening it on top with her alligator clip.

  “Make it a fast one. The food is starting to get cold. I hate cold scrambled eggs!”

  Sara turned on the shower and stepped under the hot water. “I will!”

  ------------

  Ten minutes later, when Sara came back in the room, she was fully dressed. “Wow! You’re fast.”

  Sara laughed. “You have no idea.” She kissed him, and they sat down to breakfast.

  Jared had the valet load their bags in the car. Sara waited in the car while Jared paid the bill. Despite Sara trying to put it out of her head, the subject of those other sketches, and the strange name of Dine'é Kay-Yah kept haunting her.

  Sara had to find a way to ask, without letting on she knew there were more sketches. How could she tell him, she knew he wasn’t Navajo – unless George Thundercloud’s book was wrong? How could she bring up the subject without making him suspicious? Sara guessed she’d just have to wait until a perfect opportunity presented itself. With Sara, a way always presented itself, although it wasn’t always perfect.

  Chapter 24

  After stopping for lunch in Van Horn, Texas, they cruised on, arriving in El Paso around 2:00pm. Jared was getting tired, so they debated on spending the night. Since Sara knew where she was going, and was anxious to get to Wickenburg, she offered to drive.

  Jared eyed her skeptically. “Are you sure you want to do this Sara?”

  “You think I can’t drive? I have my own car back in Shreveport. I have survived until now without you chauffeuring me around,” Sara replied, mildly agitated.

  Jared laughed and held up his hands. “All right, easy. Just let me set the sat-nav for you. Then all you’ve got to do is listen to the directions.”

  She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I think I can handle that.”

  Jared was a tad anxious. “You do understand this car has a six-speed, manual transmission and will easily get out from under you if you’re not used to that kind of power?” He was afraid Sara might scratch his car, or otherwise damage it in some way.

  Sara was envious and eager to get behind the wheel. Six speed manual – sweet! “This is going to be fun, then,” she grinned mischievously and waited.

  Jared stared at her with incredulous eyes, trying to decide. Sara could almost read what was going through his mind. “Ok, I love her… but my car? My very expensive, shiny, extremely fast car… if I don’t let her drive - she’s going to think I don’t trust her… I do trust her… just not behind the wheel of my favorite, and very expensive, and very shiny car….”

  Sara held out her hand for the keys, impatiently waiting. “Well? Are you going to let me drive your car or not?” She waited again as he debated. “If you don’t trust me….”

  Jared looked as if someone had kicked him in the groin. “No! It’s not that.” Jared sighed, held out the keys, and crawled into the passenger seat.

  Sara slipped behind the wheel and buckled herself in. She put on her sunglasses and adjusted the seat and mirrors. Then she revved the engine a couple of times in neutral. She smiled. There was clearly a lot of power under that hood. Sara gave Jared a sideways glance. Jared looked pale and unconvinced.

  “Relax,” Sara said, drawing the word out. “I can handle your baby.” Before putting the car in gear, Sara reached across and put the original soundtrack to the ‘Twilight’ movie in the DVD player. ‘Super Massive Black Hole’, by ‘Muse’, blared through the sound system. “Now that’s good driving music,” she said, putting the car in gear, and turning around.

  Sara laughed when Jared checked that his seatbelt was secured, and braced his hand against the dash. “At least I’ve got good insurance and a real first-aid kit in the trunk,” he grinned warily.

  Sara normally wouldn’t have done it, but she gunned the engine, and spun both tires as she pealed onto the Interstate. She slightly fishtailed before she straightened it up with ease.

  Jared was so anxious the sound of his pounding heart was almost audible in the car, as he looked back to make sure his motorcycle was still there. It was, along with a wide black rubber burn on the pavement.

  Jared closely watched Sara for another two or three miles, trying to determ
ine if she actually knew what she was doing. He didn’t know this wasn’t the first time Sara had been behind the wheel of a fast sports car. Neither did her mother. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

  Sara looked across at Jared and smiled. “It is safe for you to take a nap Jared. I’m fine – really.”

  “I know,” Jared answered too quickly, and then leaned back against the seat. “No one can live forever,” he muttered under his breath.

  Without taking her eyes off the road, Sara reached across and touched his face. Jared’s mouth turned up slightly at the corners, and he closed his eyes, his face still adorned with his sexy sly grin.

  Sara consulted the GPS. “I’ll wake you when we get to Lordsburg, New Mexico.”

  Jared nodded. “If we live that long,” he mumbled.

  ------------

  When they arrived in Lordsburg, Jared was sleeping so peacefully, Sara decided not to wake him. After easing out of the car, and filling up with gas, Sara went inside, picked up some sandwiches and drinks, and paid for it with her new black card. She was a little nervous, half expecting it not to go through – but it did.

  Sara got back in the car and waited for a few minutes. Jared was still sleeping. When he didn’t wake up, Sara eased back on the Interstate and continued on.

  Jared put up his seat and looked out the window. “Where are we?”

  “About five miles outside Tucson.”

  Jared’s eyes widened. “What? I thought you were going to wake me in Lordsburg! You’ve let me sleep for over six hours?” He was doubtful.

  “I did give you a chance to wake up in Lordsburg, but.…”

  “How did you pay for the gas?”

  Sara blinked her eyes in disbelief. “Black card?” she answered sarcastically as she pulled in another gas station.

  Jared laughed sheepishly, and jumped out to fill the car. “Oh yeah – that… sorry, I forgot. Well, I’ll take it from here.”

  Sara made a quick trip to the bathroom and waited for him in the car.

  He started the engine again. “Let’s see if we can’t find some place to eat. I’m hungry – you?” Sara nodded. “So, what did you think about our car?”

  Sara enthusiastically tapped her knee in time with the music. “I love it!”

  Jared smiled and pulled back on the main road. “Looks like we’ll have to go car shopping then.”

  ------------

  Jared hit the center of Phoenix at around 9:00 that night, and by 10:00 they were in Wickenburg. The Thundercloud ranch was still waiting like a safe haven for Sara. Jared pulled in and parked behind his father’s Dodge Ram. He and

  Sara barely got out of the car before Myra and Nadine had Sara in a chokehold. They were so glad to see them. Sara was excited too. It was pleasant to be in a place where you weren’t judged or criticized. Again, Sara wished Kaye could have been more like Nadine.

  Jared and Myra grabbed the bags, and they went inside. It was so near bedtime they decided to visit in the morning.

  ------------

  At first, when Sara woke alone, she didn’t know where she was. It took her a few seconds, to get her bearings. Then she heard the shower, and the faint sound of someone singing. Being home again, must have affected him, Jared was singing in the shower.

  Sara laughed. She thought that only happened in the movies. She looked at the digital clock on the nightstand, blinking until her eyes were in focus. It read 6:30. Sara smiled and rolled over, sitting on the side of the bed. She threw her head back, yawned, and stretched her arms above her head.

  Jared came back in the room, with a towel wrapped around his waist, and drying his hair on another one. He smiled at Sara when he realized she was awake. “Good morning,” he grinned as she stood and stalked toward him. Jared held her at arm’s length, drinking her with his eyes, recording each tiny feature to memory.

  Sara smiled through bleary eyes. “What are you doing up so early?”

  He drew her to him and slowly untied her robe. “Well… I’d planned on helping Dad with the chores,” he said, kissing the side of her neck and shoulders, as her robe slid to the floor. “I think he might have to wait a while….” he crushed his lips to hers.

  Sara wrapped her leg around his, pressing the lower part of her body to his. She slid her hand between them, and unfastened his towel, letting it lay at his feet. “Tell me something Jared,” she whispered between his kisses.

  Jared groaned, tracing kisses over her face, and down the sides of her neck. “What’s that?”

  Sara was panting. “Am I still… dangerous?”

  Jared raised Sara’s other leg and wrapped it around his waist as he pressed against her. He kissed her passionately. “No – but I am….”

  She grinned. “How so…?”

  “Because now I’m the hunter… and you’re the prey,” he almost growled at Sara as he gently lowered her on the bed. “You’re the one that’s in danger now,” he whispered in her ear.

  Sara teased his chest with her fingernails, making him shiver and throb with desire for her. “No I’m not.”

  “Really? Why is that?”

  “I’m not fighting. I’m surrendering,” she whispered back.

  “I guess you’re right,” Jared said, moving his hips against hers, leaving words behind, and letting their bodies do the talking.

  ------------

  Jared already had a shower, but since things got hot and sweaty, he took another one with Sara. Then they both got dressed and went downstairs. The door to the conservatory was open. A chilly breeze blew through the house. Smells of fried bacon and onions made Sara’s stomach rumble.

  “We’re out here Jared!” Nadine called out.

  The table had been spread with soft scrambled eggs, hash brown potatoes with smother fried onions, mushrooms and bell peppers. It smelled delicious. Sara had worked up a monster of an appetite. She didn’t complain when Nadine prepared her plate and handed it to her. She closed her eyes and sniffed, appreciatively. “Oh, this smells so good!”

  Tom laughed, and winked at Sara. “Some things, can really work up an appetite, huh, Sara?”

  Sara smiled and kept her eyes on her plate. “Yes, it can….”

  Jared laughed. Tom glanced at Jared. “So what are your plans for today?”

  Jared grinned knowingly. “Nothing specific. How about you?”

  “I’ve got to repair some fencing up on the northern range. Myra’s horse didn’t come home last night. I suspect he’s found another way out. It’s been weak around the northern range for some time now….”

  Jared continued with his breakfast, smiling.

  “I just haven’t had the time to repair it by myself,” Tom hinted, glancing at Jared again. “And, I need to install that new auto feeder I bought that’s been sitting in the barn collecting dust, and I want to.…”

  Jared held up his hand. “All right Dad, I get the picture. When do you want to get started?”

  Tom laughed. “After breakfast?”

  “I’ll go change….”

  Sara couldn’t help but laugh at how easily Jared gave in to his father. She turned to Nadine and laughed again. “In that case Nada, What are we doing today?”

  Nadine smiled. “I’m sure I can find something for us to do. Is there anything in particular you’d like to do?”

  Sara stalled. “Um – well – there is one thing. And I’m a little self-conscious about asking but, Jared showed me some of the blankets and beadwork his grandmother made for him. I was wondering.…”

  Nadine smiled patiently. “Yes?”

  “Would there be any chance you might teach me how to…?”

  Nadine stood, and started gathering the breakfast dishes. She chuckled. “It would be my pleasure. I’ll have to drag my old looms out of the attic, though. I haven’t used them in a long time.”

  “We can do something else. I wouldn’t want to put you out….”

  She grinned wryly. “I don’t mind Sara. I suspect I’ll need to start work
ing on a much smaller version of the blankets soon….”

  “Not if Jared has his way,” Sara mumbled under her breath. She took the little pill she’d hidden in the watch pocket of her jeans, and popped it in her mouth. Then, reluctantly, she washed it down with a handful of water from the faucet. Sara wondered how long Jared would insist she take these.

  She finished loading the dishwasher, and went into the lounge, where Tom was sat, patiently waiting for Jared.

  ------------

  Jared entered the lounge wearing a pair of faded jeans, a russet-colored tank top, his cowboy boots, and a western-style straw hat with a rattlesnake and feather hatband. He’d platted his hair in a single braid at the nape of his neck. Sara thought he looked stunning. She stood, lounging against the doorframe as she watched him walk across the floor to her. Sara bit her lower lip. She could easily see his tight muscles, struggling against the thin fabric of his tank top. Her face flushed.

  Jared cradled her chin in the palm of his hand and smiled. “I love how you do that,” he said kissing her.

  Sara was dazzled by the hungry look in his eyes. “How I do what?”

  “When I walk toward you, your eyes dilate so much it’s hard to tell if they’re black or brown, and your cheeks go all rosy,” he said, kissing her again.

  Sara smiled. “That’s because I like what I see. Yours do it too, but… they’re a little more noticeable.”

  Jared shook his belt, and rearranged the front of his jeans. “I wish my eyes were the only part of my body that reacted to you, visibly,” he teased, pressing his body against hers, so she knew what he was talking about.

  “I like that part too,” Sara whispered in his ear as he kissed below her jaw line, and nibbled her neck.

  Tom stood, cleared his throat and nosily shuffled his feet. “If you’re ready Jared,” he said, obviously wanting to get started on the fence.

  Jared sighed and kissed Sara gently on her lips. “I’ll see you later,” he cooed and followed Tom out the door.

  “We’ll bring you some lunch, and something to drink later on!” Sara jumped. Nadine placed her hands on Sara’s shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. “It’s just me Sara.”

 

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