“The reason Leonard set out to destroy him.”
“Exactly. Tiernan, from the vein of gold I saw, there could be enough to make at least some difference in all their lives.”
Snugging Ella to his side, Tiernan loved her for her concern…added to all the other reasons. He wondered, though, if the tribe would take and sell the ore from the mountain, considering they had not taken the money awarded by the government for the land itself. Would this present a conflict of interest for them?
Even as they exited the mine, a truck and an SUV roared up the road. Tension sucked the joy from Tiernan for a moment, until he realized Kate had brought the troops. She and Chase alighted from the SUV and Nathan jumped out of the truck.
“Thank God the two of you are all right!” Kate cried, hugging both Tiernan and Ella at once.
Tiernan hugged his cousin in return, but his focus was on the woman who’d followed Nathan—Marisala stood back, staring at them with wide, clear eyes.
“Nathan?” Ella said, looking from him to the other woman.
“He brought me to protect me,” said a very aware-sounding Marisala.
“I do not understand.” Tiernan could hardly believe that Marisala was herself again. “How is this possible?”
“The magic died with Leonard,” Ella explained. “Anything he corrupted should revert to the way it was.”
“I’m so sorry,” Marisala said, hanging her head. “I was selfish. Wrong. When I realized what Leonard was, I should have warned everyone.”
“If anyone would have believed you then,” Ella said.
“They will now,” Nathan predicted. “Now with Leonard gone, everyone will believe the truth.”
AS NATHAN PREDICTED, Marisala wasn’t the only one relieved of Leonard’s influence. Ella was happy to see the woman was trying to make up her betrayal to Nathan, and because her cousin loved the woman, he forgave her. But those who had contributed to Ella’s father’s death and had almost caused her own were ashamed, as well.
Most of them, anyway.
Now that they knew the secret of the mountain, The People were at odds about whether or not to reopen the mine. Just in case, Nathan had gotten an injunction against the movie company from blowing up the entrance.
Thinking about all that had happened, Ella knew she should leave and be done with the rez. Only she didn’t want to. The grandparents needed her. The People needed her. Most of all, Tiernan needed her and she needed him. She’d been afraid he was too much like her own father—now she was glad that he was. If he hadn’t used his psychic vision, if he hadn’t tuned into hers, she might be dead now. The prophecy made against his ancestor might have come true again.
Since the rescue, they’d been together every moment possible, Tiernan always watching her as if fearing he might lose her at any time. He’d been careful not to bring up the future.
A few days had passed since they’d overcome Leonard.
Having finished their work on the set for the week, they rode up into the hills at sunset. Ella had never felt so at ease, so happy, and from the way Tiernan kept smiling at her, she guessed he felt the same. Maybe he was finally relaxing, finally admitting they’d overcome the prophecy that had for so long guided his personal life.
They dismounted, secured the horses and sat on a ridge overlooking a pasture dotted with a herd of feral mustangs. The red ball of sun was touching the peaks on the opposite side of the valley, and Ella thought she’d never seen anything so beautiful. And with Tiernan’s arm around her, she’d never been so content.
“I’ve made a decision,” she told him.
“And what might that be?”
“I’m not returning to Sioux Falls. I’m going to stay right here where people need me.”
A smile lit his still bruised face. “I hope you include me.”
“Especially you. I’m going to teach at the rez school, but Grandmother wants me to do more. To follow in Father’s footsteps.”
“What do you want?”
“I haven’t decided yet. About being a shaman, that is. I do want to be with you…if you plan to stay, as well, after the movie is finished shooting.” She held her breath waiting for the answer.
“I have been thinking on it,” Tiernan admitted. “I love the country…the people…” He gave her a sappy look on that one. “And horses. Cows not so much. I was considering buying a small spread and starting a business, breeding and training horses.”
“Thoroughbreds?”
“Or quarter horses. I haven’t thought it through that far yet.”
“Then you’re staying, too!” she said, happiness soaring through her.
“’Tis the only way I can have the woman I love. A huge sacrifice, but one I’m willing to make.”
He winked at her, and she giggled and the next thing she knew she was in his arms having the breath kissed right out of her.
The sun dipped below the peaks opposite sending streaks of red in every direction…the landscape turning as bright and warm as their future together promised to be.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3821-7
STEALING THUNDER
Copyright © 2009 by Patricia Pinianski
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†Club Undercover
†Club Undercover
†Club Undercover
†Club Undercover
*The McKenna Legacy
*The McKenna Legacy
*The McKenna Legacy
Stealing Thunder Page 19