Love's Dream Song Page 14

  “That one, Jess Barron, is a good man.”

  Pleased at the observation, Autumn turned to study the expression on her grandfather’s face. He’d told her this before, yet Real Tall Man never said anything unless there was meaning. He undoubtedly suspected her attraction for the man.

  “He seems to be,” Autumn hedged.

  “You do not feel it in your heart?”

  Yes, she felt it, but it wasn’t enough. She knew things her grandfather didn’t. And the reasons that Jess resisted her had to be resolved before she could let her heart rule.

  “He cares for you.” Real Tall Man smiled, a touch of humor lighting his midnight eyes. “Maybe you care a little, too.”

  Autumn ignored the comment. Real Tall Man was too clever. To avoid further observations from her astute relative, she began to organize the camp for dinner. Fortunately, it was easy and didn’t require too much of her attention. Her mind spun in a turmoil of confused emotions—her love for her grandfather, her attraction to Jess, and her pity for Dr. Davidson.

  After dinner, everyone sat around the campfire. Jess played his guitar, and when he wasn’t singing, pockets of murmured conversations filled the balmy night air. Overhead, stars twinkled as if nothing existed to mar the beauty. Still, her mind raced with doubt.

  Autumn tried to relax as she sipped on the sweet herb tea her grandfather had brought. Her senses prickled as if someone were staring. She looked up and saw Jess’s lean silhouette as he approached; he was her main source of unease. He moved with confidence, as if he didn’t have a care in the world, yet an underlying restlessness strained for release. She could see it in his eyes. It mirrored her own.

  He spoke, his voice deep. “The stars are bright tonight. I don’t hear Coyote protesting yet.”

  A smile crept across her features at the remembered moment of shared intimacy. “He’s busy finding food right now.”

  “You know the story?” Real Tall Man asked from beside her.

  Jess shifted above her. The smell of soap and clean skin wafted in the breeze. From the way his hair was plastered to his head, she guessed he had come from the stream. “Autumn should tell the others. It would make good camp fire entertainment.”

  “Real Tall Man tells them better than I.” She smiled at the men. “Ask him to do the honors.”

  Real Tall Man stepped back and Jess explained how a medicine man couldn’t tell the stories unless proper preparations were undertaken.

  Real Tall Man apologized, but then said, “You talk to them, Jess Barron. You know the stories of your people.”

  Jess called for everyone’s attention and then settled in the sand beside her. It grew still around the campsite except for the sound of wood crackling from the fire. Autumn leaned against the rock and let her body and her emotions relax. She drew comfort from Real Tall Man’s presence.

  Jess’s voice echoed in the silence. His western drawl hypnotized them all into a sense of peace. In her mind’s eye, Autumn could picture the setting hundreds of years ago. The darkness created a sense of timelessness. Men and women, dressed in tanned skins and with long, shining black hair, sat with looks of intense interest. Just like now—only the people tonight were dressed in jeans and khaki, and they were a blend of nationalities and cultures. That didn’t matter. Jess captured their full attention, as his ancestors had done before him. All listened.

  Autumn glanced around the campfire at the circle of spellbound faces. These people, who had varying levels of education and came from different cultures, enjoyed the ancient story. It was a shame Donny and Mike couldn’t be here. They would share the pride she felt now in her heritage. Soon they would come—they’d promised. But she wouldn’t worry about it now. It felt good simply to sit back and have a few moments of peace.

  Her glance shifted back to the group. The others, too, were enjoying the calming effect of the crackle of wood as the flames flickered. The soothing tones of Jess’s voice wrapped around them.

  After they clapped in appreciation for the story, Jess continued with another tale. Autumn knew the story. It was about Skunk who had become friends with several animals, but was not actually who he seemed. While pretending to be helpful and give advice, he was really tricking them out of food.

  Perhaps someone in the crowd would identify with that. Autumn was becoming certain that someone in the group had conspired with the men who’d blown up the cave. There were too many coincidences. Jess’s story should make them uncomfortable.

  The hataali must have suspected Jess’s motive because he sent him a speculative stare and then smiled a secret smile as Jess continued.

  Jess’s voice droned on. Autumn peered at the faces of the others. It was too soon to see reaction, but she wanted to read their expressions when Jess came to the next part. It didn’t surprise her when she met Arlo’s cold stare. He knew the purpose of the story. His jet eyes glittered. Without flinching, she returned his look with a challenge of her own.

  “But Skunk was sly. He pretended to help the animals, when all the time he did so, he was tricking his friends.”

  As Jess began telling of Skunk’s trick, she sensed the mood of the group change. Connie began to fiddle with her nails. Wayne shifted as if his position had suddenly become uncomfortable.

  A shift in her own position gave her a better view of Frank. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but he had become restless also. Wayne began to whittle on a piece of driftwood.

  Then her glance swung around to Jess. Open speculation reflected in the stare he focused on her. When he shifted his gaze to study the others, much the same way she had been doing, she became annoyed. How did he always guess what she was thinking? She would have to practice the facial expression Real Tall Man always used—the one that showed none of his feelings.

  She panned the people around the campfire again. Earlier she’d fixed her chain, so now she was able to smooth her turquoise nugget between her fingers. Prickles raced along her spine as she found several of the scientists staring at her with varying degrees of displeasure. Jess’s voice cut through the tension hovering in the air.

  The skunk’s treachery was discovered and Jess’s tone registered the ominous consequence of such a deed. Autumn observed the listeners.

  Several people looked uncomfortable. Much to her dismay, their reactions told her nothing, except that they all recognized the plot and they felt threatened. The story implied that one of them could be behind the vandalism. They didn’t want to believe it. Suddenly, she realized they’d all been purposely blinding themselves. It was easier to believe that the threat was from outside.

  Jess finished the story, but the clapping this time was less enthusiastic. Several people excused themselves to retire for the night. Autumn turned to her grandfather, her heart filled with disappointment.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” Sympathy and kindness sounded in his voice.

  “No one showed guilt in their eyes.” She turned to him hopefully. “Did you notice anything?”

  He shook his head. Her shoulders slumped slightly. A grunt caught her attention and she looked across the fire to see Arlo struggle upright.

  “Arlo reacted. If he hadn’t arrived with you today, I’d swear he was involved,” she confided.

  “Arlo wasn’t here with you?”

  Autumn shook her head no, wondering why Real Tall Man was suddenly so upset. “Do you think Arlo blew up the caves?” she asked.

  Real Tall Man grabbed her hands in a fierce grip. Turning her face to him, he spoke low and with a frightening certainty. “It was not Arlo who did this, but I’d better tell Barron. Arlo was not with me today. I came from the ranch with the guides, but he was not with us.”

  “What are you saying?” An icy chill coursed down her spine. Why did he have to tell Jess?

  “He joined us two miles from here—at the mouth of Coyote Canyon. I thought he came from this camp to meet us.”

  She shook her head, her mind racing. There were a couple of caves
near the junction. Had Arlo been holed up there all this time? Had he been there to set off the dynamite?

  “You watch yourself,” Real Tall Man warned.

  “Why would he do this?” She frowned. Disturbing the ruins was taboo to the Navajo. But if Arlo hadn’t been with Real Tall Man…

  “Do not judge until all the facts are known,” he warned. “You must use much care. Walk with eyes behind you at all times.”

  His warning was clear and it sent her heart racing in fear.

  “Let’s turn in. We have a lot of work ahead of us tomorrow.”

  “Rest well, my child. I’ll be with you.”

  But not on the hike to the caves, Autumn vowed. She’d find a way to leave without him. She didn’t want him taking any chances.

  While getting settled for the night, she worried. If Arlo was the one involved, the threat of quicksand wouldn’t slow him down. He would be able to locate the caves if any of the party had talked. She would have to warn Jess so that he could go before noon. At dawn, she’d sneak out of bed and advise him to leave early. Maybe she could go with him. That would also provide Jess with another set of eyes and ears to watch out for danger.

  With that decision made, she quickly prepared her backpack and wrote a note to Real Tall Man. She hoped he’d follow her wishes and go home.

  Home. The word echoed in her mind. After this, would she be able to call the reservation home also? She didn’t really want to live there, but it would mean she would always be welcome. With that thought she drifted into a deep sleep, telling herself to wake up at four in the morning.

  * * *

  Autumn awakened an hour before dawn broke. Carefully, she slipped out of her tent and moved to the other side of the large rocks where she’d seen Jess setting out his bedroll. Fortunately, he’d selected a place away from the others.

  The crunch of gravel seemed unusually loud in the predawn stillness. She moved slowly around the rocks and then halted midstride.

  Jess was gone.

  .

  CHAPTER 10

  Autumn stared at the indentation in the sand where Jess had slept. She saw where he had knelt to gather his gear. His footprints led toward Coyote Springs. Annoyance flared, but so did concern. She had wanted to go with him. Not only had he left without her, but she couldn’t deny her uneasiness for his safety.

  No sign of Frank—probably still asleep.

  Autumn skirted the edge of the clearing and headed up the canyon. The deeper she went up the wash, the more treacherous the quicksand. It helped to remember that Jess had been raised on this land. He would know the dangers. She would meet him at the caves if she didn’t run into any problems herself.

  Gray light filtered its way between the canyon walls exposing Jess’s footprints. If she stepped in his tracks, she’d be safe from the dangerous quicksand. Then she saw them—two sets of footprints in the wet sand. Someone else had set out early and was either following Jess or walking with him. Maybe Arlo had left before her, or Frank had seen Jess and followed.

  Her fear and apprehension spurred her on a faster pace than was safe. The quicksand was a concern, but she had to risk it. She must get to the caves as soon as possible and find out if Jess knew he was being followed. She didn’t know whom the prints belonged to for sure, but from the size of them, they had to be those of a big man. More than likely they were Arlo’s, but Frank knew the canyon. So did Wayne. Would the others who had been to the caves be crazy enough to attempt this? It did no good to guess who was ahead of her. He was there and he could have an hour’s lead.

  Several times, when noises broke into the silence of the dawn, she wished she had awakened Real Tall Man to join her, but this pace would have been difficult for the older man. No, she was better off alone and free to move quickly.

  Rocks tumbled down the cliff just ahead. Autumn stopped and listened. Taking careful steps, she edged around the rocks until she came to the place where the sound originated. A doe stood, ears twitching as it sensed her staring. Relieved, she sighed. Startled, the deer bounded up the canyon. Autumn followed.

  Signs of the flood were everywhere. Waterlines still marked the walls of red sandstone. Tree limbs, skeletons of bushes, and bodies of animals were wrapped around rocks in twisted piles of rubble. The wet, sandy soil slowed her progress. Several times, she spotted footprints.

  Autumn picked up her pace. The thought of Jess being in danger made her realize how much she loved him. It did no good to remind herself he didn’t return her feelings.

  Shaking her head, she crawled over a flat boulder to avoid the sand in the wash, but couldn’t stop thinking of Jess. Until she had met the rancher, she had always been discriminating in her involvements with men. After all the traveling and new people she’d met, she had learned quickly how to determine the character and sincerity of those she encountered. Often, men presented themselves with false or selfish intentions. Those men had never interested her.

  Her reaction to Jess had been immediate and sure. His practical and solid strength appealed to the part of her that wanted stability. He shared her love of nature and deep appreciation of the mysteries the earth offered. Even their differences complemented each other—at least she had thought so. It was obvious now that Jess didn’t trust her. She would need to find a way to prove to him that he could.

  Before she could contemplate how to accomplish this, her boot sunk into the softened sand. With quick reaction she leaned forward and threw her weight onto a rock. Its rough texture scraped her skin, but she ignored the sting. Her muscles strained as she stretched for a firm grip. The weight of her backpack tugged along with the deadly suction of the quicksand.

  She forced herself to remain calm as she fought down the fear and panic. Would the rock sink, too? She struggled to pull herself onto its surface. The sand sucked at her foot until she thought it would be torn from her leg. Using her last bit of strength, she gave a final tug and freed her limb.

  She lay on top of the rock, gasping for breath until her heartbeat settled. It took great effort and the last reserves of her courage to continue on. It would be so easy to turn back to the safety of the campsite where Real Tall Man and Dr. Davidson waited. She closed her eyes.

  An eagle’s cry cut into her self-pity. She opened her eyes and stared at the fearless hunter. He shrieked and flew out of sight.

  Autumn sat up and eased herself off the rock. The caves were just ahead. She would make it. Stay away from the sand, she reminded herself as she wound her way through the steep-walled canyon.

  She lowered her backpack to free her arms. Without making a sound, she stashed it behind a rock. Prepared to use her skills in karate, she moved in slowly. If someone had followed Jess, he could be in trouble. She would need to check out the situation before charging in and possibly putting herself in jeopardy, as well.

  Her concern for Jess impelled her to rush, but she managed to maintain control and keep a slow pace. Autumn eased along the edge to avoid what looked like more quicksand before she stepped below the caves. The ground was churned with many prints, some of them deep. Were the men carrying extra weight? Had they already lowered the artifacts?

  “Jess,” she called and peered around. The packs were too heavy to be carried out. Whoever had been there must still be nearby.

  Autumn leaned against the wall and listened while she pictured the trail up the canyon. Where would they go? Were they taking the packs? Had Jess followed?

  Suddenly, the end of a rope dangled in front of her face. Loose rocks tumble down the cliff. Autumn stepped back. Somebody was descending from the caves.

  Autumn prepared for attack. If she moved quickly, she could knock the man unconscious before he knew she was there. Feet dangled toward her until, with a thump, the man fell to the ground. Arms upraised, she took a step, but paused when the man spun around.

  “Jess!”

  “What are you doing here?”

  The relief that came weakened her knees. Leaning against the sandstone wall, sh
e relaxed and breathed deep.

  Surprise crossed his face. His knees were bent for defense of her attack. Neither moved. Finally, he spoke as he slowly straightened. “Does my being here make it inconvenient for you?”

  “Inconvenient?”

  A touch of sadness flickered in his eyes. “I’m not usually so far off the mark in character judgment.”

  What was that supposed to mean? She didn’t ask. There wasn’t time. “Do you know that someone followed you? Or was the other set of prints already here?”

  “You have all the answers. You tell me.” He moved and she could see his muscles flex.

  “Did you see another set of footprints when you hiked here this morning?” She couldn’t figure out why he was acting so dense. Maybe he didn’t believe her.

  “Have you seen anyone else?”

  He shook his head.

  “He must have followed you and then hid out while you were up in the cave.”

  “Why would someone do that?”

  “You think I should know?” She stepped toward him.

  A bullet zinged past and ricocheted from the cliff wall. In automatic response, she hit the ground. Jess landed beside her. Another shot whistled overhead as the loud report echoed down the canyon.

  Her stomach tightened and adrenaline pumped. She lifted her face out of the sand.

  “Are you hit?” Jess elbowed close.

  “It’s got to be Arlo, but I can’t believe he’s shooting at us,” Autumn said as she spit sand out of her mouth. Blood colored the sand and she realized her lip was cut. She’d probably bit it during her dive in to the sand.

  Jess brought his head around sharp. “Why do you think it’s Arlo?”

  Another shot went wild, but its noise deafened her ears—or was it the pounding of her heart? She inched her way on her stomach to the protection of an outcropping of rock. The wet sand soaked her clothes and scratched her arms, but she barely noticed. All of her attention focused on keeping an eye on Jess and trying to locate the gunman.

  Another shot rang out. In a flash, Jess dove under the rocks and landed on top of her. She struggled to free herself, but in seconds he had her pinned to the ground.