Chapter Nineteen
Jason
Somewhere east of the Mississippi, Not Too Long Ago
Jason hadn’t cared for the steamboat they’d used to travel north, but the rapid decline in temperatures and rough river hadn’t bothered him nearly as much as his sister-in-law. Scarlett checked her saddle over, having brushed aside the livery owner who’d wanted to do it for her. When he’d tried to insist, Jason planted the idea that leaving her alone was a better idea and the man hurried away.
“Are you all right?” He’d avoided asking the question for much of the ride. They’d made appearances on deck, then retired frequently to their room. He’d paid for the most expensive and spacious one aboard. They were playing the role of newly marrieds. It was the only reason Jason hadn’t eliminated the more lecherous who’d eyed her. He was supposed to be too wrapped up in his “wife,” and they couldn’t afford actions which might draw the wrong attention.
Of course, more than one man might find himself unable to act on his urges for a very long time.
“I’m tired, and I miss my children, and I hate that I am so far from Sam.” The words tumbled out, but she only finished checking the straps on her Dawn. The horses seemed to fair well below decks, where they’d been stabled, but both were restless and ready to go. “But we have to do this.”
“Agreed.” If not for the fact that he could feel the part of his mind Olivia occupied, safe and secure, he’d be more concerned.
Scarlett had no such luxury. He’d expected her to talk his ear off. She always seemed so vivacious and involved in everyone’s business at home. Yet she’d retreated the farther from the ranch they’d ridden. The change in her demeanor worried him, but he wouldn’t press.
Not yet.
“It’s likely to get worse before it gets better. We’re going to have to ride and ride hard. You up for that?” They would be approaching their rendezvous from a far different angle than others might expect. He and Scarlett had one of the most difficult jobs, but they were both capable.
“I am, because the sooner we do this, the sooner I can return.” Scarlett glanced toward the steamboat, then away. The town they’d docked in seemed built around the river business, but Jason had come through here a time or two. He knew who to pay, and which eyes to avert. “Ready when you are.” Though she’d worn a dress on the boat, she’d changed into more practical riding gear and had a hat on to hide her very vibrant and noticeable hair.
Climbing into the saddle, Jason checked his rifle was secure before leading the way. They would be cutting it close, but compartmentalizing the plan left them all a little tense. He’d been the one to suggest it to Wyatt and the eldest Morning Star agreed. Afterward, they’d drawn up the plan, and only revealed the specific piece to each party that they needed to know.
The plan was insane.
Which was why it might work.
Cody
Somewhere along the Canadian Border
Racing ahead of the witches, Cody tested the wild scents coming to him on the wind. They’d gone to the coast and taken a steamer as far as Alabama, then boarded a train heading north. It had been the worst ride of his life. Switching trains, they’d made their way toward the northern border and crossed it. Coming from the north, they would make it to Lake Erie on time, but only barely.
Though enthusiastic, Mitchell and Jenny didn’t seem to care for the hardships. Of course, snow up to his ass wasn’t Cody’s idea of a good time. He’d gone wolf as soon as they’d gotten away from people. At least they had a sled for the horses to pull, and it moved over the snow lightly. The newly purchased pair were not thrilled with a wolf companion, but they’d get over it.
Cody’s instructions had been specific. The witches needed to be in place before midday six days from now. It would be cutting it close, but they’d hunker down at night. Mitchell assured him he could use a tracking spell to find shelter, but Cody preferred to rely on his nose.
Everyone had a different task, no one knew what the others were doing, which meant his brothers and his sister were elsewhere, and he didn’t know where. The whole scenario aggravated him. His temper was far easier to manage in wolf form, particularly since he wasn’t sure he trusted all their magical talk. They could do whatever spell they wanted, meanwhile Cody would trust his senses.
And his teeth and claws.
Not for the first time, his thoughts went to Mariska. Leaving his mate was potentially the most difficult thing he’d ever done. It flew in the face of everything he was. Where he belonged was at her side, ready to face whatever battle came—particularly because she was so very pregnant. Ben and Anthony would stay close to her, but they were so young. It was Olivia who finally convinced him.
Olivia who swore that, with Jason gone, she needed someone to look after and she’d chosen Mariska. The two women were very close, and Olivia had become a little sister. Though she needed protecting, too, she was tough.
The Kanes will look after them. Sam and Micah would remain on the ranch. Though Sam had his own children, and Micah’s wife was due to give birth, Cody trusted both of them.
“We’ll need to make camp early.” Jenny’s voice carried to him. Though the woman was nowhere near him, he heard as though she stood at his side. Snarling, Cody snapped at the air. Jenny and Mitchell spent most of the trip bickering.
As an older brother himself, Cody appreciated Mitchell’s need to protect his sister. Scarlett never cared for being smothered either. Irritating as she could be, he had more tolerance for her antics than Jenny’s. They needed the witches, and they needed these two. Their third sibling remained secured at the ranch. It wasn’t the first time Cody had to look after a difficult set of charges, but if he had to spend another night listening to them debate why she was on the trip, he might just sleep outside in the snow.
“Are you coming back?” her voice carried to him again, and he bared his teeth.
Fortunately, they couldn’t see it. Damn spells.
Magic was creepy.
Kid
Somewhere in Kentucky
The newspaper gave Kid something to do, though he barely read the words on the page. They’d arrived on the railroad late the night before, and since it was Sunday, their next train wouldn’t leave until early the following morning. His table companions maintained their uneasy silence, only the faint clinking of dishes periodically disturbing the silence.
The restaurant at the hotel offered a fine enough spread, though the gathering room was only lightly populated. Most of the locals were off to church, which left only the travelers who, like Kid and his crew, were only at the hotel because trains didn’t run on Sunday.
“Do you think we would be wise to rent horses and ride ahead?” It wasn’t the first time Sage asked the question. She was as restless as a cat trapped behind glass while the mice had run of the barn. The younger woman, dressed simply in a demure outfit, had twisted her hair into two long braids. It made her look far younger than she actually was.
Or maybe Kid was feeling his age. His second table companion, Shane, didn’t say a word. Not that Kid could blame him, Each time the young man had spoken, he’d endured vicious responses from Sage, whether it was a glare or a cutting word.
The temptation to soothe Sage’s temper and Shane’s apprehension was there, but he ignored it. They had to sort this problem out—whatever it was—on their own. The waitress, an older woman with steel gray hair and a kindly smile, had delivered their breakfast then cleared away his empty plates while the other two dawdled over their food.
Snapping the paper closed, Kid sat up. “I am going for a walk. You two stay close to the hotel. No wandering.” Rising, he tugged on his coat then pulled out enough money to cover the meal and something generous for their waitress and the cook.
Sage stiffened and Shane frowned, but Kid didn’t relent.
“While you’re still here, you both need to eat. Skipping meals won’t do anyone any good. If you can manage to have a conversation which consists of more than four words and no growling, it will be an achievement.”
Grabbing his hat and the paper almost as an afterthought, he nodded to them then pivoted and strode out of the hotel. Once out in the crisp morning air, he glanced at the sky. The blue seemed almost a different shade from home. Outside, there were a few on the streets and the occasional buggy hurrying along. Most folks were in the Sunday finery, except the workmen. It was a big town, and the sheer pressure of so many emotions crowded in around him wouldn’t make it a restful place for long.
He could handle a day or two. Not glancing back at the disagreeable pair inside, he made his way along the street. He wouldn’t go far. Part of the reason they’d chosen to travel in small groups was to avoid notice. Jason had only told him where he needed to go, and when they needed to be there.
Jason and Kid would have to arrive relatively close together, because there would be a point when they’d have to use both their gifts. Something they could combine, but hadn’t practiced. Meanwhile, Kid would shepherd his charges. Bringing Sage left him a little raw. She was still a youth, but she was only a couple of years younger than Scarlett had been when they’d met her. Arguably, they’d all gone through a lot, enough to grow them up fast.
Evelyn hadn’t been thrilled with Kid’s request that she remain at the ranch, but Evelyn was a wild card. Should those on the mission fall, she and the others would be safe behind the barrier. If the worst happened, and the barrier fell, she would be desperately needed to make sure all the women and children escaped.
If he were absolutely honest, Kid was completely comfortable with risking himself. He’d never be okay with risking the women. Too much of his father in him. They’d already involved far more of the women than any of the Kanes liked.
As if all he had to do was think of it, and suddenly he could feel the ranch. So many miles away, and he just knew they were all okay. The comfort sweeping through him pulled a smile to his face.
Fisting the newspaper, he moved to lean against a post. There was a point of sorrow, one which drew him, and even at this distance he knew who it was.
Sam.
His eldest brother had always been the man who got things done. He would stand for every person on the ranch, the shelter in the storm. But would he ever get over losing Scarlett, if it happened?
A wave of comfort swept over him, this one more maternal.
Ma.
Damn, knowing she was there and having seen her, he finally understood his Pa even more than he had after discovering Evelyn. Sam would survive—he understood the message. Pain could be lived through, it could be managed, and eventually, love would overcome the loss.
That was how their father did it. He’d taken all that emotion and poured it into the ranch and into the boys. Sam had his kids. He had Micah. He had all the others on the ranch. They would be the reason he survived Scarlett’s loss.
But he’s not going to lose her, Kid decided.
They weren’t going to lose anyone.
When the war was over, maybe he and Evelyn could travel some—see all the places they could want to see.
It would be nice to just be husband and wife without the burden of war on them.
It was a good plan.
Tucking his sense of the ranch away, Kid returned his attention to the town around him. He’d need all his wits about him to make sure those plans came to fruition.
They weren’t out of the woods yet.
Buck
The Mountain
It was all gone. Everything. He’d known it would be, but it didn’t change the gnaw angling in his gut. They’d come to the Mountain because Jason told him it was his part in the plan. No one knew the full extent, other than Jason and Wyatt, the two who were least likely to be compelled to reveal it. The only requirements were they not share their destination with anyone else. On the twentieth day, and not a moment earlier, they had to arrive at the rendezvous.
Delilah sat next to the fire, warming her hands. He’d offered to move them into the dreaming. At least there he could make the air warmer, but she’d chosen to be on the mountain itself. Where the barn had once stood, along with Wyatt’s workshop, was only ash and a black scorch mark.
The large cabin, the home he’d grown up in, played with his siblings in, and eventually left to forge his own life—it was gone, too. It went with his father. The strength of his father’s gift left him awestruck. The dreamwalker had constructed it all within the dreaming, allowing them to pass back and forth without even noticing. It was how he’d secured them for years, if a threat drew too close.
And I never realized… Or maybe he’d simply not wanted to realize. Snow was deep on the mountain this time of year, but the mouth of the cave where they’d settled in was also home to one of Ike’s projects—deeper inside was a perfect garden. It had become choked with weeds, but many of the plants continued to thrive.
He could only hope that was a sign that at least one of his missing brothers was still alive.
“You want to try and reach them again, don’t you?” Delilah knew him too well, but when he reached over to cover her hands with his, he focused his attention on her.
“I know it’s not safe for anyone if I do that. I know what Wyatt asked me, but it feels like a betrayal.” Considering his next words carefully, he added, “I also know that if MacPherson has them, I endanger far more if I try to save them and walk into a trap.”
Leaning into him, Delilah tucked her head against his shoulder. “It does not ease the sense of betrayal haunting you. I am terrified for them. Father—MacPherson does not go gently on those who do not obey him. I’m more terrified for you. If he can take you, he will.”
No, if he could take Delilah, he would. All he wanted from Buck was his death and the end of the Morning Star line. Another reason why Buck accepted the charge of disappearing for a few days was completely selfish. He wanted the time with his wife, a time where they weren’t worrying over what would happen and where the next crisis would come from.
Staying here put him out of reach of his siblings. If they needed him, he wouldn’t be there to catch them, not until…
“Stop,” Delilah ordered. She shifted and cupped his chin, so his gaze would meet hers. “Stop beating yourself for what we’re doing. We all knew it would be hard. We all accepted we wouldn’t know where the others were. That, for this short window, we’re on our own. MacPherson would never expect us to separate. You and your siblings, you’re so close. You’ve fought side by side for so long. There is no doubt that to attack one of you is to attack you all. He is looking for us to come in force.”
Though she repeated the words he’d said to himself, she said them with such earnest faith, how could he doubt it?
“If I lose any of them, it’s going to hurt like hell.” Buck told her, then reached over to tuck a hair behind her ear. “If I lose you, it will kill me.”
Her smile warmed him all the way to his soul. “It is difficult to lose what will never let you go. We’re together in this, all the way.” Beneath the words was an oath he could support.
“I wanted to show you everything you’ve never had,” he said, wishing they had more time.
“You have,” she assured him. “I’m right where I want to be. Tell me another story about when you were all children?”
“They’re all pretty much the same—Scarlett gets mad a lot, and Cody growls, and Jimmy just goes along. Though, there was this one time…”
Jimmy
Somewhere in the mountains…
“It’s kind of like old times, isn’t it?” Jimmy had been keeping an eye on his wife. The farther east they’d ridden, the quieter she’d grown. They’d taken a circuitous route, but he’d wanted to avoid the large towns and cities.
“Except I knew that territory,” she told him, her expression unchanged. While he couldn’t imagine what passed through her mind, he could imagine. “This is so different—the people, the land, even the spirits here. They are…strange.”
“Strange?” They were in the mountains of Virginia, by his reckoning, and they’d had some hard nights to survive when they made camp. Yet they were managing. Their horses seemed to be enjoying the trip more than they were.
“It is difficult to explain in your language,” she said, switching to her native Cheyenne. Though she’d avoided it on this trip, and also dressed in clothes he’d borrowed from his sister and Olivia so she would fit in more, she was still learning English. “The spirits here are both restless and not. It is as though some have faded—almost to an echo. I don’t know why.”
Well, that wasn’t a troubling description. “Is it possible that it’s always been this way?”
“Perhaps.” Blue lifted a hand and shrugged. Her horse was used to only listening to her leg commands, but they needed to blend, so the mare also wore a proper bridle. Blue insisted they forgo the bit and Jimmy’d agreed. At the moment, they were alone on their trail and, as far as Jimmy could see, they weren’t likely to encounter anyone soon.
Fair weather had followed them until they reached the mountain. Colder air came from the north, a warning.
“It could also be their people are gone.” She reached up to the collar of her blouse and tugged at it. “Even spirits need company and can grieve.”
It wasn’t all that long ago that Blue lost her own people. Dropping back, he narrowed the distance between them enough to let his leg brush hers. The contact as much for him as for the woman who literally held his heart—by saving him, she’d bound his heart to hers. As long as she breathed, he would live.
It was a fair exchange. He didn’t want a world without her in it.
“What can I do?” Their first meeting had been followed by two assaults, a chase, and then damn near dying together when they’d been captured. Since then, they’d returned to the ranch, but her concern had been for him and his recovery.
“You have already done it,” she told him, an ageless kind of wonder and wisdom within her eyes as she looked to him. “You lived. You stayed with me.”
“Never getting rid of me, sweetheart. That much I can promise you.” Even if he passed before her, he wouldn’t move on. His spirit would follow her and protect her however he could.
“This makes my heart happy.” It never failed to take him out at the knees when she expressed her joy in him. Or how much she valued their relationship. Most days, he felt downright selfish. She’d lost everyone, and now they were off to fight to save his family. “Perhaps you will tell me what troubles you.”
“I feel guilty,” he admitted, not too proud to be honest.
“Because?” Overhead, a bird cried and she looked up, her gaze tracking it a moment before she looked to him again.
“Because they wiped out your tribe. You were…you were alone. Now I’m asking you to walk back into that fire to save people you’ve barely had time to even meet.” He loved every member of his family, even the hardasses and the difficult ones. It didn’t change the fact that Blue hadn’t been at the ranch a few minutes, and they were in the thick of it again.
“One does not replace the other. One does not have more value than the other. Not helping your family, our tribe, would not bring mine back nor make their loss any less profound. Even if all that were true, it would not impede me from doing my duty. The First One is right; this must end.”
Buoyed by the conviction in her voice, he nodded once. “Doesn’t change the fact I feel guilty.”
“I cannot alter how you feel.” God love her, she was so damn literal sometimes. “I can only tell you, I know we are on the right path.”
The news surprised him. “How can you be certain?”
“Every journey begins with but a single step. We cannot always predict what the step will be. With each step we take, we grow more determined to meet our path. Sometimes we slip and we fall. We are injured. Do we go back? Or do we keep going? Each time we answer that question, the path becomes greater, and only, when we nearing the end are we granted some vision or certainty that we have chosen the right way.”
Not altogether sure he wanted the answer, he asked, “Do you see anything on the other side of it? The end of this path?”
Blue lifted her chin, and her jaw tightened a moment before she said, “The next step on another path. It is forked at the moment…”
Because there were two possible outcomes. More, really, but only two that would really affect them all.
They won or they lost.
“Until then, Jimmy,” she said, lacing her fingers with his. “We are on the right path and with the right people. If the spirits smile upon us, perhaps we finally have the right answer. Afterward?” She shrugged. “Afterward, we begin our next journey, wherever it may take us.”
Lifting her fingers to his lips, he bent slightly and pressed a kiss to them. “I love you, Blue Eagle. You’re my heart.”
“And you mine, Jimmy Morning Star.”
Maybe they’d make camp earlier that night, while they still had time.
Cate
The Flying K
Being six years old was tough. It was tougher when the adults didn’t want to tell her what was wrong. But she knew people were gone. Lots of people. Some of them were even her favorite people. Miss Jo wanted them to keep up on their schoolwork, and Miss Olivia was helping her teach lessons. Of course, if Miss Jo didn’t have that baby soon, Cate thought she might burst.
Did folks do that? Did they burst from having a baby in their bellies? Cate sure hoped not. Miss Jo was one of her favorite people. Since she was the youngest, she finished her work first most days, and today was no exception. Instead of staying in the house, though, she’d put on her boots and snuck out. Most of the time, folks didn’t notice.
Being six also had its advantages.
Miss Delilah was gone, and so was Sage. It wasn’t fair that Sage got to go somewhere while Cate had to stay. At least she didn’t have to help with the littles at the house, not yet anyway. When Miss Jo had her baby, Cate would help her until Miss Delilah came back.
The snow they’d had almost all melted, but it was still cold, so she put on her coat. The creek wasn’t far, and this time of year it seemed to run low. Maybe she could go find some flowers for Miss Jo and make her day better.
At least, that had been her plan when she crept out of the schoolroom. She had to be real sneaky now. If she didn’t, the other kids noticed. Everyone in her classes sparkled, and most of the folks on the ranch did. It meant they were all gifted. All Cate got was seeing the sparkles.
She wanted to turn into a wolf like Anthony or a cat like Ben—course they both said that hurt a lot, so maybe not. It would be fun to be strong like Shane, then no one would ever pick on her. Will could make it rain, though he wasn’t supposed to. Not after the tornado. Billy could make the earth move, and stinky old Elijah could do all kinds of things. Only one at a time, but it would be neat to be able to see real far or hear real good or even scent things like the wolves.
At the creek’s edge, she considered the trees. Maybe she could climb one. Course flowers didn’t grow in these trees. If she was going to find something pretty, she’d have to hunt around the edges. Trees took care of other plants, or at least she thought her mama told her that once.
Everyone was so sad, but Mr. Sam was mad. He was mad at everything. Even when he smiled, it didn’t touch his eyes. He was always nice to her though, he seemed nice to everyone, but he wasn’t happy. Mr. Micah was hovering around Miss Jo; he was never far even when he was working outside.
That reminded her, she hadn’t seen him outside. Maybe he had to go work with the horses. Sometimes he’d gone while Miss Olivia was there. A crunch of boots had her whirling around, and Cate studied the three men standing amongst the trees on the wrong side of the creek.
They were dirty, and they didn’t smell too good. They also didn’t sparkle. Still, she didn’t think they should be there.
“Hello,” she said to them, realizing belatedly they hadn’t noticed her when one jumped at her greeting. “This is private land. Town is that way.” She pointed toward Dorado.
It was what they were supposed to say to strangers who wandered onto the ranch. It happened sometimes.
“This the Flying K, little girl?” They took a couple of steps in her direction, but Cate wasn’t too worried.
“Yes, sir,” she said, keeping it polite. “But town’s that way.” She pointed across the creek toward Dorado.
“I reckon they won’t mind. We got business here.”
Leaves crunched once behind her. “I wouldn’t say that’s a good idea, mister. The Flying K is private land. Mr. Kane says you can leave all messages with the Marshal’s office.” It was a lot to remember, but she was pretty sure she’d said it right.
One of the men laughed. “We’re looking for a Mrs. Olivia Kane. Don’t suppose you could tell us where she is?”
They were still walking toward her, and Cate sighed. She really wasn’t going to get to find any flowers now. “No, sir. That wouldn’t be what I was told to do, and I reckon you’re not nice men, cause you’re not listening.”
It was a warning to her friends. She knew they were there. Of course they hadn’t let her sneak out.
Ben never did.
“C’mere, kid.” One of the men lunged forward, but Cate ran, even as she heard claws rending wood as Ben leapt from the tree.
Their screams didn’t last long, because Anthony streaked past her. At the creek’s edge, she ran into Mr. Micah and Mr. Sam.
“I tried to tell them,” she said, breathless. “But they wanted Miss Olivia.”
“Good girl,” Micah told her, with a pat. “Get back to the schoolhouse. Go on. We’ll take care of this.”
They wouldn’t have to do much. Ben was the best cougar there was, and Anthony was a great wolf. Those men didn’t even get to pull out their guns. Skipping, Cate wandered back to school.
She wasn’t going to tell Miss Jo or Miss Olivia, ‘cause they would get upset. At the steps to the school, she paused and grumbled. She not only didn’t get her flowers, but now she wouldn’t hear the end of it from Ben.
If they had sweetcakes after supper, she’d give him hers—or maybe split it in half for him and Anthony.
That only seemed fair.
She’d just gotten the door open when she heard Miss Jo yell. Racing in, Cate stared at her holding onto the edge of her desk and Olivia holding her side. Olivia glanced up and pinned Cate with a look, “Go get Mr. Micah. Will, go fetch Noah. David, Aaron, go hook up the buckboard. Everyone else, clean up the schoolroom while we get Miss Jo over to the main house.”
Everyone scrambled, and Cate went back outside.
Miss Jo was going to have the baby! It was a great day!
Luckily, she knew right where Mr. Micah was, so she ran all the way back to creek.