CHAPTER SEVEN

 

 

 

Once he arrived at the ranch, Benjen found his brothers in the barn and managed to talk them into picking up his slack for another day. “I know there’s a lot going on and I’ll do my share, you can count on it. This is important,” he told Sam and Easy, “I need to spend time with Apple tomorrow.”

“No problem. Go for it, Brother,” Easy told him with a wide smile. “You can make it up to us by taking care of the calf worming next week.”

“Not my favorite job, but you got it,” Benjen promised sincerely.

“Did you and Apple have a good time today?” Sam asked as he hung up several pieces of tack on hooks attached to the wall behind them.

“Yea, we did, except she scared me half to death.”

“What do you mean?” Easy shoved a square bale of hay across the floor so Benjen would have a place to sit down.

“Well, as you know, a pretty good storm swept through the area the other night. Didn’t do a lot of damage, but I guess it weakened some trees. We were sitting on a bench by the river in Wimberley eating an ice cream cone when she jumps up and throws herself on top of me.”

“How exciting for you,” Sam observed dryly.

“No.” Benjen shook his head. “This was a split second before a huge-ass tree branch came crashing down and crushed the table. I got us out of the way, but I lost ten years of my life. She could’ve been killed.”

Easy and Sam looked at one another. “She sounds like a keeper to me,” Easy said. “You and Daniel keep finding the good ones. Where’s my warrior princess?”

“Probably hiding from you, Big Easy.” Sam laughed, before turning his attention back to Benjen. “I hoped you straightened out your little miss.”

“I tried. She’s feisty.”

“When are you going to bring her around?” Easy asked as he fished his truck keys out of his pocket.

“I don’t know. Soon,” Benjen said as he watched his brother checking his phone. “Are you leaving?”

“Yea, I got a date.”

“Surprise. Surprise,” Sam drawled. “Who’s the unlucky girl?”

“You don’t know her,” Easy said quickly.

“Oh, really?” His tone made Benjen curious. “What aren’t you telling us, Ezekiel?”

“Nothing.” He doffed his hat and left them wondering. “See you later.”

When he was gone, Benjen frowned at Sam. “What’s going on with him? He’s not usually so cagey about his social life.”

“I don’t know, but his birthday is a week from today. Why don’t you bring Apple and let’s turn a family dinner into a surprise party?”

“Sounds like a good idea.” He helped his brother turn off the lights and check the water in the horse’s troughs. “Well, I’m going to grab a bite and turn in.”

“Okay. I think I’ll watch a little television,” Sam told him. “But first…I’m going to take a moonlight ride. I need to clear my head.”

“When you ride by Packsaddle, be on the look-out for our strange light.”

Sam grumbled, “I wish you hadn’t mentioned that. Now, I’ll be nervous.”

“Oh, you’ll be fine,” Benjen told him as he stopped by his truck and grabbed the journal. “Now, let’s see what the asshole had to say.”

…About an hour later, he pitched the journal across the room. “Idiot.” His heart ached for Apple. She’d loved the son-of-a-bitch and the no-count bastard had been too stupid to appreciate how lucky he was to have such a beautiful, sweet wife.

She’s plain. She’s fat. She’s clingy. Not exciting. Breasts too big. (Seriously? Are you gay, fag?) Boring. Smothering.

Rising from the bed, he went to the bathroom to take out his contacts. “I don’t think I can wait until the morning to let her know what I think.”

…Across the way, Apple was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. She’d made a mistake. A huge mistake. “God, that was dumb.” Giving Benjen Alan’s journal was an act of relationship suicide. “If he didn’t think about you in those terms before, he will now.”

Feeling warm, she fanned the covers around her. “What the heck was I thinking?” This thing between her and Benjen wasn’t going to go anywhere anyway. He deserved someone who hadn’t been around the block and got lost on the way back. “Yea, and get this… He’s a virgin. You could’ve slept with him and he wouldn’t have known it could be any better.” He wouldn’t have known the sex with her was lacking. “Oh, well. That ship has sailed.” After reading the unflattering things her husband wrote about her, there was no way he’d want to see her again. Him learning Alan’s feelings about her was like getting the low-down on a wrecked second-hand car before you made the mistake and bought it.”

Buzz! Buzz!

“What the heck?” Who could be calling at this late hour?

One glance at her phone told Apple the identity of the caller.

“Benjen?” she asked, surprised. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s just right, baby. I read this piece of fiction and I only have one thing to say to you.”

“What’s that?” Her heart was high in her throat.

“I think you’re the sexiest woman in the world and I can’t wait to make love to you.”

“Oh.”

“Oh.” Benjen chuckled. “Good night, love. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight.” In a daze, Apple put the phone on the night table, then tugged her pillow over her head and squealed.

 

* * *

 

“And they’re off!”

This was the second race of the day and Apple was thoroughly enjoying herself. The energy in the stands was contagious. She loved to look at the graceful horses and watching them run gave her a thrill.

Clinging to Benjen’s hand, Apple held her breath as the starting gate opened. “Oh, wow!” She stood up about the time a two-year old quarter horse, new to racing, bucked out of the gate and threw his rider on the ground. Another horse got tangled up in the snarl of surging animals and flying dirt and threw its own rider.

“This is kind of like NASCAR, isn’t it?” Benjen laughed.

“I’d rather be around horses any day than fast cars.” She went up on tiptoe to see over the crowd, trying to make sure everyone was all right. “Oh, no. Their fun was cut short.” The riders remained on the dirt track for a few seconds while their mounts took off after the pack. Slowly, they pulled themselves to their feet and were picked up by a truck.

“Oh, they’ll all get to race another day, I’m sure.”

She sat back down, fanning herself with the program. “True. No bones were broken.” She was glad of that.

“If they’d yelled ‘is there a doctor in the house?’, you could’ve jumped up and volunteered to take care of the horses.”

“I would’ve done what I could to help, that’s for sure. Remember, though, I’m just a lowly tech, not a veterinarian.”

“You’re amazing, that’s what you are.” He nudged up against her, making Apple smile.

She gave him a peck on the shoulder. “You’re pretty amazing yourself. I can’t believe you’re here with me after reading a dissertation on my shortcomings.”

He gave her a sideways glare. “The only shortcoming you have was ever marrying the dirtwad in the first place. I just hate he’s dead so I can’t show him what a real man does to a jerk who disrespects his woman.”

His woman.

Apple thought she might swoon.

“Look, Gold Medal, is going to win. You’re going to make some money!”

“Oh, good golly,” she whispered, straining to see. She’d been so engrossed in her thoughts, she’d forgot to watch the race. “How much did I win?”

He checked her ticket. “Odds are 10-1, so a hundred dollars!”

“Yay! Snacks are on me!” She bounced up and kissed him on the cheek.

During the next two races, they didn’t win, but Benjen didn’t care. He was so happy he felt like his body wasn’t big enough to contain the joy. “I’m glad you could come today.”

“Me too. This is fun,” she agreed. When she saw a shadow cross his face, she asked, “Something wrong?”

“I thought about Rose. Did you leave her shut up in the house?”

“No,” she assured him. “I went over to visit her this morning, but Dr. Cleveland volunteered to keep her for another day. My dog is having a blast. The puppies are big enough to wander around in the yard, so Rose thinks she’s babysitting.”

“The Shepherd needs a fenced yard.”

“I know she does. I’ve put that on my list of things to do.” Her list was getting longer by the day.

“I don’t think this can wait. I’d better get started on it right away,” he stated matter-of-factly, his eyes following the horses as they came onto the track for a final race.

“I don’t have the money to build a fence right now.”

“No worries. I’ll take care of it.”

“I can’t let you do that,” Apple protested. “You’ve spent too much on me already.”

“Get used to it.” He gave her a solemn wink. “I take care of what’s mine.”

“You do too much.” She gazed with adoration on Benjen’s handsome face. “What can I do for you?” She paused for a heartbeat or two, then grinned. “You want to have sex?”

A lull in the noise of the surrounding crowd caused her words to be heard by several people sitting around them. Smiles and raised eyebrows were cast in their direction.

Apple blushed and groaned. “Good grief.”

Benjen chuckled. “I want to have sex with you more than anything. And we will…when the time is right.”

With a disappointed huff, Apple protested, “When is the time going to be right?”

Internally, Benjen prayed for strength. Every moment he was with her, he ached to lay her down and make her his. “When I’ve treated you with the right amount of respect.”

Instead of saying anything in response, she gave him an adorable frown with her lips pooched out just a tad.

“Waiting will just make it better,” he told her with a confident wink.

Apple wasn’t so sure about that, but she was saved from responding when the crowd rose to their feet as the next race commenced.

…After collecting her winnings, they made their way out of the Gillespie County Fair Grounds. “Where would you like to eat?” she asked him. “Remember, I’m buying.” When Benjen growled under his breath, Apple giggled. “Don’t be so macho, let me treat you.”

“I can’t help it, I’m just so manly,” he teased, squeezing her waist.

“Oh, yea?” She reached over and goosed him playfully. When he jumped and grabbed her hand to stop her, Apple laughed with joy. “You are ticklish!”

“I told you I was, brat.” Oblivious to the people around them, he retaliated by picking her up and placing her over his shoulder, soothing down her skirt over her shapely bottom to protect her modesty. “I’m about to show you an old Apache way of controlling our women.”

“Oh, no!” She wiggled against him but could get nowhere. “Don’t spank me!”

He popped her playfully on the rump. “I thought you told me I could.”

“Yea, I did, but I pictured a more erotic situation than out in the open in front of God and everybody.” She might sound like she was complaining, but the view from her vantage point wasn’t half bad. “You’ve got a nice butt, Blackhawk.”

“What?” Benjen barked a laugh and let her slide back down his body until he could reach her lips. “You just won’t do, will you?”

“Oh, I’ll do most anything…for you,” she whispered as she kissed his lips.

Benjen felt his cock swell. “You’re dangerous, Miss Wright.”

“Maybe you should tie me up and teach me a lesson.” Apple didn’t know where this newfound boldness was coming from, but she was enjoying herself immensely.

“One day soon, I’m going to remind you of these words, little girl.” He sat her gently on the ground beside his truck before unlocking the door and helping her inside.

“I love how you take care of me,” she told him softly as he fastened her seat belt and smoothed her dress so it wouldn’t get wrinkled.

“Good, that means I’m doing my job.” He gave her a kiss before shutting the passenger door and going around to climb in his side of the truck. “If it’s okay with you, I think we’ll go to a German bakery to eat.”

“Yum. Sounds perfect. What’s good there?”

“Everything, but I’m partial to their Reubens. They bake amazing bread too.”

After arriving at the downtown establishment and placing their order, Apple had to agree with him. “This melts in your mouth.” She groaned at the taste of warm rye slathered in butter.

Benjen was mesmerized, watching her eat. “Just so you know, my respect for you is growing by the second.”

This tickled Apple and she giggled. “Good. Tempting you to love me is my new goal in life.”

Little did she know, she’d already achieved her goal. “You are temptation itself, Miss Delicious.”

“Delicious? Was that an apple joke?” She giggled again as she took another bite of bread.

“Maybe.” He reached over and gathered a bit of butter from the corner of her mouth, then licked it off his finger. “I want you to come to my house for dinner next Friday night.”

Meet his family? “Uh. Okay. What can I bring?” She wanted to pinch herself. This seemed like a big deal.

“Not a thing. I want to show you off. Oh…and it’s Easy’s birthday. We’re surprising him with a little get together.”

He wanted to show her off? A ton of mixed emotions assailed her. Surely, some feminist part of her soul should be offended. On the other hand, the idea he thought she was worth showing off to his family made her feel like a million dollars. And then there was that annoying third hand which would pop out of nowhere and bop her on the back of her head, the one that took pleasure in reminding Apple of her less than supermodel looks.

“Well, will you come?” he prodded with hope in his eyes.

Unable to resist that little boy quality of his, she agreed, “I would love to have dinner with you and your family.”

“Great!”

Once they were through with their sandwiches, Benjen gathered up the extra loaves of bread he’d bought for them, and they continued on their journey.

Apple sat next to him as they traveled, enveloped in a sense of peace she’d seldom known. “Thanks for taking me to the races. I had a really good time.”

“I thought you might enjoy the horses.”

“I did. Although, I have a good time with you, no matter what we’re doing.”

This pleased him no end. “I’m glad.”

To pass the time, they made small talk about their families, Apple asking questions about Daniel’s wife. “I can’t wait to meet Sara. Where did Daniel meet her?”

“The same place I first saw you.”

“The biker bar?”

“Yea, she was making pies out front in a food truck. Daniel stopped to get something to eat and witnessed Sara running out into the road to rescue a toddler who was about to be run over by an eighteen-wheeler. It was love at first sight for him.” He gave Apple a slow smile. “I think the tendency runs in the family.”

Apple shook her head in amazement. “You’d better watch it. I’ll hold you to it. Men do get sued for breach of promise.”

“I keep my promises, baby.” Seeing she looked a bit uncomfortable, he returned his gaze to the road. “Have you been this way before?” he asked as they drove north of Fredericksburg.

“No, I haven’t.” She glanced from side to side, trying to take it all in. “It’s beautiful. The terrain is so rugged, yet picturesque. I love the different colors of the layers of rock and soil in the cliffs and hills.”

“Layers of history. Like they say, if these rocks could only talk.” He pointed ahead of them. “Keep your eye on the horizon. Soon you’ll see a formation called Enchanted Rock.”

“I’ve heard the name, but I don’t know much about it.” She raised herself high in the seat, ready to see anything he wanted to show her.

“The term ‘rock’ doesn’t do it justice, it’s actually a granite mountain. I’ve hiked it many times, it’s about the same height as Packsaddle, going up it is like climbing a thirty or forty story building. The whole dome is made of pink granite. To be more precise, it’s salmon-pink feldspar with flecks of black mica and quartz.”

“Just like the Slab?”

“Right, like the Slab.” He brought her hand up to his mouth to kiss it. “The main dome and the surrounding smaller ones are actually part of a sixty-two square mile batholith. In an area dominated by limestone, the bald granite giants rise out of a landscape carpeted with green. What’s amazing is that the whole place would’ve been turned into a giant quarry if not for Lady Bird Johnson’s intervention.”

“That would’ve been a shame.”

Benjen pointed through the windshield. “Look, you can see just the top of it.”

As they drove closer, Apple kept her eyes on the magnificent sight. She was amazed to see this dark pink mountain silhouetted against the afternoon sky. “It’s beautiful. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the Earth was giving birth to Mars. I’d love to see it up close.”

“We will,” he promised her. “We’ll camp out in the area one day, if you’d like. Not in the park, but in land my friends own nearby. I’d love to show you everything. You’ll see plenty of wildlife and sometimes you’ll find arrowheads or even semi-precious stones like an amethyst lying in the trail, uncovered by rain or erosion. On the top of the dome there are these neat vernal pools, slight depressions in the rock that hold water at certain times of year. One of the special things about the vernal pools is a tiny fragile creature that lives in them called a fairy shrimp.”

“A shrimp on top of a mountain in Central Texas? Wow, you’re so smart,” she praised him.

“Not really. I’m just curious.”

“You see the world differently than most people, it’s fascinating. Why do they call it ‘enchanted’? Is the mountain haunted?” Her eyes were wide with wonder.

He made a woo-woo noise to tease her, then answered with a smile. “Maybe. The Indians believed it was sacred. Written into its granite walls are volumes of unwritten Spanish and Indian history, extolling stories of rites and rituals, wars and treasure hunters. Unfortunately, we only know bits and pieces of what this rock has seen, but those fragments are as enduring as the mountain itself. And…” He dropped his voice to a mysterious level. “Many people have seen ghost fires flickering at the top of the dome.”

“Have you?”

“No, the only weird light I’ve seen was the one I told you about on Packsaddle. I presume they would be the same thing, although what that could be, I don’t know. At night, sometimes there is a definite glow to the whole dome and after a hot day, the rocks will creak and moan due to nighttime contractions brought on by changes in temperature. My grandfather taught how a holy portal to other worlds existed somewhere on the dome and anyone spending the night on the rock could become invisible. There’s also tales of human sacrifice and the spirits of warriors slaughtered by a rival tribe.”

She kept watching the rock, realizing they were coming even to it. “I know I can’t climb in these shoes, but could we walk around a bit?”

“Sure, but the sun will be going down soon. Are you sure you won’t be scared?” he asked in a kidding voice.

“Not if I’m with you.”

“Good answer.” Benjen made the turn and entered the park. “Looks like we have the place to ourselves.”

“Probably because tomorrow is a work day, not many people are camping.”

“You know, I didn’t know you’d care about this type of thing, Apple.”

“I’m interested in anything you’re interested in,” she told him as they parked and left the truck to take a gentle hike around the base.

“Well, this was a sacred place to the Apache. They believe the Great Spirit sent the Gan, or mountain spirits, to teach the people how to live, hunt, and cure illness. According to the teachings, these benevolent spirits live forever in the caves on the mountain. Through prayers and vision quests, they can be appealed to for protection and guidance.”

“Just on this mountain?”

“No, the Apache venerated any high and lonely place. I go up on Packsaddle when I want to pray or seek answers.”

“Do your brothers believe the way you do?” As they walked, she stared up at the massive dome of pink rock. The setting sun seemed to set it on fire. At a distance it had been impressive, up close it was intimidating.

Benjen began to worry if Apple might think he was weird. “No, they respected our father and they’re certainly not ashamed of their heritage – but they don’t dwell on such things like I do.”

“Why do you do it? I mean, how will your beliefs change the way you live?”

He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand as they moved along the path winding through a copse of trees at the base of the granite dome. “Why do you ask?”

Apple shrugged. “I want to understand how you think, what your hopes and dreams are.”

“I don’t study the medicine man stuff to do magic or anything like that. I do it to connect with who I am.”

“And who are you?” she asked as they drew closer to the granite mountain, the sun completely hidden by the bulk of the looming rock.  

Benjen considered his answer. “I may be a simple man, but I don’t have a simple answer. Being half Native American and half white is to straddle two worlds, to share blood with two peoples who warred with one another. I take pride in both my heritages, but sometimes it’s hard to reconcile the two.”

“I can understand that. I don’t really have a sense of who I am in that type of context. I’m not sure if I’m English, or French, or Irish. My parents never really talked about the past. I feel cheated in a way.”

“Maybe you should do one of those DNA tests and find out about your genealogy.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t think my background could be half as exciting as yours. Tell me more about being a medicine man. What does that mean?”

“To most people ‘medicine’ is something used to cure disease or better your health, but in my culture, medicine means the power of a person, place, or object. It can also stand for spirit, power, and energy. So, the medicine man is someone who possesses spiritual power. His medicine, whether it’s a prayer, an herb, or an anointed stone, can cure more than illness; it can create harmony. So, in that spirit, I strive to live a life of integrity and kindness.”

“I think you are succeeding,” she assured him, holding onto his hand as the trail became hard to ascertain as day flowed into night. “Your kind heart shines through in everything you do.”

Suddenly, there was a flash in the darkness.

“What was that?” Apple whispered, staring at the spot where a bright white light had briefly hovered over a nearby bush.

Benjen held her hand tighter. “I don’t know.”

About that time, it reappeared in a different spot.

“It’s not a hiker, that’s not a flashlight.”

“No,” he agreed, “it’s not animal eyes either.”

“Did it look like what you’d seen before?”

“A little.”

Apple wasn’t scared, she felt exhilarated. “Is this spirit fire?”

“I think so.” He brought her close to kiss her face. “Don’t be afraid. I’d die for you.”

In the cloud-veiled moonlight, a dancing troupe of shadows decorated the granite landscape. “I’m not. I feel like I might have witnessed a miracle.” A wind whipped up out of nowhere and stirred her hair, blowing a few strands over her face.

Then…the light flashed again.

“I love this,” Apple whispered as the rock wove its power of enchantment over her. She felt inspired. “This is more than a natural wonder. This is magic.” For a moment, the wind roared, but then dropped off, leaving the air empty of sound. She felt like she’d been transported to the moon. “So much bigger than I thought,” she whispered amazed. “From afar, the small trees growing in the crevices looked like weeds and the great eagles and vultures looked like small blackbirds. Tell me more of the legends. Please?”

Benjen was enamored with her interest. Her acceptance of this place and his beliefs gave him such pleasure. “Well, let’s see.” He delved into his memory. “A priest captured by a local tribe lost himself in the caves. When he returned, he told of being swallowed by the rock and seeing the spirits who inhabit this place. There’s also the tale of Rosa, the beautiful daughter of a chieftain who fell in love with a Spaniard, Don Jesus Navarro. A band of Comanches, not Apaches,” he emphasized playfully, “attacked the mission and carried Rosa here to Enchanted Rock. Don Jesus gathered a posse and came to rescue her, finding her bound on an altar and surrounded by tinder. They fought the Comanches and freed Rosa before she was hurt.”

“Good. I didn’t want her to die,” Apple spoke as if he was speaking of current events. She hugged him for a few moments, staring into the darkness. “I want to see the fire again.”

“Okay, love.” He held her and they waited, but there was no further light show.

“I guess we need to go.” She held up her face and kissed him tenderly. “I loved being here with you.”

“Me too. This is just the beginning of our adventures together. It’s going to be an exciting ride, Apple pie.”

She smiled as they started back down the trail. Apple didn’t know what she’d seen, a ghost lamp, a spirit fire, she didn’t think it was just a reflection of moonlight or a trick of the eye. The romantic part of her soul chose to believe in the stories of lost love, spirits appearing as light as they searched eternally for one another. Mostly, she chose to believe in Benjen Blackhawk.

The ride home was peaceful. He kept a hand on her at all times, holding hers, rubbing her knee, or resting on her shoulder. This attentiveness made Apple feel secure and appreciated, feelings she hadn’t known in a long time.

When they pulled into the driveway, he parked and got out to walk her to her door.

“I want to give you the manicotti to take home. I already have it packed up and ready. You’ll probably want a midnight snack.”

“Sounds good. I need a kiss to hold me over too.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

Once inside, she fetched the container holding the Italian dish, then went into his arms as naturally as a river flows to the sea. After taking her to the stars and back, he held her close. “One of these days, I won’t leave.”

“You have a standing invitation,” she told him. “It’s up to you.”

“You make it hard,” he whispered, pressing against her to show his words held a double meaning.

When she walked him to the door, she flipped on the porch light.

“Hey, there’s something here,” he said, stooping to pick up a special delivery letter left by the door.

“Oh, okay.” She took it and glanced at the address. “Just something from the VA.”

“Sleep tight, love. I’ll call you tomorrow. Or I might drop in.”

“That would be a lovely surprise. You’re always welcome.” She waved as he took his leave.

With a happy sigh, she tore open the envelope. What she read inside ruined an otherwise perfect day. “I can’t believe this.” With mouth agape, she stared blindly at the paper. Because of Alan’s desertion, all of the death benefits that she’d used to buy her home were being recalled. “The dang government wants their money back.”