CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

 

 

“You never told me you were a natural.” Benjen kept his mount close to Apple’s as they rode across the field nearest to the Rock House. He was proud to see she had a good seat on the horse.

“A neighbor let me exercise her horses when I was a kid. Alan and I stole over to her house every chance we got.” Saying her ex’s name did not bring the pain she was used to feeling.

“So, you grew up with Alan?” Benjen didn’t know why a twinge of jealousy sliced through him. After all, the man was dead.

“Yea, our families were close.” She held out her hand to take his. “Mothers were best friends. My dad worked for his father. We went to the same church. Our folks pushed us together. At the time, it seemed like we were destined to be together. A perfect match.” She laughed bitterly. “Such a perfect match that I gave him a kidney when he needed it.”

“So, you only have one kidney?” Benjen felt alarm spike through his veins. “Are you okay?” The idea that something could happen to her scared the life out of him.

Apple squeezed his hand. “I’m fine. People live normal, healthy lives with one kidney all the time.”

Bristling at the thought, Benjen muttered his disquiet, “Bastard. You gave him everything and he gave you nothing but heartache.”

“Stop. Let the past be past. We’re here tonight. Together. Let’s enjoy it.” She leaned over to give him a kiss and almost slipped out of the saddle. “Whew!” Apple laughed out loud as Benjen caught her up in his strong arms and brought her across to sit in front of him. “Oh, poor horse.”

“Hush, Zeus is as strong as an ox and you’re light as a feather.”

“Oh, yea right.” She settled against his chest, her head leaning on Benjen’s shoulder. “What about my horse?”

“Misty will go back to the barn. She knows there’s sweet hay waiting for her.” He rubbed his nose in her hair, breathing in the sweet smell. “You just worry about how good it feels for me to hold you tight.”

“It does feel good,” she admitted on a long breath that seemed to alleviate a mountain of care. “Is Easy okay?”

“Yea, he will be. I didn’t realize he held so much guilt in his soul over our father’s death.” He rubbed his lips over the soft skin of Apple’s cheek. “We were kids. Kids make mistakes.”

“What do you mean?”

He told her about their father’s accident and how it came about, ending with a sigh of regret. “He blames himself, which is useless. Yuma wouldn’t have blamed him. The drunk driver of the truck who ran the red light was the one who was at fault.”

“It’s not uncommon for people to blame themselves, I should know. I’ve questioned myself many times about Jenny and Alan. Did I do something wrong to cause my baby’s death? If I’d been a better wife would Alan still be alive today?”

“I wasn’t there, but I’d stake my life that neither of those things were your fault. I know how it is to have regrets. For a time, I wondered if there were warning signs I missed with Kelli and her aneurysm – but that’s not the way it works. Sometimes things are beyond our control.”

“I know.” She held onto his forearm where it rested beneath her breasts, her thumbs lightly caressing his skin. “It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it? The stars almost seem close enough to touch.” She lifted her other hand to the vast blackness of the sky, lit by the twinkling lights in the heavens.

“I’m more interested in touching you.” He bent to kiss her neck, his hands coming up to cup her breasts. “You’re so perfect.”

She lifted her arms to place them around his neck, a movement which thrust her breasts out even farther. “I love your hands on me.” Apple tilted her head to find his mouth and they kissed softly, deeply. The horse they were riding came to a standstill when it realized the humans on its back were otherwise occupied.

A sharp yip in the distance forced them to ease apart. “What was that?” Apple asked. “A coyote?”

“Sounded more like a dog.”

“Oh, my goodness. I wonder where our two are? Have you seen them?” she asked, a bit of concern clouding her good mood. “Do you think one of them is in trouble?”

“Damn. So much happened so fast with Easy. I didn’t realize how long it had been since I’ve seen them.” Benjen whistled loudly. “Hope! Rose!”

Apple joined in. “Hope! Rose! Where are you?”

After calling out, they rode silently…listening. The moon was almost full and hanging high in the sky. Apple let her gaze scan the horizon, watching for any movement. “I hope they’re okay. Now, all I can think about are coyotes.”

“They probably wouldn’t bother two dogs together.” He hoped to hell he was right. “Rose! Hope!”

“What’s that?” Apple pointed to a glowing in the foothills at the base of Packsaddle. “It looks like what we saw at Enchanted Rock.”

“Yes, but I’ve never seen it anywhere but on top of the mountain.” He wanted to go check out the odd light, but he wanted to find the dogs more. “Keep your eye on the fire while you keep your ears open for the dogs.”

Apple did as he said, but even after calling another time for the dogs, they heard nothing more.

“I’m getting worried,” Apple admitted. 

“Yea, I don’t like it either.” Benjen whistled again and his efforts brought forth another distant bark. “Hell, I can’t tell where it’s coming from. With all the canyons, caves, and arroyos, sound tends to echo and bounce off the rock walls.”

He stopped Zeus and turned him slowly in a circle. When they once again faced the mountain, Apple exclaimed, “Look the light has moved. It’s closer.”

As they watched for the strange will o’ the wisp, both were mesmerized by the mysterious orb of light appearing suddenly above the foliage. The ball of fire would remain stationary at times, then pulse on and off with an intensity varying from barely there to almost blinding. Sometimes the color was a yellow-orange and the next moment there appeared to be flecks of green, blue and red mixed in.

“It almost seems beckoning, doesn’t it?” she whispered in a subdued tone. 

“Maybe.” He didn’t know what to think.

“Ride closer,” she urged him.

“You’re not afraid?”

“No.” She placed a hand on his thigh as it framed hers. “I’m with you. Why should I be afraid?”

With that vote of confidence, Benjen urged Zeus closer. He gathered the reins tighter in his fist, halfway expecting the horse to balk or try to bolt. His mount did neither as they headed toward the ghost fire. “Odd,” he spoke softly in her ear, “I can’t seem to catch up to it. No matter how far we go, it seems to be the same distance away.”

Yip! Yip!

“That’s Hope, Benjen.” Apple tensed, straining to see in the darkness. “You don’t think the light hurt them, do you?”

“No.” He felt very certain of this. “There’s a lot of caves in that area. They might have chased a rabbit into one.” Hearing his dog’s voice made him feel better, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t as it should be. Benjen just hoped neither animal was injured.

“You know this area though, huh?” Apple asked, seeking reassurance. “I bet you played a lot here as a kid.”

“We did, yes. Although, I know we didn’t explore it all. Some areas were off limits to us. Father always warned us about bottomless caves and rattlesnake dens. Anytime a storm cloud blew in, he cautioned us about flash floods. These normally placid creeks and rivers can turn into raging torrents from one minute to the next. Cars and even houses have been washed away…”

“Benjen.”

“What, baby?”

“You’re not helping my nervousness.” She squeezed his knee. “Look!”

The light that had been dancing along the foothills, now seemed to be floating toward them.

“What the hell?” he breathed, pulling Zeus up short. As soon as he did, the unearthly fire shot backwards.

“I think it wants you to follow it,” Apple whispered in awe.

He growled low in his chest, “I’m tempted to leave you here and go on by myself.”

“Not a chance. We’re a team. If you get spirited off to never-never land, I want to go with you,” she told him with conviction.

“And that’s why I am so taken with you, sweet one.” He urged his mount forward, venturing deeper into the shadows cast by Packsaddle. As they drew nearer, the light dancing in front of them, he held Apple tightly in a protective embrace. “Do you hear that?” he whispered as the whine of a dog came drifting to them over the way.

“It’s Rose,” she whispered. “I’m so afraid she’s in trouble.”

Apple wiggled in his arms and he stilled her. “You’re not getting down. Not until I know for sure it’s safe.”

“This is so weird,” she breathed. Apple wasn’t scared for herself, she was nervous for the dogs – and she was undeniably fascinated by the phenomenon in front of them.

And then the light stopped, grew larger – and poof! It disappeared. And when it did, Hope came dashing out of the darkness right toward them.

“Hope! Girl! What’s going on?” Benjen dismounted, his hand coming to rest on Apple’s knee. “You sit still until I figure this out.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

She waited while Benjen followed Hope into the deeper shadows. She could see the light from his phone shining as he illuminated his path into the mouth of a cave. Apple was afraid for Rose. She didn’t understand what had just happened, but obviously something was wrong.

Meanwhile…Benjen trailed Hope as she scampered deeper into the cave. Periodically, she would bark and stop to look behind her, making sure her master was following. “Where are we going? Is Rose in trouble?” His sinking feeling only increased when he heard another whimper deeper in the darkness. “Oh, hell.” He hoped to high heaven the dog wasn’t seriously injured. Apple would be devastated.

As he made his way into the cave, the path grew narrower, and the grade of descent became steeper. He placed a hand on the wall to his right to brace his steps. After traveling what seemed like a hundred or more yards, Hope stopped, and the bright beam from his phone revealed a sudden drop-off. “Shit.” He steadied himself against a huge boulder covering at least half of the path. Aiming his light down, he saw Rose standing on a ledge about fifteen feet below him. To his immense relief, she seemed to be unhurt. “What happened, girl? How did you get down there?” Behind him, the chattering of a ground squirrel explained a lot. “Ah, someone led you a merry chase, didn’t they? Well, don’t worry. I’ll get you out.”

After testing the stability of the boulder, he found it too loose to use as an anchor for his rope. “Oh, well. We’ll go to plan B.” Retracing his steps, Hope danced at his feet, showing her worry the best she could. As he walked, his studied the cave. If he’d ever been in here before, he couldn’t remember it.

Apple waited, holding tight to the saddle horn. When she saw Benjen emerge with Hope, she breathed a sigh of relief mixed with worry. “Did you see Rose?”

“Yes, she doesn’t appear to be hurt,” he reported as he came alongside Zeus, untying a rope from his saddle. “She fell or jumped down a shaft. I can see her about fifteen feet down on a ledge.”

“You’ll get her out,” Apple said with full assurance as she scrambled to dismount. “I’ll help.”

Benjen gave her a hand, placing Apple gently on her feet. “I’m going to go down after her and you and Zeus will pull us back up.”

“Okay, I’ll try.” Her heart was beating fast.

“That’s my girl.” He bussed her on the cheek, making Apple giggle. “No worries. Zeus knows what to do. He’s pulled cattle free of bogs before.”

After tying one end of the rope to the saddle horn, they made their way into the cave. Hope jumped up on Apple’s leg and she made time to pet and reassure her. “This is a little creepy.”

“Watch your step,” Benjen warned her as they moved deeper into the blackness, alleviated only by the light from his phone. “I hope my battery doesn’t give out.”

“Is it low?”

“Yea.”

“Let’s hurry.” She grabbed him by the hand and picked up the pace, knowing he was going slow because of her.

At the sound of her voice, Rose whined.

“I hear her.” The noise made Apple feel better. “We’re coming, sweetheart,” she called out.

When they neared the edge of the drop-off, Benjen put his hand out to insure Apple didn’t get too close. After giving her the phone, he took the rope and tied a knot in it, then yelled out to Zeus, “Hold!” Immediately the tension on the rope increased, giving Benjen the ability to rappel down to the Shepherd.

“Be careful.” Apple held her breath as he began his descent.

Once he was on the ledge, he looped the rope around his waist, then around the dog. When he tried to pick up Rose, she squirmed. “Easy, girl.”

“I’m here, Rose. Be still for Benjen.”

As if she knew the humans were trying to help, the big dog relaxed in her rescuer’s hold.

“Okay, love. Go to Zeus, hold his halter, and tell him to ‘Back’.”

“All right, I will. You call out when you’re near the top.” She turned to go. “Stay, Hope. Stay with Daddy.”

“We’ll be fine. Don’t run,” Benjen called out, smiling at the fact that she’d referred to him as the dog’s daddy.

Apple shone the light on the cave floor ahead of her as she hurried out. Even though she was focused on her task, she couldn’t help notice something lying just off their path. The dirt was disturbed, as if the dogs had been digging. And what had been uncovered, took her breath away. “Not now, you have something important to do.”

When she reached Zeus, Apple kissed him on the nose. “Good, boy. Now, Back!”

The horse lifted its head, snorted, then began to back up as requested. As the horse proceeded to pull slowly and steadily, she looked over her shoulder, awaiting Benjen’s call. The night was oddly quiet, there was no noise other than the horse’s breathing and their measured steps.

“Apple!”

“Whoa.” She pulled on the horse’s cheek strap to reinforce the command. “Stay,” she ordered, then frowned at the canine command. “Whoa or whatever,” she added for good measure. Returning to the cave, Apple called out, “I’m coming!” When she arrived, shining the light ahead of her, she saw Benjen loosening the rope from around them. “Oh, thank God, you’re both okay.” She hugged him, then inspected the dog for cuts or injuries. “Rose seems to be fine.”

“Yea, she was lucky.” He didn’t say so, but the ledge hadn’t been very wide, and he had no idea the depth of the shaft. Taking the phone from her, he checked the battery. “Come on, let’s get out of here while we have a little light to walk by.”

“I want to show you something as we leave.” Apple led him to the spot in the cave she’d noticed earlier. “Look.”

Benjen knelt down to look at what appeared to be a bone. “Glory be. That’s a human femur.”

“I thought so. And look at the coin lying next to it.”

He left the bone alone but picked up the other object. “This looks like gold to me.”

“Yea, I thought so. It appears to be very old.”

He pocketed the coin, then led them out of the cave. “We’ll show this to Philip if he happens to still be at the house when we get there.”

“Good idea,” she agreed as they climbed on Zeus’s back for the ride home.

Once Benjen was settled behind her, he pulled Apple close against him. “Hey, you’re trembling.” He kissed her on the neck. “Everything’s okay.”

“Yea, I know.” She covered his hand with hers as it rested beneath her breasts. “This has just been weird and a little scary.”

“I agree.” He chuckled. “Between the light, the lost dog, and the human bone, I’d say weird is putting it mildly. We’re on our way home now, and all is well.” He headed Zeus on the trail back to the Rock House.

As they rode through the velvety night, the dogs running happily alongside, Apple relaxed against him, deep in thought. “Do you want to know what I think?”

“Always.”

“I don’t think the light is random. I think it’s personal to you.”

“So, you think it’s intelligent. Do you think I conjured it up?”

Apple laughed nervously, shifting in his embrace. “I don’t know, sounds silly doesn’t it?”

“No.” He kissed her hair. “Not really. The light appeared to my father and it started appearing again after I began practicing the Apache rituals. Maybe, it is one of my ancestors communicating with me.”

“Maybe.”

When they neared the barn, Misty was waiting for them. Working together, they took care of both horses before heading back to the Rock House with the two dogs in tow.

“There’s an extra vehicle here,” Apple noted.

“Probably Philip. Come on, let’s go see.”

Once inside, they could hear voices coming from the kitchen. They found the rest of the family sitting around the kitchen table with a big man wearing a burnt orange T-shirt and a UT baseball cap.

“You’re back!” Daniel motioned them in. “You were gone longer than we expected.”

“Well, we ran into a speck of trouble,” Benjen explained, moving around the table to shake Philip McCoy’s hand. “Philip, meet my girlfriend, Apple Wright. Apple, this is Professor Philip McCoy.”

“You can drop the title, just call me Philip, Apple. Nice to meet you.” He rose and took Apple’s hand for a moment.

“What kind of trouble?” Sam asked from his spot nearest the back door. He looked like he was thinking about escaping the confines of the indoors.

Benjen shook his head. “We lost a dog for a spell. Found her in a cave on the south side at the base of Packsaddle. Looks like they chased a ground squirrel in and Apple’s Shepherd bailed off a ledge.”

“Is she okay?” Sara asked with concern.

“Yes,” Apple answered. “Benjen saved her.”

“Wow.” Easy raised a glass in a toast. “Looks like he’s the hero once again.”

Benjen narrowed his eyes, picking up on a hint of sarcasm in his brother’s voice. He was confused. He thought they’d worked out their differences. “Apple found something as we were leaving the cave. This.” He handed the coin to Philip. “And a human femur.”

Those words got everyone’s attention.

“You found a skeleton?” Daniel asked. “On our property?”

“Just a leg bone, so far,” Benjen said.

“Where is it?” Sam asked, rising, as if he expected Benjen to pull it out of his pocket.

“We left it in the cave,” Apple supplied the answer. “It looked old. Weathered.”

Philip studied the coin. “Would you trust me with this?” He turned it over and over in his hand.

“Sure,” Benjen agreed readily. “There may be more where that came from. Who knows?”

“I’d like to do some research on this and take a look at the cave, if that’s all right. You know, there’s an old legend about outlaw Sam Bass hiding canvas sacks filled with gold in a cave on Packsaddle Mountain.”

Easy shook his head. “There’s more legends about that mountain than you can shake a stick at.”

“What about the bone?” Sam was still worrying about the femur. “Do you think it belongs to one of the Indians who died in that last stand battle with the ranchers Dad told us so much about? The one where his great-grandfather was killed?”

“I know what you’re talking about, but I doubt it,” Philip mused. “I don’t think human remains were left from that incident. This could be random or it could date all the way back to the time when the Spanish were here and used the native Indians to work the mines. There are accounts of fierce fights between the two factions. Old timers say the mountain used to be littered with bones.”

“Hell, no wonder there are ghost lights on the mountain.” Sara shivered at the idea.

Apple looked at Benjen, but neither made a comment about what they’d seen. Instead, Benjen glanced between Philip and Easy. “So, you’re planning on jump-starting your operation in Louisiana?”

“Yes. Carefully. I need men who I can trust to do this right, that’s why I lured your brother into giving me a hand with the project.”

No one responded. It was obvious the family had reservations about Easy’s decision – but it was his decision. Benjen tipped his hat at Sara and their guest. “Well, if you all will excuse us, I’m going to get Apple home. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

Sara met Apple’s eyes and they smiled at one another, remembering what they’d talked about. “I’ll see you on Monday for coffee,” Sara told her.

“I look forward to it.” Apple waved goodbye at everyone. “Thanks for having me. Happy Birthday, Easy.”

“Hold up.” Easy rose and came around to give Apple a hug. “No hard feelings, right?”

“Not a one,” she promised him.

Once they loaded the dogs in the truck for the short drive to Apple’s, Benjen wondered aloud, “Something is still up with Easy. Like I said earlier, I always knew he mistakenly blamed himself for our father’s death, but I never realized how deeply. I’m beginning to think guilt has shaped his life. Maybe this is why he doesn’t allow himself to get close to anyone.” He frowned, reaching over to take Apple’s hand, as if seeking reassurance. “Heck, sometimes he seems to put distance between himself and the family.”

“Are you going to try and talk him out of the job?”

Benjen shook his head. “I don’t know. My good intentions might backfire and push him farther away.”

“Sleep on it. Maybe, things will be clearer in the morning. That’s what I do.”

Benjen cut her a sidewise glance and grinned. “Here lately, when I go to bed, I’m usually just thinking about one thing.”

Apple felt her body flame with desire at his words. “Oh, really? What are you thinking about?”

As he drove up to her house, the dogs began to bounce around in the back seat, anxious to get out and run around for a few minutes. Benjen waited until he stopped his truck before answering, “You. I can’t think of anything else but you.”

“Oh.” She understood, Apple was in the same boat. “Do you want to come in?”

God, yes, he wanted to come in. Hell, he wanted to come. Period. Remember the plan, Blackhawk, he chided himself. “I’d better get home.” When she pulled on the door handle and tried to tug her hand away from his grasp, he held it just that much tighter. “I can hear the wheels in your brain turning. Just sit tight and let me come around to help you out. There’s something important I want to say to you.”

Apple did as he asked, but her flush of desire had turned to heated embarrassment – she’d done it again.

Offered herself and been turned down.

When he did open the passenger door, she used the dogs’ excitement to put some space between them. Once he’d assisted her to the ground, she wasted no time darting toward the house. Without looking back, she thanked him. “I enjoyed dinner. I appreciate you having me. I hope you sleep well. You don’t have to walk me to my door, I left the porch light on.”

“Hey. Hey.” Benjen caught up with Apple once she mounted her front steps. He moved between her and the door to block her path. “Look at me.” He put his finger beneath her chin. “I know that expression.” Dipping his head, he captured her lips and kissed her tenderly. “Don’t you dare think I don’t want you. I want you all the time.”

“Okay.” She didn’t want to have this conversation. “It’s okay.” Again, she tried to step around him.

“Listen to me, Apple of my eye,” he punctuated his salutation with a kiss, “I told you to keep this weekend free for me. Tomorrow, I will pick you up for our date – wine you and dine you – then, I plan on bringing you home and spending the night if you’ll let me.” He kissed her again. “I want to be with you.”

“You do?” she breathed as an onslaught of emotions cascaded over her. This was what she wanted. What she longed for. So…why did it scare her to death?

“More than anything.” He framed her face. “I think you know by now how much I value you. How much I respect you. I think we’ve spent enough time together to lay a foundation of friendship we can build upon. This won’t be just sex with us, we’ll be making love.”

His words took Apple’s breath away. “I won’t be able to sleep. I’m already so excited I’m trembling.”

Her confession made his heart pound and his cock throb. “Me too, baby. Me too. I just hope I can make you happy.”

He was worrying about satisfying her? “I’m happy now. Just knowing you want me is everything.”

Benjen clasped her to him, cradling her small body to his, loving the feel of her breasts cushioned against his chest. “Once I start, I may never be able to stop,” he whispered in her hair.

After holding her for a long moment, Benjen drank from her lips, then whistled for the dogs so he could see Rose and Apple safely inside. “Lock up and sleep tight.”

“Okay.” She gave him a sweet smile. “Tomorrow night I won’t have to sleep alone.”

“No, baby.” He stroked her cheek gently. “Tomorrow night, neither of us will be alone.”