Chapter Four
"You could be mistaken for Native American," Mica said and then tapped Deacon's arm. "Would you flag down our server and ask her to refill my water? With extra ice? I feel like a camel."
All it took was him raising his hand and tilting his chin up in the direction of the server to have her hurrying out. "What can I get you Commander?"
Reese saw the eye-roll Mica gave and bit back a smile. It was a given that the Johns brothers were women magnets.
"Could you bring my beautiful wife another glass of water? Heavy on the ice?"
"You bet. Be back in a jif."
"Wow," Reese said when the woman departed. "Deacon, could you or Wiley please go with me next time I need to apply for a grant? There's aways at least two women itching to reject my proposal."
Molly and Mica laughed and Mica put her hand to her belly. "I swear this baby is beating his head on my bladder. Excuse me." She pushed back from the table, stood and when she did a look of surprise and then dismay came on her face.
"Oh oh."
"What?" Molly asked.
"I think I just went into labor."
"Oh." Deacon bounded to his feet. "Okay, let's get you to the car and then to the hospital."
"Sit down. We don't have to go yet."
"Then what do you want to do?"
"Pee and have breakfast."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously." Molly got up as well. "I need to go, too. Come on, Mica. We'll waddle there together."
Reese watched them walk away. "So, you're just going to sit here and have breakfast like everything is normal?"
"Everything is normal," Mercy said.
"If you say so." It didn't seem normal to Reese, but she'd never had a child or been around a woman in labor so what did she know?
"It can take quite a while for a first birth," Mercy added. "I'd guess they'll be going to the hospital around four this afternoon."
"That long?" Wiley asked.
"That's not uncommon." She looked at Deacon. "She'll be fine."
"I know. I wonder if I should call Mathias?"
"Not until you are at the hospital. No need for him hovering around her all day."
"True." Wiley agreed and looked up at the server who returned with a full glass of water and her order pad.
"Ya'll ready?" She asked.
"Sure." Wiley said and ordered for himself and Molly. Deacon did the same for himself and Mica. Just as Reese, the last on the list finished placing her order, the women returned.
"We ordered for you," Deacon announced.
"Works for me. I could eat a buffalo," Mica replied.
The rest of the meal was passed with talk about babies, bees, how long before Wiley and Molly's house was finished and how Kaylee was all excited about the butterfly garden she and Elisi were planting.
Reese was the first to excuse herself. She was happy to have met Mica, and already liked Mercy and Molly, but felt a little out of place. These people were clearly family and despite her close relationship to Wiley, she wasn't family and felt that quite keenly.
She went home and turned her attention to her project. Tonight was her date with Mathias, but she wouldn't have to start getting ready until five so she had all day to work and that was fine.
Later in the afternoon she was so absorbed going over footage from the morning, that she didn't hear her phone at first. When she did, she hurried to the kitchen where the phone lay on the table.
She smiled as she saw Mathias' name on the caller ID. "Hi," she answered.
"Hey. Listen, as much as I hate it, I need to ask for a raincheck on our date."
"Oh." She hoped her disappointment wasn't evident in her voice.
"My sister's having her baby. Deacon just called and said it should be any time now. I need to go see her—them. I hope you understand."
"Of course, I do. Congratulations to your family and to you, Uncle Mathias."
"Thanks. Can we try again next Friday? Please."
"Absolutely."
"Thanks, Reese. I'll talk to you soon."
"Okay. Again, congratulations. Bye, Matty."
"Bye."
She put the phone down and then turned and just stared across the room. She'd spent how many evenings here by herself? Quite a few and never had she felt alone or lonely. So why was this evening so different?
Why was a postponed date such a big deal and why did it make her feel so alone? Reese hated that feeling and she wouldn't allow it to control her. She couldn't sit, so she headed outside and stood on the front porch, staring out at the dwindling day and wondering if being this interested in a man was a smart thing, or a very dumb one.
On impulse she went back inside and picked up her phone. The call was answered on the second ring.
"I was wondering how long you were going to ignore me."
"I wasn't ignoring."
"Don't play dumb, it doesn't become you."
"Fine. What's up?"
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Why?"
"I'm lonely. But I'm guessing you have a date. Or two."
Linc laughed. "I could cancel if you need company."
"It's been a while."
"Yes, it has. I've missed you."
"Same here."
"Then why don't I pick up from food and head over?"
"You sure?"
"Of course I am."
"Thanks. See you soon."
Reese ended the call and went back outside to the porch. She was grateful she wouldn't have to spend the evening alone, but wished it could have been spent with Mathias.
That thought had her mentally chastising herself. She'd never been this way, pining over a man or feeling let down or disappointed over a canceled date. What the heck was wrong with her?
Maybe you're falling for him. That thought was enough to have her gritting her teeth. She didn't fall. Love meant losing yourself and then when the person who owned all your love died or left, you were nothing but emptiness and pain.
Falling in love was the absolute last thing she wanted. She wasn't going to fall for Mathias Gray Horse. She'd have some fun with him, hopefully some great sex but she was not going to fall in love.
*****
Mathias turned from where he stood, splitting wood, and looked toward the back porch of his house. Trina and Brody were headed in his direction. He slammed the ax head into the chopping block and met them halfway.
"What's up?"
"Just wanted to see how you are."
As much as he cared about Trina, her ability to pick up on things could be annoying. For the last couple of months, he’d gone through mental or psychological changes, he wasn’t sure how to label it. He was more receptive to people and could sense things about them, which wasn’t necessarily bad, but it presented a challenge, namely, how to respect their privacy and turn off his receptors as he and Etta had named it.
Mathias had spoken with Etta about the changes. He not only trusted her but valued her input and knowledge. She believed the change was brought about by the joining with Trina, once when Trina healed him of PTSD and the other when Trina drew upon his energy to save Brody.
Etta believed Mathias had taken on something of Trina, her ability to see inside people. He wasn’t upset about that. Maybe he could help people with such an ability. But there was more than what he’d gained.
He’d lost as well. Trina’s healing had faded. Now it was like a thin sheen of varnish over wood left sitting in the sun and rain. The elements were slowly but surely breaking it down, and one day it would be gone.
Mathias was learning to deal with what had caused the PTSD in a non-paranormal manner, namely through therapy with Etta and strength of will. It wasn’t easy, but he was proud at what he’d achieved so far. He was no longer crippled by it, and he’d learned how to enjoy his life again despite what he’d experienced.
Now, he just wished Trina would leave him be to do that.
"You could have called,” he pointed out.
"I guess," Trina agreed, "But we were on our way home from visiting Mica and the baby and I wanted to see you."
"Okay." He waited for her to say what had really prompted the visit. "How're they doing today? I saw them for a little while last evening and that little boy already looks like he's grown."
"I think he's got a lot of Gray Horse in him," Brody commented. "It's pretty cool that they gave him both names. Eli Deacon Gray Horse Johns. Where did Eli come from?"
"Eli was the name of the Smith who looked after us as children."
"It's nice to name the baby for him," Trina commented.
"Yeah, it was. So, you said you wanted to see me?"
"Yes. I—we, I mean I—" Trina stammered.
"Oh, for crying out loud," Brody spoke up. "Look, she's got a bee in her bonnet over you asking Reese Quinn out. I told her it's none of her business but —
"You're right." Mathias interrupted. He cared deeply for Trina and Brody was one of his best friends, but Trina was crossing a line.
He turned his attention to her. "I appreciate your friendship. You know that. But, this is none of your business."
"None of my business? Mathias, I touched her and—"
"And if you were deliberately trying to see something then you were violating her privacy. I know she's different. That's part of what makes her interesting. And I don't need you looking inside her to uncover her secrets. Relationships grow and mature by people sharing things about themselves, not having someone spy on them to reveal their mysteries."
"Well, thanks a lot."
He could tell that she was upset, and it wasn't his intention to anger her, but she had to understand that his interest in Reese was his business and his alone. "Come on, Trina, you know I'm right. Regardless of what you think you picked up, I'm not interested in knowing. I'd like the chance to discover for myself who she is and if I like her.
"And more importantly, you and Mica need to stop behaving like I'm some emotionally stunted person who can't handle his own life. I'll never stop being grateful for what you did for me, but I don't need help to conduct my life, and I'd really appreciate if you both just stopped interfering."
"I wasn't trying to—"
"Yes, hon, you were." Brody interjected and earned an annoyed look from her. "Matty's right. This is his business, and you're crossing a line. Friends support friends, not try to dictate what they do or who they see. If that were the case, we'd sure as hell have never ended up where we are."
"I know, I know." She swiped at her eyes. "And I don't mean any harm. Honest to god. It's just that—something about her makes me nervous—like watching a storm move toward you. I just don't want anyone to get hurt."
"Neither do I," Mathias agreed. "But there are never guarantees. You know that. And maybe it's like Molly says and the hormones have your wires crossed. She said it messes with hers, so you could be the same."
"Maybe. I don't know." She literally threw up her hands. "Fine. I'll stop meddling, but I have to say it. Don't blame me if this turns out to be a mess."
"I wouldn't think of it." He smiled and turned his attention to Brody. "I know you were in for a physical. Everything okay?"
"Yep, still right as rain. And that reminds me. Deac said he wants to do war games within a month’s time. You up for training a team with me?"
"Sure."
"Cool. Wanna get in the pool on who'll win?"
"Is Deac training?"
"He is."
"Then I'll bet on him."
Brody laughed. "Probably a sound wager. He's stacked the deck against us."
"Who's working with him?"
"Wiley and Linc."
"Then let's see if we can't do a little stacking of our own and enlist JJ and Grady."
"I like the way your mind thinks. I'll talk to them in the morning. You have any plans tonight?"
Mathias cut a look at Trina before answering. "Yeah, I have a date."
"Well, have fun," Brody responded and took Trina's hand. "Come on, babe, let's hit the road."
"Are you mad at me?" Trina asked Mathias.
"No, I'm not."
"Good. Then maybe we'll see you at Sunday dinner at Dad's?"
"Maybe."
"Okay, then I guess we'll see you when we see you?"
"Yep." He smiled and watched them walk away. He knew Trina didn't mean any harm, and he hated having to call her down, but he meant what he said. Regardless of who Reese was, it was his right to discover it on his own and in his own way.
Still, he couldn't help that small niggle of unease. Trina was rarely wrong.
Which meant, he could be making yet another in a long line of mistakes with women.
*****
Reese checked the time. "Damn!" She'd lost track of time. It was nearly half-past five. That meant she had only half an hour to get cleaned up and ready for her date with Mathias. It'd been a week since they rescheduled and a week that seemed to have moved very slowly.
She stood, thinking about her task for the day. Observation. Today, she observed the butterflies that had just emerged from the chrysalis.
As she turned toward the house, she became aware of a sound. When recognition registered in her mind, panic quickly followed. Reese looked skyward. A crop duster was headed in her direction, flying low
"Oh, hell." She raced for the end of the garden. Penelope Harlow had designed wisely, and the entire garden was built in a collapsible greenhouse. It wasn't the prettiest structure, but it worked.
Metal arches spaced equidistantly along the length of the garden provided the framework. Using a rather ingenious rope system, one person could raise the plastic sheeting up from one side and pull it over the height of the steel to cover the garden.
It wasn't a quick process, but today it had to be because the plane was getting closer and she could see the billow of white trailing from it. If it was dusting pesticides, her bugs were in danger. Reese wasted no time.
She had the plastic nearly to the apex of the arch when the motion stopped. "Crap!" The plastic was bunched on one of the arches and tangled on the rope, preventing it from moving.
Reese raced to the tool shed and hefted the sixteen-foot ladder on her shoulder. She huffed as she carried it to the garden and was out of breath when she propped it against the metal arch and started climbing.
As she worked to free the snag, she looked up. The plane was getting closer. Determined to save the butterflies, she worked at the obstacle and finally freed it. She hurriedly climbed down, lay the ladder on the ground and went back to work on moving the cover.
The sound of the plane engine grew increasingly louder, and she started to panic that she wouldn't finish in time. The plastic slid into place, and she raced to one end, to loosen the ropes holding the door in place on top of the plastic. When it slid into place, she headed for the opposite end.
That's when she saw the dust floating down. Reese nearly cried as she ran. By the time she had one side covered, and the garden secured, there was a fine dusting of powder on a good six feet of plants on the other end.
Reese took the time to smell the powder. It had to be a pesticide, which meant she needed to get the plants cleaned. She completely forgot about her date as she hooked up the garden hose to the homemade watering system and turned it on.
The spray was too fine because of the length of the hose and didn't have enough pressure to wash away the dust. So, she disconnected the hose, connected a second to make it long enough and started watering the plants. She took care to wash every leaf on every plant and to pluck the blooms off to prevent the butterflies or bees from feeding on infected plants.
"Reese?"
She jumped at the sound of Mathias' voice and whirled around. He stood at the door with the plastic lifted enough to look in.
"Did you change your mind?"
"No, no." She answered quickly. "I'm sorry. Come in. I need that to stay closed."
"Okay." He stepped inside the greenhouse and let the plastic fall into place. "What's wrong?"
"Some crop duster dumped pesticide everywhere. On my land. I had to cover the garden, and some of the plants were contaminated, so I have to clean them and remove the blooms."
"I'll help." He walked over beside her.
"No, you'll get dirty and–"
"I've been dirty before. What do I do?"
"Seriously?"
"Tell me."
"Pick all the blossoms on all the plants to that arch," she pointed. "That's the contaminated area."
"What do I do with the blooms?"
"Just drop them. I'll rake up everything and haul it away when we finish."
He set about the task and Reese went back to the job of washing the plants. She completely lost track of time. She took a break on the work in the garden to check the bee hives. Two were contaminated, which meant she'd have dead bees and contaminated honey in a couple of days.
She felt like crying but instead, cleaned up the bee yard and hosed it down around the hives as best she could. It wasn't until she turned off the water that she realized twilight was upon them. There was still a lot to do.
"I'm really sorry," she said to Mathias.
"It's okay."
"No, there's nothing about this that's okay. I was looking forward to tonight but I still have to get rid of the blooms and dirt in the garden and spread clean dirt."
"Then let's get to it."
"I can't ask you to do that."
"I volunteered."
"Are you for real?"
Mathias smiled. "Come on, let's get it done."
By the time they finished, they were both sweaty and dirty. Reese turned the hose on herself in the yard then offered it to Mathias. "Hold on." He jogged over to his truck, opened the extra cab door and after a minute returned with a duffle bag.
"Go bag," he explained. "Which means—"
"Extra clothes,” Reese finished. "Cool. Then go inside. You can shower off and change, and I'll fix us something to eat."
"You cook?"
"If you want to call it that. I can scramble eggs, and I have a couple of steaks I can throw in the skillet."
"Works for me."
"Great. Help yourself to the shower."
"You go first."
She waved him away. “There's an outdoor shower on the back deck, and I keep soap and stuff because I'm always getting filthy. I'll clean up there and get started on the food."
"Okay, if you're sure."
"I am. Go."
Mathias headed for the house, and she watched him, trying not to let her mind get too focused on thoughts of him in the shower. Naked. Wet.
Reese literally groaned, turned off the water and slogged around the house to the small deck. Penelope had hung up a curved shower rod on the eave of the house, and there was a water pipe fixed to the wall with an old shower head. The water was cold but when you've been working outside, it didn't matter.
Well, actually it did once you cooled off and then it inspired you to get clean fast. Reese washed up, wrung the water from her hair and dried off with the towel she plucked from the hook on the wall. Once she had it wrapped around herself, she went in and stopped in the laundry room where clean clothes were stacked on the dryer.
Five minutes later, dressed in a tank top and shorts, with her hair plaited into a long braid, she went into the kitchen, pulled steaks from the refrigerator and plopped them in the big cast-iron skillet that always sat on the stove. She turned on the burner and fetched eggs.
By the time she had the eggs ready to go into the skillet and a pan of bread toasting in the oven, Mathias walked into the kitchen.
Despite her worry over what had happened with the crop duster, nothing could dim the impact Mathias had on her. "Wow,” she said when she looked over her shoulder at him. "What you do to fatigues and a t-shirt should be illegal."
"You don't have to put up a front. I know you're angry."
Reese turned to face him. "First, I'm not. Putting up a front, I mean. Second, you're right. I'm pissed. But I can't undo it, so I might as well let things process so I can figure out what to do."
"Is that how it works?"
"People rarely make sound decisions when they're angry, hungry or tired and I'm all three, so the best thing I can do is eat, rest and find something besides anger to focus on and all kidding aside, you do have the ability to take my mind off almost everything."
She turned and poured the eggs into the skillet. "Except food. I'm starving. Do you like omelets?"
"I do."
"Good. I have beer, bottled water, orange juice and uh, bottled water. Grab what you want from the fridge. And would you get me a bottle of water?"
"Sure." He pulled two bottles from the refrigerator and handed her one before opening his. "So, tell me about your bugs."
She chuckled. "My bugs?"
"Bees. Butterflies."
"Well, let's see. Tidbits about butterflies. There are between 15,000 to 20,000 different species. They have taste receptors on their feet and two sets of eyes. Monarch butterflies are known for their long migration. Each year they travel as much as 4000 kilometers where the females lay eggs, and the new generation then travels back and completes the cycle."
Reese cut the omelet in half while still in the pan and then slid the portions onto the plates already bearing steak. She carried the plates to the table and put them down. "Sit. I'll get the bread."
"Tell me more about butterflies,” Mathias said as he took a seat.
"Okay, let me think. Oh, I know. What makes them fly. That's kind of cool." She took the bread pan from the oven, dumped the bread onto a plate and carried it to the table.
"Butterflies have powerful muscles in their thorax that forces their wings up and down on a fulcrum basis. Interestingly, they actually go in a slanted figure eight motion that propels them forward in the same principle as an airplane."
Reese sat, picked up her knife and fork and cut off a bite of steak. "I should have asked you how you like your steak." She stabbed the rare bit of meat and looked at Mathias.
"As long as it isn't mooing it's good."
She laughed at his answer. "I may have to steal that line."
"Feel free. Pretty sure I took it from someone. So back to you. Tell me about bees."
As they ate, she talked and by the time they were almost finished, she felt like she'd just given a lecture on the life of bees. "Bees are amazing, and as you can see, I could talk for hours about them, but unless you've just developed a sudden passion for them, how about we pick another topic."
"Okay. What?"
"Anything. What kind of music do you like?"
"No particular genre, just whatever I hear that speaks to me."
She nodded and continued eating. "Does anything besides music speak to you?"
"Sun, wind, water, the earth."
"Are you getting all Native on me?"
"Is that being Native? Hearing the earth?"
"Perhaps. Most people can't."
"Can you?"
"No. At least I don't think so. Nature speaks I suppose, but what I perceive are the patterns, the flow, and the currents. Its complexity is matched only by its simplicity and an elegance that's so beautiful it takes my breath."
"Sounds to me like you hear a lot."
"I'm not sure hear is the right word, but then I could be wrong. I never really focus on one sense above the other, I just —witness and absorb, as silly as that may sound."
"It doesn't sound silly at all. It sounds like being."
"Being? What do you mean?"
Mathia put his knife and fork on his plate, stood and held out his hand. "Come with me."
Reese took his hand, and he led her outside to the back porch. He had her sit on the step just below him. Stars dotted the sky, and a crescent moon smiled on them while a soft breeze rustled leaves in the trees beside the house.
"What are we—"
"Shhh." Mathias put his finger to her lips. "Just sit here with me and let the earth talk to us."
Reese nodded, and he draped his arms over her shoulders. Reese liked the feel of his arms around her and being sandwiched between his muscular legs. She looked at the sky, felt the wind on her face and the bare skin of her arms and the heat of Mathias' arms around her.
It lulled and calmed her without her even realizing. Her mind stilled, and she heard it. His heart. Strong, slow and steady. Like a drum. The sound of an owl rang out and was answered. Crickets chorused, and in the distance, frogs croaked, and it all blended into an orchestra that carried a message.
Peace and protection.
Reese felt her tension melt away and turned on the step to wrap her arms around Mathias' waist, pressing the side of her face against his abdomen. He held her, and she melted into his embrace, surrendering to the bliss of the moment.
She didn't even realize she'd fallen asleep until he placed her on her bed. "Shhh,” he released her and pulled the spread over her. "Thank you for dinner and for being."
"Mathias." She caught his hand and ran her free hand up behind his neck to pull his face down. "You are magic, my warrior. Thank you."
He accepted her kiss but didn't press for more. When it ended, he touched his hand to the side of her face. "Sleep well."
Reese smiled and closed her eyes, hoping to fall into the land of dreams where a strong warrior held her, and she felt safe and loved.