CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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Rainhorse called Neha when he was about five miles outside of Wolf City, “What hotel are you at?” he asked.

“We’re not at a hotel,” Neha replied. “Lindsay and I are in a small cabin owned by Ellie Limberhand. “When I called her to update her on the news of her friend, she offered the use of the cabin to us, for as long as we want it. It’s off the books—no one knows about it. We’ll be safe here. Lindsay and I have been talking—we have a plan.  Come quickly.”

“Where are you?” he asked.

“The cabin is located on a small lake, just inside the reservation, north of the Missouri River,” she described. Take Highway Two into Wolf Point to Sixth Avenue, turn south until it dead ends out of town. There is a dirt road to your right. Take it to the lake. You’ll see the cabin about two miles in.”

“Good,” Rainhorse replied. “I called 9-1-1 and had them send an ambulance to your house. Alonie is injured, but alive, I am told.  She should be alright.  Apollo’s men took Ska.  They intend to sell her with Lona and the others.”

“How do you know all this?” she asked.

“I’ll explain it to you when I see you,” Rainhorse replied. “I will see you soon.”

“We have hot food waiting.”

“Then I will see you sooner.”

When Rainhorse parked the truck in front of the cabin. He could barely walk. The long ride, along with the heavy blows inflicted by the truck crashing into the Lincoln he was driving had caused his body to stiffen.

“Jackson, you’re hurt,” he heard Lindsay calling. She rushed outside to help him.

“I almost did not recognize you,” Rainhorse said. “The hair . . . the clothes . . . you look very Cheyenne.”

“Do you like it?” Lindsay asked.

“It is . . . different,” he said. “You are as lovely as always . . . but it is not you. I prefer you the way you were.”

“Well, everyone else seems to like it,” she replied. “Now tell me—where are you hurt?”

“My head and my side. I do not think anything is broken,” he replied, holding his side and wincing. “I’m going to be sore for a while.”

“We’ve been waiting for you,” Neha said. “Ellie left us with a fully stocked kitchen. Are you hungry?”

“I could eat a bear,” he replied.

“Would steak do?” Neha asked.

“Filet?” Rainhorse wondered.

“Twelve ounces—center cut, medium rare,” she said. “With garlic mashed potatoes. I remembered.”

“If you added corn on the cob, I can die a happy man.”

“It’s the white corn I know you love.  And we have beer.”

“Rainier beer?”

“Is there any other kind?”

“We’re going to have to discuss this diet of yours going forward,” Lindsay said. “The incidence of colon cancer for men who eat red meat increases exponentially when you’re over fifty.”

“A discussion for another time,” he proposed. “Perhaps next month?”

“I’ll be back in college then,” she said.

“Imagine that.” Rainhorse replied. “Lindsay, I have had a rough day. Just let me eat the steak.”

“Let’s clean and bandage the cut on the side of your head before we eat,” Neha said.

Rainhorse, Neha and Lindsay shared the events of the day, each listening to the other intensely.  Neha and Rainhorse ate the steak, potatoes and corn while Lindsay ate what amounted to a plain salad with an exceptional home-made dressing Neha created from her own recipe.

“So, we had a productive day,” Rainhorse said at the end. “We know that Lona and Ska are alive and are with the other kidnapped girls. We also know they are going to be moved Sunday night.  They are likely being held at Joey Takoda’s farm, which is someplace in or near Biem on the reservation.”

“Biem is a huge area,” Neha said. “It’s far too large to pinpoint an unknown location in such a short time.”

“We also know where Joey Takoda and Hank Rattling Thunder are going to meet tomorrow night.”

Rainhorse perked up, “Really? You know where Rattling Thunder will be?”

Lindsay nodded, “He’s going to be at a high stakes private card game,” Lindsay said. “I got the time and the address from the twins today.”

“That was good work,” Rainhorse said. “I would have been happy to just find the whereabouts of Joey Takoda. Knowing where Rattling Thunder will be is a bonus.”

“What do you intend to do?” Lindsay asked.

Rainhorse shrugged, “I’ll have to think about it. It will be difficult getting to HRT or Takoda.  If it is a high stakes poker game, there will be a lot of money involved. It will be heavily guarded, especially now, after my altercation with Apollo today and what happened at the diner.”

“That’s true, but Neha and I talked all the way home, and we have an idea,” Lindsay said.

“It was Lindsay’s idea,” Neha corrected, “but I like it. I think she is on to something.”

“Tell me,” Rainhorse said.

“Hank Rattling Thunder has a daughter named Rose, who is the heir apparent to his business interests. She currently maintains his books and runs his illegal gambling activities.  She will be there tomorrow night.”

“I’m not following you,” Rainhorse said.

“We want you to kidnap Rose Rattling Thunder,” Neha announced. “Rose is everything to HRT. He would do anything for her . . .”

“Even exchange Lona and Ska and the other women for her,” Lindsay said.

Rainhorse sighed, “That is interesting, but we have the same problem getting to her as we do Joey Takoda and HRT. This game will be heavily guarded, and we have lost our element of surprise.”

“We’re not finished,” Neha said. “Lindsay gathered another useful piece of information.”

“Apparently, Rose developed a bond with these friends of Lona, the twins, Chapa and Chumani,” Lindsay said. “Each month during the middle of the card game, the players take a break. The men all step outside to the front porch to smoke cigars and pipes. Rose goes someplace out in back of the house to meet the twins. She gives them cigarettes and beer and they have a little girl talk.”

“So, you are telling me she will be isolated and unprotected for a short period of time?” Rainhorse asked.

“That’s what we’re thinking,” Neha said. “If Rose sneaks beers and cigarettes to the twins, she is likely to meet them in a private place, away from any guards.”

“Yes, if the men are gathered out front, smoking cigars, that is where the guards will be. That does seem to present a viable opportunity,” Rainhorse said.

Lindsay nodded, “We were thinking we could case the house at first light, when no one is up. We’ll identify where the twins meet Rose, we stake it out and we nab her. We will then call HRT and agree to exchange Rose for the women he is holding, including Lona and Ska.”

“The only thing we haven’t figured out is how to get in touch with HRT after we have Rose,” Neha said.

“That part is easy,” Rainhorse said. “If we did pull this off, we can leave a note informing HRT that we have his daughter and to call a certain number at a certain time.”

“Will they be able to trace the call to us, though?” Neha asked.

“I think Ellie Limberhand has phones that cannot be traced, at least not in a short period of time,” Rainhorse said. “We’ll ask her.”

“So, what do you think?” Lindsay wondered.

“It’s a good idea . . . problematic, but a good idea.”

“Walk us through the problems,” Neha said.

“Getting to this house to case it, undetected, for one,” Rainhorse began. “If it is for illegal gambling, it is likely isolated someplace in the woods.  It will be hard to get there without being seen.”

“Maybe I can use Google Earth to locate the house and find a back way,” Lindsay said.

Rainhorse nodded, “If I do get to the house, we still have to identify the place where they would meet, and even if all that works out I have to be able to capture Rose. That means I have to do it in a manner where they do not scream.”

“I have the solution,” Lindsay said.

“No. We agreed that your solution was a bad idea, Lindsay,” Neha said.

“No, you agreed that it was a bad idea,” Lindsay replied.

“What solution?” Rainhorse asked. “Tell me.”

“You’re not going to like it,” Neha insisted.

“Tell me,” Rainhorse said.

“The twins know me now,” Lindsay began. “They like me. They invited me to the house tomorrow to drink and smoke with Rose. I can text you when Rose shows up. You can subdue her quietly. I can help keep the twins quiet.”

“You are right,” Rainhorse said.

“I am?” Lindsay replied, shocked.

“No, not you—Neha. She is right, I do not like it,” he said. “There is no way I am allowing you anywhere near that place . . . period.

“It’s the best way,” she said. “I can . . .”

“Lindsay, no!” he exclaimed. “I am not putting you in harm’s way. It is not happening.”

“So, how would you capture Rose while she is with the twins, without them screaming?” she asked.

“I do not know yet,” Rainhorse said. “I will play it by ear.  I am pretty good at improvising on the fly.”

“My way is the only way,” Lindsay said. “I should come.”

“I will tie you up and gag you and stick you in the closet before I let you go,” Rainhorse promised.

“He is right,” Neha added.

“We have other problems as well,” Rainhorse continued. “Let us say we, meaning I, do capture Rose Rattling Thunder and do manage to negotiate a hostage exchange, how could we possibly guarantee a smooth exchange? I am one man. They have a small army. How can I pull this off and actually get away?”

“We were actually hoping you could figure out that part,” Neha said.

“Me?” Rainhorse said. “Let me tell you both something about planning covert missions. The plans always end with the good guys . . . getting out alive.”

“We did the hard part,” insisted Lindsay.

Rainhorse’s mouth gaped open, “I do not have the slightest idea.”

“I told you this wouldn’t be his strength, Neha,” Lindsay said. “Jackson has only tried to pull off one kidnapping and he really screwed it up.”

Rainhorse sighed, shaking his head and glaring at Lindsay.

“I will sleep on this issue,” Rainhorse said. “I will figure it out.”

“I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have both of you here,” Neha said, her eyes moistening. “Tonight, at least I can sleep knowing she is alive. For the first time since this ordeal began, I actually have . . . real hope.”

“We are going to get Lona back,” Lindsay said. “Jackson will not fail you, and I’ll be here with you until it’s done.”

Neha smiled through the tears, “Thank you. Thank both of you.”

“We must all think on this,” Rainhorse said. “I am tired. I do not think well when I am tired.”

“I think we should take a good look at your side, first,” Lindsay said. “I know you think nothing was broken, but . . .”

“It is just bruised,” Rainhorse said. “It is ok.”

“Lindsay is right. I will handle that,” Neha said, turning to Rainhorse. “Rainy, I noticed the master bath has an oversized soaking tub. Ellie has supplied us with the powders and incense to perform a Wakanpi. Would you enjoy that?”

Rainhorse looked at Neha, “A Wakanpi? Yes, a Wakanpi sounds so very good.”

“What is Wakanpi?” Lindsay asked.

“It is a Sioux healing ritual,” Neha said. “It involves deep massage, warm water, oils, soaking salts and special fragrances.”

“That sounds so good,” Lindsay replied. “Can I help?”

“No, this is a ritual that must be performed by one man and one woman,” Neha said. “Too many people scare away the healing spirits.”

She stared at Neha suspiciously. She looked at Rainhorse who was expressionless, as normal.

“I . . . see,” Lindsay replied.

“Lindsay, your help has proven to be invaluable,” Rainhorse said. “Please spend some time thinking about how we might solve our problem of a smooth exchange, and I will see you in the morning.”

“Good, I’ll draw water and gather what we need,” Neha said. She smiled at Lindsay and left, walking toward the master bedroom, leaving the teenager alone with the former Ranger.

After Neha was out of sight, Lindsay turned toward Rainhorse, “So, does this ‘healing ritual’ involve you being . . . naked?”

“That is usually how one sits in a bathtub filled with hot water,” he replied.

Lindsay nodded, “Uh huh. And is the person performing the ritual in the tub with you, also naked?”

“Oh . . . no. Well, not always,” Rainhorse said. “In Sioux culture, mothers perform Wakanpi on their sons. The sons are in the water—the mothers are not. It is not a sexual thing. It is a time for healing.”

“Uh huh,” Lindsay grunted, skeptically, “So, essentially, one could say . . . she revitalizes you—brings you back to life, right?”

Rainhorse shrugged, impassively, “Interesting. You could put it that way, I suppose.”

Lindsay pursed her lips and squinted, carefully looking at the big Cheyenne’s face, especially his eyes. Rainhorse maintained eye contact and did not allow the seriousness of his expression to wane.

“You didn’t seem at all surprised that Neha would suggest you strip naked and get in the bath while she massaged you.”

“I was surprised, actually,” Rainhorse said.

“You couldn’t prove that by the look on your face,” Lindsay noted.

Rainhorse nodded lightly, maintaining a stoic expression, “This is how I look when I am surprised.”

Lindsay nodded, giving him one last curious stare, “Ok, then. I hope the . . . healing goes well. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Lindsay walked to her bedroom, glancing over her shoulder at Rainhorse one last time. She squinted at him, offering a suspicious look. He hadn’t moved—just stood there in the center of the room.

Lindsey glared at Rainhorse one last time and slammed the door shut. He smiled.  He walked into the master bedroom.

“Neha?” he said, softly.

“I’m in the bathroom,” she replied. “Come in.”

Rainhorse opened the door to the bathroom. He heard the water running. Neha was already in the bathtub, naked, allowing the warm water from the faucet to funnel down her back.

“The water is perfect,” she said. “Get out of those clothes and join me.”

“I do not see the powders and oils,” he said, unbuttoning his shirt.

“I have already poured some wonderful bath oils into the water,” she replied. “They are from Bed, Bath and Beyond, in Bozeman. They will have to do.”

“I do not smell incense, either,” Rainhorse noted, pulling off his pants.

“Actually, I have two scented candles on the end of the tub,” she replied. “I was hoping you’d light them and turn off the bathroom light.”

“I did not grow up Sioux,” he said, “but isn’t Wakanpi a vision quest ritual requiring shamans to travel on a solitary journey to discover what the spirits ask of them?”

“I suppose it is,” Neha replied, smiling. “White girls don’t know that, though.”

“I would not underestimate this white girl,” he said. “Be that as it may, let us enjoy this moment while we can.”

He smiled. Neha followed the former Ranger with her eyes as he walked naked across the large bathroom.  She marveled at his incredible physique.  He lit the candles, turned out the light and slipped into the tub with her.  She slid toward him holding a large bath sponge, brushing it across his chest and shoulders.  Rainhorse closed his eyes and exhaled, allowing the warm water and strokes to wash away the stress and pain of the day. Neha applied the warm water liberally over his shoulders, neck, chest and arms.

“I hope you do not think too badly of me,” she said. “After all, my daughter is missing. The last thing that should be on my mind is . . . this.”

“I could never think badly of you,” Rainhorse insisted.

“It’s just that, I’ve been so scared, felt so hopeless, so isolated, so alone,” Neha said. “Then I saw you . . . and suddenly, now, I have hope. I . . .”

“You do not need to say more,” he said.

Rainhorse pulled her into him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck. Her lips found his mouth—her tongue found his. They locked in a passionate kiss. Rainhorse took things slow and easy. She broke off the kiss and sat back a moment, taking in his incredible body, illuminated in the gentle glow of the delightfully scented candles.

Neha interlocked her fingers around his neck. She raised her hips and moved them toward his stomach and then lowered herself, allowing him to enter her. She moaned. So did he.

Neha used her knees and hips to create a slow and easy harmonious rhythm. The warm, soapy water created a gentle wake over the lower half of their bodies, making it all the more pleasurable. She stroked his muscular shoulders and chest. He caressed her hair, back, breasts and buttocks, and kissed her mouth, neck and breasts.

They became lost in their passion for an immeasurable amount of time, somewhere between a fleeting moment and an eternity. She arched her back and cried out softly, nearly at the same time he moaned in a loud whisper.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked, almost pleading.

“If this is what you wish, of course,” he said.

“I just really want to be held,” she said. “I haven’t been sleeping. I’m so exhausted. I’m so worried about what is going to happen.”

“I know,” he said.

“I trust you Rainy,” she continued. “I do. I just could not go on if something were to happen to Lona.”

“I will not let that happen,” he said, softly.

She smiled and stroked his face with her hand.

“I know you won’t.”

Neha fell asleep in Rainhorse’s arms. He felt her chest expand and contract as she breathed peacefully. He was unable to sleep however, thinking about how the next few days might play out. Every imaginable possibility was streaming through his head. Only one scenario stood out above all the rest, but it would come at a price.  He looked at Neha sleeping, perhaps peacefully for the first time since this ordeal began.

Three hours later Rainhorse slipped out of bed.  Neha was still fast asleep. He quietly picked up his cellular phone and slipped out of the room.  He put on his coat and walked outside on the porch.  He opened his burner phone and turned it on.  He looked at the display one last time before dialing. He sighed, then dialed. The phone rang several times before it was answered. 

“Hello?” came a groggy greeting.

“I am sorry to wake you?” the former Ranger said.

“Who is this?” Vern Gill asked.

“This is . . . Jackson,” he replied.

“Is everything all right?” he asked. “It’s late.”

“Everything is not alright,” Rainhorse said. “I need your help. Would you be willing to help us?”

“I swore an oath to the Brotherhood Protectors,” Gill replied. “I’m retired, but if I can help you with Apollo and Hank Rattling Thunder, you can count on me?”

“Good,” Rainhorse replied. “Listen carefully.”