Monday early afternoon: Ft. Peck Indian Reservation

Lindsey made it a point to sit next to Matty Yellow Wolf at lunch. She did her best to not get busted checking Yellow Wolf out, but she found it hard to take her eyes off him. He was so gorgeous and quiet and god knows she loved the strong, silent type. Yellow Wolf reminded her so much of a young Rainhorse it made her heart ache.  

She had cried herself to sleep many nights thinking of that incredible man wasting away in prison. She had visited the prison to see him even though she knew he would refuse and turn her away. The trip still made her feel like she was doing... something.

Yellow Wolf made eye contact with Lindsay and smiled. She returned the smile, and they sat there, looking at each other as Red Feather and Neha talked about old times. 

Lindsay had been enjoying the conversation until she realized something was off. Her radar went up. Something was missing from the dialog. At first, she dismissed the growing feeling something was wrong. At a certain point the smile disappeared from her face.  She focused more on the conversation Red Feather and Neha were having and more on what they were not saying.

Their discussion topics were wide ranging: Red’s marriage to Rose—how they met; the rehabilitation foundation Lindsay, Neha and Ellie Limberhand established; Red’s youth; how Neha and Rainhorse met. It went on and on.

At a certain point, she perked up—a stark realization swept over her. It became clear what seemed out of place. She stood and gathered the dishes, taking as many as she could carry to the sink.

“Just leave them,” Neha insisted. “Let’s put on a pot of coffee and go into the living room.”

Lindsay nodded, looking troubled. The look of concern on her face did not escape Neha.

“Why don’t you two go ahead,” Lindsay said to Red and Matty. “I’ll put on the coffee and join you in a few minutes.”

Red Feather and Yellow Wolf stood and walked toward the living room, chuckling about a situation they’d been discussing. Neha stayed back, stacking dishes and bowls and carrying them to the sink.

“What’s wrong, Lindsay?” she asked, approaching her from behind.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Lindsay insisted.

“I don’t buy it,” Neha continued. “One minute you’re all smiles and googly eyed, checking Matty out and the next minute you go silent.  Why don’t you tell me what…?”

“You’ve been lying to me, Neha!” Lindsay spouted, turning to face the beautiful Cheyenne woman.

Neha’s eyes widened as a look of shock formed on her face. She froze, “What are you talking about...”

“Red and Matty—they aren’t here to do repairs or landscape work,” Lindsay interrupted. “They’re here to protect us. The question is, from what... or who?”

Neha paused, her mouth agape. Lindsay could almost hear the wheels turning in the woman’s head.

“Trying to figure out what lie I will buy?” Lindsay asked.

“I don’t know why you think something is up,” Neha replied.

Lindsay rolled her eyes and sighed, “Please Neha, don’t play games with me. First, I’ve never heard you express the slightest bit of interest in fixing up your house and putting in landscaping, and suddenly two men show up to do the job.”

“But, that can be explained…” Neha complained.

“You send Lona to Utah,” Lindsay continued, “and two days later, Red and Matty appear with this story about upgrading the house and garden.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking...”

“And instead of hiring someone local, you bring in two former Navy SEALS, one of whom is Jackson’s nephew.  Together they look like they could fend off a small army.”

“That means nothing,” she insisted.

“And when they arrived, neither one of them even took a peek at the yard or asked about the upgrades you wanted. We spend over an hour at lunch talking and neither one mentions tools, a nursery, lumber yard or anything associated with actual work. These guys aren’t here to plant shrubs or fix the roof. Tell me I’m wrong.”

Neha opened her mouth to protest but caught herself.

“That’s what I thought,” Lindsay continued. “We’re in trouble, aren’t we?”

Neha looked down and shook her head, forming a small smile. Rainhorse told her how smart Lindsay was, and he wasn’t kidding.

“It’s just a precaution,” Neha said.

“Precaution against what? Tell me,” Lindsay demanded.

“Rainhorse is worried,” Neha said. “He thinks his former boss...”

Lindsay’s eyes widened; she took in a breath and held it for a few seconds.

“Barnabas?” she said. “The man who ordered my death? That former boss?”

Neha nodded, “The same.”

“And you would not tell me?”

Neha thought about her response. Lindsay was perceptive but Rainhorse was explicit about Lindsay not knowing the FBI intended to use him to catch Barnabas. He would never forgive her if Lindsay found out and searched for him.

“Rainhorse didn’t want you to know,” Neha said, “because the chances are remote Barnabas would come after you.”

“Because it’s him they want,” Lindsay said.

Neha said nothing.

“Something must have happened, right?” Lindsay said. “Have they tried to kill him? Oh, my god! Is he all right?”

“He’s fine, Lindsay,” she replied. “Just calm down. This is why Rainy didn’t want you to know about all this. He knew you’d freak out.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Lindsay said. “Something happened, though, right?”

Neha put her hand on Lindsay’s shoulder, “Nothing Rainhorse can’t handle, I promise.”

Lindsay shook her head and sighed, “You know what, Neha?  Save it. I never thought we’d bullshit each other.”

She walked away in a huff.

Neha went after her but the buzzing of her cell phone stopped her. She answered.

“Neha, it’s Ellie,” the voice on the other end of the phone said.

“Ellie, what’s happened?” Neha replied. “Is everything all right?”

“I need you to be somewhere for me early this evening,” came Ellie’s response. “Can you get away without Lindsay knowing?”

“I... guess so,” she replied. “What’s going on?”

“No time to explain,” Ellie said. She told Neha where to be and at what time.

“You’re worrying me,” Neha said.

“And for good reason,” Ellie responded. “See you soon.”