Chapter Three

 

 

 

“Please fasten your seatbelts and put your trays in the upright position. We will be beginning our descent in just a few minutes.” The flight attendant’s voice was sweet and southern, not enough of a drawl to be Texan, but she was super nice and had expertly handled herself during the trip.

Feels like home…

But did it really? Not two whole days after putting her family to rest, Elle had fled the great state of Texas like a scalded dog. Following Jodie’s wishes to ‘check out’ the Seattle area, Elle received a transfer to her firm’s Northwest office, rented a house on Puget Sound sight-unseen, filled the largest storage unit at U-Pac-It We-Stor-It to the brim with family memories, packed up her SUV, and headed north without a backward glance.

Every mile had given her a sense of relief. She was escaping the ghosts of the past, moving on, and finding her footing as the lone member of the Burntwing family. She’d even pushed her Rain Bird into a faraway mental cage and locked it tight, refusing to be pulled any farther into the world of furred, fanged, feathered, or whatever other creature might go bump in the night.

Nothing had been easy. Premonitions of evil, the screams of her family, and visions of Dragons who turned into Wolves who turned into big, brawny Cowboys had been nightly visitors. A sense of someone or better yet, something watching her…stalking her…learning her every move had gotten so bad that she’d refused to leave the house. Working at home became the norm for nearly three months and her attic loft had been her haven.

Eventually, after diligent meditation and several visits to Sylvanna, a very strong Cherokee Healer who had known her family, Elle found a new center and put most of what Syl called minutiae behind her. There were still times when she couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder. When the feeling of being watched was just too strong to ignore. When the marking, much like a tattoo, that she’d received when her Rain Bird’s soul had joined with her own would flutter its wings and ruffle its feathers sending chills down her spine.

There hadn’t been a bolt of lightning or a roll of thunder, just a ‘feeling’ that pulled her from a deep sleep, calling her to the beach just outside the back of her home. Watching the waves gently ebb and flow, leaving their mark on the sand, she caught sight of tiny holes popping through the surface, little footprints leading down the beach.

Not sensing any danger, she followed the trail and after nearly what she guessed to be three-quarters of a mile, found the nest of a sea turtle whose children had just hatched and were making their way into the water. Turning to look back the way she’d just come, Elle was shocked to see one of the hatchlings following in her footsteps, scampering as quickly as his little legs would carry him to catch up with his brothers and sisters.

Knowing better than to touch the little creature but needing to make sure he was okay, she went to him and as she slowly walked alongside, asked, “Where did you come from? I know you weren’t here just a few seconds ago.”

From one heartbeat to the next, the tiny turtle became a tall, floating mirage of glowing light and delicate shadows – what Elle imagined an Angel would look like were she ever fortunate enough to meet one. Unsure what to say or do, she merely stared at the ‘Angel’s’ hair the color of the sea and her long robe the soft green of a water lily’s pad as it billowed in the breeze.

It felt as if she’d fallen into a cloud as the Angel’s shining eyes smiled and her melodic voice whispered, “I am not an Angel, dear Eleanor, Bringer of Life. I am only a Messenger sent from the Heavens to prepare you for what is to come.”

“We have felt your sadness, your sorrow, and grieve at your loss. We have cried with you, held you in our sweet embrace, and waited until the time both you and your Winged Chieftess were ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“Ready to put right what has been thrown asunder.”

Silence filled the space between them, even the water stood still as the Messenger floated forward and laid her ethereal hand on Elle’s shoulder. Strength, love, and most of all, fierce determination emanated from her touch. Her eyes burned brighter and her voice held unspeakable power as she continued, “Your family is not at rest. It is their calls you hear, their eyes searching for you that you feel, their need to keep you safe that hovers about you.”

“But it feels threatening, even dangerous. There’s no way that is my family.”

“You are correct. That is the One you must destroy. The respite and peace that swoops in and drives the fear away, that is your loved ones.”

“But how can I fix this? How do I help? I’m not equipped to repair what’s been done.”

“Oh, but you are Eleanor. You are stronger than you know. When the time is right, the Fire will find you.”

Once again silence echoed across the beach as Elle waited for more details, longed for more of an explanation, but nothing came. Just as she’d appeared, so did the Messenger disappear. Looking left and right, running into the water, yelling for her to come back, Elle stopped as the tide reached her waist and the soft voice of the Messenger floated on the breeze.

“Fire to destroy. Water to cleanse. Love to create. The Blessing to sustain.”

“Thank you for flying American Airlines. The weather here in El Paso is a scorching ninety-seven today. If your vacationing, welcome to the great state of Texas, and for the rest of you, glad you made it back.”

Thankfully, the Captain’s announcement had woken Elle from her daydreaming just in time. She’d avoided hearing the words that always caused her heart to palpitate and her body to shake. Unbuckling her seatbelt and standing up, she retrieved her bag from the overhead compartment and got in line to exit.

Entering the airport, she watched people hugging and kissing, welcoming one another and happily chatting about whatever people happily chat about after getting off a plane. Making her way to the luggage carousel nearly by memory, she watched a young mother with two boys who couldn’t have been more than three and four and their cute, chubby-cheeked baby sister in a stroller.

The boys were having an incredibly intense conversation about Bob the Builder while their mother was chatting away to someone on her cell phone. The whir of the motor of the luggage carousel starting up drew the boys’ attention as they both pointed with wide eyes, oohs and ahhs, and immediate chattering about the imaginary beast coming out of its cave.

Wonder if I would make a good mom? I always thought I would have my mom around to help me. Dad would’ve been one helluva Pop-pop.

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than the tallest of the little boys looked right at her, smiled, and headed her way. Stopping just short of stepping on her foot with his little, scuffed, navy-blue tennis shoes, the boy crooked his finger in a come-hither motion waiting for Elle to kneel down before nodding, “You’re gonna be a great mommy. You just need…”

 “Weston Blake, you come here right this minute. Leave that lady alone.” Stowing her phone in the pink and white ruffled diaper bag, she pushed the stroller with one hand while pulling the younger of her sons along with the other, and profusely apologized, “I’m so very sorry. Wes is a people person. Never meets a stranger. He just loves talking to anyone who will listen.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Elle quickly reassured, although she wanted so badly to ask the little boy what she needed.

And there it is, reason number nine-hundred-seventy-three why I am gonna end up in the Looney Bin. I think little boys in airports have the answers to life’s hardest questions…

 Looking over as she continued to watch for her bags, Elle felt a tiny pang in the depths of her heart when a man in jeans and a green T-shirt appeared beside the mother and her children making the boys happily squeal, “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!”

Adding to the perfection of the reunion, the man picked up his boys, one in each arm, and hugged them tightly. It was a damned Hallmark commercial unfolding right before her eyes -sappy, lovey-dovey and totally wonderful.

“What is it about a big, brawny guy with a child in his arms that’s so damned irresistible?” She murmured to herself. “It’s like kryptonite for every single woman within a fifty-mile radius. Our hearts go boom-boom. Our legs fly open, and our bodies scream, ‘Give me a baby’.”

“So, all I have to do is carry around a baby and you’ll fall into my arms and profess your undying love?”

Junior’s deep baritone and unmistakable drawl forced a full-blown laugh from Elle as she teased, “Yeah, right and a fifth of Cuervo.” Accepting her old friend’s hug, she asked, “What the heck are you doin’ here? How did you know I was comin’?”

Stepping back and shaking his head, Junior sighed, “That client of yours has been raisin’ the roof, screamin’ your name, and threatenin’ to sue us all since we arrested him day before yesterday.” Sliding his hand in front of hers and getting her suitcase off the carousel before she could, he added, “So, I called the airlines, bent a couple of rules, and found out when you were getting here.”

“But it’s a hundred-and-sixty-miles from Valentine. You didn’t have to…”

“You’re right. I didn’t. I wanted to.” Turning around and standing to her side, Junior crooked his arm and winked, “Besides, we can get Sonic burgers and chocolate shakes while you tell me all about Seattle.”

Laying her hand on his arm, Elle couldn’t help but laugh, “Why Junior Mesa, you always did know just the right thing to say.”

The ride to Valentine was relaxing. Junior filled her in on all the latest. Who was sleeping with who. Who was getting a divorce. Who was having a baby. Who was getting married, and best of all, who Smitty was chasing.

True to his word, Junior made a beeline for the Sonic, and in less than fifteen minutes after passing the ‘Welcome to Valentine, TX Our hearts are as big as our hats’ sign Elle had a Sonic burger with cheese hold the onions, a large order of onion rings, and a chocolate milkshake made with real ice cream, whipped up with an old-fashioned milkshake blender, and sporting real whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry. Sucking on the straw so hard her cheeks sunk in, she counted the seconds it took for her to get the first drop of creamy, chocolatey goodness on her tongue before laying her head back and sighing, “Damn if this place doesn’t make the best milkshakes in the world.”

“Mmhmm, you know it, Girl,” Junior agreed, the same dreamy tone in his voice as he went back to drinking his shake.

“Wonder where old Mel got the recipe for his ice cream?”

“Says he’ll never tell. That he taught Justine and when he passes, she’ll have to teach one of her kids.”

Nodding her head, smiling as she remembered Mel saying the same thing to her when she worked there during the summers, a flash of light and the sound of thunder had her looking to the right. Staring past the Ford dealership and across the fields, she searched for the source of the light but found nothing.

Tuning back into Junior’s commentary on high school football and the lack of true coaching since Coach Tomasson retired, the feeling of being watched and the sense of impending doom became just too much for Elle to ignore. Without a word, she set what was left of her shake in the cup holder between the seats and got out of the car.

Ignoring Junior’s shouts, she followed her senses, even going so far as to open the door of the mental caged she’d stuck her Rain Bird in all those months before. Marching along the tall, chain-link fence of the car lot, she crossed the roughed mown grass that separated the asphalt from the corn field and stopped at the fence.

Grabbing the post just as a wave of magic washed over and through her, Elle clung to the rough wood as the soft, downy feathers of her Rain Bird burst into her mind as its wings opened wide. Cooing so deeply in its chest it sounded more like a growl than a song, the Rain Bird opened his beak and snatched a large black bug from the mental image of the steamy desert floor.

The crunching of its shell and the squish of its guts echoed through Elle’s mind as the vision of a great Bronze Dragon replaced the swirling blue, purple, and golden feathers of the Rain Bird. Fire shot from the Warrior’s snout. Rain poured from the sky above. And once again Elle heard the words, “Fire to destroy. Water to cleanse.”

The feel of Junior’s hands on her shoulders and the sound of his worried questions broke the spell. Turning towards her longtime friend, Elle quickly assured, “I’m fine. Chill for once in your damn life, Junior. I just wanted to see if I could still make out the weathervane on Jack McClure’s barn.”

It was obvious Junior didn’t believe her but was thankfully willing to play along as he halfheartedly chuckled, “They tore that barn down six months ago, Goofball.”

“Well shit, no wonder I couldn’t see it.”

Waiting until they were back in the car and pulling out of the parking lot, Elle asked, “After court tomorrow, can you take me back to the desert?”

“You know I can,” Junior answered without pause. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”

Be careful there, Junior. Not even I know what I need…