Chapter Five

 

 

“As this is only a bail hearing, Your Honor, I would ask that Mr. Mayhue be remanded into my custody until such time as a court case can be scheduled in El Paso County.”

An odd hush fell over the courtroom just as the little voice in the back of Elle’s mind jeered, “Boy oh boy, did you just step right into it.” Before she could open her mouth to apologize for overstepping her boundaries and making assumptions, the Honorable Horace T. Johnston looked over the gold-wire rims of his perfectly round spectacles, leaned forward as far as the massive hunk of mahogany before him would allow, and while crooking his finger, summoned, “Miss Burntwing, approach the bench.”

Refusing to show any signs of weakness like fiddling with her jacket, blowing out the breath she was holding, or glancing down at her feet, Elle instead threw her shoulders back and looked the judge right in the eye. Marching forward with her head held high, she placed her fingertips upon the ‘bench’ and nodded, “Yes, Sir.”

Holding perfectly still as the old fart took an extra second to try to stare her down, Elle forced a pleasant look upon her face as the judge growled, “Look here, Eleanor, I’ve known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper. I know your daddy taught you better. What the hell was that bullshit of tryin’ to sneak a change of venue in at the last minute?”

Everything Horace had said was true. He had known her since the day she was born and more to the point, her daddy had taught her better. It was the damned butterflies in her stomach and the unease of her Rain Bird that had Elle making rookie mistakes.

She’d been fine when she woke. Her usual breakfast of an egg white omelet, wheat toast, and a pot of black coffee had tasted extra good – had to be the West Texas water, and the drive to the courthouse had been courtesy of Junior, complete with corny jokes. So, how in all that was holy was she rattled during what should’ve been an easy in, say your peace, and out situation?

She’d have to think about it later, because in that moment Horace, affectionately known as Whole Ass by all the kids who played in the street in front of his house years and years ago, wanted an answer. Tilting her head to the side and plastering on the smile she perfected the very first time she asked her momma for the car keys, Elle acquiesced, “I am so very sorry, Judge. I guess being back home has just messed me all up. Please accept my sincerest apologies.”

Watching and waiting, she knew the second she’d charmed him into giving her what she wanted when he tilted his head to the side to mirror her own. Reaching across the dark wooden surface, he patted the back of her hand and all but cooed, “I understand. Let’s just not let it happen again. Go on back to your seat now.”

“Yes, Judge Johnston. Thank you so very much, Sir.”

Walking back with the same confidence she’d used when approaching the bench, Elle could feel the Prosecutor’s eyes on her backside and his female assistant’s glare of disapproval as she took her seat.

Ha. Don’t tell me you don’t use those double-d bazongas under that tight sweater to get what you want, Sister? Now, back off and let the big people talk.

A low stirring of the audience had the judge once again banging his gavel before announcing, “In light of the time and the need for a change of venue, I’m gonna call a recess for today.” Looking at Elle’s client, he continued, “Mr. Mayhue, you will remain a visitor of the Valentine City Jail for one more evening and I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning.”

Another bang of the gavel and Horace was off his well-fed butt and moving towards the door. Turning to her client whose mouth was open and the first curse had been thrown, Elle leaned forward, grabbed the overstuffed, self-important, arrogant asshole by the tie and pulled his face to hers.

“Shut your trap. You will go peaceably. You will keep your mouth closed…at. all. times. You will do as you’re told. And if all goes well, tomorrow I can put your ass on your daddy’s private jet with two officers and get you back to El Paso.” Jerking one more time on the silk wrapped around her fist, she added, “Your parents pay me a helluva lot of money to keep your smart ass outta trouble and off the front page of the newspapers. So, if you so much as put one toe outta line, I’m gonna pack up, head back to Seattle, and leave you hangin’ like a crawdad on a rainy day, ya’ get me?”

Frantically nodding his head with eyes so big she wondered if they would pop right out of his head, Joseph scooted so far back in his seat so quickly that he almost ended up on his head to which Elle laughed right out loud. “At least I know you were paying attention.”

Looking up at the Officer of the Court, she smiled, “You can take my client back to his cell. He won’t be givin’ you any more problems.”

Not even bothering to watch them cart Joseph out of the courtroom, Elle shoved everything into her briefcase and strolled out into the hallway. Grinning from ear-to-ear when she ran into Junior, she asked, “You free for lunch? Seems like I have the whole afternoon to myself.”

“You have got to be kiddin’ me.” Junior shook his head. “I’ve got to testify in two separate cases this afternoon.” Looking over his shoulder as his name was called by the bailiff standing at the end of the hall, her old friend quickly turned back and asked, “How about dinner?” Without waiting for an answer and as he started to turn away, he added, “I’ll pick ya’ up at eight. Wear your dancing boots.”

“Alright then,” Elle scoffed under her breath. “But that still leaves me with about seven-and-a-half hours to kill.” Heading towards the door, she continued talking to herself as she walked out into the bright sunlight, down the concrete steps, and onto the sidewalk.

Strolling down Main Street, finally taking a chance to see what all had changed in the last year, she smiled at some new faces and some old, and even stopped in Carol’s Creamery to see her old Physics teacher. Making it to the hotel as the clock on top of St. Aquinas’ Cathedral chimed three ‘o’clock, Elle walked into the lobby of the Wild Stallion Hotel.

Named after the Wild Stallion Saloon that sat on the exact same spot for over a hundred years when Cowboys still tied their horses up out front and ladies still wore scratchy underwear, it was a beautiful recreation of a turn of the century mansion. Bypassing the stairs and ignoring the annoying little voice in the back of her mind that said she needed the exercise, she popped into the elevator, pushed the button for the top floor, and sunk back against the cool, mirrored walls.

Uninhibited by any stops, Elle was on her floor, in her room, and out of her shoes in record time. Dropping her briefcase and jacket on the table, she made a beeline for the bathroom, letting her clothes lay where they fell as she hurriedly filled the tub with nice hot water and rose scented bubble bath.

Leaving her ponytail in, she wound her long tresses around the hair tie and pinned it with a clip before sinking into the fragrant waters and sighing as she leaned back against the fluffy white towel on the edge. Letting her eyes slide shut, she thought about turning on her favorite playlist but simply couldn’t make herself move.

“This is the first time I’ve been this relaxed in…well, I don’t know how long it’s been,” she mused to the empty room. “But I’m damn sure not gonna let it be so long next time.” 

Drifting on a lovely wave of contentment, it wasn’t long before her thoughts returned to the family she’d seen in the airport. It wasn’t just the excitement and fun they were having that so enthralled her, but the feelings of togetherness, love, and just being exactly where they were supposed to be that Elle couldn’t forget.

“I know I don’t belong in Seattle.” Her voice was barely a whisper as she thought aloud. “Daddy always said it right, ‘You can take the girl outta Texas, but you can’t take the Texas outta the girl.”

Sure, it was hotter than hell, drier than a popcorn fart, and the wind blew all the time, but it was home. Not just a place on the map, but in her heart where it really mattered. The conversation she’d been avoiding for more reasons than one would just have to happen when she got back to Washington. Jodie would holler and scream, but in the end, Elle knew what she had to do.

Giving into the insistent pull of sleep, she dreamt of the desert and the spot where her family had been taken, though everything seemed different. Gone was the feel of death and destruction. The hopelessness and dread had vanished, and in its place was the feeling of new beginnings, fresh starts, and of all the crazy things – laughter.

Watching her Rain Bird fly across the sweltering sands, something that had only happened once before, Elle was infused with anticipation, it was like Christmas Eve, the night before her birthday, and the day before Neiman’s Semi-Annual Shoe Sale all rolled into one. It begs the question, ‘What the hell is about to happen?’

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than the whoosh of wings so large that they kicked up sand and so wide that their shadow covered as far as the eye could see, appeared before her. Looking up there was nothing to see, however, the feel of magic in the air like butterfly kisses dropping from heaven made her heart beat double time.

Turning in midair, her Rain Bird zipped across the sky chirping so happily that goosebumps rose all over Elle’s arms. Keeping her eyes on the sky, the breath was stolen from her lungs when in a single heartbeat a brilliant, glimmering Bronze Dragon came into view.

Lowering his snout, a deep welcoming grumble emanating from his tightly closed lips, he held perfectly still, hovering overhead until Elle’s feathered alter-ego was safely aboard. Circling where she stood, it was the best airshow she’d ever witnessed and second only to the powerful connection she felt in the depths of her soul.

Wings open wide, riding atop her Dragon, the Rain Bird sang the most beautiful of songs filled with hope, faith, and love, but most of all, she gave a voice to a new morning and a rebirth that was just over the horizon. The Dragons scales, so bright, so shining, and such a deep bronze, caught the rays of the sun in such a way that they seemed to flow from the sparkling metallic and warmth of a fire to the welcoming and cool hues of the noonday sky and the feathers of the Aniganatis Tsisqua.

Was this what the Messenger had been trying to tell her? Was this the future the Universe and the Great Creator had designed for her? Were Dragons truly as obstinate, overbearing, and arrogant as she’d always heard?

Not even her questions could diminish what was right there in her subconscious. Grandma Virginia had always been a straight shooter. Elle could still hear her voice and see the twinkle in her deep brown eyes as she said, “You are destined for great things, Usdi Tsisqua. Always follow your heart and never fear your thoughts. You are…”

Ring! Ring-ring-ring!

Sitting straight up, fully awake, and more rested than if she’d been asleep for hours, she reached over the side of the tub, gently touched the green button on her cell phone, careful not to drip water on it, and answered, “Hey Junior. What’s up?”

“Better be you, Hot Shot,” he chuckled. “I’m leaving the house. Be there in twenty.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“You better be.” There was a brief pause as she listened to the shutting of a door and the jingling of keys. “Oh, I ran into an old friend. He’s gonna join us if that’s okay with you.”

“The more the merrier,” she snickered while trying to be as quiet as possible as she climbed out of the tub.

“Good, good. His name’s Gage.”

Stopping with one foot out of the tub and the other dangling in midair, a weird sensation dancing up and down her spine as her Rain Bird flapped its wings and cooed, Elle asked, “Did you say Gage?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“No reason. Just an unusual name.”

Yep! Threw that lie right out there like a pro. Next thing ya’ know, I’ll be chasing ambulances…

“Whatever you say, Goofball. I’ll see you in fourteen-and-a-half minutes.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Looking down to be sure the call was disconnected, she wrapped the towel around her body and crossed the bathroom to the vanity. Staring into the mirror, she saw the deep, dark eyes of her Rain Bird staring back at her and sighed, “You would pick the night I want to drink, dance, and act like I’m eighteen again to be up to something.”

Taking out the clip in her hair and letting her ponytail fall down her back, she pointed at the reflection of her Rain Bird in the depths of her own eyes and warned, “If you get us arrested or even worse - go all mushy, goo-goo-eyed over some Dragon, you’re on your own, Girlie. Seriously, on. your. own.”