“Come along.” White Moon waved them all into the house. “I need to get back to the kitchen to help your grandmother. I gave Angela and Pilar a couple of days off so that we could have a totally family time.”
Katrina glanced questioningly at Boyd.
“Angela is Mom's cook and Pilar is a live-in maid. The family struck oil on the ranch about ten years ago. Life's gotten a lot easier for her since then,” Boyd elaborated.
“Oh, that's nice,” Katrina managed to get out past her shock. Not only was Boyd from an honorable family but a rich one to boot.
“Apparently, Boyd told you very little about us,” White Moon noted, clearly surprised Katrina had not known about their wealth.
Katrina noticed a shadow of relief on Boyd's brothers' faces and realized the family had been worried that, in addition to her having an ancestry no one would wish for, she was a gold digger to boot. “He told me some. Not a lot,” she said levelly.
An uneasy shadow crossed White Moon's features, then, her gaze encompassing the group of them, she said, “You have ten minutes to wash up and get to the table.”
Katrina guessed White Moon had sent the cook and maid away because Boyd's mother wanted as few people to know about her as possible. She cast him an “I told you so” glance as they continued inside.
In the front hall, White Moon paused and turned back to Boyd. “I gave Katrina your room. You and Slade can bunk together.”
Boyd nodded and guided Katrina to her room. Left on her own while he settled in, she leaned against the door and took several long breaths in an attempt to unloosen her taut muscles. “This trip should cure him of any illusions he has about me being accepted by his family,” she muttered under her breath. Then straightening away from the door, she pulled her makeup kit out of her suitcase and went in search of a bathroom. There was one next door.
Coming out of the bathroom after having washed her face, applied a light amount of fresh makeup and given her hair a brushing, she found Boyd waiting in the hall. “Am I late?”
“Right on time,” he assured her, slipping an arm around her waist and guiding her down the hall.
His arm around her was the only thing keeping her going forward, Katrina admitted.
Slade and Jess were in the living room. As Boyd and Katrina were about to enter the room, an ancient-looking Native American woman, her face deeply lined, her body so frail and bent with age she looked as if she would teeter over without the cane she was using to aid her, came toward them from what Katrina guessed was the direction of the kitchen. “I have escaped my capturers and come to greet you,” she said.
Boyd's back muscles tightened, ready for trouble, as he came to an abrupt halt.
Katrina saw the look of surprise on his face followed by concern in his eyes. This was someone he had not expected to be here. Was this frail, elderly woman what had caused the anxiousness on his mother's face as well?
“Morning Hawk,” he said. “It's good to see you.”
The old woman laughed. “Don't lie to me, Boyd Logan. You were hoping I was a hundred miles away visiting with my sister. But your mother respects her elders. She does not lie to me. When she tried to cart me off so fast, I demanded to know why and she told me.” Her gaze raked over Katrina. “So this is the one you've chosen.”
White Moon and another Native American woman, who looked to be somewhere in age between White Moon and Morning Hawk, came hurrying from the direction the elderly woman had come. “Mother,” the woman with White Moon said sternly, her tone cautioning the ancient woman to say no more.
Amusement twinkled in Morning Hawk's eyes. “They hover over me like a pair of watchful eagles. I am an old woman. What harm can I do?”
“You have a sharp tongue that can sometimes be cruel.” The woman who had spoken, turned to Katrina. “I'm Evening Flower, Boyd's grandmother. This...” she motioned toward the ancient woman, “...is Morning Hawk, his great-grandmother.”
“I merely speak my mind,” Morning Hawk defended herself.
Jess and Slade had joined the group in the hall, Jess taking a position beside Katrina and Slade behind her. She knew they weren't certain they approved of her, but clearly they felt compelled to protect her from this tiny withered old woman. “I'm Katrina Polenari and I'm pleased to meet you,” she replied to Evening Flower. Then stepping forward, out of the protective niche formed by Boyd and his brothers, she said to Morning Hawk. “I'm pleased to meet you, too.”
The old woman continued to study her narrowly. “We shall see.”
“Dinner is ready,” White Moon said sharply, motioning them all toward the dining room.
Katrina wanted to flee. It was obvious the great-grandmother had already made up her mind to dislike her. The others probably had too, they were just too polite to be as inhospitable as Morning Hawk. Pride came to Katrina's aid. No matter what happened, she would make it through this visit with dignity. Accompanying Boyd into the dining room, she took the chair he offered.
As soon as they were seated and everyone had served themselves, Boyd turned to Jess. “How's the ranch doing?”
Immediately the three brothers launched into a discussion of the care and breeding of cattle and horses. Katrina knew what they were doing...they were keeping the conversation from centering on her and for that she was grateful.
The women allowed the diversion, but Katrina was aware that Boyd's mother and grandmother continued to study her covertly. Morning Hawk, however, made no attempt to hide her scrutiny. When her attention wasn't on her food, she watched Katrina like a hawk keeping a sharp eye on its prey.
Dessert was being served when Morning Hawk broke her silence. “Your aunt should have trusted Boyd to protect her.”
“Yes, I know. I thought she knew that, too,” Katrina replied.
Morning Hawk nodded and returned her attention to her food.
“We are sorry about her death,” White Moon said.
She sounded sincere, Katrina noted. “Thank you.”
“Boyd said you and your aunt had not spoken for many years?” Evening Flower remarked, her tone making the statement a question.
“That's correct.” Katrina prepared herself for wherever this was leading.
“You do not believe in close family ties?” Morning Hawk demanded.
Nice Catch 22, Katrina thought. “I've greatly missed having family to be close to. But to escape Vince Garduchi, I had to break all ties to anyone who worked for him.”
“Boyd also mentioned that you have no connection to your mother's family,” Morning Hawk persisted.
She guessed Boyd had explained all of this to them, but clearly they wanted to hear it from her. “My mother's family disowned her when she married my father.”
A good time to remind Boyd of why I can't marry him.
“And, even after I went out on my own, they refused to have anything to do with me. They are afraid I will bring the taint of my father's family's association with Garduchi upon them.”
“This is delicious blackberry cobbler,” Jess said, abruptly changing the subject.
Morning Hawk gave him an angry look, but Evening Flower immediately launched into a reminiscence about how she met her future husband while hunting for berries as a young girl.
As his grandmother ended her story, Boyd decided it was time to cut this evening short. Pushing back his chair, he rose. “Katrina and I have had a long day. I'm sure she's ready to retire.”
She was. Nothing would suit her more than to escape to her bedroom and into the darkness of sleep. But, she was determined to be a polite guest. And, she admitted grudgingly, even though it would not change the path she had chosen, she still found herself wanting to make a good impression on Boyd's family. She did not want them to think he had no taste in women. “I'll help with the dishes.”
“No. Not tonight,” White Moon said, honest concern in her voice. “You do look exhausted. Get some sleep.”
Too tired to argue and guessing they preferred to be free of her company so that they could discuss her, Katrina thanked her and the other women for the meal, said her good-nights and left the room with Boyd.
Reaching her bedroom door, Boyd came to a stop, and drew her into his embrace. “Don't let Morning Hawk get to you.”
“She's merely behaving the way the others would like to but are too polite to.”
Boyd frowned. “Give them a chance to get to know you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “It doesn't matter what they think of me. I am not going to marry you and put your life in danger.”
“I'm not letting you go.”
Jerking free of him, she went into the bedroom and closed the door. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she changed for bed. This was a fool's errand. Slade was right. Boyd wasn't the kind of man who would turn away from her just because his family didn't accept her. It was up to her to walk away from him. And that was exactly what she was going to do. Tomorrow morning she would leave even if she had to walk all the way back to Lubbock.
In the hall, Boyd frowned at the closed door. This wasn't going well. He'd expected his family to be cautious about accepting Katrina. They were all very protective of each other. But Morning Hawk's outspokenness was too destructive. She was behaving the way Katrina had predicted. He'd read the desire to flee in Katrina's eyes when they went into dinner and guessed that very soon she was going to demand to leave. And, under the present circumstances, leaving would probably be for the best. His jaw firmed with determination. But this wasn't the end. It was only the beginning. He refused to give up. He would make her his wife.
Chapter 16
K
atrina felt herself being shaken and none too gently. “Wake up,” a voice ordered in a harsh whisper.
Turning onto her back, she opened her eyes. Illuminated in the moonlight streaming in the window was a frail, bent shape.
“Be quiet. You must get dressed and come with me,” Morning Hawk ordered.
Panic spread through Katrina. “Has something happened to Boyd?”
“No. Now, hush and do as I say. Have you no respect for Boyd's elders?” Morning Hawk demanded in a disapproving whisper.
“Yes, of course I do,” Katrina returned, following Morning Hawk's lead and keeping her voice low.
“Then do as I say. Do you have jeans with you and a heavy shirt? There is a chill in the air.”
Katrina glanced at the clock. It was a little after 2:30 a.m. Wondering what Boyd's great-grandmother was up to, she pulled on a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt and sneakers.
“Give me your arm,” Morning Hawk whispered as they started toward the door. “I came without my cane. I didn't want to wake the boys. This is women's business.”
And just what was “women's business”?
Katrina wondered, slipping her arm under the woman's. She considered making a clumsy slip in the hall and waking Boyd but her curiosity was too strong. Very quietly, she and the elderly woman made their way down the hall, continuing through the house to the kitchen. Katrina expected to find Boyd's mother and grandmother there, prepared to question her thoroughly about herself. But they were not.
Morning Hawk picked up a sack lying on the table and slipped the ropes holding the sack closed over her shoulder and head so that it hung at her side.
“I'll carry that for you,” Katrina offered, starting to retrieve the burden.
“No. I have something else for you to do.” Morning Hawk motioned Katrina toward the kitchen door.
Once on the back porch, Morning Hawk exchanged Katrina's arm for a walking stick that was taller than she was. With a crooked finger she pointed toward a clump of burlap. “Fill that sling with wood. But do not be clumsy. I doubt you will wake the others, but it is good to learn to move silently.” She cocked her head to one side. “You must know how to do that. Being a policewoman, it would be necessary for you to know how to approach a suspect undetected.”
“Yes, I know how to move silently,” Katrina assured her, but she balked at following more orders without an explanation. “And I will follow your instructions as soon as you tell me what is going on.”
“I wish to have a private talk with you.” Morning Hawk began to fill the burlap sling with wood herself.
Afraid the elderly woman would strain herself, Katrina took over. “What do you want to talk about?” she asked, hoping to get this conversation over with quickly and get the woman back safely inside the house.
“We will talk of that which interests us,” Morning Hawk replied, still in a whisper.
Katrina began to wonder if the elderly woman was simply unable to sleep and bored with spending the long hours of the night alone.
Seeing the sling was full, Morning Hawk showed Katrina how to slip her head and shoulder through the loop of burlap and adjust the load on her back. “And now it is time to go,” she announced, again seeking Katrina's support with her free hand.
Katrina was worrying more and more that Morning Hawk was at least a little senile and leading them both into trouble. “Are you sure this is wise? Maybe we should invite your daughter and granddaughter along.”
“I wish to speak to you alone,” Morning Hawk insisted.
“We'd be more comfortable in the house,” Katrina coaxed.
The old woman cocked her head to one side and looked up at her. Challenge entered her voice. “Does this land frighten you?”
Katrina looked out at the shadowed shapes of barns and corrals to the darkened landscape beyond. “It's strange to me. Anything strange is a little frightening,” she answered honestly.
“Do you dislike it?”
Katrina was aware of a couple of horses milling around in one of the smaller corrals. She'd always had a fondness for horses. And, the air, in spite of the animal scents it carried, had a freshness to it. “No. It's invigorating.”
“Then come, we have a distance to travel before dawn.” Morning Hawk gave Katrina a hard nudge.
Katrina remained where she was. “I don't think it's smart to go wandering around in the dark. I should, at least, get a flashlight.”
Morning Hawk gave her an impatient scowl. “The night is clear. We have the moon and stars to light our way just as my ancestors did.”
Katrina thought fast. “I should get a gun. There must be snakes and wild animals out here. Do you know where the key to the gun cabinet in the study is?” Her plan was to make enough noise when she reentered the house to wake someone up.
“We have no need of a gun. The snakes prefer the heat of the day and the night predators have their own game. They will not bother us.”
A coyote howled in the distance sending a chill along Katrina's spine. “I really think we should wait until morning.”
Morning Hawk's impatient scowl deepened. “A woman should know the man whom she weds. To know my great-grandson, you must know the land that sired him and you must not fear it.”
“I am not going to marry Boyd.” The words tore at her, but she knew she was doing the right thing.
Morning Hawk stiffened and looked up at her. “You don't love him?”
“I do. That's why I'm not going to marry him.”
For a long moment, Morning Hawk studied her, then again nudged her onward. “We will still make the journey.”
Katrina frowned at the uncivilized land beyond the corrals and barns. “I really don't think this is such a good idea.”
“If you will not go with me, then I will go alone. I feel the need to renew my bond with the land.”
Katrina heard the determination in Morning Hawk's voice. “I can't allow you to go out there alone.”
“Then come.”
“I really think I should wake the others and invite them to come with us.” Katrina looked toward the woodpile. The kitchen was on the farthest end of the large rambling ranch house away from the bedrooms. However, she was sure that if she kicked at the wood and knocked some over, there was at least a chance it would wake Boyd and possibly some of the others.
Morning Hawk followed her line of vision. “If you wake them, I will disappear into the night before they get here,” she threatened, leaving the porch and heading into the shadows of the night.
Fearing for her safety, Katrina had no choice but to follow quickly. “All right, we'll go alone.” Morning Hawk's staff and two pair of footprints would leave an easy trail for Boyd and his brothers to follow and find them, she reasoned. Besides, how far could they go? Morning Hawk had to be over ninety.
As they left the house and barns behind, the moon and stars illuminated the landscape with an eerie white light. A coyote's howl sounded in the distance and Katrina was certain she saw something dark and furry scurry away at their approach. Well, Boyd had protected her aunt...risked his life only to be caught up in one of Leona's games. Of course he'd had a gun and her at his side. She glanced at the withered old woman beside her. Morning Hawk would be easy prey. A rabbit could probably take her out. Mentally, she cursed. If she'd known his great-grandmother had this in mind, she would have slammed her bedroom door and woken everyone. But it never occurred to her that Morning Hawk would want to take a predawn stroll.
They had walked for over an hour when Morning Hawk broke her silence. “Do you feel the power of the land?”
“I feel like I do when I'm chasing a suspect down a dark alley I've never been in before only the scenery is better and the smell is definitely an improvement,” Katrina replied.
“Aha, you are frightened but invigorated at the same time,” Morning Hawk said with approval. “Yes. It is not âa walk in the park'.... I believe that is the phrase for a comfortable stroll.”
“That depends on what park you're strolling through and what time of night it is.” Hearing a rustling in the brush, Katrina glanced to her right to see a dark shape hovering at a distance. “I wish you'd let me bring a gun.”
“I could not have you firing at everything that moves in the night,” Morning Hawk admonished.
“I am very careful at what I fire at,” Katrina snapped back, her nerves wearing thin.
“Well, if carrying a gun makes you feel better.” Morning Hawk reached into her sack and produced Boyd's gun still in its shoulder holster.
Well, at least she wasn't totally crazy, Katrina acknowledged, slipping the holster on, then checking the gun to see how much ammunition it contained. To her relief there was a full clip.
“Are you more comfortable now?” Morning Hawk asked.
Katrina heard the hint of amusement in her voice. The old woman was toying with her. “It's time to turn back,” she said with stern authority.
Morning Hawk came to a halt and straightened to her full height of just over five feet. “Surely you are not a quitter. Boyd would never choose a woman who would not see a task through to its end.”
“He also wouldn't choose a woman who would allow his great-grandmother to pursue a dangerous path.”
“We are in no danger and we have no time for discussion. We must reach our destination before sunrise.”
It was clear to Katrina that Morning Hawk was not going to turn back and she couldn't allow her to go on alone. “Will you, at least, tell me where we are going?” she asked.
Morning Hawk pointed toward a tall, cylindrical rock outcropping ahead of them. “We are going to that mesa.”
At least she knew their destination, Katrina mused and that made her feel a little better.
A while later, when they finally reached the mesa, Morning Hawk continued around the base for a short distance, then coming to a halt, said, “I will need your help for the climb.”
Katrina bent her head back and looked toward the summit. It looked like an impossible climb. The mesa had to be at least seventy feet high, maybe more, and seemingly straight up. “Shouldn't we wait until there is more light?” she suggested, playing for time, hoping someone would notice their absence and come find them soon.
“It is a very small, low mesa,” Morning Hawk said snappishly. “And there is an easy path to the top.”
“I've never done much climbing. I'd feel much more at ease if we waited until sunrise.”
“I wish to see the sunrise from the mesa.” The old woman's voice took on a determined tone. “I will make the climb alone.”
Maybe this is some kind of pilgrimage she feels she has to make.
Her reasons really didn't matter. She'd said she needed help to reach the top. Katrina couldn't allow her to go alone. She would never be able to forgive herself if something happened to the elderly woman and she could have prevented it. “You win again, I'll come with you.”
Morning Hawk grinned triumphantly. “The path begins here.”
Katrina saw a ledge about a foot and a half wide winding its way up the mesa. “This is what you call an easy path? I've seen jumpers on ledges wider than this.”
Ignoring her remarks, Morning Hawk said, “Shift the sling of wood to the front. Then take the lead and give me your hand. Walk sideways with your back against the rock wall.”
Heights had never bothered Katrina but making her way along a narrow ledge, with a heavy sack of wood slung in front of her and aiding an elderly woman, made her uneasy. The wood caused her to feel unbalanced and Morning Hawk had such a firm grip on her hand, she knew that if she fell she would take the elderly woman with her.
How did I get into this mess?
she chided herself as she eased her way along.
Because, while I'm city smart, I'm country stupid,
came the answer.
To her relief, at about halfway up, the path cut into the mesa. It remained narrow, winding its way upward but there was a rock wall on either side preventing a fall to the base.
Once they reached this section, Morning Hawk began to rely on her more and more. “Do you want to stop and rest?” Katrina asked, worried that the elderly woman had reached her limit of endurance. And, she admitted she would welcome a short rest as well. The sack of wood felt as if it had doubled in weight.
“No, we must continue,” Morning Hawk replied, urgency behind her voice.
Clearly this is some sort of ritual or pilgrimage the rest of the family discourages the elderly woman from performing so she suckered me in on it,
Katrina reasoned. Well, as long as they'd come this far, she should let the old woman see it through if it was that important to her.