Authors: Sandra Leesmith
She pressed against him and molded her curves to the solid maleness of him, letting him know they fit well together. The brush of her lips against his spoke of her desire. The tender touch of her fingertips tracing through his hair showed him how much she cared.
The final act of pulling away was the most difficult expression of her developing love. She would let him go. He hesitated for just a moment and then, after breathing deep, he disappeared out the sliding glass door.
Autumn stared at the empty space, wondering if he’d in fact been there, or had she dreamed his presence in a fantasy of longing and desire. She wrapped her arms around herself. His scent clung to her skin. She breathed in and knew he’d been real.
“Walk in beauty and peace.” She softly sang the words of one of Real Tall Man’s chants. “Let your heart be brave and true. May the hunt be successful. Walk in beauty, my warrior.”
CHAPTER 17
Sunlight streamed through the glass door when Autumn awoke. For a moment she remained motionless, trying to get her bearings. The events of the previous day played through her mind until she came to the night.
Voices outside her room brought her attention back to the present. She’d better get up and see if she could help the professor and his party. There were bound to be problems. She knew that a good night’s rest would give the scientists and reporters renewed energy to continue their protests.
Sure enough, after she’d dressed and entered the large kitchen, she found most of the group assembled. Evidently, Sam had just arrived ahead of her. She slipped behind the ranger and headed for the coffeepot.
Overflowing ashtrays and empty cups of coffee attested to the frustration of the long hours they’d been waiting.
“Well, it’s about time you got up.” Connie was the first to speak. “How long do they plan to keep us cooped up here?”
Autumn stared in sympathy at the reporter. Her cotton slacks were rumpled and her hair had long since lost its shiny bounce. The time hadn’t dulled the sharpness in her glance, though. Her stare pierced through the smoke-filled haze.
“We have work to do, you know—deadlines to meet. When are you going to give us some news?” another reporter asked.
Several mumbled oaths and muttered indignation supported Connie’s demands. Dr. Davidson shoved ahead of the others to stand next to Connie. He took a sip of coffee before speaking. “We want to get back to the dig. The kiva has paintings on the wall and we need to record what we can before any more damage is done.”
Wayne edged beside the professor and added his complaint. “The valuable stuff’s already been taken. We want to get back to work.”
The other members agreed, although not as enthusiastically. Autumn had a suspicion that they were happier at the Eagle Heights Ranch than the canyon where killers lurked.
“We’re sealing off the canyon until we resolve the murder.” Conviction sounded in Sam’s voice, leaving no room for argument. “No one’s allowed at the site.”
Several faces showed relief. Others turned defeated backs to Sam and sat down. The only ones who argued the decision were the reporters, but Sam held firm.
Autumn cast a sympathetic glance at Dr. Davidson, which quickly turned to concern when she saw the anger in his eyes.
“You let us return,” he ordered, his voice barely controlled. “My thesis. The proof—it’s…”
Autumn moved beside the professor and closed her hand over his. “Sit down, Dr. Davidson. You’ll be able to return soon. The team that’s going to the site will protect it.”
“No. I…”
Autumn remained beside the professor after she guided him to a chair. “It’s not a complete loss. We have the photographs of the tablets. Those can be enlarged so that we can read the records.”
His only response was to stiffen his shoulders.
Wayne and several others gathered around.
“Your discovery will still have an impact on history. The theory of the Mexican Connection was verified.”
“But the actual proof is buried beneath…”
“It’ll take years for us to get it out, but we know what’s buried there. The photographs prove it,” one of the scientists spoke up.
Wayne shifted impatiently and Autumn studied his expression. The glints of speculation and anticipation in his blue eyes were unmistakable. Did he imagine himself in charge of the project? He was young. By the time the tablets could be unearthed, Dr. Davidson would be long since retired.
“We want you to stay here in Winslow for the next two days.” Sam brought their attention back to him. “We’ll need to take statements before you’ll be free to return home. We’ll notify you when we reopen the site.”
“You mean, that’s it? No big story?” Connie sounded annoyed. From the looks her colleagues gave her, they evidently agreed with that impression.
Sam ignored her complaint. “We’ve put you up in two of the motels in town. They aren’t fancy, but they’re clean and comfortable. We’ll contact you when we need you.”
“Will the local sheriffs want to question us?” one of the archaeologists asked.
“Yes, and state troopers are on the way, also. If you’re ready now, we have two vans that’ll take you to your motel.”
Autumn waited until everyone had filed out the door before she followed. She was glad to see them leave. Until her relationship with Jess was on sound footing, she preferred to be at the ranch alone. Several comments reached her ears that she tried to ignore. Since she couldn’t change things, she figured it was best to keep quiet.
“It surprises me that a town this size has one motel, let alone two,” the cartographer said as he filed past.
“Can you imagine being stuck here for two days?”
“I don’t care what you folks say—a comfortable bed is going to feel like heaven to me.”
“And food—there must be someplace to eat around here.”
Connie stopped as the last one filed out the door. “Aren’t you coming to town?”
“No.”
And please don’t make an issue of this
, Autumn thought as she watched the reporter’s brow quirk in curiosity.
“I bet your reasons are personal,” Connie commented with a hint of sarcasm.
Autumn smiled and stepped inside, not wanting a confrontation. She suspected Connie was jealous.
The last person left the house. Connie’s question had brought up an issue she had assumed, but now wondered about.
Was she expected to return to Winslow with them, or would she be allowed to remain? She’d promised Jess she’d be here when he returned. She wanted to keep that promise.
Two vans were parked in the circular driveway in front of the house. Autumn paused, trying to decide what to do.
Wayne approached and stood beside her. “Do you think we could talk Sam into letting us stay here?”
Autumn studied the student, wondering what his motives were. “We might. Why? What did you have in mind?”
“Come over here.” Wayne gestured for her to return to the kitchen. “I don’t want anyone to hear this.”
Alert and curious, Autumn followed Wayne to a secluded part of the patio where they could talk in privacy. She also noted that they couldn’t be seen from this position, either.
“What’s this all about?” she asked.
“We’ve got to get back to the kiva. When they clear out of here, we’ll take a couple of Barron’s horses and head for the canyon.”
“We can’t do that,” she said, knowing it would be expected, but her head reeled with possibilities. She knew someone from the professor’s group was part of the ring Jess was after. She also knew Jess suspected Wayne. If she went along with him, she could uncover his part in this.
“There’s something at the kiva I’ve got to show you.” Wayne shifted, obviously nervous and agitated.
“What?”
“I can’t tell you. I’m not even sure myself. But you would know.”
Autumn tried to gauge Wayne’s strange request. Something didn’t set right. He seemed too agitated. Then again, he could be acting. If she went, she’d be setting herself up for trouble. Wayne could be planning to use her as a hostage.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go out there,” she said, trying to stall. “There are murderers loose.”
“They won’t be near the kiva. It’ll be crawling with sheriff’s men.”
That made sense. “So why do we need to be there, and what makes you think the sheriff will let us in the area?”
“We’ll have to sneak in, Autumn. Trust me. You’ll understand when you see what I have to show you.”
Autumn knew Sam wouldn’t approve—nor would Jess, for that matter. This could be their chance, though, to get evidence of Wayne’s involvement. He might lead her to the others. She’d make sure she left a trail Jess could follow.
The vans were crowded, so Wayne had no difficulty convincing Sam to let the two of them stay. When Dr. Davidson heard that his two assistants were going to remain at the ranch, he offered to give up his seat in the van, enabling the last scientist to squeeze in.
“Don’t worry about us,” the professor assured Sam. “We’ll come to town as soon as Barron gets back. He won’t mind that we stay. In fact, he’s invited us several times.”
Sam wasn’t too pleased about the three of them splitting from the group, yet he admitted he wasn’t that thrilled about an extra trip out to the remote ranch.
“I want you to stay put,” he ordered the three of them. “No trips to Coyote Springs, and don’t allow any reporters in.”
“That’s fine with us,” Dr. Davidson assured him. “We don’t want to nose around with murderers on the loose.”
Autumn studied the professor. His reply sounded too pat—especially after his vehement protests earlier that morning. Was he planning to sneak back to the kiva also? Maybe Wayne had suggested that the professor join them.
A quick glance at Wayne assured her that was not what he intended. In fact, he appeared angry and tense, as though the professor’s presence would ruin his plans.
“Maybe you should go to town,” Autumn suggested to Dr. Davidson. “It would be better for the reporters to interview you than the other scientists.”
The professor was clearly torn. Her suggestion had merit, but for some reason, he seemed reluctant to leave. Perhaps he had suspicions about Wayne also.
Connie Turner slid out of the van and asked what the delay was. When she heard that the professor was thinking about remaining at the ranch, she said, “Maybe I should stay, too. I want to interview you, Dr. Davidson.”
Autumn didn’t miss the glimmer in the older man’s eye at the mention of an interview. The publicity might help his case at the university. His tenure could still be in jeopardy now that the tablets were gone. The national attention could help.
Wayne was obviously relieved when the professor tried to convince Connie to go to town with the others.
“Barron should be in by tonight,” Dr. Davidson assured the reporter. “He’ll bring us in. He’ll have more news to add to your story.”
Connie wasn’t happy, but she gave in and settled into the van.
Sam climbed into the last seat and Autumn waved them off, wondering what the professor’s presence would mean to Wayne. The professor himself solved the problem by announcing that he was going to the bunkhouse to take a nap. After he’d departed, Wayne approached Autumn.
“Man, I thought we’d had it.”
“He’s going to notice that we’re gone,” Autumn pointed out. “Maybe we should wait…”
“No,” Wayne interrupted. “He’ll sleep for at least an hour or two. By the time he figures out we’ve left, it will be too late to do anything about it.”
Autumn wasn’t sure of his logic, but since Wayne was calling the shots in this venture, she didn’t argue. Instead, she agreed to go pack.
“Get some food,” Wayne ordered. “I’ll come by your room as soon as I have the horses ready.”
“Food for how many days?”
“Just overnight,” he surprised her by answering. “What I have to show you won’t take much time.”
Autumn went to the kitchen first and gathered provisions. After that, she returned to the luxurious bedroom that had been Jess’s mother’s. She glanced around the room, searching for a way to communicate with Jess. She’d have to write a message and figure a way to leave a trail. It just might be possible that Wayne had no intention of returning to Coyote Springs. He could have a rendezvous planned with the killers.
As Autumn packed a saddlebag, she considered asking Meg if she had a gun. The thought of carrying a firearm was as frightening as the idea of meeting the men who’d tried to murder her, but she should be prepared. Then again, she had an element of surprise—the murderers thought she was dead.
As it turned out, Autumn did not have time to talk to Meg, let alone make her request. Wayne was anxious to be on his way and had two horses tied outside the barn. He came into her room just as she was finishing her note to Jess.
“The horses are ready,” Wayne announced.
“How’d you manage to get them?” She wondered if Jess’s hands would be so willing to lend Jess’s stock.
“I told them that Barron had radioed Sam and we were supposed to meet him at Coyote Springs.”
“They believed you?”
Wayne shrugged. “I handed them a memo on BLM stationery. They don’t know Sam’s handwriting.”
She wasn’t surprised by the deception, just that Wayne would so readily admit to it. It didn’t give her confidence about her safety. The two men out there had already tried to kill her once. Wayne’s openness could mean he wasn’t worried about her being alive to testify against him. For a moment, she considered backing out and staying at the ranch where it was safe.
She discarded the idea as soon as it entered her head. If Wayne had plans to kill her, he could do it here just as easily as in the desert. At least if she played along, she might have a chance to help Jess uncover the entire operation.
“Come on, let’s get going.” Wayne hefted her saddlebag on his shoulder. “What’s in here? Did you weigh it down with rocks?”
Her laugh was nervous because, in fact, she had gathered quite a few of the shiny white stones from the gravel bed outside her patio door and stuffed them in one of the pouches. “I put some canned food in there,” she lied. “It was all I could find.”