Love's Dream Song (24 page)

“When we discovered you and O’Neill were missing from camp, Doc had a fit.”

Jess could imagine. The professor had been acting odd through all of this. The events had probably been too much for him. He hoped the old man would hang in there. They had enough on their hands without him cracking up.

“Carson wanted to come, but we insisted he stay at camp.” Frank took another sip of water, his voice going hoarse with all the talking. “Don’t trust that kid.”

Neither did Jess. Then again, he trusted Riker even less. His reasons sounded logical, but finding this camp was too coincidental. Jess suspected Riker had planned to meet the two gunmen. If so, something had gone wrong and they’d decided to deal Riker out. He’d have to have a talk with Sam. Someone needed to keep an eye on the ranger.

He made Frank as comfortable as he could and then decided to search the area for any clues as to who the other two men were and where they’d gone. A canteen, a pocketknife, and trash were the only things that he found. No other clues turned up.

He closed his eyes and tried to relax. They had a dead man, an injured ranger, and two murderers on the loose. What next?

* * *

When Autumn awoke, she had no idea what time it was, or even what day. Sunlight streaked across the room. It poured in from a sliding glass door and window that opened onto a patio filled with shrubs and flowers. She frowned. Was she still in the desert, or had she been flown to Phoenix?

The events of the past days flooded in, until she came to the last memory. Had Real Tall Man actually told her he loved her? Had she dreamed the hug and affection?

She closed her eyes and let the memory warm her heart. It seemed that she was finally going to be welcomed into the clan.
How ironic to have had to go through all of this to gain his love
.

Her toes had plenty of room. She spread her arms wide and didn’t touch the edge of the bed. It definitely wasn’t her small bed, where her feet always hung over. Nor was it a hospital bed.

She rolled over and began to investigate her surroundings. To her surprise, she discovered she was in a huge bed that didn’t seem large in the spacious room. The size of the bedroom wasn’t the cause of her amazement—the decor was. The room was one hundred percent feminine.

She frowned, trying to remember where they said they were going to take her. Jess’s place. Again she perused the room. This couldn’t be Jess’s place, unless it was a part of his house she’d never seen. Since his place was huge, it was entirely possible. On her previous visits, she’d spent most of the time either in the living room or kitchen.

The furniture was mahogany in a style that had been popular in the fifties. In fact, the whole decor looked very fifties, with simple yet elegant lines. The carpet and drapes were a soft celery green. A leafy potted tree was set by the window, bringing the outdoors into the room.

In one corner, a small desk was placed against the wall. A chaise sat beside it, facing the patio for the view and a well worn Bible sat within reach. Against the far wall was a combination dresser and dressing table. The rest of the wall was mirrored.

Her reflection stared back at her. It was then that she noticed her appearance. Hair tumbled across her shoulders. Bruises marred her skin. Her apparel surprised her the most. She had on a silk negligee. Its lemon-yellow color complimented her tanned skin.

Glancing around again, she wondered what a room like this was doing in Jess’s house. He said he’d never married. Had he kept women here? She closed her eyes, rolled over onto her stomach and tried to concentrate on the luxurious feel of her surroundings instead of worrying about Jess.

Whatever his past had been, she’d learn to accept it. She wouldn’t let anything come between them—especially jealousy of past loves. There were other, more important issues that needed to be resolved. It was the future she wanted to think about.

She sighed and let the memory of Jess’s caring flow through her. Warmth crept through her when she thought of how he’d carried her to the stream and tenderly ministered to her injuries. Delight shivered across her skin where his fingers had touched her.

Should she use caution and not yet feel the promise in finding love with Jess? Impossible. She already did. That, combined with her grandfather’s acceptance, erased the tragic events of the past few days.

She didn’t want to worry about the destruction of the professor’s discovery, or even mourn Arlo’s death. She realized she’d have to face these things, but for now, she’d indulge herself with fantasies of the future.

She closed her eyes and pictured Jess. How had she managed these past months to maintain her show of disinterest? Thinking back, she realized that her reaction to him had been a defense mechanism. She’d been attracted to him from the moment she’d first seen him, but his unexplained change in behavior toward her had put her on the defensive.

It wasn’t in her nature to feel intimidated by someone, especially a man who treated her with cold disdain. Her response had been to feign total disinterest. She’d managed to convince Jess, the professor, and even herself that she couldn’t care less about the rancher, but Real Tall Man had seen through it. She smiled.

Behind her a door opened. Jess? She quickly rolled over, but had to hide her disappointment when she spotted a woman approaching. As soon as she recognized the redhead, her mood changed to one of delight.

“Meg, it’s good to see you again.” Autumn had enjoyed the few conversations she’d had with the wife of Jess’s foreman.

Meg looked just as pleased to see Autumn. “Hi. Glad to see you’re finally awake.” She strolled to the bedside with the ease of familiarity and bent to feel Autumn’s forehead.

Autumn smiled at the attractive woman. “So, you’re the one who got stuck with me?”

“I’m a nurse.” Meg smiled back. “I get stuck with all the casualties around here.”

“You don’t sound like you mind.”

“Are you kidding? With all these good-looking men around—who, by the way, are big babies when it comes to illness.”

Autumn joined in Meg’s laughter. “Just like a big sis.”

“Right.” Meg straightened and perused Autumn. “You’re much better. You looked terrible when they brought you in.”

“Thanks a lot.” Not wanting to discuss the events of the last couple of days, Autumn asked, “How long have I been here?”

“Just a couple of hours. They took off after delivering you. I heard something about bringing in the rest of the crowd that’s out there.”

“Oh.” Autumn glanced around. “This room is lovely. Is this your house?”

“Don’t I wish? This is part of the Barron estate. Haven’t you been in here before?”

Autumn shook her head. “It isn’t at all like the part of Jess’s place that I’ve seen.”

“It sure as shootin’ isn’t
his
doing.” Meg sat on the edge of the bed, obviously content to chat for a few minutes.

Autumn settled against the plush pillows. “The living room and kitchen are pure masculine utilitarianism.”

The rest of the place is just like that. This room is the only one that’s different.”

Autumn waited, expecting further explanation. Meg quirked her brow and then finally caught on. “You’re curious about this room,” she exclaimed as she patted Autumn’s hand. “It was Jess’s mother’s room.”

Her relief must have shown because Meg’s blue eyes began to sparkle.

“The house my husband and I live in was the original house. As you’ve seen, it’s a two-story monstrosity built in the Victorian era. Jess’s mother hated it and had this place built. Jess’s father insisted on practicality, but he did allow Jean full rein with her room.” Meg gestured around her. “It hasn’t been used in ages. You should feel privileged.”

Autumn stared at the woman. “Did Jess…” She paused, uncomfortable about pursuing her curiosity with the wife of one of Jess’s employees.

“Did he tell them to put you in here?”

Autumn nodded, wondering if being placed in his mother’s room possibly meant something in regard to her relationship with Jess.

“From the looks of you and the way you’re acting, I’d guess there was something cooking again between the two of you.”

Autumn smiled. She had always liked the woman’s open honesty. “I hope so, Meg. But we’re treading on shaky ground. I’d appreciate any help I can get.”

“My, my.” Meg rocked back, a look of speculation in her expression. “So the old diehard bachelor has finally come to his senses. I wondered what had happened between you two. You seemed like such an item.”

“It’s a long story,” Autumn hedged.

“I bet it has a lot to do with your interest in the Navajo. Where Indians are concerned, that man is as stubborn as a mule.”

“What do you mean?” Autumn couldn’t help the probing questions. She should probably wait and ask Jess, but somehow, she knew she’d get more from Meg.

The foreman’s wife didn’t answer right away. She studied Autumn, obviously contemplating how much she could trust her. Autumn was a virtual stranger to her, and the woman’s loyalties lay with her boss.

“I care for him a lot,” Autumn explained. “He just saved my life, for one thing.” She quickly explained some of the events of the past few days. She told about the care Jess used at the stream, but glossed over the personal aspects. Meg evidently read between the lines, because she decided to talk.

“No wonder you’re getting the special treatment here.” She gestured to the room. “You’ve been through a lot. And it explains why Jess is opening up to you. Frankly, I’m glad to see it. He needs someone in his life to soften his rough edges.”

“I hope I can be that someone, Meg. I love him,” Autumn said, suddenly aware that her fingers were gripping the edges of the sheet. She forced herself to relax her hold.

“The fact that you’re part Indian is going to make it hard. Furthermore, you’re exploring your roots—establishing yourself with your clan.”

“How do you know all that?”

Meg flipped a strand of her auburn hair behind her shoulder. “Believe me, in these parts, word gets around. We know what everyone is doing around here.”

“And do you know why Real Tall Man and the
máii deeshghizhnii
clan have not welcomed me?”

Meg frowned. “No. We never could figure that out. Most Indians try to get back their kin. Lots of them leave the reservation, but they’re always encouraged to return.”

Autumn didn’t think she’d better discuss the drug ring. Jess’s employees may not know of his involvement on the task force. Meg’s next words erased all thoughts of it.

“In fact, the White Mountain Apache have been trying for years to get Jess to return. He spent a lot of his childhood on the reservation.”

“He told me,” Autumn commented. She also knew Jess had been resisting it.

Meg paused to consider her next words. “Did he tell you why he’s never returned?”

Autumn shook her head no.

“Jess’s father was crazy in love with his wife Jean. Jess was their only child. The three of them were something else.”

“You knew his parents?”

Meg nodded. “I grew up on this ranch. My dad’s one of the regular hands.” Meg stretched across the foot of the large bed, bracing herself on her elbow.

Autumn waited, suddenly knowing that what Meg was going to tell her was important to her relationship with Jess.

“Jean died when Jess was in high school. He went to a private boarding school in Phoenix, so he was away when it happened. By the time he returned home for summer vacation, he found his father had hit the skids.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jean’s death crushed him. I guess he wanted to die, too, and he did a good job of drinking himself to death. Jess was furious when he found out. There were awful rows between the two. One night, after a nasty argument, Jess’s father headed for town. He never made it home. He rolled his truck off the road and down a cliff. It blew up.”

Again Autumn noticed her knuckles were white. She tried to relax her grip, but couldn’t.

Meg continued. “It’s bad enough that his father was killed, but his death left an ugly scar on Jess’s mind. The alcoholism scares him. In these parts, too many people think all Indians are drunks. A lot of Indians believe it themselves. Jess works hard to prove that isn’t what he’s going to be.”

The picture began to jell. Now she was beginning to understand some of Jess’s reluctance to claim his heritage. It also explained his work on the task force. Drugs were ruining too many lives in this country. And alcohol, the legal drug, was the worst of all.

“Anyway,” Meg said, “I’m glad to see you here. But be warned, Jess isn’t going to fall in love easily and let himself be vulnerable like his father was. He’s also hung up on mixed marriages. Your activities with your relatives are going to be hard for him to deal with.”

“I’m glad you told me this,” Autumn reassured her.

“I hope it doesn’t turn you off to him.” Meg stood. “He needs someone. You can’t live like an island, cut off from love and people who care.”

Autumn understood that too well. Her task would be to make Jess realize that even though problems would surely develop, love was worth the risk.