Hidden Moon (22 page)

“I’ve found where they got their dimples.”

“Yeah, Debbie and Donnie Tallman are twins. Tommy’s dad, Thomas, is standing behind him, everyone seems to get named after each other around here.”

“That’s cool,” I murmured watching more people come in.

“There comes Dad and Grandpa.” He nodded toward two tall figures on the far side of the crowd.

“Evan and Evan Black Water,” I said, remembering my search of the phone book.

He laughed, “Yeah, I’m glad they didn’t name me Evan Black Water, the third. I would be like Ed, trying to figure out when to change my name.”

An old man took his place at the circle. His long salt and pepper hair was pulled back in a tight braid that ran a thick rope down his back. His lined face was serious and contemplative as he sat staring into the flames. As if he felt me watching, his sharp, dark eyes pierced into mine through the fire. I jumped when someone on the other side of me cleared his throat.

“Hello, Miss Harmon,” Adam’s father smiled down at me.

I nodded. “Hello.”

“I’m Sheriff Black Water, Adam’s dad,” he said, still smiling.

“Yes, sir, it’s nice to meet you.” I put out my hand.

A warm, sure grip enveloped my hand. “Likewise. I hear you are the one to thank for Adam’s progress in English class, so I thought I would come over and say thank you.”

Not to mention that I have been very curious to see who my son has been keeping such close tabs on.

Focus, Nikki, I chided myself, this is not the time to pry into any Keeper or former Keeper’s thoughts. Pull yourself together.

“You’re welcome, but he did most of it by himself. I didn’t help that much.” I shrugged and smiled up at him.

“Thank you just the same.” He nodded at me and turned to Ed who had wandered closer to us. “Where are Barry and Marianne?”

“Mom should be here any second. She was cleaning up some paintbrushes when I left the house. She said Dad called. He had some loose ends at the office he had to tie up, but he’s on his way.”

“Everyone will be here once they arrive. I’ll let him know.” The sheriff nodded towards the serious face of the old man at the fire. He had never stopped watching me. “He’ll want to get started soon.”

He crossed over to the other side of the fire to kneel at the older man’s side. A car door shut a few seconds later, and a man in a business suit appeared and walked toward us.

“They’re all here now. It’s time.” Adam took my hand and drew me to two empty seats near the fire.

I tried to keep my face looking as calm as I could in spite of my heart that tried to beat its way out of my chest. There were so many people. No one had paid any attention as we took our seats. For a few seconds, I was expecting someone to offer marshmallows and hot dogs to roast. It was as if they had these kinds of meetings all the time. I started to relax, when the old man raised his right hand and the group hushed.

“We are the children of the wolf. Generation after generation we have come, one following the next. So it has been for many years. We have been the Keepers of the forest, the protectors of Mother Earth,” his voice was calm and sure, strong in spite of age. “Elders of the people join me.”

Luke White Hawk, Barry Young Eagle, Donnie Tallman, Thomas Greene, and another man I hadn’t met, took their places on either side of him. Everyone seemed to be at ease except the last man. Something just didn’t feel right with that one, I thought, watching him.

“Since the first of the Keepers came, there has always been one to See. Just as the Keepers watch over the forest, so the Seer would watch over us, to warn and protect us. Will the Seer join us?”

Wondering if this was my cue to stand, I looked over at Adam. He set his hand on my leg as if telling me not to move. Apparently, this wasn’t my turn. I bit my lip and looked back over to the old man. Jenna White Hawk came to stand opposite the elders.

She spoke in a clear, soft voice, “Seer I have been, but one comes to take my place. I have seen her visions and she is true. Her sight is stronger than my own. My sight fades as hers grows clearer. I ask the elders to let her join them now in my stead.”

Voices muttered around us. This must not have been common knowledge. My stomach started turning cartwheels as I saw several heads turn to look in Hannah’s direction. Hannah stared at me with some kind of look that was a cross between contempt and someone who just sucked on an entire lemon. Well, no help was coming from that direction. I wanted to find a way to melt into Adam and become invisible.

“Please bring forth the one who is to take your place,” the old man said.

Jenna walked over to me and put out her hand. “Come on, Nikki.”

Adam patted my leg as I took her hand and stood. Sure that I was going to fall or trip since my knees seemed to be knocking together, I gripped Jenna’s hand like a lifeline as she led me towards them. Everyone seemed to be talking at once now, and I felt as if I was being led through a gauntlet, waiting for the first blow. Each step seemed to take longer, as if I were moving through a huge bowl of Jell-o. I didn’t think we’d ever make it to the other side of the fire. Somehow we made it and the old man raised his hand again. Everyone quieted.

“Who are you, child?” The question caught me off-guard.

I caught myself before I just said my name. “I am she who Sees.”

His dark, sharp eyes twinkled, as if he was pleased with my answer, and I loosened my death grip on Jenna.

“It is time for you to prove your gift if you are she. We must all be in agreement for you to be accepted into our people. To each elder, you must prove your sight. Show us that you are whom you say,” he nodded to those on his right.

Feeling more certain of myself, I walked to the closest elder, who was Luke White Hawk. He smiled and I took a deep breath and concentrated on him. I let my breath out and tuned out the rest of the group, focusing as Jenna had taught me to do.

I sat in the recliner watching the football game, hoping the 49ers would score the winning touchdown. They did. The phone rang. My assistant from the shop was on the other end. He sounded out of breath and frantic. His wife had gone into labor.

“Greg’s wife went into labor and the 49ers won the game. You have to call and check on Greg later. You’re thinking he will be the one needing the hospital more than his wife,” I smiled. This was going to be simpler than I had thought.

He grinned at me. “You’re in, Nikki.”

I sidestepped over to Barry Young Eagle, who looked preoccupied. I took another deep breath. He noticed me and smiled politely, “Hello.”

“Hello,” I nodded, and focused in on him.

This case is impossible. I can’t focus on something for her to see. I can’t focus on anything. Edmund Rodriguez is as guilty as hell. His wife just won’t admit that he beats her. Too bad they aren’t in this tribe, we’d take care of him ourselves. Oh well, I’ll just have to keep trying. Shoot. I forgot to get milk. Marianne is going to kill me.

I grinned at him. “Edmund Rodriguez beats his wife and she won’t admit it. You think it’s an impossible case—and you forgot the milk.”

“He always forgets it.” A woman with paint splatters on her t-shirt shook her head in Ed’s familiar, sophisticated way.

Barry Young Eagle gave his wife a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Marianne. I’ll go back out later.”

Two down, four to go, I stepped over to Michael’s dad.

Hmm, I need to think of something better than Barry did. Let’s see. Debbie has the most beautiful smile in the world. It’s as if the sun shines just for her when she laughs. She is the only woman I will ever love.

“You thought of your wife. You think she has the most beautiful smile in the world and you wonder if you ever told her that before.”

“I should have thought of something else so I could have told her myself. Good job, Nikki,” Donnie Greene smiled.

His brother-in-law sat next to him. He smiled and a familiar dimple dented his cheek. “It’s too bad he didn’t tell me about my smile, I could have reminded him to tell Debbie.”

Let’s see if you can remember this, Nikki…

“You harvested five bushels of corn today, two of cucumbers, four of peppers. Tomorrow you plan on starting tomatoes, radishes and carrots,” I recited.

“Good sight and good memory. Welcome to the tribe.”

I stepped in front of Adam’s grandfather, and looked into his wrinkled face. Poker face, I thought. He wasn’t going to let me see anything easily. I was going to have to work for it. He had put his hand in his pocket and held something I couldn’t see as he sat watching me, waiting with that careful, blank stare it seemed the whole tribe had.

The Wolf stood before the elders, making his covenant with them, promising them protection as he clawed a small stone. The stone had been handed down for generations, from one down to the next. Used ceremony after ceremony, its presence had been expected and revered. To be the Keeper of the stone was a privilege, an honor. It was a reminder of the past…a promise for the future
.

“Wa-ya nv-yu. The Wolf’s Stone,” I whispered.

An eternity passed, then the old man moved to take his hand out of the pocket. A round stone, smooth from generations of handling, lay in his palm. Giant slashes were scraped across it, a testament to what had been, and the Wolf of long ago. Low murmurs ran through the crowd as everyone stared at the stone and then at me.

“You are she,” he nodded.

I let go of the breath I had been holding. I knew that they all had to agree, but for some reason, this man’s acknowledgement meant more than the others. There was only one more to go. I stepped in front the last man and froze. The uneasy feeling I had earlier was back and it was stronger than ever. Panic surged through every nerve ending in my body.

There was a small shock of silver hair at his left temple, though the rest was dark. As I watched, he gathered his hair back and tied it in a ponytail at the base of his neck. It was a quick, efficient manner of one who had done it for years. His eyes locked into mine and I froze. Something animal lurked behind those black eyes. It watched me as if I was prey and he was waiting for me to run so he could give chase. I struggled to take deep breaths. So this was the final of the six Keepers, the only one who hadn’t passed his gift on. He was staring at me as if I were food. I fought an irresistible urge to shake all over.

I wanted to go back to Adam, but I still had one more to go, which meant I had to get into the mind of this man in front of me. I took one deep breath in and found my resolve. I focused on him.

The football game was ending. We won, but I couldn’t care less. I wasn’t there for the game. I was there for her. I was always drawn to her. I always knew how to find her. She was with her friends. They were laughing and making plans for the graduation party. The wind blew her long, brown hair around her shoulders, sending her scent to me on a soft breeze. I inhaled. The wolf inside me stirred. I had to be closer to her. There was no way to ignore her now. Her friends were saying their goodbyes, now was my chance. If I could just go over and talk to her, ask her to the prom, maybe…

I shook my head trying to get out of his, I’d had enough.

“You were thinking about your wife when you asked her to the prom after a football game,” I said, relieved to be finished.

“No. I never had asked my wife to a prom. I’m sorry, but you’re mistaken.”

I took several steps back and shook my head in disbelief. “But…”

He stood and smiled. “I’m sorry, but that isn’t at all what I had thought. I don’t agree with the others. I don’t believe in your Sight.”

Adam came to stand beside me and linked his hand in mine. He faced the smaller man, who looked away. The motion didn’t go unnoticed. I felt Adam tense and a black mist edged him as if his wolf had come to see what was happening.

The silence went unbroken until the old man sighed and spoke, “I am sorry, child, but without the agreement of all elders, we cannot permit you to be one of the tribe. You are welcome to stay. We just can’t acknowledge you as our Seer yet.” He stood, “We shall give it time. Maybe your Sight needs to be stronger and you simply misunderstood. Time will be the answer. It always is.” He turned and disappeared from the circle.

A low growl emanated from Adam as he watched Reuben’s retreating back.

“Easy, son.” The sheriff came over to us as the crowd began to disperse. “Losing your temper and letting your wolf try to solve the problem won’t help anything right now. Just calm down. I’ll talk to Reuben later and try to find out what happened. You should take Nikki home. Her mother will be worrying about her.” He turned to me. “It was nice to meet you, Nikki. I’m sorry you had a rough evening. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding and we’ll get it worked out soon. Please don’t think too badly of us.”

“No, sir,” I smiled, but it was weak. “I don’t.”

Black mist edging around his body, Adam grabbed my hand. “Come on, lets go. I need to get away from here.”

I saw Jenna start to come toward us as he pulled me to the edge of the forest. She stopped and smiled at me and gave a little nod as if to say we would talk later and that she understood Adam’s need to leave.

Safe inside the canopy of trees, Adam slowed down enough that he wasn’t pulling me like an unwilling puppy on a leash. He walked, moving through the forest as quiet as a ghost, while I followed beside him, sounding like a bulldozer in a construction zone. Anger radiated from him, but this thoughts remained quiet, which was a blessing and a curse within itself. It was nice for a change to hear nothing but my own footsteps, even if the whole forest could hear me coming. I took a deep breath and let out a huge sigh, breaking the silence.

“What’s wrong?” Adam asked as a frown deepened the little wrinkle between his brows.

“Nothing.”

“I’ve told you before. You’re a terrible liar.” He tilted my face to make me look at him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I will be, although I don’t think my going back to the Res would be such a good idea,” I murmured.

“Why not? Everyone knows you belong there, and everyone knows you belong to me. There won’t be any problem.” The air picked up and sparked around us.