by Aliyah Burke
“It’s okay, Stone. You’re sheriff. You have a job to do.”
“Let’s get you inside and warm. Then we talk.”
“Okay.”
Before she could say another word, Stone swung up on Snips’ bare back and reached down to her. Her smile warmed him all the way through. He kissed the side of her neck as she settled before him.
“He okay with this?” she asked, petting Snips.
“You could ride this horse backward and he would be fine with it.” Stone clucked to Snips, and he moved out at a walk.
“We could have walked back,” she said.
“I know. But this way I get to hold you in my arms.” He tightened his hold on her.
Soon they were inside, clean and warm. Stone licked his lips when she took his hand and led him to the living room and tugged him down with her on his couch. Jasira crossed her legs and faced him on the cushion. In her hand he recognized the deer hide Red Eagle had passed to her.
“This is what Red Eagle gave me,” she murmured softly, setting it between them and opening it.
Stone stared at the medicine wheel. It was old. There were some like this on display for people who came to the reservation to see. His gaze took in the totems and the ragged patch dangling from it.
“I think…I think this is my family.”
He could hear the slight tremor in her tone despite the conviction. “Why?” he asked.
“I’ve been asking myself that ever since he gave it to me.” She touched the patch in the middle. “My great-great grandfather, Sergeant Isaiah Graham, was a Buffalo Soldier.”
He stared at the three stripes indicative of a sergeant on the material. “Okay, so it’s an old army patch of a sergeant.”
Jasira looked at him and nodded. “That’s what I thought until I saw this.” She flipped it over and he read “We Can; We Will” stitched in gold. “This was the motto of the Ninth Cavalry.”
Stone’s heart pounded within his chest. He’d heard numerous times the story of a solitary black man at Wounded Knee who’d saved a boy. That boy was his own ancestor. Can this be? The thought had been born when she mentioned Wounded Knee and her ancestor before, but he’d not fully focused in on it. Not until this very moment.
“And the totems?” he wondered, reaching out with a finger to touch the patch.
“Calvin Running Wolf Graham is my great-grandfather,” she said touching the flowing wolf. Her finger moved to the bears. “My grandpa is Jamal Two Bears Graham, which is also the name of Calvin’s brother who died.” She took a deep breath. “My father, Justice Standing Bear Graham.”
Because you are the final part to the circle. With you, we’ve come full circle.
Red Eagle’s words made so much more sense now. This amazing woman sitting before him was tied to him on so many levels.
“What happened today, Jasira?” he asked, trying not to think about what this could mean.
“I could hear the drums… No, I could feel them. Blurry shadows moving past. Screams, cries, the smell of fear and death. Then a single shot which started chaos.”
Stone looked at her, her face was pinched with agony as she recalled the events. Her hand clenched into a fist.
“And a phrase that kept repeating over and over. Like I should understand. Like I should know what they’re crying out for.” Big fat tears spilled over from her brown eyes and streamed unchecked down her skin. “But I don’t know. I can’t understand and it hurts. It hurts, Stone.”
Stone cupped her face and lifted it so he could see her eyes. Brushing away her tears with the pads of his thumbs, he sighed. “Baby, you can’t save them. This has already happened. There is nothing you can do to make this atrocity have a different outcome. Stop trying to change what’s already happened. Just listen.”
“I want to help them.”
Stone moved the medicine wheel behind him before sliding closer to Jasira. “I know you do. But you can’t.”
“Then why am I feeling this?”
“I don’t know, waštelakapi.” Stone embraced her. “Maybe you are supposed to get a message.”
She wiped her eyes. “A message?”
“Like from a vision. Maybe you have to accept it all and work through it to get to the part you can understand.”
He could see the look of concentration on her face. “Maybe I do.” Jasira leaned against him and reached for the medicine wheel. “Maybe I do.”
Lips against the top of her head, Stone held her while she held the item from their past which allowed them to meet. Arms around her, Stone stared into the fire he’d built up once they’d returned. A few hours had passed when he woke, laid back upon the couch. Jasira lay on his chest, her face in the crook of his neck. Turning his head, Stone could see it was dark outside. Running his hand down his face, he sighed and shook her gently.
“Jasira.”
“Hmmm?” She stirred rubbing her body against his.
“Wake up.”
She kissed the side of his neck. “Do I have to?”
He grinned and cupped her ass. “No, I like you right here.”
“Good,” she murmured burrowing closer.
“Sure you’re not hungry?”
“Oh…food. Breakfast sounds really good right now.”
“Breakfast? You want breakfast?”
“Yes.” She shifted and slipped her arms under his shoulders and began peppering kisses along his jaw.
Stone felt his body begin to respond. “Jasira,” he groaned. “Keep this up, darlin’, and you won’t be eating anything for a while.”
Her fingers massaged the back of his head. “Good.”
A low rumble left him as he gave over to a different kind of hunger that had nothing to do with food and everything to do with the woman in his arms.
* * * *
Saturday morning, Stone woke covered in a thick quilt on the living room floor. The first thing he noticed was he was alone. The second, he was as naked as the day he was born. Pushing up on his elbows he saw his pants nearby and a fire roaring in the fireplace. He caught the smell of food cooking in the air. He got up and pulled on his pants before heading to the kitchen area where he found Jasira leaning over and checking on something in the oven. That’s where my shirt went. Silent, he waited until she shut the oven door, then moved behind her, and wrapped his arms around her.
“Morning,” she said in a soft drawl.
“Good morning, waštelakapi. What are you doing?”
“I believe it’s called making breakfast.”
Head by her ear he murmured, “And looking delicious in my shirt while you do.” Stone kissed her. “Do I have time to check on the horses?”
“Yes. It won’t be ready for about forty-five minutes.”
“Okay.” One more kiss before he jogged upstairs to get dressed.
Out in the barn, Stone sighed as he patted Tate on the neck and walked toward the gate, having put out the last bit of hay to go down this morning. He intended to clean stalls after breakfast. The nearer he got to the house, the greater his unease. Something was off. With a glance over his shoulder, his heart caught at the sight of a figure on horseback out past the pasture fence. He closed his eyes and when he looked again there was nothing but snow-covered prairie.
Stone pushed opened the door with a groan. One that faded swiftly at the sight of Jasira moving through his house like she lived there. The smile on her face when she met his gaze knocked his socks off. I want this…forever.
“Hey, perfect timing,” she said wiping her hands off on a towel and moving toward him.
Stone accepted the kiss and struggled to control his raging desire. “I aim to please.”
Her brown eyes twinkled. “Well, I’m pleased.” That gaze darkened. “Very pleased.” With a wink she danced out of reach and headed to the counter where she grabbed the juice, taking it to the table.
Not much later they were eating. “What did you want to do today?” he asked.
“Can we go for a ride?”
Sto
ne grinned and leaned forward. “By the gleam in your eyes I’m assuming you mean on horseback.” Brown diamonds. That’s how he’d describe her eyes. They sparkled like stars.
“Yes. If it’s okay.”
“We can ride. No problem.” He’d do anything to keep that look upon her face.
“Great.”
“I just have to clean the barn first.”
“Put me to work, boss.”
He pinned her with his gaze. “Be careful, waštelakapi. Keep saying things like that and we’ll not leave this house for the rest of the weekend.”
“While I’d miss going for a ride on Snips, that would be an option I’d have no problem with either.”
Stone had her in his arms before her voice faded from the air and carried her upstairs, their mouths fused as one. It was afternoon before he made it to clean stalls. Jasira he’d left sleeping in his bed. So he worked quickly and headed back into the house. Upstairs he showered and woke her after.
“A casino?” she asked, lying on her back beneath the blankets watching him with big, sleepy eyes. Eyes that enticed him to shed his clothing and slip beneath the thick covers and join her.
“Yes. Prairie Wind. It’s not far. We can grab dinner at Winds of Change and do some gambling.” He shrugged. “Unless you’d rather not.”
“No, let’s go. Sounds like fun.” She sat up and smiled. “Just let me grab a shower and I’ll be ready.”
Stone reached for her only to stop and groan. “I’ll be downstairs.” It was hard but he forced himself to leave the room. That night upon their return from the casino, Stone fell asleep with Jasira tight against him both exhausted from making love.
Sunday was another day he didn’t want to end. In the morning they took a horseback ride and now they were on their way to where she’d had her experiences along the road. He watched her out of the corner of his eye. Jasira did her best to appear calm and collected, but he could see the strain at the edge of her mouth. Silent, he pulled off the road and put the Jeep in park.
“You sure this is okay?”
Stone looked fully at her. “I’m sure. Would you like me to walk with you?”
Her dark gaze flickered from him to the prairie behind her and back again. Stone held his breath and waited.
“Yes.”
Thank you, because I don’t know how I would have let you go alone. “Let’s go then.”
Stone shut off the jeep and got out. He grabbed a blanket from the back and soon walked across the crusted snow. He followed letting her decide where to go.
“Here,” she said in a muted tone.
Without a word, he spread the blanket out for her. Jasira sat on it and reached up for his hand. Stone gave her a reassuring squeeze, but she refused to let go when he started to leave.
“Stay.”
The need in her single word drenched him. Glancing down, he found her head tipped up to meet his gaze. Stone couldn’t refuse. He sank down behind her and scooted up so his legs were along her hips and his chest against her back. Stone pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
“Take your time.”
They remained for a while until she began to shake from the biting cold. He knew she was a bit disappointed nothing happened, but she still gave him a smile and tried to pretend all was okay. That night when she left, it was difficult for him to let her drive away. Even after her taillights vanished, he remained outside staring off in the direction she’d gone.
* * * *
Jasira stood before her current commanding officer. She’d just gotten home from work on Wednesday when her phone had rung. She’d wanted to sleep. That seemed to be seriously lacking in her life right now. Ever since she’d left Stone’s on Sunday, sleep without the comforting feel of his body beside her didn’t work. So instead of eating and sleeping, she’d turned around and headed back into work.
“Petty Officer Graham reporting as ordered, sir.”
“At ease, Graham,” Lieutenant Commander Dukes said. “Sit down. Sorry to call you back in. I tried to catch you before you left but as you can tell I wasn’t successful on that front.”
Jasira smiled easily. “What can I do for you, sir?”
He sighed and leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “We could use a CTI over in the Middle East. It’s short notice, I know. Real short. But if you can be ready in eighteen, I’ll send you.”
Leave? “Where, sir?”
“Near Fallujah.”
So not on a ship. Her blood pumped hard and fast. The urge to squirm rushed over her and she fought it back. This was why she joined; not to recruit but to translate.
“What about my stuff?”
“We can have it all packed and waiting in storage for you. And I’ll recruit until your replacement comes.”
She couldn’t stop the grin on her face if she tried. “I’ll do it, sir.”
His smile matched her own. “Figured you would.” He pushed to his feet. “The lab is open and waiting to give you whatever shots you need. Don’t bother coming in tomorrow, you just focus on getting ready to leave.”
Jasira stood and nodded. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“No. Thank you, Petty Officer. You’re the type of sailor who makes my job all that much easier. And you make me look good. Go on, dismissed.”
Standing at attention briefly, she turned on her heel only to pause at the door and look back. “Commander.” He met her gaze. “Thank you for everything. I appreciate the chance.”
“Take care of yourself, Graham.”
“Yes, sir.”
With another smile, she left and headed out into the cold night. First stop the lab, then she headed home again. As she stood over her sea bag, Jasira faltered at the thought of Stone. With a deep sigh, she called his house. There was no answer so she left a message.
“I’ll try again in a bit,” she murmured.
Slipping in her Bluetooth, Jasira called her mom and didn’t receive an answer. Then another.
“Lieutenant Graham.” The voice was sleepy and rough.
“Justice, it’s me.”
“Jas?” There were some sounds of rustling and he whispered, “Go back to sleep, it’s my sister.”
“Sorry to…um…disturb you and Kassidy.”
“We were sleeping. Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just a change in plans. I’m shipping out in less than eighteen. I know Mom and Grandpa are gone to the reunion thing he attends every year. I’ll try to reach them one more time but can you make sure they know?”
“Where are you going?”
“Around Fallujah.”
“That’s on the ground,” he growled.
“I know. I’m also sending you something to hold for me. I’ll explain when I get back home.”
“Okay.” He paused. “You take care and stay alert. Keep your head down.” The words were rough with emotion.
Tears pricked her eyes. “Is that an order, Lieutenant?”
“That’s an order from your older brother. I love you, runt.”
“Love you, too.”
She ended the call and got back to work. Her night was restless and she felt exhausted when she woke. Jasira tried Stone’s house again, but got nothing than the machine. Bags in the taxi, Jasira handed her keys over to the place her car would be stored at until the Navy came to move it. She rode in silence to the airport. Once there and checked by security, she withdrew her phone and called the sheriff’s office.
“Sheriff’s office. This is Rayne.”
“Hi Rayne, it’s Jasira. Is Stone there?”
“Sorry, hon, he’s out on a call.”
She sighed. “Can you give him a message for me?”
“Of course. Is everything okay?”
Jasira smiled at the concern in her tone. She’d met Rayne and had truly taken to her. “Yes, ma’am. I’m fine. I just couldn’t catch him at his house.”
Rayne tsked. “Yeah, he’s been sleeping here pretty much. Jack got hurt so he’s on all the time.” She clea
red her throat. “What’s the message?”
“I’m sorry to hear about Jack. Can you just tell him…” She trailed off not wanting to say anything. “Tell him I’m sorry I missed him again. And I left him a message at home too.”
“Sweetie, are you sure everything’s okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. I have to go. Take care, Rayne. Bye.”
Jasira ordered a coffee and sat near the gate. She left another message for her mom then began working on the book of crosswords she had purchased. The light sound of Usher grabbed her attention. Without taking her gaze from the page before her, she answered. “Graham.”
“Is everything okay, waštelakapi?” Stone’s voice threaded through her.
“Stone.” Tears pricked her eyes. He sounded exhausted. Wonderful, but exhausted.
“Rayne said you called. And that you sounded off. Is everything okay?”
“I called your house, but you weren’t there and…and…I’m sorry for bothering you at work.”
“Jasira, don’t start that. You can’t bother me. What’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
Lord, I’m going to miss this man. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
She heard a door slam then silence. “Sorry for what, waštelakapi?”
“Having to say goodbye over the phone instead of face to face.”
“Goodbye? Why are you saying goodbye at all?”
“I’m leaving. I’m heading to the Middle East.”
“When?”
“I’m waiting at the gate now.”
“Now?”
“Yes. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but I had only eighteen hours notice.”
A string of words she didn’t understand left his mouth. She got the gist of them though. He was less than pleased.
“Okay.” Stone took a deep breath. “When do you come back?” His question was tension filled.
Jasira licked her lips. “I don’t.” She swallowed. “They’ll pack my things and move them to a storage unit. My next duty station I’ll have them moved.”
The sound of her flight being announced made her jump. She stood and moved to the gate.
“You’re not coming back and you’re leaving now.” Stone paused. “Jasira, I…there is something I need to tell you.”
Smiling through the tears as she boarded the airline, Jasira found her seat and sank into it. “There are things I want to tell you, too, Stone.”
