Charmed

by Catherine Hart

  “If not, we can always create one,” Jack proposed. “Lord knows, we’ve fabricated Thorn’s entire background. Inventing a new position for him should be a piece of cake. And who better to verify Indian effects from this area than a Shawnee who actually used them? He’s a natural!”

  Nikki nodded. “What do you think, Thorn? It might mean minimal travel, but nothing more than a few hours’ drive from here.”

  “Yes, I would like this work very much,” Thorn said, approving the notion. “The only thing better would be to minister to my own people. Already, I miss being a shaman.”

  “Why can’t you combine the two, Uncle Thorn?” This from Denny’s teenage son, Steven. “There must be lots of folks in these parts with Shawnee ancestry who wish they knew more about their heritage. Stuff like the old ceremonies and dances. And I’ll bet there isn’t a single person in the whole state who knows how to speak the language. Except you.”

  “Out of the mouths of babes!” Paula declared.

  Hank’s eyes lit up with excitement and yearning. “Yes. You could teach us our native tongue, Thorn, and all the old ways that have been lost and forgotten all these years.”

  “It would be a great service to your people,” Sam added.

  “And nontaxable, to boot, if you supplied an educational and religious need and simply took donations,” Jack couldn’t help noting.

  “Wow! I think we’re really onto something here!” Sheree exclaimed.

  “I think so, too,” Nikki said. “As long as it makes Thorn happy.”

  “Nothing could give me more pleasure than aiding my people,” he assured her, his eyes aglow with enthusiasm. “Nothing but loving you.”

  Thorn enjoyed not only the wonderful Thanksgiving feast, but the warm, open companionship of his new family. Even in his own time, among the Shawnee, Thorn had felt set apart from the majority of his fellows—mainly due to his unusual skills. Many of them had been wary of him. Others had set him above themselves, almost as they would an idol or a spirit figure. Here, none of that seemed to matter. These people accepted him as one of their own, completely dismissing his peculiar talents. They even deigned to tease him without fear of some awful retribution. This pleased him immensely. It put him at ease and warmed his heart. For this affectionate kinship, he was truly thankful.

  The table had been cleared, and dessert and coffee were being served when the doorbell rang. Paula frowned. “Who can that be? No one was expecting anyone else, were they?”

  Everyone replied to the negative.

  “I’ll get it,” Hank said, rising from his chair.

  In a few seconds he was back, and now he was frowning. “Nikki, there’s a man at the door wanting to speak with you. It’s Brian Sanders.”

  Nikki froze in place. All around the table, silence fell. Steven broke it first. “Uh, oh. Now the stuff’s gonna hit the fan.”

  Nikki rose slowly, her glance sliding toward Thorn. “I suppose the only way to get rid of him is to talk to him.”

  “And to let him see for himself the husband he claims is a . . . what did he say? A phony?” Thorn, too, had risen and was striding from the room.

  “If you need any assistance, call out,” Denny offered. “I’ve already had one not-so-pleasant discussion with him, but I’m game for it again.”

  “I thank you for the offer, but we will need no aid, brother,” Thorn stated tersely. “However, this reporter-man might, if he truly angers me.”

  Brian was standing just inside the door in the entrance hall. The smile he was about to offer Nikki died half-born on his lips. “Uh, who’s the aging hippie with the long hair, Nikki? Don’t tell me this is the errant husband?”

  “How perceptive of you, Brian,” Nikki grated through clenched teeth. She turned to Thorn. “Thorn, this is Brian Sanders, the reporter I’ve told you about. Brian, my husband, Thorn Silver, who I’m sure is contemplating how well his hands will fit around your throat. Be forewarned. Everything you say can and will be held against you. Now, if you would kindly state your business and leave, I would appreciate it. You’ve interrupted our meal.”

  Brian was evidently taken aback and at a loss for words, which in itself must have been a novel experience for him. It took him a moment to collect his thoughts. “I . . . uh . . . you’ve been avoiding me, Nikki. I thought today would be the best time to catch you and have a little talk.”

  “About Thorn,” she surmised.

  “Y . . . Yes, actually,” he stammered. Heat climbed into his face, staining it red. “I suppose you got the message I left on your answering machine last evening.”

  “We did, indeed,” Thorn told him, spearing Brian with a glacial glare. “I do not appreciate having my wife’s ears assaulted with your lies.”

  Though obviously intimidated, which was precisely what Thorn had intended, Brian defended himself. “Most of what I said was the truth, at least as I see it. I’ve done my best, but can’t glean even the smallest bit of information about you, Silver. That’s rare enough to raise my suspicions, which might prove to hold more than a grain of truth. Everyone has a past, some sort of record on file in a computer somewhere. So where is yours? Who are you? What are you? An underworld spy? A mobster with ten aliases? Or maybe you’re simply an illegal alien trying to gain U. S. citizenship by charming an innocent woman into a hasty marriage.”

  Thorn took a step toward Brian, his hands aiming for the man’s neck. Nikki quickly stepped between them and clasped Thorn’s arm. Not that she could hold him back if he didn’t want to comply with her wishes. “Why would Thorn need to do that when he’s already a United States citizen by birth?” Nikki questioned.

  “That’s what your brother said, but I don’t believe it. I’ve checked, and I can’t find a birth certificate on file.”

  “Then I suggest you check again,” Thorn growled. “I was born in Xenia, forty-five years ago. If I have a copy of my birth records, surely the state does also.”

  “Okay, so why haven’t you ever filed an income-tax report?” Brian persisted. “Why doesn’t the social security office have any record of a number for you? Or the DMV, for that matter?”

  “Surely Denny told you that Thorn and his parents lived and worked outside the U.S. Why would they possess social security numbers or driver’s licenses for a country where they neither live nor work?” Nikki shook her head at him. “Your reasoning just doesn’t make sense, Brian. Maybe you should consider taking a long, restful vacation. Get away from the pressures of the job before you burn out entirely.”

  “Oh, no you don’t,” Brian argued. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easily. This situation stinks to high heaven, and I’m not going anywhere until I get to the bottom of it.”

  “We are going to get rid of you,” Thorn assured him grimly. “One way or another. Now, you will leave my wife alone in the future or I will be forced to harm you. While I would take great pleasure in it, Neeake would most likely plead for your life. Therefore, I will issue this one warning. If you do not heed it, the fault will be yours. Do I make myself clearly understood?”

  “Yeah,” Brian grumbled. “I can recognize a threat when I hear one.” He backed toward the door. “I’m leaving. For now. But the minute I can get the goods on you, Silver, I’ll sic the cops on your tail. Bet on it, buster. Then Nikki will see that I’m right.”

  “If you’re planning on my gratitude, think again,” Nikki told him. “And Thorn doesn’t make threats, Brian. He makes promises—and keeps them.”

  She slammed the door in his face. Hard.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Nikki and Thorn were halfway home when Thorn suddenly inquired, “Where is this place out west where you say most of the Shawnee now live?”

  “I wasn’t sure myself, so I did some research once I got back here. I found that the major concentration is in several communities around Oklahoma City. One town is actually named Shawnee, Oklahoma, and one is called Tecumseh.”

  “How long would it take to get there i
n your car?”

  Nikki tried to calculate it. “Around a day and a half, I suppose, driving a twelve-hour-day and stopping at night. Why?”

  “Will you take me there? Now.”

  Nikki steered the car to the side of the road, shifted into park, and faced him before answering. “Okay, Thorn. What’s up? Why this sudden urge to go to Oklahoma immediately if not sooner?”

  “I do not know why I need to go there, only that I must. It is as if something or someone is calling me to go. I feel that it is most urgent that I get there as soon as possible.”

  Nikki shook her head in wonder. “I knew better than to ask and to expect an ordinary answer.”

  “Will you drive me there?” he queried again.

  “I’ll do better than that,” she told him. “If we can get seats at this late hour and if my credit card will stand the strain, I’ll get us both airplane tickets. Flying is much faster, and we can rent a car on the other end.”

  “Fly?” he repeated incredulously. “How does a person fly? And what is this airplane you speak of?”

  “It’s a machine with an engine and wings that is aerodynamically designed to be capable of flight. A trained pilot drives it, so to speak, and there are many seats on the inside, making it possible for numerous people to ride in it at once.”

  “Is this airplane thing safe?” he asked doubtfully. “What happens if it decides to fall from the sky?”

  “If a plane malfunctions that badly, it crashes, burns, and all aboard are usually killed,” she admitted bluntly. “However, statistics generally show that more people die in car accidents than in airplane crashes every year. Millions of people fly every day and arrive at their destinations safely.”

  “And you feel assured that we could do so?” he prodded.

  Nikki nodded. “I wouldn’t have suggested it, otherwise.”

  Thorn mimicked her nod. “Then we will do this. How much faster will it be to go by flying than by driving?”

  “That depends on when the next flight is scheduled and whether or not we can get tickets for it. Many times, the seats are all taken weeks in advance. If we can get seats and a flight tonight or tomorrow out of a nearby airport, we could arrive in Oklahoma City within a couple of hours of takeoff, I imagine.”

  “How does one check on this information?”

  Nikki put the car back into gear and guided it onto the road again. “By telephone. I’ll call as soon as we get home. Then, depending on what we find out, we’ll pack some clothes and drive to the airport. By the way, do you have any idea how long this mysterious mission of yours might take? I’m supposed to be back at school first thing Monday morning.”

  “No, but I do not think it will take long. Perhaps a day or two, but I cannot be certain.”

  Nikki sighed. “Okay. I guess we’ll just play this one by ear.”

  After half-a-dozen phone calls, Nikki found an open flight from Dayton International to Oklahoma City. It departed at 9:00, which gave them just enough time to pack an overnight bag and dash off to the airport. It was a rush; and she knew that if they got held up in traffic or encountered an accident, they’d never make it on time—which could mean forfeiting nonrefundable tickets that had cost a bundle! She also took a few minutes to call ahead and reserve a rental car and secure a motel room for the night—and to notify her parents of their last-minute plans.

  They made their flight—barely. Knowing that time was of the essence, Silver Thorn did not dally, though he would have liked to have gotten a better impression of the bustling airport. As it was, they were the last passengers to board the aircraft. After quickly stuffing their coats and bag into the overhead compartment, they took their seats. Nikki, knowing how exciting it was to fly for the first time, offered Silver Thorn the window seat. While he would have gotten a much better view on a daytime flight, she figured he would still be enthralled by the sight of the city lights dotting the landscape below them.

  Silver Thorn was understandably nervous. Though he did his best not to show it, Nikki could tell. The tense lines around his mouth were back, and he sat stiff and still in his seat, his hands clutching the armrests.

  As they taxied toward the runway, engines rumbling, Nikki patted his white knuckles comfortingly. “It will be fine, Thorn. We’ll be in the air in just a few minutes.” Perversely, she couldn’t help teasing him just a little. “Be brave, darling. The flight attendants frown on sniveling passengers.”

  He spared her a scowl, but said nothing in reply. His jaw was too tightly clamped to allow for speech.

  They lifted off with a boost of power, and the ground fell swiftly beneath them. It was a dizzying, exhilarating moment.

  Nikki leaned over him. “Look, Thorn, see all the lights down there? Isn’t it beautiful?”

  He swallowed the lump in his throat and dared to look. It was a stunning sight. As were the stars above. “So this is what the eagle sees as he soars upon the winds,” Thorn murmured in awe-filled wonder.

  When the stewardess came by to offer them refreshment, Thorn absently declined. He was much too enthralled with watching out the window to bother with anything so trivial. They flew though a cloud, and he exclaimed softly, as thrilled as a child at Christmas. Nikki shared his delight, enjoying it all the more through his eyes and reactions.

  It was over all too soon. They landed in Oklahoma City with a couple of bumps and a squeal of tires on pavement. It wasn’t the smoothest of landings, but Nikki was glad the weather was cooperating. There was no snow or ice with which to contend. Just the chill of the crisp night air.

  They’d packed lightly and thus were able to avoid the crush and the lengthy wait at the baggage carousel. Their first stop was at the airport car rental. Within half an hour, they were zipping through interstate traffic, headed toward their nearby motel.

  Interstate travel was another novel event for Silver Thorn and one for which he wasn’t sure he cared much. Now, he stated decisively, “I believe I like flying in that huge metal arrow better than riding so fast in a car.”

  Then came the motel, and he was intrigued anew, especially with the elevator that took them to the fourth floor, where their room was located. When he grabbed at his stomach, Nikki laughed. “Yeah. It makes your tummy tickle, doesn’t it?”

  The room had a huge king-size bed, a T.V-radio combination, a microwave ensconced in an armoire, and a minibar. Almost all the comforts of home. In the bathroom was a basket of complimentary toiletries, another wall radio, and a hair dryer.

  Like the majority of travelers, Silver Thorn tested the bed first. “I like this firm bed,” he informed her. “I cannot seem to adjust to sleeping atop water.”

  “I’m not too keen on it myself,” she admitted. “As soon as we can afford it, we’ll replace the mattress.”

  “I would prefer a big one like this. My feet stick out of the end of your bed.”

  “Our bed,” she reminded him as she hung the last of their clothes on the rack. “And if you want a king-size mattress, we’ll have to replace the entire bed. That will cost more, so we may have to wait a bit. With the baby coming, we’ll have more pressing expenses that must be considered first.”

  Nikki’s stomach rumbled. “I’m hungry, aren’t you?” At his nod, she suggested, “The restaurant is closed, but the snack bar will still be serving. Why don’t we mosey on down and grab a bite to eat? That or we can run out for a pizza or order something from room service.”

  “Room service?”

  Nikki showed him the menu card near the phone. “It usually costs more, but you can call down and have the food brought to your room.”

  Silver Thorn shook his head. “I would rather see more of this place if you are not too tired.”

  She grinned at him and grabbed her purse. “You can’t kid me. You just want to ride in the elevator again. Just give me a minute to freshen up.”

  The snack bar didn’t affect him much, but he was curious about the nightclub they passed along the way. They stopped for a second t
o poke their heads inside and give him a peek. He came away nearly dazed. “The music is so loud it assaults the ears,” he said. “And so much smoke, I thought the room was on fire.”

  “There was a day when I would have enjoyed that,” Nikki confessed. “It’s only been a couple of years since I quit smoking cigarettes. You do get somewhat accustomed to the noise after a while, though it does make conversation difficult. However, as much as I enjoy dancing, I really don’t care to be around a bunch of drunks.”

  “That is what the nightclub is about?” he questioned. “Dancing and smoking and drinking firewater?”

  “Basically. That and picking up women—or men, for that matter.”

  “Why would a person want to lift another person?” he asked in some confusion. “Is there some reason for this?”

  Nikki chuckled. “Sorry. To pick up a person in a bar means that you introduce yourself to a stranger and invite him or her to come to your room—to your bed. It’s a practice that can be very hazardous to your health, in more ways than one.”

  After a light meal, they took an alternate route back to the elevator and passed the heated indoor pool. Nikki gazed at it with longing. “I wish I’d thought to pack my swimsuit. It sure would be nice to soak away some of the travel kinks. See? They even have a whirlpool. Being pregnant, I don’t think I could indulge in that. The water’s probably too hot, but you’d adore it—if you had a pair of swim trunks.”

  A maid overheard Nikki’s lament. “You two want to go in, I can get you a couple of suits,” she offered. “That fancy boutique up front would charge you a fortune, but we got some stashed away in a back room—stuff previous guests have forgotten to take with them when they checked out. They’ve all been properly washed, if you don’t mind wearing other folks’ leavings.”

  Nikki indicated her bulging stomach. “I doubt you’d have any to fit me, but I’m sure Thorn would appreciate a loaner.”