The Warrior's Way (Apache Protectors: Tribal Thunder)

by Jenna Kernan

  Luke Forrest stepped into the room.

  His confident smile waned when he took a good look at her. She had seen herself in the bathroom mirror when the nurse had forced her up. She thought that she would frighten small children in her current state. Grown men, too, it seemed.

  “Oh, Sophia,” he said and moved to the opposite side of the bed. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m alive. I’ll be back on my feet soon.”

  “That’s great news. Burton should be here soon. I wanted a chance to thank you and to apologize for putting you in this position.”

  She let him off the hook without regret. “I made my own decisions, Luke.”

  “But if not for me, you would never have been here.”

  “And everyone in Piñon Forks would be dead,” said Jack.

  She never would have met Jack. Her gaze flashed to him. He scooped up her hand. When she glanced back to her cousin, it was to see him looking at the place where their palms met and then back to her. His brow quirked as he likely connected the dots.

  “Well, then. You’ll be on disability for a while. After that, you planning on coming back to the Bureau?”

  She looked from one man to the other, resisting the pull to stay here with Jack. What would that be like? Then she remembered, though he had extended the hospitality of his tribe, he had not asked her to stay with him. Had not asked for anything more permanent than sharing the time she had here. They’d gone in knowing she would leave.

  But he was here with her in the hospital. Never left her side, judging from the dark stubble now growing on his face and the dusty clothing he still wore.

  Did he want her to stay?

  “You think they’ll take me back?” she asked Luke.

  “I think so. You not only saved this reservation, you kept that flood from taking out Red Rock Dam below the rez and possibly Mesa Salado Dam as well. If that had happened, we could have lost three of our four hydroelectric dams. The results would have crippled the electric grid. You did that, Sophia.”

  “She had help. If they’re going to pin a criminal charge on her, then I have forty miners who will swear she advised against it.”

  “I think that won’t be necessary,” said Luke.

  “They won’t prosecute?” asked Jack.

  “Can’t guarantee. But I highly doubt it. You were on your land. Federal land, true. I think they’d be foolish to pursue a case. It would be nothing but bad press. But if they do, you’ll need more than forty miners. The Bureau will know Sophia was there. She’s left physical evidence. They’ll find it.”

  Jack’s grip on her hand tightened.

  “You have a suggestion?”

  “For starters, I’d move her out of Darabee and back to Turquoise Canyon. That would delay them. If she can travel, then consider taking her to her own reservation on Black Mountain. There are other ways to protect her.”

  Now he met Jack’s gaze and Jack nodded.

  “I understand.”

  She didn’t. “What are you two talking about?”

  Luke leaned down to kiss Sophia’s cheek and whispered words of encouragement. Then he straightened and looked to Jack.

  “You know what to do.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was not how Sophia pictured being proposed to. She lay in a hospital bed hurting all over, a pulse monitor and IV connecting her to equipment beside her. In her mind’s eye, her would-be groom would not have been rumpled and tired and covered with fallout from a recent explosion. And he would not have proposed to her out of duty and an obligation to protect.

  Her mother’s choices had taught Sophia many things. One was never to trust a man to take care of you. It was why Sophia needed her job. And no matter how much Jack tempted her, she was not putting her foot in that trap today or any day. One made decisions from a position of power, not from one of weakness, and she had never been so weak.

  “No,” she said and stopped talking.

  Jack’s brow furrowed. “But it would make you a member of the Turquoise Canyon tribe.”

  “I just blew up your canyon. You might need a new name. Turquoise Valley?”

  “Sophia, this is serious. If you marry me, we can claim you have federal protection on our reservation.”

  “Jack, I’m Black Mountain Apache and I’ve spent my adult life trying to leave that legacy behind. But if I needed it, I have the protection of my tribe.”

  “You want me to bring you there?”

  “No!” Oh, it hurt to raise her voice.

  “Your captain will be here soon. I can have you out of here before he arrives.”

  “I don’t need a husband, Jack. What I need is my old job back.”

  “Forrest thinks that might not work out.”

  “Well, I’m going to try. I’m sure not going to quit because they might fire me.”

  He blew out a breath. “Is that your decision?”

  “Yes.”

  “You could come to work for us. We need more women on our force.”

  “You don’t have any.”

  “Our dispatcher, Olivia. She’s ten percent of our force,” he said, rubbing his neck. “And she does a great job.”

  “I appreciate the offer. But I don’t think you need a forensic explosives expert just yet. Maybe think about a second detective first.”

  “I don’t want you hurt over this.”

  Did he mean more than a ruptured spleen and a bruised kidney? She was really tempted to just accept his offer. But she wouldn’t. She wasn’t going to be his act of selfless duty. No matter how good they were together, her ego could not tolerate that.

  When her captain arrived with three investigators, they asked Jack to leave the room. The last thing she said to him was to tell them the truth.

  He was a lawman. But she feared that his need to protect her might make him forget that. It wasn’t something you could do halfway. Either you followed the law or you didn’t.

  They asked her a series of questions, the interview stretching so long she feared she’d have to call for her pain medication. When they left, she felt totally drained. The medication helped her sleep. When she woke, Jack was back beside her bed.

  “You don’t have to stay. I’m doing well.”

  “I want to stay.”

  “Jack, go home. Take a shower. Sleep in your own bed and come back tomorrow.”

  “You ordering me out?”

  “I need to rest.”

  He kissed her forehead and something unexpected happened. Despite the pain and fatigue, that familiar tingle of awareness was back. This man, only this man, could rouse her to want something her body was in no way ready for.

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” he promised and disappeared.

  She ate and slept and watched television with the sound off, dozing and waking to find the windows dark.

  In the morning, her breakfast came, but Jack did not. She tried to hide her disappointment and worry.

  That afternoon, Executive Director Gill of the Turquoise Canyon tribe came to her room dressed in full regalia to formally thank her for her efforts to save their tribe. Chief Wallace Tinnin accompanied him, on crutches, his leg in a cast from hip to toe. Also there were the members of Tribal Thunder—Ray Strong, Dylan Tehauno, and Carter and Jack Bear Den.

  Jack looked especially appealing in his high beaded moccasins, bright camp shirt festooned with blue ribbons sewn horizontally across the yoke. Across his forehead he wore a red band of folded cloth ornamented with a string of silver and turquoise medallions on a leather cord. Two eagle feathers hung by his temple. His appearance was so distracting that she had to concentrate not to keep staring at him. Each time she cast him a quick look, her stomach gave a familiar quiver. Perhaps she was healing faster than she thought.

  The tribe presented her with a sacred eagle feather adorned with red cloth and elaborate bead work and a simple leather cord to allow the feather to be tied on whatever she chose. The eagle flew closer to the heavens than any oth
er creature and was therefore the most sacred. She had earned one such feather before from a bald eagle presented by her tribal leaders to mark the milestone of graduating from high school. The entire brief ceremony at her bedside made her proud and she accepted the golden eagle feather with two open hands from Executive Director Gill. The feather, a symbol of strength and power, was holy to her people. There was no higher honor and she felt humble indeed.

  “You are one of us now,” said Gill. “And welcome on our land and in our homes. Know that we are forever grateful.”

  “I’m honored.”

  The room seemed very empty after they left. She had come to know them. What would it be like to stay here with them?

  The longing welled up inside her. She sat with the feather before her on her lap, bright against the white blankets. Then she lowered her head and wept. She didn’t want to leave them. She didn’t want to leave Jack. But how could she stay?

  He had so much work to do with his tribe and with the FBI, who were now investigating the dam explosion and the secondary blast that saved his reservation. She had no right to detain him when she was healing well. They needed him, she didn’t. Only she did and that was the most concerning thing of all.

  The nurse surprised her a few minutes later. Sophia swiped away the tears.

  “Well, they’re finally gone,” said her nurse, clipboard firmly gripped in her hand. She spotted the feather. “Isn’t that pretty.”

  “Sacred,” she said, correcting the woman.

  The nurse shrugged. “I have your discharge papers.”

  Sophia blinked. She had been told she would be released tomorrow and the switch caught her by surprise.

  “Oh, well, that’s good.”

  “Someone has to pick you up. Do you have someone to call?”

  Jack, she thought.

  “Um, yes. Of course.” It was in that moment that Sophia realized that she had the FBI, an office, a job and coworkers. But she did not have a friend to call to come get her or a family member ready to drop everything to drive her from Darabee to Flagstaff. Suddenly her career seemed cold company by comparison to the warmth of Jack Bear Den’s arms.

  She lifted her mobile, called her office and asked for her captain.

  “I was just going to call you. How you feeling?”

  “They’re releasing me. I need a ride.”

  “I’ll send someone. Listen. We have good news.”

  She could use some. “What’s that?”

  “The ballistics came back on Jauquin Nequam’s rifle. It’s a match for the bullet fished out of Bear Den’s vehicle.”

  “Great.”

  “We have him in custody. I’ve met with Mr. Nequam. He’s removed the hit order as part of a plea.”

  Sophia bristled. She didn’t want him getting off after taking a shot at her.

  “Really?”

  Burton might have heard the aggravation in her voice.

  “Sophia, he fired at the highway patrol and fled the scene before arrest. We got enough on him. He’s not getting out.”

  “That’s good. How’s the highway patrol guy?”

  “He didn’t hit him,” said Burton. “I understand the shooter put a hole in his hat. But he’s fine and his hat is in an evidence locker.”

  “Any progress on the dam explosion?” she asked.

  “Lots. Listen, I’ve got to go. We have a driver on route. Should be there soon.”

  She thanked him but he’d already ended the call.

  Sophia dressed in the clothing Jack had brought her from his apartment. Then she added the eagle feather in its presentation box to the top of her overnight bag. But she paused before closing the bag, retrieving the feather and tying it in her hair.

  Sophia was done pretending she was other than what she was. She was Apache, Black Mountain tribe, and she would not let her mother’s bad choices keep her from claiming her heritage.

  She tried not to be disappointed that Jack did not appear to say farewell and resisted the urge to call him to tell him of her early discharge. Instead, she waited on her bed until a stranger from the Bureau appeared at her door, presented his ID and walked beside the wheelchair she was required to use. On the ground floor, she could not keep herself from searching the lobby for Jack, as if wishing would conjure him. If she wanted to say goodbye, she should have called him.

  But she didn’t want to say goodbye and that was exactly the problem.

  *

  JACK HEADED FOR the station after another sixteen-hour day. He had never been so busy or so distracted. He knew from Forrest that Sophia had been discharged and had been back on the job for eleven days. Everything was as it had been. He had his work. She had hers. That was what she wanted, wasn’t it?

  He knew she didn’t want him. He’d not said a formal goodbye to her. But he had asked her to marry him and she’d turned him down. He’d seen her at the feather ceremony. It had been very hard not to linger after the tribal representative had left. Not to grovel and beg her to come back.

  He placed a hand over the medicine wheel he wore around his neck and felt the presence of the one upon his back as he wondered what direction to go.

  His shaman said he needed the hoop to help him find his path. When the temporary dam was shorn up and the FBI finished with their investigation, perhaps he would take a trip to Hawaii to find his father’s people, see the land where Robert Taaga had come from and learn exactly how to pronounce his grandmother’s name. He imagined flying to Maui with Sophia and frowned.

  Jack pulled into the lot at tribal headquarters and stared across the river at the dam Sophia had built them in two separate blasts. The woman knew her business. He was on dry ground now only because of her.

  Repairs were underway for the damage resulting from the blast. There had been few injuries, which was miracle enough.

  Jack headed in and checked his messages. There was nothing from Sophia and the rest could wait. He was expected at his parents for supper. Sunday again.

  He was the last to arrive as it was after eight. But they had waited. Tommy was back home because of Jack’s urgent call for help after the dam’s destruction, but his brother would be returning to the border tomorrow. So this was a final chance for the Bear Den boys to share a meal until they gathered again for Christmas. Carter and Amber greeted him at the door. He kissed his mother in the kitchen and they all came together at the round, scarred wooden table that showed the marks of having survived the raising of four boys.

  Jack enjoyed the company as much as the food. He was starving, having missed lunch again. His mother commented that he was losing weight. He usually just wasn’t hungry anymore.

  “Any word from Sophia?” asked Carter.

  The table went silent as all eyes turned to him.

  He shook his head and pushed the remains of the noodle casserole around his plate.

  “That’s odd,” said his mother, her brow furrowing.

  “Anything from Forrest on those responsible?” asked his father.

  His mother made a sound of frustration and stood to clear the table. Amber and Carter helped her carry out the dishes.

  “They’re collecting evidence. I understand they have the school bus, or what’s left of it.”

  “What about Lupe Wrangler?” asked Carter. “They going to extradite her?”

  “According to Forrest, she has family in Mexico and they still have not broken her alibi for her husband’s murder.”

  “So she gets away with it?”

  “They are making progress and they’ve locked up her money. That’s all I know.”

  His mother called from the kitchen. “Jack, come help me with this.”

  All eyes flicked to him. Tommy gave him that you’re-in-trouble look and lifted an index finger. Carter grimaced and Kurt rubbed his face. Every last one of them knew he was being summoned, and not to help in the kitchen.

  His father rose. “Boys, it’s a lovely night. Let’s get a fire started out back.”

  Jack�
�s father was abandoning him and taking all Jack’s backup along. He pressed his hands on the table and rose to face the music.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “You going to read me my rights first?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest and staring at his mother.

  “What?” she asked. Her mask of innocence did not fool him for one second.

  “You know, my right to remain silent?”

  “Don’t be silly. I want to hear about Sophia. Why haven’t you called her or gone to check on her? Isn’t she still under a hit or something?”

  “Removed. She’s safe.”

  “So you think she doesn’t need you. Is that it?”

  “No. Yes.” Jack flapped his arms. He was used to being the one doing the interrogation.

  “Jack Bear Den, I saw the way you looked at that girl. And I saw the way she looked at you. She’s beautiful, smart, serious, works in law enforcement, so she’ll understand the ridiculous hours you keep. Is it because she’s Mountain Apache?”

  “Is what because she’s Mountain Apache?”

  “That you’re letting her go. Because, if you want my opinion, she’s in love with you.”

  “You’re wrong there,” he said, unable to keep the edge from his voice.

  His mother thrust a fist to her fleshy hip and lowered her chin. Jack’s ears went back as he recognized the signs indicating he should take cover. Instead he dug his hole even deeper.

  “Mom, Sophia doesn’t want to stay up here in the pines with us Tonto Apache.” There had been long-standing animosity between the Western Apache and his people and it was easier to blame that than voice his confusion.

  Her mouth dropped open but she rallied. “It’s because you’re Tonto? I don’t believe it.”

  “I don’t know.” He rubbed his neck. “I was just supposed to escort her and protect her while she was here. She’s gone now.” He flapped his arms.

  “I see that. I just don’t understand it. Did you tell her your feelings for her?”

  “Of course I did. I even asked her to marry me.”

  His mother’s eyes rounded and he thought she might be beginning to understand that Sophia had left him and he was doing his best to get over it...and failing.