by Vonnie Davis
“I get you, man. I do.”
“To top it off, these visions are going to drive me insane. The closer Gina and I grew, the more the hallucinations faded. Now they’re back with a vengeance.”
Dust straightened and braced his forearms on his thighs, his gaze focused on Warrior Falls. “I wonder.”
Hell, the guy was always wondering about something. He had this sixth sense that had saved their asses more than once.
“Have you heard the legend behind these falls?” His thumb jerked in the direction of the striking waterfalls.
“No.”
“It is said the stones in the falls hold magical healing properties. Wounded Apache warriors came or were carried here after a battle. They stood under the roaring falls for healing if they were able to stand. If they weren’t, other Apaches hauled the wounded beneath the tumbling waters.”
“Sounds nice.” Reece chuffed a laugh. “But we both know mumbo-jumbo like that doesn’t happen.”
Dust pierced him with a stare. “Is that a fact? You wondered how the scars on my face healed. I didn’t just have them on my face, they were on my arm and hip. Kelcee took me under the falls. Now, look at my arm.” He extended it and Reece ran his hand down it. “Now, if you expect me to drop my drawers to show you my hip, you are one perverted motherfucker.”
They both laughed.
“The falls helped me get over the reccurring nightmare of Wysocki’s body parts blown to hell all over me. My first trip under the falls made my next dream worse. Subsequent times made the dreams go away. Think you’re up for a swim?”
Reece pointed to the pond created by the falls. “In there?” He jerked his chin toward the falls. “Or there? I mean, what do you have planned? Hold my head under the healing waters until my sick mind is all better?” He fought to control his breathing as memories of waterboarding at the hands of ISIS hit him. Would he be able to survive it again without completely falling apart in front of his longtime buddy?
Dust clasped Reece’s shoulder. “Come on, man. I’ve got a pair of swimming trunks that ought to fit your ugly, scrawny ass. While you put them on I’ll need to talk to Kelcee for a couple minutes.”
Once Reece was changed, he followed Dust on the natural stone steps to the pond that eventually flowed into a large stream. Following his fellow frogman’s example, he dove in. He looked around, the roar of the falls muffled but distinct to ears accustomed to hearing underwater. He was at home. The frogmen swam around; Dust indicated unusual plants and rocks. He motioned toward the end of the pond where water tumbled in. Reece nodded and followed.
They surfaced and picked their way over the mound of rocks centuries of continual falling water had worn smooth, forged through the force of the falls, and stepped into a cave Reece hadn’t expected to find. After the initial foot or two, the cavern was dry and about the size of a couple of horse stalls side by side. “You never mentioned a cave, Dust.” Reece squeezed the water from his long hair. “I thought you were going to hold my head under the waterfalls.”
“There’s more to see, bro.” Sounding like an excited kid, Dust grabbed a flashlight from the top of a high boulder and handed it to him. He reached for a second one.
“I had to get Kelcee’s permission to show you this. It’s the real secret of Warrior Falls. All the owners of the businesses along Waterfall Road and a few others, like ZQ, are charged by the town council to keep this secret. So far they have. Only those they trust explicitly are shown what I’m about to show you.”
What was Dust talking about? The real secret of Warrior Falls?
His buddy took the lead through an opening, so narrow they had to turn sideways to maneuver through to whatever he wanted him to see. In some places the rocks scraped his back and pecs. He was damned glad he wasn’t claustrophobic.
“Look.” Dust elbowed him and aimed the beam higher on the stone walls. Overhead were crude etchings of horses, men, deer, and buffalo. Who put them there? Apaches? Native Americans, for sure. By their design, they must be centuries old.
“There’s a sharp left up ahead,” Dust said. Eventually they stepped into an opening. A bubbling pool of water about eight feet across was surrounded by a flattened dirt perimeter. The pool was lined at one end with smooth large gray boulders. Etchings were on the walls, too. They seemed to tell of ancient battles.
Dust smiled, his eyes alight with excitement. “These are the famed healing stones with magical medicinal properties, not the ones outside. That’s the fable we tell everyone.” He flashed the beam of light around. “Like I said, this is kept secret. We don’t want it infested with tourists. Our town, these falls, this spot, we keep as pristine as we can in honor of the Apaches who once lived here. This place was sacred to them.”
There were faint noises in the air. Reece broadened his stance and tuned his spirit into what he heard—or thought he heard. Moans, groans, and hushed words in an unknown dialect. Some Mescalero Apache friends from his childhood had invited him to their powwows a few times. He knew some of their culture. And although the dialect was different, he was able to distinguish some of the Apache words.
Faded smells of incense—no, burned sage—grew stronger. He inhaled the sage smoke as the spirit of someone smudged or wafted it toward him with an eagle feather. An old shaman shook a rattle. A song was sung. Tension drained from him.
“You feel it, don’t you?”
“Yes. I do,” Reece said.
“I didn’t the first time. My second time here, I came alone and simply sat, studying the etchings on the walls and letting my mind imagine times past. Then I began to hear old spirits.”
“I can almost make out the words being chanted.” Reece’s heart pounded like a Native ceremonial drumbeat. “I hear he-ay-hee-eel, a call to the Great Spirit, Youson. There are many other words, too, which I never heard from a childhood friend Joe White, though he chose to go by Joe Eagle Feather. There are a few I’ve heard before like ozuye…ah”—he snapped his fingers when the meaning stumbled in its journey back to him—“warrior. Yes, ozuye means warrior and gode, a shadow spirit who haunts dreams. Man, have I suffered with those.” He glanced around the grotto. “I don’t know if I should be comforted or freaking creeped out.”
“Kneel on your knees by the edge of the pool. Let me pour the hot water over you.” Dust’s hand rested on Reece’s back.
If he hadn’t had some experiences with The People years ago, he’d have freaked. But, hell, after seeing snakes and spiders crawl through imaginary cracks in the walls back at the ranch, what was happening now was nothing. In fact, it was calming…healing. He strode to the pond and knelt.
Dust poured handfuls of warm water over Reece’s head and the scars crisscrossing his back from the whippings at the hands of his captors. Although his SEAL brother was silent, warriors of ages past chanted “he-ay-hee-eel” and words he didn’t comprehend, yet somehow recognized their meanings. He nearly slipped into a trance state.
“Dip your hands in the pool and splash water onto your face, Steelhead. You have to help yourself.”
He’s right. I do.
“Tonight’s going to be hell for you. I’m staying at Eagle Ridge to help you through it. We’ll come back tomorrow and do this again. Your nightmares and day visions will lessen, believe me. These waters are healing. If only you could have seen how badly my face was disfigured when I first came here.”
After a shower at Dust and Kelcee’s apartment above the bookstore, Reece was headed home to the ranch. Instead, he pulled into Gina’s driveway. He strolled to the front door with purpose. Dammit, he’d had enough of this. He punched the doorbell. Gina opened it and stepped back, her beautiful brown eyes red-rimmed. He grabbed her hand to see if she was still wearing his diamond. And released the breath he’d been holding.
She didn’t speak.
Neither did he.
When he grabbed the back of her hair, her eyes widened and she gasped. He pushed her against the wall and swooped in for a kiss. God, he was
starving for the taste of her. He wasn’t going to be gentle. How could he when he was both pissed and scared at the same time. If he lost this woman, he’d never love again. She was made for him; she was the healthy half of his battered soul.
Her hands, diamond and all, slipped around his neck and she moaned.
His lips stopped punishing her mouth and his teeth nipped her earlobe and his tongue licked to soothe it. “Baby.”
“Reece. I love you. I’m sorry I was such a bitch.”
“I’m taking the job as part of Black Eagle Ops.” He had to force the words out quickly before his need for her made him say he’d give up the team, give up anything for her.
“Daddy!” Piper barreled across the room, clasping her rabbit, and leapt into his arms. She peppered kisses across his face. “I missed you so much today.” Her lower lip pouched out. Some poor guy in twenty of thirty years was going to be at her mercy just as he was at her mother’s.
The cat climbed his jeans and over his back to sniff at his wet hair.
Reece sat on the sofa, surrounded by his family. He was home where his heart lived and loved.
“Can you stay for supper? I can order in something.” Gina’s hand rubbed his chest.
“Why don’t you two come to the ranch with me? A buddy of mine and his wife just got there. Their names are Scratch and Erin. Junebug is cooking like crazy. ZQ is grilling steaks and shrimp. Dust and Kelcee are coming. Just a SEAL family get-together. Fran and Clint got to the ranch just before I left. Clint’s an unofficial part of the team, too.”
Gina’s lower jaw dropped. “You’re kidding! He’s old enough to retire.”
Reece lifted a shoulder. “The man does what he loves. Of course that doesn’t mean he loves it more than his wife.” Reece hoped Gina got the message. Clint was openly devoted to Fran. It would do Gina good to spend some time with this group. “Besides, you’ve got to see JJ without his dreadlocks and that long beard he’s been sporting.”
“Are you serious? He got them cut off? Why?”
“For Ashley. Although he’d never admit it. You know how stubborn men can be.” He winked at her. “She told him she didn’t like them. He told her he didn’t like her black hair. Now he’s almost bald and she’s blond again. Those two have cared for each other a long time. I hope it works out for them. I’ve been thinking of getting my hair cut. What do you think?”
She fingered his shoulder-length tresses. “Maybe a couple inches but I like running my fingers through it. We’ll wait a few years for the bald look.”
“If we go to this party as a family, will you spend the night with us then?” Piper placed her little hand on his cheek.
“I want to, baby girl. But tonight’s going to be a rough one for me. I’ve been having bad nightmares. The kind that make me scream and fight. If I stay here I might hurt your momma. We don’t want that, do we?” She shook her blond curly head. “Dustin is staying with me tonight. He’s strong enough to hold me down if things get bad. I’ll start staying overnight in a week or so, when I’m doing better.”
“Are you keeping your appointment with Doctor Raymond tomorrow?”
He turned his gaze toward Gina. “After what I went through this morning? You better believe it. Now, who has jeans and cowgirl boots to wear?”
Both blondes hurried off.
He picked Whirlwind from his shoulder. “Well, fuzzball, looks like we’re making progress. I’d like to say all is well on the romance front, but we’ve yet to lay our differences out and deal with them.”
The cat meowed and covered him in salmon breath.
—
Gina pulled on her new boots over jeans. She changed into a yellow lightweight sweater, shoving the sleeves to her elbows. Opening the jeweler’s box, she removed the diamond bracelet Reece had given her and put it on. She wanted to get to him before Piper was ready. What had he gone through today? His face was pain-filled when he mentioned it.
She hurried into the living room. “Okay. What happened this morning that has you so upset?” During the telling of his shower experience with phantom spiders he claimed were as big as her hand, her eyes widened and she gave several shudders. “Dear God,” she whispered. “I’m so glad you’re seeing Doctor Raymond tomorrow.” He seemed like he was getting worse rather than better. Had their argument caused the spider incident?
His broad hand rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, me, too. I’m not sure two appointments a week will be enough to help me with my PTSD. I may need more.”
“That’s something for you two to decide. I’m proud of you for being agreeable to this. A lot of men wouldn’t.” She kissed his neck and inhaled a different fragrance. “You smell strange.”
“Oh, it’s Dust’s soap. I showered at his place. We went swimming in the pond at Warrior Falls. Walked under the falls. Did some exploring. I wasn’t so sure when he suggested it, to be honest. It was my first time underwater since I’d gone through waterboarding with ISIS. I was afraid I’d freak in front of him. No one likes for his SEAL brother to see how weak he’s become.”
She cupped his face. This man carried so much pride while he walked through life with a lack of confidence or self-worth. “Believe me, there’s nothing weak about you. How did you do?”
A slow grin spread. “I surprised myself. Once I dove in, the trained frogman in me resurfaced.” He fingered the diamond and heart bracelet on her wrist and brought it to his lips to kiss. “After my appointment with the psychiatrist tomorrow, I’m going for a haircut. Next on my list will be finding a table at Reed’s Antique Shop to put Piper’s dollhouse on before I swing by the community center to pick it up. Do you have an extra house key so I can come in and set it up in her room? I’d like for her to have a surprise when she gets home.”
“Sure. Hold on. I’ve got one in my jewelry box.” She hurried to her room. “Piper, how are you coming? Need any help?”
“Nope. All ready. I’m wearing my ‘Daddy’s Girl’ t-shirt.”
“You wore that last night. It hasn’t been washed yet.”
Piper’s bedroom door flung open and a noxious blast of disinfectant spray nearly bowled Gina over. Piper blinked through watering eyes. “No biggie. I just sprayed it a little to freshen it up.” She waved a disinfectant can. “You’ll need to buy more. This one’s empty.”
Whirlwind, who had followed Gina back through the hall, sat at her booted feet gagging and shaking his poor little head.
For fuck’s sake! I just bought that can a few days ago. “Honey, you’ve got plenty of other pretty things to wear.” The damn stuff was giving her a headache.
“What’s that stench?” Reece strode toward them. “Smells like an outhouse.” He got within two paces of one sheepish little girl and gagged just like the cat.
“Daddy, are you going to cough up a hair ball?”
“You cannot wear that shirt! Now go get a clean one out of your drawer. And don’t you stick that lower lip out at me, young lady.” Gina glanced at Reece, wiping his eyes. “She sprayed a whole can of disinfectant on her shirt so she could wear it again today.”
“Precious, I think you look really cute in that aqua top with the pretty hearts on it.”
“You do? Okay then.” She slammed the door in their faces.
Reece took the can from Gina. “She sprayed this whole thing on herself?” He shook it. “Hell, I bet not even an amoeba is alive in her bedroom.”
As Reece drove on the lane to the ranch, Gina squeezed his thick thigh she’d been resting her hand on. “Why do you call your friend Scratch? I’m taking it he’s a former SEAL. What’s his real name?”
“Andrew or Andy. We call him Scratch because he’s got this nasty habit of scratching at his junk.”
“What kind of junk, Daddy?”
Reece leaned forward and glanced at Piper. “Little junk, Precious.”
“Oh. Does he have any kids?”
“Three boys and his wife is a schoolteacher. They’re going to move closer to us.”
/> He parked the truck. Laughter and the aroma of cooking steaks greeted them. Willie Nelson sang “Seven Spanish Angels” on the CD player someone had set on the back porch. Tables were loaded with food. Evidently Junebug, Ashley, and Fran had been cooking all day.
Reece took Gina’s and Piper’s hands and introduced them to Andrew and Erin. Gina was pleased when Piper displayed the manners she’d taught her, calling the new adults she’d just met “Mr. Andrew” and “Ms. Erin” until they gave her permission to call them by their first names.
Andrew, or Scratch, was boisterous while his wife was quietly charming. She was one of those rare people Gina was able to instantly bond with, like Kelcee and Fran and Junebug. Life here was so good. She loved this small community where most everyone looked out for each other.
Scratch gravitated toward the guys while Erin gushed over Gina’s ring. “Did Steelhead do the proposal up right? Sometimes I think these guys have a private competition going on to see who can outdo the other.”
“Really? How did your husband propose to you?”
ZQ sauntered over to give Gina a hug and a kiss in welcome. Hearing her question, he answered for Erin. “He shoved her out of an airplane and once her parachute opened and she quit screaming like a sissy, he asked her to marry him.” He leaned in. “Boy, did she beat his ass once they hit the ground. I thought I’d piss myself laughing.”
Gina grabbed ZQ’s chin. “What in the world happened to you?”
He looped his arm around her shoulders. “I pushed Steelhead’s buttons last night and he pushed back. Don’t you ever hurt him like that again. That man loves you too much to survive it.” He kissed her forehead.
“Hey! What the hell’s going on over there? Get your grubby hands off my woman. Go find your own.” Reece gave her a slow wink that made her panties damp. Oh yeah, just lay me over the grill right now. Stick a fork in me. I am so done.
“Erin, do you think these guys will ever grow up?”
She smiled at her husband patting his hand over his heart in an obvious private message. “Oh God, I hope not. I love Andy just the way he is. Which is why I don’t mind making the move from Kansas, well except for all the work. I have an interview with the principal of the local elementary school and two school board members in the morning. Then an interview at the school in Bandera in the afternoon. I haven’t interviewed in eight years and I have to say I’m scared to death. Do I look pale? I feel pale.” Erin had dark, curly hair with a naturally pale complexion. She also displayed a warm heart that would make her perfect for teaching.
