The Horseman's Heritage

by Jacki Bentley

  As they approached she asked, “Emma?"

  "Yes, dear. I have to admit, I've been a spy for some time now."

  "How? Why?"

  "Oh, it's so easy for an older teacher lady like me to slip in and out of many places. I'm an old army woman. When I was a young gal, I flew Skiorski helicopters in the Viet Nam era. I'm retired now, but I take on work for the government now and then. When they really need my skills. Last year the powers that be learned Braxton had a serious security breach and asked me to keep an eye on you and precious little Mandy."

  "But you already lived in the neighborhood when I moved in."

  "A happy coincidence. That's all. Actually, I have to say, I'm a bit over qualified for routine surveillance such as I did with you and Mandy.” She smiled. “My location was the key. That's my Harvey over there by the chopper. We work together. For the government, you see."

  Ashley laughed a shaky laugh. “I can see that."

  "If I hadn't been so close at hand, they'd have hired someone else, I assure you."

  "I see."

  "Now don't be offended. I wish I could have told you. I'm sorry we flew too close to you one day. Trying to miss the power lines ... they're everywhere up here. Snuck up on Harvey. Meet my boys,” Emma said.

  A small army of agents introduced themselves to Ashley in a flash of shiny badges.

  "I'll just take that gun off your hands, Ashley...” Emma offered, “...before you follow your good instincts and shoot Dr. Homfield here.” She gave the man a mean stare. “Shame on you. Get them out of here,” Emma ordered, talking to the men surrounding her.

  They jumped to do as Emma ordered, taking the still groggy security guard and Pat into custody.

  Waving a hand, Emma indicated the security man. “That young fool there may need medical attention. You did good. We cheered you on from the air."

  Ashley managed a grin.

  "Sorry about all this, Ashley,” Pat said, looking sheepish and pathetic as the men urged him away.

  She felt sorry for him.

  Ashley watched Reese approach with Street. Heavens, her husband sat atop the bridleless horse as easily as an ancient warrior riding into battle. His grace and balance made him seem a part of the horse.

  Kernel was light in his step, prancing a bit, tossing his head, understanding completely what they'd done and clearly proud of his accomplishment.

  Ashley smiled at Kernel's proud expression.

  Bringing Street to the agents, Reese swung off the horse. Now Kernel stood waiting patiently.

  Reese didn't seem to notice the manners of the horse at the moment as he strode straight to Ashley's side, with eyes only for her.

  "Fine animal,” Emma said. “I've heard so much about him from Mandy.” She stepped over and rubbed the horse's soft nose.

  "Ma'am,” he said, nodding absently to Emma. He didn't seem to pay much notice to Emma Carson either. Or that she had on a military uniform and handled the gun he'd given Ashley with the practiced care and confidence of a seasoned soldier. Maybe he hadn't recognized her yet.

  "Are you all right?” he asked Ashley, his voice husky. He touched every inch of her with eyes and then with trembling fingers. His breath came in quick gasps. “I swear to God, if they'd hurt you I'd have followed them to hell and back."

  "I'm okay. I'm fine.” Ashley smiled a shaky smile, reassuring him. “You're alive and safe, too,” she spoke aloud. “Oh, Reese, I was so afraid Street would shoot you.” She buried her face in the warmth of his broad, strong shoulder, tracing the wolf tattoo on his bicep with her fingers.

  "I know, sweetheart. I know.” Reese held her tight. He laughed. “He sure as hell wanted to."

  Ashley's heart cried out that this man must care for her. He wouldn't show this kind of raw relief for the well-being of a mere bed partner. Not even a very good one.

  Her smile grew. Reaching out to touch him, she stroked his beard roughened cheek.

  Emma said, “Er ... well then, we'll be on our way. We'll leave you two alone. Everything's under control now.” Emma and her men slipped away.

  "They're gone,” Ashley said as the helicopter returned to the air and spun away.

  "Yes, now we can get on with the rest of our lives.” Reese still held her in the circle of his arms as though not ready to let her far away yet. Ashley was encouraged by that reluctance, drawing strength from it.

  In the height of the danger, she'd promised herself she would tell him she loved him, if they made it through this safely. And would go on telling him as long as he'd let her.

  "I love you,” she breathed in an aching whisper against his warm shoulder. Her newfound courage didn't extend to reading the reaction in his silver-gray eyes.

  He said nothing.

  She stiffened and pulled away. “I don't want to embarrass you. I don't expect you to say the words to me,” she rushed on, not giving him a chance to speak. “I honestly don't. You love Mandy, that's enough for now. We both want the best for her. That's what matters most.” The words were propelled from her by the force of the remaining adrenaline coursing through her system. She doubted she would've had the nerve on an ordinary day.

  Convulsively, Reese wrapped his arms around her, then he kissed her lips deeply. When he ended the kiss, he strung smaller ones all over her face, her hair.

  She leaned back in his arms and squinted at him to assess his feelings. Wow. He really was smiling happily. His beautiful eyes sparkled.

  "You love me, Ashley?” he asked as if he couldn't believe his luck.

  To Reese's own ears the words sounded dumbfounded. He couldn't believe he'd heard her right. He'd thought she said the words the night he'd learned the truth about Mandy, but he hadn't been sure.

  He wasn't dreaming now. This was real.

  "Yes, I do, my darling, with all my heart,” she answered. The smile she gave him was a beautiful thing to see.

  "I should've come to see you, made you listen about Mandy. I was wrong having your child without seeing to it you knew. I was a coward. I thought you didn't want her. And I wanted her so much. I never wanted to hurt you. Please tell me you can forgive me."

  "Don't. Don't say you're sorry, love.” He touched her lips with his fingers. “You'd do it again in a minute."

  She thought about his statement for a long time. “Yes, I know. I would."

  "You weren't wrong, Ashley."

  "What? Uh ... what do you mean?"

  "I was the one who made the mistakes four years ago. I was the one who cheated myself out of those years with you and my daughter. For pretty slim reasons. I was afraid to face life's risks.” There was self-disgust in his words.

  "But...” she began to protest.

  "No, love, I'm thankful we have Mandy. After losing Gabe, I would never have changed my mind about bringing another child into the world. I was totally convinced that I'd made the right choice. Nothing could've changed my mind. Nothing. I figured that out the night I returned to you. I should be asking your forgiveness."

  She touched his cheek with warm, soft fingers. Tears fell from her eyes and Reese tried to stop them with his thumbs.

  "Don't cry, sweetheart, please. I love you, too. I love you more than life."

  Ashley smiled through her tears.

  "There's just one thing I would like from you now,” he said.

  "For that sexy smile of yours, anything. Anything at all."

  "Have another baby with me.” Reese punctuated his statement by kissing her neck

  "Mmmm,” she murmured, loving the kiss. “What did you say?"

  "I asked you to have another baby with me."

  Ashley wasn't sure what she'd expected he might say next. But it wasn't this.

  "I'm thinking maybe you owe me another baby."

  She saw the teasing light in his eyes.

  "Oh? That so?” she asked, teasing him back. “How do you figure that, horseman?"

  "I want to see you pregnant. To watch as you bloom with our baby.” He gently touched her
hair. “I'd like to be there for the early days and years this time."

  "I think we could come to some sort of a deal."

  Ashley smiled at him again, a seductive smile this time. She snaked her arms around his neck.

  "This is an easy bargain to make,” she whispered close to his ear. “I loved having your child the first time."

  Reese laughed with joy. “I love you so much,” he whispered against the soft skin of her throat. “I thought I might lose you today."

  "After all these years, you really love me, too?” she questioned softly, and Reese felt a stab of guilt that she had to ask in such wonder.

  Of course he loved her. Why hadn't he said the words long before now? It felt so natural and right. He could trust her with his life. Hell, she'd just saved his life.

  He sought her eyes. “I loved you four years ago. For a while I convinced myself I didn't love you anymore. But I lied to myself. I always loved you."

  Ashley smiled and knew she'd won her own true dream. Now she had it all. Reese lifted her high in his arms and carried her back into the old house. Lunch was forgotten for a long while.

  Epilogue

  "Spying on my family again, Sam?"

  "Within the rules."

  "I know you go by the book, still, seems nosey."

  "Looking in via the old furniture is customary. Just need to follow up on the mission. Take a look at this new screen. The clarity is amazing."

  "How are they?” In spite his concerns about privacy, Gabe couldn't hide his interest. He stepped to the glowing screen.

  For his father and Ashley, it was six months later. They walked up the narrow attic staircase in the farmhouse. The old key that unlocked the door had arrived in the mail that day. At nearly seven months pregnant, the steep steps tired Ashley.

  "You and the boy okay?” his dad asked, smiling lovingly.

  Ashley laughed and touched her bulging abdomen. “We're just fine. Just a little winded."

  When they swung open the door, a couple of trunks and several boxes were revealed. A magnificent side board buffet sat in the corner. Reese walked to it, picked up an old cleaning cloth and wiped off the dust.

  "Cherry wood?” she asked, breathless for a different reason now. The rich red and the subtle tan streaks clear, the patina unmistakable.

  "Yes.” He bent to clean off the cabinet doors.

  "Why would anyone leave such a valuable piece behind?"

  The center door held an elaborate carving. The same as the one back home at the Triple C, with a major exception. Instead of lurking in the woods, the wolf mating pair held the center spot, surrounded by the same animals. The horses to their shoulders. As they watched, the images seemed to flash and the female wolf suddenly had Ashley's exotic green eyes.

  "Well, I'll be damned,” he said.

  "Wow,” Ashley said, breathless.

  Reese opened the door. A large leather-bound book with the same images tooled in its surface rested on the top shelf. On the spine was the title, Eye of the Wolf. In smaller print it read, Holdings of the Peacewatchers.

  "The lost book,” Sam said.

  "What does this mean?” Gabe asked.

  Through the screen Gabe heard his father speak as if he heard his question. Hell maybe he had. “This is the lost book of holdings Josie has spoken of. A listing of the old Peacewatcher safe houses. A dissenting family line broke off from the other Peacewatchers in the late 1800's, about a decade after the Civil War and this book was lost."

  "The wolf band?” Ashley asked.

  Reese looked into her eyes. “Yes, the Wolf line."

  "My family?"

  "Josie says the Peacewatchers nearly went under trying to save America from itself during the Civil War. Many important leaders were lost. Crucial work and information also lost. The Peacewathcers disbanded."

  He flipped through the first pages and found the name, Margaret Leigh Wilson.

  "My Great Grandmother,” Ashley whispered.

  "So this is what the old guy who sold me the place had in mind when he said it was meant for you and me."

  "I remember you told me he was quite mysterious when he promised to send us the key to the attic later."

  "You have the Peacewatcher roots, too, my love."

  Her eyes lit. “You think the female wolf with the strange green eyes is me, don't you?"

  "Yes. I'm sure of it. It just appeared there. Like the wolf tattoo on my left arm appeared when I turned eighteen."

  "You didn't have it done at a tattoo parlor?"

  "Nope."

  "So, the tattoo came to you because you belonged to me. My wolf mate?"

  He laughed. “Yes. Makes sense, honey. Looks like we both should read the Peacewatcher books."

  She gave him a skeptical look. “I can't. The language is unfamiliar to me."

  "Try it."

  "Other than my ancestor's name, the words are strange, lots of images, birds, stick figures."

  "Keep watching."

  "They're blurring, changing. Look at that. It's translating for me. It's maps. Maps of houses on a pentagram shape. The points are uneven, but it's a star. Hundreds of miles apart on each leg."

  "Right, the Peacewatcher stations.” He traced a leg of the star. “There's the Triple C. at the base and Limestone Hill is the top point. We should find other descendents in these other three locations. New York, California and Oklahoma."

  His father bent to kiss Ashley.

  "Time to turn it off,” Sam said.

  "So, we saved him?” Gabe asked.

  "We saved her, too. Ashley Caldwell's future inventions will be important to mankind. My dear wife, your stepmother, foresaw it."

  "Aylie knows things."

  The End

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