Between excruciating spasms of pain, George Jim pulled the muzzle up tight under his chin.
~~~~~~
On the way back from the Uinta, Charlie again stopped in Monticello for fuel. Leaving Thomas and Ida asleep in the truck, he went inside to call Aida and let her know they had the girl. There was no answer. He left the message on the machine, thanking her for her help and let her know they thought it best to get Ida back to Thomas’s and her brother. He said they would be back for their horses as soon as possible.
He thought of calling Sue but didn’t want to wake her ailing parents. He felt they would be back soon enough anyway. He went in the store and bought two coffees and a carton of milk. He also picked up a box of Thomas’s favorite chocolate donuts. When he came out of the store, he saw Thomas just getting out of the truck.
“Aha!” was all Thomas said when he saw what Charlie had in his hand. He got back in the truck and turned to Ida. “I think Charlie has something you are really going to like!” he said.
It was quite late when they arrived in Shiprock, and Charlie could barely keep his eyes open. The adventures of the day had nearly worn Thomas and Ida to a frazzle as well. It was decided to pull into Charlie’s place until daylight.
Ida took to Thomas immediately and soon made it known she was starving. Nothing was open at that hour, and Charlie hoped he had enough food on hand to feed them.
Walking into the apartment, he immediately noticed the message light flashing on his phone. While Thomas and Ida rummaged through the refrigerator, Charlie picked up the receiver to hear his messages in private. He thought Sue may have left him something of a personal nature. Sue did leave several messages, including one saying Thomas’s Uncle John Nez had arrived to help Lucy and her father. There were various other things from work—one from Pete Fish so garbled and rambling he couldn’t make it out.
The last message was from Aida. In a strained but emotionless voice she told him about Sally Klee. She went on to tell him about the carnage authorities discovered at George Jim’s place as well. She said they should not worry about the horses. She would care for them. At the end of the message, there was a catch in her voice as she let him know how happy she was they had found Ida. “Her middle name is Marie,” she said, “like mine.”
Charlie was stunned by the news and apparently it showed. As he hung up he saw Thomas looking at him in dismay.
“What, now?” Thomas mouthed over Ida’s head. She was happily munching some crackers and cheese and paid no attention to the men as they moved to the living room.
At the whispered news, Thomas sat down heavily on the couch and took his head in his hands. Charlie touched his shoulder but could find no words he thought might help.
They made a bed for the girl on the couch, and Thomas arranged himself in the recliner with a blanket. Charlie lay down in his room, but only Ida really slept.
Thomas was up early and made coffee. He could hear Charlie taking a shower. As he sat at the kitchen table, the phone rang and he answered it. It was Sue calling from work. Charlie left a quick reply to her last message on her office line, telling her, among other things, he was back and they had Ida. Although it was her day off, she’d had a feeling he might call and went in early to check. Thomas told her about finding Ida and then about Sally but only the highlights as he thought it best she talk to Charlie when he was out of the shower.
They chatted for a minute, and again Sue made sure he knew his Uncle John Nez was down from Navajo Mountain and staying out at Lucy’s place. She mentioned Marissa being there as well in case Charlie had forgotten to tell him. Finally, she said she would meet them at the Dinè Bikeyah Café within the hour. They could all go out to his place together. Thomas thought this a good idea as he felt he and Lucy might need all the support they could get when they told the children their mother was gone. Marissa was there of course, but he thought it would be good if Sue was there too.
For a change, Charlie and his gang of two beat Sue to the cafe and had already ordered. Her favorite cinnamon bun was waiting when she arrived. After greeting everyone and giving Charlie a big hug, she was introduced to Ida.
Sue kneeled beside Ida’s chair and talked to her at eye level. She told her what a pretty girl she was and how happy she was to meet her. She assured her that after breakfast they would see her brother Caleb. He missed her very much, she said, and couldn’t wait to see her again.
This made Ida smile, and she began her breakfast with an appetite. Though they tried not to let it show, the adults fell under a pall even the bright and laughing young girl could not dispel.
After breakfast, everyone piled into Charlie’s truck. There was room inside for everyone in these new trucks. In the old days the women and children rode bundled up in the open bed of the truck while the men were seated in the heated cab. This may have evolved from those long ago days when warriors stayed in the forefront. No one really knew why, but it had always been so. Just as the hogan belonged to the woman, the truck usually belonged to the man, just as the horses once had. Now, in a more enlightened age, women ride where they please, and men often ride space available. Some thought the new extended cab pickups may have had something to do with this.
They pulled up in the yard just as Caleb and old Paul T’Sosi were throwing a little of their precious hay to the ewes. The pregnant ewes had done well enough on the sparse pasture of spring, but now that they were nursing, they needed a little extra. The spring rains had not been generous.
Caleb spotted Charlie’s truck and came running, shouting out loud when he saw Thomas and Ida in the front seat.
“Yaa’ eh t’eeh,” he exclaimed in his newly acquired Navajo accent, jumping up and down in his excitement. Thomas held open the door for his daughter, and she jumped down and ran to her brother, swinging him around in a hug and talking a steady stream of mixed Ute and English. The boy bobbed his head up and down and answered her questions in the same rapid-fire dialect.
Thomas smiled and watched the two of them then sent them off to the corrals where the old man waved but continued feeding his sheep. If he had not, the greedy ones would have got it all. The lambs and kids were milling around the outside of the small band, waiting their chance. Ida clapped her hands at the sight. It had been a long time since she had seen kids and lambs.
Thomas’s Uncle John Nez and Marissa came from the summer hogan followed by Lucy, who had been showing Marissa how the loom was set up for the day’s weaving. Today she would begin the new weaving for the trader, and Marissa didn’t want to miss a single step. The adults gathered in a circle, and Charlie informed the family of all that had happened up in Ute country, and finally, the news of the recent death of Sally Klee.
When he was finished, Thomas looked at Lucy and pointed to the shorthaired young girl in coveralls at the corrals. “Her name is Ida Marie, and she will live with us now…if you will have it.”
Lucy just nodded as though there had never been any question and went to make coffee for everyone. She met her father on his way up from the corrals, and they smiled silently at one another and nodded in passing.
After being introduced to Ida Marie, everyone sat in the cool shade of the brush arbor thinking about this girl who spoke broken Navajo. Ida stood quietly with her head up during the introductions, and everyone later said she presented herself well. Her mother taught her some manners, they thought, and though she had not been to school, she appeared very bright and, unlike Caleb, was also very outgoing. They all agreed it would not be long before she caught up to her classmates. Marissa said she would be glad to tutor her while they were there.
“I taught school part-time when I was getting my masters,” she said quietly. “I think we can get her up to speed in no time.”
Sue pitched in too. “I can help out on weekends.” She laughed and told Lucy, “It looks like you and I will be making another trip to the mall.”
“That will be good,” Lucy’s father noted. “I still want to see about getting Caleb t
hose boots.”
Ida Marie once again ran off with Caleb, this time to see what he had taught the dog. The dog met them with a knowing grin.
With their full coffee cups sitting on the old trestle table, everyone seemed deep in thought regarding how many things would have to be done now that the children were part of the family.
Thomas and Lucy had finally decided they would wait until they were alone with the children before telling them about their mother. Both dreaded the very thought of it.
~~~~~~
The next morning Charlie called the Coroner’s office in Cortez and had him forward a copy of Sally Klee’s death certificate to him at legal services. He promised Thomas he would also immediately start work on custody papers for the children.
His next call was to Aida Winters. He found her reserved but friendly and willing to keep their horses until they could come for them.
“Charlie, when you and Thomas come for the horses, I would appreciate it if you could bring Sally’s children so I can at least see them.” She hesitated briefly as though thinking about something. “I intend to purchase Hiram Buck’s property from the bank next month. It’s been run into the ground as you know—overgrazed, eroded, and the buildings fit only to be bulldozed.” Her voice grew more determined. None of the Buck clan can come up with the money to redeem it, and I doubt anyone else around here will want it either, considering what’s happened and its condition.”
Charlie was confused. “It will be years before it’s recovered enough to be of any value, and that’s only if no stock is kept on it. Why would you want it, Aida?”
“I don’t want it,” Aida said abruptly, “but someday it will be worth something…enough to give those children a start.”
Charlie hadn’t realized how close Aida and Sally had been.
“I’ll talk to Thomas about bringing the children. I’m sure that won’t be a problem.”
Aida went on, “I know how Navajo feel about the dead, Charlie, so I’m having Sally buried here on my place.” Her voice became firm. “She and Thomas were never married, and she had no other close relatives that gave a damn about her. If Thomas has a problem with this have him give me a call.”
Charlie assured her he would speak to Thomas and, before hanging up, again thanked her for keeping the horses.
Sue dropped by his desk to confirm their lunch plans.
“So, you finally got yourself a horse, huh?” She did not say this in an accusatory manner. In fact, Charlie thought she actually seemed pleased.
Lucy told her about the horses, in private, the day before. “A man who has a horse will soon need a place to keep it,” Lucy had said. That little place in the country seemed closer than ever, and Sue smiled at the thought.
“Uh…well, yeah, I had a chance to buy that gelding I used to go get Caleb.” He fidgeted. “At the price, I couldn’t pass him up.”
“Well, now you and Thomas have horses, and Lucy can use her dad’s old horse, so I guess you better keep an eye out for one for me,” she said as she dropped the mail on his desk. She turned and left before he could say anything.
Later at the Dinè Bikeyah, Charlie ordered the Navajo taco platter. He had been craving one since the cafe in Bluff. He shouldn’t have let that ill-natured Ute girl sway him. He looked over at Sue’s chef’s salad and was glad he had gone for something more substantial. Rabbit food, who could live on that?
“Where was Pete Fish this morning?” he asked, mostly just in the way of conversation.
“He hasn’t been in the last few days. Word has it he’s working on a big project for some of the councilmen.”
Charlie had a big bite of fry-bread halfway to his mouth but put his fork down and looked thoughtful. “Which councilmen?” he asked.
“No one knows for sure. It’s something he says is pretty hush-hush; I don’t see any files on it coming from the secretarial pool. He usually has me look his stuff over for errors, but not lately.”
“Have you had a chance to get that list of indictments in the Greyhorse case that we talked about last week?”
“Yes, I did. I put a manila folder in your in-box marked GREYHORSE INDICTMENTS!” Sue sounded a little exasperated at the question. “What’s up?’
“I’m not sure really. Just a few little things that don’t add up. They’ve been running through my mind lately, and they all seem to go back to Pete Fish.” He looked Sue directly in the eye. “How’s he been acting?”
She knew what he meant and tried to make as little of it as possible. “Same as always, I guess.” she looked down at her salad. “He asked me out again last week…for the third time.” She hesitated and decided to tell him. “When I turned him down, told him I didn’t think you’d like it, he said something a little strange.”
Charlie straightened. “And what might that be?”
“He said I’d better reconsider my options; you might not be around forever!”
“Really! Did he happen to say why?” Charlie’s lips were smiling, but his eyes weren’t.
“Nope, and I didn’t feel like chasing after him to find out why either. That guy’s a nut-job, boss or no boss.”
“The guy’s got a screw loose, all right. He’s been obsessed with you from the start. I don’t like the turn this is taking. I’m pretty sure he’s hiding something!”
“He came out clean in the conspiracy investigation. No one could link him to the corruption or murders.” Sue said this without conviction and Charlie nodded. He felt much the same himself.
“There’s more to it than we know. I’m more and more convinced Pete’s involved in this, one way or another.”
The waitress brought their check, momentarily interrupting the conversation.
Charlie brightened considerably. “Hey, there’s a little place down by Waterflow that just came on the market. The house is nothing special, but it could be with a little work. Only five acres, but it’s got some trees and some irrigation.” He glanced up at the ceiling. “I thought maybe we could take a little run out there after work and look it over?”
The Meeting
Pete Fish was more than a little nervous about meeting with the two council members. He really had no need to be, as far as he knew. Still, he had to admit only blind, stumbling luck had intervened in his favor. The important thing was he was back in the good graces of his new employers—people who held a great personal interest in witnesses in the ongoing Greyhorse murder and corruption proceedings. Only months now separated them from their possible trial date, should further indictments be forthcoming. This made them anxious to eliminate as many variables as possible. As he pulled into the parking lot at the Holiday Inn, he went over in his mind what he planned to say.
Room 202 was a corner suite overlooking the parking lot. It seemed to him a wasted expense for the purpose, but money seemed no object with these people, as he well knew. He parked at the side of the building on the far side of the dumpsters.
They told him precisely when to be there, and Pete was exactly on time. He hoped punctuality was important. He entered the hotel through a side door as instructed then took the stairs. He knocked softly on the door. There was a pause, and he assumed someone was looking through the peephole—that’s what he would have done.
A tall, thin, sinister-looking man, whose hair was put up on the back of his neck in the old way, finally opened the door. He seemed somewhat young for a council member. This must be the notorious Robert Ashki of whom he had heard so much. The man did not speak but ushered him into the room with something akin to a flourish.
The other man in the room was sitting. Pete Fish recognized him instantly from his photo in the weekly Navajo newspaper. Donald Benally was first to speak. A man in his early fifty’s, he wielded an inordinate amount of power on the reservation. He was a small man with close-cropped graying hair and a paunch. He had, so far, remained unscathed in the scandal following the arrests.
“Ah, Fish, good to meet you!” he said coming forward and taking Pete’s
hand. “We are, so far, quite pleased with your handling of…uh, your little project.” He frowned momentarily. “It appeared things might be off track for a while, but now, with the recent happenings in Colorado, we are beginning to see a little daylight. The matter now appears resolvable.”
Robert Ashki, also not named in the indictments, did not introduce himself but rather interrupted the smaller man somewhat rudely, Pete Fish thought.
“The big question is what is being done about the remaining two witnesses?” The thin man was a member of the populous Salt People Clan near Rainbow Bridge. Twice elected by his constituency, he held sway over a healthy majority in his part of the country.
Pete Fish cleared his throat and worded his reply as carefully as possible.
“Gentlemen, as Mr. Benally mentioned, not only has one problem been eliminated, but it has been accomplished at virtually no expense to yourselves, other than my own rather small consulting fee.” He smiled benignly at the pair. “There was a healthy amount of funds allocated to that problem. I am happy to say it may now be reassigned to a larger and more pressing purpose.”
“Yazzie and Begay, you mean?” The rough-mannered Robert Ashki liked plain talk, and this flowery beating around the bush did not impress him in the least. Unlike them he had not gone to a university and held that thinly veiled disdain for higher learning so prevalent among those who have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.
Pete Fish tried not to let the provincial councilman’s remark anger him. The man’s reputation was well known. This was no time to let even the slightest dissension mar his meticulously thought out presentation.
“Exactly,” Pete agreed in as curt a manner as he dared. “I believe we can resolve the entire issue within days, with a little luck.”
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