Finding Justice

by Ciana Stone

  To say the Nash family was interesting was an understatement. Aside from Mik and Jesse being rodeo champions, all the Nash men were horse whisperers. Actually they were more than that. Their abilities extended to people as well.

  Then there was the matter of the family curse. At first she’d been skeptical, but between her researchers, things that were a matter of public record and things she’d seen with her own eyes, Jolene found herself with more than a story about successful rodeo competitors who were also successful ranchers and breeders.

  She’d found a story about a curse that had started in the 1800’s and had not ended until three years ago. An added discovery was finding that Jed’s uncle who had run away from home before he was seventeen was still alive and living in Texas.

  It was a complicated piece with a lot to cover and it dominated most of her focus. Yet ever since she arrived, she had caught her mind wandering back in time to things she didn't want to dwell on. Why did being here on the Rocky River Ranch turn her thoughts to the past? Was it watching Mik and Jesse with the people they'd married, seeing their love and devotion and wondering why she couldn't seem to find that in her life?

  Of all the men who'd passed through her life, when she thought about loss why did her mind conjure up the image of a man with hurt in his eyes who walked away before there was a chance to see what might come of them?

  A knock on the door prompted her to get up to answer it. Mik stood on the porch with a six-pack of beer in one hand.

  "Hey Mik." Jolene stepped back and waved Mik in.

  "Figured you might be ready for a break. I know I am."

  "Me too. I just finished the last of my notes."

  Mik cut a look over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen. "So you're finished? Where's the rest of the crew?"

  "They're packing the rig so we'll be ready to roll out in the morning. And yes, I am finished – at least with this part of the family." Jolene followed and when Mik put the six-pack on the table and pulled out one in offering, Jolene accepted.

  "So, you're definitely going to follow up on Jed’s uncle Jedidiah, I mean Jason Weathers?" Mik popped the top on a beer, took a swig, and put the rest of the six-pack into the refrigerator.

  "I am. I was hoping to hear from him today. I've talked to him half a dozen times over the last week and yesterday I had my research team UPS him all the documentation we could find about what happened when he was a teenager – before he left home."

  "Jed figured that might make him less than eager to be interviewed." Mik took a seat at the kitchen table.

  "Understandable." Jolene opted to lean against the kitchen counter, having been sitting for the last two hours. Jedidiah Nash had run away at the age of eighteen because of a fight he’d been in with another boy. The boy died and Jedidiah’s family feared he would go to jail.

  Until Jolene’s research team starting digging into it, the Nash family had assumed that Jedidiah had died. As it turned out, he had changed his name and was still alive today. "We found out there were no charges ever sought in the death of the Miller boy. In fact, from what we've been able to piece together, the boy he fought with was a well-known bully. Even his father knew it. I was able to track down an old newspaper article about it. According to the article, Jed's dad, Jacob said he fought that Miller boy."

  "You mean he ran away for nothing?"

  "I guess. Or fate. Who knows? But had he stayed he wouldn't have faced prosecution. I asked for copies of everything to be sent to him after I told him. I almost cried. He's spent his whole life hiding and carrying around guilt when he really did nothing wrong. It was an accident. He broke down when I told him."

  "I can't imagine what that must be like for him." Mik propped her feet up on a vacant chair. "Feeling like a fugitive all those years. It must be a little like being released from prison."

  "Or freed from a curse?"

  Mik smiled. "Yeah, that too. Which reminds me. What did you find out about his side of the family? Did their marriages end as miserably as Jed's fathers and the rest of the brothers?"

  Jolene downed a couple of swallows of her beer. "He hasn't given me much about that yet but I do know that he’s divorced and all of his sons as well, except for one who is a widower. I asked him if he or any of his sons ever dreamed about a woman getting hanged and I thought he'd hung up on me he took so long to respond."

  "So he knew about the curse?"

  "Yeah, he said he tried not to think about it if he didn't have to, but oh, he said he hadn't had the dream in a couple of years and didn't think his boys had either. I told him it was because you and your family ended the curse and he seemed happy about that.

  "In fact, he said he'd like to meet all of Jacob's boys and their wives."

  "We'd all like to meet him. Maybe we can work something out."

  "I hope so. Seems a shame to have family you don't know."

  "Amen to that, sister. So, what's next for you?"

  "If things work out with Jason, I'll be headed to Texas."

  "Texas? I thought he settled in Florida?"

  "Apparently only for a short time. He met a girl there, Alice, a Texas girl. He moved to Texas to be close to her. They ended up getting married and with the help of her family, he got his own place.”

  "I didn't know that. Interesting. So where in Texas?"

  "A place called Cotton Creek."

  "Never heard of it."

  "Me either. Anyway, we have what we need for the two segments on you, Jesse and the family here and the network wants me to do at least one segment on the Weathers side of the family. It's turning into a pretty big thing so I need Jed, Jake and Jesse to make damn sure they're okay with all of this coming out."

  "We had a family meeting and said they are. Jed said the truth is like water, no matter how hard you try to damn it up, it seeps through the cracks so you might as well let it flow."

  "I like that man of yours. You sure you want to keep him?"

  "Yeah, I think I'll hang onto him."

  "Don't blame you, girl. I swear I’ve never seen so many sexy men in one place. What’s up with that?"

  Mik laughed. "Yeah, the Nash men are fine for sure but I'm sure there are all kinds of fine men out there. With all the traveling you do, I'm surprised you don't have a cowboy in every city."

  Jolene shook her head and took a seat at the table. "I'm not into the love'em and leave'em scene. Well at least not anymore. I sort of was until I hooked up with – never mind, ancient history."

  "Oh no, no and hell no. You can't do that. Come on. It's just between us and it's not like I didn't make my share of mistakes before Jed."

  Jolene hesitated. She didn't have many close friends and rarely shared anything about herself, particularly emotional things. A little over three years ago, something happened that did affect her. It still did.

  "Jo? Listen, I'm sorry if I'm prying into things –"

  "No. No, it's fine." She fiddled with the beer bottle, scraping at the label. "About three years ago I was doing a story on this big auction in Texas. Heavy bidding on this one bull and I mean heavy. Anyway, my first night I stopped into this bar. Lots of cowboys as you might imagine, most of them there for the auction either selling or hoping to buy.

  "A fight broke out and this guy, this really big guy stepped in to stop it. As luck would have it, when he did, he shoved one of the men hard enough that he fell right into me. Knocked me right on my ass.

  "So, this big guy picked me up and apologized and …" She paused, remembering the shock that ran through her when their gazes met. "And I've never felt anything like it in my life. It was like being struck by lightning the attraction was so strong.

  "I guess he felt it, too. After a few drinks we ended up in my hotel room. God almighty was that a night. There was something in that man eating him alive. I could see it in his eyes and it damn sure came through in the way he tried to lose himself in sex. It was rough and wild and probably the hottest night of my life, but he never lost that anger,
you know?

  "Anyway, for the next three days, we damn near ate each other alive. When I wasn't working, we were together -- in his bed, my bed, his truck or my car. It was insane – like he was trying to drown himself in me, hiding, or running from some demon that had such a hold on him he couldn't shake it.

  "I spent my last night there with him, and that night, for the first time, I caught a tiny glimpse of the man he was when his demon wasn't riding him and I swear it nearly broke my heart. He was so tender and gentle. I've never ever felt like a woman being worshipped but that night I did. Right before I fell asleep he kissed me, stroked my face and said my name with such tenderness and – and emotion, that I really thought I was falling in love.

  "When I woke, he was gone."

  "And?" Mik asked.

  "And I never saw him again, but I never forgot him either."

  "Who was he?"

  "Dylan."

  "Dylan what?"

  Jolene shrugged. "He never told me his last name or asked for mine."

  "And it affected you that much?"

  Jolene shrugged. "Remember you telling me that the first time you were with Jed you felt something you'd never felt before?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well it was kind of like that. I felt raw pain and anger in him – a lot of it, but there was also such sadness and yearning. Like a man looking for something he couldn't find, or hold onto. I felt it so strong it was almost tangible. And as silly as it sounds, I wanted to ease it. I've never experienced that before or since."

  "And that turned you off the one-nighters?"

  "Yeah. I tried hooking up a couple of times but didn't even make it through the dirty deed. I can't seem to forget his expression as he said my name. It's haunted me."

  "Why haunted?"

  "Because in my mind, it always means save me."

  "That kinda gave me a shiver."

  Jolene nodded. "It still does me. But hey, I have my work, right? It keeps me busy. In fact, I've been on the road so much the last three years, I leased the family place in Oklahoma and have been living out of hotels. I guess if I'm honest I'd admit that it's getting old."

  "So settle down. Do you have to live in the same city where the network is located? Memphis, right?"

  "Yes, Memphis. And no, but I have no clue where I want to be."

  "It's pretty nice around here." Mik grinned. "And you've got friends, Jo."

  "I do now and I'm very grateful for that, Mik. To you and all your family. But I – well, I guess I'm waiting to find that place that whispers, “home", if that makes sense."

  "It does. Only mine came from a who and not a where."

  Jolene smiled. "That sure would be nice, but I'm not counting on it happening."

  "Why? Because you don't know where to find this Dylan or because you have powers?"

  Jolene nearly jumped out of her chair. "What made you say that?"

  Mik chuckled. "Takes one to know one. Come on, Jo, you know all about my sisters, Jed's family, and me. It's not something you have to hide."

  "I'm not hiding; I'm just don’t have any special abilities."

  "Well, you've got something. All of us can sense it. Surely you know there's something – extra, about you."

  "Not really. My grandfather… well, he was special. He was… well, let's just say he lived up to his name."

  "Windwalker?" Mik moved her feet from the chair and leaned forward to prop her arms on the table. "I've wanted to ask you about that. How does it work?"

  Jolene thought about it for a moment. She rarely talked about her family and certainly not about Wind-Walking. She looked across the table at Mik and sensed safety. Mik could be trusted.

  "He took me with him from time to time and it's – it's hard to describe. One minute you're on the ground and the next you're above the earth and it's all so beautiful and so quiet. You can hear whispers in the wind, sometimes it's like voices in song, so beautiful it brings tears to your eyes. You feel connected, like you’re part of everything and it’s part of you. It’s – I don’t think I could adequately describe it, and honestly when it’s over you wonder if it really happened or was all just something conjured up in your mind."

  Mik smiled. "I'd like to do that someday. Can you do it alone?"

  Jolene shrugged. "Never tried."

  "Why?"

  "I don't know. Afraid I'd fail, or afraid I wouldn't."

  "Why would not failing scare you?"

  Jolene hated the tears that collected in her eyes. She brushed them away, feeling a little embarrassed. "With my grandfather it was beautiful. I felt that connection. To him and to – to everything. What if I did it and I didn't feel that? I guess I want to hang onto what I had and don't want to risk losing it."

  Mik reached her hand across the table and after a moment, Jolene clasped it. Something brushed her mind, and the surprise made her jump in her seat. Mik smiled at her. "Yeah, that's me. Listen to me, Jolene. You will not lose it. Or him. Teddy said the last time she was here that she picked up your hat and sensed him."

  "Sensed who?"

  "Your grandfather. She said his heart is full of love and pride."

  Fresh tears spilled from Jolene's eyes and this time she didn't brush them away. "Thank you for telling me. I miss him."

  "I know, but he's not really gone, honey. He's with you, inside you. Based on what you've told me, he helped you become who you are. He taught you to listen to the wind, to love the earth and all its creatures. He taught you how to see the beauty and you do. I've seen your shows and your photos. You find the hidden beauty of things. Even Jed says so. He says you have a gift and just don't know it yet."

  "Thank you." Jolene smiled through her tears. "You have no idea what that means."

  "Yes I do little sister. Now—" she released Jolene's hand. "I'm gonna take a beer with me for the walk back. We're grilling tonight so head up to the main house around six and we'll celebrate you finishing your research and moving on to your next adventure."

  "Sounds good." Jolene's phone rang, and she stood. "I better grab that."

  "Go ahead. I'll see you at six."

  "Thanks Mik. For everything."

  "You bet."

  Jolene ran to the front room and picked up her phone. "Hi, this is Jolene… Mr. Weathers? I'm so glad to hear from you…"

  Chapter Three

  JD took off his hat and ran his hand back through his hair. The day had been no longer or any more tiring than normal but something seemed wrong. No, not wrong just off kilter. There wasn't a better way to describe it. He wasn't sick, hurting, or upset. Just off.

  He had not felt this way since the last time he had the dream. The hanging woman dream. God almighty he hated that thing. He sat down on the back steps of the house and leaned back, propping his elbows on the step behind him.

  It'd been what, three years since any of his family had the dream? Three years without the dream was no cause for complaint. Good damn riddance to that thing, but it was strange. If the dream was part of the family curse, then where did it go? Did the curse vanish with the dream and if so why?

  No one had an answer to that, and the relief everyone felt at its disappearance didn't prompt them to question why it had vanished. He supposed the only reason he thought of it was his twin sons, Briggs and Dawson. At almost eighteen, in their senior year of high school, so far neither of them had had the dream. He prayed they never would.

  JD closed his eyes and leaned back more. He'd rest a few minutes before he faced the weekly family meal at the main house. His mind wouldn't settle enough for him to relax though. He pushed himself up. Might as well head in and wash up. His father, Jason, got riled as an old bear if people showed up late. He liked to eat exactly at 6:30 and anyone not at the table was liable to get a tongue lashing when they showed up.

  He walked in through the laundry room, hung his hat on the hat rack, and proceeded into the kitchen where he found his father sitting at the small dinette table. There were papers scattered on its surfac
e. With his reading glasses perched on his nose and his brows drawn together, he appeared to be in a serious frame of mind.

  Eloise, the woman who had cooked and cleaned for them since JD's mother left years ago, stood at the stove. JD walked over and leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. She looked up and beamed at him. "How's my boy today?"

  "Starving. That sure smells good."

  "Your favorite. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, and Cole slaw. And I've got a big pan of biscuits in the oven."

  "Marry me, Eloise."

  "Oh go on with yourself."

  JD grinned, snagged a bean from the pot, and turned to his father. "You're looking mighty serious, Pop."

  Jason looked up, removed his glasses, and put them on the table. "Actually, I'm – well, I'm feeling a mix of things right now, son."

  "Everything okay?"

  "Yeah, it is. Better than okay. Guess I'm just wishing this could have happened before now. Lots of water under the bridge."

  "Sir?"

  Jason waved his hand in dismissal. "I'll tell you all about it at dinner. Rest of the family is in the den. Call 'em to the table, would you? Well, the adults. Eloise is gonna feed the kids in here. The twins are almost eighteen so we're putting them at the big table. I'm gonna put this stuff away and will be right in."

  "Sure." JD headed for the den. That piqued his curiosity. Family meals that separated the kids from the adults meant one of two things. Either there was family business to be discussed, or something had happened in the family that wasn't fit for the ears of children. JD hoped for the former.

  "Soup's on." He announced as he reached the door of the den.

  "'Bout time," His brother, Bryson got to his feet and slapped the boots of another brother Jayce, out of his way as he started for the door. "Oh, by the way, Billy Sweet called and said you promised we'd take care of the demolition of the bar?"