Holdin' On for a Hero

by Ciana Stone

“As you can see he’s not here.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “Last night. He was here with that lawyer, Miss Waters.”

  “All night?”

  “No, he left.”

  Tom stood up and picked up his hat from the table. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I’ll do everything I can for Wyatt, you know that. But it’s best if I take him in instead of letting someone else—if you get my meaning.”

  John stood up and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I understand.”

  “Then you’ll tell me where he is?”

  “Can’t tell you what I don’t know, Tom. Try his house.”

  “I already did. He’s not there.”

  “Then I don’t know what to tell you. Except that if you want to see justice done, you should be locking up Holling and his pack of animals.”

  Tom put his hat on without comment. “Jenny, you ready?”

  She looked at John. He nodded and picked up his coat. Together they followed Tom out to his car and got in the backseat. John looked back at the house as they pulled away. Tsa’li was disappearing into the trees that bordered the yard.

  * * * * *

  Wyatt stopped halfway up the steep incline, looking around as the sky began to lighten. Chance would be waking up soon. He had not been able to sleep. Visions of what had happened at the Gap kept playing over and over in his mind until he felt as if his head was going to explode.

  It was not so much the sight of death that bothered him. He had seen death up close and personal more than once. It was the feelings. During the time the Warrior had taken over his body he had felt like he was being held prisoner, pleading and screaming to be heard but being left alone in the dark unable to do anything but witness what was happening. That feeling of helplessness was terrifying.

  He ran as fast as he could up the incline to the opening of the cave, trying to push thoughts aside. When he took a look inside the cave he saw that Chance was still asleep. He walked back to the entrance and looked up at the sky.

  The cold air soothed his parched throat as he sucked it in greedily, gaining strength from its purity as a parched man might from a clear mountain stream. He sat down and closed his eyes, listening to the steady drumming of his heart. His pulse slowed and a curious warmth stole over him making him feel strangely at peace and relaxed. A vision took shape and swept him up in it.

  He was sitting in a small clearing overlooking the valley. It was autumn and there was a chill in the air. The leaves had lost their green and now blazed with colors of orange and red. The sound of someone calling his name made him turn and look over his shoulder.

  Chance ran toward him. Her hair seemed to float out behind her in a golden halo and her eyes were bright with happiness. In her arms was a small dark-haired child.

  Wyatt got to his feet and started toward them and he marveled at the love that filled him. This was his family, his wife and child. The realization made him feel joy unlike anything he had ever experienced. He broke into a run and the distance between them closed.

  He was just feet away when suddenly something dark and malevolent barred the way. Chance stopped suddenly as if she had run into an invisible barrier and the smile on her face turned to a look of horror. The air around her swirled like a dark cloud, whipping her hair about and making the baby cry fearfully. Wyatt tried to reach for her.

  A bolt of energy sent him hurtling backward. He hit the ground and scrambled to his feet, intent on reaching her. The dark cloud around her was moving faster and faster, like a tornado. He tried to run to her but it was like moving through molasses. His legs strained against the unseen force that held him back.

  “Wyatt!” she screamed and reached out one hand to him.

  He tried again to get to her, all the while watching as the whirling cloud grew darker and thicker. Abruptly it stopped and gathered in a dense column in front of her. Both she and the baby screamed at the same moment. A split second later Wyatt felt a scream tear loose from his own throat.

  Where a moment ago had existed a column of darkness now stood a man. His hair was dark and his shoulders were broad. Wyatt could tell he was strong by his build but could not see his face.

  Chance was staring at the man in terror. Her eyes were wide and her face was pale as death. The man reached for her and she screamed again, trying to back away.

  “No!” Wyatt shouted. “Leave her alone!”

  The man paused and turned to look at Wyatt. The moment he did everything shattered like glass.

  Wyatt felt a touch on his shoulder as the vision faded. He looked up and saw Chance kneeling beside him with a concerned expression on her face. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded without speaking and she took his hand. “Come in by the fire.”

  They went inside the cave where the fire burned brightly. Wyatt stripped off his sweater and sat down on the sleeping bag. Chance sat down beside him, watching him as he stared into the fire. He was thinking about what he had seen. The man in the vision must have been the other, and if the vision was true, he was going to prevent Wyatt from having the future he wanted, unless Wyatt could find a way to stop him.

  “Chance, if the Warrior shows up again I want you to get as far away from him as you can,” he said after a long silence.

  She looked at him with a puzzled expression. “I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”

  “That’s not it.” He looked away from her.

  “Then what?”

  Wyatt didn’t answer for a few moments but finally he turned to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Just promise me that you won’t let him touch you.”

  Her brows drew together in bewilderment for a moment then arched. “No danger of that!” she exclaimed, flushing slightly and dropping her eyes downward.

  “What?” He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face.

  Chance made a face and chewed her lip for a moment. “Well, let’s just say that one of you is more than enough.”

  Wyatt smiled in spite of himself and she blushed. “But what made you think of something like that?”

  “A vision. And I’m serious.”

  “All right,” she agreed solemnly. “I promise.” He nodded and gave her shoulders a squeeze. She smiled and leaned over to nip his chin. “Have I told you today that I love you?”

  “Are you sure you do?” he asked in an anxious tone.

  Her features hardened and her eyes flashed. “How can you even ask that? You know I do. More than anything.”

  Wyatt pulled her to him roughly, holding her pressed against him so close that he could feel the beat of her heart against his chest. “I never thought I’d feel this way about someone. I love you—so much it scares me. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t,” she whispered. “Not even if you try. I told you before, you’re stuck with me.”

  He loosened his hold on her enough to move his lips to hers. She returned the kiss with passion and he could feel her heat. Pushing away everything else from his mind he lowered her down on the sleeping bag.

  * * * * *

  Iris picked up the phone in her hotel room and started to dial then reconsidered and hung up. She was not quite sure how she wanted to handle the latest development. She had found out only an hour ago that the police were looking for Wyatt.

  Lying back on the bed, she stared up at the ceiling, replaying the events of the previous night in her mind. She had been almost afraid when she saw what happened to Wyatt. She wondered if he was even aware that she had seen the transformation take place.

  But what exactly happened to him? He was definitely different, almost like another person entirely. Could that be it? Could he have a split personality? No, it was more than that. It was…it was almost like something from mythology. Mythology! Her eyes widened. Even though outwardly she had erased all evidence of her heritage, inside there still existed the girl who had believed all the old legends and myths. Ummm, so what if it is possible?
How can I use it to my best advantage?

  That thought made her mind turn to the reason she was in North Carolina to begin with and she smiled. Greg thought he was the reason, just like she wanted him to. The truth was Greg was just a tool to help her get what she wanted most. Revenge.

  Iris got up and opened her suitcase. Beneath the neatly folded stack of expensive lingerie were an old photo album and a worn, cloth-covered diary. She took them with her to the bed and sat down, opening the photo album.

  The first picture was of two lovely girls. Both were dark-haired with eyes almost as dark as their shining tresses. Standing in front of an old, beat-up car they each had an arm around the other, smiling happily at the camera.

  Iris looked at her mother’s image standing with her best friend, Sarah. They had both been beautiful women. But where Sarah was slim as a willow, with elegant lines and delicate features, Doris Stillwater had been full-busted and slim-waisted with a smile that could light up a room. She could have had any man she wanted.

  When she flipped to the next picture, Iris’ dark eyes smoldered with hatred. A stocky man with dull brown hair smiled at the camera as Doris perched on his lap. Iris looked at her mother’s face, seeing the happiness and hope written on it and once more cursed the man in the picture for turning that face into one filled with hopelessness and loss.

  She slammed the album shut and flipped idly through the diary. It had belonged to her mother. She had discovered it after Doris died. What was contained inside it had altered the course of her life. It had given her a singular purpose.

  “And if I play my cards right, this could work out even better than I hoped!” she said aloud as an idea occurred to her. She returned the items to her suitcase and called Greg Holling’s private number. After several rings he answered.

  “Hello, darling,” she purred into the receiver. “Miss me?”

  “Iris, this thing is getting way out of hand!”

  “Now, darling. I know what happened and I’ll admit it is a little odd, but trust me, it’s nothing to worry about. Why don’t you come over and we’ll talk about it.”

  “I don’t know. The old man wants me to stick close to home—you know, talk to the cops and all that shit. Why don’t I give you a call later?”

  “Fine,” she snapped, unused to being turned down. “I might be available,” she stressed the word might. “If you’re lucky.”

  “Come on, honey,” his tone turned to one of pleading. “Don’t be mad. Didn’t I do everything you asked me?”

  “Well, yes.” She rolled her eyes as she pictured him in her mind. “I suppose you did. But there’s still a couple of things you need to do, lover.”

  “What?”

  “To begin with I need to know who the woman was that Indian waitress said was at the scene of the crime. And I need a connection with the police. I want to know what forensics turned up at the scene.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll call as soon as I have something. Will you be around?”

  “Of course I will,” she said, letting her voice lower suggestively. “Call me on my cell. Bye, lover.”

  She paced back and forth for a few minutes, considering her options. Then picking up the cell phone she dialed a familiar number, one she knew few people had. When the man’s voice came on the line she smiled.

  “Get ready,” she whispered, pitching her voice much lower than normal. “Payday’s coming.”

  Hanging up before the man could reply she laughed and twirled around. “Yes!” she held her arms up above her head as she danced around. “Yes, yes, yes! I’m going to pay you back in spades.”

  * * * * *

  Wyatt was buttoning his shirt when Tsa’li’s voice called to him from outside the cave. He walked to the entrance and looked out. “Come on in.”

  Tsa’li entered and sat down by the fire. Chance finished putting on her shoes then went over and knelt down beside him. “Thank you,” she whispered and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  He waved her thanks away and looked up at Wyatt. “The sheriff is looking for you.”

  Wyatt looked from him to Chance then back again. “I’m not surprised. You know what happened?”

  Tsa’li nodded once. “Jenny came to your father’s last night. She told what happened.”

  “Exactly what did she say?” Chance asked.

  “That a warrior killed three men and was then persuaded to stop by a white woman who appeared with a pack of wolves.”

  Chance looked up at Wyatt for a moment then stood. “She told the sheriff that?”

  When Tsa’li nodded she put her fingers to her lips, tapping lightly as she walked around the cave. The only sound inside the cave was of her footsteps and the crackle of the fire.

  “Okay,” she broke the silence. “I need to get back and see what’s going on.”

  “The sheriff won’t have much trouble determining that you’re the white woman Jenny was talking about,” Wyatt pointed out.

  “So?”

  “So, how are you going to explain being there with a pack of wolves and a warrior?” He looked at her with a strained expression.

  She thought about it for a moment. “Well, maybe I’ll turn his attention to the fact that there’s more to consider than just what happened at the Gap. Such as the fact that a bar full of people saw Holling shoot a man to death and forcibly abduct and assault a woman.”

  “Aren’t you forgetting who we’re up against?” he asked argumentatively. “This is the Holling family we’re talking about. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can turn the tables on them so easily.”

  “Then I’ll just tell the police that the girl was mistaken about seeing me.”

  Wyatt’s mouth fell open and he looked at her like she had just turned green. Chance walked over to him. “Let’s just think about it. That girl was terrified. In her situation it’s easy to make mistakes. She thought she saw me. But it couldn’t have been me, could it? I was with you all night.”

  “No!” Wyatt’s voice boomed in the small enclosure. “Absolutely not.”

  “Why?” she challenged him with her eyes and tone of voice.

  He ran his hands back through his hair and blew out his breath. “To begin with, if you say that your cover with Holling is blown. And secondly, I won’t have you lying to protect me.”

  “I won’t be lying. I was with you.”

  Wyatt looked over at Tsa’li. “Will you try and talk some sense into her?”

  Tsa’li stood up and regarded Wyatt silently. “Perhaps you should listen to her.”

  “What?” Wyatt looked at him in disbelief. “You can’t be serious?”

  “I am very serious. If she tells the sheriff she was with you and Jenny says that you were not at Black Camp then the sheriff has no reason to think you were responsible.”

  “I think you’re forgetting a few things.”

  “Like what?” Chance asked.

  “Like a little thing like fingerprints. They’re sure to lift prints off the weapons and just whose prints do you think they’ll find?”

  Chance looked at Tsa’li for a few seconds then turned to Wyatt. “Let’s just take this one step at a time, all right? First, I’m going to go and find out what’s happening. Then we can decide where to go from there.”

  She looked at Tsa’li. “Will you do me a favor?”

  He didn’t say yes or no and she took that to mean that he would consider her request. “Will you make sure he doesn’t do something stupid like trying to turn himself in?”

  “He will be with me,” Tsa’li stated.

  “Where can I find you?” she asked as she picked up her coat.

  “We will wait for you at his house,” Tsa’li said. “The police have already been there. They will not be back today.”

  “You sure about that?” she asked.

  He shrugged and she chewed her lip for a moment. “But what if they do?”

  “Then we will not be there,” he replied nonchalantly.

  “An
d how will I find you?”

  “Your guide will bring you to us.” Tsa’li gestured toward the mouth of the cave.

  Chance saw the big gray wolf standing just outside the cave. “I guess this means he’s coming with me.”

  Tsa’li nodded and she grimaced slightly in uncertainty. “You think he’s going to just get in the Jeep and ride around with me like my pet dog or something?”

  “Ask him.” Tsa’li gestured to the wolf. “Wa’ya?”

  The wolf entered the cave, staying back from the fire. Chance looked at Tsa’li for reassurance then walked to the wolf and knelt down in front of him. “Will you help me again?”

  The wolf lowered his mouth to her hand and gave it a lick. Chance smiled and put her arms around his thick neck, hugging and rubbing it. She stood up and turned to Wyatt. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Wyatt didn’t speak or move but stared at her silently. She put her hands on either side of his face and pulled his head down. “I love you, Wyatt. You’re all that matters to me.”

  He looked into her eyes for a moment then pulled her against him. “Be careful.”

  “I will,” she assured him with a smile as she pulled back. “Besides I won’t be alone.” She gestured to the wolf. “Now, I’ve gotta get going.”

  After giving him a lingering kiss she pulled her coat closed and left the cave with the wolf beside her. Wyatt stood watching the mouth of the cave long after she had gone. When he turned to Tsa’li his eyes were grave.

  “This isn’t her fight. Why have you involved her?”

  “It has always been her fight. Listen to the visions and use the knowledge they offer. You still have much to learn.”

  Wyatt thought about his words before speaking. “You’re probably right. But I worry about what could happen to her.”

  “She will face her own tests,” Tsa’li said and started outside. “Come.”

  Wyatt grabbed his coat and put it on as he followed. If there was one thing he had learned it was not to argue with Tsa’li.

  * * * * *

  John Wolfe’s house was empty when Chance got there. She left him a note to please call her, along with her cell phone number then went back outside to her Jeep. Just as she was getting in, a sheriff’s car pulled up behind her. She leaned in and rubbed the wolf between the ears. “Maybe you better stay here, buddy.”