Yellowstone Deception (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 5)

by Peggy L Henderson

  “How do you know that’s even a grave?” she asked, her voice raspy, when he’d barely caught up with her. She swiped a hasty hand over her eyes. “It could be something else entirely. Maybe Daniel simply carved her name in a rock, and dated it.”

  “You’re right,” he conceded. “But what if it is a grave? I don’t want to gamble with my life like that. If I have the means to secure my own future, I want the chance to do that, Jana.” At least that last part wasn’t a lie. He stepped in front of her, and gripped her upper arms for emphasis. “Can you understand that?”

  “Yes,” she said, after a prolonged silence. He reluctantly released her arms. She glanced down the incline, toward the now-trampled brambles. Finally, she looked up at him, and said, “I’ll help you find that device. I just don’t have a clue where to even begin to look.”

  Dan closed his eyes for a split second, and drew in a breath of relief. He smiled down at her, and silently formed the words thank you on his lips.

  “Why did you leave so quickly?” he asked before he could stop himself.

  Her forehead wrinkled. “Leave?”

  “Two months ago. Why didn’t you stay another day?” He almost reached for her hand, but stopped himself just in time by shoving his own hand in the back pocket of his jeans instead. This isn’t the time, Osborne.

  “I needed to get back home. I only took a few days off from work,” she said quickly, and avoided looking at him. He didn’t believe her for a second, but decided to let it go for now. He stepped away from her and peeled his backpack off his shoulders.

  “Let’s put our heads together and see what we can figure out,” he suggested casually, hoping to hide the turmoil inside him, and motioned for her to sit on a downed log to the side of the trail.

  He handed her a water bottle from his pack, and a bag of trail mix. When she shot him a surprised look, he couldn’t help but grin.

  “You suggested trail mix last night, remember?” His grin widened.

  For the first time since he met her, Jana’s face lit up in a bright smile. The breath left his lungs. She was radiant when she smiled. The sun high above them reflected in her amber eyes, making them appear almost golden. Dan sat several feet away from her on the log, and placed his backpack on his lap. It wouldn’t do for her to see the effect she had on him. He took a long drink from his own water bottle.

  “I didn’t tell you this last night, but I hate nuts,” Jana said, obviously trying to suppress a giggle.

  Dan frowned. “Excuse me?” He nearly choked on his water. He kicked himself mentally. She’s referring to the food, you idiot. Dan groaned silently. Jana was playing havoc with his mind, and this was only the second day spent in her company.

  “Well, ah. . .” He cleared his throat. “You can always pick out the raisins and other bits of dried fruit.” Not even as an awkward teenager had he felt like such a bumbling fool. He ventured a glance at the girl sitting a few mere feet from him. She cradled the plastic bag between her hands in her lap, and stared out at the distant mountains. Although the smile had left her face, Dan sensed she was more relaxed than she had been the night before.

  His eyes followed her line of vision, and minutes passed in silence. The swooshing sounds of ravens flapping their wings as they flew from tree top to tree top, their deep clucking sounds amplified by the peaceful tranquility of the mountain, mixed with the rush of the wind through the tops of the tallest lodgepoles. In a nearby tree, a couple of squirrels chattered loudly. They seemed to be engaged in a heated argument, probably over territory rights.

  Dan stuck his hand in Jana’s trail mix bag, and pulled out a handful of peanuts and almonds. “Maybe Aimee left the device somewhere along Hellroaring Creek, just like the journal,” he finally ventured a guess, breaking the silence.

  “No,” Jana said immediately. “She wouldn’t leave it somewhere that obvious.” The plastic bag rustled as Jana dug through the nuts and seeds to find some morsels of dried fruit. She stopped abruptly, and looked at him. “Do you realize this is more impossible than trying to find a needle in a haystack?”

  “What is?” He gestured at the bag in her hand. “Finding the raisins in the bag, or the time travel device somewhere within two million acres of wilderness?” He grinned at the annoyed look she shot him.

  “Aimee mentioned in her journal that the device would never be found again. She didn’t want anyone to find it for good reason. Imagine what could happen if someone got a hold of that device. The problems it could cause in the wrong hands.”

  Dan coughed, nearly choking on the nuts he was chewing. After taking a long drink from his water bottle, he stared straight at her.

  “You’re my only chance, Jana. You knew her the best, and if anyone can figure out what she might have done with that device, it’s you. I have complete confidence that you’ll figure it out.” Their eyes met and held, and Dan wished for the thousandth time that he could have asked her back to Yellowstone under different circumstances.

  Chapter 5

  Jana pulled the covers higher up to her neck, and shifted her body on the unfamiliar mattress. Somewhere in the chasm between sleep and wakefulness, her body shuddered involuntarily. Aimee’s presence was so vivid, Jana didn’t want to wake just yet, and lose the dream she was dreaming. She relaxed her head into the pillow, and drifted back to sleep.

  In her dream, Jana inched slowly toward the mesh-wire fence that guarded the overlook of the raging waterfall. Aimee stood on her toes, leaning over the fence, staring straight down into the gaping scar in the earth more than three hundred feet below. Her long blonde hair whipped wildly around in all directions from the wind generated by the rushing river. The loud roar of the mighty Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone drowned out her laughter.

  “Come on, Jana. Just try it once,” Aimee called over her shoulder. Jana stood a few feet back, the tremendous power of the river as it plunged deep into the earth making her head spin with dizziness.

  “You can feel the spray of the water. It’s really quite refreshing,” Aimee yelled, coaxing her onward. Jana took a tentative step closer to the edge. She was being silly, she knew. The fence was there to guard anyone from accidentally losing their balance. She’d always been a bit scared of heights, and the movement of the fast-flowing water was playing tricks with her mind. The entire cemented viewing platform felt as if it was floating, ready to tumble over the brink.

  Jana grabbed for the fence, and slowly peered over the edge. It was an awe-inspiring view. Millions of gallons of water spilled over the yawning cliff, plunging straight downward. The icy wind created by the river left thick patches of snow and ice clinging to the rocks of the canyon walls, even though it was well into July. Far below in the canyon, the turquoise water of the Yellowstone River continued its journey north after it’s mighty plunge. The blue ribbon was in sharp contrast to the earthy hues of yellows and reds that adorned the canyon walls as if an artist had painted them there with broad brush strokes.

  The cool air was a welcome reprieve from the warmth of the afternoon, and from the four-mile hike they had just completed along the canyon rim to reach this spot.

  “No one could survive going over this waterfall,” Aimee commented as they stood side by side, taking in the view. Odd how all surrounding sound suddenly ceased, including the deafening roar of the river. Aimee barely spoke above a whisper, but Jana heard her loud and clear. “The weight and force of the water alone would crush someone before they hit the rocks that are no doubt under all that spray.”

  The thought of accidentally falling into the river and being swept over the edge made Jana shudder.

  “I bet a body would never be recovered here,” Aimee continued. “Going over the edge would probably bury a person or object at the bottom of this fall forever. The weight of the water would pin you to the rocks for all eternity. It’s the perfect final resting spot, don’t you think? You’d never be found again.”

  Jana stared at her. Sometimes her best friend
had the wildest imagination.

  Aimee smiled brightly. “When I die, I want my ashes scattered over the falls,” she said softly. “You’ll make sure that happens someday, won’t you, Jana?”

  Jana merely nodded. This was not the place to be talking about death and dying. She took another brave step closer to the fence, and ventured to lean over like Aimee was doing. Her heart sped up. It was an exhilarating feeling. Her attention was focused on the heavy white spray of water as the river met with the rocks below, when a movement along the canyon wall caught her attention. An Indian stood, balanced perfectly on a shallow outcropping near the very bottom of the falls. The dense mist enshrouded him, making him almost invisible. Jana leaned over further to get a better look. Were her eyes playing tricks on her? The Indian raised his hand, beckoning to her. Leaning even further over the fence, Jana lost her balance. She screamed as she went tumbling over the edge. She hit the frigid water of the falls, the force of the river dragging her under.

  The sensation of millions of gallons of water crushing her like a tin can overpowered her. She couldn’t move her arms or legs. She’d never reach the surface. If she didn’t die crashing into a rock, the force of the water would finish the job in less than a second.

  Suddenly she felt nothing, heard nothing. A serene quiet and calm overtook her senses. She was light as a feather, floating through the air. Jana raised her head. Slowly, the sound of the river and falls once again penetrated her mind. She opened her eyes. Large rocks materialized before her, water lapping against them, leaving behind a foamy spray reminiscent of a bubble bath. Groaning, Jana lifted her head. She stared up at the gaping walls of the canyon. She could barely see the very top. It was as if the earth had swallowed her up. She was lying along the shore of the fast-moving river, her feet dangling in the water. She could feel the current trying to reclaim its hold on her and pull her back. How had she survived? The waterfall was at least a hundred yards upstream. It wasn’t possible that she could be alive.

  She gasped. A few feet from the edge of the water stood the old Indian she thought she had seen from above, just before she tumbled over the railing. She blinked. He was not an illusion. His face looked weathered and ancient, and his leathery skin held more deep creases than the canyon wall. He suddenly smiled a toothless smile at her, and extended his arm. He pointed toward the water. Jana’s eyes followed where his fingers led. Still lying on the rocky ground, she spied a leather pouch lodged between two rocks, some long strings trailing away and floating in the water. The pouch was half-open, and gleaming at her from within were two ruby red eyes. The air left her lungs, and she gasped.

  Jana woke with a start. Her body’s first reaction was to bolt upright in bed. He arms and legs were tangled in the sheets, holding her to the mattress. She tried to suck air into her lungs, as if she had actually been deprived of oxygen. Pulling her arms free of the sheets that acted like anchors, she clutched at her chest. She swore she could still feel the crushing sensation of the water as it sucked her under the waterfall. She swiped a trembling hand over her face. Drenched in sweat, she threw the covers aside, and struggled to pull her legs over the edge of the mattress. She cupped her face in both hands, then ran them through her damp hair.

  “A dream. It was only a dream,” she mumbled, trying to calm her racing heart. Everything that had happened recently had put her brain into hyper drive. That had to be the reason for this vivid nightmare. She recalled standing at that very ledge with Aimee on their trip to Yellowstone together the year following their high school graduation. Aimee’s words, wanting to have her ashes scattered, and that someone going over the edge of the falls would be buried under the water forever had been real. The Indian, her fall, seeing the time travel device, those things had crept into her dream by an overly stimulated brain.

  Jana stood on trembling legs, raking her teeth over her lower lip. She’d heard of people having visions. She’d never bought into that. Until now. With a start, she realized she knew where the time travel device was. Suddenly there was no doubt in her mind. Aimee thought that by tossing it over the waterfall, it would lay buried under the rocks in the water for all eternity. In her journal, she mentioned it would never be found again. Was it possible that it had come loose, and washed ashore several hundred yards downriver?

  Jana glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was only six in the morning. She shrugged. Dan had called her earlier than that. Surely, he’d be awake at this hour. She stumbled toward the bathroom, peeling her pajamas off as she went. There was no time for a phone call. She had a desperate need to see Dan in person. He’d shown her where he lived after their return from Purple Mountain the day before. Quickly, she pulled on her jeans and a sweatshirt, and barely took time to lace up her boots to dash out of the hotel room.

  *****

  The barrack door opened on Jana’s second knock. A bare-chested man in his early twenties stared at her through sleepy half-closed eyes.

  “Is Dan awake yet?” She tried to ignore the fact that the guy wore nothing but boxers. He had to be freezing cold in the frigid morning temperature.

  A lazy grin swept over his face. He cocked an eyebrow, and assessed Jana from head to foot.

  “If you’re done staring, could you please tell Dan I need to see him,” she said in exasperation.

  He scratched under his right armpit, then stepped aside. “He’s down the hall, first door on the left,” he motioned with his hand. “Can’t miss it.” Loudly, he yelled, “Hey Osborne, you got company.”

  Jana scooted hastily past the guy. This cramped trailer bungalow reminded her of the college dorm she and Aimee had lived in, only this place was much smaller, if that was even possible. A loud voice, Dan’s voice, came from within the room the other ranger had indicated. The door was half-open, but she knocked tentatively and remained standing in the narrow hall. Dan stood by the window, his right hand clutching at his short hair, a cellphone held to his left ear in the other. He was also half-nude, but at least he wore pants.

  “I’m working on it,” he growled into the phone. “This is going to take some time. It’s not as easy as you make it sound.” He threw his hand in the air, clearly agitated about something. He obviously hadn’t heard her soft knock.

  Jana’s heart pounded in her chest. She was still shaken up from her nightmare. She knocked again, unwilling to simply step into Dan’s room. She felt like an intruder already.

  Dan turned, and the angry look on his face startled her momentarily. A fleeting memory of Daniel entered her mind, the murderous look in his eyes when he nearly killed Aimee’s former fiancée. Abruptly, Dan’s hardened facial features softened, and he smiled at her, his eyes filled with surprise. He motioned with his hand for her to enter.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll keep you informed. I have to go.” He quickly pocketed his phone, apparently cutting the person on the other end of the line off, and stood in front of her in a single stride. Dan’s large physique made the tiny room appear even smaller. Jana shivered involuntarily.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting.”

  Dan ran his hand through his hair. “No, it’s fine.” The hard edge to his voice from a moment ago was completely gone as he spoke to her. “Just my boss on my case about a project he needs me to complete.” He gave a short laugh. “The man’s a tyrant.”

  Jana looked past him toward the window. She didn’t want to openly stare at his nude chest and chorded arms, even though she was sorely tempted. He stood so close to her, the heat from his body, and the clean scent of soap sent her mind spinning in turmoil.

  “Jana? Is everything all right? You look . . . like something happened.” Dan reached for her hand, his forehead wrinkled, and concern evident in his eyes. She shuddered, and wrapped her free arm around her waist before she ventured a glance at his face.

  “I think I had a vision, Dan,” she blurted.

  He held still, and didn’t immediately respond. His forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean, vision. You had a dream?” He reach
ed around her and pushed his bedroom door shut.

  “More like a nightmare.” Her voice cracked.

  “Here, sit down,” Dan pulled her to his bunk, which didn’t look big enough to support him comfortably if he stretched out on it. “You’re obviously quite upset. Tell me about your dream.”

  The bed springs squeaked when Jana sat, and her body dipped toward him when he eased himself down beside her. Her outer thigh rubbed against his. Dan held her hand in his lap, making it impossible for her to scoot even a few inches away. The warmth and concern in his eyes was mayhem to her already frayed nerves.

  “I think I know where the time travel device is,” she said softly, almost in a whisper. She hardly believed her own words. Dan’s grip on her hand tightened, and he tensed. She turned her head to look him in the eyes. Soft chocolate eyes that drew her in like a magnet. She sat so close to him, his fresh clean male scent was intoxicating. Jana trembled involuntarily.

  “Hey.” He turned toward her, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her against his solid chest. “This dream has you all shaken up, doesn’t it?”

  Jana couldn’t breathe. It was not so much the dream at the moment as his nearness. Her hand reached up to push against his chest, and adrenaline infused her limbs, making her quiver even more. His heart beat strong against her palm. Had she imagined him shudder when her palm touched his bare skin?

  Dan’s warm hand moved slowly up and down her arm in an almost sensual motion. When she ventured a glance up at his face, his dark eyes startled her. No longer soft and brown, they held a certain deep intensity. Full of longing, and . . . want. All the air left her lungs as if she’d been punched in the stomach. She couldn’t move. His hold on her arm tightened, and he pulled her even closer.

  “Care to talk about it?” he whispered. His other hand reached up to gently swipe calloused fingers along her cheek, brushing loose strands of her hair behind her ear.