by Sable Hunter
Meet his family? “Uh. Okay. What can I bring?” She wanted to pinch herself. This seemed like a big deal.
“Not a thing. I want to show you off. Oh…and it’s Easy’s birthday. We’re surprising him with a little get together.”
He wanted to show her off? A ton of mixed emotions assailed her. Surely, some feminist part of her soul should be offended. On the other hand, the idea he thought she was worth showing off to his family made her feel like a million dollars. And then there was that annoying third hand which would pop out of nowhere and bop her on the back of her head, the one that took pleasure in reminding Apple of her less than supermodel looks.
“Well, will you come?” he prodded with hope in his eyes.
Unable to resist that little boy quality of his, she agreed, “I would love to have dinner with you and your family.”
“Great!”
Once they were through with their sandwiches, Benjen gathered up the extra loaves of bread he’d bought for them, and they continued on their journey.
Apple sat next to him as they traveled, enveloped in a sense of peace she’d seldom known. “Thanks for taking me to the races. I had a really good time.”
“I thought you might enjoy the horses.”
“I did. Although, I have a good time with you, no matter what we’re doing.”
This pleased him no end. “I’m glad.”
To pass the time, they made small talk about their families, Apple asking questions about Daniel’s wife. “I can’t wait to meet Sara. Where did Daniel meet her?”
“The same place I first saw you.”
“The biker bar?”
“Yea, she was making pies out front in a food truck. Daniel stopped to get something to eat and witnessed Sara running out into the road to rescue a toddler who was about to be run over by an eighteen-wheeler. It was love at first sight for him.” He gave Apple a slow smile. “I think the tendency runs in the family.”
Apple shook her head in amazement. “You’d better watch it. I’ll hold you to it. Men do get sued for breach of promise.”
“I keep my promises, baby.” Seeing she looked a bit uncomfortable, he returned his gaze to the road. “Have you been this way before?” he asked as they drove north of Fredericksburg.
“No, I haven’t.” She glanced from side to side, trying to take it all in. “It’s beautiful. The terrain is so rugged, yet picturesque. I love the different colors of the layers of rock and soil in the cliffs and hills.”
“Layers of history. Like they say, if these rocks could only talk.” He pointed ahead of them. “Keep your eye on the horizon. Soon you’ll see a formation called Enchanted Rock.”
“I’ve heard the name, but I don’t know much about it.” She raised herself high in the seat, ready to see anything he wanted to show her.
“The term ‘rock’ doesn’t do it justice, it’s actually a granite mountain. I’ve hiked it many times, it’s about the same height as Packsaddle, going up it is like climbing a thirty or forty story building. The whole dome is made of pink granite. To be more precise, it’s salmon-pink feldspar with flecks of black mica and quartz.”
“Just like the Slab?”
“Right, like the Slab.” He brought her hand up to his mouth to kiss it. “The main dome and the surrounding smaller ones are actually part of a sixty-two square mile batholith. In an area dominated by limestone, the bald granite giants rise out of a landscape carpeted with green. What’s amazing is that the whole place would’ve been turned into a giant quarry if not for Lady Bird Johnson’s intervention.”
“That would’ve been a shame.”
Benjen pointed through the windshield. “Look, you can see just the top of it.”
As they drove closer, Apple kept her eyes on the magnificent sight. She was amazed to see this dark pink mountain silhouetted against the afternoon sky. “It’s beautiful. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the Earth was giving birth to Mars. I’d love to see it up close.”
“We will,” he promised her. “We’ll camp out in the area one day, if you’d like. Not in the park, but in land my friends own nearby. I’d love to show you everything. You’ll see plenty of wildlife and sometimes you’ll find arrowheads or even semi-precious stones like an amethyst lying in the trail, uncovered by rain or erosion. On the top of the dome there are these neat vernal pools, slight depressions in the rock that hold water at certain times of year. One of the special things about the vernal pools is a tiny fragile creature that lives in them called a fairy shrimp.”
“A shrimp on top of a mountain in Central Texas? Wow, you’re so smart,” she praised him.
“Not really. I’m just curious.”
“You see the world differently than most people, it’s fascinating. Why do they call it ‘enchanted’? Is the mountain haunted?” Her eyes were wide with wonder.
He made a woo-woo noise to tease her, then answered with a smile. “Maybe. The Indians believed it was sacred. Written into its granite walls are volumes of unwritten Spanish and Indian history, extolling stories of rites and rituals, wars and treasure hunters. Unfortunately, we only know bits and pieces of what this rock has seen, but those fragments are as enduring as the mountain itself. And…” He dropped his voice to a mysterious level. “Many people have seen ghost fires flickering at the top of the dome.”
“Have you?”
“No, the only weird light I’ve seen was the one I told you about on Packsaddle. I presume they would be the same thing, although what that could be, I don’t know. At night, sometimes there is a definite glow to the whole dome and after a hot day, the rocks will creak and moan due to nighttime contractions brought on by changes in temperature. My grandfather taught how a holy portal to other worlds existed somewhere on the dome and anyone spending the night on the rock could become invisible. There’s also tales of human sacrifice and the spirits of warriors slaughtered by a rival tribe.”
She kept watching the rock, realizing they were coming even to it. “I know I can’t climb in these shoes, but could we walk around a bit?”
“Sure, but the sun will be going down soon. Are you sure you won’t be scared?” he asked in a kidding voice.
“Not if I’m with you.”
“Good answer.” Benjen made the turn and entered the park. “Looks like we have the place to ourselves.”
“Probably because tomorrow is a work day, not many people are camping.”
“You know, I didn’t know you’d care about this type of thing, Apple.”
“I’m interested in anything you’re interested in,” she told him as they parked and left the truck to take a gentle hike around the base.
“Well, this was a sacred place to the Apache. They believe the Great Spirit sent the Gan, or mountain spirits, to teach the people how to live, hunt, and cure illness. According to the teachings, these benevolent spirits live forever in the caves on the mountain. Through prayers and vision quests, they can be appealed to for protection and guidance.”
“Just on this mountain?”
“No, the Apache venerated any high and lonely place. I go up on Packsaddle when I want to pray or seek answers.”
“Do your brothers believe the way you do?” As they walked, she stared up at the massive dome of pink rock. The setting sun seemed to set it on fire. At a distance it had been impressive, up close it was intimidating.
Benjen began to worry if Apple might think he was weird. “No, they respected our father and they’re certainly not ashamed of their heritage – but they don’t dwell on such things like I do.”
“Why do you do it? I mean, how will your beliefs change the way you live?”
He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand as they moved along the path winding through a copse of trees at the base of the granite dome. “Why do you ask?”
Apple shrugged. “I want to understand how you think, what your hopes and dreams are.”
“I don’t study the medicine man stuff to do magic or anything like that. I do it to connect
with who I am.”
“And who are you?” she asked as they drew closer to the granite mountain, the sun completely hidden by the bulk of the looming rock.
Benjen considered his answer. “I may be a simple man, but I don’t have a simple answer. Being half Native American and half white is to straddle two worlds, to share blood with two peoples who warred with one another. I take pride in both my heritages, but sometimes it’s hard to reconcile the two.”
“I can understand that. I don’t really have a sense of who I am in that type of context. I’m not sure if I’m English, or French, or Irish. My parents never really talked about the past. I feel cheated in a way.”
“Maybe you should do one of those DNA tests and find out about your genealogy.”
“Perhaps, but I don’t think my background could be half as exciting as yours. Tell me more about being a medicine man. What does that mean?”
“To most people ‘medicine’ is something used to cure disease or better your health, but in my culture, medicine means the power of a person, place, or object. It can also stand for spirit, power, and energy. So, the medicine man is someone who possesses spiritual power. His medicine, whether it’s a prayer, an herb, or an anointed stone, can cure more than illness; it can create harmony. So, in that spirit, I strive to live a life of integrity and kindness.”
“I think you are succeeding,” she assured him, holding onto his hand as the trail became hard to ascertain as day flowed into night. “Your kind heart shines through in everything you do.”
Suddenly, there was a flash in the darkness.
“What was that?” Apple whispered, staring at the spot where a bright white light had briefly hovered over a nearby bush.
Benjen held her hand tighter. “I don’t know.”
About that time, it reappeared in a different spot.
“It’s not a hiker, that’s not a flashlight.”
“No,” he agreed, “it’s not animal eyes either.”
“Did it look like what you’d seen before?”
“A little.”
Apple wasn’t scared, she felt exhilarated. “Is this spirit fire?”
“I think so.” He brought her close to kiss her face. “Don’t be afraid. I’d die for you.”
In the cloud-veiled moonlight, a dancing troupe of shadows decorated the granite landscape. “I’m not. I feel like I might have witnessed a miracle.” A wind whipped up out of nowhere and stirred her hair, blowing a few strands over her face.
Then…the light flashed again.
“I love this,” Apple whispered as the rock wove its power of enchantment over her. She felt inspired. “This is more than a natural wonder. This is magic.” For a moment, the wind roared, but then dropped off, leaving the air empty of sound. She felt like she’d been transported to the moon. “So much bigger than I thought,” she whispered amazed. “From afar, the small trees growing in the crevices looked like weeds and the great eagles and vultures looked like small blackbirds. Tell me more of the legends. Please?”
Benjen was enamored with her interest. Her acceptance of this place and his beliefs gave him such pleasure. “Well, let’s see.” He delved into his memory. “A priest captured by a local tribe lost himself in the caves. When he returned, he told of being swallowed by the rock and seeing the spirits who inhabit this place. There’s also the tale of Rosa, the beautiful daughter of a chieftain who fell in love with a Spaniard, Don Jesus Navarro. A band of Comanches, not Apaches,” he emphasized playfully, “attacked the mission and carried Rosa here to Enchanted Rock. Don Jesus gathered a posse and came to rescue her, finding her bound on an altar and surrounded by tinder. They fought the Comanches and freed Rosa before she was hurt.”
“Good. I didn’t want her to die,” Apple spoke as if he was speaking of current events. She hugged him for a few moments, staring into the darkness. “I want to see the fire again.”
“Okay, love.” He held her and they waited, but there was no further light show.
“I guess we need to go.” She held up her face and kissed him tenderly. “I loved being here with you.”
“Me too. This is just the beginning of our adventures together. It’s going to be an exciting ride, Apple pie.”
She smiled as they started back down the trail. Apple didn’t know what she’d seen, a ghost lamp, a spirit fire, she didn’t think it was just a reflection of moonlight or a trick of the eye. The romantic part of her soul chose to believe in the stories of lost love, spirits appearing as light as they searched eternally for one another. Mostly, she chose to believe in Benjen Blackhawk.
The ride home was peaceful. He kept a hand on her at all times, holding hers, rubbing her knee, or resting on her shoulder. This attentiveness made Apple feel secure and appreciated, feelings she hadn’t known in a long time.
When they pulled into the driveway, he parked and got out to walk her to her door.
“I want to give you the manicotti to take home. I already have it packed up and ready. You’ll probably want a midnight snack.”
“Sounds good. I need a kiss to hold me over too.”
“I think that can be arranged.”
Once inside, she fetched the container holding the Italian dish, then went into his arms as naturally as a river flows to the sea. After taking her to the stars and back, he held her close. “One of these days, I won’t leave.”
“You have a standing invitation,” she told him. “It’s up to you.”
“You make it hard,” he whispered, pressing against her to show his words held a double meaning.
When she walked him to the door, she flipped on the porch light.
“Hey, there’s something here,” he said, stooping to pick up a special delivery letter left by the door.
“Oh, okay.” She took it and glanced at the address. “Just something from the VA.”
“Sleep tight, love. I’ll call you tomorrow. Or I might drop in.”
“That would be a lovely surprise. You’re always welcome.” She waved as he took his leave.
With a happy sigh, she tore open the envelope. What she read inside ruined an otherwise perfect day. “I can’t believe this.” With mouth agape, she stared blindly at the paper. Because of Alan’s desertion, all of the death benefits that she’d used to buy her home were being recalled. “The dang government wants their money back.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next day, Benjen rode alongside Easy and Sam as they worked to move a herd of Brangus across Honey Creek. The day was beautiful, the sun glinting off the water like diamonds. “So, I want to talk to you guys about something.”
“What’s that?” Sam asked as he veered right to keep one errant calf from darting back the way he’d come.
“Yea, do you need some advice about romancing a woman?” Easy teased as he twirled a rope in the air that when thrown landed over the head of another escaping heifer.
“No, I do not,” Benjen countered, as he made it across the creek, pausing with the herd while his brothers brought the strays in line with the other cattle. “I think I’ve got that subject covered.” He took his hat off and wiped his brow, then returned the Stetson to his head. “I want to talk about the homestead.”
“What about it?” Sam asked, taking a drink from his canteen.
Easy came up alongside his brothers, winding up his rope to hang it back in place on his saddle. “Yea, what’s on your mind?”
“I know we’ve talked about one of us staying and the others building homes,” Benjen began slowly
“Are you thinking about getting married?” Sam asked with a smile on his face.
“Not right away, but I think I’m in love with Apple.”
“Wow,” Easy gave his brother the once over, “the sex must be great.”
Benjen gave him an even look but said nothing.
Easy guffawed. “You haven’t had sex with her yet, have you?”
“I’m not discussing my sex life with you, Easy.”
“Because you don’t ha
ve one!”
“Easy, Easy,” Sam cautioned his brother. “I like sex better than most, but you’re a basic man-whore. Unlike us, Benjen knows what love is like.”
“Let’s get back to the topic at hand,” Benjen urged Zeus to trot and moved out to the side of the herd as they headed toward a gate leading to the grazing pasture. “I want to talk about who keeps the homestead and who moves.”
“Well, I always figured the last soldier standing who avoids the matrimonial bullet would be the one to stay. In other words,” Easy patted his chest, “Me.”
“Why you?” Sam asked. “Why not me?”
“Hey, I brought this up because I think I should be the one to stay in the house.”
“Why?” both brothers asked simultaneously.
Benjen shook his head. This is not how he’d expected this conversation to go. “It means more to me, that’s why?”
“How do you know?” Easy asked in a belligerent tone.
“I’m more connected to the land than either of you. Every stone in that rock house speaks to me,” Benjen exclaimed passionately.
“Why?” Easy asked. “Because you practice that shaman shit and we don’t?”
“Why…” Benjen edged his mount closer to Easy’s, tempted to pull his big mouth brother out of the saddle.
“Hey, you two. Stop it.” Sam got in between them, their horses snorting at the close proximity. “We’re not going to solve anything by arguing about it. We need to sit down and discuss this like adults.”
Benjen shook his head. “Forget it. I should’ve known better than to try and discuss anything serious with you eggheads.”
“Hey!” Sam challenged him, but Benjen rode ahead of them and opened the gate. Once the stock was safe, he headed home. Seeing Apple was the one thing that would make him feel better.
* * *
After work, Apple sat on edge of the porch with Rose, barefoot, with tears in her eyes. In her hand, she clutched that damn letter from the VA. “What are we going to do? I’ll have to sell the house and give them everything I’ve saved. Without Alan’s benefits, we’re going to have a hard time, girl.”
