AwayFromtheSun (6 page)

She swooped down and over the land at blazing speed, loving the rush of flight. The ground whipped by beneath her as she took in the beauty of her estate while soaring on extended wings.

I don’t want to deal with this but I must. And I will have to face Trip and his unresolved feelings toward his ex. Whether we end up married depends on how this pans out.

Reluctantly she landed on a fence post and watched the setting sun. Just before the last arch of light disappeared, she shifted back to human form. Intense heat washed over her in powerful waves indicating that she’d been in the shadows longer than usual.

She stretched her neck and arms then glanced around. Storm clouds had begun gathering in the south and were moving in. She wondered what flying above a storm would be like.
Surely that would be a thrilling experience!
Squatting on a fence post, she almost laughed at what she must look like perched there like a bird.

“I knew there was something peculiar about you.” A man’s husky voice startled her.

Her head jerked around, throwing her off balance. Before she could steady herself, her foot slipped off the post and she flopped to the ground in a most ungraceful manner. Sharp pain raced up her arms as her hands shot out in front to catch her weight. She looked up with a glare to see who’d invaded her privacy.

“
You
! What the hell are
you
doing here?” she snarled while pushing to her feet.

He stood tall over her. Long ebony hair hung past his shoulders and shone in the rays of light filtering through the clouds. She stared up into the dark gold-flecked eyes. For a murdering bastard he lacked nothing in appearance. His strikingly handsome features emanated a dangerous allure, which she found thrilling and terrifying. That she could even consider him the least bit appealing disturbed her.

“I figured you’d return to your home eventually,” Pike said while giving her a steady once over. “So that’s how you framed Carter…you’re a trickster.”

She refrained from offering a verbal response. This man knew what she could do, which made her feel suddenly vulnerable.

“I must admit, Shye, you’re the kind of woman I want on my side and certainly not as my enemy.”

“We’re already enemies.”

“I’ve done nothing to you. Gage was the mastermind behind the plan to steal your farm. But I see your lover-boy outsmarted the lawyer and got your land back for you. Nice work. Your interference, however, has left me with a dilemma.”

“Your problems are of no concern to me.” She shrugged with ambivalence. “So get off my property. You and your filthy band of drug runners did enough damage.” She pointed to the charred remains of her house in the distance. “Look what I’ve had to do in order to purify my home.”

“Did you use the same firepower on your own house that you used to blow up the bank?”

She turned her head to hide a smirk. “You seem to know everything. You figure it out.”

“You might want to hold that sharp tongue until you find out what I have to offer.”

“I highly doubt that
you
have anything that I would want.” With hands on her hips, she whipped around to face him again. “Now just go or I will
make
you go.”

“Tough girl, huh?” He leaned toward her with a sneer. “Yeah, I remember how you shot your way out of the barn. You don’t scare me, woman.”

His brazen attitude irked her. She didn’t have a weapon handy and inwardly questioned if her skilled combat skills could defeat him in a hand-to-hand fight. He looked strong and the rage lurking in his dark eyes led her to believe he’d fight with vengeance. She’d learned to read people fairly well and this man definitely carried demons from his past. She wasn’t sure about entering a mortal battle with him. His aura felt somewhat intimidating in an alarming way.

“You don’t scare me either,” she lied, pulling her shoulders back and lifting her chin.

“Aren’t you the least bit curious as to what I have?”

“Nope.”

“Okay then,” he said with a casual sigh. “I guess I’ll just sell it. I’m sure there will be quite a bidding frenzy over such a priceless relic. Every Indian in these parts would love to get their hands on an authentic rain stick.”

“You still have it?” She silently fumed over failing to hide that he’d captured her interest.

“My crew dug it up, but they’re gone…taken by those ghostly riders. I’ll make a deal with you.”

She tossed her head and let out a
phft
sound. “I’m not making any deals with you.”

“Have it your way. Have fun tracking down your precious stick. Once it hits the market you’ll be forced to pay a fortune for the old thing. I know you want it back.”

“Then why don’t you do the decent thing and give it to me.”

“That wouldn’t be much fun. We both have something the other wants. Why must you be so damned stubborn?”

“What do you want from me? There is no way I will join your crew so if you’re trying to use the rain stick as a bargaining chip, it won’t work. My land has finally been returned to me and sanctified. Nothing you offer will entice me into allowing you to conduct your corrupt business here.”

“I told you that my crew is gone and so are Carter and Gage. I no longer have a
business
, as you put it, to run. I’m looking to make a fresh start and thought perhaps offering you a good trade might help.”

“I have never met anyone so impudent! You barged onto my land, stole a sacred item from my family’s burial ground, and now offer to make a trade as if you are performing a noble act? You’re insane!” With a shake of her head she turned sharply and stomped away. “You and those daft sisters make a great team. You’re nothing but self-absorbed, opportunistic dregs on society!”

“Speaking of them,” he called after her in a tone of voice spiked with a menacing undertone. “I overheard your little cat fight today. I bet Natayla would be very interested to know
who
really blew up the bank and
how
she has managed to fool an entire community.”

Instant rage welled inside Shye. Her stomach and fists tightened and heat flooded her face. “You cursed bastard!” She spun around and raced toward him, taking him by surprise. “The riders will have their revenge on you!” Her boot made contact with his groin, causing him to double over.

He groaned in obvious pain and muttered, “But you want that stick so you won’t let them take me.”

While he was doubled over she delivered a sharp kick to his face. “I hate you!” She clutched his hair, yanked his head back and slammed her palm against his nose. “I knew you were the one who brought that meddling bitch out here!”

Fighting back the obvious pain, he grumbled in between gasps. “She paid me a lot for that tip and offered me more if I help her find the mystery woman.” Strong arms grabbed her waist then hoisted her off the ground. “Hate me all you want, but tonight we’re going to reach an agreement. I want the riders off my ass and I’m not handing that stick over until we come to terms.”

Her frantic struggling, kicking, and biting did little to stop him from marching up the hill toward the barn.
I didn’t level the barn! What was I thinking?
She fought relentlessly as they neared the old wooden barn where the drug dealers had been storing their contraband.
He’s going to hold me captive there again and this time Trip has no idea where I am!
Panic threatened to consume her.

Darkness had settled over the land, which meant there would be no shadows available to utilize for shifting. Pike had the upper hand with the night still young. She prayed for strength and a way to escape.

Chapter Five

Trip glanced upward with worried eyes. Shye had never been gone this long nor had she ever run away from him. He’d been riding all day searching the skies, hoping and praying that one of those majestic eagles soaring overheard would’ve been his love. The possibility that she may have been one and ignored him flitted through his mind. He wouldn’t fault her after his floundering moment with the three women.

Situations such as these are why he had chosen to ride alone for the past several years. He loathed female drama and Natayla thrived on it. His thoughts drifted back to Shye and the sorrowful expression in her lovely eyes moments before she’d shifted. The satiny feathers of her wings had merely brushed his fingertips before she’d taken flight. This had been the longest day of his life thus far.

Never had a woman become fixed in his soul as Shye had. From day one everything about her had drawn him in even though he knew she’d be trouble. He was addicted to her sweetness as deeply as he was captured by her mystical and at times dangerous nature.

He refused to believe that she’d simply leave him over the reappearance of his ex.
Surely Shye
is strong enough to weather a small confrontation
with a jaded ex.
Then again, Natayla’s aim to uncover the mystery behind the bank explosion most likely added to Shye’s apprehension.

After riding the highways all day he finally decided to stop for a break. Night had fallen and storm clouds loomed overhead as if at any moment the ominous sky would unleash its fury. Shye had clearly put him on ice, but in his heart he believed she’d done the right thing and shifted back to human form. Even in her anger toward him, she’d never abandon her parents or her people and she definitely wouldn’t defy the spirit world.

No…she came back. I feel it in my spirit. She’s hurting and torn. Her heart is too pure and her generous character goes far beyond the temptation to fly away forever.

While parked at a convenience store after fueling his bike, he sat watching the storm build. Lightning veined from cloud-to-cloud and thunder rumbled in the not so far off distance. He tried to visualize where Shye would’ve taken refuge. An hour north would take him to her parents’ cabin on the reservation. Her spirit connection to her father may have drawn her there.

But being closer to her farm Trip didn’t want to lose time, with Draven prowling around just in case she’d gone there. No doubt the prick was tracking Shye as well.

We’re both after the same woman, but for different reasons.

He pondered which way to go—north or south. After checking his gear to make sure the rain stick was still safely attached to the holster along with his weapons, he throttled the engine.
Will she seek guidance from her father or solitude on her land?
Rain began to fall then the heavens opened to release torrential downpours. A déjà-vu moment ensued.

Another night just like this came to mind—with him sitting on his bike in the pouring rain after Draven had captured Shye and hauled her off to his base of operations. He recalled how
Nagi
had appeared and beckoned him in the right direction.

Turning his face upward and letting the water pelt his face, he offered thanks to the spirit world for granting him wisdom. He knew exactly where to go.

* * * *

“That rain,” Pike muttered as he stood guard over Shye in the barn. “I hate the rain.”

“What’s wrong,
tough guy
?” she mocked. “Afraid of the Rain Riders? Can you hear them coming for you?” She paused deliberately, then added, “I can.”

He tried to hide it, but she saw the brief look of horror flash across his face when lightning illuminated the darkness.

“They would have taken me when they took Gage, so your head games won’t work on me.” He glanced through the crack in the wooden door. “Besides, I have this rain stick to protect me.”

“You’re such a fool. That stick isn’t protecting you. In fact, the reason the riders came in the first place is because your idiot crewmembers took it from a sacred resting place. I don’t know how you managed to become a cop. You’re so stupid.” She rattled on in an attempt to shake him. “Oh wait, you couldn’t make it as a cop so you turned on your own partner for easy money. What kind of man betrays his partner? Not a man at all…a grubby little parasite is all you are. No wonder you’re still single. I bet you can’t even—”

“Enough!” he bellowed. “Shut. Your. Yap, woman!”

His hand gripped the rain stick so tightly that the skin on his knuckles paled. She studied his face as he continued with the anxious peeks through the door as if he was waiting for someone. In the dimly lit area she could see profuse sweat beading his face. She sat on a bale of hay, her hands and feet bound with twine.

“I don’t see any riders coming…it’s just a storm,” he said, turning to face her.

She glowered through narrowed eyes, but decided to remain silent for now. Peals of thunder split the night and lightening sent flashes of light into the barn.

He pulled up a barrel, placed a booted foot on top, rested one arm over his bent knee and stared down at her. “Why don’t we get down to business? You aren’t going anywhere and I’m betting that as long as I keep you away from the sun you won’t be able to do your tricky little shifting thing.”

Shye looked past him into the distance through an open space near the roof. An eerie shade of red hung around the moon in spite of the raging storm.