Blood of the Rainbow (23 page)

Sara keyed in the number again, one number at a time, glancing back and forth from the card to be sure she hadn’t made a mistake. They waited.

Again – the card was rejected.

The man pulled Jared’s card out and held it up toward the light. “Oh, I see the problem. There’s something sticky on the strip. I’ll be right back,” he said and disappeared. He brought out what looked like a bottle of all purpose cleaner, and sprayed it on the back of Jared’s credit card. He bent down below the counter, and then came back up with a tissue. He dabbed at the card and put it back in the machine.

Sara anxiously glanced over her shoulder toward the parking lot. Myra was on her way back in.

 Sara drummed her fingers on the counter and waited. She quickly keyed in the PIN number again.

He smiled. “Ah, yes. It worked this time. Thank you,” he grinned, handing Sara Jared’s credit card and receipt.

“You didn’t dry it off – it’s still wet,” Sara grumbled.

“The alcohol will dry in a few seconds. If you’d rather, I can get another tissue from the back. I’m afraid I used my last one.”

Sara stuck the card and receipt in her back pocket. “No!”

“Enjoy your books –
all
of them and come back soon. I’m sure I have – other – things you might be interested in,” he said, flirting with her.

Sara eyed him suspiciously and jerked her books off the counter. “
Hardly
!” she snarled, turning to leave.

Myra met Sara halfway across the store. “Did you find it?” she asked, looking relieved.

Sara furrowed her brow in confusion. “Find what?”

Myra narrowed her eyes. “Jared’s credit card! Sara – are you…?”

“Oh! That - yes,” Sara responded, embarrassed. “I forgot I put it in my back pocket when he gave it to me. Myra, don’t breathe a word of this to Jared,” Sara warned, as they got back in the car.

Myra smiled and reached for the ignition. “There’s nothing to tell – you made a mistake,” she said, backing out.

Sara smiled, wrapping her arms around her secret. “Thanks.”

Myra waited for a break in the traffic. “So where do you want to go to now?”

Sara was ready to go home, so she could find a quiet corner and read, but she knew if she went back without any clothes, Jared would undoubtedly get suspicious. What would she tell him – lie and say she couldn’t find anything? It wouldn’t be much worse than sneaking around with this mystery book. Sara was ridden with guilt. What if this made Jared mad at her? She didn’t want that. She loved Jared. She hated lying to him, but she needed answers, and if no one was willing to give them to her….”

Sara sighed, and started counting things off on her fingers. “Well, let me see. I need jeans, t-shirts, maybe a dress and.…”

Sara’s cell vibrated, and she jumped. She glanced at Myra and looked at the name on the screen. “It’s him.”

“Jared?” Myra confirmed. Sara nodded, and reached to accept the call. Myra’s eyes widened, she held Sara’s wrist. “Whatever you do -
don’t
tell Jared we’re at the bookstore,” she urged.

Sara swallowed hard, nodded, put the phone to her ear, trying to sound normal. She smiled. “Hi Jared….”

“
Hi Babe. Just checking that you’re not having trouble with my plastic. Have you found anything?
”

Sara swallowed hard again. “Ah - well, I really haven’t found anything I like yet, but I’m still looking. How are things there?” she asked, hoping to keep his mind off where she was.

“
About the same, I’m afraid,
” he said. “
Listen, while you’re shopping, you might as well pick up some stuff for me, that way I won’t have to go back out
.”

“Yeah, sure – what do you need?”

“
I’ll text a list to you. Mother said to tell Myra she’s texting a short grocery list that she wants picked up. You don’t mind – do you?
”

“No, that’s fine.”

“
I miss you
,” he said, his voice sounding soft and sincere.

Sara’s insides eroded with guilt. She glanced at Myra and faked a smile, “I miss you too.”

“
All
right, I’ll let you and Myra get on with your shopping then, see you soon. I love you,”
he said and ended the call.

Sara smiled, holding her cell in her hand. She knew Jared would send the text through soon. He always kept his word – unlike her – didn’t he?

The text came through almost instantly. Sara read through it. She smiled and sighed. Jared had ended the text with a note to her.

“
Take care of yourself for me and hurry back, I love you Sara.
”

Oh God
,
why did he have to say that?
Now Sara felt terribly guilty. He trusted Sara, and she was betraying that trust.
Maybe I shouldn’t read the book
, she reasoned to herself. 
But then again, how much damage could come from reading a book? There’s no such thing as a curse – is there?

Sara couldn’t make up her mind. About that time, Myra’s cell rang. Sara jumped again. Myra eyed Sara suspiciously as she read the message. “Sara… is something wrong?”
What are you so nervous about?

Sara tried to keep her voice as evenly as possible. “No - why do you ask?”

“I don’t know. You seem - nervous.”

Sara sighed. “I am. I’m nervous about using Jared’s credit card,” she lied. She clutched the bag with the mysterious book closer to her, as if Myra might snatch it from her arms. She motioned to Myra’s cell. “Was that your mother’s list?”

Myra stared at Sara a couple more seconds, as though trying to read her mind. Finally, she spoke, sounding as if nothing were wrong. “Yep – let’s get the shopping done so I can show you my pride and joy.” She led Sara into a Jeans Specialty Shop.

Sara took a deep calming breath and let it out slow.
She bought it!
God, after all this, I don’t think I could ever be this nervous on stage – even if I were stark naked!

------------

Myra took Sara where she shopped for clothes, and even convinced Sara to buy some things Sara normally wouldn’t buy. But Sara was trying to keep her mind off Jared, and his accusing eyes.

Sara bought several pairs of jeans, some pullover t-shirts, a couple of nice blouses, and some dresses. Myra tried to convince her to buy a mini-skirt, but Sara put her foot down on that purchase. She
didn’t
like short skirts.

Sara got everything on Jared’s list, plus some extras Myra assured her Jared would like. Sara wasn’t sure he would agree, but she took Myra at her word. After all, she’d known Jared longer than Sara. Unless, of course, you counted the times she and Jared had been together in his dreams.
If
Sara had been the one in Jared’s dreams….

------------

After they had finished shopping for clothes and shoes, Myra and Sara stopped for lunch. Sara was enjoying being with Myra. She was like the sister Sara never had. They finished their lunch, picked up Nadine’s things, and then went back to the ranch. They changed over to a black Dodge Ram and headed for the feed store. Sara was starting to see a pattern developing. It appeared this family was partial to the color black – especially in vehicles. She wondered why.

Myra pulled around the back of the feed store, and they got out. She spoke to the man, sitting in a chair, leaned back against the wall on two legs. They went inside. Myra showed the man behind the counter the text on her cell. “I need some supplies for the horses.”

The man entered the details in the register and gave Myra a total. She told him to put it on her father’s bill. The man asked after her grandfather, and she told him there was no change. He said he hoped her grandfather got better. Then Myra and Sara got back in the truck and headed back to the ranch.

------------

The road down to the barn was uneven and full of potholes. Myra maneuvered around them like a pro. She turned the truck around and reversed in the barn. Together, Myra and Sara unloaded the truck. Myra was better at it than Sara was, but Sara held her own.

Myra loaded the supplies and a bale of hay, in a trailer behind an ATV. She climbed on, and Sara climbed on behind her. Myra drove across the road, and waited while Sara opened the metal gate, and locked it, after she’d driven thru. They stopped at various feed troughs, hayracks, and iron rods sticking out of the ground where they setup the salt and mineral licks.

Myra made a loud whistle between her teeth, and a few seconds later the ground rumbled beneath Sara’s feet. A small herd of magnificent looking horses galloped up to where they stood. Myra reached in her pocket and gave Sara a handful of sugar cubes. “You’ll need those... they’re spoilt. If you forget to bring them some sugar cubes, they’ll nibble at your clothes and hair.”

Sara laughed and took the cubes. She was beginning to feel a little less stressful, but she was developing a slight headache.

Myra chuckled as Sara took a step back. “Don’t be afraid Sara. They’ll come right up to you. They’re not afraid of strangers.”

A solid black stallion walked up in front of Sara. She swallowed hard. When he whinnied, Sara jumped. Myra laughed. “Here you go,” Sara said, cautiously holding out her hand with an offering of sugar cubes. In no time, the horse had eaten all the cubes. Myra laughed and gave Sara some more. 

Myra started stroking the black stallion’s face. “That’s Satan, my baby. He loves his sugar cubes, don’t you Baby. He was a wild mustang before I raised him. I named him Satan, because when he was a young foal, he could kick like hell.” She laughed again.

A beautiful black and white Appaloosa walked up to Sara, and started nibbling sugar cubes from her hand.

“That’s Jade and her foal. Satan is her daddy. Isn’t she magnificent?”

Sara stroked Jade’s face. “They both are. What’s the foal’s name?”

“Jared hasn’t named her, yet.”

“Why hasn’t he named her?”

“Since he moved to Louisiana, he doesn’t get home a lot. The last time we saw him was in January. He came down for New Years. I guess he hasn’t had time to think about naming her. I’ve been taking care of Jade and the colt for him.”

Myra setup the last salt lick. “I still can’t believe he hasn’t told you about them.”

It appears Jared hasn’t told me about a lot.
She stroked Jade’s face as she nibbled on the rest of Sara’s sugar cubes. “Myra, you’re doing a wonderful job.”

“This big guy is another one of Jared’s babies,” Myra said, patting the rump of a large chestnut stallion. “He’s letting me train him for the rodeo. He’s only two years old. Jared used to ride Jade in the circuit, until he got involved with - Eve.”

“Jared never said he used to ride in the rodeo….”

Myra laughed. “It sounds like my brother hasn’t told you a
lot
of things about him.”

Sara sighed. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

They walked back to the ATV. “Speaking of that, I’d better get you back, or he’ll never let you go with me again. Jared is very protective of you, even before you met. He mentioned something about you to Eve. She was jealous of you, even though you were no more than an element in one of Jared’s dreams. She insulted you in some way, and Jared tore into her.”

“Was that when they broke up?”

Myra’s cell rang. She looked at the name on the display, “Speak of the devil,” she said, putting the phone to her ear. “Hello Jared…. Yes, she’s right here – hang on.” She handed Sara the cell.

“Hello….

“
Hi Angel
.
Why haven’t you been answering your cell?
”

Sara’s heart fluttered every time he called her Angel. “You called me again?” Sara was surprised. “My cell hasn’t rung since we left the - since I talked to you last.” Sara made a quick recovery. She almost blew it. “Have you tried to call me?”

Jared’s tone was worried. “
Yeah, several times
….”

“Hang on a second, let me check something.” Sara brought out her cell. “Oops! It was turned off - sorry.”

Jared groaned. “
Sara, cell phones are no good if you keep them turned off. Where are you?
”

“We were just fixing to head back to the hospital. We’re feeding the horses. You never said you had horses. Jade and her colt are beautiful. Myra also said you used to ride Jade in the rodeo.”

“
Yeah, well, that was a long time ago. I’ve been thinking about taking her and her foal back to Wisteria Hall.
”

“Where would we -
you
keep them, you don’t have a corral.”

Jared smiled at Sara’s comment. “
That was my next building project. I miss you
,” he said, changing the subject.

Sara smiled. “I miss you too. How’s your grandfather?”

“
Still no change, I’m worried about him. The longer he stays in the coma, the less chance he has of coming out of it and his heart is getting weaker. Neither Dave nor I think he’s going to pull through,
” he said - a quaver in his voice.

“Have you told your Mom and Dad?”

“
Yes
.”

“How are they…?”

Jared cut her off. His voice turned to ice – professional. “
Sara, Granddad is an old man. He’s lived a long and happy life, at least until my grandmother passed. It’s his time. Dad knows that, and he’s prepared for it. Mother - she understands too, but, she’s more emotional, as you would expect.
”

“And you?”

“
I’m ok. Death is just a part of life. I’m a doctor Sara. I stare it in the face every day
.”

Sara glanced at Myra, smiled, and walked out of earshot. “Jared, you don’t have to be a doctor with me. You’re his grandson, and apparently, you and he were very close before you left Arizona. Just because, he’s in a coma doesn’t mean you can’t still reach him. Talk to him. Tell him how you feel, and that you’re scared.”

Jared sighed, annoyed. “
I’ve gotta go Sara. I’ll see you when you get here. Be careful. Let me talk to Myra now.
”

Sara handed Myra her cell. “He wants to talk to you.”

Myra raised an eyebrow. Her face filled with dread. “Hi Jared,” she said, and then listened to him for a few seconds, giving Sara worried glances. “I know,” she said sarcastically shaking her head. She turned her back to Sara and said something in Navajo.