Blood of the Rainbow (55 page)

“After what happened with your mother last night, this seemed like a good time. The gig was over, and you needed cheering up. I know you love it there, so.…”

“Have you told them – do they know we’re coming?”

“No, I thought I’d call them in the morning. They won’t mind though. I think Mother was sad to see us leave – especially you. She really likes you, and so does Myra. Plus,” he added, tracing the outline of Sara’s lips with his index finger. “We’ve got some investigating and research to get started on. But,” he said, kissing her again. “I’m not going to think about that right now. Or, when we first get there. We’re going to have some fun and this time, we won’t be on a set schedule. I’ve still got plenty of time off before I have to go back to the hospital.”

“You know, you’re taking a risk. Every time you take me down there,” Sara teased.

“How so?” he asked, anxiously.

“Well, as much as I like it, you might not be able to convince me to go back to Shreveport.”

Jared sighed. “In that case, I think we better start looking for a place in Arizona. We could always use it as a vacation home. The other alternative is to con Dad out of some land, and start building our own... house,” he said with a gleam of mischievousness in his eye. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to draw up my own house plans, and build it myself. You could help me. That way, your kitchen would be the way you want it.”

“What would you do about Wisteria Hall?”

“What would
we
do - keep it? Use it when we visit your mother,” he said with a grimace. “Or Lucy, or Steve or Carl.”

“What about your job at the hospital?”

Jared laughed. “I don’t think I would have any problems starting a new practice in Arizona. I’m pretty sure I could work something out with Dave. He’s based at the hospital. Besides, we’ve still got the band. Who knows where that’s going to take us? I’m betting that Myra has spread our CD all over the place. We might get down there this time, and be completely overtaken with the paparazzi,” he joked.

Sara laughed. “Yeah – right.”

“Sara, I love you. If you want to be a star, I’ll be the heaven you set yourself in. I’ll gladly stand behind you, and be content to let you shine. I don’t need fame and fortune. I have everything I’ve ever wanted, right here in my arms,” he said, staring into her eyes for a few seconds before he covered her mouth with his.

After a few breathless moments Jared started undressing Sara, and then undressed himself. He took her hand, and led her to the bed, turning the covers back with one hand. Jared scooped Sara up, and laid her on the bed, then crawled in next to her, pulling her close to him. Although they were supposed to be resting, Sara didn’t think they’d be doing any for quite a while. Jared started gently making love to her.

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

Sara woke up the next morning to muffled voices. “
So, Dad has spoken with the Council then?
” Jared’s voice was a loud whisper, as he stood, and peered out the thick drapes of their room. “
Well, that’s to be expected, but I don’t see how that gives him the right to…
” He broke off mid-sentence and listened. Jared still didn’t know Sara was awake. She reasoned, if Jared was keeping anything from her, she would find out more this way; so she kept her eyes closed, pretending she were asleep.

There was a knock on the door. “
Hold on a minute,
” he said, and Sara heard him put the phone on the table by the window. “
Yes, thank you. Just put it over there,
” he said, still whispering. “
My fiancée is still asleep, and I would rather you didn’t wake her.
”

Sara didn’t hear anything else, just what sounded like someone scratching on a piece of paper and the gentle, almost silent closing of the door.

Then she heard Jared retrieve his cell. “
Ok – sorry, I’m back…. Yeah, it was room service…. I want to leave again, right after breakfast, and I knew having the food brought to our room would be faster
.”

Jared laughed, “Oh
yes, she’s excited all right. I think I might as well start looking for a place down… well, I had given that some thought, but I didn’t know how Dad would feel about…. Well, at least I know we have that option, but, I’d still have to find us a place to stay. You know, Mother
,” he hesitated for a few seconds. “
I think Sara wants to get married in Arizona…. I don’t care….. If I knew she hadn’t been kidding, I would marry her on Mother’s Mountain,
” he chuckled. “
Yes, you heard me right…. No, of course not…. Mother, I love Sara so much, I would lasso the moon if I knew she really wanted it.
”

Sara keened her hearing, eager to hear this conversation. She smiled inwardly, so Jared couldn’t see.

“
Oh no – no doubts. She’s the one for me…. Not at all Mother…. I told you, I don’t care about that…. Oh, I’ve already taken care of that part – we’re safe…. Mother, I am a doctor, remember…? No, I haven’t told her, and I see no reason to do so as long as there’s no possibility that she could get…. That’s where modern medicine comes in, Mother. It takes away that possibility….”

Sara stopped listening to the conversation for a while, thinking about what he’d just said. It was obvious; he was discussing their intimate relationship with the one other person, besides Sara, that he could trust – his mother.

A tiny ripple of deception went through Sara. She reminded herself that Jared and his mother had a different relationship than Sara and Kaye had. It was much more open and honest. Sara envied them.

It seemed Jared didn’t want to make her pregnant because he was afraid she might not survive the birth of their child. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to have children, as she’d feared; it was more fear than anything else. Knowing this, made Sara feel a little better but more curious than she’d ever been to know the reason why.

Sara’s mind kept wandering back to the conversation she and Myra had on the subject. “
Look, Myra
,” Sara had said. “
I’m not asking you to show me the pictures - if there are more I haven’t seen. I’m just asking if there are more.
”

It had taken Myra a long time to answer. “
Yes, but, if you want to know more, you’ll have to ask Jared.”

Sara heard Jared about to end the conversation, pulling her from her silent reverie. She yawned and stretched, blinking as she pretended to wake. He looked across at her, smiled, and held up one finger. “Listen, Mother, I’ve got to go, we’ll see you soon…. Yes, she’s awake now,” he raised his voice to normal volume. “I will,” he said, holding his hand over the microphone. “Mother sends her love and is excited we’re coming back so soon. She’s already got our
room
ready,” he said, smiling, and then finished his call. “Sara sends her love too…. I know Mother…. I will. We love you too – bye.” He put his cell in his back pocket, and crawled across the bed until he was on top of Sara.

“Good morning Angel,” he said, kissing her. “Hungry?”

Sara smiled wryly, “I could be.…”

Jared laughed. “I meant for food Silly. Breakfast is waiting for you.”

“Have you eaten?”

“No, I was waiting for you. I’ve showered, dressed and packed, apart from a few things I thought you might need. Once you’ve decided on your clothes, you can pack the rest,” he said, going to the table where the food was spread, ready to eat.

Sara slid to the side of the bed, wrapping the sheet around her naked body. Jared smiled at her. Sara wasn’t embarrassed for him to see her; it was just out of habit and reflex. “I’ll go have a quick shower. Then we can eat and be on our way,” Sara said, gathering her hair and fastening it on top with her alligator clip.

“
Make it a fast one. The food is starting to get cold. I hate cold scrambled eggs!
”

Sara turned on the shower and stepped under the hot water. “I will!”

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

Ten minutes later, when Sara came back in the room, she was fully dressed. “Wow! You’re fast.”

Sara laughed. “You have no idea.” She kissed him, and they sat down to breakfast.

Jared had the valet load their bags in the car. Sara waited in the car while Jared paid the bill. Despite Sara trying to put it out of her head, the subject of those other sketches, and the strange name of Dine'é Kay-Yah kept haunting her.

Sara had to find a way to ask, without letting on she
knew
there were more sketches. How could she tell him, she knew he wasn’t Navajo – unless George Thundercloud’s book was wrong? How could she bring up the subject
without
making him suspicious? Sara guessed she’d just have to wait until a perfect opportunity presented itself. With Sara, a way always presented itself, although it wasn’t always perfect.

Chapter 24

After stopping for lunch in Van Horn, Texas, they cruised on, arriving in El Paso around 2:00pm. Jared was getting tired, so they debated on spending the night. Since Sara knew where she was going, and was anxious to get to Wickenburg, she offered to drive.

Jared eyed her skeptically. “Are you sure you want to do this Sara?”

“You think I can’t drive? I have my own car back in Shreveport. I have survived until now without you chauffeuring me around,” Sara replied, mildly agitated.

Jared laughed and held up his hands. “All right, easy. Just let me set the sat-nav for you. Then all you’ve got to do is listen to the directions.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I think I can handle that.”

Jared was a tad anxious. “You do understand this car has a six-speed, manual transmission and will easily get out from under you if you’re not used to that kind of power?” He was afraid Sara might scratch his car, or otherwise damage it in some way.

Sara was envious and eager to get behind the wheel.
Six speed manual – sweet!
“This is going to be fun, then,” she grinned mischievously and waited.

Jared stared at her with incredulous eyes, trying to decide. Sara could almost read what was going through his mind.
“Ok, I love her… but my car? My very expensive, shiny, extremely fast car… if I don’t let her drive - she’s going to think I don’t trust her… I do trust her… just not behind the wheel of my favorite, and very expensive, and very shiny car….”

Sara held out her hand for the keys, impatiently waiting. “Well? Are you going to let me drive
your
car or not?” She waited again as he debated. “If you don’t trust me….”

Jared looked as if someone had kicked him in the groin. “No! It’s not that.” Jared sighed, held out the keys, and crawled into the passenger seat.  

Sara slipped behind the wheel and buckled herself in. She put on her sunglasses and adjusted the seat and mirrors. Then she revved the engine a couple of times in neutral. She smiled. There was clearly a lot of power under that hood. Sara gave Jared a sideways glance. Jared looked pale and unconvinced.

“Relax,” Sara said, drawing the word out. “I can handle your
baby
.” Before putting the car in gear, Sara reached across and put the original soundtrack to the ‘Twilight’ movie in the DVD player. ‘Super Massive Black Hole’, by ‘Muse’, blared through the sound system. “Now that’s good driving music,” she said, putting the car in gear, and turning around.

Sara laughed when Jared checked that his seatbelt was secured, and braced his hand against the dash. “At least I’ve got good insurance and a
real
first-aid kit in the trunk,” he grinned warily.

Sara normally wouldn’t have done it, but she gunned the engine, and spun both tires as she pealed onto the Interstate. She slightly fishtailed before she straightened it up with ease.

Jared was so anxious the sound of his pounding heart was almost audible in the car, as he looked back to make sure his motorcycle was still there. It was, along with a wide black rubber burn on the pavement.

Jared closely watched Sara for another two or three miles, trying to determine if she
actually
knew what she was doing. He didn’t know this wasn’t the
first
time Sara had been behind the wheel of a fast sports car. Neither did her mother. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

Sara looked across at Jared and smiled. “It is safe for you to take a nap Jared. I’m fine – really.”

“I know,” Jared answered too quickly, and then leaned back against the seat. “No one can live forever,” he muttered under his breath.

Without taking her eyes off the road, Sara reached across and touched his face. Jared’s mouth turned up slightly at the corners, and he closed his eyes, his face still adorned with his sexy sly grin.

Sara consulted the GPS. “I’ll wake you when we get to Lordsburg, New Mexico.”

Jared nodded. “If we
live
that long,” he mumbled.

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

When they arrived in Lordsburg, Jared was sleeping so peacefully, Sara decided not to wake him. After easing out of the car, and filling up with gas, Sara went inside, picked up some sandwiches and drinks, and paid for it with her
new
black card. She was a little nervous, half expecting it not to go through – but it did.

Sara got back in the car and waited for a few minutes. Jared was still sleeping. When he didn’t wake up, Sara eased back on the Interstate and continued on.

Jared put up his seat and looked out the window. “Where are we?”

“About five miles outside Tucson.”

Jared’s eyes widened. “What? I thought you were going to wake me in Lordsburg! You’ve let me sleep for over six hours?” He was doubtful.

“I did give you a chance to wake up in Lordsburg, but.…”

“How did you pay for the gas?”

Sara blinked her eyes in disbelief. “Black card?” she answered sarcastically as she pulled in another gas station.

Jared laughed sheepishly, and jumped out to fill the car.  “Oh yeah – that… sorry, I forgot. Well, I’ll take it from here.”

Sara made a quick trip to the bathroom and waited for him in the car.

He started the engine again. “Let’s see if we can’t find some place to eat. I’m hungry – you?” Sara nodded. “So, what did you think about
our
car?”