Blood of the Rainbow (59 page)

They stared at each other for a couple of minutes until finally; Tom broke the gaze. Jared closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Sara understood that reaction too. The next time Jared opened his eyes, they would be normal again. He would be calm and collected, focused, hiding any signs of anger. Sara also knew not to ask what made him upset. Jared
wasn’t
going to tell her.

Sara wished she had some of Jared’s abilities. If she had, maybe then, her mind wouldn’t be filled with so many unanswered questions. Jared looked back at Tom.

“I agree. Trying to replace Satan would be a mistake. Myra would be resentful - I know I would be.”

Nadine stood. “I think we could all use a nice hot cup of goan.” Without further prompting she went to the counter and started preparing the drinks.

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

Nadine was right. The goan always seemed to do the trick. The atmosphere was much calmer when they moved to the lounge. Sara and Jared sat, cuddled up on the loveseat. He picked up the remote, and started flipping through the channels for something to watch. After accepting defeat, he put it on one of the music channels, and reduced the volume until the sound was nothing but background noise.

Tom watched the show a while with them. “So, Jared, are you and the band still participating in the convention this year?”

Jared smiled at Sara and squeezed her shoulder. “Sure. It’s what Granddad would have wanted. Besides, I’m looking forward to showing off the new star.”

Sara blushed. “Jared! I’m not a star,” she added, chagrined.

Tom laughed. “You’re not getting off that easy Sara. I’ve listened to your CD. They play your song almost non-stop on the radio. Honey, you’re a star already. You just need a little more promotion. After the convention, you’ll be well on your way.”

“
We
,” Sara corrected.

Jared chuckled and gently pushed her hair behind her ear. “Well, of course, I’ll be there with you, as will the rest of the band. But, you don’t
need
any of us. You shine all on your own Sara,” he said with admiration.

Sara tried changing the subject. She didn’t like being singled out. “Speaking of the band, how will they get down here – fly?”

“Probably,” Jared said. “Since we’re already down here. We usually all come together, by coach.”

“You have your own bus?”

Jared laughed. “No, we rent one for the occasion. Needless to say, we’ll probably need one soon, thanks to you,” he continued, turning the spotlight back on Sara.

Sara sighed, exasperated. “In that case, shouldn’t we go back, and get them and the equipment?”

“Not really. They’ve been here so many times they could find the ranch with their eyes closed. I’ll call and rent a van. Steve, Carl, and Lucy can get things together. They can handle it Sara.”

“Don’t you think we need to get in a little more practice before the convention?”

“We probably should get them down here a little early, so we can practice some. Dad?”

Tom looked away from the screen. “Hmm?”

“Could we set up in the far end of the garage?”

Tom smiled. “Sure. If you got too loud, the only neighbors that might complain would be the prairie dogs. That or Wil E,” he responded, chuckling at his private joke. Sara and Jared joined in, knowing he was referring to the Looney Tune cartoon character.

Their euphoric moods changed when Nadine entered the room, and took her place beside Tom on the couch. Tom picked up her hand and placed it between his. His voice now serious, and sympathetic. “How is she?”

Nadine sighed. “She’s coping.”

They all sat in silence for a while until Jared broke it. “So, Dad, are we still going to finish the fence in the morning?”

Tom glanced toward the stairs, at Nadine and then back at Jared. “I don’t know. I think the best thing to do is keep the rest of the horses away from the northern grazing grounds for a while. At least, until Leo has the results of the tests. If Satan died of anthrax, the ground where he went down will be contaminated. I don’t want the other horses dying too, especially not little Angelstar.” He glanced at Sara and grinned. “Sara seems to like her,” he said looking toward Jared, his voice full of prompting. “A
lot
….”

Jared cleared his throat. “Yes, she does. That reminds me, Sara. I’ve decided to give you Angelstar.”

Sara smiled, excitedly. “Really?”

Jared grinned. “Yes, really – if you want her. Remember, a horse is a big responsibility, especially one that’s half mustang. They’re a little feistier than domesticated horses.”

Sara pursed her lips. “I don’t know, Jared. Angelstar is Satan’s colt. Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to give her to Myra? She is all that’s left of Satan, now – correct?”

Jared seemed disappointed. “Yeah, but….”

“It’s not that I don’t want her. I just think, you should at least, ask Myra first. If she doesn’t want her, I’ll gladly take her. I’ve never owned a horse.”

Tom looked at Jared and smiled. “That might not be a bad idea. If Myra
does
want the colt, we’ve got plenty of horses. Sara can have her pick.”

Sara smiled. “You don’t have to do that, Tom.”

He glanced at Jared again. “No, I don’t, but, I want to. Besides, they’re half yours already. They belong to Jared. I’ve just been looking after them for him.”

Sara smiled. “Thank you….”

“Jared, wasn’t there also a matter of looking for a piece of land – to build a house on?”

“Mother spoke to you about it?”

“Yes, she has, and I think it’s a wonderful idea. We’d love to have you and Sara closer by. It would be good for Myra too. She’s been lonely since you left. She never says much about it, but I can tell she misses you.”

Jared studied Sara’s eyes. “Well, we wouldn’t be
permanently
moving to Arizona, Dad. I’ve invested a lot of time and money in Wisteria Hall. I can’t just walk away from it, and I don’t want to sell it either. It was hard enough to get my hands on it for the price I paid. It’s not something that is going to happen again. However, I would like the opportunity to design and build my own house,
our
house.” He smiled.

Tom grinned. “Then it’s settled. Find the land you want, and I’ll have my lawyer draw up the paperwork. You can start building anytime you want.”

Jared looked at Sara again. “Well, we’re not in a big hurry. Let’s get a few loose ends tied up first. There’s the matter of the Council thing, now Satan, and the convention is just a few weeks away.”

Nadine laughed and raised an eyebrow at Jared. “And there is another matter that has to be dealt with too….”

Jared sighed and stood, towing Sara along. “Yeah. That will need to be sorted soon.” He winked at Sara. “I think it might be time for bed. It’s been a long and tiring day.” Sara smiled, automatically yawning to conceal her expectations.

Jared squeezed her hand. The warm amber glow and sparkle in his eyes told Sara sleep was second on his agenda. He closed the door behind them, pushing her against the wall, pressing his body against hers. He claimed her lips as he slid his hands under her shirt, and grazed his fingers up her back. Sara shivered as he nibbled her neck. His voice deep and husky as he breathed against her skin. “I’ll cash-in my rain check now….”

After their shower, while they lay tangled in each other’s arms, Sara listened to Jared’s faint snoring. Because her mind was filled with too many mingled thoughts, Sara couldn’t sleep. She kept going back to the conversation in the lounge. What matter had Nadine and Jared been talking about that needed to be dealt with? It seemed like all of them were in on a private joke, and Sara had missed the punch line.

Sara started thinking about Jared’s grandmother. How she’d suddenly died, without warning. She thought about the sketches Jared hadn’t shown her. The information in George Thundercloud’s book. Myra’s horse, Satan. How they’d found him in the desert. Then her thoughts wandered back to the horrible dream she’d had of the wooden wolves. Her mind refused to settle enough for sleep to take her.

Once Jared rolled over on his side, Sara decided to read. But what to read? The only book she’d brought with her was George Thundercloud’s, and she didn’t want to read that. It did not make for late night reading. Sara decided to web surf for a while. She quietly and carefully unzipped her laptop case. To her surprise, her loving bed partner had packed ‘Breaking Dawn’ for her. The last book of the ‘Twilight’ set. Sara smiled, and started reading, curious as to how the story would end.

Around 3:30 or 4:00, Sara’s eyelids started drooping. She put her book down, cuddled up to Jared’s back and drifted to sleep.

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

Sara
did
have a dream, but when she woke the next morning, all she could remember, was that her dream had been pleasant. As she rolled over to face him, Jared was just slipping on his boots. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?”

Sara smiled. “No. I’ve been awake for a while. I had trouble falling asleep last night.”

Jared studied her eyes. “All things considered, that’s a little hard to believe. Am I losing my touch?”

 “I don’t know...” Sara pursed her lips. “Maybe you’d better check,” she smiled.

Jared narrowed his eyes, grinning wryly at her. He bent down, resting his weight on his arms on either side of her, and kissed her. Sara put her hand behind his neck, kissing him back, pulling him closer, and threatening to ignite a familiar fire.

Jared considered undressing and giving in to her, but pulled back, resisting the temptation. “Oh no! We got away with that yesterday. I doubt Dad will be that patient this morning. I know what you want, but this time, I’m giving you the rain check.” He sat on the side of the bed and picked up his comb.

Sara reached for it and knelt behind him. Jared drew in a quick breath, closing his eyes, and handed it to her. She wasn’t helping his already aroused condition, as she pulled the comb through his long hair in slow, sensual strokes. “Are you helping your father with the fence again?”

Sara’s warm breath tickled his neck. Jared’s eyes changed to deepest glowing amber as he fought for control. He shivered as she used her fingers to separate his hair into parts, and lightly grazed her nails over the skin of his neck. “Yes… what are you and Mother doing?” he countered in an unsteady tone.

Sara finished braiding his hair and tied it off. She could tell by his quickened breath, she was getting to him. She traced the outline of his ear with her index finger, her voice seductive and alluring. “Actually, I was hoping I might go with you.”

Jared turned quickly, surprised. “You’re kidding – right?”

“No. I thought I would take my guitar, and work on some new songs.”

Jared eyed Sara suspiciously. “It’s going to be very hot out there Sara.”

“I know – I don’t mind.” She kissed the side of his neck. “Please….”

Jared drew in a heavy sigh, grabbed her hand, and kissed it. “All right, but I’ll have to pack a beach umbrella, and make sure we’ve got plenty of water for everybody….”

Sara frowned and puckered out her lower lip. “You don’t want me to go with you?”

Jared raised an eyebrow and smiled. “You know I don’t care for you being with me. I just want you to understand the conditions you’ll be enduring – that’s all. We won’t be able to leave and bring you back, if you get bored. We want to try and finish today, so we could be out there for a very long time, maybe even until dusk….”

Jared was trying everything in his power to convince Sara she didn’t want to be there. All he needed was to have her out there, further testing his control, and tempting him.

Sara was determined to prove she could rough it, if she needed to. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll take my book that you so graciously packed for me, and read it if I get bored. I’ll be fine, really. Please Jared – I want to be with you.”

Resist that – no way!
“All right…” Jared reached for a cowboy hat from his closet. “But, you’ll have to wear one of these. And I do mean
wear
it,” he said, shoving it on her head, so the brim covered her eyes.

Sara sighed, and shoved it back, so she could see. “All right, I’ll wear it, but I
don’t
have to like it!”

Jared chuckled and took her hand. “Come on. We’ve still got to convince Dad….”

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

Tom wasn’t as willing to give in as Jared had been. His attitude wasn’t helping Sara’s cause. Having experienced Sara’s determination, and felt her wrath at the same time, Jared was tolerant, but fuelled with the backing of Tom’s iron will, Jared agreed with his father. Sara should stay at home.

Nadine stood in the background and enjoyed the argument with humorous interest. Knowing in the end Sara would win; Nadine had already packed extra food and water. When the debate was over, Tom crawled behind the wheel of his 4x4. Jared buckled his fiancée in the back and rode shotgun to his dad.

Not long in the journey, Sara realized she’d made a mistake. Tom was taking a different road to the one she and Jared had used. Apparently left from the last significant rainfall they’d had,
this
road was uncomfortable and riddled with deep potholes. Jared had explained, although the desert was dry, and they saw little rain; when it
did
rain, it came down in buckets. Water fell in such volumes that the arid sand couldn’t absorb it fast enough. As a result, they often suffered flash floods. Surely, this explained the enormous holes they kept swerving around, and bouncing through.

If Sara voiced her opinion truthfully, she wished she’d listened, and stayed at home. It wasn’t the heat or her driving thirst that was going to kill her. It was this monstrous machine beneath her, intent on dislodging her insides, which threatened to do it.

Sara must have made some kind of noise, although she doubted it could be heard above the sound of the engine, and the constant banging of some loose item in the back, because Tom stopped the vehicle and Jared turned, his handsome face adorned with a sly grin. “You all right back there Angel?”

Using the back of her hand, Sara wiped the sweat from her cheek and straightened her hat.