Desert Guardian (9 page)

"Enjoying
yourself?" asked a voice from behind her.

She
spun around to confront her husband. "Of course not. Star Mother's work isn't
always pleasant."

Von's
pale brows arched in amusement, the corners of his pallid lips turned up in a
condescending smile. "Well, I suppose I can't blame you. It was an
oversight on my part, I'm afraid. You don't believe I intended for the snake to
kill Sam, did you? Darling, the man is an expert with snakes. I taught him
myself, remember?"

Liar.
He
most certainly had wanted that snake to kill Sam. She rolled her eyes and
stepped around him to head for the royal tent. Did he take her for a fool? He
wanted Sam dead, that's all there was to it, and she wasn't about to let that
happen. To think she'd have to travel several light years with Von to Atria.
The self-important bore! Their disembodied Essences would be at odds the entire
trip.

"Valya,
dear?" Von called. "Do you have a minute?"

"For
what?" she snapped.

"I'd
like to show you something."

She
sighed and fell into step beside him as he strode toward the second discipline
tent. Frowning, she said, "I'd rather not witness any more punishments
today."

"This
one is different," Von said. "Besides, the punishment is already
over."

"Then
why do you want me to—?"

"You'll
see."

When
they arrived at the closed entrance to the tent, Von flung back the canvas
flap. He gestured for Valya to come closer.

She
offered him a look of confusion then sauntered around him to peer inside. A
figure lay slumped on its side, the hands and feet hog-tied with rope, the head
covered with a white sheet that twisted tightly around the neck. She gasped and
took a step back. Without having to see the man's face, she knew it was the
sentry she had sent with Jake to kidnap Kelly Bancroft.

"You
dared to have one of
my
men killed,"
Von said, his smile replaced by a sneer of contained rage. His voice shook when
he added, "I'd say we're even now, wouldn't you?"

Her
furious breaths scorched her throat as she contemplated a response, but all she
could think to say was, "Bastard!"

His
smile returned. "Yes, I am. But so are you. Neither of us knows who our
fathers are, though there were plenty of possible candidates to choose from."

"Shut
up!"

He
chuckled. "Still can't accept your illegitimacy, can you?"

"I
am Star Mother's child, and that's all I need to know," she said between
clenched teeth. She knew who her mother was, and that was all that counted. As
befitted family tradition, her mother had been Star Mother's leader before her,
and her father had been one of her mother's many suitors. He might have been a
member of their congregation or a stranger her mother had met in one of the
many towns the church had passed through. Who he was didn't matter. Gene
diversity was vital to their religion. It ensured a strong, healthy family of
diverse physical traits and personalities. Valya was proud to follow in her
mother's footsteps.

She
stared at Von now, wondering why on earth she'd chosen him as her husband. The
man couldn't even father a child. But she remembered why he had first attracted
her attention. It was his enormous size and his bizarre coloring that was so
close to that of their ancestors. A member of Star Mother since birth, he appeared
pure-blooded, so pale that his blue veins showed through his skin, and he was so
big.... Well, pleasure in bed was, as far as she was concerned, the most
important aspect of a successful marriage. Unfortunately, Von's performance
hadn't risen to her expectations. Which is why she had invited Sam Reed, among
many others, into her bed. She now had ten strong, beautiful children for her
efforts.

Von
glared at her with a look of superiority.

She
grimaced. "Sam is a virile man, Von. It should be obvious to you why he's
important to me. It makes sense for him to join us on Atria, doesn't it? As one
of the chosen to sire a new population—"

"With
your help, of course," Von said ruefully, appearing to enjoy her
agitation. "He's already made one contribution to your brood, Valya. What
more do you want?"

Valya
blinked and glanced inside the tent. Staring at the contorted body that looked
as if dressed in a ghost costume for Halloween, she told her husband, "I
want Sam."

"You're
kidding, right?" Kelly asked. "You want my abusive,
could-care-less-about-his-kids dad involved in Jake's intervention?"

"The
man sure sounded like he cared last night." Sam rubbed his shadowed chin
with a calloused hand, his eyes squinting as if trying to see through her. "And
before you ignore my idea, at least hear me out."

She
hopped up from her nest of cushions and headed for the back door. "I need
some air."

"Me,
too." He followed her through the kitchen. "If you don't mind some
company."

She
glanced over her shoulder and nodded, pleased that he wanted to join her. She
wasn't trying to ditch him. Truth was, the cabin felt stuffy, and she had a
sudden need to get outside and smell the fresh scent of all those wonderful
pine trees. It would help clear her head.

Once
they were outside, Sam strode ahead of her and reached back to grab her hand. "I'll
show you my favorite spot. It's where I go when I need time to myself."

She
let him lead her to a small clearing a short distance from where the dense
woods began. A large boulder sat at the center, a few saplings and smaller
rocks surrounding it. It appeared as if someone had purposely cleared this
area, maybe to build a shed or a gazebo. It was the perfect spot for one. Muted
sunlight filtered through the trees, and dust motes danced in the bright air
like flakes of glitter. From this vantage point, they could clearly see the
side of the cabin with the driveway, so they would know right away if anyone
drove up.

"This
is pretty," she said, and sat beside him on the boulder. He still held her
hand, which he squeezed before draping his arm around her shoulder.

She
smiled, her hand tingling with the warm imprint of his skin.

He
cleared his throat. "About this plan I've come up with..."

"I'm
listening."

"If
Jake realized how serious your father is about wanting him to come home, he
might have a change of heart."

She
rolled her eyes. "
I
don't even
know if Dad's serious. And I already told Jake that Dad apologized for
everything he'd done to us over the years."

Sam's
expression turned serious, his Arrow mask in place. "How did he react?"

"Surprised."
She compared Jake's reaction to her own when their father had announced his new
and improved attitude, and she'd felt more stunned than surprised. She'd been
speechless.

"Happy-surprised,
or shocked-surprised?"

After
a second's thought, she said, "Shocked. No, more like confused, and I can't
blame him. He looked puzzled when I told him Dad said that he loved him."

"Did
your father really say that?"

She
hesitated. "No. But I was taking a gamble."

Sam
nodded like he understood. "You have good instincts. Do you think your
father would say he loved his son?"

At
the end of a long sigh, she said, "I honestly don't know. If you'd asked
me a couple of days ago whether or not my father would want Jake to move back
home, I'd have laughed in your face."

"Your
father's really made an about-face, hasn't he?"

Had
he ever. And it was still hard for her to swallow. "Yes, and I want to
know why the sudden change. He's been a jerk our entire lives, then suddenly he
wants to kiss and make up? What's up with that?"

"Why
don't you ask him?"

"Now?"

"Sure.
Why not?" He grinned. He acted as if this was personal to him, almost as
personal as it was to her. "He's probably still at his hotel. Call him and
I'll tape the conversation. We'll play it for Jake when we catch up to him."

"Why
a recorded message? Why not have my dad talk to him directly on a cell phone?"

He
seemed to consider the possibility then shook his head. "Not a good idea.
We can't afford having our plan backfire. We're not sure exactly what your
father will say, and I don't want to take a chance of upsetting your brother.
Recording the call gives us control over what Jake will hear."

At
this point, she thought her dad would say almost anything to get Jake home. But
how much had her father really changed? In the past, she'd known him to say things
on impulse, his behavior both irratic and irrational whenever he was upset. Sam
was right. They couldn't risk Dad blowing it by acting like a jackass.

A
recorded message from Dad could work. What she had already tried with Jake wasn't
nearly as strong as having it come straight from the horse's mouth.

"You
said
we
," she said, just now
grasping his use of the pronoun. "Does that mean I'm coming with you?"

He
stared at her blankly for a second, his emotions hidden behind those intense
gray eyes. A sudden smile brightened his face. "Looks like it. I can't
leave you here to be preyed upon by the cult's goons, can I? You'll be safer
with me than by yourself."

That
comment rankled but not badly enough for her to argue. Not only would she be
involved in Jake's intervention and rescue, she'd be in the company of a man
she admired. More than admired. She cared a great deal about Sam.

"Are
you willing to give it a try?" he asked.

Inhaling
deeply, she felt a stirring of doubt in her stomach. Now she'd have to talk
with her father, ask him why his sudden change of heart, and then ask if he
loved Jake. Or even if he loved
her
.
This would be tough. "Let's do it."

Sam
left her sitting on the giant rock while he ran inside to get his cordless
phone and battery-powered recording equipment. He walked toward her, his broad
shoulders pulling at the seams of his T-shirt. Her mouth went dry at the sight
of him. She shouldn't be thinking this way. She'd hired the man to do a job,
not to do her. Besides, a man like Sam had far better prospects than a
run-of-the-mill phys ed teacher from Phoenix.

While
fastening the microphone to the cordless receiver with a suction device, he
said, "Make sure your father knows what we're up to. Recording a
conversation without consent is illegal in the state of California."

She
nodded, her stomach rolling with apprehension. "What do I say?"

"Whatever
you want." He flashed her a crooked smile that made her knees weak. "You're
in control, Kelly. You call the shots, understand? Your father has to listen to
you
this time."

He
was right. She had the upper hand now, and she would use it to help Jake. "Thank
you." She swung her arm around his neck, pulling him toward her for a hug.

He
stiffened at first then relaxed. He seemed reluctant to pull away before
handing her the phone. "Better call before he leaves for the airport."

She
punched in the number Sam recited and gave the hotel receptionist her father's
room number. It rang three long, torturous rings before her father picked up.

"Hi,
Dad," she said without emotion, despite her frazzled nerves.

"Kelly?"
He recognized her voice immediately, and that surprised her. "Is your
brother safe? Are you both coming home?"

He
sounded sincere, and considering she'd caught him off-guard, he might not even
be faking. "No, Dad. I'm sorry. But we hope to have him with us later
today."

He
released an audible breath. "Thank God. You don't know how much—"
After a pause, he went on in a less steady voice, "I've missed him. And I've
missed you."

She
closed her eyes, the doubt swelling in her chest until it took up so much room
her breaths became shallow. Time to ask her questions. "Why do you miss
us, Dad? I mean, after the way you treated us as kids, the humiliation, the
beatings, how can you suddenly make such a drastic change and expect us to
believe you?" Her voice had risen on the last few words, and Sam shook his
head, gesturing for her to calm down.

Her
father didn't answer, but his breathing sounded labored, and she heard him
swallow.

It
would be easier to get through this if she wasn't so darn tense. Tilting her
head from side to side to work out the stiffness in her neck, she jumped when
Sam placed two roughened hands on her shoulders and began kneading the muscles
there. It felt wonderful. As the knots loosened, so did her tongue, and she
began to relax.

"Look,
Dad. I called because I need your help.
We
need your help. I want to tape a message from you that I can play for Jake when
we find him."

"What
do you want me to say?"

"I
want you to be honest," she said gently. "He won't believe your
apology if it doesn't make sense. And that's why I—why
we
—need to understand what's
changed to make you care about us now."

"I've
always cared, Kelly," he said curtly.

She
gestured for Sam to switch on the recorder.

"I
was a proud man, and a stupid one," he went on, though he no longer
sounded edgy. "I'm sorry for that. I realize now that my methods of
discipline were more destructive than helpful, but I can't change what I did. I
can only say how sorry I am and that I regret how I treated you kids. Can you
forgive me?"

"I
don't know. It would help if I understood what happened to make you change."

Another
long pause before he said, "I'm afraid you won't believe me if I tell you."

Her
anger started rising again. "Should I guess? Okay, how about you've come
into an inheritance that won't kick in unless your kids live at home. No? All
right, then you won a trip to Disney World, but it's for families only. Can't
miss the Magic Kingdom when you don't have to pay for it, huh, Dad? Am I getting
warm?"

"Kelly,
I have cancer."

This
shut her up. She glanced up at Sam, who had stopped his massage the second she
started her tirade. His scowl was so deep it looked like a scar carved into his
forehead.

She
stared down at the phone, realizing her father had been right. She did find it
hard to believe. "You have cancer?"

"Prostate.
It's treatable, and my prognosis is good, but learning I have cancer forced me
to reevaluate my life. If I beat this thing, I'll have a second chance to
better myself and maybe even right the wrongs I've done. First on the list is
to fix things between myself and my kids."

Blinking,
she exhaled a labored breath. Her emotions waged a battle between anger and
sorrow. If his mortality hadn't been threatened, would her father have bothered
trying to make amends? "I'm sorry to hear this, Dad. I really am."

There
was a smile in his voice when he said, "Just hearing you say that gives me
hope. When you find Jake and convince him to come home, we can start over. Just
the three of us. We can be the kind of family we always should have been."

It
all sounded wonderful. She wanted to forgive him, but instant forgiveness wasn't
possible. Too much damage had been done. He'd inflicted too many injuries,
physical and emotional, for her to easily forgive and forget. But with time,
she felt confident they could work things out and move toward a more amiable
relationship, if not a loving one.

Now
for the biggy. "Do you love Jake?"
And do you love me?

"I
love Jake with all my puckered old heart," her father said with a chuckle,
though his voice had cracked. "And I love you, too."

Her
eyes were suddenly wet, and she wiped them dry with the back of her hand. She
had just heard words she'd never heard uttered by her mean-spirited father. He
loved her. And he loved Jake. This was just what her brother needed to hear.

She
swallowed and said, "Thanks, Dad."

"You're
welcome. I have to leave for the airport now, but you be sure to call me at
home just as soon as Jake's safe, you hear me? The next time we talk, I want
him on the phone, too."

"No
problem." And she hoped there really wouldn't be.

****

"Are
you sure Star Mother's new campsite is at Joshua Tree?" Kelly asked.
 

Why
did she feel the need to question him on every detail? Sam peered skyward, praying
for patience, then refocused on the highway ahead. First it was the nine-millimeter
Glock he'd brought with him, asking him why it was so small. Shouldn't he have
a machine gun or one of those high-powered rifles like in the movies? Well, he
did have such a rifle hidden in the Jeep's backseat compartment, but he wasn't
about to tell her that. And why didn't he have a gun for her? Sheesh. He was in
for a very long afternoon.

He
shifted gears and said, "I checked the Internet sites you missed and found
one transmission from a Star Mother member. My hacker friend traced the IP
address to a diner in Joshua Tree. We'll find the new campsite there."

"It's
a big desert," she said, sounding petulant. "How can you expect to
find—?"

"I'll
ask around. That's how it works. I check convenience stores where they would
get supplies, gas stations where they'd refuel, and any rest stops and strip
malls in the area they transmitted from."