Love's Dream Song (20 page)

Jess glanced at the sky. Not even a cloud marred the crystal blue. A chopper should fly by soon. When it did, Jess planned to hail it down and get on it. He’d had enough of chasing dreams.

Heat shimmered as he approached the end of the box canyon. He didn’t bother to climb into the ruins again. The outside walls of adobe were crumbling, but the cliff wall was solid rock. There had been no sign of a cave.

At the foot of the cliff, Jess dismounted and stretched the kinks in his muscles. He was exhausted, but he ignored it. He’d let the horses drink and then head for the open space he’d spotted down the canyon, where there was room for a helicopter to land.

Again he cursed himself for being a fool and listening to Real Tall Man. After the death of his father, Jess had turned away from the way of
Dineh.
He’d been right to do so.

Daya’s way had been similar to Real Tall Man’s. She would have gone on a vision quest to find Autumn. But it wouldn’t have worked for the medicine woman, any more than it had for Real Tall Man.

The failure of Real Tall Man’s stargazing was no surprise. Daya had performed the Night Chant for Jess’s father and it had not saved her son. For nine days and nights she’d carried out the ceremony in minute detail, and in the exact prescribed order. Several days after the sing, Jess’s father had gone to town, drunk too much, and during the predawn hours of morning, rolled his pickup.

Jess lifted his Stetson and hooked it on the saddle horn. The breeze tossed his hair and cooled him some. Taking the bandanna, he swiped again at the sweat trickling down his temples.

Suddenly he heard a screech and glanced up. An eagle soared by, its brown feathers highlighted against the blue sky. He’d give anything to be that bird right now and be able to peer down at the earth with his sharp vision.

Swift Eagle was Daya’s name for him. If the situation wasn’t so desperate, he’d laugh.

The eagle cruised across the canyon one more time. Jess watched until the eagle disappeared from sight and then he lowered his gaze. Suddenly he halted the unconscious scan of the cliff and stared. Something didn’t look right.

In seconds, Jess retrieved the field glasses Real Tall Man had put in the saddlebag. Sure enough, there was an unusual formation in the rock. It looked like a cave.

The images of Autumn that he’d seen in the flames came to mind. It had to be the cave Real Tall Man had said she was trapped in.

New hope began to build as he hobbled the horses. Before he took off, he grabbed a flashlight and a canteen. Now to get to that opening.

The climb was easy at first. The venture into the ruins at Coyote Springs had reminded him of the dangers of climbing in boots. He couldn’t take any risks of injuring himself now. After he’d climbed over the loose shale and only had sheer sandstone left, he slipped off his boots and continued barefoot. Fortunately, he was on the eastern side of the canyon and the sun hadn’t heated the stone yet.

After long minutes, he made it to the hole. He refused to contemplate the possibility that it was a dead-end cave. In this dry desert, Autumn didn’t have much time left. If she was in fact still alive, she’d need water before the day was out.

Loose rock tumbled as Jess reached the edge of the opening. Hoisting himself into it took little effort. Before he fully landed inside, he was scrambling into the interior. It was indeed a cave, and from the musty odor and cool air, it went deep into the earth. Jess flicked on the flashlight and crawled into the dark cavern.

“Autumn.” His shout reverberated against the rock. He shouted again and crept farther into the shadows. “Autumn.”

Autumn closed her eyes to the sound of Jess shouting her name. The hallucinations were getting worse. She knew she was dizzy from dehydration. There wasn’t much time left. She had to get out now.

I can do this
, Autumn repeated over and over as she walked slowly toward the opening. She wanted to scream, but she didn’t. She reached out for the wall. It was smooth. She felt along the slick surface. Suddenly her fear receded, to be replaced by hope. Sandstone wasn’t smooth, it was rough. She trailed her fingers along the wall. Unless hundreds of hands had passed by, leaving body oil to polish the rock.

She would have shouted with relief, but the emotion constricted her throat. She was anxious now to find the end of the tunnel.

She paused. A light flickered ahead of her. Beams danced across the walls. It wasn’t the steady glow she’d followed toward the caverns that were exposed to sunshine. This light shifted around like a ghost.

She had died.

Stopping to rub her eyes didn’t help. The beams continued to float around her. Then she saw the apparition, only it wasn’t ghostly. A loud clatter of metal hitting against rock echoed in the tunnel. The light danced crazily. Jess’s face appeared and Autumn screamed. This vision seemed too real. Surely she’d died.

Jess cursed.

Autumn fell to the floor, stunned.

“Autumn.”

Suddenly, strong arms were around her. Warm flesh was pressed against hers. Jess’s voice penetrated the shock. It was really him. She grasped the front of his shirt and pulled herself against his chest.

“You’re alive. He told me I’d find you here.” His voice caught. “I didn’t believe him.”

Giant sobs racked her body as she absorbed the human strength passing from Jess to her. She still couldn’t believe he was here. It had to be a dream. The sound of his voice vibrating against her ear reassured her that he was flesh.

“I thought you were dead. I didn’t think I’d ever find you.” He muttered many things, and if she’d paid attention, she would have noticed they were repetitious.

It didn’t matter. She was alive. Jess had found her. He would lead her out of this hell.

“Have you had any water?” he asked.

She shook her head. Thirst warred with the need to be held. She didn’t want him to let go of her while he uncapped the canteen. Her need must have been obvious, because he managed to do both.

Life-giving water trickled down her throat as his heartbeat pounded reassuringly in her ear. If he’d allowed it, she would have guzzled the whole jug, but he only let her have tiny sips.

“We’ve got to get you out of here. Are you hurt bad?”

Instead of answering, she gripped his shirt and held him close. She didn’t want him to let her go. His hands covered hers and gently he pried her fingers loose.

“Follow me. It’s not far to the entrance.”

She tried to move but couldn’t. “Don’t let go, Jess. Don’t leave me.”

“I’m never going to leave you.”

His words reassured her, but she still couldn’t release her hold.

“It isn’t far, sweetheart. Just hang in there for me. Let go and stay close behind me. I won’t leave you.”

Closing her eyes, she willed the panic to subside. Jess was right. The sooner she let go, the sooner they would be out of here.

Slowly, she loosened her fingers. Jess shined the flashlight between them.

“Look at my face, Autumn. Follow me out, slowly.”

He eased himself toward the exit. She tried to grab him but he backed away.

“Come on now. You’ve gone this far. You can do it.”

Afraid he was getting too far ahead, she screamed. “Wait. I can’t…”

Jess reached for her, but she headed toward him on her own.

“I’ve got to get out of here,” she gasped.

“Stop it!” he commanded as he grabbed her shoulders. “Don’t get hysterical on me.”

She struggled. “Jess.”

“You’re all right, Autumn.” He pulled her into his arms. “We’ll make it—I promise you,” he told her.

She clung to his words. They were her lifeline of hope. The hysteria subsided, until finally she believed. “I’m sorry,” she apologized.

“You’re dehydrated and irrational. Don’t think—just save your strength to move.” He brushed his lips against her temple. His touch sent a ripple of courage into her heart.

“You know, you’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met.” Admiration sounded in his tone and she tilted her head back.

“You can say that after what I just did?”

“I don’t know any woman who can keep calm in the wake of a flash flood, hike alone in isolated canyons, eat rattlesnake for dinner…” he brushed back a strand of hair that had caught on her collar. “Keep fighting to survive—even in this.” He gestured toward the darkness. “I’ve never met a woman like you—with your courage, stamina, and adventurous spirit.”

Her heart started a new beat while her breath caught.

The flashlight beam wavered when he shifted.

“It’s all right,” he whispered, just before his lips brushed hers.

His fingers smoothed across her skin until he’d tangled them in her hair. His breath feathered her lips as he came closer and closer, until finally they met in a kiss. All of her fear and anxiety evaporated with his touch. His arms tightened until she flinched in pain.

He drew back. “You’re hurt.”

“A little,” she whispered, unable to speak past the emotion constricting her throat.

He felt along her ribs. “Do you think you have broken bones?”

She grasped his fingers and stilled them. “No, I’m just bruised. They must have whacked me pretty good.”

“Yes. I saw. I was afraid they’d killed you.”

“Tell me what happened. I don’t remember.”

“Later, when we’re out of here.”

He started to shift her out of his embrace, but she clung to his shirt. “You thought I was dead, but you kept searching.”

“I wasn’t sure whether you were alive or dead, but in any case it wasn’t my faith, but Real Tall Man’s. He helped me find you.”

“How?”

He didn’t reply, but she felt the shudder that raced through him. She traced his jaw with the back of her hand. He grasped her wrist and kissed the tips of her sore fingers.

“Your grandfather performed a stargazing ceremony for you.”

Joy brimmed forth. Real Tall Man had gone to the trouble of a ceremony. Suddenly she wanted out of the cave, but it didn’t seem like she could go on.

She opened her eyes and focused on the sandstone walls colored an ominous black. Her heart plummeted. “I’m not sure I have the strength, Jess.”

He tightened his hold on her shoulder and cupped her cheek with his other hand. “What kind of talk is that? We’ll get out of here—I promised, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but…”

“Hey—where’s the positive thinking you practice so well?”

She took a deep breath, knowing he was right. She had everything to be thankful for. Jess’s arms were around her. There would be no more hours of agonizing loneliness and fear in the dark caverns.

“I’m ready now. Let’s go.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.”

He gave her a light squeeze before easing her away from his body. As he backed up, she brushed the tears from her face and focused on the sight of his long frame filling the narrow passageway.

Progress was slow. Since the tunnel was too narrow for him to turn around, Jess had to inch his way backward. Metal scraped the rock, the sound eerie when it echoed. The sandstone scratched the raw flesh of her hands and knees, but none of this mattered now. They were on their way out. Soon she would be free. The knowledge poured strength into her pitiful reserve of will.

They crawled in the tunnel. Some places were so narrow that she wondered how Jess had managed to get through to her. He had difficulty in a couple of places, especially going backward.

Even though she was smaller than Jess, the trip wasn’t much easier for her. Between her low energy and her injured flesh, each step was painful and labored.

When daylight finally peeked from around Jess’s body, a new reserve of energy pushed her onward. The end was in sight. She wanted desperately to be out of the cave where she could breathe fresh air, see the land, and hear the sounds of life.

She crawled faster, only to bump into Jess. Her knees gave out and she crumbled to the floor, moaning as pain rocketed through her.

Jess gripped her arm and pulled her upright. “Take it easy now. We’re almost out of here.”

“Let’s go, then.” Urgency filled her.

“You’re doing fine. Stay close to me.”

His movement kicked up dust, but she didn’t fall back. She’d eat the powdered dirt just to stay near him. Suddenly they turned a bend and bright light filtered through the shadows.

“We’re almost there.”

Her heart raced. She wanted to push past Jess and scramble to the end.

Light blinded them as they stepped out into the sunshine. Welcome heat melted the icicles of fear. They’d made it. She tamped back the tears of relief and gave thanks for their freedom.

She opened her eyes and glanced at Jess. He was watching her with admiration. “We did it.” Wonder sounded in her voice.

“I’m proud of you. I know how hard that was.”

“I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“Don’t underestimate your strength, Autumn. You have a powerful mind when you set a goal.”