Love's Dream Song (6 page)

Shallow toeholds were carved into the steep cliff. Jess held his breath as Autumn climbed. She hadn’t gone more than ten feet when he relaxed. She knew what she was doing. “You make that look easy.”

“My rubber soles grip the sandstone,” she called back without slowing her ascent.

He hesitated. He had on cowboy boots. The leather soles would be slippery. It wasn’t that he worried about hurting himself. He’d been in situations that would make a Green Beret sweat. It was Autumn and the seeming intimacy of shedding any of his clothes—even his boots. It was like lowering a piece of the barrier that kept him from giving in to his feelings.

Autumn scrambled over the ledge and peered at him. “Aren’t you coming, Barron? Or do I need to hold your hand?” A hint of a smile twitched at her mouth.

“I’m coming.” He’d make it up there all right—and with his boots on.

He hadn’t gone more than ten feet when his right foot slid, sending gravel and sand below. Jess hugged the rough surface of rock until he regained his footing.

Without glancing up to see if she was laughing, he returned to the canyon floor and shed his boots and socks. Before the warm sand could dry out his skin, he climbed the ancient steps with ease.

When he crawled over the edge, Autumn was nowhere in sight. He searched the dimly lit cave until he found her in one of the rooms. He ducked to enter the quarters and was assailed with his past—the cold surface of the floor, covered with years of dust that sifted between his bare toes. The musty odor of darkened rooms. The sound of his grandmother’s voice echoing against the stone walls as she filled his head with stories. Jess didn’t want to remember.

She shook her head. “I know it’s my imagination. But when I walk in these rooms, I feel like I’ve been here before—in another life.”

Jess walked back to the edge and looked at the valley below. “Real Tall Man would tell you that you’ve been here in your dreams.”

“Think so?” She moved beside him.

“No.” Jess knew his answer had been too curt. He shifted away from her probing stare. “They’re only stories. You don’t believe them, do you?”

“In some crazy way it makes sense.” She scanned the view. “But in reality, I haven’t had time to give it much thought. Dr. Davidson has kept us busy.”

An edginess echoed in her voice. “You sound like you aren’t too pleased with that.”

She shrugged. “It’s a big responsibility. I’ve never been involved with a project like this before.”

Her strength suddenly had a crack and Jess saw the uncertainty. He moved close and draped his arm around her, wishing he could keep her safe. She stiffened. She didn’t appreciate his protectiveness but it kept him close to her. “I’ll help all I can. Count on me. Anything you need—gofer, muscle, organizer—I can help.”

“All the makings of a hero.”

“Now you’re getting the picture.”

Her eyes had laughing lights in them. They drew him closer.

“What about the ranch? Don’t you have work to do?”

“I left my foreman in charge, with a list a mile long.”

She pointed to the stone slabs spread out against the wall. “Dr. Davidson wants these here so that they can be seen by everyone.”

Jess studied the slabs. Sunlight barely filtered into the room through the window and cracks in the wall. It was difficult to make out the carved lettering.

“Is this where he found them?”

She brushed past him to lean into the corner. “Feel behind this wall. Someone carved out a cave and then walled the slabs inside.”

He pressed close so he could poke his head behind the wall. “They obviously wanted these to stay hidden. How’d you discover them?”

“Dr. Davidson thought the wall looked odd. He tapped along the extension and heard the hollow sound of the cavern.”

Jess studied the wall and shook his head. “I was here many times when I was a kid. We never knew.”

“We? You said you don’t have any brothers or sisters.”

“No.” He didn’t let the regret he used to feel at being an only child form. “Enrique Valdez and I spent hours exploring these ruins.”

He’d already told her that they had alternated summers at each other’s ranches when they were growing up.

“I noticed he was here. Did he come to hear about Dr. Davidson’s discovery?”

“We had some business. He’s returning home tonight.” He and Valdez would have to be careful they didn’t arouse suspicion.

Jess eased to the far side of the slab and lifted an edge, testing its weight. “Is this how you want these?”

“Yes, but I have to brush them.” She grabbed the small hand broom from the corner. “Better step in the other room. This’ll get messy.”

It didn’t take her long. When she finished, she wiped her hands on her pants and joined him. Dust motes floated in the air, dancing in the shafts of sunlight.

“Wouldn’t it be easier for everyone to see them out in the daylight?” Jess lifted one of the slabs and turned it in the shaft of light.

She wiped her arm across her brow, leaving a streak of dirt on her damp skin. Her scent of heated flesh mingled with musk perfume, bringing back images he didn’t want but couldn’t stop.

“The professor plans to have them lowered to the campsite later this week. He wanted the others to see where he found them.” She smiled. “You know—get the feel of the discovery.”

At that moment he wanted to touch her and feel the heat radiating from her body. When she passed by him to exit the room, he almost reached for her.

As soon as she stepped outside, the room chilled. He shook his head. This place was making him uneasy. Ducking his broad shoulders, he slipped out of the room to join Autumn as she perused the scene below.

At the south end of the canyon, the scientists were still gathered around Wayne and Dr. Davidson. Jess couldn’t see the corral from the cave entrance, but he saw Riker moving across on the plateau where they’d set up the tents. Dr. Davidson wanted the living quarters established across the canyon on the high rise of land for two reasons—the plateau was fairly level, and it was out of danger of flash flood.

Directly below them, Coyote Springs gurgled into pools. As a kid, he’d stripped naked and swum in the refreshing water.

“This is a perfect place for a settlement.” Ripples radiated from the rock he tossed in the water. “The spring has water all year round. And that plateau over there is high, safe from floods and good for planting corn.”

“Hundreds of years ago the Anasazi lived here. Can’t you just picture it?” Her voice was low and dreamy. “I can almost hear the chatter of women’s voices as they grind corn for the evening meal.

“And below, I can picture children pretending to hunt game—see, in those rocks over there—and women working in the fields while the men are out hunting.”

Her gaze met his. “Can you see what I see?”

He saw, but it was a different picture entirely. A pool formed at the bed in the stream and beside it a grassy knoll.

Images of the dream.

Jess closed his eyes, not sure he should let it come. Autumn’s voice had called up parts of it and he couldn’t shut out the picture. It was the same dream he’d had since Daya had brought him to Coyote Springs as a child.

She sat among the wildflowers, her dress soft and clinging while her hair shone in the sunlight. And she was waiting—for him.

Jess ran the last half mile, coming home from the hunt, his near-naked body glistening with sweat. He paused in front of her and tossed the quail and rabbit at her feet—the spoils of the hunt offered to his woman.

She reached her hands to him. He pulled her upright to stand before him, proud and willing. Slowly he untied the threads and let her dress slip to a pile at her feet.

No! He tried to shove the dream away, but the image refocused. The woman looked like Autumn—something he’d recognized from the first moment he’d set eyes on her. He took a deep breath. His heart hammered as he concentrated on the cool earth beneath his bare feet.

When Dr. Davidson had introduced them, Jess had known she was the woman of his dreams, the woman of Daya’s prophecy. That knowledge had propelled him into a relationship that was out of character to his usual steady pace.

Even his friends had been surprised at the fast pace he’d taken when he’d fallen for Autumn. The two other relationships he’d had since Maria’s death had taken years to develop to the point he’d covered in one week with Autumn.

He’d been so sure, but he’d paid the price of haste. Now he lived in hell, wanting her even when he knew she was probably involved in a crime he’d vowed to fight to his death.

It helped to remember Maria and the violence surrounding her murder. Or memories of his father, drunk and wasted as he staggered across the desert, replaced images of Autumn. He even forced to his mind incidents of fights at the boarding school, when he’d shut out all claims to his
Dineh
blood.

It did no good. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to swim with her in the pool below, hear her whispers of passion and caring as she set out to please him.

Her voice brought him out of his fantasy.

“Jess?”

He had an odd expression on his face, as if he’d just been given bad news. Quickly Autumn scanned the valley below, wondering if he’d seen something out of the ordinary. Nothing unusual came to her attention. She returned her attention to Jess, who was rubbing the back of his neck.

The strange look had disappeared, but she sensed tension in him. Her automatic response was to try and ease it. She longed to work the stiffness out of his muscles with the steady pressure of her hands. How many times had he let her work her magic until he’d relaxed and turned into her arms?

Autumn closed her eyes for a painful moment. Jess’s scent carried in the breeze, aiding the formation of the images. What did it mean, his sudden nearness, his seeming interest? She didn’t have the nerve to ask, afraid that there was an ulterior motive behind the unexpected friendliness. Her past wounds were too raw to expose them to more pain.

Jess started, as if he’d heard something.

“Seeing ghosts?” She made the comment in jest, but he didn’t take it as one.

“I’m going back to camp.” His voice sounded like a growl as he swung over the edge and lowered himself to the canyon floor.

Autumn sighed. His abrupt and curt departure put an end to the thought that he’d changed his attitude. A wave of uneasiness crept in to mar the congenial feeling she’d almost witnessed.

She’d never fallen as hard for a man as she had for Jess. In fact, all of her relationships before him had been guarded and reserved. It hadn’t been that way with the rancher.

From the moment she’d set eyes on him, she’d known he was the special man in her life. Their month together had been pure heaven.

It made his rejection pure hell.

Something was going on in his life that he had to resolve. She’d sensed that much with a certainty inherent to her. With the same intuition, she didn’t believe it was another woman. He’d given Autumn too much of himself. She longed for him to confide in her, but he hadn’t. It had to mean she couldn’t help. And maybe it was just as well. The only thing she could do was to give him space and pray that he could settle the demons he warred.

In the meantime, she would focus her attention on the dig. There were new people to meet—experts in her field that she could learn from. And there were the ruins.

The canyon stretched below. Too bad Donny and Mike couldn’t see this. If her brothers were here, they would imagine whole pages of history, just as they’d done as children. She could still picture the times they used to pretend they were living in the past ages of whatever country they were visiting. The three of them had been gladiators in the Coliseum, orators on the steps of the Parthenon, and Moorish soldiers capturing castles in Spain.

What had happened to the people who’d been here in the canyon? Eight hundred years ago they had disappeared and abandoned their homes. No one had known why until now. Was it true? Had they come from Mexico and returned back to their homeland?

The world would know soon, after Dr. Davidson revealed the stone tablets.

Autumn shaded her eyes with her hand. The plateau on the other side of the stream was an ideal campsite for the party of archaeologists. Large saltbush provided shade. Grass carpeted the ground. Yes, it was a good site now as it was for her ancestors. She would think about the People, instead of the loneliness that haunted her when she thought about her brothers and Jess.

.

CHAPTER 4

That evening, the canyon rang with the sound of posts clanging, firewood crackling, the hammering of tent pegs, and the dull murmur of voices. It was a sharp contrast to the silence Autumn was used to. Operations went smoothly, considering it was their first night as a large group.

The cartographer had lost one of the pieces to his tent. Ingenuity fixed that. The beans weren’t ready at the same time the steaks finished broiling. No one complained. Other than those minor inconveniences, the evening progressed well.

Once everyone had finished eating and setting up their quarters, the group was gathered around the campfire. Autumn leaned against a red sandstone boulder. Exhaustion threatened to take control, but the undercurrent of anticipation kept her alert. The scientists were anxious for the unveiling of the tablets, and Autumn didn’t blame them. Tomorrow would be an important moment in history.

So far, it seemed a congenial crowd. They would have to stay that way in order to work and live in close proximity for the next few months.

Autumn wondered if there would be problems. Her attention flew to Connie Turner, who sat on her sleeping bag near the four other reporters. The woman grimaced in pain as she rubbed her sore feet. Fortunately, she would only be here a day or two.

Autumn shifted her attention to the assortment of scientists and art experts, who were obviously seasoned campers. Dressed in outdoor gear and sturdy boots, they crouched around the fire.

Two older men were visiting with Dr. Davidson. From the familiar tones between them, Autumn surmised they’d know the professor for a long time—probably from one of his earlier digs. All these years she’d thought her boss was such a loner. It seemed acquaintances were turning up from everywhere.

Jess Barron strummed a guitar and entertained the campers with a medley of western songs. The guitar’s mellow tones and the words to the songs told of adventure and courage; the male tones rang with the power to face them. White teeth flashed in the night as Jess cast rugged smiles to his audience.

Autumn breathed deep to steady her resolve. She’d proceed with caution around Jess Barron—her heart was too bruised for her to allow herself to be set up for more pain. Besides, she had a feeling his attentiveness involved more than just the two of them. Perhaps he did it for show. After all, the scientists and reporters were an impressive group of people.

She flinched at her own cynicism. Not only had Jess been concerned for her welfare, but he’d pitched in and acted as host to the gathering. It was his property, after all, yet she’d never had the feeling before that he was interested in the archaeological secrets buried in this canyon.

Connie Turner crossed her line of vision and blocked Jess from view. The reporter leaned over the singer and handed him a mug. The music stopped and Connie settled down beside him.

Perhaps the reporter was the reason for the unexpected civility. Their laughter drifted into the night and Autumn shifted, suddenly annoyed.

Connie was attractive and she looked similar to the women in two photos Jess had at the ranch. Perhaps blondes were more to his taste.

The reporter’s voice carried across the camp fire. “I could sure use that hot tub you have at your place.”

Jess smiled. “It’s still there. After tomorrow you’ll be back at the ranch.”

“Thank goodness. This primitive stuff is fine for these gung-ho Amazons, but I’ll take wine in crystal, served in the comfort of my bed.”

Jess’s laughter ground Autumn’s annoyance deeper. Amazons, indeed. At least she wasn’t window dressing for her job.

Autumn inwardly groaned, aware of the cattiness of her thoughts. She should be thankful the reporter had Jess’s attention.

She closed her eyes and, for a while, managed to shut out the sight of Jess and the blonde reporter. The breeze fanned her cheeks as she concentrated on the familiar sounds. Under the hum of voices she could hear the song of the tree frog, its cry eerie in the desert night. She longed for the solitude that had been hers this past year.

At first, she’d been frightened of all the night sounds, but now they were welcome. The desert had seemed vast and lonely, but she’d learned to see the beauty that abounded. For several minutes she let the thoughts of that beauty balance her emotions.

“Don’t tell me you’re asleep,” a low voice murmured.

Autumn opened her lids and found herself staring into silver-gray eyes. Unexpected warmth crept in and she smiled at Jess. “It would be impossible in this crowd.” She wondered why he was no longer talking to television’s fashion queen.

“Looks like we have everyone we need for the dig.” Jess surprised her further when he settled on the rock she was leaning against. “We’ve got a surveyor, cartographer, stratographer—the works. I’m surprised he didn’t bring more students, though.”

Autumn’s gaze drifted to where Wayne Carson sorted through his and the professor’s gear. “I don’t think he wanted to bother with training them. Wayne and I already know how he operates.”

“You going to like doing all this digging around?”

“It gives you a feeling of oneness with the earth. I’ve spent a year hiking this place.” She observed the circle of faces shadowed by firelight. “Once I get used to a crowd again, I’m going to be glad to have someone to talk to for a change.”

Jess lowered himself from the boulder and settled into the sand beside her. “It’s been lonely for you?”

Again she wondered why he was so nice all of a sudden. She wanted to be annoyed, but couldn’t stop the yearning and desire. “Most of the time I don’t mind it, but since I grew up in a big family, I guess I miss all the people. We were always entertaining, and the variety was never dull. One day my father would introduce us to the Rothschilds, and the next day, street people would be sitting in the parlor.”

“You haven’t had much social life this past year.”

Autumn wondered if he was going to decide now to discuss their broken relationship. She wasn’t sure she was ready for it. “Being alone in the wilderness makes you face up to yourself. I’ve grown to love the desert country.”

Looking up, they both followed the rough line of steep canyon walls to the star-laden sky. Light from the moon cast jagged shadows in the sandstone.

“It’s different here—not lush and green, like most people picture nice scenery,” she commented as she returned her attention to the camp fire. “It’s harsh, but it makes the beauty stand out.”

“You stand out.”

“Do I?” Her glance flew to his and became captured.

“You’re like a rare gem sparkling in the desert sand.”

A combination of wistfulness and reluctance sounded in his voice, and Autumn realized he was as uneasy about their close proximity as she was. She decided to lighten the mood.

“You sound like my brothers—full of blarney.”

“O’Neill? Hmmm—Irish brothers—guess I’d better watch my step.”

“Not to worry. They’re miles away.”

“But they used to protect you?” He straightened his shoulders.

“Used to be gung-ho champions. It made dating difficult in high school.” An ache drifted through her. “They haven’t been too pleased with me lately.”

His interest seemed to heighten as he leaned toward her. “Why?”

She hesitated a moment, aware of others within hearing distance, but they all seemed busy with their own conversations and private thoughts. She returned her attention back to Jess, trying to figure out if he was really that interested.

“I wanted to find out who my real family was. I think they are hurt by that.” She still suffered remorse about the pain she caused her family because of this quest. She tried to assure them that she felt their love and knew she belonged to them. It was just that she needed to know her biological family.

Jess didn’t react. His expression remained immobile while he held her attention with his eyes. “Are they involved in this search?”

Autumn’s tension eased a notch. “No. They’re natural sons of my adoptive parents. But, you see, I wanted to know about my Navajo heritage. Donny and Mike think I’m crazy.” She shrugged. “Maybe they don’t like to think of me as part Indian.”

Was he concealing a flare of emotion? It had been too brief a glimpse for her to tell exactly what it was. Her instincts suggested bitterness or resentment. There were also shades of the disdain he’d shown before today.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the rock. His look reminded her of her brothers. They thought she was daft, hanging around where she wasn’t wanted.

Her brothers were only half of it. Her mother resented Autumn’s attempts to establish ties with her Navajo relatives. It was her father who understood her need to seek out her biological roots. He’d been the only one to approve. But then, he knew the value of family ties. The O’Neills were close-knit and treasured the family history that went all the way back to castles in Ireland.

Jess stood; Autumn was not surprised. She expected him to leave, but he held out his hand for her to grasp.

“Let’s get away from here. Walk with me.”

The invitation was a clear indication of interest. Did he really want to be near her? She shook her head. “No, thanks.”

To her surprise he knelt back down. “Worried?” he gestured to the group. “Surely not about what they’re going to think.”

For several moments she searched his expression, certain now there were ulterior motives behind his request. “What’s up, Jess? Why are you really here?” Maybe he pictured the dig as an opportunity to renew their relationship. The thought both warmed and annoyed her.

He shrugged and appeared nonchalant, but she could tell he wasn’t. Too much tension radiated from him.

“There are a lot of people here. This is my ranch…”

“Seems to me, as I recall, you had demanding responsibilities in September.” That’s what he’d told her last year when she’d questioned him about his evasive behavior. “Roundup, wasn’t it?”

His expression closed. “The cattle are being driven to winter pasture.”

“And they don’t need your guidance this year?” Her sarcasm emphasized the last words.

“My foreman’s capable of handling it.”

“But he wasn’t last year?” She stood, her unexpected anger fueled by hurt.

“What happened last year has nothing to do with this.” He reached for her arm.

She shook off his hand. “Evidently not. Obviously this is more important than our relationship.”

His mouth clamped shut as he glared a warning. The silence around them penetrated her emotions. The people near them were staring.

Jess spoke low so they couldn’t hear. “You ready for that walk now?”

Anxious to escape the curiosity, she nodded and allowed him to lead her away.

His fingers were warm, his grip firm. As they wove their way through the crowd scattered around the fire, she attempted to appear unmoved.

He grasped her hand and helped her around a washed-up log. Gravel crunched underfoot as they picked their way by moonlight up the flat wash of the canyon floor. Boulders piled in jumbled formations lined the edges like the walls of a giant maze. Thorny bushes reached out and grab at their clothing. Jess pushed a long branch aside for her to pass by.

When she stepped close, Jess realized he was much more aware of her than he wanted to be. He should only be concerned about her possible connection to this drug ring. Yet when she brushed against him, involuntary longings raced up his arm. Her perfume mingled with the earthy scents of the desert air—wildflowers and sage. He took a deep breath and enjoyed the proud way she walked. It had pleased him to watch how she carried her height with such poise and ease through the crowd of people.

Ever since he’d been with her in the ruins this afternoon, he’d wanted her. He wanted to kiss those lips that smiled so readily, press her flesh against his, and feel her heart race with anticipation—like his did now. It was pure lust for her body. He tried to convince himself it was nothing more.

When they’d covered some distance, she slowed her pace and let him walk beside her. “Jess,” she murmured, “what happened between us? Why are you with me now after all this time? Are you trying to pretend the last few months never existed?”

He wished they hadn’t. “Whoa,” he said instead. “Slow down and give me one question at a time.” And how was he going to answer them? He couldn’t just come right out and accuse her of running drugs. He longed to confront her and get it over with, but that never worked. He’d blow his carefully protected cover.

“We had something between us. I know it was special for you. What happened?”

“Maybe it wasn’t so special,” he lied.

She stopped, her abruptness catching him off guard. He faced her, wishing he could see her expression more clearly.

“I don’t believe that,” she told him. “It’s something else—something that has nothing to do with you and me. Can’t you talk about it?”

“No.” That was the truth, at least. “Let’s keep going.”

He could tell she wasn’t buying that and he didn’t blame her. There was no point in elaborating. He couldn’t even explain to himself why he tormented them with this walk.