Trace: Follow His Destiny (4 page)

“I’ll lift the front end up an inch or so, just enough so the wheels won’t need to turn and the back won’t drag,” the stranger said and then stopped and looked at his feet. “Uh, you should probably stand back; I would hate to accidently drop it on your feet.”

“You seem to be a pro at this,” Shane commented to the tall cowboy in front of him and laughed at the man’s confusion. “I hate shoes; in fact, if I could, I would go without them. Makes it so much easier to shift.”

Trace laughed and nodded as if it made perfect sense and then said, “I’m used to helping my neighbors. With one person per square mile and a town spread over fifty square miles, you learn to pitch in.” Trace answered. “Okay we’re all set, hop in, and point me where you need to go.” They both climbed into the cab and the dogs jumped over into the back seat. Just before he started his engine, his stomach growled. “Excuse me, maybe after we get you settled, you can point me in the direction of a café or restaurant where I can get a quick meal?”

“Sure, no problem. For now, hang a left at the first light and the service station is on the next block on the right. Why were you headed to the compound? I’m asking because I’m an Enforcer for the pack and right now to get onto the compound is a little difficult.”

“Well actually, I came to meet your Alphas. What can you tell me about them? I grew up in an Aerie, and though I’ve met other shifters occasionally in my travels, I’ve only ever lived with eagles,” Trace said to Shane. He was hoping a fellow eagle would take pity on him and help him get settled in this strange new place. He wasn’t accustomed to so many people. And he was glad the pack had left Denver.

“Do you know about the challenge to our Alpha Quin? This may not be the best time to ask for a meeting with Quin and Jaden. Although Cami would probably love to meet another eagle,” Shane said and rolled his eyes. “If you’re going to spend any time here, you have to know one thing. The female Alpha, Cami, has this thing about meeting other shifters. I mean, you are lucking out because she has already met my family and me, but she will still have a million questions. We have lived with the Pack for too long to give her enough info on the eagles. She’s a wolf now of course, when I first met her she was still human, and it’s been only a year, so she’s still very curious.”

“Uh, well, I guess that I can tell her what I know. And yes, I know about the challenge. I really pushed the drive because I wanted to be here for it, I left Niarada at about 3 am so it’s been a long day for me. Who should I let know that I’m here? I would rather talk to the Alphas all together, but I can wait if I need to,” Trace asked as he slowly pulled into the service station.

“Let’s get the car in for service and then head over to my parents’ house. You’ll get a good meal from either Mom or Dad and we can make some calls.”

“Thank you, that sounds great. Would you mind my asking you what tribe you’re with?

I’ve been raised with the Salish and recently found out I’m one of the Diné, or Navajo, the Feather People clan,” Trace said to Shane.

“Wow, I’m also Diné. In Diné culture you take on your mother’s clan, your ‘born into clan’, my mom’s also of the Feather People clan so we’re probably related in some way.

Mom will know, she still keeps in touch with family back in New Mexico. Dad is a roamer from Ireland and migrated to California in the thirties. He’s a total flower child now, everything natural which fits in with our tribal beliefs of ‘walking in beauty’. He and mom met just after he got out of the Peace Corps, they were protesting the continued removal of Navajo kids to live in boarding schools. The Belegaana thought making them live as whites would integrate them into white society, go figure. All they did was go back to their families, the result? It created a huge culture gap between the generations. We’re still recovering. You know, since we’re the same clan, which makes us brothers by Diné custom and the duty of my family to see to your needs, you know watch over you while you’re here. Give you food and make sure you have a place to stay and everything.” Shane gave Trace a grin and held out his hand. “Welcome to Milliken, brother.” Maybe that was why he felt the kinship and the zing; his eagle recognized him as a brother.

“Thank you, it’s good to be welcomed. I wasn’t sure what to expect.” This guy sure talks a lot, Trace thought. He’s a good balance for me; people always complain I don’t talk enough, one to talk and one to listen. He wondered about their mate.

“No worries, now cross your fingers that mom made fry bread, she got the recipe from her mom. Gran is the peck of our Aerie in New Mexico between Windowrock and Shiprock from Chuska Lake to Berland Lake. Good fishing there, I try to migrate down at least once a year. She probably knows your folks,” Shane said with a smile.

“My parents are gone; they hid with the Salish for years to protect me. I wouldn’t be surprised if your Gran wasn’t friends with my Peck, Genaya, back in Niarada. You know how they like to run everyone’s lives. Genaya gave me the name of my Peck in New Mexico, her name is Niyol, she didn’t talk to me but wants me to come visit,” Trace drawled back. By this time, they were pulling into the drive way of a nice house in Milliken.

“Wow, that’s my gran, and I feel ya on the visit. She’s always introducing me to her nieces, pecking at me to settle down with a nice Eagless.” Shane laughed in commiseration. “Okay, Trace, first lesson for a Diné eagle, they heard the truck in the drive. We wait for mom or dad to open the door showing they are ready for visitors. See there’s mom now, let’s go.” They hopped out of the cab.

“Is it okay for Clark and Lois to come along? They’ve been cooped up in the truck for a long time,” Trace asked.

“Sure thing, mom likes dogs.” Shane said as he walked over to his mother. Trace and the two huskies followed behind.

“Ya’at eeh Shane.” Shane’s mother spoke the traditional greeting.

“Ya’at eeh. Mom, this is Trace Pete, Trace, this is my mom, Willow Arno. He grew up among the Salish but he’s Diné.” Shane said. “Actually, he’s Feather People clan like us.”

“Ya’at eeh Trace, you will be a brother to Shane and I will call you nephew, you may call me Willow or Auntie. Our home is your home while you are here. Please come inside.”

“Yaut Ay Willow, thank you for having me in your home.” Trace struggled over the unfamiliar greeting. He thought Shane’s mom looked at him a little strangely.

Trace stood and looked at Mrs. Arno for a minute, “Ma’am, Shane told me that your mother is Niyol, Peck of your original Diné Aerie before you all settled here. I found out that I’m really Diné and not Salish as I was raised. Would you contact your mother and find out anything you can about my mother? She died when I was still a fledgling.”

“Why of course I will, Trace, do you know when she left the aerie? Please don’t speak her name; it’s against our culture to speak the names of those who are gone. It might call her chindi, her ghost to us. The diné believe all ghosts are evil,” she explained to him with a kind smile.

“Well I’m thirty two, and I understand they left New Mexico to be ambassadors to the Council two years before I was born,” he said and then was surprised when she gasped.

“Oh my dear, dear boy.” She started crying, ran over, and put her arms around him. He didn’t know what to do so he just held her. “I’m sorry, it’s just that…” She stopped and sniffled and pulled herself together. “It’s just been so long, my sister.” And she cried a little more.

“You and Shane are first cousins; which in the Diné means you’re brothers. So you are brothers of the same clan and brothers of the same family.” Trace was shocked; the last thing he expected upon entering Milliken was to find family.

He didn’t know how to respond.

“I think we’ll both need some time to adjust to this new happiness. We’ll have a laughing party as soon as we can to welcome you, better late than never. For now, come along, I’ve been fixing fry bread and smoked salmon for Shane, there’s plenty.” Trace looked at Shane and mouthed ‘laughing party’ with a lift of his brow. Shane chuckled, “I’ll explain later, buddy. Go on in and eat, I’m going to make a quick call.” Chapter 3

Bama stepped out of the Limo at the Parmillo Airport holding her purse and jewelry case and watched as the driver and skycaps loaded her luggage onto three carts. She hoped the three steamer trunks and four suitcases held enough to last her the three to four weeks she needed to get through until the rest of her things arrived. She hated packing in a rush. She stepped through the doors and walked up to the charter counter.

“Good Evening Mr. Trujillo, is the plane ready?” She asked the clerk.

“Good Evening, Miss Aguilar, yes the plane is ready to take off as soon as your luggage is loaded. After you step through the doors, a cart will take you to the plane. Enjoy your trip,” he answered with a smile.

“Thank you, I will.” And she turned to go. She took the cart and was soon at the plane.

She could see them loading her luggage into the luggage compartment just before she started up the stairs.

She turned to the Captain standing in the door to the cockpit as she entered. “Julio, so you’re flying me, wonderful. How is your family?”

“They are all doing quite well, Lucia was disappointed it was my turn to fly and hers to take the young ones. She made me promise to ask you something about shoes, I’m glad she wrote it down because I don’t remember.” He laughed.

“That’s fine; you can give it to me later. You won’t mind if I spend some time at the controls? I need to keep my hand in. This flight is about four and a half hours, yes?”

“Yes, that is correct, as soon as we’re out of Venezuelan airspace come up any time,” he said. “You should get settled in now for take-off. Don’t forget to turn off your cell.” Six hours later, she was walking into her suite at the Deco Hotel. She’d left most of her luggage with the plane and only brought one of the larger suitcases, as she’d only be in Omaha for two days. She looked around the room, very nice indeed.

As she unpacked her clothes, only twelve or so outfits and just the bare minimum of eight pairs of shoes, she ran over the schedule of events in her head. Breakfast with the Mayor and City Council, then a tour of the town, followed by lunch with the Chamber of Commerce, and then she would be free for the afternoon to shop and then dinner with the Board of Directors of the Henry Doorly zoo. She hoped they’d appreciate that she’d brought two pairs of Red Howler monkeys instead of one. Some idiot human at the nature preserve near San Cristóbal had sent a mated pair of Harpy Eagles. That is the favor her mother wanted her to accomplish, releasing those eagles. Bama was descended from the first Harpy People her bloodline had the ability to communicate with all birds. So during the after-hours tour of the zoo, she’d make contact and arrange for their release. And the release of any other avian that preferred life outside. Of course, many birds, not feeling the pull of migration didn’t mind captivity. They didn’t have to work for food or risk their young and lived longer lives.

As a sister city to San Cristóbal, her mother’s duties as mayor had made it hard to refuse the transfer of the birds to the US. As the Peck of the Eagle Parliament, she couldn’t possibly condone putting two eagles, even full eagles into a cage. A four acre bird sanctuary was still a cage to her, Bama felt the same way.

Bama may have stepped down as head of the covert wing of the Aerie’s army to take on the Ambassadorship, but she hadn’t lost her skills. She’d present the Red Howler Monkeys at dinner. The zoo could keep them, she didn’t care. A species that kills their young to get the females ready to mate belong in cages, besides they’re food. So she would find out at dinner where the harpies were being held, and then she would return and rescue them between three and four a.m. The moon was nearly full so she’d have plenty of light. The next day she would be sympathetic about the loss, explain that they couldn’t possibly let go of two more eagles and leave town.

Happy with the way she had things planned, she went to bed. Unfortunately, since leaving the plane she’d forgotten to turn her cell back on, so she didn’t get the message from her mother. Bama did not give a thought to contacting her mother. They had made their plans for Denver months ago and Omaha was child’s play to one of her skills.

She never would have guessed that something had gone wrong with her plans. So far, everything had proceeded according to schedule.

The next day and night went as expected. The zoo had been understandably upset and she had to take a few more hours than she originally thought to calm them down. Who would have guessed they would be this upset? True, they had lost a total of forty mated pairs; she just couldn’t get worked up about it so it was a good thing she was such a good actress. The rest of the day had gone right on schedule and she was at least happy about that. The officials had been also a little upset that she was leaving so soon after the mishap, she was sure they would continue to try and talk her into giving them more animals, but she explained that she had other pending diplomatic visits before returning home and could not possibly delay her timetable. Thankfully, they had not pressed the issue. She would have hated to have disappeared; it would have raised too many eyebrows.

She was once again in the jet, and now flying into Denver. She was quite pleased that Julio had granted her wish and let her fly the plane. It cheered her up after her schedule being messed with; she’d had to cancel an entire morning of shopping to deal with the zoo’s board of directors. At least she could feel like she was soaring over the clouds while in the cockpit. Her skin was beginning to itch for a change. She frowned a little; since she was a teenager, she had not felt this unsettled. Something was bothering her eagle, and she did not have enough time to analyze it. The pilot came forward and her thoughts were quickly changed when he said they were approaching Denver.

She could see the lights in the distance and she grinned. It was beautiful in the night sky, the lights of the Front Range sparkling and welcoming her. She was going to love her new home. Bama wanted to clap her hands in glee at the thought of the following fall. She would be settled into her job and on the first snow she would curl up in front of the fire and watch it fall from her condo. It was never too early to plan, she thought, it may only be April, but she would need to shop for boots and coats. What fun she would have!