Under A Painted Sky (Spirit Warrior Series) (18 page)

I made my way to the
rock waterfall and allowed the water to cascade down over me. The other two
followed suit.

I said, “Can anybody
believe what has just transpired?”

Cheveyo said, “It is
definitely surreal!”

“It is pretty
unbelievable,” Logan said.

I stood under the
waterfall and the tears welled up again. I was thankful for the water cascading
over my face so nobody knew that I was emotional again. I stood there as my
troubles floated away. I felt so cleansed after my tears subsided. It was as if
the old things had passed away and everything was fresh and new.

I was feeling happy. I
got out of the pool and wrapped a towel around me and dried off. The sun was
going down in the land of enchantment and it was just incredible. I pointed to
the sky saying, “Look, guys.”

“Oh, that is gorgeous,”
Logan said.

“Yes, I try to never
take it for granted,” Cheveyo said.

I sat and watched the
sun go completely down as I didn’t want to miss the show. It was fantastic.

Then I went to the
kitchen to get the things for the grill. Logan came in and asked, “What are you
doing?”

I said, “Getting things
I need to cook on the grill.”

“I will do the grilling
if you will get me the things. That is my specialty.”

“That’s fine with me.
I’ll make the salad and potatoes,” I said.

Cheveyo walked into the
kitchen and asked, “What can I do?”

“You can grab some
plates and silverware and set the table if you like,” I replied.

“Done,” he said.

I made the salad while
the potatoes were in the microwave,
then
looked around
in the fridge and freezer for dessert. I found the perfect dessert for
summertime—Ben & Jerry’s coffee ice cream with heath bar. That will do just
fine.

I went outside and
checked on the guys. Cheveyo had the table set and even picked fresh flowers
and had them in a vase on the table.

“Cheveyo, I am
impressed. This is nice,” I said.

“Thank you,” he
responded.

Logan was just now
starting to take up the steaks.

“Smells really good out
here, Logan,” I said.

“How do you like your
steak?” he asked.

“Medium rare,” I
answered.

“I’ll have the same,”
Cheveyo said.

“I’ll just grab more
sodas,
then
I’ll be ready,” I said.

I brought them back and
we all sat down for our meal. We started eating and we were looking out over
that beautiful sky now filled with lights from the city that go on forever. I
noticed the iconic illuminated green, blue and purple buildings of downtown
Albuquerque. It was like a symphony of lights some twinkling in the distance.

Cheveyo raised his
glass of soda and said, “Here’s to a beautiful and peaceful night and a great
couple, Logan and Isabella. May all your dreams come
true.
Cheers.”

“I’ll drink to that.
Cheers,” Logan and I said at the same time.

“So, Cheveyo, is there
anyone special in your life?” I asked.

“Yes, but she doesn’t
know it yet. I’m just kidding. I did meet someone and I wanted to ask her out,
but no, I don’t have anyone special yet,” he replied.

“Well, I know you will
meet someone soon because you are pretty cool,’ I told him.

“Thanks,” he said.

“How is your music
going, man?” Logan asked.

“Well, I play sometimes
in Old Town and at special events and parties. I am on YouTube, of course. I
have two CDs so far and I am doing pretty well on iTunes. I have around 75,000
downloads, so I’m advancing,” Cheveyo replied.

“That is great, man,”
Logan said.

“What kind of music do
you make, Cheveyo?” I asked.

“I play the Native
American flute. It is my desire to keep the music of my people alive. I do the
sounds of the canyons, many sounds of nature and the sounds of our fathers. It
is very peaceful. I guess it balances me out. This spirit warrior thing can get
me all hyped up and my music is an outlet for that energy and it calms my
soul,” he said.

“Did you bring your
flute?” Logan asked.

“Yes, I keep it with
me,” Cheveyo answered.

“You will have to play
it for Isabella after we eat then,” Logan said.

“I would be honored, if
she wants to hear it,” Cheveyo said.

“I would love to hear
it. I love all kinds of music. I saw them playing the flutes in Old Town and I
was just mesmerized by the music,” I said.

We finished our food
and I offered dessert.

They both declined and
said they would have to wait. I cleared the table and Logan helped me.

Cheveyo tried and Logan
told him to get his instrument. I put the dishes in the dishwasher and turned
it on. Cheveyo went to the patio with his instrument case.

Logan gave me a sultry
kiss that should have fogged the windows.

“What was that for?” I
asked.

“That was because I
love everything about you,” Logan said.

“Ditto,” I replied.

I turned off the stereo
and we went out to the patio where Cheveyo was all set up.

He looked very handsome
in his red and black trunks, holding his black flute with his hair flowing long
behind his head.

“Okay, the first song I
am going to play is ‘Lonesome Wind’,” Cheveyo told us.

He played his flute and
it was definitely a lonesome sound, but at the same time, a beckoning,
beautiful sound. He finished and we both clapped, but we weren’t the only ones.
People were out on their verandas clapping. The sound carried much further here
with the wide-open spaces.

They yelled, “Encore,
encore.”

Logan said, “You heard
them, encore.”

So, Cheveyo started
another called ‘The Face of Love.’ As he played, I grabbed the hand of my love
and entwined it with mine. While looking into his gorgeous green eyes, I felt
as if the music was played just for us. Logan definitely is the face of love.
We had our own backyard concert going. It was not rock and roll, but it was
beautiful!

After about six songs
were played and much clapping, Cheveyo took a break. He thanked the crowd. I
went inside and grabbed him a cold drink.

“Thanks,” he said.

“No problem,” I
replied. “You are so talented, Cheveyo. I wish I could play an instrument. The
piano or something would be very cool.”

“You could do anything
you wanted, Isabella, if you set your mind to it,” Logan said.

“Sure, it takes a lot
of practice, but no doubt Logan is right,” Cheveyo said.

“Maybe someday I will.
The thing I want to do most is help people, which is why I went to nursing
school. The blood and needles freaked me out at first, but I had to get over it
to be in such a job. It was the only thing I could think of to make a
difference and know that my life means something,” I said.

“I don’t know,
Isabella; I think you made a huge difference this afternoon when you released
the soul of White Dove. Just sayin’…” Logan replied.

“That was a very
helpful, eternal and sacred thing you did. It was way bigger than giving
medicine and shots,” Cheveyo added.

“You know, I felt that
as well. I still feel it. I don’t think I will ever forget what happened here.
That was like an unspeakable love for her spirit to follow me home and to heal
me. I am not saying that I was not scared to death, because I would be lying. I
was very scared until after we all figured it out. It felt so incredible to
help someone go onto the next world. That was huge!”

Both guys nodded.

“It has, well, changed
me. I am not even the same person as I was before. I feel like I have a much
deeper understanding of my world and the spirits that are in it. Before I came
here, I did not believe in ghosts or spirits. This day has changed my life
forever. It was profound. If I could help others like this, I wouldn’t even
give nursing another thought. I can’t even explain how I felt when her spirit
left my body,” I told them.

Cheveyo said, “I have
seen much of this type of spirit activity. People seek me out because I grew up
a spirit warrior. Every time I have an encounter, I am well aware that I am
part of something huge. Something spiritual is the ultimate humbling
experience. We are much closer to our creator. It is a feeling like no other. It
does change you for the better, I think.”

“Even I feel like we
did something very incredible. It was awesome! I felt connected to White Dove
as well, because without her having healed Isabella, I would have missed out on
the love of my life. This whole thing has shaken me to my core,” Logan said.

The tears were rolling
down my face again; no ugly sound, just tears. Logan saw this and embraced me.
“I know, Isabella. It is okay just let it all go.”

I tried to do just
that. I tried to let all of it go and I just wept.

“It really does take
everything out of you. We could call it a night. Isabella’s has been through a
lot and should probably rest,” Cheveyo chimed in.

“I think you’re right.
Why don’t you take the last bedroom, Cheveyo, and I’ll take the one by Isabella,”
Logan said.

“Done,” Cheveyo said.

We picked up all of our
things outside and made our way inside. I asked who wanted music to sleep by
and Logan declined. I set the music for the first and third bedrooms upstairs
where we all went after saying our goodnights.

It felt very strange
having a house full of guests. I slipped on my PJ short set, washed my face,
then
brushed my teeth and hair. I slipped into my bed and
enjoyed the luxurious feel of the Egyptian sheets against my skin. I heard a
knock at the door and yelled, “Come in.” It was Logan.

“Isabella, I just
wanted to kiss you goodnight,” he said.

I sat up in the bed and
said, “No, I want to kiss you goodnight, Logan Hayes.”

He made his way to the
bed and I jumped out and threw my arms around him and kissed him so hard and
long that I saw stars.

“Logan, you are my love
of a lifetime and I feel so chosen to have you in my life. Thank you for being
here for me and for being wonderful. Every time you touch me, electricity
pulses through my body and I enter the spirit world of your heart and it is
overwhelmingly beautiful. To say I love
you,
seems
very lame for what I feel. You have touched my soul, and I have seen your
heart, and I know I am forever changed by the essence of you,” I told him.

“
Wow,
that
was beautiful.
Same to you.
I can’t top
that,” Logan said.

I kissed him once more
and he headed out the door and stopped at the doorway. He said, “Goodnight,
Isabella.”

“Goodnight, Logan” I
replied.

I fell asleep very
quickly and I woke up to that heavy breathing sound again, but this time I knew
just what it was. I ran out onto the veranda and there was a balloon that was
purple, blue, green, orange, yellow and white in a checked pattern that was
offset and looked really cool.

There were three people
in the balloon basket and the fire burner inside was going. The people in the
balloon waved at me and threw down cards. I picked up two that landed on the
veranda and yelled, “Thank you.”

Logan came into my room
and out on the veranda after hearing all of the fuss. He had his jeans on
already. He was smiling and said, “Good morning, Isabella.”

“Good morning, Logan.
Isn’t this the greatest way to wake up?” I asked.

Someone said, “It sure
is.” The sound came from downstairs. It was Cheveyo. He was already dressed and
out on the patio.

“Good morning,
Cheveyo,” I yelled.

“Good morning,
Rapunzel,” he replied.

Logan and I cracked up
laughing.

“I didn’t even hear you
get up,” Logan told him.

“I am very quiet when I
want to be,” Cheveyo said.

“I’m coming down to
make the coffee,” I called out.

“I’m coming with you,”
Logan said.

I went and made the
coffee and Logan shuffled out to the patio with Cheveyo. I placed my balloon
cards in an empty cookie jar. I might just have to get started collecting them.
Just as I did, the phone rang.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Hello, Isabella, how
are
you?” Aunt Carol asked.

“I am perfect, thanks,”
I responded.

“Has everything been
going okay?”

“It couldn’t be
better.” 

“That sounds promising.
How is Logan?”

“He is amazing.”

“I like the sound of
that. I have some business to take care of and will be flying back. I was
hoping to come see you next week.”