MM02 - Until Morning Comes (12 page)

“Is it a perfect day?”

“It is, and it will continue to be. There's the cross-country race this afternoon—which I will win. And you will be at the finish line to greet me, dressed in your prettiest party dress. Then we will dance the night away... unless you have better ideas.”

She could only guess how much of his good humor and optimism was make-believe. But how could she be afraid when he was there at her side?

After the meal the four of them drove back home, Colter and Jo Beth in the front seat and Little Deer in the back seat with Zar. Jo Beth had insisted that Little Deer ride up front with Colter, but Little Deer had been just as adamant about leaving that seat of honor for Jo Beth.

“Contrary to what you might think, I know how to act in these situations.”

Neither Colter nor Jo Beth had dared ask her, “What situations?” They were too busy counting their blessings. When they reached home, Little Deer excused herself and went off to rest for the evening event, the Wheel Dance.

Jo Beth accompanied Colter to the paddock to get Chieftain. She stood by the fence listening as he patted the horse's muzzle and spoke in rapid and fluid Athabascan. She closed her eyes and let the music of his voice wash over her. At that moment she thought that she could live and die on that mountain as long she could hear Colter's magical, mystical voice.

She couldn't have said exactly when sparks had changed to love, but she suspected the transition had something to do with that wonderful voice. Hugging her arms around her waist, she let herself drift and dream under the spell of Colter speaking his Apache language.

“Napping, Jo Beth?”

Her eyes snapped open. Napping was as good an excuse as any, she decided.

“How can I ever keep a secret if you keep sneaking up on me like that?”

“I never sneak. I walk without sound. It's the Apache way.” He held out one hand. “Come.”

She put her hand in his and followed him to the barn to ready Chieftain for the cross-country race. He threw the blanket across the stallion and walked him out into the sunshine. Then he mounted and leaned down to Jo Beth.

“Will you be waiting for me at the finish line?”

“Yes. Nothing could keep me away, Colter.”

He leaned closer. “A kiss for luck before I go?”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. When the kiss ended, she stepped back. “I’ll follow you to the starting point in the truck.”

“You need your rest for the night ahead.”

“Doctor's orders?”

He smiled. “Doctor's suggestion. I would never dare give you orders, Jo Beth McGill. I still remember that big stick.”

“It's a darned good thing you do.” She sprinted off, calling as she ran. “See you at the starting point.”

She whistled for Zar and climbed into the truck, and they headed back into the small village. She was there long before Colter, for he wanted to save Chieftain for the long ride ahead.

When she saw him coming, she separated herself from the crowd. He galloped toward her, so magnificent on his white stallion that he brought tears to her eyes.

“You belong here, Colter,” she whispered to herself, “in a way that I never can.”

Colter drew the stallion to a halt beside her and leaned far down to catch her face. “Wait for me, Jo Beth.”

“I’ll wait forever if I have to.”

He pressed his lips against hers, and then he was gone. She watched him line up with the other men who would ride the grueling cross-country race. There were four of them, but the most magnificent of all was Colter.

The signal was given, and the riders were off. Hooves drummed upon the ground and dust spewed up behind them. She shaded her eyes, straining to keep Colter and Chieftain in her sight as long as she could. The men rode hard and expertly, leaning low over their mounts so that they seemed to be a part of the animals they rode. Finally Colter was nothing more than a speck of white in the distance. Only then did she turn and head back to his mother's ranch.

“I could borrow a nice Indian dress for you.”

Little Deer sat in the rocking chair and watched the future mother of her grandchildren come out in a dress that looked like something those soap-opera women wore on television.

“That's kind of you, but I'm not a nice Indian. I'm a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman who has gone and fallen in love with a nice Indian.”

Little Deer laughed. “You have spunk, don't you?”

“I always have and I always will.” She lifted the skirt of her blue halter dress. “I hope it's not too showy.”

“My son has the blood of chiefs in his veins. It is appropriate that his woman be the most richly dressed at the dance.” She left her chair and touched the skirt of Jo Beth's dress. “It looks like summer clouds. What is that material? Silk?”

“Silk chiffon.”

“I had to know so I could brag to Bessie Running Water.” She linked arms with Jo Beth. “We will go now.”

o0o

Little Deer had slept late, so they were among the last to reach the village. Pleading old age, Little Deer elected to wait in the truck while Jo waited at the finish line.

Jo Beth merged into the crowd, pressing as close to the finish line as she could. All around her, people were talking about the cross-country race. Some were placing bets and some were telling stories, and everyone had a different story to tell.

“They say Big Elk was ahead at the bend of the river.”

“One saw the white stallion. It's Gray Wolf, not Big Elk.”

“No. Runners were sent into the mountains. The white stallion lost his footing. Gray Wolf is down.”

Jo Beth thought she would faint. She turned to the last speaker, a big man she hadn't remembered seeing that morning.

“Has something happened to Colter?” She plucked his sleeve. “Please, I have to know.”

“Runners carried a litter into the mountains. Some say his skull was crushed.”

All the air left her lungs. “Where?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“In the Bear Canyons.”

Her mind raced. She had to get to Colter. What would be best for him? Should she wait for the runners to return so she could load him up quickly and take him to the nearest hospital, or should she ask someone to drive her into the canyons? Could she even get there in the truck?

“Someone's coming.” The cry went up, and the entire crowd tensed. From a distance came the thundering of horse's hooves.

Jo Beth didn't wait at the finish line. She broke free of the crowd and ran toward the approaching rider. Every beat of the horse's hooves vibrated through her. Her high heels felt as if they would crack under the pressure and her lungs burned with the effort, but still she ran. When she was free of the crowd, free of the village, she stopped to catch her breath. Panting, she hung her head down.

It was then that she heard her name being called.

“Jo! JO!”

She jerked her head up, and there, coming down from the mountain, was Colter, bending low over the head of his white stallion. Relief made her so weak she almost sank to the ground.

She lifted one hand, and he raced toward her. The stallion, set on gaining the finish line, whinnied sharply and reared in the air when Colter brought him to a stop.

He gentled the horse with his hands until only a tremor betrayed his nervousness. Jo ran to him.

“Colter! You're safe.”

“Jo, what's wrong?” Colter bent down to her and put one hand on her face. “You're pale.”

“I thought you were hurt. Oh, Colter. I thought you were dead.” Her hand trembled on his leg.

He slid off the horse and gathered her into his arms. With his hands on her bare back, he soothed her. “There, sweet. There, Yellow Bird.” He pressed his lips into her hair. 'Tell me what's wrong.”

“Back at the village they said a man had been hurt.”

“Where?”

“The Bear Canyons. Runners have been sent.”

“They would take the narrow path, the shortcut. It's difficult on a horse, but not impossible.” He made a swift decision. “My bag is in the truck. I”ll leave you back at the village.”

“I'm going with you, Colter.” She kicked off her shoes. “I've done enough volunteer hospital work to be of help.”

He nodded, then vaulted onto the horse. With one hand he drew Jo Beth up behind him.

“Hold on tight, Jo.”

They raced toward the village.

Chapter Eight

It took them almost an hour to get to the fallen man.

The trail was steep and winding, and Colter couldn't hurry for fear of his horse losing footing. Halfway up the trail they came upon the runners. Colter stopped long enough to tell them that he would go ahead with his medical bag and that they should continue with the litter.

“How will we ever find him?” Jo asked.

“The course is well known to anyone who has ever ridden it. I know approximately where a rider could have gone over.”

She shivered and squeezed her arms tighter around his waist. “I'm glad it wasn't you. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you.”

“Nothing will ever happen to me, Jo Beth. I'm indestructible.”

“You're not.”

“Doctors have to be.”

He laughed, but there was no mirth in the sound. Colter Gray Wolf was far from being mirthful. Never had his betrayal of his people weighed more heavily on him. A thousand
if onlys
played through his mind. If only he'd finished his clinic. If only he'd stayed. But regret changed nothing. It was best not to think of anything now except finding the hapless rider.

He concentrated on the trail. “Keep your eyes open, Jo. We're almost there. Look for any sign of horse or rider.”

Colter saw the first sign, a gray filly, missing both blanket and rider.

“Clyde Lightfoot. At least the filly is unhurt. That's a good sign.”

“Do you think he's close?”

“Yes. He's a good trainer. His filly would be trained to stay close.”

Colter drew to a halt and dismounted. Then he helped Jo down. He smiled when he saw her stockinged feet.

“You'e liable to pick up a stone bruise with those bare feet.”

“It's a small price to pay for knowing you're safe.”

They followed the rim of the canyon for a few hundred feet, and then they saw Clyde. He was caught in a small crevice down the side of the canyon wall, and his head was bleeding profusely.

Colter leaned over the wall. “Clyde. Can you hear me?”

“Gray Wolf. Is that you?”

Clyde's voice was weak, but at least he was conscious. Colter was encouraged.

“I'm going to see if I can reach you. Hang on.”

Colter stretched flat on the rocks and leaned far down over the wall. Loose rocks skittered over the rim and bounced down to the bottom of the canyon.

“Be careful, Colter.”

“I can't reach you, Clyde. Hold on a while longer.”

Colter raised himself up and whistled for his horse. Chieftain trotted to his side. Colter stroked his muzzle and talked to him in Athabascan. Then he began to unfasten the halter.

“What are you doing?”

“Using this halter as an extension to lower myself over the wall.” Jo Beth paled. “Fate was smiling on Clyde today. Six years ago we didn't use these leather halters for the races.”

He lashed one end of the leather halter around his right leg and tied the other around the leg of his stallion. “Don't make a move, Jo. Don't make a sound.”

“Will he stand for you?”

“If he remembers his training he will.”

She held her breath while Colter maneuvered himself over the wall. A thousand horrors came to her mind—the horse bolting, dragging Colter across the rocks; the leather breaking, plunging Colter into the canyon floor; the horse rearing up in fright, stomping Colter to pieces.

None of that happened. Colter gave a few short commands, and Chieftain began to back slowly. Colter reappeared over the wall, pulling Clyde with him.

In short order Colter had untied himself and was treating Clyde's injuries. Jo squatted beside him, handing him gauze pads.

“It's not as bad as it looks. There are some bleeders on the scalp that always make head injuries look fatal. It's just a small gash.” Colter's fingers were nimble as he talked. “The biggest injury is this broken finger.”

Clyde's middle finger was twisted, so that it pointed backward. Colter gave him a shot for pain, them quickly set and splinted the finger.

By the time he was finished, the runners had arrived. Colter helped them put Clyde on the litter, then promised to visit him early the next morning. He stood, watching them disappear.

He had that quiet, faraway look on his face that Jo had come to dread. Cold fingers of premonition dragged up her spine.

“Colter.”

He turned to her. “We’ll stay a while so that Chieftain can rest. He's been ridden hard today.” He took the blanket off the horse and spread it on the rocks. “It will be sweaty, but it's the best I can offer right now.”

Colter sat down and leaned against a rock. Jo sat beside him, hugging her knees. He made no move to reach for her. She felt a chill wind bite at her bare back, but she didn't shiver. Right now she wanted Colter's confidence, not his sympathy, and she sensed that he was ready to give it.

“I'm glad you came with me, Jo. You made a good nurse. Thanks.”

“Anytime, Doctor.”

She laid her head on her knees and studied him. He was gazing down the trail, the way they had come.

“What do you see, Colter?”

“The past.” She waited, never taking her eyes from his face. “When I was young I dreamed of being a doctor. My parents dreamed of it too. But my dream was different from theirs. I pictured myself in a large hospital in a large city—in the white man's world, Jo—and they pictured me in the village, helping my people.”

“You achieved your dream.”

“At what cost?” He got up and walked away.

She saw the tenseness in his stance, the tight muscles in his back. Her first impulse was to go to him, to put her arms around him and comfort him, but every instinct told her to stay.

Over and over Colter had told her that he had to make his journey of the soul alone. And now he was making it. The only difference was that he was letting her share the journey. She wouldn't betray that trust.