Whispering Spirits (29 page)

“What you talking about?” Domonique shouted,
stretching to see the damage.

“Charlie’s right,” Running Crane said.
“What’s the building east of the office?”

“The supplies and equipment shed. Terry must
have had an accident getting the explosives he needed. No…that
can’t be—”

“What’s wrong, Domonique? Why isn’t this
good?” Running Crane leaned over to see her reaction to the below
scene.

“The conference room was in the supply shed.
If my father was meeting with Borden and Winter…no! I don’t want
him to be dead. He should have to face humiliation for his actions.
He should have to endure prison. This isn’t fair.”

“Maybe they weren’t in the conference room
yet, Domonique. They still could be alive,” Summer said.

“Get us on the ground, Charlie. What the hell
are you hovering around up here for?” Domonique’s tone revealed her
desperation.

“Calm down, Domonique. He might not be dead.”
Running Crane leaned back in his seat.

“I could care less if he’s dead…don’t get me
wrong. It’s just not fair if he gets the easy out. I want him to
suffer like he made me suffer. I want him to be ridiculed and
demeaned in public, like he did me. We could have added fifty more
deaths to his charges…now…we can’t. He’ll find a way to get away
with it all. He has money…lots of money. He won’t pay a day for all
the people he’s hurt. You know he killed my mother, don’t you? He
said she was going to the grocery store. I was in the back seat and
we had a flat tire along the way. Some guy hit her with his truck
while she was flagging him down to help us. Do you believe that
shit? I wasn’t very old but I remember we had suitcases in the car.
I think she was taking me away from him…and he had her killed. He
does things like that. He always gets away with them. He always
gets away with shit. He has money…lots of money, you know.”

“Domonique, we’re on the ground. Why don’t
you stay here with me,” Summer got out of the chopper and helped
her out. “We can wait here and Running Crane will—”

Loud piercing screams cut through the air.
Summer scanned the smoky area ahead, then recognized her mother and
a man helping another man move away from the burning building.
Running Crane ran past her and Summer took several steps toward the
group.

She walked…each step seeming in slow-motion.
Summer sensed the presence of others helping her move forward. It
seemed she stepped in time with faraway beating drums. How she
crossed the distance, Summer wasn’t sure. She now stood staring at
her mother, holding Borden’s still body against her breast. Her
tears trailed through the dust and smoke on her cheeks…leaving
tracks of sorrow. He might have been the only man she ever
loved.

“I’m sorry for you, mother,” Summer
whispered.

Lost in her grief, Winter cried, pressing her
cheek against the top of Borden’s head.

Next to him lay a badly burned Germaine
Worthington. The pain on his face said it all. Summer glanced up
and found Domonique standing over him.

“So, you managed to live after all?”

“Domonique…the pain. Oh my God, the pain is
unbearable.”

“Good, maybe now you’ll understand what pain
feels like. How many people do you think you caused pain?”

“Daughter, I…did it all for you. I…love
you.”

Summer watched a single tear slide down
Domonique’s cheek.

“You only loved one person, Little
Lawrence…and he wasn’t even yours. I loved you so much…and you
never saw me. You wanted the boy that I couldn’t be. You blamed me
every single day. I was just a little girl. You said you’d stab him
to death if Winter kept seeing Borden…so I did it for you. Instead
of loving me more – you hated me.”

“I didn’t hate you. It’s just that you
reminded me every time I…oh…the pain. Have them get me something
for the pain.”

“I reminded you of what?”

“Of…seeing you covered in Little Lawrence’s
blood…holding my hunting knife. I should have charged Winter and
Borden right on the spot. She…she…should have loved me back. It
would have been so different…had she loved me back. The…pain— ”

Summer walked over to Domonique’s side and
looked down at Worthington. She cringed to see the entire right
side of his face blistered from the fire. She glanced down his side
and noticed that too had been burned beyond belief.

“Don’t let them…take me to prison. I have
lots of cash…it’s in Little Lawrence’s room in…the storage space
below his crib. Don’t let me…down…daughter.”

“I’m turning State’s evidence. You won’t hurt
anyone ever again. Bye, father.”

“Wait…why? Oh…the pain!”

“Why? You had Bradley Wild Horse killed. I
loved him. I carry his son and he’ll never know you.”

“I…had—”

“I know; you had paid to make sure I had a
miscarriage, like you did once before. Yes, I figured it out and
this time I made sure it didn’t happen. I’m having Bradley’s
son…and you’ll never see him or me again.” Domonique turned around
and walked away.

Summer slid her arm around Domonique’s
shoulder and walked back toward the chopper with her. They sat on
the ground, silent.

Glancing up, Summer recognized Running Crane
heading their direction. Next to him walked Terry Running Crane.
Summer got to her feet and ran into Running Crane’s arms. “Since
Terry’s hands aren’t in cuffs, I’m guessing he isn’t in
trouble?”

“Good to see you, too, Summer.”

“Oh, sorry. Hi, Terry. I recently heard your
son, Lewis, is doing much better now. I’m glad. How is Peggy?”

“Lewis and Peggy are both great. You
look…good.”

Summer laughed. “I’m a mess and look like
crap! Now that we’re done with niceties, did you blow up that
building?”

“Blunt as I remember. Yes, you might say I
did. I wanted Domonique to believe the explosion went off without a
hitch. That would give me time to get everyone out of the mine…and
rescue your father, grandmother, and Kevin. Just know I didn’t
realize anyone was in that conference room until one of the guys
gave me a message to give to Worthington. I almost got to the
building and she blew. I helped Winter get Borden further outside
and then ran back and short distance and found Worthington. I was
tempted to leave him where he fell.”

“How…my mother had some burns, but—”

“Borden must have covered her with his coat
and carried her out. He dropped to the ground just outside. Between
burns and smoke, he didn’t make it.”

Fire and ambulance truck sirens blared in the
distance.

“Will Worthington live?” Summer asked.

“He’s going to suffer in more ways than just
prison. Can’t say I’d wish anyone to have to live through the hell
he’s going to. He must have burns on at least eighty percent of his
body. Once he’s past that, he’ll face prison time for fraud,
kidnapping—”

“
Nah’ah
! Oh…
Nah’ah
. . . where
is she?” Summer looked up to see her grandmother walking her way.
It didn’t seem possible. Tears filled her eyes and her breathing
grew labored. “
Nah’ah
!” she cried. Summer ran the short
distance and wrapped her arms around her beloved grandmother,
hugging her as though she’d never hug her again.

“Now…now, child. I am just fine. Much happier
now that you are in my arms, but just fine. You best let me go for
a moment and give a similar hug to your
inn
. He has been a
worried father.”

Summer hadn’t even noticed him standing
alongside
Nah’ah
. “
Inn
!” she cried. Releasing her
grip on
Nah’ah
, Summer fell into her father’s arms. “I was
so worried about you and
Nah’ah
.”

“It is so good to hold you in my arms,
Niipo
. Was it Running Crane’s arms I just saw you in? When
did this happen?”

“Yes,
Inn
. I have much to tell you,
and
Nah’ah
.” Summer pulled her grandmother into their
embrace. “Be prepared for many changes.”

“Change is good,
Niipo
.”
Nah’ah
pulled her close.

* * *

Summer adjusted her long braids, drew in a
deep breath and caught
Nah’ah’s
nod. Wearing her Fancy Dance
dress, Summer couldn’t help feel every bit as Native as the other
women approaching the floor. The heavily beaded, soft, white
deerskin clung to her body. The fringe of red and blue seed beads
on both sides of thin, long sun-bleached bones, hung in a V down
the front of the dress and edged the entire hemline.

Summer had always loved Indian dancing as a
young girl. The beat reached her soul. Even more now than ever did
she feel a connection to the drums beat. The Fancy Dance had only
been performed by the men in older times and women would watch
their lively steps and gyrations in what they then called the War
Dance. Still, competition War Dances were performed only by
men.

Summer spotted Running Crane, dressed in a
heavily beaded breechclout over soft, tan buckskin pants and a
matching leather fringed vest. A large bear claw necklace strung on
a leather strap rested on his bronze chest. She couldn’t take her
eyes off him…and it seemed he stared at her with the same
intensity.

The powwow players and singers set the tempo
and mood…Summer moved across the floor, around and with Running
Crane. The music filled her, lifted her across the floor; each step
expressing meaning and purpose…floating, expressing modesty…one
with the whispering spirits.

The End

Rita Karnopp books also published by
Books We Love

Whispering Sun

Whispering Wind

Destiny’s Shadow

Leota – Dream Woman

Ransom Love

White Berry on the Red Willow

Sacred Ground

Dark Spirit

Thunder

Atonement

No Ordinary Killer

Tango of Death Series Book #1 Gypsy
Spirit

Tango of Death Series Book#2 Partisan
Heart

Tango of Death Series Book #3 Jewish
Soul

Revenge

Kidnapped

About the Author

Multi-published author Rita Karnopp knew at a
very young age she wanted to be a writer – and penned her first
story at age sixteen. She is drawn to the history of the Native
American and strives to bring alive the authenticity of a time
past. Whether writing suspense, Indian historicals, or contemporary
romance, Rita enjoys bringing excitement and the enduring power of
love to her stories.

Rita currently resides in Montana with her
husband and their loveable Cockapoo named Gema.

When she isn’t reading, writing or doing
research, Rita enjoys making dream catchers, gold panning, crystal
or sapphire digging, rafting, fishing, canoeing, and spending time
with her children and grandchildren.

Also find Rita at:

Facebook: [email protected]

Blog:
http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Contact her at
[email protected]

Books We Love Ltd.

http://bookswelove.net