A Rare Breed (21 page)

When he finally returned, Yolanda teased him about not staying around for their full appreciation. "You've got a lot to learn about performing, Jake. The first thing is to take your bows graciously. Give your audience plenty of time. And an encore is always a nice gesture."

"I'll leave the performing and the extra bows to you, Yolanda. It's not really my thing."

"But, Jake, you had the ghosts rumbling around these old rocks," she responded with sincerity. "That's something special. For your ancestors, performing is traditional. That's where you got your ability. Don't hide it."

"I guess you're right," he admitted. "I'm just not a performer by nature."

"What happened to those lost tribes in the canyon, Jake?" Rudi asked, suddenly aware of what Jake had told them about other people who lived here. "You say they lived right down here? Are you talking about whole families, or just bands of hunters and rovers?"

"We have proof of whole families who lived here. Why, just today, Brit and I found a clay doll that I estimate was almost a thousand years old."

"No kidding! Why don’t they still live here?"

"No one really knows why they left. Logic tells us that it had to do with survival, food, and water. But maybe something else influenced their passage."

"Like what?" Yolanda asked. "Maybe a bunch of them got swept downstream, like I nearly did."

"That's entirely possible. It could have been an epidemic that wiped out a great number of the tribe. Or a hostile tribe could have attacked them, killing and taking slaves, leaving the rest vulnerable. All of that was common in the ancient cultures. It's why we're investigating, to see if they left any clear signs that would explain their disappearance."

"I think you're doing something pretty interesting, Jake. And pretty important," Yolanda said. "I give you credit. The rest of us are just bouncing around, entertaining people and having a good time. But you, you're investigating history and recording it. And writing about the small details of people who lived a thousand years ago. It's amazing to think that. You're all right."

"It's interesting to me," he admitted shyly. "Even today, the Yavapai Indians live in other parts of the canyon. But we think they're from a different group than the Anasazi, who lived around here in this part."

"I'd like to see what these people left behind," Yolanda proposed suddenly. "Could I go see a cliff dwelling?"

"Yeah, me, too," Rudi said. "Could we go with you to see one of them?"

Jake hesitated. He thought of Brit slipping on the rock today and knew the dangers for Yolanda and Rudi would be even greater. They weren't as small nor as physically fit as Brit. And, Lord knows, he'd sure hate for Yolanda or Rudi to take a fall. He wasn't sure he could secure Rudi as he did Brit today. "It's risky. The ruins are high up in the rocks. You have to climb up to them."

"Did Brit climb up there?" Yolanda asked.

"Yes . . ." He glanced at Brit with a questioning look. Did she want them to know that she almost fell today?

She put her hand on his arm and squeezed. "I'll tell them."

"Tell us what?" Rudi asked.

"As Jake said, we had to climb up to the ruins. The Indians left little notches in the rocks, like stairs. But it's tricky. You have to keep your balance and it's pretty steep. Today, just when I reached the top, I slipped. Only because Jake insisted that I tie a rope around my waist was I saved from falling twenty feet straight down. Jake caught me and pulled me up. It was pretty scary."

Yolanda stared at her, then at Jake. "You saved her life today? On her birthday?"

"Well, I don't know about her life," he said with a shrug. "But she could have been hurt pretty badly. You people just don't seem to understand. This place, beautiful as it is, can be very dangerous."

"You are one amazing man, Jake Landry." Yolanda placed her hand on his arm in a gesture of appreciation. "Always there when we need you."

"Yes, he is," Brit agreed and gave him a special little smile.

"Please, show us an Indian ruin before we leave, Jake." Yolanda gave him her best, most appealing performance. "It's another thing that Rudi and I have never done. And we might not ever have a chance to again. Ever! Look at what well miss."

Brit glanced at Jake. It was obvious that Yolanda was accustomed to getting her way, and no amount of camping in the canyon would change that. Brit remembered when Yolanda had begged Frank to deviate from their scheduled flight path and show her the Grand Canyon. Immediately, Rudi had taken up her cause and practically ordered Frank to please her. Frank had been helpless to resist her whims, and now, much to Brit's aggravation, so was Jake.

"Hmmm, let me think about this." Jake scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe we could go to a different one. There is another ruin that isn't so difficult to reach. It's beyond the waterfall, so it's further away and a longer hike from here. But this one's below ground level. It's relatively easy to see, once you get there. Maybe that one would be best."

"All right!" Yolanda said with enthusiasm. "When?"

"I'll take you in a few days," Jake promised.

Brit was not surprised that Yolanda had gotten her way. Even though she and Rudi had never shown the slightest interest in the Anasazi culture or hiking to their ruins before tonight, Jake was willing to be their guide. She, on the other hand, revered the special places where she and Jake had made love. They had made their own private Shangri-la. Theirs and the Anasazis'. She just didn't want to share the spots with the Romeros. Maybe she wouldn't have to. Jake did say that he would take them to a different ruin.

The festivities continued until late in the night. Jake played another CD, and Rudi and Yolanda danced and cavorted around the camp fire. They all joined in until finally, Yolanda admitted she was tired and ready for the party to end.

"Rudi and I got up so early this morning and worked so hard all day getting everything ready, we're bushed. But we had a blast, Brit. Happy birthday!" Yolanda hugged her.

Rudi did the same. "I can't tell you how much we enjoyed just being ourselves tonight. It was nice not to be worried about some kook snapping photos of us in awkward positions or folks leaking to the media about how silly we acted."

"Why, I would never do such a thing." Brit feigned shock at the idea. "Thank you so much for the party. And for your very unique gifts. This birthday has been one of the best."

The Romeros disappeared in the tent and Brit and Jake linked arms and headed for their little cave boudoir. He helped her climb up to the ledge. They undressed quietly and slipped inside the down-insulated sleeping bag without a word, as if the gaiety of the evening had been snatched into the blackness of the night. The whole event was already a pleasant memory, a part of the past.

Brit smiled privately as Jake's arm curled around her. She settled against him and basked in her happiness. Each of her new friends had performed admirably, giving her a collection of valuable memories that she would keep forever. She kissed his chest, and her lips pressed the Zuni bear fetish. She hoped it would give her good luck, too.

Jake's voice was low and sleepy. "Can you believe this was really Yolanda tonight?"

"She was so generous, making sure everything went well for me." Brit sighed happily. "She was even nice to Rudi."

Jake chuckled. "People change. Maybe she has."

"But will she switch back tomorrow?"

"Who knows? Tonight was certainly special, Brit. It was all for you."

"Funny how it brought out everyone's different personalities."

"Hmmm, you're right," he admitted. "We were all different people tonight. And, it was nice. You know, tonight I had fun, real fun for the first time in ages. I forgot how much pleasure friends can provide."

"You sound like you don't socialize often, Jake."

"I don't. I live a quiet lifestyle."

"But you were great tonight. And when you performed on your flute for us, everyone thought it was wonderful."

"It was special, just for you, my dear. Actually, I never thought I'd play for an audience of non-Indians."

"You mean you've played the flute for Indians?"

"A couple of times they've invited me to play at certain ceremonial events."

"That's quite an honor, isn't it?"

"For an outsider, it is."

"But you aren't an outsider. You're one of them, Jake."

"No. No, I'm not. I didn't grow up with them. And I'm not full-blooded. Only one of my ancestors can be traced to the Zunis. But they want to continue the cultural traditions, like flute playing; to preserve and encourage them among their youth. And they needed a flute player. I was it."

Brit imagined him playing the flute in a gathering of Native Americans. The image of his dark silhouette against the golden blaze of the campfire remained clear and distinct in her mind. "You're a very good musician, Jake. It was truly a birthday I’ll never forget."

"Me, too."

Brit's voice was low and choked with emotion. "Jake, I'm very happy tonight."

She waited. She wanted to hear the same from him, to know that he cared for her as she did for him. She wanted to talk about what they would do about them when this odyssey in the canyon was over. But there was no response. Then she felt his rhythmic breathing. Curling around her, arms and legs engulfing her, he had fallen asleep.

She kissed his forearm and tried to follow him to sleep. But, even though it was late and she was tired, sleep didn’t come as easily for Brit. She thought of all that had happened in the last week and wondered when and how it would end. She feared, deep in her heart of hearts, that she would never be as happy as tonight, on her birthday, lying in Jake's arms.

Brit and Jake spent the next few days working in the ruins. Each day, after their work was finished, they played beside the small waterfall, swimming in the pool, and making love on the pristine white beach. They talked about everything, except what to do when their journey was over. There were no easy answers, so they pretended the problem didn't exist.

Jake felt himself growing closer to Brit than anyone since his marriage, closer than he had ever been with his wife. By the time he'd distanced himself from her, he'd pushed away most of his friends, too. He was alone with one thing left. Work.

But Brit seemed to understand him. She cared about his work, even helped him, and didn't pass judgment on his occupation or his lifestyle. It was nice not to have to defend what he was doing. Brit seemed to know its importance.

This day, he was finishing some notes on the portable computer at Casa Patio. Brit sat nearby, reading her great-grandmother's book while he worked. He turned to take her into his view, always a refreshing sight that boosted his spirits. Her blond hair fell around her bare shoulders, hiding her face. She was so beautiful, it was almost like a dream, his wildest fantasy, to have her here. Just watching her sometimes drove him crazy, and he wanted to take her in his arms again and make love until they both fell apart, breathless. That was the way they loved, excited and exhausted, and it was a different experience for him. He'd never been so passionate about a woman.

Sensing his gaze, she glanced up and smiled. "What?"

"Nothing. Just that you're so beautiful, how can I work?"

"Are you finished?"

"Not quite. I want to take a couple of photos of the other ruins before we head back. The one that’s easier to get to. Want to go along?"

"Sure." She closed the book immediately, and began to hunt for her shoes.

They left most of the equipment near the path that led to Casa Patio and hiked around the pool and beyond the small waterfall. About half a mile away, another canyon opened up and in its wide mouth was a large open-pit circle dug into the ground and made sturdily of stone and ancient mortar. There was additional construction inside the large circle that resembled a fire pit and possibly an altar.

"This is a ruin?"

"As old as the others."

"Why is it shaped differently?" Brit climbed down into the round ruin. "Round."

"Different uses. This one is a ceremonial room, so it didn't require the constant protection that a group of families did. It didn't need to be built high on a ledge. They probably only used this on certain occasions for large gatherings and often at night. The circular building identifies it as a kiva, which we think was used for ceremonies and dances."

"And sacrifices?" Brit's eyes grew round.

Jake shrugged. "Don't know for sure."

She moved to the center. "You can even see where they had a fire and stairs to the side. Maybe that was where the dancers lined up."

"Could be." Jake took several snapshots from different angles and directions. "This one has such easy access, we can bring the Romeros here tomorrow if they still want to see a ruin. I'd be reluctant to let them climb to Casa Patio."

"I'm sure they will want to see this one. It's splendid, and quite different from the other one. You can imagine how it once was quite beautiful, especially at night with campfires and participants holding torchlights." Brit walked around, inspecting the intricate construction before noticing that Jake had started to climb up on some rocks. "Where are you going?"