Whispering Spirits (15 page)

“Where would Jordan have hidden those
documents?” Stuart tossed her a water bottle.

Summer stared at him. Where? That was a good
question? She devoured the bar and followed it with several
swallows of water. She thought about the many possible places he
could have hidden the documents…nothing made sense. Up ahead she
spotted the StoneHouse. She’d hoped Running Crane would have
overtaken Stuart before they’d gotten this far. At least they
weren’t soaked yet.

“Where do you have
Nah’ah
? Maybe she
knows about these documents and where they might be. I was so
stupid…and—”

“Well…well…well…and who do we have here?”

Summer glanced up into the icy, blue eyes.
The stocky, rugged-looking man boldly pointed a gun in her
direction. She had no idea what kind it was—gun knowledge wasn’t in
her wheelhouse.

“Back down, Kettleman. Worthington here?”

“Yep, he’s mighty pissed. Where’s the
Indian?”

“Dead. Now get out of my way.” Stuart pushed
Summer and moved past the thug.

She clenched her teeth and remained silent.
Was Running Crane dead? Summer wished she knew for certain. As they
entered StoneHouse, she glanced right and left. It seemed every
exit was guarded by a stout man gripping a gun.

“Stuart Wallace, I knew I could count on you.
This young lady must be Summer Timber Wolf. It’s about time we
meet.”

Summer glared at a big man of six-four and
weighing a good two hundred pounds. His massive shoulders filled
the shirt he wore. There was an inherent strength in his face. The
shadow of a beard gave him an even more rugged aura.

“Where’s my grandmother you piece of crap? If
you’ve hurt her in any way, you’ll have hell to pay.”

He threw his head back and roared with
laughter. “Gotta love your spirit, girl. She’s upstairs and
unharmed. Before we take you to her, we need to have a serious
conversation.”

Summer leaned against the door jam and glared
at Germaine Worthington. “That’s where you’re wrong. I see
Nah’ah
first, then I’ll decide if I want to talk to
you.”

“I can see you get your grit from her.
Fuckin’ feisty woman for her age. Casey, take Summer here to see
her grandmother. Give them twenty minutes together, then bring her
back. She gives you any trouble, shoot the old lady in the
leg.”

Summer glared at Worthington. “You’re every
bit the bastard I thought you’d be.”

“Father! What are you doing at this
God-forsaken place in the wilderness? Can you believe I saw a bear
and cubs walking freely just a few miles from this…primitive
cabin?”

Summer didn’t have to guess Domonique
Worthington had just arrived. Tall, thin, and shapely, she moved
across the room like a dancer. Her lips full and rounded over even,
white teeth revealed a seductive smile. Her thick, dark hair hung
in long graceful curves over her shoulders. Every man in the room
appeared spell bound by her beauty.

“I thought I told you to go to Switzerland
with your friends for the weekend. What are you doing here?”

“You lied to me. You promised nothing was
going to happen to Bradley Wild Horse. You promised. Buck told me
you ordered Bradley taken back to Texas. Why?”

“Business you needn’t worry yourself about.
He won’t be hurt…we just have some things to discuss when I’m done
here.”

Summer noticed Domonique’s eyes turned dark
and insolent. She unbuttoned her white fox coat and tossed it in a
log-hued chair. “He was going to Switzerland with me. You had no
right to have him pulled from my bed, roughed-up, then dragged off
like some low-life criminal. I want you to order him taken to the
hospital and released to me right after.”

“Darling, leave these business matters to me.
I’ve warned Bradley time and again and it seems he never
listens…leave this to me. I’ll straighten it out and your honey
bunny will be returned to you in no time.” He turned facing her,
challenging her.

Domonique swallowed hard, lifted her chin,
and boldly met his gaze. “I love him, father. You hurt him in any
way and I’m done with the business. I told you that old woman would
bring everything we’ve built down. She’s a witch and you need to
get rid of her.”

“
Nah’ah
? You want him to kill my
grandmother? What kind of person are you?” Summer stomped across
the room and stopped absolutely motionless in front of
Domonique.

“Like I should be afraid of you? All sweet
and innocent, you didn’t even know your boyfriend worked for us.
Naïve and stupid. Get her out of my face.” Her clenched jaw and
glaring eyes spoke volumes.

Although Domonique’s tone was low, Summer
realized there was something deadly in the way she spoke.

“Summer, go sit down on that couch,” Germaine
ordered.

She glared back at him. “I want to know why
you’re all bent on hurting my grandmother. She’s done nothing to
any of you.” Summer glanced back and forth between father and
daughter. “You really think she has the power to sign over a parcel
of Blackfeet Reservation land? Well she doesn’t. The Tribal Council
must make all decisions affecting the people.”

“Yes, and it’s your sweet, little grandmother
that pretty much tells the council what they should and should not
do,” Domonique tossed a handful of hair over her right shoulder.
“Bradley explained exactly how that works. Why don’t you tell us
where Jordan hid those documents and we’ll let both you and grandma
go.”

“Like I believe that,” Summer answered in a
rush of words.

“Don’t push me, Summer Timber Wolf. You think
butting heads with my father is difficult? Well…butting heads with
me is impossible. I never lose. Where are those documents?”

With both hands on her hips, Summer drew in a
slow, deep breath. “In case you or your dense father over there
weren’t listening, I knew nothing about what was going on. I know
nothing about oil, gold, or even land documents.”

“Really…you are stupid…aren’t you? You just
revealed you know just about everything.” Domonique laughed to
cover her annoyance.

“No, I revealed your idiot buddy, Stuart
Wallace, told me you found a little oil, lots of gold, and you’re
searching for an already signed land agreement that gives you
ownership of all the land the gold vein runs through. I didn’t have
a clue any of this was going on. Now you’ve drawn a lot of
attention to
Nah’ah
and me…oh and others like Ali Murdown,
and Jordan and Joshua Perkins. You really think you’re going to
keep all this hush-hush much longer?”

Domonique gripped Summer’s upper arm and
squeezed it hard. “You’d be wise to get on my good side. I can have
you shot at any time. You want to live don’t you?”

Summer forced her lips to part in a curved,
stiff smile. “I’ve said this before…and I’ll say it here for
everyone to hear again. I don’t have a clue where those documents
are. I’m not even sure Jordan had them. Think about it…would Kevin
Wild Horse draw up these papers and hand them over to Jordan? I
could see him giving them to Bradley Wild Horse to give to you…but
that’s just an observation from a stupid and naïve girl.”

“What are you suggesting?” Domonique tossed
her hair across her shoulder in a gesture of defiance.

“Did you ever consider your beloved Bradley
might be working for the law? Maybe he’s been playing you all
along. You might be more naive than you think.”

Domonique slapped Summer hard across the
cheek. She reeled back; the sting lingered. “What, the truth
hurts?”

“Bring that old lady down here! We’ll see who
hurts—”

Summer dived across at Domonique, landing her
hard on her back, then scrambled back to her feet. Summer jerked
her head aside and took Domonique’s kick on her shoulder.

“Move back boys,” Domonique shouted. “This
one’s mine.”

Summer smiled and side-stepped another kick.
“Really? Isn’t this a bit dramatic…even for you? I could mess that
perfect makeup job.” She leaned in and landed a knuckle on the side
of Domonique’s nose. Blood streamed down her face and she stepped
back, shock registered in her expression. She grit her teeth and
muscles flicked angrily at her jaw.

Domonique wasted no time in landing a jolting
right upper cut that sent Summer staggering into the coffee table.
She grabbed a heavy, crystal decanter and hurled it across the room
at Domonique. It caught her upper arm. The sound of breaking bone
caused everyone to freeze in place.

“Enough!” Germaine shouted. “Domonique, you
hurt?”

Tears welled and she gripped her arm,
nestling it against her chest. “Shoot her! I said, shoot her!”
Domonique screamed! If you won’t…I’ll do it myself!”

“Simmer down, girl. You wanted to fight…now
man-up and take the consequences.”

“Really, father? You’re going to let her get
away with breaking my arm?” She dropped to the floor in a defeated
heap.

“Charlie, fire up the chopper and take
Domonique to the hospital to get that arm fixed. By the looks of
it, her nose just might be broken too.”

“What do you mean…by the looks of it?”

Summer basked in the knowledge of her power.
She watched Domonique’s defeat with smug delight. “Doesn’t look
like all those karate lessons paid off, does it?”

“I want you to mess her up good when you’re
done with her. Why don’t you keep her on ice and when I get back
I’ll help get the information we need from her.”

“You just don’t get it, do you Domonique? I
don’t have any information. Why don’t you help your thugs get
information from your boyfriend? Grandmother and I aren’t the
direction you should be looking.” Summer rubbed her jaw. A warning
voice whispered in her head.

“Willie, go with Charlie and come back with
Bradley. I think we need to have a little chat with that boy.”
Germaine Worthington stormed across the room and faced the wall of
windows. He whirled around and glared at his daughter. “If that
little bastard is our leak, I’ll skin him inch-by-inch myself.”

“No, father,” tears trailed down her cheeks.
“I love him. Don’t hurt him, please,” she pleaded in a small
frightened voice.

“You don’t know the first thing about love.
I’ll not keep a traitor among us because you like his performance
in your bed. I can’t see why you’re attracted to that wimp of a
man.”

“You kill him and I won’t ever forgive
you.”

The tension between them increased with
frightening intensity. Summer almost felt sorry for Domonique. It
would be impossible to please such a man.

“Don’t push me, girl. I’m not in a good
mood…and this revelation hasn’t helped much.”

She breathed in shallow, quick gasps. “I’ve
never asked you for anything. I’m asking you not to kill
Bradley.”

Summer noticed Germaine’s unresponsiveness,
and the color drained from Domonique’s face. Summer swallowed with
difficulty and found her voice. “Maybe…maybe Bradley is innocent.
You’d hate to kill him…and find out you’re wrong. I…went to school
with him and…he…wasn’t the James Bond type. You have to look at all
your options.”

“What are you saying?” Germaine shouted.

“I’m just saying…it’d be a shame to lose your
daughter…then find out later he’s innocent. Now, don’t get me
wrong, I believe someone’s playing both sides around here. It’s not
my grandmother or me. It might not be Bradley Wild Horse either.
Ali Murdown and Jordan Perkins are dead, so, it looks like they’re
not the player. Who would benefit? Who might find themselves on
both receiving ends? Who does that leave?” Summer dropped to the
couch, and leaned back, rubbing her jaw.

“Why can’t you be more like that, Domonique?
Summer’s cocky, sassy, and thinks. It’s not about her, it’s about
consequences. Why couldn’t you learn that from me? Come on boys,
get Domonique to a hospital…and don’t come back until you bring
Bradley Wild Horse with you.”

Summer wanted to shoot the man where he
stood. He killed people. He tortured them. He cheated and stole…and
here he judged his daughter. “You should get the father-of-the-year
award for that performance.” Summer suddenly felt weak and
vulnerable in the face of his anger.

“That wasn’t exactly smart,” Domonique said,
struggling to her feet. “Impress him, but don’t insult him. Keep
Bradley alive for me, Summer Timber Wolf.”

Worthington walked over and pulled Domonique
to her feet. “If your Bradley’s playing both sides…he has enough
information to put both of us in prison for life. You ever think
about that? If he’s innocent, he’ll come back to you.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” She moved toward the
door.

“You’d better hope he didn’t betray me.”
Germaine slammed his left fist into the palm of his right hand.

Domonique’s lips thinned with anger. “If you
kill him…I…won’t be back. If he lives, I’ll accept your offer to
train and take over the business. Now the decision’s in your
hands.” She gave a choked, desperate laugh.

Summer sat back and watched the tense display
between father and daughter.

“Then you’d better hope he’s innocent.”

Silence consumed the room until Domonique
slammed the front door behind her.

“I need some time to think. Take Summer up to
her grandmother and stay outside their room. They try to escape,
shoot the old lady.”

Summer glared at him with bristling
indignation. “You’re losing control, aren’t you? Your daughter
wants nothing more than to escape your wrath. Maybe it’s more than
one of your men who’ve betrayed you to the—”

“You have a death wish, girl?”

Summer struggled to maintain an even,
conciliatory tone. “You want the reservation land that has a vein
of gold running through it. I’m guessing it has more rich gold than
was seen during the California Gold Rush. Ask yourself, who knows
this? Who could have leaked this information to the Blackfeet? Then
who would have told the BIA?”