Wind Spirit [Ella Clah 10] (41 page)

“You’re not leaving here with a hostage. This is non-negotiable. Release Benally now!”

Ella saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and turned her head as Garnenez came out of cover. Justine dove for the professor’s feet but Garnenez slipped the shoestring tackle and was already sliding down the ridge. He barely managed to stay on his feet, but once he reached the bottom of the slope he was running full speed toward the shack.

“Get back!” Ella yelled at him, but by then Garnenez was in the middle of the clearing.

“Danny, it’s me,” Garnenez called out to him, slowing to a walk now.

“You led them here! You’re a traitor!” Smart’s voice came from the cabin.

“No, stay cool. You’re all wrong about this,” Garnenez said, his voice surprisingly calm. Ella noted that he was holding something in his hand, having taken it from his medicine pouch. She could make out a feather. It was some kind of fetish, no doubt.

Ella could see Neskahi moving up the far side of the road, but he was still too far away to help. Branch had moved too, unnoticed, and was closer.

“Get back, Professor!” Branch shouted, stepping out from behind the last big rock before the clearing. Garnenez turned, surprised, then waved Branch away. But the radio man kept coming.

“Hey, buddy. This is George. We need patriots like you to speak out, but not with violence. It’ll only prove they’re
right in taking away our guns. A wise man knows when to walk away from a fight. This is that time, trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”

“Listen to me, Cuz,” Garnenez added. “Branch is right. You know me, I’ve never steered you wrong. I know you’re trying to help the tribe, but nobody ever won anything by getting themselves killed. Use your head. Set down your gun and turn yourself in. We’ll hire the best attorney around. The tribe is on your side, you’ll see. Trust what I’m saying. I’m not just your cousin, I’m your friend.”

“You
were
my friend. You sold me out.”

A shot rang out and Garnenez yelped, grabbing his leg and crumpling to the ground. “You shot me, you moron!”

Ella saw Branch move forward, trying to reach Garnenez.

A rifle shot came from the far side, striking the shed up high, forcing Smart to duck below the window. It was Neskahi.

“Give him some cover, but shoot high, we don’t know about Benally yet!” Ella yelled at Justine and began firing on Smart’s position, forcing him to keep his head down. She and Justine then took advantage of the situation, taking turns firing as the other moved, working their way down to a massive boulder at the foot of the ridge.

With all of them providing cover fire, Branch finally managed to drag Garnenez out of the line of fire into a low spot.

That accomplished, Ella and Justine both stopped firing and so did Neskahi, who had moved into position to cover the north side. Smart was trapped now from every direction. While Justine tried to get a connection with the chief via cell phone to apprise him of the new situation, Ella worked to focus Smart’s attention on her.

“Daniel Smart,” she said, using his belief that names had power to diminish him.

“I’ve still got Benally,” he answered, “and it’ll only be a
matter of time before he gets shot, by you or by me. Unless you want more blood on your hands, you’ll let me drive away from here.”

“I can’t make that kind of decision. Let us get some help for the man you wounded, then we’ll talk.”

“Let my worthless cousin bleed. He’s a phony, always talking, trying to con people with that act of his.”

“Then why did he risk getting shot trying to talk you into ending this? Think, man!” Ella countered.

“He betrayed me by leading you here.”

“How would he know where you were? We brought him, he didn’t bring us,” Ella replied truthfully. “And if he dies, you’ll never forgive yourself for killing a friend,” Ella said.

“Then
you
come and get him—alone.”

Justine looked over at Ella. “No. You can’t trust anything he says. Remember you’re on his list. He’ll blow you away. Let either me or Joe go.”

Neskahi contacted Ella on the handheld radio. “I’ll go. I’m closer than either one of you, and I’m strong enough to carry Garnenez out of danger. Smart doesn’t even know me, so there’s no reason for him to shoot.”

“He’s right, Ella. You and I can cover him,” Justine said.

“All right, but let me tell Smart first.” Ella peered out from behind the rock again and called out to him. “I’m not strong enough to carry the professor. One of my men will go in. If you fire, the talking is over and we’ll take you down hard. Clear?”

“Go ahead. But after that’s done, you and I will cut a deal, or Benally dies. Am
I
clear?”

“If
anyone
dies, all deals are off.”

Ella watched Neskahi approach Branch’s hiding place, his rifle on the sling over his shoulder. Neskahi crouched down, out of sight for a moment, then a second later, he contacted her on her handheld radio. “Garnenez took a bullet just above the ankle, but I think he’ll live. But Branch is gone.”

For a moment Ella didn’t understand. “What do you
mean gone? He couldn’t have left without either Smart or us seeing him.”

“I mean dead-gone. Garnenez says he clutched his chest, had trouble breathing, then just died.”

The news took Ella by surprise. Branch had finally done a selfless act—probably the first in his entire life—and had died in the process. Life—and death—never made much sense.

“Grab Branch’s car keys and get Garnenez into the Mercedes. It’s the closest vehicle. Then once you get him in the car, keep going.”

“The paramedics should meet him halfway between here and the hospital. They’ve been dispatched,” Justine said.

“I heard,” Neskahi said, “And I’ve got Branch’s keys now. I’m going.”

Ella and Justine kept their pistols aimed at the windows of the shack. Smart couldn’t leave the building now the same way he’d entered when assaulting Benally because of their new positions. But they had a hostage to worry about now. “Smart, listen to me. You can leave here, but not with Benally.”

“Do you think I’m that stupid? You’ll shoot me the second I step out of this shack. I want guaranteed safe passage
with
my hostage. I’ll let him go once I’m sure nobody is following me.”

Ella waited a moment before answering. “All right. We have a stalemate here, so I’ll see what I can do. But I’m going to need several minutes. There’s no radio reception here. I have to move back to a better location so I can talk to Chief Atcitty.”

Justine looked at Ella. “You’re not really considering letting him go, are you? He’s at least partially responsible for Branch’s death—and kidnapping too. Not to mention shooting his cousin.”

“You know me better than that. But I need some time. Keep him distracted. I’ll work my way around and use the same ditch he used before to sneak up on the cabin.”

“He’s crazy, not stupid. Well, maybe just a little. But he’ll suspect something’s up if you don’t come back soon.”

“Then I’ll have to work fast.”

“There’s a better way,” Justine said. “I’ll go. I’m not a target he wants to blow away so he might think about it a split second. If you show up you’re giving him exactly what he wants.”

“I’ve had more training and experience in these kind of situations, Cousin. If anyone is going to pull this off, it’ll have to be me.”

Justine exhaled softly. “You’re the boss. Just come back, okay?”

Ella moved farther west in the same direction Neskahi had gone with Garnenez, passing by Branch’s prone body. On the ground beside the dead man was what looked like an owl feather with two white beads attached by strings. It was probably Garnenez’s fetish. She stared at it for a moment, trying to figure out where she’d seen something like that before, but Justine’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“We’re trying to convince our chief to deal with you, Daniel Smart. What’s the condition of your hostage?” Justine yelled.

“He’s unharmed, but he won’t stay that way for long. Your boss better make up his mind, quick!” Smart yelled back. He sounded more confident now.

“You’ve already been warned—if anything happens to the hostage, all deals are off,” Justine answered.

Ella moved silently, now circling around to the north, hoping to find that ditch that led up close to the shack. Unless Smart was in the doorway, he wouldn’t be able to see her coming without her seeing him.

She came up quickly, moving from boulder to boulder, approaching the shack in the shadow of the Hogback itself. But once she got close there’d be no more cover. If he heard or saw her coming, there’d be only one way to get out of his
line of sight—coming right up against the building itself.

“We just got a response from the chief,” Justine called out. “If we let you walk away, how can we be certain that the hostage will remain unharmed? Also, we need to come up with a way for you to turn him over to us.”

Ella smiled. Attaway, Justine! Forcing him to think and come up with answers will keep him distracted. Ella shot toward the rear of the shack, sprinting as fast as she could and making it in five seconds. In the middle of the wooden back wall was a tiny crack between the boards. As Smart answered Justine, she crouched down and peered inside.

Ella saw Benally lying facedown on the floor, his hands and feet bound with a rope.

Ella grabbed a rock and tossed it up into the air above the cabin. Then, before it came down, she slipped around the corner and hurried to the open door. When the rock thumped on the roof, Ella reacted instantly, going through the doorway in a crouch, her pistol up.

Smart was still looking up when she fired. Two rounds hit him in the left side of his chest before he could swing the shotgun around, and he dropped to the floor.

Ella picked up the shotgun and stepped around the dying man. Verifying that Benally was alive, she contacted Justine on the radio. “The hostage is secure. Come on in.”

Ella woke up early Saturday morning when Wind, her daughter’s pony, began whinnying loudly for his breakfast. Ella hid her head beneath the pillow, but it didn’t work. The animal’s cry could have been heard for miles. Ella had only been back home for four days, but in that time she’d come to accept the fact that her days of sleeping past daybreak would be gone for years.

She’d just tossed the covers back when Dawn and Rose came through the door. “
Shimá
, there’s a present from Auntie!” Dawn said. “Come look!” she yelled, then dashed out of the room.

“Come on, Daughter, get up. Your sister-in-law was kind enough to bring you a gift. The least you can do is go take a look.”

Ella looked at her mother through narrowed eyes. “My sister-in-law brought
me
a present? Does it have thorns? Is it ticking?”

Rose started to laugh but then shook her head. “Come on, get up and try to be gracious. She’s probably sorry she caused you so much trouble. Apparently she and her brother bought you a gift to make peace. I hope you’ll like it.”

Ella heard the pony outside still whinnying excitedly.
“Why doesn’t someone feed the little guy?” she said with a groan.

“Wind was fed a half hour ago.”

“Then why is he still carrying on?” Ella pulled on her jeans and looked at her mother, who seemed inordinately pleased with herself. Suddenly she understood. “There’s another horse out there, isn’t there? You got them to buy me a
horse
?”

“No, I did not! I’m just as surprised as you. But he’s a beautiful animal.”

Ella groaned. “Mom, I was looking for one, really. You shouldn’t have done it without me.”

“I didn’t do this, I promise. But don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. After the Hollywood people withdrew their offer because the stations no longer wanted original TV movies, your hope of getting extra cash vanished. So count your blessings. Now hurry up and get dressed. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Ella pulled a sweatshirt over her head, slipped into her jeans and boots, then went out the back door, still brushing her hair away from her face. Seeing her brother holding on to the beautiful, tall, black gelding, Ella smiled. The animal eyed her curiously as she approached, his ears standing up straight.

“Here’s Chieftain,” her brother said. Hearing his name, the animal tossed his head, but Clifford kept a firm hold on the lead rope. “He’s spirited, but has a gentle soul.”