Yellowstone Heart Song (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 1) (26 page)

“What of her? As you said yourself, she is safely back in her time. This is where she belongs.”

His father opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, and walked around the bed to the side that held the clear line in Daniel’s arm. Pulling quickly, he removed the needle from beneath the skin.

“Put your hand over that so it don’t bleed,” Zach said gruffly. Then he held firmly to Daniel’s arm, and pressed a finger to the snake’s left eye.

Chapter 24

One month later.  Yellowstone Wilderness, 1810 

Daniel wrapped the buffalo robe tighter around his shoulders, trying to ward off the chill of the cold October wind. His hair whipped around his face. He gazed out across the gaping expanse of the canyon before him. Sitting on a rocky outcropping, he solemnly watched the brilliant yellow and red colors of the canyon walls change their shimmering hues with each passing moment as the morning sun’s rays illuminated the rocks.  Off in the distance, the mighty
E-chee-dick-karsh-ah-shay
roared as its turquoise waters plunged loudly several hundred feet deeper into the canyon. He never tired of this awesome spectacle in all the years he had come to this spot. This time, however, it brought no joy to his heart. Everywhere he looked, visions of Aimee materialized before his eyes. The sound of her voice echoed on the wind, sometimes so clearly, Daniel thought he was losing his mind.

“I want you to know that no matter what happens in the future, I will always love you. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. Please don’t ever forget that.”

Had he been wrong? Had she tried to tell him something that last day? With the way she clung to him the morning he left the cabin? The intensity and passion with which she made love to him the night of the storm, and her words of love couldn’t have been acted.

He stiffened at the rustling sound of leaves behind him, but didn’t bother to turn around. He had been aware of Elk Runner watching him from the trees for some time already.

“Why do you come here, brother?” he finally asked, his eyes still riveted on nature’s splendor before him. He had wanted to share this spectacular place with Aimee, but had never gotten the chance.

Elk Runner approached, found a spot next to him, and lowered himself to the ground.

“Your father asked me to seek you out.” Elk Runner peered sideways at him. Daniel let out a dismissive snort.

“He is dying, White Wolf. He asked to speak to you before he leaves this world and joins your mother.”

Daniel didn’t reply. What more could his father have to tell him? If he was asking for forgiveness, Daniel had already granted him that before he left the valley and their cabin three weeks ago. After a week of lying in bed, waiting for his body to heal, he had grown restless. He’d still been weak when he left to set out on his own to try and escape the anguish in his heart and head. Day after day, one fair-haired woman consumed his thoughts.

Aimee. His
gediki
. His heart song. Her scent lingered on the blankets and furs of his bed, tormenting his mind and body. He couldn’t remain in the cabin any longer, the place that held such bittersweet memories.

He had told his father he was leaving to find which path he would take from hereon out. Zach had simply nodded in understanding. His parting words had been of forgiveness because he knew it was what his father wanted to hear. Daniel wasn’t sure if he truly forgave the man for never telling him the truth about his birth. He had accepted it. What else could he do? He realized it didn’t change who he was now. He had no desire to leave the mountains or seek out another way of life.

“He will not live much longer, White Wolf.” Elk Runner interrupted his thoughts. “You must go and make peace with him.”

“I’ve already made my peace with him,” Daniel said indifferently.

“He has important words to share with you. Perhaps you have made your peace, but he has not. He cannot leave this world until he has truly made peace with you. He is your father,” Elk Runner implored.

Daniel sighed heavily, and stood from his place on the rocks. He clutched the side of his abdomen. The wounds had healed on the outside, but certain movements still caused some discomfort. It was getting easier every day. He had even managed to remove the stitches himself, recalling how Aimee had removed Elk Runner’s.

“Let’s go, then,” he said without emotion, and turned away from the canyon.

Two days later, Daniel quietly opened the door to the cabin and stepped inside. His father lay on his bunk. Sweat drenched his face and chest. His breathing came in quick and shallow gasps. Daniel barely recognized him. His father’s eyes were sunken in his head, and his features were gaunt.

Daniel sat down on the edge of the bunk. “Hello, father,” he said quietly. When Zach’s eyes flew open, Daniel held a cup of water out to him. Zach took several swallows, then handed the cup back.

“I’m glad you came back, son,” Zach said breathlessly, his voice a weak rasp. “It’s time I joined your mother, but before I go, I want to do the right thing for once in my life.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand.”

“Aimee Donovan,” Zach said, then went into a coughing fit. A jolt of adrenaline shot through Daniel at the mention of her name.

“I’ve done wrong by her, and by you,” Zach whispered. “I need to make this right before I go.”

“Make what right, Father?” Daniel hissed between clenched teeth.

“I’ve lied to you all this time, son,” Zach implored him with watery eyes. “I’ve kept the truth from you.”

“What truth, Father? You told me about my birth. What more is there?” His voice rose in anger. What more could there possibly be?

Zach reached for the pouch around his neck. With shaking hands, he removed the snakehead, and held it out to Daniel.

“Remember, the right eye takes you to the future, the left eye brings you back,” Zach said. “Take it. Go and bring her back. Then destroy this cursed thing.”

Daniel stared blankly from the snakehead to his father’s face. The man was losing his mind. When he didn’t reach for the object, Zach sat up with great difficulty, and reached for Daniel’s arm.

“Aimee Donovan is the one true path in your life, Daniel. Her intentions were good and honest from the beginning. I . . . I made her swear to me not to reveal my secret to anyone, most of all you. She kept that promise, even at great . . . personal sacrifice to herself and . . . to you. She is an honorable person. The lies and deception are mine.” Zach’s words came between labored breaths, and his forehead beaded with perspiration.

Daniel tried to absorb what his father told him.

“You falling in love with her never . . . entered my mind when I sent her here. Just as I never expected her . . . to fall in love with you.” Zach met his penetrating stare. He took a deep breath, and continued. “She told me of her love for you, and begged me to let her stay here when I came to send her home. I . . . I had to forcibly remove her.”

Daniel leapt to his feet from the bunk as if he’d been burned, and his eyes narrowed in anger. His jaw clenched and unclenched. He spun away from his father, and raked his hand through his hair. Aimee truly loved him? It wasn’t a lie? His father forced her to leave.

“I’ve made wrong decisions all my life . . . hurting the people I care about. First . . . with your mother. She never wanted to leave New Orleans  . . . and come into the wilderness with me. That was my dream. If she’d had a midwife  . . . in the city, she might not have died. Then I’ve kept the truth from you . . . all this time . . .” Zach paused. His head fell back against the furs on the bunk, and he closed his eyes. “And finally Aimee,” he continued.  “I didn’t think letting her stay here was for the best. Seeing her again when I brought you to the future . . . I should have brought her back with us then, but you . . . were so fightin’ mad and didn’t want to listen to anyone, and I was afraid you’d do yourself more harm.” 

Daniel slowly turned to face his father again. Zach raised himself up with great effort, and held out his arm, urging him to take the snake.

“Go and bring her back, Daniel. It’s what you both want.”  Zach sank back down into the furs right before another coughing fit overtook him. Daniel sat down next to him and offered him more water, but Zach waved it off.

“How will I find her?” Daniel asked quietly. A tiny shimmer of hope dispersed the dark cloud hovering over his heart.  Would she take him back, forgive him, after the way he had treated her? “I know nothing about the future.”

Zach let out a bark-like laugh. “You’ve never had trouble tracking anything in your life, son. Just remember, don’t. . . don’t take any weapons with you when you go. It’s a lesson I had to learn. The hospital where I met her is called . . . argghhh.” Zach suddenly lurched forward and clutched his chest. His eyes opened wide, and he gasped for air. Daniel grabbed his father’s arm just as the old man’s body went limp. His eyes took on a glazed, lifeless look, staring into nothing. Daniel eased him back into the furs. His father’s image became a blur as his own eyes grew moist.

“Go in peace, Father,” he said quietly, and swiped a hand across the old man’s face to lower his eyelids. Countless minutes passed before Daniel picked up the snakehead that had fallen to the ground. He stared at it for a long time before stowing it safely in the pouch around his neck.

*****

Daniel blinked, and opened his eyes with a start at the loud noises that came at him from all directions. He quickly pushed himself off the hard ground, fighting off the dizziness that swept over him. The belt around his waist felt too light without his knife and tomahawk.

“What the hell, man! Get outta the street!” Someone shouted, and Daniel found himself staring at the metal objects that moved on their own that his father told him about.

Glancing quickly around, he noticed a number of people several paces to the side of him scurrying about, and he darted in their direction. No wonder his father had almost been killed by one of these monsters. They moved at incredible speeds.

Daniel surveyed the unfamiliar scenes around him. His eyes scanned the large structures that rose in a line beside him. This must be the city, but nothing even vaguely resembled the world he was used to. The air was hot and thick with foul odors he could not identify. Strange trees with long bare poles and fan-like large leaves in their canopies rose in an unnatural straight line in front of the buildings. He had never seen trees like these before.

He studied his surroundings. The horseless carriages moved endlessly up and down what must be a street, and he observed their movements for some time. They were everywhere. Even in Philadelphia, he had never seen such hustle and bustle. He had to find Aimee quickly. Staring at the moving monsters rushing by, his search might prove to be impossible. He had no idea how to track her in this unknown world.

“You lost, mister?”

Daniel whirled around to stare down at a young boy sitting astride a bright red contraption with two wheels at either end.

“Cool pants!” the boy said, when he didn’t respond.

“Which direction is the hospital?” Daniel finally found his voice again.

“Which one?”

Daniel frowned. “I’m not sure.”

“The closest one is Anaheim Memorial.”

“Can you lead me to it?” he asked hopefully.

“Umm . . . sure. It’s only a few blocks.”

His spirits renewed, Daniel followed the boy through a labyrinth of streets until they stood before a huge building with the words
Anaheim Memorial Hospital
in large red letters at the entrance.

“Thank you for your help.” He reached into the small pouch around his neck and pulled out a large curved claw, and handed it to the boy.

“Grizzly bear claw,” Daniel said with a smile. The boy stared with his eyebrows drawn together. A Tukudeka boy would have reacted with sheer joy at such a gift.

“For real?”

“I killed the bear myself, and have the scars to prove it.”

“You’re just pulling my leg, mister. But thanks anyway.” The boy stuffed the claw in a pocket in his britches, mounted the strange contraption, and took off. Daniel shook his head. He stared at the large letters on the building again, and headed for the wide transparent doors into the building, as he had seen several other people do. He shrank back momentarily when the doors opened on their own before he had even reached them.