According to Legend (24 page)

I woke in Moheeladeck’s arms the next morning, the coolness of the coming winter in the air. He drew me tighter into his embrace and wrapped the furs securely around us.

“Soon, the snow and cold winds will come. We will have to stay closer to keep warm,” he murmured playfully as he kissed my forehead. Snuggling into him, I smiled remembering the night we had spent together and even though we never did eat the stew, I didn’t feel hungry. Suddenly nausea rose to my throat and I swallowed hard. I moved slightly putting a bit of space between us as I continued to feel my stomach churn. Pushing away from him, I scrambled out of his arms. I was about to be sick. I grabbed a fur, wrapped the warmth around me and rushed out of the lodge. He followed immediately behind me and arrived just in time to see me heaving what little had been in my stomach.

“I must take better care of you,” he grumbled. “You have had nothing to eat and that has made you ill.”

The thought of food made the bile rise to my lips and I choked it back down.

“Come and lay down near the fire and I will summon Weekatay. She will know a remedy for this illness.” He turned to Half-Breed and asked him to please fetch my mother. The wolf took off to find her.

“No. I don’t want anything. I just want to lie down,” I said, in a weak voice.

He guided me back to our bed of furs and wrapped them snuggly around me. He was holding a little wooden cup of water to my lips, but I couldn’t drink it. Even the thought of swallowing the water made me feel sick again.

“Your skin is so very white,” he said. “Perhaps you have some illness.”

Weekatay came into the lodge. “What is it? What is wrong?”

I explained what had happened. She started laughing and said she would be back with something she wanted me to drink.
Why is she laughing?
I wasn’t going to ask her any questions. By now I knew I would never get a straight answer. Moheeladeck stayed by my side, holding me gently, unsure of what to do. She returned and offered me a little wooden cup.

“Drink this. All of it,” she said.

Taking the cup from her weathered hand, I did as she instructed.

“Oh! This is horrible. What is it?” I said. The taste was so bitter, it was difficult not to gag.

“You must drink it all to stop the sickness,” she answered.

I finally drank it all and rested my head in Moheeladeck’s lap.

“This is my fault,” he said to Weekatay who watched me for signs of recovery. “I did not allow her to have a meal last night.”

“Yes, this is your fault Moheeladeck, but it has nothing to do with her not taking a meal,” she said.

We both looked at her in puzzlement.

“Of what do you speak, woman?” he asked.

“I believe our Chief and his Princess are going to have a child,” she said with a smile.

I woke up in a cold sweat in my own bed, sitting bolt upright. My head pounded and suddenly the nausea from the dream assaulted me again. I shoved the covers aside, jumped out of bed, and ran to the bathroom. I made it just in time.
Could it be possible? Could I possibly be pregnant? Could I be having Moheeladeck’s child?

Why not? Do you have some affliction that would prevent it?
Half-Breed asked as he came to stand beside me.

I was sitting on the bathroom floor with my head hung into the toilet bowl having flashbacks of the hangovers of my college days.

Princess, you look green.

Thanks, Half-Breed. I probably look a lot better than I feel.
After I washed my face and rinsed my mouth out with some cool water, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. I thought a cup of tea might help.
I’ll see how things go today and if I don’t feel better, I will see the doctor
, I thought.

I can’t possibly be pregnant, but what if I am? It would have been horrible if I had actually gone through with it and let David make love to me. I cannot be pregnant. How could this be possible? This cannot be happening.

I don’t know why you refuse to believe the obvious,
Half-Breed said.

I glared at him. I had some tea and dry toast and it helped a bit. After a while, the nausea was gone and soon I had stopped thinking at all about being sick. I had too much to do to dwell on something that couldn’t possibly be true, could it?

I turned my attention to my plans for the day, our trip into the city to sell the gems.

We arrived at the jewelers on time for our appointment. I thought it best to leave Half-Breed in the car to avoid awkward explanations.

The jeweler, Mr. Burns, was a small man who resembled a ferret wearing a dark suit and a jeweler’s eyepiece.

He inspected the gems and found them to be of even higher quality than he had expected.

My hands shook as I filled out the appraisal, relinquishing ownership of the gems to him. When he handed me a check in full payment, I was astonished. I had never held a check in my hands made payable to me for half a million dollars at one time in my entire life. I tucked it into my purse and left.

When I got into the car, Half-Breed asked,
Were you able to sell the treasures?

Yes, and now all I have to do is deposit the check
.

As I buckled my seat belt, I decided before leaving the parking garage, I would call the realtor whose business card I had stuck into my purse.

“We’re on a roll today, Half-Breed, so we might as well get moving on selling the house while things are going our way.”

I can’t wait to get this all taken care of
, I thought as we pulled up in front of the house. “The realtor should be here any minute, Half-Breed, and hopefully he can sell the house fast.”

I hope that it can happen quickly, Princess. I fear that the circle of our enemies is tightening around us even as we speak.

That was when I noticed David walking toward my car, and Williamson was with him. My mind raced and fear prickled along my spine.
What the heck is going on now?

David leaned into my open window as if he were going to kiss me. He whispered quickly, “I’m so sorry, Pam, please just go along with me.” Then he said aloud, “Hi, beautiful, how’s my girl doing?” His warm breath on my neck gave me goose bumps.

“I’m fine. What’s going on?” Again, my eyes were drawn to his lips.

Half-Breed was growling. Was it in my mind, or was he actually growling? It was getting so I couldn’t tell anymore.

Williamson sauntered over to the car. “Hello, Miss Hastings. It’s nice to see you again.”

“I wish I could say the same. Am I under arrest, officer?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Even though I knew he was dangerous, I couldn’t seem to help myself.

“No, I’m just following up on the burglary attempt. Wondered if you would mind it if I checked out your alarm system.”

The catcher was going crazy. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I’ve provided all the paperwork to the police already. The system is monitored. Why would you need to inspect it?”

“Standard police procedure with monitored systems,” he answered.

I was trapped. “Well, I’m really not prepared for this, but if you insist.”

“Oh, I insist,” he said, resting his hand on his holstered gun. I felt more threatened now than I had with Divakar in my dream. I knew now that David would never hurt me, but I knew Williamson wouldn’t think twice about killing me and taking the stone.

I got out of the car and walked up to the front door. “I have to disarm the system, so if you two wouldn’t mind stepping back to allow me to enter my security code,” I said as I unlocked the door. They did as I requested. My palms were sweating and my hands shook so much I had trouble punching in the code. The alarm toned that it was off as we entered the house. Williamson appeared to be inspecting the system when I whispered to David, “What is this all about?”

“I’m not sure. He showed up this morning at the kennel and said ‘we’ had to come over here. I think he’s getting impatient.”

Williamson approached us. “What are you two whispering about?”

“Oh, David was just telling me how much he missed me and— ”

Williamson chuckled. “You buy all that lovie dovie crap from this player?”

“Why wouldn’t I? David and I are in love.” The words spilled out of my mouth before I realized it.

Williamson raised his eyebrows. “Well, looks like lover boy is finally getting into your pants after all, not that any of that matters. I think that you will be coming with us for a little ride now, Miss Hastings,” he said as he motioned for me to move toward the door.

His eyes were emotionless and cold. I knew he wouldn’t think twice about killing me. I was shaking and I hoped he wouldn’t notice. With trembling fingers, I set the alarm and we headed out the door.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked as he ushered me down the front walk.

“I’m not taking you anywhere. I’ve had enough of this waiting crap. You’ll be taking us to the cave. Now!”

“The cave? How did a police officer ever become involved in this?”

I’d known he was involved since I had overheard him talking with David in the park that afternoon, but for him to act now so blatantly just went to show how dangerous this man was. I could no longer control the trembling, and he chuckled as he shoved me ahead of him.

“I believe, Officer Williamson, I have already told Mr. Harvey that I don’t know the location of the cave.”

I turned to face the cop. David stood beside him, the anguish on his face and the turmoil in his eyes spoke volumes. He was caught up in this just as I was.

“I’m sure you know we don’t believe that,” he said as he patted the gun still resting in its holster.

“Now, Miss Hastings, if you wouldn’t mind we’ll be taking your car.”

I saw no way out. But just then the realtor arrived and parked his car in front of the house. He got out and looked from me to David and to the police officer. “Pam, is everything all right here?”

“Yes, everything is fine. I had a monitored security system installed and Officer Williamson has just finished his mandatory police inspection. As you can see, he was just leaving,” I answered. “Thanks so much, Officer. I appreciate your diligence.”

“Err, yes, thank you, Ms. Hastings. Everything appears to be in order,” he said.

At that moment, they had no choice but to leave. When David’s car drove off, I breathed a sigh of relief.

But I knew the days were numbered before my enemies would close in and enter my circle. I had to be ready because I knew, ready or not, they were coming.

The realtor, Mr. Wayne, was very nice. We did a walk-through of the house. I pointed out some of my home’s best features, the storage space and large yard. He said he had a client who was looking for something exactly like this. He asked if he could show the house the next day.

“If you don’t mind, maybe I should show the house without you here, or . . .” His words trailed off as he glanced at Half-Breed.

“His name is Half-Breed and he is part wolf,” I said, trying to make light of it. “Half-Breed seems to like you, Matt, but maybe your client wouldn’t feel comfortable so I will take him out.”

He let out a sigh and I knew he was relieved. As I saw Matt to the door, I crossed my fingers, hoping that the house would sell quickly.

Within less than an hour, Matt phoned to say that he would show the house the next day at two o’clock.

“Oh, Half-Breed, luck is with us.”

If you can sell your lodge, then you can stay with Moheeladeck.

“Yes, I would like nothing more.” In my heart, I knew that was where I had to be and more than that, where I wanted to be. Yet, I had to admit to myself that part of me still had feelings for David. I knew I couldn’t hide my thoughts from the wolf, and shame burned my cheeks.

“Tonight when we see Moheeladeck, we’ll tell him this good news,” I said, hoping that Half-Breed wouldn’t press me about my thoughts of David.

Tonight when you see Moheeladeck, you must tell him how that dirty cop and low-life dog you seem so taken with lately nearly abducted you at gun point. The circle is closing in, Princess, and he needs to know what’s going on!

You mean to tell me that you have not already told all this to him?
I knew Half-Breed hated David and he didn’t want him near me. I thought for sure he would have already enlightened Moheeladeck to the new emotions that were going on inside me, but much to my surprise, he replied,
No. I think this is something he should hear directly from you.

For once I appreciated their whole concept of not telling a tale they felt was not theirs to tell.

How could I explain what was happening inside of me to Moheeladeck, when I didn’t understand it myself?

You’re probably right, Half-Breed. You know, I’m really beginning to like having you around. When we go back to the People for good, I’m going to miss our conversations.

Then, we will have human-to-human conversations, Daughter.

Maybe, but for now I know what will make you happy. I think we should celebrate by making something special for dinner. I just happen to have a package of hot dogs in the fridge.

David pulled up in front of his house. He felt like a caged animal. He wanted to, no, he needed to expend the pent-up energy that was driving him crazy. The scene of him and Pam in her bedroom played through his mind. Her in his arms and the stones in his grasp. What had he done? He had everything he ever wanted literally in his hands and he backed away and let it all go. He knew what was expected of him, what they wanted him to do, but what about what he wanted? He ran a hand through his shaggy hair and closing his eyes he rested his head on the steering wheel of his truck.