“That won’t happen.”
“It happens,” LJ said in soft voice. “They won’t be kind. I know; I’ve been there.”
Kylie turned and took LJ by the shoulders. “Ryan is her own person and she loves us. I’ve taught her that love is above all else.”
“But do you want to take the chance of her being a target of vicious people?”
“You still don’t get it.” Kylie shook her head. “I love you and I want you in my life forever. You and Ryan are my life, and I won’t let anyone stand in my way, and that includes petty people.” She kissed LJ. “You have to trust me on this.”
“I do trust you. What do you say we take Ryan to see the horses one more time before we leave?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Kylie stood and held out her hand. “There’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Will you live with us?”
LJ snorted. “Can I have my own room?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
A deep, rich laugh was her answer.
†
On the drive back to the city, Ryan laid on her head on her mother’s lap and fell asleep. They had spent the rest of the day riding horses around the property, and the child was exhausted.
“I know your things aren’t at the house yet, but will you stay with me tonight? I’ll wash the clothes you have with you so you have something to wear to work tomorrow.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“Yes. I want to spend all my nights with you.”
“What will you tell Ryan?” LJ glanced at her for a moment.
“That I love you and want to be with you.” Kylie squeeze LJ’s hand.
“It can’t be as simple as that. Life has rules we all have to follow. I’ve found that most of those rules are complicated. That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier this morning.”
“And I was saying that love is simple unless we make it difficult,” Kylie said. “What I feel for you is simple, and for me that’s all that matters.”
“Ryan knows we slept together at the ranch. Do you think she’ll be okay with that when we get back at your house? I don’t want to cause a problem. Maybe I should sneak out in the early morning?”
“There will be no sneaking around. I love you and am proud that you’re a part of my life. If others don’t like it, then that’s their problem, not mine, and I hope not yours.” She poked LJ in the arm. “Get it?”
“Yes. I never did like sneaking around.” She looked at Kylie. “What about your folks? I think we should wait until they get back before I move in.”
“Why? I don’t need their approval, if that is what you’re thinking."
“As a show of respect.”
Kylie nodded. “Okay. I see your point, but I don’t like it.”
“They’ll be back in ten days. I think we can hold out until then.”
At a stop sign they kissed. “Hmm, I’m not so sure about that.” Kylie leaned in for another kiss.
†
On Monday morning, LJ went home for a change of clothing before going to the museum. She stood by the door to her office as she waited for Kylie to arrive. When she heard the familiar footsteps, she stepped out into the corridor and took Kylie by the hand, pulled her into her office, and closed the door. “I’ve missed you.”
“I wanted you to stay and have breakfast with us this morning.”
Their kiss was long, slow, and passionate, and LJ’s heart hammered in her chest. “I don’t know if I can wait until your parents get back from their trip to move in with you.”
“Then don’t.”
“We never said anything to them about living together. What if they disapprove?”
“They won’t, and if they do, I don’t care. I want you in my life. To go to sleep with and wake up with in my arms.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Is today too soon?” Kylie kissed her softly.
“Good thing I don’t have much. Mostly clothes and the rest; my books, I can bring next weekend.”
“It’s settled, then.”
LJ nodded. “As much as I’d like to hide away with you in here all day, we need to do some work.”
They left for the workroom and were soon busy reconstructing artifacts.
“Good, you’re here,” Rob said as he walked into the room. “LJ, I need to speak with you privately.”
“Fine.” LJ walked up to the man. “I’m really busy, so can we speak here?”
Rob nodded. “I’ve just come from a meeting with the board of regents about funding for a dig next summer.”
“Did we get the money?”
“Yes, but there are conditions.”
LJ looked at him suspiciously. “I will not compromise how I do things, and you know that.”
“I do. Per their instructions, I have contacted Dr. Dylan and requested she supply us with three grad students to help in the reconstruction.”
“No. Absolutely not. Kylie is the only one I trust to do the job.”
“It was because of your new find last week that the funding was approved, but they want what your assistant is doing expedited, and the only way to accomplish that is to add more help.”
LJ looked at Kylie to see if she was listening, but she seemed completely focused on what she was doing. “Kylie will be in charge.” Rob raised his eyebrows. “I will not compromise on that point. She knows what she’s doing, and I have no idea what kind of training the others will have.”
“Are you saying Dr. Dylan hasn’t given them proper instructions? She was at the dig with you last summer and has firsthand knowledge of the entire procedure.”
“I didn’t say that. All I’m saying is that Kylie will be in charge of the workroom and anyone who comes in here to help.”
“Fair enough. You can expect them to be here this afternoon around one.” Rob nodded and moved closer. “Can I take what I saw between you and Kylie at the fundraiser as an indication that you’ve let the past go?”
“Yes.”
“Good. She’s a keeper.”
“She is that.” LJ watched the curator leave before walking back to Kylie. “Did you hear that?”
Kylie smiled. “Yes. Does it mean that Dr. Dylan will be here too?”
“Don’t know, don’t care. If she or her students give you any trouble, I want to know about it immediately.”
“Not to worry. You will be the first one I call before I deck the woman.” Kylie laughed. “Just kidding.”
“By the way…Rob approves.”
Kylie scrunched her eyebrows together, then her eyes widened. “Of us?”
“Yes. He asked in so many words if we were a couple.”
Kylie grinned. “See, people who truly care about us love us enough to let us find our own way.”
The rest of the week went by smoothly. The grad students proved to have a solid base of knowledge for understanding what they were doing. Max Dylan had not appeared, and for that, LJ was grateful. She didn’t want to fend the woman off.
Early one morning while Kylie and LJ were working with the artifacts, LJ let out a loud whoop. “Come see this. It’s unbelievable.”
Kylie hurried to her side and looked at the large plaque she had pieced together two weeks earlier. “You completed it.” She looked around the table. “The first pieces were way over on the other side.”
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them.”
“Do you know what it depicts?”
“When you first pieced it together, I thought it might be a depiction of the seasons, but now there are three more figures, so that can’t be it.”
“Maybe it’s a way of telling time.” Kylie’s eyes caught something in the corner of the newly added pieces. “Look at that there.” She pointed to the top right corner. “If I didn’t know better. I’d say it looks like a UFO.”
LJ pulled the magnifying glass over the area and looked at it. “That’s curious. It looks exactly like the Egyptian hieroglyphic for the letter
r
. But it can’t be. This predates the Egyptians.”
Kylie laughed. “So it could be a UFO, right?”
LJ shook her head and chuckled. “Sure, we can say that for now. This is another clue to discovering just who the people that inhabited the area were.”
Kylie saw the look of wonderment on LJ’s face and in her eyes. She was on the verge of a discovery that had the potential of redefining the Wari’ peoples.
“Be right back. I’m expecting a picture that my colleague Jean Moreau in Paris sent me.”
Kylie looked up to see LJ entering the room with a big smile on her face waving a sheet of paper. “What’s up? Did you get the photograph?”
“Better than that.” LJ held out the paper. “I submitted a paper on the artifacts and the new glyph we found to the archaeology society in Lima, Peru. This is the email
Maricielo
Castillo who is the curator of the National Museum of Archaeology in Lima, sent. Read what it says.”
LJ,
Congratulations!
As you know every year we present an award to the individual we feel has done outstanding work in promoting Peruvian archaeology. Based on your superb insight into the Wari’ tribe we are honored to recognize your achievements.
The event will be held at the museum on October 3, 2016 at 7:00 PM and we would be honored if you attended and gave a speech about your work and the theories that brought about your amazing discovery.
Once again, congratulations,
Maricielo
Castillo
National Museum of Archaeology
Curator
“LJ, this is wonderful. You’re going to accept aren’t you?”
“Only if you will go with me.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
†
At last, she was living in the same home with Kylie and Ryan, and LJ was happier than she’d ever been. She adored Ryan and received high marks from the child in Barbie play. Often she would look up and see Kylie standing in the doorway with a goofy smile on her face.
They had lived together for two weeks when Kylie’s parents returned from their extended vacation to Wyoming. LJ wasn’t happy about the prospect of telling Kylie’s parents that they were living together. It was a clear indication that their relationship had taken the next step, and she didn’t know how receptive they’d be. Telling Kylie’s parents was a small price to pay for the joy of being with Kylie and Ryan. Everything she wanted or needed was in the house they now shared. When she was at home with Kylie and Ryan, she was filled with so much happiness that she couldn’t keep from smiling.
LJ looked over at Kylie, who was driving them home after work. “Are you sure about your folks coming for dinner tomorrow?”
“Yes. My mom and dad have been back since last Sunday, and when I saw them last Tuesday I told them we’d gotten very close, and they didn’t seem to have any problem with that.”
“I’ll go with your mom being okay with it, but I’m not so sure about your dad. I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Trust me on this.” Kylie pulled her car into their driveway. “Hey, Ryan is with them, which means we’ve got the house to ourselves. Let’s not waste the opportunity.”
LJ sighed.
Kylie patted her hand. “Stop worrying. I have much more pleasurable things in mind.”
“I like the sound of that.” LJ finally let a smile curl her lips. “What are we waiting for?”
†
“What time are they arriving?” LJ asked nervously.
“They should be here in about an hour and a half. When they get here, we can start the grill going for the steaks.”
“Are you expecting me to cook the steaks? If you are, you are going to be very disappointed. I’ve never grilled anything in my life.”
“You didn’t have a way to cook at all the digs you’ve been to?”
“Sure we did, but I wasn’t the one doing the cooking.”
“For a big-time archaeologist, you certainly have led a sheltered life.” Kylie laughed.
“No way. I just wasn’t the cook. I can start fires and hack through dense jungles though, so if you need any of that, I’m your girl.”
Kylie wrapped her arms around LJ. “You are my girl in all ways, whether you grill or not.”
“Maybe we should just forget telling them that we are officially living together.”
“Too late for that. I imagine Ryan has already let that cat out of the bag.”
“Shit. I bet your dad is furious.” LJ could feel her insides churning.
“Okay, yes, he was upset at first, but he’s had two weeks to reconcile his feelings. All that time in the RV meant my mom had his undivided attention as she worked on his attitude.” Kylie laughed. “Trust me, he didn’t stand a chance. Now will you please lighten up?”
The door burst open, and Ryan came charging into the kitchen. “Lgie, look what Granddad and I made.” She held out a ceramic dish filled with what looked like origami dragonflies. “He made them and I painted them.”
LJ squatted down and looked at Ryan’s treasures. “They are great. Did you thank your granddad for all his help?”
“Oh yes, but I did most of the work.”
LJ looked up and winked at Carl. “That so? Well you two did a mighty fine job.” She stood. “You’re a good man to be so patient with her.”
Carl nodded before walking over to Kylie. “What’s for dinner?”
“Your favorite, Dad. Rib eye steaks, baked potato, beans, and a salad.”
“She
grillin
’ the steaks?” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder at LJ.
“No. That’s always been your job. No one does it as good as you do.”
LJ listened to the exchange and grinned. Kylie knew just how to play her father.
Kylie picked up the tray of steaks and headed out the patio door.
Carl turned and looked at her. “I went out to that ranch of yours last Wednesday. Nice spread you have there. Ben showed me around, and we found a few arrowheads.”
“Did you bring them with you?”
Carl dug in his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth. With great care, he unwrapped it. “Take a look.”
With a big smile, LJ carefully took the cloth and looked at the three arrowheads. “The Tonkawa tribe originally inhabited this area before the Apache, then the Comanche pushed them out. My guess is that they are Comanche arrowheads. Those are what we usually find out at my place.” She turned them over in her hand. “They are in very good condition and will be a great addition to your collection.”
“That’s what I thought.” Carl patted her on the back. “I hope I can go out there again.”
“Of course you can. Maybe one weekend we can all go.”
“Out where?” Kylie asked.
“Rhodes End. Your dad was out there this week looking for arrowheads.”
“Sounds like a plan. Daddy, the grill is ready and the steaks are on the counter.”
“Got it.” Carl walked away.
Kylie bumped LJ’s hip. “Told you so.”