Shadow Bones (11 page)

“Skye, talk to me.”

Jake's urgent voice calmed her, and she let her breath out. “I'm here. The door is open, Jake.”

“What's the snake doing now?”

Skye peeked one eye open, then both eyelids flew open and she stared at the floor. The snake's coil had loosened, and its head turned toward the open door. “It sees the open door.”

“Good. Don't move. I'm almost there. I've been driving ninety miles an hour.”

Skye glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the SUV kicking up dust behind it as it barreled toward her. The tension in her chest began to loosen. “I see you.”

Keeping her eyes on the mirror helped her ignore the danger that lay at her feet. She glanced down, though she didn't want to. The snake had moved toward the open door.

Was it a myth that a snake wouldn't bite unless it was in a coiled position? Skye had never studied the matter. She normally couldn't even bear to look at pictures of snakes. The up-close-and-personal brush with a poisonous one had been almost more than her nerves could bear.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Jake still coming behind her. He still had the cell phone to his ear. “It's moving out,” she whispered.

“Good. Hold quiet.”

With safety so close, it was all Skye could do to stay frozen in one position. Her muscles were beginning to ache from the tension, and she wanted to swing her legs to the seat.

The snake's head had reached the open door. Its tongue flicked in and out again as it hesitated.
Please leave. Go.
Skye silently urged its progress.

Swinging its head down, the snake began to slither out the open door. In seconds the last tip of rattle at the end of its body slipped over the floorboard. With a cry, Skye jerked the door shut and jerked her legs onto the seat. Cowering against the smooth leather, she dropped the cell phone and buried her face in her hands, then burst into tears.

Her vision darkened, and she fought the faintness. She wouldn't pass out now. It seemed as though she sat that way for years, then she heard gravel flying and looked into the rearview mirror to see Jake's SUV sliding to a stop. Jake jumped out and stood back as the snake slithered past him and into the grass on the other side of the road.

Jake sprang to the door of the truck and opened it. “Are you okay? Did it bite you?”

“I don't think so but I'm not sure. I'm numb.” Tears continued to roll down her cheeks, and she struggled to breathe.

Jake took her hand and helped her from the truck. “Let me see.” He knelt on the gravel and ran his hands over her ankles. “I don't see anything.”

She could hear the relief in his voice. He stood and pulled a bandana from his pocket then awkwardly wiped her face with it. “Don't cry. You're okay. I can't believe how brave you were. You really kept your head. If you'd panicked and moved, it would have bitten you. God answers prayer after all.”

She raised her head at his ironic tone. “You prayed?”

He nodded. “God hasn't answered many prayers for me lately, but He came through on this one.”

“I didn't think you were a Christian. You'd seemed kind of cynical.”

“It's been hard to trust Him after He let my parents be murdered.” His eyes narrowed to slits, and he looked away. “I'd have to say I'm a Christian who's mad at God.”

Talking about something other than the snake was calming her nerves. “God never promised us we wouldn't see sin and pain in this life.”

“I know. I'm beginning to understand that. I became a Christian when I was fifteen. It was great until my parents died.” He sighed. “I've been going to church again.”

“I've noticed.”

“I've noticed you noticing.” He grinned.

Her face burned, and she looked away. At least she knew he was a Christian. If he continued to look at her like that, she would throw herself against his chest. She swallowed hard. “How do you think that thing got in there?”

“Are they common here?”

She shook her head. “We have no native poisonous snakes.”

“What about Tallulah?”

Skye's eyes widened. “Could she hate me that much?”

“I'm going to find out,” Jake said grimly.

J
ake had rushed out of the site so quickly, he hadn't notified anyone of his departure. He had Skye put her head between her legs then called Joe and asked him to keep a lookout on the dig. He then called Kimball and told him to go ahead and he'd be back as soon as he could. He also told Kimball about Cameron's admittance that he had stolen the eggs and what they were. Kimball had whistled when he heard the news, then told Jake to be careful.

Jake hurried back to Skye. He wasn't about to leave Skye while she was in such a state. Her wide, shocked eyes had stared out of a face so paper-white, he'd wondered if she was going to faint. His teasing banter had brought the color back to her cheeks.

He grabbed the canteen at his waist and handed it to her. “Drink,” he commanded.

She took a swig and grimaced, but more color came back to her face. “I can't believe even Tallulah would
do such a thing,” she said. “You think maybe a snake just escaped?”

“How? You remember how she acted. She seemed a nutcase. You never know what people like that will do.”

She closed her eyes briefly, and he watched the way her eyelids fluttered. The delicate tracery of veins in her lids made her seem fragile and vulnerable. He wanted to kiss away her fear. The thought made him take a step back. She wouldn't welcome his caress, she'd made that much clear.

Skye opened her eyes and sighed. “Can I go with you to see her?”

“I'll drive.” He took her elbow and guided her back to his SUV. “Your truck is far enough off the road for now. I'll call Max and have him and Becca come get it.”

“Becca! I'm supposed to be going there for lunch.”

“I'll tell her what happened.” Jake dialed his cell phone and explained the recent events. He soothed his sister's alarm, and she promised to take care of Skye's truck.

“The keys are in it,” he informed Becca before ending the call.

“I wish I'd caught that snake,” he told Skye.

She shuddered. “I'm glad it's gone.”

“I could have taken it to Tallulah as if I were returning it. She might have been startled enough to reveal something.”

“Better you than me.
I
don't want to ever see it again.” She clasped her arms around herself and stared
out the SUV's window as he sped toward Tallulah's place.

“We've got to plan our strategy with her. Just coming in and accusing her will get us nowhere. I think I'll have a look at her snake building.” He tried to remember how many snakes had been in there. She'd said a hundred, he thought. One by the door had been particularly large.

“Count me out.” The look of distaste on her face made him smile.

“They're caged. They can't hurt you. But you can stay outside while I check it out.”

“Maybe we'll be lucky, and she'll be gone.”

“Fat chance. But we'll handle whatever happens.”

“Should we call the sheriff?”

“I'll drive and you call him, though he doesn't seem eager to solve this one.”

The road was empty of traffic. He pulled the SUV to the side of the road and parked at the road. No reason to announce their presence by driving into the lane. “You up for a hike?”

“Do I have any choice?”

“You can stay here until I get back.” He knew she'd never agree. And in truth, he was half afraid to leave her alone.

“I'll come.” She unfastened her seat belt and got out.

He stared at her critically. “You're still pretty pale. Maybe you'd better wait for me.”

“I'm fine.” Her voice was defiant. “Let's get going.”

“It's quite a hike to her house,” he warned.

“I know that better than you.”

“You're getting feisty. That's a good sign.” He grinned and she scowled at him. “Those flimsy sandals aren't much good for hiking.” He pointed to her feet.

“I can outrun you any day.” Her chin lifted, and she stared him down.

He held up his hands. “Truce. Why are you mad at me?”

The fire faded from her eyes. “Sorry. It's not your fault.” She looked tired.

“No, it's not. If I remember correctly,
you
called
me
to come to your aid. Rescue the damsel in distress.” He was beginning to think he wanted to be more to her than just a strong body to call when she was in trouble.

“Oh, shut up.” Her eyes sparked again, and spots of color sprang to her cheeks.

He grinned. “Let's go, Sleeping Beauty, before I get in more trouble.” He took her hand, and they stepped into the forest. She tried to tug her fingers loose, but he held on to them and she seemed to relent, curling them into his. He liked the feel of her small hand in his. It felt natural, though that intimate gesture was a rare one for him.

Skye also seemed content as they walked through banks of wildflowers, and as he helped her hop over streams. The scent of pine sprang from the needles crushed under their feet. The forest was alive with movement.

Skye flinched and leaned against him when a garter snake slithered past her sandals. “Steady,” he said sooth
ingly. He ran his hand along her long braid as she pressed her face against his chest. His pulse kicked up a notch. He liked the feel of her thick braid, silky and heavy in his hand. Why did holding her always feel like it was what he was meant to do?

He didn't want to linger on this attraction to her, didn't want to spend the long hours between dusk and dawn thinking about her. She haunted his dreams, and he didn't like it. Maybe he needed to buy one of her dreamcatchers.

He released her, and she stepped back.

“Sorry,” she said, rubbing her eyes. “Let's get this over with.”

He nodded and started through the woods again, but this time, he let her find her own way. The more distance between them, the better for his peace of mind.

The ground sloped away before them, and the small structure lay at the bottom of the hill. The place looked deserted. Maybe this would be easier than it looked. Slipping and sliding, they made their way down the steep incline.

At the edge of the clearing, he pointed to a boulder thrusting up through the ground. “Wait there,” he whispered. “I'll see if anyone is around.”

“Her bicycle is gone.”

He glanced around and nodded. “Good. But wait here anyway. Can you whistle?”

She nodded and pursed her lips. She warbled like a songbird.

“Great. Do that if you see her come.”

“Be careful.” Her dark, doelike eyes were anxious.

Before he could help himself, he bent and kissed her quickly. A reassuring caress was what he'd intended, but he wasn't prepared for the shock it caused in him. How did she do that? He pulled away and took off toward the snake house. He didn't dare look in her eyes and see the distaste he was sure was there.

The padlock was firmly fastened. He grimaced. If he broke it, Tallulah would know someone had been here. But so what? They'd be long gone, and if he could find proof for the sheriff, it wouldn't matter. He went around behind the house and found a crowbar hanging on a hook by the back door. Perfect.

The padlock resisted his efforts at first then broke free with a clang that echoed through the forest. He jerked the door open and went inside. The smell of dirty cages hit him first. He looked around at the cages filled with snakes. Several reptiles hissed and struck at the glass that separated them.

He glanced around the room. One of the cages was empty. If he remembered right, it had held a large timber rattler last time they were here, though the fact it was empty was no proof the snake had been put in Skye's truck. The dirty wooden floor felt springy beneath his feet, as if it was rotten as he went to the far wall where a desk was shoved in the corner.

He sat in the attendant rickety chair while the snakes rattled and moved through the cages behind him. He pulled open the first drawer but all he found were records of the sale of venom to a lab in Detroit. The sec
ond drawer held bank transactions. He switched to the other side. Nothing.

He stood and went toward the door, suddenly noticing a shrill whistle that had grown in decibels. Skye had been whistling for several minutes, and he just now realized it. He sprang for the door, his sudden movement riling the snakes even more.

He gained the exit and saw a movement from the corner of his eye. Tallulah was bicycling along the lane. She seemed oblivious to his presence, and he stepped to the side of the snake building and hurried around the back of the house. Creeping through the edge of the forest, he joined Skye where she crouched behind the boulder.

“I thought I was going to have to come get you,” she whispered.

“Let's get out of here.” He grabbed her hand, and they ran for the deep woods. They'd just gained the top of the hill when he heard Tallulah shriek. She'd evidently discovered her padlock broken.

“Hurry!” Skye pulled at his hand. “If she gets more snakes out, I'll freak.”

“Me, too. Some of those suckers were huge.” He panted as he ran. It was harder running up the hill than it had been going down. Tallulah was screaming imprecations into the wind.

They reached the edge of the forest and stepped onto the road. “She had to have noticed the SUV,” Jake said.

“But she might not know who owns it.”

“She could find out. Not that I'm afraid of her.”

She paused to catch her breath. “I looked around the yard and found a rattlesnake totem in the yard.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means she looks to the rattlesnake to protect her and to give her vindication from her enemies. So she might have used one to try to hurt me.” She opened the passenger door and got in. “There's more. Look.” She held out a long feather. I found it in an unlocked shed.”

“So?”

“So, it's my father's. The one missing from the box of his belongings.”

“So she took it after all.”

“There were other things there. All kinds of power fetishes.” She shivered. “Let's get out of here before she comes back.”

 

The sheriff listened to Skye and Jake relate what had happened. “It's pretty thin evidence.” Sheriff Mitchell shook his head. “Lots of Ojibwa have totems in their yards. And snakes can and do escape. There's no proof it was deliberate.” He picked up the feather. “How do you know this is your dad's? It just looks like an eagle feather to me.”

“I know the feather. I looked at it every day. Trust me.”

“Okay.” He sighed heavily. “I'll have another talk with her.”

Skye rolled her eyes at Jake as the sheriff left the manor. They'd both known he wouldn't move fast on this. At least they were out of that horrible woman's
hideaway. She shuddered just thinking about it again. Her gaze went across the living room of Windigo Manor and met Wynne's.

Wynne frowned. “You're not drinking your tea, Skye. You've had a scare today.” She turned to Molly. “Hey, pumpkin, would you ask Moxie to bring some cookies in, too?”

“Sure.” Molly hopped down from the sofa where she'd been sitting beside Skye. “Don't worry, Skye. Uncle Jake will protect you.”

Skye managed a smile, though her gaze wandered to Jake. He stood talking to Kimball by the doorway. They were deep in discussion about the eggs again. She leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. Fatigue weighted her eyelids and made her muscles ache. She wished she could crawl in a bed somewhere and forget about this day.

Especially the memory of the kiss. Why did he persist in doing that? Was he trying to drive her crazy? She would never forget the way he'd sprang to her rescue today, like a knight in shining armor. Like Indiana Jones himself. She opened her eyes and watched him.

His floppy hat was in his hand, and she could see the shaggy hair that was usually covered. Thick as a thatched roof, it was nearly as dark as her own. A tan line ran across his forehead from the constant hat on his head, and stubble darkened his jaw. His bronzed muscular arms were shown to advantage in the old T-shirt he wore. He was every inch a man.

If only he would quit doing such sweet things, she could resist him. Though he was inordinately handsome, for her the real attraction lay in the way he cared for his family and the strength of character he showed in everything he did. Skye wished he would take his eggs and go somewhere else so she could rediscover the contentment she'd had before his appearance.

Jake must have sensed her eyes on him because his gaze rose and caught her own. Their eyes locked and he gave a slight smile that made her stomach plunge. He was her enemy. She had to remember that. She was so close to finding the diamonds, and now that he'd found those eggs, he would shut her down. There was no way they could both win. If it came to a showdown, she knew her mine would be the one to pay the price.

He smiled, and she found herself smiling back though she wished she could glare instead. Kimball said something and Jake followed him out of the room, much to Skye's relief.

“My brother likes you, you know,” Wynne said in a soft voice.

Skye froze. How did she answer that? “He's a nice man,” she said, wincing inside. Nice was such an insipid word for a man like Jake Baxter.

Wynne smiled. “Nice? I've never heard him described that way. Intense, focused, but not nice. You must have it bad, too.”

Skye felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “I don't know what you mean.”

“You can't keep your eyes off him. And he's the same
way. It's like watching two magnets try to avoid one another.” Wynne laughed, but there was kindness in it.

“He's not the settling down kind.”

“And you're not the type to go with him? Is that what you're saying?”

“No, I'm not. I will never leave Eagle Island.”

“Never is a long time. Don't you ever want to travel? Life with Jake would never be boring.”