Whispering Spirits (16 page)

“The BIA? What the hell’s that?”

“Bureau of Indian Affairs.” Summer waited for
Worthington to sit in the oversized log chair across from her. “One
of their agents called my grandmother…asking if she was for or
against the tribe selling the northeast corner section of the
reservation.”

“What’s this fella’s name?”

Summer lifted her chin and boldly met his
gaze. “He said he didn’t want anyone knowing he’d found out there
was interest in the land. He wanted to know if grandmother—”

“That was Bradley Wild Horse, wasn’t it?”

“I was telling you the truth when I said I
didn’t know. I don’t think Bradley has anything to do with the BIA.
If you’re smart you’ll take your people and go back to Texas. This
has gone way too far out of hand…and if you’re exposed…you could be
up on charges for murder and—”

“Don’t you threaten me, girl. I didn’t have
anything to do with—”

“And don’t you lie to me. You want those
documents you say gives you title to that land. I think they prove
you’ve been deceitful. If you had those signed documents, you
wouldn’t be asking me where they are. You promised money for
schools in Browning and the Tribal Council is dazzled by your
generosity. You told them you wanted to buy the northeast section
of land for the timber. You offered more money than they’d ever
hope to get for timber rights. You dropped hints there’s possibly
oil…but it wasn’t looking good. The Tribe is getting a terrific
deal. One they can’t possibly turn down. Browning is desperate for
new schools.”

“You see anything wrong with that offer?”
Worthington leaned back in the chair.

“If it’s timber rights, it’s more than a fair
offer. Oil should be handled like all the other oil leases. But
Gold is completely different.”

“Mining rights…are mining rights, but why
take any chances? I’ll own that land fair and square and if I find
gold…good for me!”

Summer straightened her back and drew in a
deep breath. “That’s where you’re wrong. Keeping the truth from the
Council is fraudulent. You know that as well as me. What? I’ll bet
those land test results prove there’s gold and also that you knew
about it. Someone got their hands on them and called you…asking
money for them. You have Stuart in your pocket…so you tell him to
find out who had the test results and to get them. He asked his
buddies to help him…but to protect themselves they…what…recorded
the conversation? They can prove you have a connection with Ali,
Jordan, and Derek who are now dead. Which makes me believe Joshua
killed Derek—not me. That leads me to ask, where is he?”

“Very good, Summer. We don’t know where
Joshua is. I hope he’s still trying to find those documents
because…no one has found them yet.”

“So Jordan got his hands on them first, hid
them, then I’ll bet he wanted more money, right? Derek killed him
trying to get him to talk. That’s why everyone’s been asking me
where Jordan would hide documents.”

“A quarter of a million dollars and no one
can find those fucking papers? We thought we found our leak when we
saw Running Crane with you two women. Instead, he’d been hired by
your father to protect you. Waste of money if you ask me.”

“Did my father tell you that? You didn’t hurt
him…did you?” Her stomach knotted and she stiffened under his
withering glare.

“It seems your father is nowhere to be found
either. Stuart had a grudge to settle, since he believed you killed
his brother. I sent him to bring you to me…alive. I’m not too sure
my investment was a wise one.”

“You thought I’d know where the documents
were hidden. Sorry to disappoint.” Summer had a quick and
disturbing thought. “What if Jordan…no—”

“What if Jordan what?” He repeated with
contempt.

Summer bit her lip and looked out the window.
“What if Jordan turned those test results over to someone on
Lawrence Borden’s team?” Did she hear drums beating outside? She
stained to hear them.

“The guy running for Democratic Senate? Why
in Sam Hell would he do that?” Worthington slammed his palm on the
arm of the chair.

She stood and walked over to the expansive
windows. “That’s what I would do. If I worked for someone who has
connections…and believe me Lawrence Borden has connections…then I’d
make sure I had my ass covered.” Summer caught movement along the
tree line. She was suddenly anxious to escape Worthington’s
disturbing presence.

“Who would he contact? You have any idea
where they’d take this information?”

Her heart pounded fast. Had Running Crane
found her? She hoped he’d keep his distance. She’d seen at least
six men with guns. “I’m just guessing and considering other
options, Worthington,” she stated with exasperation in her tone.
She turned around, faced him, then moved back to the couch, taking
his attention with her. “Jordan never took me to political events
and I rarely met anyone he worked with.”

“You didn’t think that was odd?” He shook his
head in utter disbelief.

“I was a trusting fool. There, you happy? He
seemed to be the answer to all my prayers, kind, a gentleman,
aspirations for his future, and a loving man. What more could a
girl ask for?”

“Now you sound like my Domonique. These days
women are gullible fools.”

She raised her chin and sent a cool stare in
his direction. “I’d really like to go see my grandmother.”

“Casey, take Summer to see her grandmother.
Again, they try escaping—shoot the old woman.”

“You asshole.” She turned away without
waiting for a reply.

His obnoxious laugh rippled through the
air.

Chapter Eight

Running Crane inched his way across the tree
line, spotting two gunmen out front. He settled down in the thick
brush, exhausted. He’d wait until dark before deciding if he should
make a move or not.

His leg throbbed, yet considering the beating
it’d taken, it showed no sign of infection. He’d run out of the
triple-antibiotic, so it’d remain wrapped in the present bandages
until he could have a medical team look at it.

His main concern had to be Summer Timber
Wolf. It’d been wrong to become emotionally involved. He knew
better and it’d never happened before. He ached to hold her in his
arms again. Right now the worse-case scenario presented itself in
front of him. They had her and he wasn’t sure how he was going to
get her back, unharmed.

He could handle Stuart Wallace, but now
Summer was in the hands of Germaine Worthington. If ever there was
a rich Texas bastard, Germaine Worthington would top the list. The
home office said he was involved, and they’d had evidence surface
that he was dealing with Kevin Wild Horse.

Bradley had gone undercover and soon became
the love life of Domonique Worthington. Word was he’d fallen for
the woman, and no longer was an asset. Yet, Running Crane wasn’t
convinced. If you’re undercover, you’d better go in
whole-heartedly.

But, running Crane knew he’d have to tread
carefully considering he hadn’t touched bases with headquarters for
the better side of a week,. He ate the last granola bar and emptied
the water bladder. Fortunately the rain had dissipated and a light
breeze moved-in clear skies. As dusk settled, a thick band of fog
rolled into the valley, covering it with a blanket of eerie
stillness.

The slam of several car doors caused Running
Crane to focus on the front door of StoneHouse. Two men pushed a
man up the steps in front of them. The door opened and Running
Crane not only recognized Stuart Wallace, but the man they pushed
inside was Bradley Wild Horse.

Running Crane tried to get cell service one
more time, but knew the chances were none. He had a decision to
make, and it could mean life or death to the women he’d always
cared about and possibly even Bradley. Running Crane had a job to
do…and he had to rely on his training more than his emotions.

There seemed no chance to penetrate the house
without a skirmish or two with Worthington’s men. Running Crane
wondered if they had
Nah’ah
in the house. He’d caught a
glimpse of Summer and no doubt she wasn’t at liberty to leave.
Unfortunately, he expected she wouldn’t keep her mouth shut either.
That presented another problem; what exactly did she tell them?

Were they watching for him…or did they think
he was dead? Did he have Bradley on the inside or had he turned?
Then emerged the question: was this all worth a vein of gold…or was
there something bigger going on?

Running Crane couldn’t help feeling his
people needed to open their eyes and protect themselves. They’d
fallen into believing what the white man had to say—again. Was
there more to the land that Worthington wanted? The people needed
to be aware…what exactly did this land deal involve?

Fear filled Running Crane as thoughts of
losing more land to the
napi’kwan
took hold. Bradley’s
father was a good man; he thought and felt for the people. He had
been an advocate for new schools for years. He would negotiate with
the People in mind, and he would trust Worthington if his son was
going to marry into the family. Nothing about this situation felt
right. Running Crane needed to get his hands on the mineral test
results.

He settled down into the lower shrubs and
closed his eyes. In a few hours he’d work his way to the house and
get Summer Timber Wolf free from Worthington’s grip.

* * *

Summer entered the small, dark room and
noticed
Nah’ah
lying on a small bed. She quietly moved
across the room. The sound of the lock snapping in place echoed in
the silence.

Fear gripped her as she moved closer and
closer to
Nah’ah
. If they hurt her in anyway…Summer
struggled to keep such thoughts from surfacing.

“
Niipo,
sweetheart, you are alive,”
Nah’ah
pushed herself up and opened her arms wide.

Summer rushed to her grandmother and clung to
her. Tears of joy and relief spilled down her cheeks. “I
thought…they had hurt you.” She choked back the lump that rose in
her throat.

“They are not nice people, but they did not
hurt me. I am the only reason the warriors have not stormed this
napi’kwan
fort.”

“What are you talking about,
Nah’ah
?
This isn’t a fort.”

“Isn’t it? Am I not a hostage? Do they not
guard my door with a riffle? Are they not trying to trade my life
for a signature on a piece of paper? This paper will take more from
the People. Always, the
napi’kwan
is trying to steal from
us.”

Summer understood why her grandmother would
think that way. “Running Crane will make things right, I just know
it.”

“So, you…and Running Crane have found you can
talk to each other without anger? I have known you two would find
love, if you let it. There is always some good that comes out of
bad. Where is your young man?”

“He isn’t my young man…we just…found common
ground. I’m not sure, but I think he’s just arrived and I hope he
uses common sense and doesn’t storm in through the front door.”

“So you do care about him?”

“Yes,
Nah’ah
, I care. I’d hate to see
him die before I get the chance to…get to know him better.”

“He will not die, but I sense he is injured.
There is much you could learn to understand those around you.
Listen…and hear the songs of your ancestors.”

“Yes, I know…their spirits are trying to help
me. Actually…earlier I thought I heard drums. But I know that
couldn’t be. I looked around…and that’s when I spotted Running
Crane along the tree line.”

“You see, they wanted you to know he was
coming. If you listen, they will help you—if you let them.”

Summer leaned into
Nah’ah
as she had
when a child and drew comfort from being in her arms.
“
Nah’ah
, did you know about the oil on our land?”

“Oil is not the problem, it’s the gold that
is causing the white man to become so greedy.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Summer sat back and
looked at her proud, strong-willed grandmother.

“There was no reason to involve you. When
Jordan was murdered, I knew it was connected to the land deal.”

“I’m really confused. I keep trying to figure
it all out…but it’s not falling into place. I didn’t know you had
any…connections with Jordan.” Summer watched
Nah’ah
and
could tell she thought about what she should—and should not
say.

“Bradley Wild Horse and his father Kevin
are…getting proof the Worthingtons are trying to steal Blackfeet
land and resources. Kevin got ahold of land mineral test results
that have Worthington’s signature on them. He didn’t know what to
do with them so he contacted me. I told him to take them to Running
Crane. On his way to meet up with him, Kevin was attacked and the
papers were taken.”

“What the… How could you know such a thing
and not tell me?” Summer’s head hurt and her stomach screamed for
something to eat.

“Your father—”

“Inn’s involved? Worthington said they don’t
know where he is. Do you? Has something happened to my father?”
Nah’ah
had gotten in way too deep.

“Lawrence Borden contacted me over a year ago
regarding Native rights and how his campaign was going to address
treaties that were illegal. He believes the Black Hills should be
returned to the Blackfeet. He believes they should be paid back for
their many monetary losses.”

“Good Lord, that’d be in the billions,
wouldn’t it?”

“Exactly. Anyone owning land will receive
considerable compensation from the government, and it’ll take a
good five years more for most paperwork to be finished.”

“Worthington knows this? He can mine out the
gold and then sell that land back to the government for beaucoup
bucks? Nice. Do you know where the land test results are now?”