Shadow of My Heart

chapter Three





“I didn’t mean to spill the crayons all over the floor, Miss Hamilton.”

“I know you didn’t, Jimmy. But you still have to pick them up before you leave,” Cara said with a smile at one of her more precocious students. Taking pity on the child, she crouched down and helped him. All the colors from the mega box now lay scattered across the floor and under the children’s desks.

When Cara and Jimmy were finished, she looked up to see Principal Davidson standing in the doorway. She had a sneaking suspicion he enjoyed seeing her on her hands and knees. Every time she turned around, he seemed to appear, especially when Raven was due at the school. Today, she and Raven were going out to celebrate their four-month anniversary. It was silly, but every moment with Raven seemed like a celebration.

“Hurry now, Jimmy. You’ll miss the bus,” Cara said, giving the child a warm smile and handing him his backpack.

“Is there something you need, Sir?” she asked Davidson as she moved back to her desk and sat down, putting the desk between them. If she caught him one more time looking at her butt, she was going to say something that might get her in trouble.

“I just wanted to give you a little advice, Cara. You know how I appreciate your efforts in acquiring the new playground for the school. But I think you might be taking it a little far with Mr. Darkwood. I know he has a lot of money, but do you want to be his squaw?”

Cara’s skin warmed with the rage coursing through her. Davidson seemed to realize something was wrong because he took a step back. Rising from her chair, she balanced herself as she leaned forward over the desk.

“Principal Davidson, my relationship with Mr. Darkwood is none of your business.”

“Is there a problem here?”

Davidson jumped at the annoyed voice coming from the classroom door. Cara let Raven’s voice wash over her, calming her anger. She had known Davidson was a pompous fool, but she’d never realized he was a racist.

“I’ll speak to you later, Miss Hamilton,” Davidson said, making his way to the door.

“Always, nice to see you, Mr. Darkwood,” Davidson said. “The playground is coming along nicely.”

Raven lifted an eyebrow as he looked at the man. Cara heaved a sigh of relief when Davidson became flustered and left.

Raven walked over to her and folded her in his arms. She hadn’t realized she still trembled from anger. Leaning against him, her legs felt wobbly. During the few short months they had been dating, this man had come to mean everything to her.

“I’m sorry you endured that. I didn’t realize Davidson was a fool,” Raven said as he nuzzled her hair.

“I didn’t either,” Cara said with a sigh.

“Are you still up to going out? I can take you home if you’d rather.”

“Raven, I want to be with you. Wherever you take me is fine.”

Cara looked up and smiled when she saw possessive light in Raven’s eyes. It thrilled her to know he wanted her. But he never took advantage. He always left her at the door with a kiss. Maybe tonight would be different. She was getting frustrated with his chivalric manners. If she had to wait much longer, she was going to jump his bones.

Raven loved holding Cara in his arms. He wanted to tear Davidson apart for trying to get between them. But a visit from Joe might take care of things. Davidson definitely needed an attitude adjustment.

Looking into her eyes, Raven let his feelings for her show. This woman was everything he wanted. But before he shared everything he was with her, she must be sure.

“Are you free for the weekend?” Raven asked, an idea forming in his mind. Time to take Cara home to meet Quiet Thunder.



§



Few people came out to the large ranch in Montana owned by Isanti Quiet Thunder. After Quiet Thunder resigned as CEO of Isanti, Inc., he never left. It took some quick maneuvering on Raven’s part to accomplish bringing Cara to the ranch. He had to rent a private plane and car. Luckily as CEO of Isanti, he controlled the resources to get it done. As they drove up to the ranch house, Raven wondered if he had made a wise decision. What if Quiet Thunder said Cara wasn’t the one? Raven didn’t think he could give her up.

The fields of hay were being cut as Raven and Cara drove up the dirt road in the four-by-four jeep Raven rented at the airport. Horses and cattle were standing in the shade of the scrub pine. The air smelled clean and fresh.

Cara seemed to be enjoying the drive, looking out at the animals and remarking on the beauty of the land.

“Do you ride, Cara?”

“Not since I was a girl at camp. But I did take classes one summer. I love horses. They are so majestic.”

“We’ll have to take a ride before dinner. Some of the trails out here are beautiful.”

“Your mentor won’t mind?”

“He’d be surprised if we didn’t go riding,” Raven said. “He taught me how to hunt from the back of a horse when I was fourteen. I love the freedom of riding, the connection between you and the animal. I know you think I’m a serious businessman. But I would rather be out on a horse any day of the week.”

Raven smiled when Cara laughed and patted his knee. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

Raven pulled up to the house and stopped in the circular drive. Quiet Thunder walked out the front door and stood waiting on the porch. Raven frowned when he realized his mentor looked a little thinner. Was something wrong that he didn’t know about?

Raven walked around and opened Cara’s door. Then, taking her hand, he led her forward.

Cara studied the older man. His long, silver hair hung in braids over each shoulder. He smiled as they approached, his dark eyes twinkling.

“So, Raven, this is the one you have chosen? Long may you walk in the light, Cara Hamilton,” Quiet Thunder said as he took Cara’s hands in his. “You have a great destiny together. Are you brave enough to accept it?”

“I love Raven, if that is what you are asking?” Cara answered.

Quiet Thunder glanced at Raven and smirked. “I can see from his face that this is the first time the words have been spoken. I am honored to be part of it, Little Mother. Come in the house and meet my daughters, Gwen and Lindy.”

Raven wrapped an arm around her and looked into her eyes. “Do you really love me?”

“Of course, can’t you tell?”

Cara couldn’t get out anything else because Raven swooped down and kissed her. This wasn’t like the sweet coaxing kisses he’d given before. This kiss felt hungry, demanding. As he nibbled on her bottom lip and plunged his tongue in her mouth, Cara’s toes curled. She pressed closer, wanting more, even as he tightened his arms around her, drawing her near.

“Oh, dear. Raven, do you really want to set the house on fire? Let the girl breathe,” said a soft voice.

“Don’t interrupt them, this is getting good,” said another.

Cara blinked, still dazed by Raven’s kisses, when he pulled back. Thank goodness he still held her around the waist, or she might have sunk to the floor. He looked slightly embarrassed, and Cara finally realized that two women were standing on either side of them. They both smiled at her and Raven.

“So, hi, I’m Gwen, and this is my sister Lindy. Dad said to make you welcome. Would you like something to drink or should we just show you to a bed?”

“Gwen!” Lindy said. “Please come in. We wondered when you might arrive.”

Raven kept his arm around Cara’s waist as they entered the house. Cara liked the young women immediately. She laughed as they teased Raven, and he ducked his head in embarrassment.

“I know you’re in love, but can you let go of Cara long enough to give us a hug?” Gwen said, punching Raven in the upper arm.

“Gwen always thought Raven the most handsome of all the warriors Dad trained. Be careful, Cara. My sister can be deadly when she’s jealous.”

“Me? You’re the one working for the government doing intelligence. My little sister is a spy.”

“Both of you are hellions and my beloved adopted sisters,” Raven said, grabbing them close for a hug. “Now stop fussing. Cara will think about running away from me.”

Cara laughed as the two sisters hung on Raven’s arms. They all possessed the same dark hair and dark eyes of Native Americans. Both young women appeared to be around her age.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily. Didn’t you promise me a ride before dinner?” Cara asked.

“Then, you should go now,” Lindy said. “Dad is in the kitchen cooking up some of his buffalo and elk chili. You only have a couple of hours before it’ll be done. Julio is out in the stable. He’ll help you saddle up a couple of horses. Make sure to ask Raven what he named his horse, Cara. You’ll die laughing.”

“Come on, Cara. Before these two tell you all my secrets,” Raven said.

“You mean like the time you went skinny dipping down at the pond and lost your clothes?” Gwen said. “He was only twelve or so. Poor kid came back through the scrub brush to the ranch house naked. He suffered cuts and scratches all over him.”

“I lost my clothes because two little girls followed me and stole them,” Raven said. “Cara, please save me from this. Let’s go for that ride I promised you.”

Laughing, Cara let Raven take her hand and lead her from the house to the stable. A young cowboy jumped up from working on the tack to help them saddle two horses. Raven led the smaller of the two horses out of the stable and stood holding the reins while Cara rubbed the horse’s nose and let the horse catch her scent. She gave the horse an apple treat before she moved to mount.

“This is Wind Dancer. She’s pretty gentle. You shouldn’t have a problem riding her,” Raven said as Cara settled in the saddle.

Cara picked up the reins and waited for Raven to bring out his mount. His horse, a huge black gelding that stood a couple of hands above Cara’s chestnut mare, stood quietly as Raven mounted.

“What is your horse’s name?” Cara asked.

“If you must know, his name is Bob,” Raven said, swinging into the saddle and riding up next to her.

“Bob?” Cara asked, trying not to laugh.

“Yeah, Bob. It’s simple.”

“Okay, I didn’t say anything,” Cara replied, chuckling.

“Come on, Bob. We don’t need to listen to this.”

Raven clicked his tongue and urged his mount into a canter. Cara laughed and followed. This promised to be a great time.

The trail wound up the side of a mountain. It wasn’t long before the valley lay stretched out before them. The sky, a deep blue, went on forever. The white ranch house below, surrounded by the black steers, stood out against the green fields. The dirt road became a red ribbon winding into the valley. Cara felt peace settle over her. She understood why Raven loved the ranch so much.

“It’s beautiful . . .” Cara said in awe.

“I thought you’d like it,” Raven said, smiling. “I’m sorry to rush you, but we need to head back so we aren’t late for dinner.”

They reluctantly turned their horses around. As Cara went around a bend in the trail, she heard a strange rattling sound. Wind Dancer started lifting her front feet and snorting, while shaking her head. Raven shouted something. But Cara was too busy trying to hang on as the horse reared up into the air. The horse came down hard, then reared again. Cara lost her hold and started to fall. Afraid that her leg would be caught in the stirrups, she kicked out her legs and fell to the ground. There was a loud pop, as she tried to stop her fall by reaching out with her arms. Pain wracked her body when her arms collapsed and she hit the ground hard. Tears came to her eyes almost immediately and ran down her face, as she lay there too stunned to move except to spit dust from her mouth.

Raven was at her side in an instant. “Cara honey, are you all right?”

“My arm, Raven, it hurts so badly.”

Cara looked like a broken doll, her arm twisted in a strange direction. Quiet Thunder we are in trouble, Cara is injured. We are on the mountain trail near the first curve, Raven sent using his telepathy. Quiet Thunder appeared in seconds. He grabbed the reins of the horses and inspected Wind Dancer for damage.

“Forget the horse! We’ve got to get Cara to the clinic!” Raven said

“We are all one, Raven. Her arm is going to hurt when you move her, and going into Shadow with its cold will hurt her, as well. Splint her arm as best you can and take her to Rick. Tell him to set it. I’ll follow you as soon as I care for the horses.”

Raven’s heart raced. Cara’s pain washed over him, filling his mind. He wanted to yell and rage at it. He pushed it aside, needing to get her to the doctor. He grabbed a piece of scrub pine that was lying on the ground and removed his belt. Then, he wrapped the belt around Cara’s arm and the wood. It wasn’t much, but it would do until he could warp her through Shadow to the clinic.

“I’m sorry, Cara, but this is going to hurt, baby,” Raven said as he went to lift her in his arms. “Hang on and we’ll get you fixed up.” What was wrong with him? He had seen worse things than a broken arm in his military years. Why was he so shaken?

Raven sent a telepathic call to Dr. Frederick “Rick” White Fox. Rick, I’m coming in with my mate. Her arm is broken. Be ready.

Raven pictured the lab and treatment rooms at Isanti, Inc. They kept the waiting room dark for this purpose. As soon as Raven could visualize it clearly, he walked through the shadow the mountain afforded, into the Shadow Dimension, and out in the waiting room at Isanti, Inc.

“Bring her in here, Raven,” Dr. Rick said from down the hall.

Raven winced when he noticed that Cara’s shirt and boots were now missing. Luckily, it appeared her bra was made of cotton, as were her pants. The other items must have been synthetics, because they disintegrated in the Shadow Dimension.

“Raven?” Cara asked, trembling from shock and the cold of Shadow. Tears still leaked from her eyes as her breath shuddered.

“Hang on, baby,” Raven said, walking down the hall and laying her on the hospital bed.

“Miss Hamilton, I’m not sure you remember me. We met at the awards dinner. I’m Dr. Rick White Fox. Just call me Dr. Rick. Now what exactly happened?”

Raven reached over and drew a sheet across Cara’s body, while he told how she had been thrown from the horse. Rick might be a doctor, but Cara wouldn’t like being exposed. Raven held her hand on the uninjured arm. He needed to touch her, to feel her with him.

Rick called for a technician to bring in a portable x-ray machine. Forcing Raven to give up his position at Cara’s side, Rick checked her pupils and took her pulse and blood pressure. Raven gritted his teeth, the need to hold Cara was a compulsion. The technician hurried in and took an x-ray of the injured arm. Rick gave Cara a shot of pain medicine while they waited for the results. Raven moved back to her side and feathered a kiss to her temple. Reaching for her hand, he poured reassurance into her mind with his telepathy.

“Quiet Thunder said he was going to come in,” Raven said. “I think he intends to heal her.”

“Really? That always takes such a lot out of him. I can set the bone and put her in a cast. It’ll be six weeks of healing time, though.”

“He said to set it and wait for him,” Raven insisted.

Thank goodness, Cara seemed to be drifting from the medicine. Except for her tight grip on his hand, she wasn’t responding much. Her tears had stopped. Raven wished he could wash the dirt and grime from her face. His heart still thudded painfully in his chest from the fear of watching her fall. He could have lost her today. She could have broken more than her arm, or fallen from the side of the mountain. Thinking about it, he shuddered.

“I’m right here, Raven,” Cara whispered to him as she gave his hand a squeeze.

“I know, baby. You scared the hell out of me.”

“Well, the good news is you don’t need surgery to set the bone,” Dr. Rick said, after looking at the x-ray. “The bad news is we’re going to have to immobilize your whole arm.”

Cara moaned. How was she going to get through the rest of the school year with her whole arm in a cast? How did they get here anyway? She hurt so badly. She remembered Raven picking her up, but did she faint?

They had gone into the dark, and she had felt a cold so sharp it took her breath away. The cold sunk into her very bones till she ached with it. Then, they were here. She must have passed out. But what happened to her shirt? She didn’t remember the doctor taking it off and where were her boots? Why did her left breast burn? Did she cut it when she fell? Thank goodness, Raven was here to look out for her. She must be drugged up pretty good to forget so much. Raven leaned down and kissed her hair.

“Just rest, baby. We’ll get things fixed up for you.”

Cara picked up Raven’s thoughts, but that often happened when she touched someone. Now they were clearer, and it wasn’t one fleeting thought or memory. She and Raven seemed connected somehow. When she could think about what was happening, she knew he felt the pain in her arm, while she felt his fear for her well being. But she was confused from the pain medication. Forcing herself to think became an exercise in futility.

“Sleep, Little Mother,” Quiet Thunder said. “Did you set the bone, Rick? Raven, light the sage. I want to get your mate healed so you can come back to the ranch. I need to talk to you about some things.”

Cara drifted. She heard a drum beat, felt the vibration deep in her heart. The smell of sage filled the air. A voice, aged and rich, chanted . . .