Kiss of the Bees

His wife had raised so much hell that Mitch had finally been forced to sign away his parental rights, clearing the way for Mikey to be adopted by Larry Wraike, Lori Kiser Johnson’s second husband.

“So that’s what we have to do then,” Andy had said determinedly.

This was long before Mitch Johnson had taken Andrew Carlisle’s single-minded plan and made it his own. The conversation had occurred at a time when the possibility of Mitch’s being released from prison seemed so remote as to be nothing more than a fairy tale.

“What is it we have to do?” he had asked.

“Leave Brandon Walker childless,” Andy had answered. “The same way he left you. My understanding is that one of his sons is missing and presumed dead. That means he has three children left—a natural son, a stepson, and an adopted daughter. So whatever we do we’ll have to be sure to take care of all three.”

“How?” Mitch had asked.

“I’m not certain at the moment, Mr. Johnson,” Andy responded. “But we’re both quite smart, and we have plenty of time to establish a plan of attack. I’m sure we’ll be able to come up with something appropriately elegant.”

For eighteen years—the whole time Mitch was in prison—he sent Mikey birthday cards. Every year the envelopes had been returned unopened.

Mitch Johnson had saved those cards, every single one of them. To his way of thinking, they were only part of the price Brandon and Diana Walker would have to pay.

4

Because everything in nature goes in fours, nawoj, there were four days in the beginning of things. But these four days were not like four days are today. It may have meant four years or perhaps four periods of time.

On the Second Day I’itoi went to all the different tribes to see how they were getting along. And Great Spirit taught each tribe the kind of houses they should build.

First, I’itoi went to the Yaquis, the Hiakim, who live in the south. It was very hot in the land of the Yaquis, so he showed them how to dig into the side of a hill and to make houses that would be cool.

When Great Spirit went south, Gopher—Jewho—and Coyote— Ban—followed him because, as you remember, everything must follow the Spirit of Goodness. And while I’itoi was digging into the side of the hill to show the Hiakim how to build their houses, Gopher and Coyote stood watching. And soon, Jewho and Ban began digging as well. Every minute or two, as they worked, they pulled their heads out of the holes they were digging to see how Elder Brother did it.

Presently I’itoi stopped to rest. When he saw what Gopher and Coyote were doing, he laughed and said, “That is a good house for you.” And that, nawoj, is why the gophers and coyotes have lived that same way ever since.

Moments after Lani stepped into the house, the phone rang. “Davy!” she exclaimed, her voice alive with delight as soon as she heard her brother’s greeting. “Where are you? When will you be home?”

“I’ll be leaving Evanston tomorrow morning,” he said. “I won’t be home until sometime next week.”

“In time for Mom and Dad’s anniversary?” she asked.

“What day is it again?” David asked.

“Saturday,” she told him. “A week from tomorrow.”

“I should be there by then. Why? Is there a party or something?”

“No, but wait until you see what I’m getting them. There’s a guy I met on the way to work. He’s an artist. I’m going to pose for him tomorrow morning, and he’s going to give me a picture.”

“What kind of pose?” David asked.

“He wants me to wear something Indian,” Lani said. “I’m going to wear the outfit I wore for rodeo last year.”

“Oh,” David Ladd said, sounding relieved. “That kind of pose.”

“What kind of pose did you think?” Lani asked.

“Never mind. Is Mom there?”

“She’s outside with Dad. Want me to go get her?”

“Don’t bother. Just give her the message that I’m leaving in the morning, so she won’t be able to reach me. Tell her I’ll call from here and there along the way to let her know how I’m doing.”

From the moment Lani had come to the house in Gates Pass, Davy Ladd had been the second most important person in her young life, right behind Nana Dahd. The bond that existed between the two went far beyond the normal connection between brother and sister. Even halfway across the continent Lani sensed something was amiss.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

David Ladd was more than a little concerned about driving cross-country alone. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have bothered him at all. In the course of his years of going to school at Northwestern, he had made the solo drive several times. Now, though, he was living with the possibility of another panic attack always hanging over his head. What would happen if one came over him while he was driving alone down a freeway? He had called home, looking for reassurance, but obviously the edginess in his tone had communicated itself to his little sister. That embarrassed him.

“It’s no big deal,” he said. “I’ve just been having some trouble sleeping is all.”

Lani laughed. “You? Mom always said you were the world-class sleeper in the family, that you could sleep through anything.”