“What if Lou is right? What if your attempt at returning is as dangerous as she says it is?”
“I can’t think that way, baby. My arrival here was painless. Hell, I didn’t even know it had taken place. I was in the past one moment and the future the next. I can’t let fear keep me from honoring my responsibilities.”
She held her head high, her chin jutting out with strength and determination. “I’m not afraid, either.”
As Lou hurried back, Reno wasn’t required to comment on her bravery. “Are we ready?” he asked.
“Let me get my recorder.” Lou jogged to her bedroom.
“I think we should drive instead of walk.” Journey found her purse. “It might be dark when it’s time to start back.”
They agreed and followed Journey from the house. As they approached the Subaru, she handed the keys to Reno. “You can drive.” She wasn’t trying to give him practice, she was just too shaken to be on the road.
“Just tell me where to go.” As he climbed behind the wheel, she moved to sit beside him, while Lou crawled into the back seat.
Journey gave him the directions Kota had given her. Since the distance was short, they were there in no time. “Well, I have to say I’m surprised. This camp looks nothing like I was expecting.” In truth, this was no camp at all. Sitting high on a hill overlooking the creek, the house was small, but it was obviously a hill country dream home. Made of native stone and hewn logs, it looked to have been designed by a famed architect.
Reno had to chuckle. “I bet you were expecting him to live in a cave like Ela, weren’t you?”
Journey didn’t admit it, but Reno was right. “What does that say about me?” she muttered under her breath.
Reno came around to hold the doors for the women. “I think the word you’re looking for is stereotypes. You’ve bought into stereotypes.”
“What I don’t get is why he has the two houses. The modest one on the main road and this little jewel back in the brush.” Journey was still worrying about Kota’s situation as they made their way to the entrance. Before they could climb up on the porch to knock at the massive
front door, Kota came out to greet them. Unable to hold back her question, Journey just blurted it out. “Why do you have two houses?”
Kota gave her a sly grin. “To throw white men off my scent.”
Reno threw his head back and laughed. “I love it.”
Undeterred, Journey pressed on. “And why do you work for Myra?” She held out her hands. “You obviously don’t need the job.”
Kota ignored her question and bade them to enter. “Join me, please.” He held out his hand to Lou. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
Lou blushed, finding the old man to be charming. “I’m Louisiana Evans. Call me Lou.”
“She’s Dr. Evans, Mr. Kota. Lou is a physicist and an anthropologist.”
“A woman who wears many hats.”
“Yes, I guess you could say that.” She opened her purse to peer inside. “Can I have your permission to record our session?”
“No. You cannot.”
Lou seemed shocked at his refusal. “Why not?”
He answered her question evenly. “I don’t want that new-fangled white man’s machine to capture my soul.” He chuckled and led them down some sturdy rustic steps to a sunken living area that featured a huge stone fireplace. “You may take notes if you wish. Now, please have a seat. I’ve been expecting this meeting.” Kota waited until all three of them were comfortable before he settled onto the hearth. “To answer your question, Journey, I work for your great aunt for several reasons. First, she is my friend. Second, she is an attractive woman.”
Reno chuckled at his second reason, but Kota just kept speaking.
“Third, honest work is good for the soul. But lastly, and most important is that it put me into a position to meet the journeyman when he arrived.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“The journeyman?” Journey asked, perplexed. “I don’t understand.”
Without directly responding to her question, Kota turned his focus to Reno. “I know who you are.”
Reno returned the old man’s assessing look. “I picked up on that fact the other day. Who do you say that I am?”
“You are the journeyman. You were foretold.”
Journey’s body shook as shivers rose from deep inside. She glanced at Lou for reassurance. Her friend acknowledged the moment, nodding, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“By whom?” Reno asked.
Kota smiled. “Who do you think? Wise Ela. The stories of our people are taught by father to his child or by the mother to her child. From these stories we have preserved our traditions and our beliefs. Some think the tales of the past are nonsense. A form of entertainment. That is not their purpose. For those who have ears to hear, great wisdom has been passed down.” He patted his jean clad knees and stood up. “Who wants a beer?”
His overture took Journey by surprise. “No, thank you.”
Lou and Reno took him up on his offer. As they watched, the old man ambled off, only to return with three longnecks. “Here, wet your whistle. This is going to take a while.”
He returned to his sitting position and took a long swig. “To be perfectly honest, I didn’t believe the prophecy concerning you. I mean, a cowboy riding from the past, dashing up on horseback to save the day. Sounds ridiculous, right?”
Stunned, the trio didn’t know whether to agree or not.
“Yet, here you sit.” He took another long swig. “Bigger than life. Just as my venerable ancestor foretold.” He passed his hand through the air
