He kept reading. “Wow.” Maybe he was onto something here. “To show just cause for this cleansing, the white settlers adhered to a code proclaiming violence against anyone of ethnic diversity as noble and heroic.” His eyes moved quickly. “Oh, yes. This sounds all too familiar.” He read more, feeling strange to see these words in print. “Bands of whites disguised as Native Americans attacked, pillaged, raped, and killed innocent people all across the state.” He felt a surge of excitement. “This is it.” He read on further but there was no mention of names. “I need this book.”
Jotting down the title and the author’s name, he tried to find it the way Journey located Tom Sawyer. “No luck. Damn.”
“What are you working on?”
Reno jerked a bit. “Sorry, I was so deep into my research I’d forgotten where I was for a moment.”
“You’re in 2019. Enchanted Rock. Sojourner Stanton. Any of that ring a bell?”
He loved it when she teased him. Pretending to think about it, he shook his head. “No. Sorry.” Growing serious, he tapped the monitor. “I found a review of a book that comes right out and says white men disguised themselves as Indians to attack the local settlers.”
“Really? Let me see.” She came over to look at his findings. “Order it.”
“I can’t seem to find it.”
“Okay.” She moved in closer and laughed when he settled her on his knee. “Oh, I like this work position.”
“Speaking of positions, remind me about trying a new one tonight.”
“Uh, what would that be?” She couldn’t help but grin as she searched for the book he’d found online.
“Something called the hot seat. You sit in my lap but facing away from me.”
“Where in the world did you learn about that? Is the hot seat a thing in 1869?”
“If it is, they don’t call it such. I found it in a magazine called GQ that I…”
“Found on my Kindle HD.” She finished for him. “You are one resourceful cowboy.” She made a disgruntled noise. “I’m not finding this book. When was it published?”
He bent close to help her look. “You smell good. What’s that perfume you’re wearing?”
His breath tickled her ear. “Thanks. It’s just some shampoo and body wash. Irish Mist or something.” She returned to the first article he’d located. “Okay. 2004. Hmmm. I bet this book didn’t see the light of day beyond a few college classes.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s a controversial position for the author to take. Texans. Americans. White people. We still don’t want to admit how we won control of this land of the free and home of the brave.”
“How are we going to find the book?”
“I’m sure it’ll be in the UT library system.”
“Should you call Lou and ask her to help?”
“Lou has her hands full,” she mumbled. “No, I’ll make some calls and we’ll go ourselves. If they don’t have it in Austin, they may have it in Houston. Either way, we’ll locate it. What are you hoping to learn from the book?”
Reno shrugged. “I’m hoping I’ll find out something about Kinsella and his raiders that I can use when I go back. Men like him usually have someone bigger pulling their strings. If I could find out who, I could enlist Kingston and Gentry to petition the governor to intervene before the Army is sent to…stop the non-existent Indian uprising.”
Journey rubbed her arms. “I have goosebumps. This is huge and so important.” She gave him a tentative smile. “I forget to look at the bigger picture sometimes. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I agree all of this is paramount.” He tugged her back against him. “But there’s something, someone, more important to me – and that is you.”
“You’re my highest priority too. Nothing is more important to me than the love we share.” She reached up to touch his cheek. “Everything’s going to be okay, isn’t it?”
Reno wished he could make her such a promise. “You can be assured I will do everything in my power to keep us together and keep you safe.” If he couldn’t do the first, he’d make damn sure he did the second.
For long moments they relaxed together, their breathing in sync. Finally, he spoke to break the contented silence. “Is everything okay with Lou?”
“Yea, she had some things to take care of at work and there wasn’t really anything for her to do here. Not until closer to…time.”
“Is that all?” Reno felt Journey’s small body grow tense in his arms.
“We’re not mad at one another, if that’s what you’re asking. She’s just worried about me and I feel that worry is misplaced.”
“It’s not misplaced, honey. Lou understands things that we don’t. We have to rely on her knowledge and judgment.”
Journey bit her tongue. She didn’t want to rehash the argument at this late hour. “I know you want to find a copy of that book. Other than that, do you have any idea what you might want to do with the time we have left?”
“I want to make love to you as many times as possible.” She giggled in his arms and he adored the way it felt. “What’s so funny? I’m serious.”
“I’m not arguing with your plan. I like it. What else?”
“I want to stay in touch with Kota and Lou. Plus, I never got a chance to finish looking through the
