Following along behind three young warriors, he was led into a large white teepee with ornate feathers and strips of leather interlaced with beads that hung from two medallions pinned on either side of the opening. If Reno wasn’t mistaken, these were the marks of a shaman. Hope sprang in his breast. Hopefully, this man would help him.
Bending, he entered the sanctum of the medicine man. Once inside, he was met by two more men who directed him to kneel. Directly across from Reno sat a man about his age. Like Cocheta, his face bore a distinct resemblance to his mother. “Thank you for seeing me. My name is Reno.”
“You knew my mother.”
“Yes, she was very important to me.”
“Where were you when she was murdered?”
The question was harsh, but Reno could hear the pain behind his words. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t here. Ela sent me on a mission, and I didn’t return in time to save her.”
Delshay waved his arm in a circular motion. “This land is like a powder keg about to blow. And the Apache will be the ones caught in the fire.”
Reno prayed what he was about to say would turn out to be the truth. “I believe the threat is past. I have talked to the Governor and he is considering my claim. I told him your people were not responsible for the attacks on the whites. Their own kind has turned on them. They must look for the enemy within.”
“The Governor lies.” Delshay barked the words, then spat his disdain on the ground.
“He has lied, and he may lie this time. I can make no promises. It’s not within my power. All I can tell you is what a wise man of your blood told me, and that is to have faith.”
“Faith in what? The white man’s God?”
Reno knew only one answer to his question. “Have faith in what the future has in store.” Knowing how history turned out for the Native Americans as a whole, he felt like a traitor even voicing the notion. Still, in this particular case, he hoped he was right.
“There is no word for faith in our language. Now, why have you come?”
His hope was dying by the second. This man held too much anger in his heart to hear Reno’s request. Still, he had to try. “Ela helped me find my pathway through the stone so I could learn what it would take to save your people. I returned to this time with the help of your descendant. I have completed the task the Wise Woman gave to me. Now, I wish to return to the future. I have a wife there and a child on the way. The only person I know with the same power as Ela is you, Delshay. You are the son of Wise Woman. Will you give me your aid?”
Delshay appeared to consider Reno’s plea for a moment or two, then he sliced his hand through the air. “The answer is no. I see no great salvation for my people. You are a liar like all the others. I do not believe you are the true journeyman, half-breed. We shall look for another.”
Reno was stunned speechless. “Please, you’re my only hope,” he implored. “I need to go to my wife; she’s carrying my child.”
Delshay motioned for the three braves to take him away. Reno knew there was no use to fight or argue. He would be getting no help from Ela’s son.
When he returned to where Clay and Cole waited, he mounted Traveler, but said nothing.
“What happened?” This question came from Clay.
“He said no.” Reno nudged Traveler to a trot. “Let’s get out of here. I have to come up with another plan.”
* * *
“What do you do for a living, Cole?” Boone asked as they gathered round the breakfast table.
“I’m a photographer by trade. I was just getting good at it when the war came along.”
Reno passed his brother a platter of fried pork. “I didn’t know that, Cole.”
Cole shrugged. “In our brief meetings, the subject never came up. Do you think there’s a market for my skills in the area?”
From the head of the table, King sat his tin coffee cup down with a clatter. “I can guarantee there’s a place for you. We’ve been needing a good photographer. Fancy loves to have pictures made. Bringing one all the way from Austin or Waco costs way too much. I just detest having to pay traveling expenses.
“See?” Reno elbowed his brother gently. “I told you things would work out.”
Reno only wished he could say the same thing for himself. Two days had passed since he returned from the meeting with Ela’s son. Reno was at a loss to what his next step should be. How he longed for Kota or Lou to talk to. They would know what to do.
“Hey, where’s Gentry?” Ace called from the door. “A rider just came with a special delivery addressed to His Royal Highness, the Duke of Montagu. Isn’t that a hoot?”
“That’s for me.” Reno jumped up and hurried to the front. As he approached the rider, Gentry walked up from the other side. After he signed for the package and tipped the man, he handed Reno what he’d been waiting for – Saul’s journal.
“Here you go, my man. Don’t say I never gave you anything.”
“Never. That would be a tremendous lie.” Reno gave him a big smile, then he set off for the bunkhouse. For this task, he needed some privacy.
* * *
In the sunroom, Journey sat on the floor surrounded by the pups and kittens. She’d been trying to read Avery’s book. Since meeting the author at the
