“Well, I’m starving,” Skye spoke up. “I left Kerrville before the sun came up and I didn’t have a chance to eat. Baby Blue kept me and Noah up half the night.” She rubbed her tummy as she spoke to Journey, “Apple said you’re from Austin, but you’re staying out near Enchanted Rock.”
“That’s right. I’m housesitting for my great-aunt.” Journey couldn’t stand it a moment longer. “Your name is Blue?”
“It’s my maiden name. I’m Cherokee from Oklahoma,” she answered, then leaned back to give the waitress room to set down a big basket of chips, two bowls of hot sauce, and a large container of queso. “Oh, goody. Dig in guys.” Skye proceeded to do so. “Where’s Sarah?”
“Her babe’s teething,” Apple said. “She sends her love and full cooperation.”
Journey tried to get back on topic. If she was right, she didn’t want to lose this opportunity to find out what she could. “The reason I asked was because my great-aunt has a neighbor by that name, Blue.”
“I imagine you mean Kota. Yes, he’s a distant relative and a character to boot.” Skye swiped a chip through the hot sauce, then took a small bite. “I haven’t been out to see him in a while. How’s he doing?”
“He’s good. Kota and his grandson help my aunt with her horses.” She tried to put two and two together and was coming up short. “Kota isn’t Cherokee.”
Skye wiped some crumbs from the corner of her mouth. “He’s part Cherokee. He just tends to relate to his Apache ancestors the most.”
“Ela Blue, you mean.”
“Yes!” Skye smiled big. “You know of her?”
Apple and Jewel were watching the conversation with interest. “Is Reno related to the Blues?”
“No, but he knew Ela well.” Journey frowned, then grinned. “I mean the original Reno knew Ela.”
Skye watched Journey closely. Her concentration made Journey feel odd, like Skye could see right through her. She glanced at Apple and whispered loudly to her, knowing full well the other two could hear. “Are you sure Skye isn’t the witch?”
“Ha!” Apple laughed. “Skye, like my husband, has some shamanistic tendencies.” She looked at Jewel. “Would you agree?”
“Oh, yea. Definitely.” She twirled her finger around, she leaned in so a couple passing closely to the table couldn’t overhear. “If you think we’re a little on the creepy side, you should meet Skye’s sister-in-law, Cady.” Jewel nodded. “She’s seriously spooky.”
Skye scoffed. “Cady’s an angel.” She licked some queso off of her finger. “I’d give anything if I could’ve known Ela Blue.”
“What do you know about her?” Knowing how hungry Reno was for any information about his friend, Journey just had to ask. “My Reno would love anything you could tell him.”
“My Reno…” Apple leaned over to nudge Jewel. “Did you hear that? He’s handsome too. Show them, Journey. Do you have a photo on you? A selfie you took with him or something?”
Journey almost said no, then she took out the wallet that held the photograph of the tintype. If the postal clerk didn’t realize it was an antique, these ladies probably wouldn’t either. “Here he is.”
“Oh, he is nice looking.” Jewel stared at the photo, then looked back at Journey. “Very nice.”
Skye looked closely too. “Cute. Was this photo made at one of those places where you dress up like someone from the past?”
“Uh…I don’t know.” Journey stammered. “Maybe. But he just dresses that way sometimes.”
“Reno knew Ela, hmmm.” Skye held Journey’s gaze for a long moment. “She was very much a mystic. From the tales I’ve been told, she had some wild abilities. Very sensitive, able to sense and see things others couldn’t. They say she just knew stuff without being told. Not only what happened in the past, but also what would happen in the future. Plus, she could talk with those who inhabit the gray space between life, death, and beyond.”
All the girls were very quiet and solemn until Jewel giggled. “Been there. Done that.”
“Oh, quit bragging.” Apple poked her sister-in-law.
Skye rolled her eyes. “Of course, some of that natural talent could’ve come about because of where she lived. Noah and I have spent a great deal of time at Enchanted Rock and that place is powerful. It sits on a ley line, you know.”
“Really?” Jewel folded her hands together. “How about a field trip? I’d love to see what I can sense out there.”
Apple nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
All Journey could think of was that they might run into Reno while he was trying to reenact his miraculous arrival. “Are you going today?”
“Oh, no.” Skye grinned. “Our mission supersedes everything else. Right?”
“Right.” Apple agreed. “So, what’s the plan?”
Journey had no idea what they were talking about. She wondered if she might ought to slip away. That idea was nixed by the sudden appearance of the waiter. She didn’t want to appear rude, so she placed an order after the others. “I’ll have what Apple’s having, the small fajita platter.”
Once they were alone again, Journey couldn’t help but ask. “Speaking of Ela, there’s one thing Reno hasn’t been able to determine from his research. How did she die?”
A cloud came over Skye’s face. “We’re fairly certain she was killed in 1869. Everyone assumes she died in the massacre. Of course, there’s no way to be sure. Records were non-existent for our people. We do know the massacre took a great toll, almost a thousand lives were lost. Villages were burned. Women and children were killed. Babies scalped. Wounded Knee had nothing on the Leaf Moon Massacre.”
Journey felt sick. This would hurt Reno so much. He’d be raving to go back when he learned he possibly could’ve prevented his friend’s death had he been there to stop the massacre. “That’s so terrible.”
“I agree.” Skye’s mouth tightened, her voice becoming a little loud. “Especially since
