After retrieving the pasteboard container, he put it under one arm to carry, then placed a guiding hand to the small of her back. “You know, I’ve been thinking…”
“You have?” She knew she needed to tell him what she’d learned about Ela Blue – and she would when the time was right. “What were you thinking about?”
“What I’m doing, spending hours hanging around that spot in the canyon…it isn’t working.”
“I’m so sorry.” She could hear the regret in his voice, and she felt so torn. To make him happy, she wanted to help him leave, and yet she needed him to stay forever. “What conclusion did you come to?”
“I want you to teach me everything. The phone. How to drive. How to work the computer. If there’s as much information as you say there is out there, surely I can learn something to help my situation.”
She admired his willingness to try new things. “Sure. I’ll help you with anything you want to learn.” They came to the kitchen steps. The dogs were pawing at the glass, wanting out. Reno opened the door and they scampered wildly into the yard. “We’ll have to watch them,” she cautioned. “I’ve seen coyotes in the yard before.”
“Okay. Let me put this down on the dining table.” He went into the house, then came right back to join her. As they watched the dogs, Kota Blue came driving up. “What’s he doing here at this time of day?” Reno asked with curiosity.
“I called him on the way home to come over and take a look at the Subaru. Sam said there might be something more wrong than just a weak battery. I didn’t want to take a chance.” Seeing Reno’s eyes follow the old man with interest as he placed his toolbox on the ground and opened the hood, she gestured toward the Subaru. “Go over and watch him. I’m sure he won’t mind. If he asks why you don’t know anything about engines, tell him you’re from the city.”
Reno chuckled. “I’m not sure if he’ll believe me. I don’t exactly look or sound like I’m from the city.”
She gave him a little push. “You’re charming. Just be yourself.”
Journey sat on the doorstep with the dogs, watching as Reno joined Kota. Together, they stared under the hood. Soon, the older man was pointing and talking. He dug in his toolbox and showed something to Reno, who took the tool in his hand and leaned in to do whatever he was instructed.
After a little while, she heard them laughing together. Journey couldn’t help but laugh along with them, although she had no idea what amused them so. Finally, Kota shut the hood and dusted his hands together. He didn’t leave right away but stood and talked to Reno for the longest. Journey watched as they walked together to the fence, leaning on the rails, and looking off into the distance. She knew they were discussing something intently; she just didn’t know what it could be.
When Kota took his leave, Reno came walking back slowly. “Well, did you learn anything?” she asked in a teasing tone.
He nodded. “Yes. He gave me a pretty good overview of how an internal combustion engine works. The next time he comes over, he said he’s bringing a lawn mower for me to take apart and reassemble.”
“Well, that’s great. Is the Subaru in good working order now?”
“Yea. Kota said it’s ready to go.”
She could tell something was wrong. “Do you still want me to teach you how to drive?”
“Yea. I do.”
The look on his face troubled her. “Aren’t you going to tell me what’s wrong? Did Kota say something to upset you?”
He bowed his head, rocking back and forth on the heel of his boots. “I asked him how Ela died, and he told me he didn’t know for certain, but his father thought she was killed in the massacre Blackhawk was telling us about.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry, Reno.” She wrapped her arms around her knees, wishing she could hug him instead. “I actually talked to a relative of Kota’s today about Ela. She told me the same thing. I intended to tell you later what I’d learned.”
He came to sit next to her on the doorstep, absently rubbing Cleo’s dappled head. “They called it the Leaf Moon Massacre because it took place on the full moon in June. He said many were slaughtered like the buffalo were slaughtered. As far as they know, only Ela’s youngest son survived.”
Journey placed a comforting hand on his back, rubbing up and down. He leaned against her and she wrapped her arms around him. “I know you loved her. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Soon. Not now.” He stood up. “In my heart, I knew this to be true. The only thing I can do for Ela now is to continue searching for a way back home.” He offered his hand to pull her to her feet. “Come. Teach me to drive.”
…An hour later, Journey glanced in the rearview mirror to see if she had any new gray hair. “You’re a quick learner, I can say that for you.” A little too quick maybe. Apparently, he’d paid pretty close attention when she’d driven. After a quick run through, he’d gotten behind the wheel and driven up and down the driveway about fifteen times, backing up and going forward. Backing up and going forward.
She’d gone over the rules of the road with him – how to drive defensively, the use of the turn signal, what the bright and dimmer switches were for, even how to use the emergency brake. The only thing they couldn’t practice was parallel parking, but she wasn’t worried about that right now.
“I want to drive
