Chapter 5 Rendezvous #2
“I do.” But that wasn’t why he was asking to see her. “What I have to tell you is something she needs to hear.”
“We-e-ell…” She drew out the word as she considered his request. “Kaya invited me to go to church with her in the morning. Is that safe enough for you, Chief?”
Her cheeky nickname for him was a dig at his heritage. A respectful dig. A smart and fun dig. He liked it.
“The church on the rez?” He assumed that was what she meant, but it was worth clarifying.
“Yes. I think your niece sees me as something of a heathen, since I’ve never been a regular churchgoer.
Plus, a little birdie told me her boyfriend might show up, so there’s that.
” He could hear the smile in her voice. “I can’t decide if I’m being apostatized or heartlessly used as a chaperone for an unofficial date. ”
“Eh, well, thanks for chaperoning my niece, you heathen.” He cradled the phone against his ear, reveling in her lovely answering laughter.
“To be frank, I wasn’t aware she was dating anyone until a few days ago.
Still don’t know who it is.” He wasn’t surprised Kaya had confided in April about it, though.
Her relationship with his niece had an undeniable maternal element that he highly approved of.
“About that, Bear…” April’s voice was laced with concern. “I’d like to beg you for a little grace concerning the identity of her boyfriend.”
Really? He wasn’t sure why it was necessary.
“If it’s one of the Countryman brothers, I might actually approve.
” The three brothers jointly owned and operated the Triple J Auto Body Shop about a quarter mile from the entrance of the rez.
Though they hadn’t grown up on the rez, they were Comanche through and through, and hardworking to boot.
“It’s not one of the Countryman brothers,” April informed him gently. “That’s why I’m asking for a little grace on Kaya’s behalf. She didn’t ask me to do this. I just wanted you to know that I trust her judgement about their budding romance, okay?”
“Okay.” Though he would’ve preferred to know the name of Kaya’s boyfriend immediately, it was a big point in the guy’s favor that April was endorsing the relationship. “I guess I’ll meet him at church, then?”
“That’s the plan.” She chuckled wryly. “I think she’s counting on the church being neutral territory — a place where the biggest father figure in her life won’t pull out a shotgun and start polishing it in front of her new boyfriend.”
“She’s right. I’m always armed.” His niece knew it, too, though it was unlikely he’d ever draw his weapon in church. Not for something like that.
It was sweet of April to care enough about his niece to go to bat for her, though. Kaya could use another person in her court, and he couldn’t think of anyone finer to fill that role than April Chandrakanta.
Maybe it was selfish of him to take up so much of her time in the middle of the night, but he was in no hurry to end their call. He was thoroughly enjoying her companionship, the one thing that had been missing from his marriage.
His dearly departed Lula had suffered from multiple sclerosis, which had stolen her quality of life and left her bedridden. It was a beast she hadn’t chosen to grapple with, and he’d never resented her for it, but he felt as if he’d lost his wife a long time before she’d passed away.
A comfortable silence settled between him and April, which he was in no more of a hurry to end than the call itself.
He’d be perfectly content just to listen to her breathe.
The last time he’d been this attracted to a woman was the first time their paths had crossed.
And just like the first time, he had no reason to believe what he was feeling was anything more than one-sided.
Get a grip, Bear.
Before he could think of something to say that wouldn’t make him sound like a lonely, desperate widower, April’s voice poured over him again like warm, sweet honey. “So, we’ll rendezvous at the church in the morning?”
“Yep.” It’s a date. Kaya was going to have a heyday at his expense if she picked up on the way the wind was blowing between him and April. At least, on his part.
“Will you be in disguise?”
April’s question made him snort. “Nope. I’ve got nothing to hide. Besides, it might be a good idea for the tribe to see me out and about again.”
“What if Police Chief Montana shows up for the Sunday service?” She sounded skeptical. “Aren’t you dodging the authorities right now?”
He was, but he couldn’t resist teasing her. “I thought you cleared my name, Doc.”
She chuckled again. It was a beautiful sound. “I did, and I will continue to defend you with cold, hard evidence. However, what they found inside your house keeps you involved, so no leaving the country right now.”
“Wasn’t planning on it, but what did they find?” He was betting it was nothing good.
She told him about a bone that someone had planted in his home.
“I matched it to the dirt samples clinging to the other bones, which places it in both Willow Chaska’s grave as well as Haywood Ranch.
There’s nothing tying you personally to either scene.
No forensics. Nothing. It’s a sloppy attempt at framing you, considering how much of your DNA was readily available throughout the rest of your home.
Comb, toothbrush, coffee mug in the sink, that sort of thing. ”
“Meaning I’m still a person-of-interest.” He wasn’t surprised.
“With a capital P. I’m sorry, Bear. I truly am, but you’re as close to the case as it gets. Nothing anyone says or does can change that.”
He agreed, but he was still counting on the truth to clear his name once and for all.
“For what it’s worth, I appreciate you vouching for me.
I’m not sure what I did to earn your good regard, but I’m grateful for it.
” Her forensic work was probably the only reason there wasn’t an arrest warrant out there with his name on it.
“You’re an innocent man,” she declared flatly. “That’s why you deserve it. I’ve dedicated my career to pursuing justice, and I’m going to get it for your sister, for Willow, and for your family. I promise I won’t leave town until I do.”
Her fierce tone warmed his heart and buoyed his spirits.
“Thank you for everything you’re doing, April.
” He loved the way her name rolled across his tongue.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” It was time to end their phone call before he said something stupid like, When this is all over, would you consider dating a rugged ol’ Comanche?
“Goodnight, Bear. Get some rest and stay safe.” Her well-wishes made his insides weaken even more.
If he stayed on the phone any longer, it would be his undoing.
It was time to snatch a little more shut-eye, or try to, though it was going to be hard to go back to sleep.
Her words had stirred a sense of peace and contentment that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Her words had also rekindled the same attraction he’d felt for her decades ago.
Granted, he’d had no business pursuing her then, and he wasn’t sure he had any more business pursuing her now.
Not while I’m a potential murder suspect.
“‘Night, April.” He reluctantly disconnected the line.
Then he sat there, holding the phone and wallowing in the afterglow of her loveliness.
Maybe it was because her encouraging words were still filling his heart and lingering in the crisp mountain air, but he decided to crash for the rest of the night right where he was.
He woke before dawn and jogged home to shower and change for church.
The sight that met him inside the tiny house, however, was disheartening.
Someone had destroyed the place. Cabinet doors were hanging off their hinges, the walls were stained, and the couch cushions were torn open.
It looked as if his family had tried to clean it up.
He was guessing Hawk and Hawk’s wife, Annalee, had done it.
It was definitely something Miley’s parents would do.
So much for that shower I was looking forward to! He rubbed a hand over his face, realizing that cleaning up and changing was going to be more difficult than he’d expected.
He felt Hawk’s presence before he heard his voice. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
Bear turned around to face the man he’d recommended to replace him on the tribal council. He was wise beyond his years and the right person for the job. “The bones Kaya found were Willow Chaska’s remains.”
“I heard.” Hawk nodded sagely, folding his coppery arms. “Tell me something I don’t know.
” Unlike his mentor, he wasn’t coping with back-to-back-to-back tragedies, so he felt no pressure to redefine his image or his priorities.
His long, black mane of hair hung proudly past his broad Comanche shoulders.
“I suspect the Haywoods are behind it. Can’t prove it yet, but the police are working on it.
” Bear gestured at his ransacked home. “Everything that’s happened lately smells like a twisted sense of retribution for perceived past wrongs.
You know how the Haywoods are.” He didn’t have time to go into the nitty gritty details, but he didn’t need to.
Hawk already knew the stories about the bad blood between their tribe and the hateful Haywoods.
It was unfortunate that the Haywoods’ matriarch, Callie Haywood, still owned land so close to the reservation.
He was surprised her nephew and his snooty wife hadn’t sold it after the old gal had succumbed to Alzheimer’s and gone into a nursing home a few decades ago.
He imagined they were holding the reins to Haywood Ranch these days, but what did he know?
Hawk unfolded his arms, looking grave. “How about you come shower at the house and grab a change of clothes from my closet?”
“I’d appreciate that.” Though Bear had never given it much thought, they were roughly the same height and build.