Yellowstone Heart Song Page 22

  “Something like that. I never believed in love at first sight, but I was a goner the moment I first saw him. He wasn’t too friendly at first, but later I found out it was because he was attracted to me, too, but didn’t quite know how to deal with it.”

  Aimee gave a short, sad little laugh. “You know, he asked me the day before Zach showed up if I was pregnant.”

  Jana’s eyes widened.

  “Now I wish I was. Then at least I could have a part of him with me.”

  “Why would he ask you that?” Jana asked. Then understanding dawned on her face. “Oh yeah, right. Depo….no periods. I guess he must have wondered about that, huh? How did you explain that one to him?” she grinned.

  “I didn’t.” Aimee sighed. “Like most everything else I ever told him, I either modified and stretched the truths, or avoided the subject. Not once was I ever completely honest with him. Except when I told him I love him.”

  “So, if he really loves you, why doesn’t he just time travel here?” she asked.

  “I told you, his father never told him about the time travel thing. And Zach told me he was through time traveling, and said it just wasn’t the natural order of things. He’s always felt uncomfortable with it. He was grateful that it saved his son when he was born, and he’s come here to this time periodically to get a heart work-up, but he was done with the whole thing now, and was going to get rid of the time travel device.”

  She inhaled deeply to brace herself from tearing up again. Her voice cracked despite all her efforts. “So you see, there is no way he will come back to this time again. I never even got the chance to tell Daniel the truth about me,” she added sadly.

  “What do you suppose Daniel did when you disappeared?”

  “I have no idea,” she sighed. “I’m sure he searched for me for a while. Zach probably talked him out of looking too long and hard. I just hope he got on with his life.”

  “Just like you need to go on with yours,” Jana said meaningfully.

  “Yeah,” she replied, defeated.

  The doorbell rang. They looked at each other before Jana went to answer it.

  Aimee heard a familiar voice, and groaned. “Hey Jana, I was on my way home from the hospital, and thought I’d . . . oh my God, Aimee?”

  Brad swept past Jana from the living room into the kitchen. He grabbed hold of her and pulled her off the barstool at the kitchen counter in a fierce embrace. She remained limp in his arms.

  After a moment, he released her and looked into her face. “Where have you been? We’ve all been so worried about you, and . . . ” he paused and really looked at her, holding her at arm’s length. “You look awful. What happened to you?”

  Anger suddenly replaced her depressed mood. She was no longer afraid to stand up to Brad. She had faced life and death situations in the last three months. This man no longer made her feel inadequate.

  “Thanks for the honest as always assessment of my appearance, Brad.” Her tone was icy. “It’s nice of you to notice.”

  “Aimee, what have you been up to,” he asked suspiciously. “And why haven’t you called? Dear God, we were thinking the worst had happened when you just disappeared.”

  “Brad, I really don’t want to discuss my whereabouts with you at the moment. Last time I checked, I’m still a free person to do as I want. And the last time I talked to you, I broke off our engagement, remember?”

  “So you just decided to disappear off the face of the earth for a while?” he asked, his voice rising in anger.

  “Yes, maybe that’s exactly what I did.” She stood squarely in front of him, not wavering as she stared up into his face. He’s taller than Daniel, but not as broad. She mentally shook her wayward thoughts aside.

  “See, this is the problem, Brad. You think you need to manage my life for me. I can do that just fine on my own. And I need to be able to do the things I want to do without asking your permission first, like some little child.” She practically shouted at him now. “Back off, Brad, and give me my space.”

  Taken aback, Brad was silent for a moment. He ran his hand along his jaw.

  “At least tell me where you’ve been. You look,” he paused, searching for the right words, “different. You’ve lost weight.”

  “I’ll tell you where I’ve been,” she said in a low tone. Jana stood behind them, still at the door, and shook her head, her eyes wide with panic.

  “I went to Yellowstone, just like I told you I would when you pretty much said I couldn’t go, remember? I went to Yellowstone on my own, and I survived a wilderness trip on my own. I am capable of living on my own, do you understand? I. Don’t. Need. You!”

  “So this is it?” Brad asked tersely.

  “There is no future between us, Brad. I meant it when I broke our engagement three

  mo . . . weeks ago,” she replied. “We are two different people who want different things in life. I’ll never be the wife you want me to be, and I need a partner who is open to the things I enjoy in life. And, . . . I am not in love with you.”

  “Stop acting so ridiculous and melodramatic,” Brad said angrily. “I proposed to you, and you accepted. What has gotten into you lately?”

  “I woke up,” she said simply. “I started to realize that I am not your obedient little puppy, no matter how much you would like me to be. I’ve grown up, and I see things a lot different now than before. These things became even clearer to me while I was away.”

  “You think you’ve grown up?” Brad spat at her. “You’re acting more childish than ever. You don’t know what it is you want, and it’s time for you snap out of it.”

  She looked dumbstruck at him. How could she ever even have thought herself in love with this man?

  “I met someone else, Brad,” she said quietly. “I love someone else.”

  Now it was Brad’s turn to look dumbstruck. “So where is he?” he demanded.

  “Back in Montana.” She glared at him. She was not about to show that her heart was shattered in pieces.

  Brad sniggered. “So you had a quick fling with some – no doubt - backwoodsman from Montana, and you’re all caught up in your romantic notions. Well, honey, it’s time to come back to the real world. So, how’d he sucker you in? Does he have a cute little cabin in the woods? Did he go out hiking with you? Did you toast marshmallows over the campfire? I’m sure that must be quite romantic to you, but for all your little outdoor games you like to play, you’re still a city girl, and you’ll get bored real quick playing little house on the prairie. Apparently you already have gotten bored, since you’ve decided to come back. Or did he get bored with you?”

  “Get out,” Aimee demanded, pointing a finger in the direction of the front door. “Get out and leave me alone. You don’t have the first idea of what it is I want.”

  “This isn’t over,” he finally said. “I’m not giving you up this easily.” Brad turned and slammed the door on his way out.

  She followed him through the living room on his way out the door, and let herself fall on the couch with a deep sigh. She cradled her head in her hands, elbows resting on her knees. Grinding her teeth, she willed herself not to cry again.

  Finally, taking a deep breath, Aimee said, “Tomorrow I’m going to the hospital to talk with my supervisor, and to see if I still have a job.”

  Jana grinned brightly. “Thata girl! That’s just what you need to snap out of your funk. And there’s no way they’ll fire you. They are so short staffed, and you’re one hell of an ER nurse, they’d be crazy to get rid of you.”

  Aimee smiled weakly.

  “You can’t bring him back,” Jana said quietly.

  “I know that,” Aimee snapped heatedly. She punched the pillow beside her, and threw it across the room. “Dammit, I know that.”

  Chapter 21

  Yellowstone Wilderness, 1810

  Zach watched his son rake a frustrated hand through his hair. The look of despair in Daniel’s weary eyes tore at his heart. He had met up with Daniel two days a
fter sending Aimee back to her time. Daniel was searching for her near the falls of the Little Buffalo River. Zach had agreed to join him in the search, hoping he would give up after a few more days. Now, seeing the anguish on his son’s face, Zach remembered that feeling of loss all too well when his sweet Marie had been taken from him. And that had all been his fault as well.

  Only, Aimee Donovan wasn’t dead. He knew he could make this right for his son and take the pain away in an instant. That, however, required him to come clean with the truth that he had kept from Daniel all his life.

  He had never wanted to cause his son this pain. Thinking on it now as they sat camped along the Roche Jaune, he should have realized that something like this could have happened. Aimee Donovan was a beautiful young woman, full of life. He had recognized her thirst for adventure instantly when he met her during his last trip to the future to have his heart examined by the doctors with their superior knowledge of medicine. Perhaps he should have had his head examined instead for telling her he was a mountain man from the past, and had the means to travel through time. He had never told his secret to anyone. After his first time travel twenty-five years ago, he had buried the snakehead device, never wanting to use it again. Years later, his health was failing him, and his heart was weak. He didn’t want to leave his young son without a father, although Daniel was doing just fine growing up amongst the Tukudeka clan that resided in the area.

  Realizing that he had the means to get himself fixed up, he had used the device again to come to the future and seek medical care. He had learned to pose as a homeless vagrant in order to get care at the hospital emergency rooms. There were so many hospitals in the future, he never had to visit the same one twice. It had been strange and rather frightening the first few times, but as the years went on, he had become more comfortable with the ways of the future. During his last trip, the doctors had told him they would need to cut him open to work on his heart in order to make him better. Medicine alone would no longer work. He had decided then and there that he would not allow that to happen. He had lived a full life, and his son was a grown man. Truth be told, Daniel had taken care of him more over the years than the other way around. He was ready to die and join his wife. He had also decided that the time travel device would die along with him.

  That’s when he met nurse Aimee Donovan. She loved his stories, and enthusiastically told him that she enjoyed spending time in the wilderness. Apparently, that was something people in the future did for enjoyment. Something compelled him to tell her of his time travels, and he offered to send her to the past. He didn’t know what had put that crazy notion in his head, but she’d been so darn likable, and the way she had spoken about her abilities to survive in the wilds had him believing she could do it.

  He knew she didn’t believe him, but offered her the chance to go back in time to truly live in the wilds for a few months while he took care of his medical needs here in the future, and then attend his business in St. Louis in his time. He had tried to prepare her as best as he could when he told her he could send her to the past. He figured if she could make it to his cabin, Daniel would keep her safe. He’d told her his story of how he came to be a time traveler, and of Daniel - the same story he would tell his son now.

  The thought that Aimee would want to stay in 1810 permanently had never entered his mind, nor that his son would fall in love with her. It was unthinkable to let her stay. She would regret her decision after the adventure wore off. He had seen things in the future. Life was easy. There were no hardships, and once she came to that realization if he had allowed her to stay, she would have resented her choice.

  With a heavy sigh, Zach glanced at his son. He cleared his throat. It was time to come clean with the truth. This way, Daniel could end his search, and they could get on with their lives.

  “Daniel, I know where Aimee Donovan is.”

  Daniel blinked and raised his head from staring blankly at the dancing flames of their campfire. Seconds passed and his eyes narrowed.

  “How do you know her name?” Daniel’s words were barely a whisper.

  “What?” Zach asked, apprehension in his voice.

  “Her name. I never mentioned her surname.” Daniel’s eyes were ablaze, the words grinding between his teeth. His body visibly tensed.

  “Take it easy, son.” He held out a hand. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

  A feeling of foreboding washed over Daniel. His father had never been secretive before. Realization smacked him in the face that he had found Aimee shortly after Zach left for St. Louis, and now she was gone and his father had returned.

  “Aimee Donovan is safely back in her time, where she belongs.” Zach said, meeting his son’s hard stare.

  “What do you mean, her time?” Daniel shook his head. “Dammit, pop, where the hell is she?” Daniel jumped up, anger and frustration in his voice, and Zach involuntarily shrunk back.

  “She’s returned to the future. To the year 2010.”

  Father and son stared at each other. Minutes passed.

  “What the hell are you talking about!” Daniel finally roared. His head pounded, and he heard a ringing in his ears. The sounds of the river and evening crickets around him ceased. Stars floated in front of his face as the world spiraled out of control. He clenched one fist, and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Memories flooded into his mind.

  “It’s as if she dropped out of the sky” . . . “There are things about me I can’t talk to you about.” . . .

  The clothing, her strange words, her unconventional behavior, her knowledge of healing people . . . “She’s returned to the future . . . 2010 . . . 2010 . . . 2010 . . . ”

  “For you to understand, I need to start at the beginning, son. Something I should have told you a long time ago. I hope you’ll find it in you to forgive me.” Zach had an anguished look on his face, and Daniel stared at him blankly. Zach waited a moment for Daniel’s eyes to focus again. He nodded slowly, and Zach continued.

  “It begins in 1785, on the day of your birth.” Zach shifted uncomfortably. Daniel settled himself, stone faced, back on the ground, waiting silently for his father to continue.

  “It was winter, 1785. Your mother . . . my Marie, was in labor with you.”

  Daniel nodded. He knew his mother had died in childbirth in the midst of a winter blizzard here in the mountains. His father had been unable to go for help from the nearby Tukudeka clan. How often had he heard his father blame himself over the years for his wife’s death, for taking her away from the safety of New Orleans and bringing her to the mountains?

  “What I didn’t tell you before,” his father cleared his throat again, each word seemed to cause him pain to bring forth, “is that we had a visitor that night.”

  “A visitor?” Daniel echoed.

  “He was old. A Tukudeka elder. He got caught in the snowstorm and found the cabin. He was nearly frozen to death when he managed to pound on the cabin door.”

  “Continue,” he said slowly, when his father paused again.

  “I tended to both your mother and the old man throughout the night. She was getting worse, and he was starting to thaw out. That’s when he offered me the chance to save your life.”

  “My life?” Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

  “He handed me this.” His father reached into the pouch around his neck and produced a shriveled up, dried snakehead with eerily unnatural gleaming red eyes. Daniel stared at the object, then back at his father.

  “He told me a story of how his grandfather received this snake from some ancient people who came from the sky.”

  “The Tukudeka legends are full of stories of the Sky People,” he nodded.

  “Yeah, well, he said he wanted me to have it for my kindness. He told me the snake had magical powers to send someone 200 years into the future. He explained it couldn’t be used to alter one’s past, only one’s future. It takes the holder 200 years forward in time to the last place the object has been. It can then bring
you back to this time, to the same time and place as when you left.” Zach let his words sink in for a moment. Daniel said nothing, his expression set in stone.

  “I didn’t believe him, of course, but I was getting desperate. Your mother was slipping away, and out of desperation I took the snake and followed the old man’s instructions. I held onto your mother and touched the right eye of the snake, and we were instantly transported to the year 1985. I was scared to death. The future is unimaginable from what we know here, Daniel.” His father’s eyes were glazed with unshed tears, and he ran his hand over his face. He coughed to clear his throat, and took a long drink of water from his water bag.

  “They have carriages that are made of metal and run by themselves without horses. One almost killed us when we arrived. A helpful man showed us the way to a hospital. The healing powers and knowledge of the people in the future is beyond anything you can imagine.”

  “I can save your friend” . . .”I have treated many wounds like this” . . . “ ‘This is what white healers do in the east?’ ‘Where I come from, we do.’ ”

  A little boy, drowning in a river. Aimee hovered over his lifeless body, breathing and pumping life back into him.

  “I have seen Aimee use some of these powers,” Daniel said quietly. The two men’s eyes met. His father nodded in understanding.

  “Your mother went into fits in the hospital. There are words the doctors used to tell me what had happened to her, but I can’t remember them. They told me it was a condition that had been brought on by being with child. It was too late to save her. If she had had proper care sooner, she would have lived. They were able to take you from her body before she . . . died.” Zach quickly wiped his eyes.

  “So, you’re telling me I was born in the future?” he asked incredulously. This was too much for him to think about.