Book 6 - The Heaven Scent Series
Prologue
Eleven years had passed and the sleeper remained out of reach, however, eyelids fluttered as the new occupants, stepping beneath the withered vine, set the wheels of destiny in motion.
This was his twenty-first year, and apart from disturbing dreams of late, which he put down to too much work, drink, and too many women, life was good. Simple pleasures were all he required, and certain that he had a few more years of fun left before he met the perfect girl, marry, settle down and have a gaggle of rug rats, Josh breezed through life without a care in the world.
Fate though had other plans as the tendrils of change curled beneath the door of the old cupboard. Housing memories of past generations, it unsettled the dust and disturbed the cobwebs, which mostly remained untouched by human hand. Few ventured into the dark hole in the center of the ranch where the red box, now a mere memory, silently waited for his coming of age.
Serendipity called as the arrowhead awakened a new love, which waited just around the corner, over the hill…
Chapter 1
Peeking over the mountain, the sun breathed her first glow over the dawn. He looked up, the corner of his mouth curled into a half-smile and squinting through half-closed eyes; Josh removed the Stetson and ran his fingers through his damp black hair.
Two hours into the workday, he was already sweating profusely in the unusually hot morning. April brought less rain than expected and now a drought looked likely if they had a dry May. Although the river was down eight inches on the previous two years there was plenty of water, however, some welcome rain would wash away the dust and replenish the land.
Rising to his feet, Josh was a forbidding figure. At six feet, six inches he towered above his father Evan, was broad of shoulder and obviously an Adams with his dark brooding eyes, strong jaw line and rugged good looks. He glanced over at the three men sitting in the scant shade of a sparse leafed tree drinking coffee.
Raising his cup in Josh’s direction one of them shouted. “Coffee while it's hot boy.”
Josh replaced his hat, ambled through the low brush and joined them just as the morning heat of the sun exploded over the distant range. Fifteen minutes of idle chatter and two cups of thick black caffeine later, they groaned to their feet, doused the small fire with the dregs and returned to the new fencing, which would enclose the newest of the ever-increasing herd of Corriente cattle.
***
The past years were full of ups and downs. Eight years previously, the cattle market took a drastic downturn and the ranch lost a great deal of money, partially due to the reduced price per head and partially due to the drought of the previous three years. The pastures dried up due to the severe lack of water, forest fires raged across the land, the cost of feed and hay increased exponentially and for two years, they struggled. When the rains did come, they brought their own share of problems as always. Flooding, five deaths in the area and the water sodden ground as the cracked, hard earth refused to absorb the deluge.
Eventually, the following year, this gave way to an upturn in fortunes for the county. The weather settled back down to its usual pattern, threatened foreclosures on struggling farms faded away, new growth sprouted over the hills and the area once again prospered.
However, in the background, pain ran deep within the family. Georgie still lay in a nursing home in Marchant, her life beat steady within her chest but the eyes remained steadfastly closed. The deep loss Evan felt after the accident lasted these past eleven years. Each New Year eased the pain somewhat, but brought less hope for her ever awakening. He mourned her absence most nights when turning in his sleep to find her side of the bed cold and empty, and the darkness, which overshadowed his dreams for so long, gnawed at his soul.
***
Benjamin Junior grew up loved and cherished by Jeannie, Evan and the twins. Although an Adams through and through, Junior was a force unto himself. From the minute he could walk the dark haired BJ found himself in trouble. Sheer perseverance taught him to open the kitchen door at the age of eighteen months. Having discovered a means of escape, the slightest chance found him toddling off to the stables as fast as his little legs could carry him. At least once a day one of the ranch hands would knock on the door brandishing the squirming infant whom they found wrapped around the tail end of a horse or rolling in the mouse infested, musty, damp haystacks at the rear of the barn.
After all efforts failed to keep the toddler confined, Jeannie gave up and let him roam at will. Removing the element of risk seemed to curtail his activities and from then on, BJ restrained his escapades to once or twice a week. As the years passed, it became obvious he was born to be in the saddle. Like his ancestors before him, given the chance, he lived and breathed horses. School semesters were the worst. Most mornings, Jeannie’s voice thundered across the yard when it was time to leave, which was more often than not, ignored. Now, twelve years on, he was a wayward unruly all be it polite boy, who had an issue with discipline and a wild streak, which caused a constant uproar around the ranch.
***
Josh looked up at the sound of hooves beating on the dry ground and sighed as BJ drew up in a cloud of dust beside him.
“Does Pop know you are here?”
“It’s cool, no school today, can I help?”
“You playin' hooky again?”
“NO.” BJ looked affronted and then added quietly, “Honest.”
“Hmm… Well, almost done here, you can help by tidying up for me.”
The boy swung his leg off the saddle and dropping to the ground, led the horse off to the shade. Josh shook his head, he despaired of BJ’s antics as much as the rest of the family, however, the youngster had such an endearing nature, he could not help but love his brother’s wild spirit. The boy scampered back and proceeded to gather up the bits of wire and tools lying around while Josh secured the wiring to the last post. Half an hour later, they mounted up and headed towards the ranch. BJ chattered endlessly about the hideout he was ‘redesigning’ up by the creek, while Josh half listened, his mind elsewhere, after all, it was Friday night.
***
Supper was almost ready when they blew into the kitchen, along with a cloud of dust and a few fluttering jasmine leaves. Jeannie glanced round and scowled at the floor.
“No, we are not choppin’ it down.” Josh grinned and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“I am going to cut that damn plant down myself one of these days.” She muttered and turned back to the stove.
Josh hung his hat on the hook by the door and headed upstairs, showered, shaved and threw on a clean pair of jeans. Hearing Evan call him for supper, he smoothed his damp hair back, walked out of the bedroom and onto the landing, stopping at the top of the stairs when he noticed the rays of light shining through the cupboard door onto the floorboards.
“Damn boy left the light on again.”
Muttering crossly, Josh strode to the door and flung it open. The cupboard held less dread for him than for the older members of the family, nevertheless, he disliked the musty scent, which only seemed to pervade this claustrophobic and cobweb ridden room. The stale air rushed over his face and he sneezed from the dust, which whooshed up his nose and infiltrated his brain with lost memories.
“Goddamn room!” He cussed, sneezing again.
The swirl of air tipped the small red box, teetering on the shelve, over the edge, it landed on the floor, bounced twice and stopped next to Josh’s bare foot. A whiff of perfume made him hesitate before bending down and picking it up. The box felt warm, almost alive and although curious, he replaced it on the shelf. Backing out, he switched the light off however, as he swung the door shut, he heard a thud and flicking the light on again, saw the red box lying at his feet. Although reluctant, something impelled him to pick it up and flip the top open. A sigh of relief hissed from his lips.
“So you are that stupid bit of metal, heard some stories about you.”
Mumbling quietly as past stories came to mind; he fingered the arrowhead before replacing it, putting the box firmly back on the shelf and trundling downstairs.
Jeannie noticed Josh was oddly quiet during supper and did not join in with Evan and BJ’s relentless banter. Feeling there was something odd about his behavior, she followed him upstairs when they finished and knocked on his door.
“Yeah come in.”
Jeannie opened the door as Josh pulled on his boot and stood up.
“You ok?”
“Yeah, I’m good, why?”
“You just seemed a little quiet at supper.”
“Oh, just thinkin’ about getting’ older.” He winked at her.
“Oh you poor old man! You’re only gonna be 21!”
“I know… Just...Oh, whatever.”
A car horn sounded below and Josh walked over to the window. “Gotta go Nan.”
Watching him leave, Jeannie put the niggling doubt to the back of her mind and went back downstairs to wash up the supper dishes.
***
No clouds obscured the glittering night sky and the waxing gibbous moon promised a cold snap at least between dusk and dawn. The night air sent a shiver through his bones when he climbed from the truck and Josh, making a mental note to stay sober enough to catch an early ride home to avoid the long walk in the chilly Spring air, was happy to get into the warmth of the crowded bar.
Sonny disappeared off to the pool table leaving Josh to weave his way through the well-oiled throng to the bar. Armed with beers, Josh returned the same way and found the balls racked and ready for the first game.
“Took ya long enough! You’re up.”
Exchanging a bottle for the pool cue, Josh chalked the end and took the first shot. They won the first two games and as Josh racked up for the third, Sonny headed off for more beer. While bent over the table a strong whiff of perfume assailed Josh’s senses and shaking his head, he glanced towards the door where two leggy girls, one blonde, one raven, stood surveying the room. The Native American girl facing him with long straight black tresses down to her waist had a strange mystical air as she gesticulated in an attempt to persuade her companion to venture towards the bar. The first thing he noticed about the girl with her back towards him was the deliciously rounded ass enclosed in pale blue jeans and long blonde curls, which waved vigorously as she shook her head while edging closer to the door, and as she pulled it open, Josh leapt into action. Hurrying over, he beamed at the obviously frustrated woman who now stood with hands on her hips defying her companion to leave.
“You stay, I’m leavin’!”
“Oh gimme a break! What’s the matter, chicken?”
“Excuse me lil ladies, I couldn’t help notice you are in a dilemma. Let me help, the name’s Josh and you are?”
The blonde girl turned, his heart missed a beat, and for a second, the world revolved without him. Although aware of her lips moving, he heard nothing as he lost himself in her deep olive eyes, shaking his head only when the noise of the bar exploded in his already pounding eardrums.
“Sorry, what did ya say?”
“Hi.” She muttered dreamily.
“You comin’ to get a drink or what?”
Josh looked at the dark haired girl and then returned to the blue eyes. “You’re so different but so alike!” He hesitated before adding incredulously, “Twins?”
“You noticed!” The dark eyes rolled in their sockets. “Smart ain’t ya!”
“What are your names?” Josh ignored the sarcasm, unable to remove his eyes from the blonde.
“Dakota.”
He took in her pale olive skin and black lashes, which surrounded the blue pools. “Dakota, Dakota.” Josh mumbled, slightly dazed as tendrils of her scent seeped into his pores, wound their way around his heart leaving him breathless.
The girl looked up at him until her sister dragged her away. Slightly dazed, Josh watched Dakota glance back and shrug before disappearing amongst the throng. A tap on the shoulder brought him back to reality and he rejoined Sonny at the pool table.
Josh’s mind was no longer on the game and after potting three of their opponent’s balls, flipping one off the table and putting a nick in the baize, Sonny exploded.
“WHAT THE HELL?”
“Sorry.” Josh muttered and handed the cue to Sonny. “Dunno what happened, need some air.”
Sonny watched Josh shove his hands in his pockets and shuffle his way through the crowd and out the door. Shaking his head, he replaced the cues in the rack and wandered over to the crowd of friends propping up the bar.
Stepping outside, Josh took a deep breath and wandered off along the street until he reached the benches outside the closed café. Sitting down heavily, he put his head in his hands and tried to make some sense of the thunderbolt. A heart-pounding half an hour later he felt someone sit beside him and sat up abruptly.
“You ok?”
“Y…Y…Guess so.” He grinned and blushed when he saw Dakota smiling at him.
“Sorry about my Sis, she likes to be in charge.”
“I didn’t notice, just…” The sentence hung in the air as he stared into her steel blue eyes, swimming with uncertainty.
“Just… What?”
“I dunno, sorry, feel like a fool.”
Dakota placed her hand on his knee and leant towards him. “I like you too.”
The words whispered through the air, filtered through his foggy brain and before he realized what he was doing, he kissed her.