Heart of the Storm & Return to Sender by Lindsay McKenna

Author:Lindsay McKenna
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488095610
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2018-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

AT NOON THERE WOULD BE a sweat lodge ceremony to officially welcome the Storm Pipe to its rightful place with Grandmother Agnes. Chase knew in the past, the Storm Pipe had been with other nations, but always it belonged to the vaunted Blue Heron Society. Since their arrival, Dana and Chase had much to do. First, she dropped some of her belongings in the winter hogan. Outside, she heard Chase retrieving their groceries from the car parked down at Agnes’s hogan. They’d driven to a nearby trading post and gotten provisions for their stay. It felt so good to be home. As Dana moved around the quiet hogan, its hard-packed dirt floors covered with beautiful old handwoven rugs, she savored the moment. Grandma Agnes had hung fresh sage in the four corners, a way of announcing their return.

Smiling to herself, Dana saw that the elder had also dusted and cleaned. As always, cobwebs were removed and spiders were taken into the wilds to live. A fresh bouquet of blue lupine sat on the small wooden table.

Chase walked in the door, arms loaded with sacks. Dana turned from the small kitchen counter and helped him set them on the table. The happiness burning in his eyes went straight to her heart.

“Any more stuff?” she asked.

“Yeah, mostly our clothes and climbing gear.” Chase halted at the door. “We have to prepare for the sweat Grandmother will conduct for you, her and the pipe next.”

“I know,” Dana said, a little breathless as she put the canned goods away.

“I’ll start gathering the wood for the sacred fire. I know a spot where there’s a lot of kindling,” he told her.

“And I’ll help as soon as I get things squared away here in the hogan,” she murmured.

He rested his hand on the rough timbers of the doorway. Dana looked incredibly beautiful. Her hair was in thick braids and she’d dressed simply in jeans, hiking boots and a pale-green T-shirt that showed off her womanly figure. “Sounds good. There’s a bunch of dead juniper higher up in the canyon. I’ll start there and bring it down for the fire.”

“Right.” Dana nodded. She was crouched before the shelves, placing cans into the cramped area, but turned and smiled up at him. “I don’t know about you, but it feels so good to be home, Chase.” She swallowed hard and added, “Home with you…”

Had she gone too far? Said too much? For a moment, Dana’s breath hitched in fear. But when Chase’s expression grew even more warm and open, her heart sped up. Deep in her body, she felt an ache to love him.

“You’re my woman,” he told her gruffly. “We have duties right now, to welcome the pipe back to the Blue Heron Society, but after that…” Chase gave her a hooded look. “When we’re done with the sweat, we’re coming home, together. We have a lot to talk about, Dana. Important things…our future.”

Chase’s emphasis and meaning were clear and deliberate, like a rainbow glittering against a stormy sky.

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