Destined to Fall (An Angel Falls Book 5) Read online

  Vannah’s instinct must be to stay with the other horses. Within seconds of passing the three runaway horses, she slows to a walk and begins to circle back. Unable to unglue my thighs from the saddle, I lie flat against her neck and grope for the dropped reins, hoping against hope they haven’t snapped off. My fingers wrap around the smooth strip of leather. I wrap the rein loosely around the saddle horn before leaning forward again to retrieve the other dangling rein.

  Shaking like an addict fresh off the juice, I manage to sit back up and start searching for the lost horses before they disappear into the night. Or before the horse thieves grab them.

  There’s no thoughts about the risk I’m taking. All that zooms through my head is the vision playing over and over inside my mind. Panicking horses, a wildfire, and choking on smoke. I glance at the now distant hill where we left the warm campfire ring behind. To my relief, there’s no ungodly orange glow of flames on the horizon or hint of smoke in the air.

  I survey my surroundings in a search for the other horses, but when I see their large outlines against the night, I also find someone is already with them. I make the terrible mistake of assuming it’s Chris. As I near the group, I’m suddenly confronted by a guy aiming a bow and arrow straight at my chest.

  “Get off the horse,” he says.

  I pull back the reins.

  He’s one of them, Vannah says. I won’t go with them. I’ll trample him to death like Mika and White Wolf did to the bad man.

  “No,” I say. It comes out of me half-choked.

  The man doesn’t know I’m talking to Vannah, so he shoots me. Luckily, my beloved and beautiful horse responds more appropriately than I do. She spins away so fast that I topple off. The crushing pain of hitting the earth with no warning is probably worse than being pierced with an arrow, but then again, maybe not. All I know is I scream from equal amounts of fright, surprise, pain, and denial. Why did I come out here? Nathaniel once accused me of having a death wish and maybe he’s right.

  “You better not have hit her!”

  The voice sounds so much like Nathaniel’s that tears of relief instantly pool around my eyes. Or perhaps the tears are from my broken shoulder and hip, but who knows.

  “Get away from her!” Nathaniel screams.

  “I didn’t know, man. I thought it was the other guy.”

  I see him then. He really is an angel. My gift from heaven. Nathaniel’s face is right in front of mine. My boyfriend is actually here. Why didn’t I call for him earlier? I think as the pain sears and burns a new understanding of the word agony into my memory. He could have… What? What would I have done differently?

  The look in Nathaniel’s eyes makes the tears fall. They had been hanging on the edge, but they’re leaking now. His mask of horror at seeing me on the ground makes me believe I’ve done him in for real this time. He always tells me he can’t see me suffer. This time must be the straw that breaks him.

  He brushes his hand over my face and moves my hair back with such tenderness, I almost forget about the throbbing pain.

  “Juliana,” he whispers. Without another word, he scoops me into his arms and takes me far away.

  The ground is moving too fast to comprehend. Warmth, like sunbathing on a hot beach penetrates through my clothes, wraps around me, and heats me to my core. Nathaniel pumps me full of life-force energy. It eases the ache in my shoulder and hip, but the wind and the pressure of him holding me against him is smothering.

  “Stop,” I croak. “Nathaniel, please.”

  He keeps moving us farther and farther away.

  “Go back!” I squirm in his arms.

  He slows down and stares into my eyes. I don’t think he’s registering my words.

  “Go back right now!” I say again.

  “Juliana, what are you doing here?”

  “Saving my sanity. What are you doing here?”

  He shakes his head with confusion. “Losing mine. You’re not supposed to be here.”

  “Who says I’m not?” I ask.

  Nathaniel glances around and finally stops. With me still cradled in his arms, he walks to a sheltered area by some boulders. He sinks to his knees and lays me on the ground in a patch of soft sand.

  “How badly are you hurt?” He begins exploring my body for injuries.

  His hands run over my shoulders and along my arms and legs. He tests the movement of my ankles before he works his way back up again. In another situation, I might return the favor, but the clinical, distant feel of his palpating isn’t exactly for pleasure. I wince when he squeezes my hip.

  His hand stops over the spot and I feel the injection of healing warmth.

  “Where else, Jules? You weren’t crying on the ground for no reason.”

  His harsh tone makes me defensive.

  “Take me back to Vannah right now!” I say. “She can’t be stolen. I won’t let her go. She won’t go. She told me she’ll kill him.” The hysteria spews from my mouth and I’m not capable of stopping it.

  “Jules,” Nathaniel warns.

  I push his hands away and begin to rise. His arms become my bonds as I attempt to get up.

  “What are you doing?” he asks.

  “I just told you.” I shove against his chest even though we both know it’s wasted effort.

  The whimper escapes my lips before I can hold it in. My shoulder doesn’t like particular movements right now. Nathaniel alerts to my pain and he moves his palm to my shoulder cuff.

  “Here?” he asks.

  I look away from his imploring gaze. Vannah’s voice is still fresh in my mind. The arrow zinging past us and disappearing into the night as I fell off her. She was so frightened, but I could tell she was more scared by my accident than by the man with the bow.

  “We have to go back,” I say. The stupid tears are returning.

  “I was helping Chris when I heard you scream,” Nathaniel says. He’s still harsh, but it isn’t directed right at me anymore. It’s the fear coming out of him as anger. “Where did you come from? I knew the sound was a girl, but I never would have guessed it was you on the ground.”

  “What happened to Chris? Is he okay?”

  “I don’t know. Your scream made me change directions. None of us can see a bloody thing in this dark.”

  “Was that Steven who tried to shoot me?”

  “Yes. He’ll never come near you again. What he’s done is unforgiveable.”

  “I heard him, Nathaniel. I heard him say he didn’t know it was me.”

  “Don’t defend him. He tried to kill you. Or Chris. Or Chris’s dad.”

  “I’m not shot,” I say, returning to the problem that won’t leave me alone. “The horses need us, and we can’t leave Chris and White Wolf. What if they’re injured? I’m going back.”

  “No. I’ll go. You’re going to stay out of it.”

  “Like hell I am,” I say, and rise to my feet. I scramble away from Nathaniel and brush my tangled locks of hair from my face.

  “Juliana, please come back. Do you even know where you’re going?”

  Nathaniel follows as I stomp off into the desert. He has somehow managed to find an out of the way spot among the endless miles of nothingness. We’re in a ravine. I see the top a foot above my head, but I don’t know where or how he brought us down here without jumping.

  “I can find my way to Mars and back without you. So, you can either come with me or go back to the spirit world where you’re supposed to be.”

  “Ouch,” Nathaniel says, and I immediately regret my choice of words.

  I refuse to take it back, but I also refuse to leave Chris, White Wolf, Vannah, and the other horses.

  Nathaniel sweeps me off my feet without warning and we’re running back across the high mountain desert.

  Moments later, Nathaniel sets me on my feet, but holds the side of my face in his cupped palms. He plants a tender kiss on my lips. His eyes never leave mine. “Stay here. I’ll make sure the area is clear. If it is, we’ll pick up the horse
and take it back to the trailer. Let’s play like we’re on the same team, vixen.”

  I nod in agreement. He takes a deep breath, backs up, and disappears.

  The shape of a horse is about ten yards away. There’s no way to know if the horse thieves are waiting nearby and this is a trap. The horse’s head is down and appears to be grazing. Nathaniel reaches for its bridle. Relief pours into me but it’s short lived. We found one horse. Who knows where the others are — not to mention the thieves and shamans. At least we have Nathaniel’s angelic abilities on our side in this mad game of horse thievery.

  Thinking about Nathaniel’s powers reminds me that Star’s magical lilac flowers are inside my backpack. Leaving my pack in the truck bed can now be added to the top of the list of non-brilliant things I’ve done this year.

  He ran, Vannah tells me as Nathaniel brings her over.

  I wrap my arms around her neck. Knowing this amazing animal is okay makes the entire night seem not quite as horrendous.

  “Get on,” Nathaniel says. “We have to find the rest.”

  “I have to ask her first. She may be too exhausted.”

  Before I ask, Vannah lowers her muzzle into my outstretched hand and blows softly against my skin. I run my hand over her neck and I hear, I’m much stronger than you think. I’ll carry you both. We need to find White Wolf and his son. Your friend smells like sky and earth. He is my friend, too.

  “She wants both of us to ride.” I wrap my arm around her long neck again and hug her with gratitude.

  “I’m struggling to not be jealous over here, but I think you’re happier to see the horse than you are to see me.”

  I close my eyes against Vannah’s smooth coat and smell her horsey scent of hay, old leather, dust, and sage. It’s familiar and comforting, but nothing like the heavenly smell of the person standing behind me.

  I spin around and reach for Nathaniel. Gripping his shirt in my fists, I lean into him and bury my face against his chest. “I’m such an idiot sometimes. Why do you put up with me?”

  “Because you amaze me,” he says softly. He wraps me in his arms and presses his cheek to the top of my head.

  “Yeah, I’m amazingly inconsiderate. Of course, I’m glad you’re here. There aren’t words to describe my gratitude.” Shocked by my own behavior, I can’t even look at him.

  “You’re amazingly focused on doing what’s right. I can’t fault you for that. I have the same problem.”

  “You know, I’m adding something to the top of our inexplicable list right this second.”

  I picture the earnest look on his gorgeous face and swallow my foolish pride before glancing up at him.

  “You. You’re at the very top of the list. You’re an unexplainable phenomenon who puts up with the worst girlfriend ever.”

  “If that’s true, then I need to go find this other girlfriend, because you’ll never convince me you’re anything but perfect.”

  I shake my head at how swiftly he turned that around to being about me again. “Thanks for putting up with me.” I slide my hand around his neck and begin to pull his head down to mine.

  “Ditto,” he says and meets me halfway with another tender and sweet, blissful kiss that makes my insides swirl and dance to music that plays only for the two of us.

  All kissing aside, there’s still much to accomplish tonight. Back in the saddle, Vannah trots southeast, and Nathaniel leaves to scout for the next horse. He’s only gone for a couple of minutes.

  “It’s not good, love,” Nathaniel says as he settles behind me.

  He holds my waist and I lean back against the heat of his body. Vannah’s rolling gait provides a good swaying rhythm.

  “Should I even try to convince you to stay with the truck and let me take care of it?”

  “How bad is it?” I ask, and glance over my shoulder.

  “Steven and Dominic have Chris and four of the horses. They’re riding northeast. White Wolf is attempting to follow.”

  “No!” I say in shock and feel myself sinking into despair at the thought of Chris being taken captive. Why would they take him?

  Shifting my weight forward and squeezing Vannah with my thighs, I urge her into a lope. She responds immediately. “And no, I won’t be left behind.”

  “I didn’t think you would. I already stalled them. We’ll start heading east from here and we’ll catch them.”

  Nathaniel hugs me tight and I try to keep from trembling. “What did you do?”

  “Steven may have taken a fall similar to the one you experienced.”

  We keep our voices low, even though anyone with ears can hear the horse approaching.

  “What horse is Steven riding?” I ask, thinking about the shock Nathaniel must have given the animal.

  “I don’t know. A red one?” he says. “It looked all right after Steven ate some dirt.”

  Nathaniel doesn’t know the animals. He’s focused on his client and keeping me safe.

  I spot the truck on our right and say, “I need my backpack.”

  Vannah alters our course and runs to the pickup truck. There’s a body lying tied up on the ground and Fetch barks once as we ride up. I don’t recognize the man, but Nathaniel says, “I see Arrio met his match with White Wolf.”

  When he sees us, the man struggles against his bonds and grunts through the gag tied over his mouth. We ignore him as I retrieve my bag from the truck bed.

  With the pack nestled in front of me, I let Nathaniel guide Vannah. We pass the side of the trailer and I see Mika and one other horse inside. Three are accounted for, plus the horse White Wolf rides makes four. Nathaniel said Steven and his fellow raider have a total of four horses. I remove the crystal vial from my backpack as we set out at a canter. With Nathaniel’s arms around me and Vannah’s power and confidence beneath me, I let myself focus on the magic inside the bottle.

  “What is that?” Nathaniel asks.

  “Something for our protection,” I say.

  He gives me a reassuring squeeze.

  I take a large pinch of the dried flowers and sprinkle them over my head. The lilacs perfume the air around us. Breathing deep, I take the scent into my body as the spirit vines form a cage around me. I take another pinch and dust the back of Vannah’s neck, wondering if Star’s magic will work on her. The lilacs vines form once again and suddenly we’re surrounded by a hedge of ghostly green leaves and pale purple blooms. I repack the bottle into the side pocket of my pack as Nathaniel points ahead.

  A rider crosses our path, heading north and slightly east. “White Wolf,” Nathaniel says confidently. “I’ll get him.”

  We meet up minutes later. White Wolf’s eyes twinkle as if unseen stars shine from inside. His eager aura is betrayed by the hard frown of his mouth.

  “I have to find Chris and Steven,” Nathaniel says. “Call me if you need me and I’ll be here for you in an instant.”

  “Your spirit guide helps us this night,” White Wolf says with an approving nod.

  “I’ll be right back after I figure out where they are,” Nathaniel says and disappears.

  Chapter Sixteen: Walls and Trust

  Nathaniel

  Steven is back on his horse and appears uninjured. I’m unsure whether it’s a good thing or not that Chris is no longer with Steven and Dominic. I make note of their direction and do a scan of sky and landscape for memorable markers. I leave again to find Chris. If they killed Chris, I may kill them. Their idea of horse raiding for power and camaraderie is past the point of forgiveness.

  Luckily, I find Chris sitting with hands tied behind his back. His feet are bound with leather bridle reins and one eye is swollen shut.

  “Do you have any broken bones?” I ask as I untie him.

  “My ribs,” he says through clenched teeth.

  “Your father is headed this way. Can you walk?”

  “Maybe.” I help him to his feet.

  “The truck is over that way.” I point southwest. “The stolen horses are a few hundred yards over t
here.” I point northeast. “Head back to the truck. We won’t leave you behind.”

  I don’t wait for any response before I leave to have a talk with my client.

  “We’re going back for Arrio,” Steven says to Dominic. “I know they’re following us. We’ll loop around and pick him up, then head straight north.”

  “Arrio’s a goner. We have to keep increasing our distance between us and them,” Dominic hisses in the dark.

  Tall pines and squat cedar trees dot a landscape covered with rock outcroppings, fallen logs, and the ever-present underbrush. The dense foliage makes it harder to see and the group moves at a slower pace because of it. The horses are dragging, tired, scared, and agitated. I’m feeling strong empathy with Juliana right now for her love of animals and how they’re treated. The horses need a break.

  “That old shaman is a crazy son-of-a-bitch. Everything bad has happened since we raided his house. Maybe we screwed up this time. Did you see what they did to Pip?”

  “It’s too late for regrets, bro. But we can get our brother back and get out of here.”

  “I don’t like it,” Dominic says.

  “Neither do I,” I say as I step in front of Dominic’s horse.

  His animal rears. Dominic manages to hang on, but the horse tied behind him bucks and kicks in protest. Steven takes the opportunity to run off and hide. I don’t agree with Dominic’s ability to hang onto his horse, so I appear on the back of his mount and push Dominic out of the saddle. His scream must echo from Colorado to Mexico and I enjoy every decibel of it. The pandemonium isn’t nearly as satisfying as I hoped it would be. I use my energy to calm the panicked horse. She settles enough to stop bucking and kicking. Unfortunately, Steven’s sense of kinship and honor sends him galloping back to Dominic.