“No,” he said softly, “you’re more. I sense it.”
She started. “What do you mean… more?”
“I am not certain as to what exactly you can do… but you are your da’s daughter.”
“That’s pretty obtuse.”
Even so, her pulse picked up and she was having trouble again taking an easy breath.
Tiernan said, “You have some kind of power, Ella. I am aware of it in you every time I touch you.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
“What kind of power?” She could feel the speeding tick-tick-tick of her pulse, and her voice rose in distress. “What would make you say such a thing?”
“If you don’t want anyone else to know, I suggest you keep your voice down.” He met her gaze and held it. “We are more alike than you know.”
“Alike how?” Perturbed, Ella was beginning to regret agreeing to meet with Tiernan. She tried to turn the conversation on him. “Do you have some dark tragedy in your past you want to tell me about?”
“No, not in mine. I’ve seen to that,” he said cryptically. “But I can sense things… know things that others don’t.”
A sense of relief passed through her and she tried to make light of it. “You mean, fey things like you were talking about yesterday?”
“Do not be too amused.” Leaning close to her, he lowered his voice further, the serious timber cutting through her like a knife. “I can sense the rightness of things. And I can sense the presence of evil, which shadows the landscape here like a dark cloud at times. I read four-footed creatures and humans alike. If I open myself to it, their emotions cut through me… sometimes their thoughts.” He sat back. “There’s perhaps even more that I have not yet explored.”
The way he told it put a shiver through her. Not that she was about to give him these supposed abilities. If he had them, she would have to stay away from him for sure. Her father’s powers had gotten him killed and she didn’t think she could stand to see that happen to anyone else.
Her voice challenging, she asked, “What are you?”
“I’m a McKenna,” he returned simply. “The members of my family all have certain… gifts. Just as your da passed his powers on to you.”
“I have no powers!” she snapped.
At least not anymore. There had been a time she’d been one with the earth, in tune with the elements… able to make them shimmer and dance… but that was in the past… a past she had no intention of resurrecting.
Still, how could Tiernan know?
“You want to deny them because you think that will keep you safe,” Tiernan said. “Gifts or powers are given to us for a reason. There’s no denying them.”
Ella didn’t want to go there. She looked away from Tiernan. He was right, of course. Her father’s powers had led to his death, so why would she want to follow in his footsteps? Perhaps she would feel freer to be herself—her father’s daughter—if only she could figure out who had set him up.
Suddenly, Tiernan said, “If you agree, I can help you.”
Startled by his sudden intensity, she asked, “Help me do what?”
“Find out what really happened to make people believe your da was evil. Perhaps why he died.”
It was as if he could read her mind.
“I don’t understand. Why would you want to do this?” she asked.
“I’m thinking there is a connection between the past and present—the raven’s track. If that is so, then perhaps whoever was responsible for your da’s death is also responsible for the death of Harold Walks Tall.”
“But the authorities—”
“As it is,” he went on, holding up a hand to stop her argument, “justice will never be done in Harold Walks Tall’s name. Right now, the authorities are happy to pass off what is most likely murder as an accidental death. And you are correct—they would never consider the raven’s track as evidence of anything. But ’tis not right for a man to pass unnoticed, without others being certain of why he died, of being able to mourn him properly.”
Ella’s heart was pounding now. She’d come back to the Black Hills under the pretense of work when she really wanted answers. Though she wasn’t certain why she thought so, she felt as if Tiernan had some kind of investment in Harold Walks Tall’s death and he was willing to help her get to the truth. She wouldn’t have to act alone. Suddenly she felt as if a heavy burden were being lifted from her shoulders.
“Are you some kind of policeman or private investigator? Do you have a background for this kind of thing?” she asked.
“That I do not. But I have my McKenna gifts. And you have your da’s powers if you will only free them. Together, we may be capable of anything.”
A statement that made her take a big breath and press back the fear that threatened to swallow her whole.
***
Tiernan waited patiently for Ella’s answer. Once more, her fear came at him in waves. He could understand why she would be afraid to follow in her da’s footsteps, afraid that there would be those who would watch her, expecting only evil from her. Who wouldn’t be afraid to face death?
He wouldn’t have suggested they investigate, but he didn’t think they had a choice. One way or the other, Ella would be in danger. Better to face that danger head-on and cut it off before it got out of hand.
And perhaps if they found proof enough to convince the authorities of murder this time, ’twould make up for the last, when his aunt was written off.
Ella said, “I would like to know who was doing the things The People blamed Father for… the reason for his death. But me using some mysterious powers?” She shook her head as if that were impossible.
Tiernan didn’t believe her, of course. She was in denial, whether purposely or not. She didn’t want to explore what to some was inexplicable. He had his own family secrets. Not all the McKennas were forthcoming about their psychic gifts—he wasn’t forthcoming about the nightmare he’d lived since childhood—so he understood. Still, he also knew that, whether or not she wanted to believe it, the power would be there for her whenever she chose to call on it.
Whether or not she would choose to do so was another question.
“Then let us begin by using knowledge,” he suggested, thinking the other could wait. “See if we can figure things out by talking it through.”
“Don’t you think I’ve thought on what happened for years? The person responsible for doing bad things on the rez had to be someone who corrupted spiritual powers.”
“And that would be someone who had them, as well.”
“I suppose.”
“Was there another shaman competing with your da?”
“No, not that I ever heard. Father had three apprentices. Nathan was one of them. He and Leonard Hawkins tried to stop the crowd. The third apprentice was Jimmy Iron Horse.” Her voice turned bitter on the last.
“It sounds as if you suspect this Jimmy.”
She nodded. “He was with the crowd that horrible day. And now he’s head of the tribal police, in a position of great power.”
“And your cousin Nathan is connected to an organization of activists.” He couldn’t ignore the power he’d felt from Ella’s cousin.