“You will be looking for Nathan.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Her tone confirmed his suspicion. “I will go with you, then, as soon as the totem is locked up.”
“No,” Ella said softly, her voice stiff, “I need to do this myself.”
Though he wanted to argue that it might not be safe, Tiernan held his tongue. Arguing would only upset Ella further, so he would give her a head start, then he would follow to make certain she was all right. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—let anything happen to her. Even if he couldn’t have her, his instinct was to protect her with everything he had.
When they arrived at headquarters, Tiernan walked Ella to her SUV.
“Let me come with you.”
“No, Tiernan. I can take care of myself.”
He slid his arms around her, murmuring, “I wish it to be so.” Even as he wished for other things.
Ella clung to him for a moment and he thought to kiss her, but she suddenly freed herself with a flurry of discomfort. She couldn’t look at him as she said, “I need to go.”
And he needed to follow as quickly as possible, no matter what she said. He waved her off, then hurried inside to find Kate, who was making supper under the watchful eyes of Maggie, ensconced in the playpen where she was cooing to herself.
“Kate, I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Is there someplace safe to keep this?”
When he held out the totem, her eyes went wide. “That belongs to—”
“Nathan Lantero,” he finished for her, telling Kate how he and Ella had found the necklace and the conclusions they had come to.
“I can’t believe Nathan would hurt anyone. As for murder…” Kate shook her head. “I don’t believe it. This must be a mistake.”
“I hope it is, for Ella’s sake. She went to find him. She would not let me come with her, but she cannot stop me from following.”
Kate sighed and gave him a look filled with pity. “You’re in love with her.”
“I care for her welfare.” Stubbornly Tiernan wouldn’t admit to more.
“Love is what makes us who we are, Tiernan.”
“Love is too dangerous for a McKenna.”
“I’m a McKenna,” she reminded him. “My brothers and cousins and I have our own legacy of love and danger left to us by our grandmother Moira. None of us found that love easily, Tiernan. We all had to face down danger and come out on the other side before we found our happiness.”
Tiernan shook his head. “’Tis still different.”
“Semantics,” Kate said. “There’s nothing in that prophecy that says you’ll condemn the woman to die.”
“Putting her in mortal danger is enough.”
“But you can face the danger with her, Tiernan. If a thing is worth having, it’s worth fighting for. You have to decide if Ella is that woman. Is she worth fighting for?”
“I’ve never met a woman I wanted more.”
“Then tell her. Protect her if you must, but don’t let her go, not if she’s the one.”
Tiernan thought about what Kate said as he left Nathan’s totem with her and headed for his truck.
He would protect Ella with his life—no question about that—but he didn’t know if he had the courage to tell her that he loved her.
Chapter Fourteen
Ella could hardly breathe when she arrived at the set and went in search of Nathan.
What would she say to him?
Having rehearsed her approach several different ways in her mind, she still hadn’t figured a way to deal with her cousin that seemed quite right. If she accused him of crimes that he didn’t commit, he might never forgive her.
And if he denied it, how would she know whether or not he was lying?
Would the abilities she had inherited from her father allow her to recognize truth, or could someone with developed powers obfuscate it?
The more she thought about it, the more Ella was convinced the key lay with Marisala. She could start by asking Nathan about his relationship with the young woman and see where that took her. She would do the best she could—whatever the result, whatever the danger she put herself in, she couldn’t leave it alone. She had to know.
And if she learned the horrible truth, then what?
Who would she tell?
Who would believe her?
The sheriff’s office would need hard evidence or a confession to pursue Harold Walks Tall’s murderer. As to what had happened to her father or to Marisala—Ella was certain there was nothing she could actually do about those things, not unless Jimmy Iron Horse was willing to make a case to the tribal council. Fat chance, there, she thought.
Leaving the SUV in the parking lot, Ella went in search of Nathan. The area was more sparsely populated than usual, but plenty of people still milled about. Crew members busily checked over equipment and actors huddled in small groups, talking or running lines. She couldn’t find Nathan, not with the horses or in the tack shed.
Spotting Bear Heart seated in the shade under a nearby tree, looking as if he was happily communing with nature, Ella walked over to him.
“Bear Heart, have you by any chance seen Nathan this afternoon?”
“Nope. He was around for a while but took off, said there was something important he had to see to.”
Important? “Like what?”
“Didn’t say.”
“When did he leave?” Ella asked.
“Haven’t seen Nathan since early this morning after he took care of the horses.”
Which meant what? Ella wondered. That he’d been with Marisala that very morning before Ella had gotten to her? She swallowed hard.
“Thanks.”
A sick feeling in her stomach again, Ella made for her SUV and the rez. If she didn’t find Nathan there, then what?
She’d only made it halfway back to the parking lot when she heard shouts, and a handful of people rushed by her, a few running.
“What’s happening?” she called, whirling to see where they were going—and was shocked to see a cloud of black smoke a short distance from where she stood.
“Fire!” someone yelled.
Ella changed directions to go with the crowd straight to the town set and found that the saloon was on fire.
Seeing Jane Grant off to one side of the burning building, Ella raced to the producer’s side. “What happened?”
“It’s that crazy woman—someone said she went inside and started the fire.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Little Fawn. Marisala.”
Ella looked around but didn’t see her. Several crew members were gathered around the building, discarded fire extinguishers at their feet.
“Where is she?”
“Inside,” Jane said. “And she won’t come out. The crew tried to put out the fire out but it spread too fast. We’re waiting for the fire department to get here.”
“That’ll take twenty minutes, maybe more.” Wondering how the disturbed woman had been let out of the clinic so quickly—not to mention how she’d gotten herself here—Ella rushed toward the building, screaming, “Marisala!”