near one another. For long moments, Reno held her, his hand resting on her belly. “The two of you are my life. You know that, don’t you?”
“I do.”
He knew he’d asked a million times, but he couldn’t leave without asking once more, “You understand why I’m doing this, don’t you?”
“Of course.” She swallowed a knot that had lodged itself in her throat and wouldn’t go away. “You’re a soldier, you’re doing your duty. You’re a good man, you care about what’s right.”
He drew her close and they were silent. Nothing more needed to be said.
…Just before six p.m., they prepared to leave. Journey and Reno checked and double checked what he was taking with him. His saddlebags, the pocket watch Journey gave him, and his rifle. The little current money he had left, he gave to Journey for safekeeping. “Okay. I’ve got this.” He patted the envelope beneath the shirt. “Aunt Myra did a good job. What else?”
Me! Journey wanted to yell. “I can’t think of anything.”
When the others gathered, they rode on horseback together to Enchanted Rock. Only Myra stayed behind. Their procession was a solemn one, all were focused on the magnitude of what was about to happen.
“My watch is an atomic clock,” Lou assured them. “so, we’ll know the exact moment the portal should open.”
“That’s good,” Journey murmured. She could barely speak. Journey imagined those walking to the gallows might feel the way she did.
Reno rode as close to her as he could. Every few steps, his hand moved to caress her arm or her back. “It’s going to be okay. You know that, right?”
She didn’t, but she’d never breathe those words to him now. “Of course. I’m fine.”
Reno chuckled. “I haven’t been a modern man long, but even I know those words coming from a woman means something else entirely.
She gave him a brave smile. “I have faith.”
“Faith. Yes.” He nodded his head, knowing that was a common bond they all shared.
When they neared the entrance to the box canyon, Kota held out his hand for them to bring their mounts to a standstill. “Tell me the time.”
“Twenty minutes to go,” Lou announced.
“Very well.” He dismounted and directed the women to do the same. “We’ll leave our horses tied to that bush,” he indicated a small ashe juniper. “Only Reno will need his mount.”
Reno led the three horses to the place where they’d remain until this was over.
“We shall go in together,” he directed. They moved just inside the entrance to the box canyon. “We will make our final preparations here. Reno, when I give you the signal, I want you to ride out of the canyon about fifty yards and return at a full gallop. The ladies and I will go no further.”
“Yea.” Lou nodded as she rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. “We don’t want to get caught up in the maelstrom.”
Journey forced down her doubts, she wouldn’t let Reno see her cry.
Kota untied his drum from the saddle horn. They all watched as he went to one side, sat down, and began a soft, rhythmic beat. Throwing back his head, he began to chant. The words he sang weren’t English. As Reno came to her, Journey felt a chill travel down her spine. “This is the same noise we heard that night on the mountain.” At the time she’d imagined they were echoes from the distant past. Now, she wondered if they’d heard this drum, a foretelling of what was to come.
As he sang, Journey rested her head against his chest. She could understand nothing Kota sang. “Are the words Apache?”
“Yes,” Reno answered softly. “He’s calling upon the ancestors for help. Entreating them to protect me.”
Journey shivered. “I hope Ela is watching over you.”
“She is. I trust she’ll be with me through the storm.”
As Kota chanted, Lou paced, glancing at her watch every few minutes. Since Reno would be returning, Lou had elected not to record this major event in any manner. She knew they wouldn’t want their lives to become a circus. Instead, she would painstakingly relate the conditions and the results without giving away who was involved. Journey was thankful for this. She knew it was a great sacrifice for Lou.
As the seconds ticked by, Reno pulled Journey full into his arms, cradling her as close as he could. He kissed her over and over, whispering words of love. “I cherish you, my wife. I love you and our baby so much. I won’t rest until I see you again.”