“Maybe.” When he pulled up on the reins and paused to look in all directions, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
“I’m just trying to figure this out.” He patted Traveler’s neck, peering into the distance. “I know this land. This mountain. I’ve ridden these hills and canyons for four years. But tonight, I can see differences, things that weren’t there before.”
“Erosion. Trees growing. Trees dying. Landscapes change over time.”
“Yet from my perspective, I came through here just hours ago.” He pressed his knee into Traveler’s flank to get him going. “But you were right, according to the position of the mountain and the stars, I should’ve come upon Saul’s cabin.” Reno looked behind him. “It’s gone.”
Journey said nothing. She just let him continue to think aloud.
“There. Up ahead. That’s the canyon where I led Kinsella and his gang away from the children. Come on.”
Heading into rougher terrain, they rode down a trail with high rock walls. “Who was Kinsella?”
“He was one of the raiders.” Reno ignored the possibility of the passage of time. “In the past several months, several homesteads have been attacked. Homes have been burned. Livestock stolen. People have been killed. Everyone assumed it was the Apache, Comanche, or some other tribe. What we didn’t realize was that the raiders were white men disguised as Indians.” He peered ahead of him in the darkness, trying to see the opening he’d ridden through earlier. “In addition to the loss of life and property, the deceit has done untold damage to the relations between the settlers and the tribes they live among.”
“How awful.” About that time her stomach rumbled, reminding Journey that she still hadn’t eaten. “What are we looking for?”
“I’m retracing my path through the canyon, trying to figure out…” Holding out his hand, he halted their progress. “Stop. How in the hell?”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, trying to determine what he was seeing. “I don’t see anything. I can barely see you.”
“I wasn’t imagining things earlier. There is no opening. This is solid rock. A box canyon.” Just like Kinsella had said. “Earlier, there was a passageway. I rode through it. Now…it’s gone.”
“Are you sure this is the same place?”
“Positive.”
Journey remained quiet as he inspected the area. He kept staring at the rock wall, even going so far as to climb down from the horse and run his hand over the rough, solid surface. She couldn’t offer any answers. Something strange had definitely happened. After all, somehow – someway, he’d essentially slipped through time.
After a few more moments, he mounted quickly, heading out of the canyon at a trot. “On to Ela Blue’s.”
Turning her horse, she set out after him. As they traveled beneath the starry sky, Journey felt as if she were dreaming. So many times, she’d envisioned a scene like this. She’d longed for an opportunity to know this man. And now – that day had miraculously come. How? She didn’t know.
He slowed the stallion to a walk as they came closer to the mountain. Journey lifted her head to look upward at the awe-inspiring sight. From a distance, the height could be deceiving. For the most part, the dome was smooth and barren. Hikers could be seen from a great distance, appearing as ants moving on the granite surface.
“What is all this?” he asked, drawing Journey’s attention.
She looked to see what was troubling him. “This is the ranger’s station and the parking lot. People pay a fee to use the park and they register once they arrive so the rangers can keep track of the visitors.”
“None of this was here before.” He dismounted and knelt to place his hand on the concrete pavement. “I’ve never seen anything like this material.”
“Concrete. It’s a mix of calcified lime and clay, mixed with gravel and sand.” She repeated what she’d learned in science class.
“I don’t like it,” he muttered. “The ground can’t breathe.”
“Yea. Cities are full of the stuff. Easy to drive on. Unfortunately, it retains heat and leads to flooding.” She covered her mouth to stop a giggle. How absurd. Trying to wrap her brain around this surrealness made her head ache.
Without speaking, Reno returned to the saddle and they rode on. Journey shivered as the wind picked up. Eerie sounds came from the mountain as the air currents whistled and moaned around the rocks and through crevices. “Who is Ela Blue?”
“My friend. An Apache wise woman. She lives apart from her tribe. Her home is here, on this mountain in a cave.”