Kiamichi Refuge by C. A. Henry Read Free Book Online

chunkash anli [2] and settle down.”
    Tanner raised his face toward the stars. “Grandfather, I have already met her. She’s the one my soul loves. You’ll like her, I believe.”
    “Who is she? Who are her people?”
    Tanner smiled. “Her name is Erin Miller, niece of Tali isht holissochi [3] . She’s the reason Ernie moved to Tulsa for several years. She lives out at his lodge now. I admit, I’ve been interested in her for a long time. Ernie talked about her so much, I feel as if I’ve known her forever, and then when he got that new picture of her, all grown up and beautiful, well, I think I started to fall for her a long time ago. Now that I’ve met her in person, I just know it’s right.”
    “Bring her to meet us. Your grandmother is an ohoyo [4] . She will want to see for herself if you’ve chosen well.”
    “Soon, Grandfather. My heart is already hers, but I must make her heart mine. These things take time.”
    ***
     
    Late the next afternoon, Erin arrived home from Tulsa, mentally tired and physically exhausted. It had rained almost the whole way to Kanichi Springs, causing the trip to take longer than usual. Tense from concentrating for so long, she was glad that the rain had finally stopped. She parked the Expedition in front of the lodge, got out, and breathed in the clean scent left behind by the recent rain. With her bag in hand, she started toward the door, but stopped abruptly. Several large shoeprints led around to the side of the house. She leaned down to examine them, noting that there were two different sets, both large, but with different tread patterns. Sliding her hand under her jacket, she drew her .45 and held it beside her leg as she straightened, her eyes quickly scanning the clearing. Nothing moved, and the birds sang in the forest, telling her that whoever had been there was gone.
    ***
     
    Erin had lunch with Lydia the next day, and the subject of life in a small town and Erin’s isolated location at the lodge came up. They talked a bit about the prowlers who had snooped around Erin’s lodge.
    “They couldn’t have been gone more than a few minutes before I drove in, because the rain would have washed the prints away. It only stopped raining about ten or fifteen minutes before I got home.”
    “That’s scary, Erin. Do you want to come stay with me for a while? You know you’re welcome.”
    “Thanks, but I have my guns. Do you think I should have called the sheriff?”
    “You could have, but it would have been a waste of time. The deputy assigned to our area is worthless. On the other hand, he would probably at least file a report so there’d be a record of it. You know, you can’t stay awake all night. I hate the thought of your being alone out there.”
    The discussion on the pros and cons of living so far out on a dirt road, led Erin to make a request of Lydia.
    “I need to order several items online, but when companies use FedEx or UPS to deliver, the drivers can’t find me out there. It’s really the only major drawback to rural life. If I ordered some things, would you let me have them delivered to your shop? I could come pick them up, like we did when you ordered stuff for me before. Would it be an imposition? Some of the deliveries may be pretty big.”
    “Of course you can. The delivery services all come to my shop frequently, anyway. I’d be happy to help, and I’ll just call you when you have a package.”
    “That would be great. I really appreciate it, Lydia. Thanks.”
    ***
     
    After lunch, Erin decided to stop by the church office to see if Kenneth and Terri Abbott were around. Terri sometimes helped out as a volunteer secretary when their four older children were in school. The youngest, Kristen, was only four, and often went with her mother to work at the church building, which was right next door to their home.
    Terri saw Erin coming through the door, and with a big smile, the petite brunette hugged her. Terri’s brown eyes sparkled when she led