Rock with Wings by Anne Hillerman Read Free Book Online

brightened. The fragrance of coffee wafted out onto the porch.
    Chee stood. “May I bring you some coffee?”
    Mama reached to the walker for support and rose gingerly from the chair. “My daughter knows how to make good coffee. I want to go in to sit with her. And you come in, too.”
    Chee held the door as Mama moved inside and pushed into the kitchen with measured steps. She eased herself into her regular chair. Bernie poured coffee for her and brought it to the table, along with the sugar bowl and a spoon. She poured a second cup and handed it to Chee.
    He took the mug by the handle. “I’m going back out to the porch to make some calls about my sister-in-law. I’ll tell you what I find out.”
    After he left, Bernie took her regular seat and waited. Mama looked at the coffee in her cup, tried a sip, and added more sugar. She put the cup down and pulled herself a little taller in the chair. “Elder daughter, I have been thinking things over. I would like you to stay so we can decide how to help your sister. It would make my heart happy to be with you.”
    Bernie was glad that her mother considered it rude to look someone in the eye. She quickly brushed away her tears. “I will be happy to do that, Mama. We will figure things out together.”
    Suddenly, the night seemed sweeter.

4
    Chee had good connections and a bit of luck. After a few calls he discovered that Darleen was in the San Juan County Detention Center, arrested for disorderly conduct and placed under protective custody because she was drunk. He was glad he’d found her, glad that she wasn’t in the hospital or dead, glad that she hadn’t been arrested for DWI. After decades of highway tragedies, New Mexico’s legislature had made the state one of the nation’s toughest places for drunken driving. He told Bernie privately, stressing the good news—Darleen was safe. His wife would decide when and what to tell Mama.
    After that, he called Paul and told him Bernie had to help Mama, but he would be back tonight to do whatever needed doing. Chee appreciated the fact that his clan brother didn’t ask why Chee hadn’t been invited to stay, or when Bernie would return.
    â€œIf we can’t make the People Mover start,” Paul said, “we could use your truck and my truck. You could follow me. Maybe a couple of them won’t mind sitting in the back, you know? You and I used to do it when you came to visit.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I’ll get your baby going.” Chee figured that evenif they didn’t know it was illegal, tourist passengers would balk at riding in an open truck bed.
    â€œI’ve been nervous about this, brother. It means a lot to me.” Chee heard the relief in his cousin’s voice. “I’ve been making some notes for tomorrow for the bilagaanas . I can brew a thermos of coffee, and I’ve got a can of milk, some sugar cubes. Would you stop and get some of those little doughnuts? I’ll pay you for them. You know, the white ones with the powdered sugar outside?” Paul made a soft clicking sound with his tongue. “I wish we had some of those breakfast burritos like the ones you used to make. That would be perfect.”
    Chee stopped at the grocery in Shiprock, amazed to find it still open. The mini doughnuts looked shopworn, so he bought what he needed for burritos along with a case of bottled water. The customers would probably want it. It would be warm, but it was the best he could do. Then he went by the trailer along the San Juan that he and Bernie called home and picked up his police uniform and weapon. He’d need them for his vacation-interrupting assignment.
    Chee’s drive back to Monument Valley was long and solitary. He told himself to stop feeling grumpy, to remember how lucky he was to have a wife who cared for her relatives and who expanded the circle to include his relatives, like Paul. He already missed