Sandia had thought her self-defense training would come in most handy when dealing with Caleb...or at least some similar situation in which she found herself confined in a small room with a strange cowboy.
However, it turned out her training served her extremely well when being thrown from a horse. Her sensei had spent an entire semester teaching her class how to fall and land safely when being thrown by an opponent. Diving into rolls, slapping the ground upon impact to lessen the blow had become drilled into her body. And thank goodness.
When Daisy jumped, taking Sandia completely by surprise, she’d flown about twenty feet before hitting the ground; they were traveling so fast. Despite her extreme panic, Sandia had the strength of mind to hit the ground in a roll, which probably saved her life.
Although she was still traveling at such speed, she didn’t completely stop there. After coming out of the somersault, she attempted to roll to standing, which is what she normally did in class when recovering from a dive. But at that speed, she still flew forward, heading straight for some shrubs and what looked like a cactus.
Attempting to avoid the cactus, she turned her body in the air, knowing wherever she landed it would be best to land on her backside.
When she hit the dirt, she slapped the ground with her right hand. Again, an effective tactic to lessen the impact. After sliding in the dust for several more feet, she finally came to a stop in a cloud of dust.
She was alive. Wow.
Sandia sprawled her appendages and lay there, trying to figure out if anything hurt. Her heart was pounding like crazy. Suddenly an overwhelming burning sensation began to pierce the right side of her body.
“Are you all right?” Caleb was standing over her now, blocking the sun with his body.
“I think so,” Sandia said. “Nothing feels broken.”
She rolled onto her left to reveal the right side of her body, trying to see if there was a big scrape or a rip in her clothing.
“Yikes,” Caleb said. “Looks like you tussled with a cactus.”
“Ow!” Sandia shouted when Caleb plucked one of the needles from her skin.
“This ain’t gonna be fun, but you’ve gotta let me get’em outta there.” When Sandia simply breathed heavily in response, he continued, “Do you mind if I raise the side of your shirt to get a better look at what I’m dealing with?”
Sandia nodded, reluctantly.
Untucking her blouse gingerly, Sandia let out a hissing sound at the searing pain.
“That was an amazing tumble you took there. Never seen anything like it. ’Cept maybe in the movies...Bruce Lee, or some such.”
“Yeah, well, those self-defense classes really did come to my defense.”
“Still, I’m truly sorry it happened. All my fault, as usual.”
“No...no, don’t be sorry. Riding that horse--ouch!” Sandia yelped after Caleb plucked one free, “was the best feeling--ouch!” and another, “how many needles are there?”
“A lot...and unfortunately, I’m gonna have to ask you to raise your blouse a little more.”
Sandia looked at Caleb to see if the smile in his voice reflected on his face. It did. She rolled her eyes and lifted her shirt a little more.
“Ow!”
“You gotta hold still, now, Miss Melon.”
“I am holding still.”
After a few more excruciating moments of plucking, Sandia felt a cool sensation on her skin. Turning her head, she saw that Caleb was holding clumps of dirt to her side and back.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“The clay just under the dry surface sand is nice and refreshing, ain’t it?”
“Yes, it’s nice.”
She couldn’t help but enjoy the feel of Caleb’s hands on her body, despite the circumstances. He actually had a surprisingly good bedside manner and a gentle touch.
When she thought she was going to die just moments ago, Sandia had been consumed by a feeling of great regret. She realized how much she held back in life to protect herself. She was afraid of the present as much as Caleb was afraid of the future. He didn’t trust the future, just like she didn’t trust the present. Sandia didn’t believe that anything good could last and as a result, had prevented herself from fully investing in the moment. She was always looking to the future. Rushing toward her next plan of expansion or big idea.
She was attracted to Caleb more than any man she’d ever come in contact with. She was even growing to respect him. He was clearly a wealthy and powerful man, based on what she’d seen here at Placerita Ranch, and yet he’d still risk his life to help people as a Time Dancer. He still cared enough to provide whatever they needed.
“Did you get them all?” she asked.
“I’m afraid not, lower your skirt a little.”
“Seriously? Are you kidding me?”
By way of answer, Caleb took her hand in his and placed it gently on her butt.
“Ow!”
“See what I mean?”
“Can’t you just pluck them through my clothes?”
“Now, where’s the fun in that?” he said, smoldering a smile her way. “No, I can’t see them well enough, and some are underneath your clothing. Come on; this is no time to be modest, darlin’. I’ve seen a backside or two in my day.”
“You haven’t seen mine.”
Caleb smiled, looking her in the eye. “No, ma’am. I have not had the pleasure.”
Maybe it was the heat of the day, maybe it was the slight euphoric feeling the needles were causing throughout her body like getting a tattoo, or maybe it was the near-death experience, but Sandia grabbed Caleb’s neck and pulled him toward her lips. She kissed him with her whole self, holding nothing back. She pushed him backward and rolled on top of him, drinking him in, unable to get enough.
He groaned beneath her. “Man, oh man.” His hands cradling her face, his lips begging for more.
His hands traveled down her sides and touched her thighs. She sucked in air when he accidentally hit one of the cactus needles still stuck in her body.
“Oh, sorry...you okay? I don’t wanna hurt ya,” he said, huskily.
“I’m fine.”
“You really are a tough city girl.”
“Damn right,” Sandia said, going in for another deep kiss.
When they finally came up for air, he said, “Come on, let’s get the rest of those barbs out and find a nice shade tree to picnic under.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Rolling onto her belly, Sandia loosened her skirt and carefully pulled the fabric away from her body, freeing the material of the needles and exposing her bare skin. She tensed when he bent over and kissed the tender spot.
“Couldn’t help myself,” he said.
When he’d plucked the last needle, he kissed the spot again. Sandia found the gesture to be highly erotic and immediately felt her body responding, heating up. Her clothes would end up drenched in sweat if she let this keep going.
“Okay, let’s not get carried away, cowboy.”
“Too late for that.”
He stuck two fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle. The two horses cantered over to them. Sandia had completely forgotten about them.
Caleb reached into the saddlebag on Doc Brown and pulled out a small tin.
“This is a bit of salve to put on the punctures. It’ll protect’em and help’em heal.”
After tenderly applying the balm, he hoisted her to her feet.
“Why do you call your horse Doc Brown?”
“Back to the Future...Doc Brown...doesn’t he look just like him?”
Sandia knew exactly what he was referring to and looked at the gray speckled horse again.
“Yes! He really does!”
They walked toward a copse of trees in the ravine. Well, Caleb and the horses walked, Sandia hobbled and gritted her teeth a bit stiffly.
“You’re definitely gonna be sore...probably have a nasty bruise or two. You’ll need to take it easy for a few days.”
“Whatever you say, boss man,” Sandia said, a little more sarcastically than intended.
“I don’t mean it like that.”
“I know, I know...you’re just used to getting your way and telling people what to do. Believe me; I understand it all now.”
“Oh, do ya? Well, we’ll just have to name you the Almighty Wise Woman of the tribe then, won’t we?”
“Is that really a thing?”
“No.”
She smacked his arm.
“You really do have an amazing thing going here, Caleb. I mean, everyone here is so diverse, from all walks of life, all races, and creeds, and yet here they are, living and working together.”
“Kinda like New York City, eh?” he laughed. “It’s not that big a deal, really. If you remove an evil tyrant from the equation, this is the natural default for human beings.”
“So you consider yourself a tyrant, just not an evil one?” she smiled.
“Well, there has to be order of some kind. Humans don’t do well with chaos. We need boundaries...structure. We thrive in it. We need the CEO; we need the professor...someone who gives us a framework to bounce off of. But of course, you know all this already, don’t ya, Almighty Wise Woman.”
“I do, actually, I’m just continually impressed that you do.”
“Why thank you, I think.”
They sat beneath an old gnarled oak tree, and Caleb pulled out some nuts and berries from his saddle bags, as well as a canteen of cold water. Sandia drank thirstily. Then grabbed a few berries.
“You could live anywhere, in any time period, and yet you choose a fairly primitive era in human history. Why?” Sandia asked.
“I reckon we always come back to what we know, don’t we? I love it here. Things are simple. Like the world was holdin’ its collective breath before the Industrial Age hit and all hell broke loose.”
Sandia considered the Adonis before her. Full of surprises. He really was a lot smarter than he let on. Sandia found this both intriguing and attractive.
“Forgive the bold question, but just how rich are you, Caleb Wolfe? I see you’ve used the future to great advantage...and put it to good use, I might add, but just how far have you taken it?”
Caleb grinned as big as a crescent moon. “Pretty dang far. I’ve invested in everything over the years from land to oil, to Ford, Apple, and Facebook. Turns out, under this rough exterior, I have a good mind for business.”
“I’m starting to get that sense.”
“Sure, I cut a few corners to get there. Like you said, the future is a great reference. For instance, this place was so littered with gold I was picking up nuggets like stones in the road.”
“Wow. Seriously?”
“Yes, ma’am. Just had to be the first white man to walk through the canyon is all.”
“Do you consider yourself white?”
He laughed. “Well, I am white. As you know, my father was English. He was oppressed because of his religion same as my mother was oppressed for bein’ Indian. I’m proud to be a part of both worlds. I’m proud to be playing my part to combat the oppression they faced. All oppression. And when it comes to gold...or anything else to do with business....yes, it sure comes in handy to play up the white man in me.”
“Yeah, it’s a man’s world...but I have to believe the future is going to be different. We’re certainly moving in the right direction. Like you said, look at New York during the time I come from. Definitely better.”
“Very true. And many places in Europe as well, but still a vast majority of the world is very much stuck in the past.”
“Is that why you’re afraid to see the future?”
“I’m not afraid!” Caleb blurted, catching them both by surprise.
Sandia swallowed down the berries she’d been chewing, unsure of what to say.
“I’m sorry,” he said, composing himself, “you just sound like the old man. He’s always razzin’ me about the future.”
“I know it’s kinda scary to think about...that’s only natural,” Sandia said as soothingly as possible, “but you’re the bravest person I’ve ever met. It just seems odd that you’re able to put your life in danger for the sake of one person, like Napoleon or Mary...or yourself and Ensey...but not for the sake of humanity as a whole. Isn’t that what the future would tell you? What you need to do for the sake of humanity as a whole?”
Caleb was looking down at the knife in his hand as he peeled another chunk of beef jerky off the piece he’d been snacking on. He popped it into his mouth and stared off into the distant hills.
“She’s right, adahy,” came Grandfather’s voice. Sandia jumped a foot off the ground in surprise, only to feel the scorching pain in her backside once again.
Caleb shoved to his feet. “Here we go again!”
“It is time for you to claim the future and become a true Time Dancer for all people.”
“What if I don’t think they deserve it?” Caleb spat.
“They don’t, adahy. No human being will ever be completely deserving.”
“No more clever quips or ancient wisdom, old man! I’m sick of it! I want them to pay! I want the men who killed my mother and father to pay! I could travel to the end of time and back, and it wouldn’t change anything! They need to pay! They tried to kill my sister! They’d kill me if they had the chance! But I’m beating the tyrants little by little in my own way. I’m beating them at their own game! I’ve taken their gold, I’ve taken over their businesses, hell, I’ve taken over their stock markets, but it’s not enough! The scale has still not been tipped enough!”
Caleb’s angry words resounded through the trees and finally died in an eerie silence.
He stood, leaning against the tree, breathing heavily.
“It will never be enough,” Grandfather said, softly. “The scale can never be tipped while you seek revenge for selfish reasons. You are still driven by a young man’s hatred and anger.”
Finally, Caleb spoke again, much calmer this time, but determined. “I’m still going through with the plan, Grandfather. I have to. You won’t talk me out of it.”
Grandfather sighed with disappointment.
“What plan?” Sandia asked.
“What would your father say about your plan, adahy?” Grandfather said, his eyes still fixed on Caleb. “He was a man of peace.”
“My father died for what he believed in and so will I! He dealt with oppression his whole life, whether it was for his beliefs or marrying an Indian, but I’m stronger than he was; I can do more! I’m a Time Dancer!”
“You are not a true Time Dancer yet,” his grandfather said, sternly.
Caleb threw his hands up in the air and kicked at the ground.
“Grow up, son! You will never see what you’re aiming for unless you are brave enough to see the whole picture.”
Fuming, Caleb leaped astride Doc Brown and galloped off in a cloud of angry dust.
Grandfather’s eyes met hers with great sadness. He shook his head.
“I cannot get through to the boy,” he said. “Maybe he will listen to you.”
“What plan?” Sandia asked again.
“Caleb intends to stop the Massacre at Wounded Knee,” Grandfather answered.
As he turned to walk away, he faded into nothingness and Sandia was left to ponder the gravity of what he’d just said.
If she had Caleb’s powers, would she do the same?