I Can't Own You? (BOOK 1)

72 (NEW)

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The party and I gather wood from neat stacks on the side of Naka's place. I hadn't started a fire since my teen years. My parents, Elan, Winta, Naka, Waynoka and I plank wood atop one another in a pile. I feel unity and strength from doing this simple thing...especially around a lit fire.

There are no chairs because the land was the nest for our bodies. Like little kids at a picnic at the park, we sit in the grass. Circling the fire, where bowls of food and beer are set. Dishes of pork roast, fried green tomatoes, baked pumpkin, pine nut fish, and acorn bread. A metal bowl of pork and a bone for Cheeto, who lays sideways, beside the fire, snacking.

"They'll be dancing later; I invited the squad." Naka starts up conversation.

"He's been out late with his mates, rehearsing, let's hope the lack of sleep pays off." His father adds.

"It will." His son says confidently.

Winta's eyes shower her son with belief. "Yes."

"Thank you all so much; we appreciate everything you're doing." I hear tears drown my mom's voice. "The food looks amazing."

"The heart is meant to be enormous." Winta consoles my mom, rubbing her back. "No need to thank us, we are all one, meaning we should support one another."

"Especially in times as these." Elan sweetly places a hand to his heart. "Sam, our hope and essence are with you in your recovery."

"Thank you." Sam returns the heart gesture, his brows wavering a bit.

I think that was the first time that he's gotten a verbal condolence. I hope he didn't feel weird that my parents and I haven't said anything to inspire his recovery. This was due to it being too sensitive of a subject. Something we decided to shy around, not wanting him to feel worse. Or maybe he caught onto that already. He probably understands.

The fire lightly glows onto our faces, since the sun is still partially up. It'll be night soon. The stars would shine onto the lands like a dream.

"How about a blessing." Waynoka signals to Naka.

"Sure." He sits across from me, on the opposite side, clearing his throat. His gaze shifts to Sam, giving a knowing and cautious message. "Go forward with courage, keep your health true, and your mind right. The universe will do the rest." He shifts his eyes to my dad before bowing his head. There's something to his look.

A forbidding.

Does he disagree with their soon to be death spree, as I did? Did he notice their energy? Their calculating?

I stare down at Sam's casted leg, wondering if he was comfortable. He has it straight out as if lying down, and the other leg bent inward. I wonder if he has the pain meds on him...in case.

I hope the drugs aren't the culprit of turning him vengeful? He's never contemplated killing before. He had anger and irritation, but that's far from murderous tendencies.

The river ripples softly behind us. I notice that the plate on my lap is empty. Winta greets everyone to stack their plates by beginning to fill hers. My hands go to a spoon, scooping up small portions of each entrée. The heat from the fire keeps the food toasty as everyone begins to munch. All except my dad.

Elan pats my dad on the shoulder, noticing his daze and wordless state. "Speak, friend, something is bothering you."

My dad's eyes are dark, not in the meaning of low light. "I'm just thinking."

"About?" His friend asks. Nakamo eyes meet mine, communicating clearly. A heeding. A non-verbal asking for a private conversation. This gaze is shared with my mom and his fiancé as well. "Would it be about the guns in your car?"

My dad jerks up as if hit by something invisible. "Did you take them?!"

"No, the chiefs did..." Elan answers calmly. "No bullets, nor the chambers which hold them, are allowed here. You are aware."

"I am...how can I sit here carefree when an attacker could show at any moment? It's a good thing you all can relax here...but that's not my intention. I'm not alone on this. Elan, please understand my position."

Elan takes a defensive lean forward. "If you plan to kill on this land, then you cannot stay. That is disrespect."

Winta claps her hands together nervously. "Now, now, let's not forget the reason for this event. Please."

My mom eyes my dad, outraged. Uh, oh...she didn't know about this. Well, here comes a blowup. On pens and needles, I brace for them to fall into disagreement. But oddly, mom isn't snappy; she just eats her food, fed up. That's unlike her...

"My culture depends on the gun; to us, there's no better fear tactic than that." My dad goes on, his tone matter of factly.

Elan drops his interrogating position and sits normally, now eyeing the back of my dad's head. Collecting himself. "Now isn't the time." He says, low enough that my dad could only hear it. I knew because I read his lips.

Naka nods at his father in agreement, Waynoka takes his arm around her's with a tight grin. "Now, it is time for singing." She brightens the mood.

PLAY VIDEO

At twilight, Waynoka began to sing in a calming, native tongue. The winds around gather, whooshing trees, dragging the rippling lake into the mix. Her hypnotic voice soothes my thoughts, my tensions. Echoing like an angel across the top of a flickering fire. Her eyes light up with the flame. Everyone watches the fire, feeling it's warmth shade our faces.

I picture a story playing out in the flames...of a dancing girl in an open field, a dress flying with her spins as she sings to the sky, to the moon and stars-the cozy song. I look up at a bomb rushed sky of endless bright dots.

"Let's put our minds together as one, and remember the ones who passed on to the sky world. Their life duties are complete; they are living peacefully in the sky world. In the sky world." She translates, then returns to an ancient language.

I remain glancing up at the stars, closing my eyes and breathing to the song. All my worries sink away from my body as if floating off into the stars themselves. Melting.

I always believed a spirit of peace powered this land. Now that I'm older, the presence hasn't changed. It lives in the Chee family and Waynoka, who expands the gift to us as a beautiful distraction.