____________________________________________________________
MIDNIGHT Chapter 16: TRIbAL
“Santee Rez in one mile. Sure, you wanna do this Sanchez?”
Nick didn’t even bother to share a response outside of a point through the windshield of Deputy Darcy Grainger’s squad car. She took that as a ballsy way of saying, stop while she was ahead. Just not her car. Surprisingly with the aid of her siren Darcy was right on time in getting Nick to his scheduled appointment with Santee elder Newton Waterfall. “Crossing the line in 3…2…1…” She peered at him smirking then faltered as he finally glared at her, “Guess I’m the only one crossing the line here. I’ll shut up now.”
“You’ve met Waterfall?”
“Oh yeah! Now Newt, that guy is one heck of a nice old fart. Feathered hat gives me the giggles though. You’d think the local Native Americans would evolve more but sometimes they just feel all 1800’s. Newt especially dresses the part but he’s one smart cookie.”
“I hope he agrees with my request to help feed his people. I need my home cleared and looking nice.”
“Shoals is a mess. Last time I went out there was to chase off some partying teenagers. Got a call about a string of parked cars on the main road. Pretty explanatory. Creepy place though I swear I heard whispering and a young girl’s laughter after I shooed off those trespassers.”
“Sure, it wasn’t one hiding and just messing with you?”
“Could be, I guess. It was dark and I didn’t have backup.”
“Eyeballs already.” Nick noticed, Darcy looking about but not seeing anyone directly. “Tree over there has a kid setting on a branch. Shouldn’t he be in school at this hour?”
“Pends on the parent. Some folks here tutor at home so they might not do the timetable setting so they can sleep in.” She chuckled. “Good eye though I totally missed the kid.”
“Sniper in the Army.”
“I thought I heard you were a pilot.”
“Nick of all trades.” Some jobs he could never offer insight into. Better left unsaid if she wanted to live a full life. He kind of respected Darcy so wanted to keep her alive. Nick was in most cases a very secretive man.
“I can see that. Mind if I ask what you’re doing to Midnight?”
“Nope!”
“Come on it’s obvious she worships you. You jumping into a blazing house to rescue her mom? I saw that Buddy. She arrived with you.”
“Shared a bus.”
“Uh huh! I heard about you and Midnight on the streets of Caretaker. Her streaking all proud like.”
“You done prying?”
“Probably not. Comes with the job. Besides I also know the deal you made with Dolan. Against the law but if he’s overlooking it, we all are. I just…think Midnight’s a good kid. I don’t wanna see her hurt.”
“Bound to happen.” He grinned darkly. Bound tightly even, but again that was for his thoughts alone.
“I just don’t know what to make of you Sanchez. My gut says you’re a good guy but dammit I sense Prince of Evil about you too. Mixed bag!” She pulls up to the Civic Center where Newton arranged a meet, his home directly behind the building. Outside a young man was using a weed eater to edge the foundation, freshly mowed grass in bags spread out on the yard. “Might be your first candidate to mow the Shoals. That’s Lukas Porcupine.”
“Challenged?”
“That obvious? Yes, Lukas has Downs Syndrome. Kid loves to be helpful. They don’t even pay the boy for doing the grounds keeping. Just supply him the things needed. His mother and father passed away when he was 14. Newton and the elders gave him a trailer to live in and feed him. No real paycheck but at least they care.”
“On my hiring list. How old is he now?”
“22 I’m thinking. His parents died in… bad timing I know…but a fire. They think Lukas might have accidently started it. Nobody knows for sure because he was off fishing by himself. One thing for certain it wasn’t on purpose. He was traumatized for months.”
“Sad. I’ll pay him his first paycheck.”
“That would put a smile on his face. Might irritate Mordecai though, he’s sort of his Godfather.”
“Wonderful! Some Godfather if he’s not taking better care of him.”
“That’s Mordecai.”
“Makes me wanna adopt him.” Nick chuckled. “Not!”
Car shut off Darcy sighed, “Here comes Newton now. I’ll wait here, maybe chat with Lukas.”
“I appreciate the time you’re taking in helping me here.”
“Chief’s orders. Now go talk to the other Chief.”
Getting out Nick stretched quickly then stepped forward walking up the sidewalk to greet the grey haired elder wearing a plaid shirt and blue jeans, a low brimmed brown Panama hat with eagle feathers drooping from the back of its brim. He also had circular sunglasses that was so dark he appeared blind. A few moments observation Nick knew the man was indeed without sight. As a sniper Nick knew to use his other senses as much as vision to hunt and scope.
“Mister Waterfall?”
“That would be me.” Newton beamed then turned his head toward Lukas. “Finish up Luke there’s breakfast on our table. French toast!” Nick found it funny when Native American’s often objected to any out of their own breed intermingling. Spaniard objection but obviously not French.
“Okay Mister Waterfall.” Lukas hurried but paused to tilt his head at Nick. “I can help.”
“Pardon?”
“You mow the Shoals.”
“You know about my property?”
“I listen.”
“Hired! Be ready in the morning.” He smirked. The boy seemed giddy, jumping up in step and waving at Darcy as if he had been given a puppy.
“Might do him good to get off the Rez a spell.” Newton nodded with an approving expression, “The boy hasn’t seen the world in five years. Blame us I suppose.”
“That’s on you Waterfall.”
“Call me Newt.”
“Call me Nick.”
“So, Nick…what do you have to offer?”
“As I mentioned through my friends the Coopers, I need workers to clear the overgrowth on Harbinger Shoals.”
“Folks fear that place.”
“Why is that?”
“Ghosts! Death! Used to be a slave plantation back in the day.”
“Really?” That intrigued Nick knowing that he intended to make Midnight his slave.
“You should ask my granddaughter she is the Historian. She works in Charleston. One of our people to move on up to the east side.” Nick let that go right over his head the old Jefferson’s sitcom phrase. For a society so against outside influence they sure knew their TV shows. Like Lukas, Newt listened. “Walk with me.”
“My banker Lowell mentioned a woman from the Historical Society, even gave me her number. I just haven’t had a chance to do any digging.”
“Your lucky day. My granddaughter came to visit. On vacation! She stays with me and my wife Rayna. She and my daughter’s husband Samuel do not see eye to eye.” He taps his glasses. “Blind since I was ten.”
“I noticed! No cane to get around with told me you count steps and always listen.”
“Count cards too.” He chuckled, “Small casino on the Rez. My wife likes to gamble.”
“Don’t we all?” A winding sidewalk lead them back behind the Civic Center toward a reasonably kept home with a fenced in yard. On the other side of the fence sat an old woman knitting with breakfast on the table under a glass lid to prevent flies from enjoying Lukas’ food until he got there to enjoy it. At a gate Newt opened it and stepped through with Nick closely behind him.
“You smell of smoke. Have you not showered since rescuing Irene Amador?”
“Short one and a fast change of clothes. Didn’t have much time between the fire and the hospital. That bad?”
“Sensitive nose. Makes my sinuses itch.”
“I didn’t want to keep you waiting. I’m sure you have other more pressing matters to deal with.”
“Serving my tribe comes first. Tending to my garden after. I was joking about my sinuses. No allergies!”
“Good to know.” Nick found the man intriguing. In moving to the deck built off the back of his home Newton’s wife Rayna looked up with a hint of what is he doing here but did eventually show respect.
“Rayna? Bring Nick here an iced tea. Sit!” He motioned Nick to join him at the table. Hearing splashing Nick realized there was a 27 x 52-inch pool next to the deck. Chlorine should have given him a clue. Unable to see who it was swimming, Nick just sat down to conduct business. “How much manpower do you need?”
“I intended small scale at first. I need to rebuild the bridge supports before I can drive across it. So small mowers and chainsaws at best for now. Once the bridge is supported, I can bring in tractors. The place is in bad shape, but I’m determined to make it my home.”
“Need contractors?”
“Well, I hired a guy that came recommended by the Coopers, Niles Gullivant.”
“Veronica Redmane lives with his son William.”
“Yep! That a problem?”
“You must understand the Santee ways Nick. Even Irene and Matilda broke the code in marrying outsiders. Irene left my granddaughter’s father Samuel at the alter to be with the Spaniard. Bad history without my granddaughter Dawn’s lessons. Samuel was devastated but moved on to be with Dawn’s mother Wanita.”
“I would say I’m sorry but if that hadn’t happened…”
“You would not have set your eyes on Midnight Amador?” Again, Newt taps his lens.
“Aware of that too?”
“Nothing escapes my ears outside of wax.”
“Gotcha! Yeah…I have my eye on her.”
“As a mate?”
“Probably not! I’m not into settling down with any wife and kids.”
“Ah! It is good then. Midnight has Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome.”
“What exactly is that?” It made Nick set back worrying it might be contagious.
“From what my wife has read to me it is when a baby is born without a uterus, and never suffers from monthly periods. Nor can she ever get pregnant. 1 in 5000 women suffer from it.”
“I had no idea.” His sigh of relief withheld because he knew Newt was studying his response. “That’s something she should have informed me of, not you.”
“Perhaps! Yes, you are correct. Outsider she may be, Santee even as a half breed is still Santee…cast out or not.”
“So why give their family grief? I’ve met Esteban Amador I agree he’s a piece of work but without him, Midnight would not have been born. So, I suppose I’m thankful of that much. At any rate can we change the subject concerning the Amador’s?”