Page 54 of Joshua's Mistake
Will got in the passenger side and turned toward Kane. “Little Lakeland?”
“Shut up, Will.” Kane started the engine and headed toward the cabin where Adianca made her home.
The desert road stretched out for miles. This had been the land of his restoration. He’d survived to become the man he was because of Adianca and this place. Every time he’d returned to the desert it had brought him peace. In the past, he’d come for revival and sometimes just for rest. His mind needed the quiet of the desert and the comfort of the shaman’s steady mind.
With Tessa’s lax body lying in his lap he found no peace in arriving at the one place in the world that usually brought him solace. His own aches and pains probably needed tending to but those were the consequences of his mistake. He deserved much more of a punishment for failing her.
The main community lived in small houses over a mile from Adianca’s small log cabin. She was their healer and spiritual guide. Joshua had always gotten the impression, even amongst her people, she was both revered and feared in equal parts. Everyone was more comfortable with her a safe distance away yet close enough to run to when a need arose.
As they pulled up to the simple house two men met the truck. Adianca said, “You can start the fire.”
One of the men said, “My wife brought soup and bread.”
“Thank you, Jon.”
The man she’d called Jon stepped around to open the car door. He spoke to Joshua, “I can take her for you.”
Joshua’s stomach tightened and he pulled Tessa closer to his chest, unable to bear someone else carrying her. “I have her.”
He might has well have said,She’s mine.The intensity of his words was obvious and Jon gave him a nod and backed away.
Adianca started toward the house. “Come, Lakeland. You need rest and your woman needs food and water. We will take care of this before we go on a quest.”
She was on the top of the steps before Joshua found his voice. “Teacher, I need to bring her back. We have little time.”
Her craggy face frowned down at him. “And yet it is time we will need. Some things cannot be rushed as you well know. Or have I taught you nothing?”
There was nothing for Joshua to say. He clutched Tessa close to him and walked up the steps into the house.
Inside, two women were rushing around preparing food. The kitchen took up one corner of the wooden lodge-style house. There was no dining room, only a long farm table placed near the kitchen. The other side of the room had comfortably worn furniture and a few tables with lamps.
The high ceiling gave the room a larger feeling. Doors to the right led to bedrooms and a bathroom. Joshua had been there before and nothing had changed. All the walls were wood and the furniture was all shades of brown. Red-and-teal Native-American made blankets and pillows added the only color to the decor.
Adianca spoke to Will. “Food will come to you, friend of Lakeland. For now, keep watch with Jon and Gowan.”
Will nodded and did as he was told.
Joshua settled on the couch. He could feel the warmth of Tessa’s body slipping away. He was losing her.
“Come and eat something,” Adianca ordered. He had never said no to his shaman but he was tempted. He didn’t want to leave Tessa.
The medicine woman gave him a sad smile. “She will be fine and you need to eat so your strength does not fail you, Lakeland. Come.”
Reluctantly he slid out from under Tessa’s limp form and carefully arranged her on the couch. His chest ached at seeing her so lifeless. He missed the vibration of her aura. For the first time in his life Joshua knew real fear and it was near to crippling. Never before had another person been so instrumental to his own survival.
The women placed bowls of stew on the table and Joshua made his way over. He sat and ate as if he were a starving man with his first meal. Halfway through his bowl he saw movement by the couch and turned to see the two women who had served the stew sitting down by Tessa with a bowl.
“I will feed her,” he said. His voice was much louder than was necessary.
The women were startled.
“You must eat,” Adianca said.
Joshua shoveled the remaining food in his mouth, got up from the table and still chewing moved toward the couch. He sat down near Tessa’s head, lifted her body and adjusted it so her back rested on his chest.
The women watched with wide eyes. Once he had settled Tessa into a sitting position, one of the women pulled a small table over and the other placed the bowl with clear broth on it.
Joshua could reach the spoon but the soup dripped as he lifted it toward Tessa. One of the women sat on the couch by Tessa’s hip and held the bowl up inches from her closed mouth.
