Forbidden Ground (Cold Creek #2)(40)
She unwrapped the star she still had, wondering when Carson would get back to her about the blood on the other one. “These have been found atop two of the Adena mounds in the area, and since they are bright stars, which almost sparkle in the sun—to glow, almost like this room—we were wondering if this is your calling card, perhaps? Especially since you made it obvious earlier you would like to ignore, perhaps to erase, such pagan practices as Christian weddings or the ancient Adena culture.”
She realized she’d come on too strong again, but he didn’t take the bait. “That is not mine or ours,” he said after glancing briefly at the star. “What are the Adena that I would be mindful of them or visit them? I declare such things under my feet, but I have not visited those savage places. My place is here with my people.”
Kate thought he was scrambling scripture again, but she wasn’t quite sure. She was aware that Grace was fidgeting, but Lee looked stoic. She knew Jace wasn’t going to be much help.
“Asked and answered, I guess, Kate,” Jace said. “You see, Mr. Monson, there’s dried blood on the tips of the star, which means we need to find out whose and why.”
“Is that so? Then it suggests some sort of sacrifice, you mean. I regret I can’t help you further. Thank you for visiting us, and I’m sure Grace and Lee will be happy to receive you in the future—and, of course, your sister and Sheriff McCord when they return.”
Bright Star stood. Kate felt frustrated and furious, but Jace rose, so she had little choice but to leave, too. She hated being manipulated by this man who, she was certain, had some sort of evil hold over her cousins.
Kate turned her back on Bright Star and, with Jace right behind her, started from the room. She could feel Bright Star’s eyes boring into her back. It was the same feeling she’d had when she thought she was being watched earlier today, but that was nonsense.
Kate glanced at Grace as she opened the door. Bright Star was talking to Jace about providing protection for the group when they sold things at the weekend market uptown. And in that moment, when no one could see Grace but Kate, the woman drew a five-pointed star just above her left breast, once, then quickly again.
Kate stared, almost stumbled. When she hesitated, Grace tipped her head toward the door, as if telling her to move on, so she did.
As they left the compound through the guarded gate, Kate’s mind raced. Was Grace trying to silently send her love or to indicate that their holy man was lying? Or had Grace tried to tell her that she had worn such a star?
The motion had also brought back memories of how she and Grace—who had been a playmate and neighbor years ago—along with Tess and Char, had often used that sign when they’d sworn to keep a secret. Cross my heart and hope to die.
13
Late that evening, Grant was glad he finally got Kate to one of his favorite restaurants in Chillicothe. The thing was, they had Todd and Amber with them. Grant took them out for Todd’s birthday—an excuse to get them out of their house. Amber’s parents always did babysitting duty with the boys. Grant and Todd had liked this place for years because it had wood from the mill everywhere, including tables, booths and wall paneling. Some diners were out on the patio, but Grant liked it inside, with all the wood around.
They’d started out sharing reminiscences of Paul and talking about the funeral plans. Grant and Todd—Brad, too—were going to be pallbearers. Losing Paul and the worry about where his Adena eagle pendant could be depressed Grant so deeply he was afraid he wouldn’t be a good host this evening. But despite Kate being a newcomer, she fit right in with the three of them.
“Great food,” she said, tucking into her garlic mashed potatoes. When Grant had heard her order them, he’d asked for the same in self-defense, since he was planning on some kissing later. He hoped she didn’t think his attentions were a prerequisite for his letting her study the mound up close, though he wanted to study her that way.
Todd took a sip of beer and turned toward Kate. “So, Grant told me about the metal stars stuck in the mounds. And that you confronted Bright Star over it.”
“Right, but I had Jace Miller riding shotgun, so to speak. The great guru denied knowing anything about the stars, but I’m thinking they might have been pins of some kind.”
“You know, my dad gave the kids some sheriff and deputy cowboy stars to wear with their outfits,” Amber said. “I wonder if the mound stars are anything like that. Todd, do you know where those went?”
“Nope. With all the stuff the boys have around, who knows? Probably on their Star Wars outfits instead. So, how do you read that weirdo Bright Star, Kate?”
“As very weird and probably dangerous. I think the stars were his, maybe put there to place his blessing—or curse—on the long-dead pagans in the mound. Maybe he’s like the Mormons, thinking they can get dead people into heaven. Todd, what? Why are you looking at Grant that way?”
“Just that—that you seem to be sure there are corpses in the local mounds.”
“Mason Mound, especially. I’ve been telling Grant the odds are good. No sign of a cave-in, and the smaller mounds are usually more sturdy, which means well-preserved burial chambers. Mason Mound is evidently intact, never entered, probably with one horizontal entry shaft that shouldn’t be too hard to find and dig through. As for Bright Star, I was telling Grant what upsets me more than his lies about the stars—I get that, because any tampering with such a mound can mean big fines or prison time—is the hold the man has over his people. Namely my cousin Lee and his wife, Grace. She was a friend of mine and my sisters’ from way back. I swear, she’s like a zombie now, but she tried to give me some sort of sign—I think—about wearing a star. Bright Star does brainwashing at best, terrorizing at worst. Everything’s so guarded and secret I can’t get near the Hear Ye compound to find out what’s really going on in there.”