After the sheep had cleared the road, Chaska drove her to a few of the more remote overlooks. They stopped a couple from Germany and asked them to take a photograph of the two of them with the mountains behind them. And then their mini-vacation was over, and it was time to head back to Scarlet.
On Monday morning, Rain stopped by the house when Naomi was alone.
“This is for you.” Rain held out an envelope.
The fundraiser.
Naomi had completely forgotten about it.
She opened the envelope—and the blood rushed to her head.
Inside was a check for twenty-three thousand dollars.
“Oh, my God!” Tears blurred her vision. “I can’t believe this.”
“People were really touched by what happened to you. They wanted to help. Hopefully, that will cover everything. If there’s any left, you can donate it to the Team or the hospital—whatever you choose.”
“I don’t know how to thank you all.”
“There’s no need, Naomi. People here take care of each other.”
They talked for a while, Naomi answering Rain’s questions about how she was found, about Peter and Ruth, about the medicine wheel that had led to Grandpa Belcourt finding her father.
“Sorry to ask so many questions. It’s just … I feel like I have a personal connection to what happened to you.”
Naomi waited for Rain to explain.
“I had a baby when I was sixteen, too. I gave birth alone in an old VW van while my musician boyfriend, the baby’s father, performed a set and then got drunk, dropped acid, and screwed around with other women. I never once considered abandoning my baby girl. I cannot bear to think of you or any other baby being left to die like that.”
Then Rain showed Naomi photos of Lark, her daughter, a lovely young woman with a bright smile. “She’s twenty now. It’s hard to believe.”
“She’s beautiful. She looks just like you.”
“Thanks.”
Rain asked about Naomi’s jewelry making, which led to Rain wanting to see Naomi’s website—which gave Naomi an inspiration.
“Rain, can I ask a favor of you?”
The next fivedays seemed to fly by. Naomi spent most of each day with Winona at the clinic, taking photos, sketching, or helping with the animals when she was physically able. Her nights were spent with Chaska, cocooning in his room. They discovered new ways to please each other, his body her own personal paradise.
But all too soon it was Friday.
Chaska picked up Doug from DIA after work.
He swept Naomi up in a hug. “Star and the kids can’t wait to meet you. They’re helping to decorate your bedroom as we speak to have it all ready for you.”
“That’s so sweet.”
As good as it was to see Doug again, Naomi couldn’t shake the deep sadness she felt about leaving Chaska.
She lay in bed with him that night, her body sated, her heart heavy. “I don’t want to be away from you. I’m afraid …”
“You’re afraid of what?”
She had nothing to lose at this point by telling him the truth. “I’m afraid that the next time I see you, you’ll be with someone else—Nicole or Rose or any one of the women from Scarlet who adore you.”
For some reason, this made him chuckle.