CHAPTER 12
"Hey sleepyhead" Quinn drawled as she saw Rachel approaching.
"OK, you caught me!" Rachel replied shrugging her shoulders.
"Hmmm, I'd love to catch you" the taller woman responded, causing a visible blush in her brunette companion.
"Um, well, I think you might have already done that" and a grin appeared on Rachel's face. Remember…thundering horse, falling woman, heroic rescue".
"Oh that!" Quinn replied…with a sly look on her face. "Is that the only way I've caught you?"
"What do you think?" Rachel smiled.
Quinn just grinned in response. "So are you ready to go? I've got the horses all saddled up."
"Sure am! Where are we going?"
Quinn smiled, "Someplace that I have not shared with anyone before."
Rachel's eyes were wide. "Ohhhh"
"C'mon let's go, it's better to show you than to try and explain it. Do you need some help getting up on Athena?"
"I'd like to try and do it myself!" Rachel smiled as she took Athena's reins, placed her booted left foot in the stirrup and pulled herself up with the pommel. "I did it!" She exclaimed.
"Excellent!" Quinn retorted and she effortlessly slung herself onto Lightning's back
They headed up the trail that Rachel was familiar with, chatting along the way. When they reached the flat rock wall, Quinn told Rachel to dismount.
"This is your surprise?" She asked.
"No, but this is how we get to the surprise." And Quinn moved the scrub oak brush on a false rock panel revealing the rock arch beyond.
Rachel's eyes widened as she saw the pathway ahead of her. "Wow, I'd never have seen that back there. This is amazing!"
"You haven't seen anything yet" Quinn responded. "Bring Athena in here and hold Lightning for me." Quinn went to close the gap so the entry was no longer visible to anyone else on the path.
When she was done, she walked back and reached for Lightning's reins and let her fingers curl around Rachel's hand for a moment. "OK are you ready for a little hike?"
Rachel flushed noticeably at Quinn's touch and was momentarily disarmed. "Ah, a hike….oh yes".
"We have to leave the horses here" and a smiling Quinn led them to the small lean to. When the horses were given food and water and all set in their shelter she extended her hand to Rachel.
"The steps are cut into the rock and are pretty gentle, but it's nice to hold on to someone the first time up."
"Wow, how did they get here?" Rachel asked as they started the ascent to Quinn's hideaway.
"When I first came here, I went out riding and happened upon this side path. There was a fairly good natural step in the rock but it was not practical for continuous use. So I cut the steps down so they would be easier to manage."
"You cut the rocks yourself?"
"Yes Ma'am! That's not all I've done. Come on, you'll see."
Quinn led Rachel up the steps and helper her with the hand holds until they reached the summit.
Rachel looked around wide-eyed at the view and more importantly at the home built into the rocks that Quinn had crafted.
"I can't believe this is up here. You did all of this?" Rachel remarked incredulously as she walked around the grounds, marveling at all she saw.
"Rachel, this area is sacred ground. I discovered this place and knew that I had to make it mine. It was a place to connect with my heritage and for me to craft into with as much oneness with the land as I could. The ranch is where I live but this is my heart and soul….it renews me and helps make me whole."
"I am speechless, it is so magnificent. What do the others think of this place?" Rachel asked.
"You're the first one I have brought up here". Quinn softly responded.
"I, I am? But….why?"
"I have never felt that anyone would understand this place before I met you Rachel. If you know this place, you know me, and I want you to know me….everything about me." Quinn walked forward and took Rachel's hands in hers, staring into her eyes.
Rachel met Quinn's gaze and then looked at the hands that held hers and softly kissed the work worn fingers. "I am so honored to be in your presence, in this sacred place. I am really overcome by your words, this view, all that is happening."
Quinn broke Rachel's hold on her hands and reached over and drew her close to her. Rachel melted into Quinn's body and sighed audibly. "I feel so complete in your arms."
The taller woman smiled as she held Rachel. "I know I am right about this. Come on, let me show you the cabin." Quinn kept her arm around Rachel as she led her to the door.
"This is just so beautiful. I am in awe of you. What else can you do?"
"I have many skills" Quinn chuckled as she opened the cabin door.
Rachel's eyes scanned the room and were amazed again at all Quinn had done here. "How long have you been working on this?"
"So far about 9 years."
Rachel whistled, as she walked around the cabin and her gaze fell on the artifacts from Quinn's past.
"Who is this beautiful woman?" Rachel questioned as she saw the framed photo of the Native.
"That was my mother, it's the only photo I have of her. She died giving birth to me….I never knew her" Quinn fingered the beloved photo as she told Rachel of her parent's history.
"That's so sad Quinn, I'm so sorry." Rachel offered as she laid her hand on Quinn's arm.
"It is what made me who I am today. I never knew them and so don't miss them in that respect as one who has lost someone they had in their life. I feel my parent's spirits surrounds me at times. I know they are watching over me. My grandmother is the one who raised me. I was with her until the day she had that dream."
"A dream, what did she dream about?" Rachel asked.
Quinn led her over to the loveseat and Rachel sat cross-legged against one arm watching her friend. "I guess now is as good a time as ever to tell you about it"
"This sounds ominous, is it?" Rachel cautioned.
"It is what it is Rachel. And I think when you hear it, it will offer some answers as to how we both seem to feel about each other."
Quinn began to relate the dream her grandmother had. It started with the smoke and thunder surrounding Quinn, and ended up with the white woman whose eyes pierced the heart of the warrior woman and tamed her Spirit, and of the voice that accompanied the dream.
Quinn's voice resonated as she finished the story, "And finally the voice said, 'You will find each other….and in this Love, your strengths will be illuminated. You will take each other from the darkness into the Light. Go now….and you will understand this in its time.' Rachel, I finally do understand my grandmother's dream. I believe that you are the Waisichu, the white woman in the dream. I know there is something about my connection with you that is unlike anything else. I believe there is a destiny about our meeting and feelings about each other."
Rachel sat quietly for a moment, just looking into Quinn's eyes. She took her hands from her lap where they were laying and reached over and took Quinn's hands.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit overwhelmed by what you have told me, and the feelings I am having. So much has happened to me this past year…..the problems that led me to come to Mesa Verde, the recovery I have made, the attempt on my life, meeting you. It's been a whirlwind for sure. A good friend once told me that everything happens for a reason. Perhaps the reason for all I have been through has been to bring me here, to you. Do you realize that the dream your grandmother had parallels the dreams I have been having? The thundering noise, the smoke….it's very similar. I have to agree with you, I believe your grandmother's dream speaks about us."
At Rachel's words, a single tear welled up in Quinn's eye and fell on their clasped hands. She stood up and pulled Rachel to her and they embraced with the ease of those who have known each other through time. A shock of recognition flowed through them and they looked at one another and smiled. The taller woman leaned down and brushed her lips softly against Rachel's lips. In an instant the kiss grew stronger and deeper and a small moan of pleasure accompanied the exchange. Quinn reached up to caress Rachel's cheeks as they broke their reverie.
"It would be so easy to carry this further now, but I think that what we have deserves time and care," murmured Quinn.
Sighing loudly, Rachel responded, "boy, you sure picked a time to be good and noble, but you're right, I don't want to just plunge ahead until the moment is right."
Quinn playfully touched Rachel's nose and smiled, "OK, how about we have our dinner and then we should head back. I don't want Emma to send a posse out looking for us if we don't return before it gets too late."
"Dinner! Ooooo, sounds terrific. You mean you can cook too?" Mused Rachel.
"I told you I had many skills!" Quinn laughed. "You sit right there and let me get things ready."
"Can't I help?"
"Awww thanks, but I have most of it prepared already. Just will take a few moments to get it ready to serve."
Quinn went to her fridge and got the tray of grilled chicken she had prepared earlier. The finger sized pieces were deliciously spiced with a lime chipotle sauce that she had made. She coupled that with home-made cole slaw and the hot fry bread she cooked up right before serving. Iced-tea rounded out the menu.
"Mmmmm, this is so good." Rachel pronounced as she sampled the savory meal.
Quinn smiled widely, "I'm glad you like it".
"Oh yes, the sauce is so tasty. Just the right blend of citrus and spice. I really love Southwestern style cooking. It's one of my favorites. I love to cook myself, although I've not had much opportunity of late to cook for anyone."
"Well, I love to have someone cook for me." Quinn added.
"I think cooking for someone is really a way of expressing your love. You kind of infuse it into what you make, to please the one you cook for, to make them happy and healthy." Rachel offered.
"I like that kind of thinking."
"Would you let me cook for you the next time? I mean, well, I sure am hopeful there will be a next time up here. I'd like to spend some more time with you in this place." Rachel gazed at Quinn when she spoke.
Quinn reached over the table and took Rachel's hand. "It'd be my great joy to have you spend more time with me here. I'd love for you to cook too. You let me know what ingredients you need and I will get them"
"That sounds great, is there any special kind of food you like?"
"I don't often get Italian food, can you make anything like that?" Quinn asked.
"I sure can. I will think about what to make and then get you the list. How does that sound?" Quinn rose and started to clear the table. "Sounds great!"
Rachel got up and picked up some of the table settings. "Now don't you say a word, I get to help. That's what it's all about."
"You don't see me complaining." Quinn teased.
The pair quickly took care of the dishes and got ready to leave. Surveying the cabin, Quinn secured it and led Rachel towards the path, offering Rachel her arm.
"Next time we come up, bring your bathing suit. The natural pool is heavenly!"
"Ohhh, I was hoping that it was a clothing optional natural pool". Rachel teased.
Quinn fixed her gaze into Rachel's eyes and purred in her delicious velvet voice, "It can be anything you'd like it to be."
Rachel blushed fiercely and stammered, "I'll, um, take you up on it for sure."
They both broke into laughter and made their way down the stone steps. They found their mounts waiting in good stead and Quinn untied them and led them to the stone arch. Rachel held the horses while Quinn moved the secret entrance and checked the trail to make sure no one was around. They moved out onto the main path and Quinn concealed the opening once again. The pair enjoyed the twilight ride back to Mesa Verde chatting animatedly on their way down.