Native Born

Cassidy stroked her daughter’s glossy black hair away from her face. Clyne’s hair had been just this color. Gabe and Kino kept their hair so short it was hard to compare and she had yet to meet Clay, the middle brother.

“Yes, doodlebug. I have to pack tonight. I’ll be gone before you get up.”

“We have another game on Wednesday.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Where?” Her daughter knew that her mother couldn’t say much about her assignments. But this time, somehow, it seemed important that she know.

“Black Mountain.”

“On the reservation?” Her daughter’s voice now rose with excitement. “Oh, Mom. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Because she tried to keep her daughter away from the people who were attempting to take Amanda away from her.

“Can I come?”

“Of course you can’t come.”

Her daughter continued on and Cassidy wished she had not mentioned the location of her assignment.

“Are you going to Pinyon Fort? Will you see the museum? There are two hotels on Black Mountain, the ski resort and the casino. Where will you stay?”

It was like watching a train pick up speed and having no way to slow it down.

Ever since Cassidy had told her daughter that she was not really Sioux, as they had been told, but Apache, Amanda had been Googling the Black Mountain tribe’s website and studying Apache history.

“I’m not sure yet.” Cassidy pressed a hand to her forehead.

“You have to tell me everything, what it’s like. They had snow there today. I checked. I haven’t seen snow since we left South Dakota. I wish I could come, too.”

Cassidy stroked her daughter’s head and forced a smile.

“Maybe next time.”

“Will you see them?”

“Yes.”

Amanda’s eyes widened. “Oh, I want to go!”

“I know.”

“What if the judge says I have to go with them? Wouldn’t it be better if I had at least met them?”

Cassidy’s heart ached at the possibility of losing her daughter.

“They can’t take you for long. Even if the judge overturns my custody, you remember what I told you?”

“I’m twelve.”

Cassidy nodded.

Amanda recited by memory. “Twelve-year-olds can request to be adopted away from their tribe.”

“That’s right.”

Amanda frowned. Ever since they’d discovered who she really was and that she had another family out there, Amanda had been increasingly unhappy. Of course the opening of her adoption and the challenge for custody upset her. Why wouldn’t it?

“They can’t win,” said Cassidy. “Because you are old enough to choose.”

Amanda moved her legs restlessly under the covers and seemed to want to say something.

Cassidy waited.

“Can you at least take a picture of them?”

“What? Why?”

“So I can see if they look like me?”

How she wished she could go back to the time when they both thought she had no one but her mom and dad and Grandma Diane. When there was no one else.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Cassidy.

“Please?” asked Amanda.

Cassidy tucked the covers back in place. “I have to go pack and you have to go to sleep. Good night, sweetheart.”

Amanda kissed her mother and then flopped to her side. She said nothing more as Cassidy walked to the bedroom door and waited.

She was about to give up when Amanda flopped back to face her.

“Be careful up there, Mom.”

“I will. I love you.”

“You, too.”

Cassidy closed the door and headed to her bedroom to pack. She was good at packing. A tour of duty with the US Army had taught her that. And also how to fly helicopters. She’d put in for a transfer from her first assignment with the FBI after Gerard died because she couldn’t stand to live in the home they had chosen together. They’d ended up in Southern California.

After she had finished in her room, she carried her suitcase, briefcase and duffel down to the hallway. She told Diane all she could about where she was going. But she didn’t tell her that after this assignment she would finally get her transfer. Would Diane come with them or would it be just the two of them again?

She didn’t know. What she did know was she needed the custody decision so that Amanda could tell the judge she wanted to be adopted again by her mother. Then she needed to get away from this part of the country. As far as possible from the Apache tribe. Until then, she was keeping her daughter away from the Cosen brothers.

* * *

“SO YOU WON’T change your mind?” Clyne asked Gabe.