Go by the Four Winds: It’S Where the Spirits Live

By Xlibris US

If a person commits a crime against another people, and they are someday sorrowful of this crime, they will ask forgiveness from the person; we may or may not be forgiven; if we are not forgiven, either way we need to let it go. They will forgive you in their time, when it is right for them, that is the Creators job, not yours. In asking forgiveness from the Creator, you need to let it go. The Creator immediately will forgive us once we ask it of Him. It is our human nature to think, sometimes our crimes are too horrific in nature. The human in us tells us Creator cant forgive those; it is the human in us that makes us think, it is the human in us we need to turn off. Only then is when we listen to our heart. The Creator does not have a court with a judge, jury or prosecutor; there is only One, Him. He does not have a scale or measure to determine or compare one crime to another, to Him a crime is a crime, if the crime is being an adulterer, a liar, or a murderer, to Him they are all the same, the punishment is the same. What matters is not the crime, but that you were spiritual enough to ask forgiveness from our Creator. Dont let the human in you think you cannot be forgiven, that is Satan influencing you, Satan will want you to think you are no good and cant possibly be forgiven. DO NOT listen to that one. Let your heart, your spirit take over with the understanding it is done. The Creator wants you to know you do not repeatedly need to be forgiven for the same crime. You have been forgiven, so you are to go on as He intended. He created us to be happy, so that is what you will do. And you are to be sure you forgive others for their crimes against you. That is just how it works.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499037418

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

New Beginning - June 1997

E DUARDO IT IS time.

Time for what?

It is time for you to see, give me your hand, and come with me.

Eduardo takes Yolanda’s hand so she may lead him to the light above the mountain. He felt warm inside, it felt good to feel Yolanda’s touch again.

I’ve missed you Yolanda. You know I have never stopped loving you.

I know, she answers him. Shh, do not speak just come see what I have to show you, we don’t have much time.

~~~~

EDUARDO! Eduardo, wake up! Eduardo, you’re dreaming again wake up!

Eduardo wakes up disappointed that his wife, Consuelo, woke him from his recurring dream before Yolanda could show him what he needed to see.

Irritated that he’s mentioned Yolanda’s name in his sleep again, she says to him, Eduardo, you really should see a doctor. You’re not sleeping well, having nightmares, waking up in a cold sweat every night. It’s been weeks now that you’ve been doing this. You should go see my doctor, he comes highly recommended. I’ll call and make you an appointment for later today.

I’m fine Consuelo, I do not wish to see your doctor. He answers getting out of bed. If I needed a doctor, I would go to my uncle, not your money hungry fakes.

Where are you going it’s only 5:00 a.m.?

I have work to do Consuelo, not everyone has the luxury of sleeping all day as you do. You should for once try getting up early and doing something with your day. I bet you don’t even know what a sunrise looks like. He snapped at her, remembering Yolanda was always up before him and by the water waiting for the sun to come up over the mountain landscape.

I remember a time when you didn’t mind staying in bed late with me, Eduardo.

And somehow you managed to conveniently keep me drunk most of the time; the honeymoon was over sixteen years ago Consuelo. I’m not going through this again with you. Sleep if you wish, I have a busy day ahead of me.

Don’t forget tomorrow is Cruz’s birthday celebration and I want her quinceañera to be perfect. This is a special day for our daughter and I don’t want anything to go wrong.

Eduardo does not respond to Consuelo, he turns to stare at her and wonders how he could have been so wrong about this woman, what possessed him to marry her. She was no different from the other women he always tried to keep at a distance, women that wanted his name, lifestyle and money. She became pregnant only a few weeks after he met her. He could not understand how this could have happened, he took all the necessary precautions. He could barely recall having sex with her. If he did, it was always in a dreamlike state or drunken stupor. After Consuelo told him she was pregnant he had no choice other than to marry her. He would not have a child born out of wedlock.

It did not take Eduardo long to realize his mistake, he did not divorce her for the sake of their daughter Cruz. She was to be fifteen tomorrow, June 4.

A quinceañera, the traditional Mexican family celebrates a young woman’s coming of age at fifteen years. The celebration is a replica of a large church wedding, only without the man, either way, the ordeal and preparation is the same.

He still wondered what had possessed him to have an interest in such a woman as Consuelo; she was not his type of woman. Time has gone by so quickly and yet at times it seemed to him an eternity. An eternity since he’s seen his two sons Eduardo Jr. and Roberto. He expected to see them three years ago when they turned eighteen, but they never showed. After that he thought his son’s did not wish to see him. As adults it was now their decision. It’s been sixteen years since that tragic day, the day he lost them all.

Eduardo quickly showered and went down to the beach to watch the sunrise. He doesn’t know what possessed him to go down there. He had always avoided going down to the water since the attack on his wife and son’s by Alfonso Cordoba, the best friend of his deceased father and longtime family friend.

While standing by the water he was remembering things Yolanda had told him. He began to hear her voice as if she were standing right in front of him. He looked down and could see her feet sinking into the wet sand each time a wave touched shore. She was explaining why he was having the dreams. Eduardo listened as she whispered to him.

~~~~

The Creator is trying to tell you something Eduardo. He is sending you a message in a dream; ignore your dream and He will send it to you again and again until He gets your attention. If it is important enough, your dream will recur until you listen. There are many here praying for you. Your medicine is here for safe keeping. We are waiting for you.

~~~~

Eduardo felt her presence. Yolanda? he says reaching out to her.

The presence was so strong he began to think about the dreams. She was trying to show him something. Each night, in his dream she said it was time.

Time for what? He says aloud.

Three years ago he thought he would be able to see his sons, but they never showed up. He tried to contact them through his Uncle Victor but was told the decision was up to the boys. Victor was sympathetic with Eduardo in telling him, but he needed to understand it was their decision. They said out of respect for their mother and Ryan, it was still not a good time. Eduardo never understood what that meant, but he was about to find out.

Eduardo headed back up to his office to try and get some work done. He was feeling exhausted from the last few weeks of sleepless nights. This caused him to be short-tempered, more than usual. The loveless marriage he found himself in made him trust people even less than before. His wife was a selfish manipulating woman and his daughter turned out to be just like her mother. She was a spoiled brat and learned her mother’s ways to get what she wanted. Eduardo always felt he was being punished for what he did to Yolanda and his son’s. He became a harder man than before, therefore trusting no man and no woman.

There was a knock on the door, Patron, you have some visitors in the library that wish to see you.

Annoyed with the interruption of unexpected visitors he says, Whoever it is send them away, I do not wish to be disturbed.

But Patron, they say…

Eduardo only heard Miguel blabbering his words, nothing he said was clearly spoken. What is wrong with you Miguel? Stop your incoherent speaking. If you value your job you will get rid of them, I don’t care who they are. If they have a business card collect it and be rid of them. Do not disturb me again, am I understood?! He shouts through the locked door.

Si Patron. The servant says and walks away.

The servant returns to the library apologizing to the visitors. It is not a good day for the Patron. I am sorry, but he asked if I may retain your business cards if you have one.

Of course and we apologize for the intrusion. We were here visiting a friend and thought we’d pay our respects, we should have called first and made an appointment. However, under the circumstances we don’t think it wise to leave our business cards. Please make sure he knows we were here to invite him to a ceremony. He will know where this is. Here I’ve placed a note in this envelope, he will understand it. Please be sure Senor Olmos receives this. And thank you for your trouble.

After the visitors had gone, the servant did not wish to knock on Eduardo’s door again, so he placed the envelope on the table just outside the office on the very spot Yolanda had once set down an apple, on that black night twenty-two years ago. The only thing on that table now was a bowl of fruit and a flower arrangement.

The servant returned to his daily duties and the preparations for tomorrow’s quinceañera of the Patron’s daughter. Every one of the servants was on demand by the woman of the house, Consuelo.

She was not liked by the servants, nor was the daughter. They were tolerated since Eduardo paid them well for their services. Either way they still had trouble keeping help. Many had quit, saying it was not worth the money to put up with the treatment from those two and all their craftiness. Nothing seemed to please them.

Even the family visited less often. Eduardo had not noticed at first, until his cousins told him he fit in well with his wife and daughter. His cousins Vic and Joaquin tried to talk with him about his strange behavior. He often seemed disoriented, confused about the sense of time. But he was still sharp when it came to their family business. Because of his heartlessness their investments were all prospering to a point where Eduardo was earning billions for the families he was responsible for.

~~~~

Behind his locked office doors, Eduardo sat in his chair recalling the last time he spoke to his cousin Joaquin and the words they exchanged. It was nearly three years since that day.

Joaquin said to him that last day they spoke, Do you not see it cousin? You have turned everyone away from you. Even I can no longer tolerate what you’ve become. Eduardo you need to take a good look at yourself; it’s almost as if you have a curse upon you. You are so blind to what is right in front of you. Forgive me for saying this cousin, but that woman and child do not belong here. There is something suspicious about those two.

Do not talk about my wife and daughter in that manner, you have no right! Eduardo shouts at Joaquin. Get out of my home; you are no longer welcomed here. LEAVE! Eduardo commands.

So be it Eduardo, you deserve this. You deserve what is happening to you for the way you’ve hurt so many people. Yes our family has been ruthless, very rich and powerful, and we’ve always gotten what we want no matter what, nothing or no one has ever dared to get in our way or challenged us, but we’ve always been a close family and stuck together; you seem to have forgotten this and turned your back on your own family. You have gone beyond ruthless when you treat family this way. I pray you come to your senses before you lose the only people left that care about you. You and that witch deserve each other.

Joaquin left Eduardo standing there, dumbfounded. They had not spoken to one another since that day.

~~~~

His thoughts were interrupted when there was another tap on his office door. I thought I told you I did not wish to be disturbed. He shouted.

Papa, it is me Cruz, I want to talk to you about something.

Again, irritated, Eduardo gets up to go open the door. What is it Cruzita? I am very busy right now and do not wish to be disturbed.

In the sweetest voice she could conjure up she says, Papa why is your door locked? Are you working on a surprise for me? I cannot wait to see what your gift is for me tomorrow. You know Papa; I now have my driver’s permit, so a car would be just the perfect thing.

Cruzita, I have my door locked because I am working. If I get one more interruption I will be forced to go into the city and work out of my office there.

Fine, she answers him rudely, I’ll just go ask mother, she says storming out, slamming the door behind her.

Eduardo wonders how he could have raised such a selfish, spoiled daughter. She was nothing like his sons were, even at a young age. His daughter showed no respect for people unless she wanted something, then she used them in the same manner her mother did. Maybe Joaquin was right about them, but how could he abandon his own daughter.

CHAPTER 2

Truth Revealed

E DUARDO DECIDED TO go into the city where he could get some serious work done without interruptions. Walking out of his office, the first thing that caught his attention was the yellow rose flower arrangement. The yellow roses made him remember they were Yolanda’s favorite flower. Long stem yellow roses, Not of Texas, she used to emphasize. The bowl of fruit next to the flower arrangement also made him recall that awful night when he struck her just after she set the apple down on that very same table. Why had he not gotten rid of that side-table? He hated that table.

Eduardo became saddened with the memory. He could hardly wait to get out of the mansion to go work at his office in the city. He no longer wanted to be in his own home. His wife, Consuelo, would not miss him, he thought; he knew she was too busy with last minute preparations for tomorrow.

Instead of using the helicopter to get into the city Eduardo decided to drive, thinking the long drive would give him time to think and be alone. He felt a strong urge to be alone, among the trees, longing for a place where he could listen to the wind. Eduardo was beginning to remember many things he had long put away from his mind and heart. Memories of the sweat lodge were coming back to him. Things the Medicine Man had talked to him about. He recalled being told, If you want to be one with the Creator, there is no better place than the Inipi ceremony. Here you can sit on Mother Earth and talk with Him, ask anything you want in sincerity. He will reveal to you the answers He thinks you should have. If you do not get the answers you wanted in the Inipi ceremony, He will send you to the mountain where the four winds that travel through time have collected all there is for you to know.

Eduardo was remembering the recurring dreams he had in the last weeks. She was trying to take him to the mountain to reveal something to him. Each time he was awakened by Consuelo before he could see. The medicine man had told me the Creator would send me to the mountain so the wind could tell me what I needed to know. And now, in my recurring dreams Yolanda is trying to take me to the light on the mountain. Eduardo thought to himself.

Eduardo was in such deep thought he didn’t see the car in front of him come to a stop. Eduardo slammed on his breaks coming to a screeching halt. Luckily, he did not hit the car in front of him, coming inches from doing so. When he looked up into the crowd of spectators looking at an almost serious accident, he saw someone familiar in the crowd of people. He wasn’t sure he saw him at all, it was impossible, it could not be. He thought he had just seen himself walking amongst the people. He thought his mind was beginning to play tricks on him, again.

He turned the corner to see if he could get a glimpse of the man again, but he was gone, disappeared into the swarm of tourist.

Once at his office Eduardo found it impossible to concentrate on work. Feeling extremely tired, deciding to get some much needed rest instead, he stretched out on the leather couch in his office falling asleep instantly.

~~~~

Eduardo, it’s never too late to be happy. I am sad you still have not found it. Touching his face softly, Eduardo reaches for her soft hand on his face and says, Yolanda, I was happy once, I was happy when I had you with me. Why did you go away, why did you leave me and take my sons?

You know everything I do has always been to protect my children. Come with me now; let me show you what it is you need to see there on that mountain. Hurry with me before we are stopped again, she says taking him by the hand.

Who is going to stop us Yolanda?

Hurry Eduardo, we don’t have much time. Shh, don’t speak, they will hear you talking and wake you up.

Will you stay with me Yolanda? Stay with me now.

I cannot, my time has come it’s full circle Eduardo. That is why I’m here. I can see this burden that is in your life. I’ve been given this last chance to try and help you. You must come to the mountain… Look Eduardo, listen to the wind, it has gathered the truth for you, listen to it so your suffering may stop.

How can I find you Yolanda, where do I look?

Go by the four winds.

I don’t understand this Yolanda, what does it mean?

"Above the sky, between the earth and the moon, where the Great Spirit roams. There’s nothing between our world and the stars but the Great Spirit, this is the direction you’ll find us. Look, for the three stars that travel, these are your stars. When you see them you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction. Watch out and be suspicious of Iktomi, he is the trickster."

~~~~

Eduardo turned to look but was awakened by the ringing phone. Startled out of his sleep, he jumps up to answer the phone.

Eduardo, what are you doing at the office, you should be here helping me with servants. I’ve just had to fire your insolent personal doorman for refusing an order I gave him this morning. I need you here to deal with these people you call help. If we lived in Spain the way I wanted, we wouldn’t have to deal with such lazy ignorant people.

Consuelo, you have no right to dismiss any of my staff!

What are you saying Eduardo? After almost sixteen years in this dump you call a mansion, I don’t have the right to be in charge of the servants? Am I not the Lady of this house? That stupid old man you rely on so much accused your daughter of stealing. He left me with no choice but to fire him.

What in the world are you talking about, Miguel would not have done such a thing. You must be mistaken or misunderstood.

How dare you think I’m incapable of understanding or determining when the servants need to be disciplined or dismissed? Eduardo I refuse to speak to you over the phone about this. You should be here where we can keep an eye on you.

Keep an eye on me?

What I mean is, you have not been yourself Eduardo. I truly believe you need medical attention. You’ve been seeing things that are not there and hearing voices. Maybe after your daughter’s party tomorrow you should consider admitting yourself into one of those luxury mental institutions so you can rest. For goodness sake, you know you need it!

Consuelo do not talk to me as if I were an incompetent, someone you can manipulate. I’ll be home when I’m ready. I’m sure you’re capable of handling this party without me as usual. Without further comment Eduardo hangs up on his wife. He stood angrily staring at the phone and was startled to see a spider come crawling up on the phone. He suddenly felt the spider was mocking him. Iktomie, he says out loud to himself, the Trickster.

Sitting at his desk he unlocks a top drawer pulling out a photograph of a painting, the one he was unable to buy; the painting of Yolanda sitting on the white wicker chair with one leg tossed over the side, the white dress she’s wearing exposing her shoulder and the beginning of a full breast but not revealing it. Her bare foot stroking a kitten on the floor at her feet, another kitten playing with her long braided hair that reached the floor, and the mother cat sitting on Yolanda’s other shoulder gently touching her face with its paw. Eduardo returns the photograph and carefully locks the drawer again.

Standing, he walks to the window. Watching the crowded streets below full of tourists, he sees that man again. The young man that reminds him of himself at a much younger age.

The young man just walked out of an exclusive department store and is loaded with gift bags, so many that he’s being assisted with loading them into a cab. This made Eduardo think of his two sons, Junior and Roberto; they would be about twenty-one years now. He wondered what had become of them. What kind of adult men they were. Were they like their mother or were they like Ryan, his ways and mannerisms, being that Ryan was the man that raised his sons into men.

Eduardo dreaded going home; he did not wish to be there. He no longer wanted to just exist. He no longer wanted to tolerate his wife Consuelo. He was disappointed that his daughter was such a spoiled young girl. She didn’t have any friends her own age, and the one’s she did have were just as bad as she was. Eduardo did not understand why his daughter’s friends seemed older, almost his wife’s age but younger. He was ashamed to admit it, but he had no fatherly feelings for Cruzita.

He longed to be in New Mexico, the feeling was so strong his body and spirit ached. He felt like just walking out and getting on a plane to the states. Even if he did not get to see his sons or Yolanda, he still needed to be in those mountains of the Gila Wilderness. Eduardo thought about calling his Uncle Victor, but he had a falling out with his uncle, as he did with his cousin Joaquin, and they have not spoken in years. He was coming to the realization that he was alienating his own family, why hadn’t he seen it before. It was only when he was not around Consuelo and Cruzita that he was able to think clearly. When he was not around his wife and daughter he felt better, more like himself.

A light tap on his office door startled him. Senor Olmos, may I come in please, it is me Miguel. Your secretary said it was ok to disturb you.

Eduardo rushed to the door to open it. Yes of course Miguel, please come in.

I am sorry to bother you here at your office, but I am sure by now the Senora has called you about my being dismissed.

Yes Miguel, she has.

Before I leave Senor Olmos, I only wish for you to know the truth about what happened.

Miguel, I have no intention of allowing you to go, my wife had no right to fire you without consulting me.

No Senor Olmos, it is ok, I do not wish to have my job back. I do not care to go back to that house, no disrespect intended to you Senor Olmos. But, I do believe you must know a few things before me and my Vieja are gone, or we feel you may never know.

What is it Miguel? Here, sit and tell me what troubles you.

This morning when I tell you, you have two visitors and you say to me, send them away. I should have been more forceful with you, even if you get mad at me, I should still have made you listen. But sometimes Senor Olmos, you are not the same man we all know from a long time ago. You do not listen to people. My wife, Maria, she thinks you have a curse on you because you don’t listen to people’s words the way they come out of their mouths. Maria says you live with a witch and she no longer wants to be serving in your house. My wife, she is afraid of your wife and daughter. Forgive me Senor Olmos for saying these things, but today I am convinced, my wife is right.

Miguel, what makes you say such things? What makes you think that I will not throw you out of my office right now for saying these things about my family?

Because it is when you are not around them that you listen. The curse they have on you is not strong enough unless you are in their presence. She cannot control you unless you are near her. She knows someone else is trying to help you break away from her spell. But the help you receive is coming long distance. This is what my wife tells me, she knows about these things.

How do you know this, how do you know of such things Miguel? Tell me what you mean and where do you get your information. It sounds like nonsense that you speak. No wonder my wife fired you.

Senor Olmos, listen to me before it is too late, she is getting near again and you will soon not pay attention to me. Today the two visitors that came to your home to see you, they were your sons, Eduardo Jr. and Roberto. They gave me an envelope with information of how to contact them. I know this because I look inside and see. I put the envelope on the table outside your office with intention to give it to you later when she was not around. But your daughter, I am sure she saw the envelope and took it so you cannot know your sons are trying to make contact. When I ask her why she take it, she go to your wife and she fire me. She did not even let me gather my personal things.

Miguel, why did you not tell me the two visitors were my sons? You know I would have jumped at the opportunity to see them.

Like my wife say, you have the spell on you. I did say this Senor Olmos, but you only hear the words your wife wishes for you to hear. This is why I was hoping to give you the envelope later, so you could see for yourself. My wife, she says even some of the staff that work for you have some kind of a spell or curse on them. And with that curse they do not tell you things you should know.

Like what other things Miguel? Tell me now of those things.

Your sons, they did come to see you three years ago. When they turn eighteen, they come to your home, but the Senora, she turn them away. She tell them you were out of the country and could not be reached. She tell them she would let you know they have come and if you wished to speak to them you would call them. She tell them you no longer wished to be a part of the past and were very happy with your new family and daughter.

I cannot believe this, Eduardo says out loud. This is all too incredible.

Senor Olmos, my wife she knows of a woman, Alejandrina Beltran; my wife knows her as an old friend of your ex-wife Yolanda. She has been giving me things to put around you to help protect you from being fully cursed. This is why my wife will not go back into your house Senor Olmos. She did not want to be touched by the evil in your home. Here, take this and keep it with you at all times, it will make you see the truth when you are not around them. We come from Alejandrina’s shop now, she send this to you to remember. She says it is time for you to go to the mountain.

Eduardo goes to stand by the window, looking out and realizes the young man he saw earlier and just now was one of his sons, or both.

I cannot believe what I am hearing Miguel, what you’re telling me. I want to go home and kill my wife and daughter.

NO, NO, Senor Olmos that you cannot do. Please, go and see the healer woman, she can help you. My wife and I we leave, we go to California, she has family there in San Diego, and so we go now. But before we left we had to let you know the truth.

Miguel, you do not have to leave.

Si Senor Olmos, it is not safe now for us in your home. The Senora will know that someone tell you something. She will know that someone give you protection when you no longer act in the manner she wishes. She will know. We go now; bye Senor Olmos, my wife is waiting down in the car.

Wait one minute, Eduardo tells him. Walking to his desk he writes a check for him. Please accept this. It is pay for all your services, consider it severance pay, I insist.

Gracias Senor Olmos, this is more than generous, my Vieja and I appreciate this. And please be sure to go and see the healer woman, now do not wait. Adios.

One more thing! Eduardo shouts to Miguel before he can walk away. Do you know what they put in the envelope they wanted me to have?

Forgive me Patron. Yes I do know what was in the envelope. I watched one of the boys write two letters on a piece of paper. They said you would know what it meant. The two letters were P.A.

Thank you Miguel.

CHAPTER 3

Advice from the Healer

Woman - Escape to Safety

E DUARDO WENT TO sit. He is in awe. What was revealed to him is like a scene out of a horror movie. Witchcraft? My wife Consuelo? He says to himself in a whisper.

Eduardo tried calling the airport to see if he could find his sons before they boarded their plane. He had just missed them; their plane was now in flight back to Juarez.

Eduardo did not yet want to go and confront Consuelo, instead went in search of Yolanda’s old friend, Alejandrina Beltran, the healer woman. It didn’t take long to find her shop, he felt as if he were being led to it. He stood outside of the small shop. It had not changed in the last sixteen years; it was still a small little hole in the wall. If you did not know it was there, you’d walk right pass it.

While standing outside deep in thought, the front door opens causing a tiny ringing sound from the small bell hanging over the door. Senor Olmos, I have been expecting you. Please come in, we have much to talk about.

Before she would allow him to enter into her shop she asked permission to smudge him with sage. Forgive me Senor Olmos, you have a bad energy around you that I will not allow into my shop.

Eduardo nodded giving his consent to be smudged. While she was doing this, he recalled walking around Yolanda’s home with his two sons when they were very young, smudging the home to keep it safe from human negativity and bad spirits. He remembered how peaceful it was after smudging.

Eduardo began to recall many things. For whatever reasons, he had not thought of the past in such a long time, not since he met and married Consuelo. He was recalling how good it felt sitting in front of the fireplace watching his sons playing chess, while he read a book. He remembered how smart his boys were even at the age of five years. Eduardo’s memories began pouring into him, like pouring water into an empty glass; he was feeling overwhelmed.

You are remembering, Si Senor Olmos? You may now feel free to remember your sons. It is okay as long as you are here, she tells him. Come in and sit here, hold this. She says, putting a turtle amulet in his palm. Remember the children, the Medicine Man, the sweat lodge; remember all that once was; the beautiful people that were once around you, your own family, your uncles, cousins and friends.

Eduardo did not know what to do or say. He felt as if he were in a kaleidoscope, feeling dizzy and drained, weak. His thoughts of wonderment, of what has been going on all those years; all those long years he had alienated everyone away from him. It was like a bad dream. He could see it now.

He looked up at the healer woman and asked, My sons are they well? Their mother how is she doing, can you tell me?

Your sons are fine, as you should expect. Mija, Yolanda, well that is something you would need to go and see for yourself. This is not for me to say. Your sons were here to bring you a message when they were turned away. It is time for you to go to the mountain, Senor Olmos. Do this before it is too late.

Too late for what? he asked in despair. Please, tell me if you know what it is I should know?

You will need to make the journey yourself for those answers. If you return to your home, Senor Olmos, I must warn you, she will stop you again, this wife of yours, she will stop you.

Can you help me?

Your faith is weak; first you need to make the journey to the mountain. Leave now, then when you return you may rid yourself of the burden that has overpowered you. Go to the mountain and gain your strength and knowledge back. Let your sons help you with this. They are able to help you now because they are very strong in the way of their people.

And Yolanda, will she be there, will she talk to me, will she see me?

I can tell you no more Senor, the rest is up to you. Make your decisions wisely or you will not be welcomed in her homeland.

Eduardo stands to leave. Almost out the door she hands him something to keep on him. This will get you there safely, but go now, do not return to your home. Your wife cannot find you on the mountain. There are too many healing powers that protect the mountains, those are sacred mountains. You will be safe there, do not let her know where you go, do not let her find you until you are strong again.

Thank you Alejandrina.

One more thing I will tell you that will shock you Senor Olmos. The daughter you call your own is not your daughter, she is not your flesh and blood. She knows it and your wife knows it. Your wife, she was a friend of the one they called Carmela. Meeting your present wife was no accident in your life; it was all planned through her witchcraft. Yolanda knew this all along, it is another reason why she left and took your sons away to protect them.

Why would she not have told me all this herself?

Would you have believed her? Senor Olmos, to this day, you do not know Yolanda, you do not know who or what she is. She is a true healer, not one of those that studies to become one, Yolanda was born with the gift. Your children and Victor’s sons were all born with it. They will all keep you safe, trust them. But remember, they will go to the ends of the earth to protect their mothers from harm, this includes keeping you away from her if need be.

Walking out of Alejandrina’s shop, Eduardo stands leaning against the light pole just outside. I need to be careful about just leaving without a word; they would surely go searching for me. Should I call my uncles and tell them what I know. What if Consuelo has some kind of spell on my family also? I need to think this through.

Without going to his office Eduardo goes directly to the bank and pulls out sufficient funding to pay for his flight, buy clothing and for this journey he’s about to take. Transferring millions of dollars into another account he could access without being tracked, he did not want to use credit cards for fear Consuelo would try to trail him. He phoned his office in Italy asking his assistant to purchase a pearl and diamond necklace for Consuelo using one of his credit cards from the safe there and get it sent to her overnight. He led his assistant there to believe he was nearby in Italy. He then made several other phone calls and finally one to his assistant locally to tell her he’s got an emergency and leaving for Italy. He had a new car delivered to his home for Cruzita’s party, to be delivered later that afternoon. This he did to keep them occupied with the frivolous gift. He realized they didn’t care if he was there or not as long as they got what they wanted. Once all the business was taken care of, he was ready to leave.

Eduardo had many things on his mind during his flight to the states. Would Yolanda see him? Was she still married to Ryan? Where were his sons, were they in Pinos Altos or on the rez? What message did they have for him?

I’m not even sure they are in New Mexico, Eduardo said to himself. They might still be somewhere on the reservation, but which one? Eduardo was so exhausted he fell asleep.

CHAPTER 4

Drive to Pinos Altos

S IR WAKE UP. Sir it’s time for you to exit the plane.

Eduardo wakes up stunned that he slept through the entire flight. Apologizing to the flight attendant, he quickly gathers his carry-on bags to catch the next flight. As a deterrent, he flew into New York and was catching a flight from there to Arizona, paying cash for his flights each time, using a fake I.D. and passport.

Landing in Phoenix, he then took a cab to the nearest car dealer and paid cash for a new Jeep Wrangler, putting it in both his son’s names. It’s a college graduation gift, he explained to the Jeep dealer.

He drove to Albuquerque, New Mexico by way of Interstate 40 and from there he made his journey to where he needed to be. Once on the road leaving Albuquerque, he determined it would take him about three or four hours’ drive if he were speeding. Deciding against it to avoid getting pulled over and questioned, he took his time. It was now 9:45 p.m., he knew by the time he reached Pinos Altos it would be late. He wasn’t even sure he could remember how to get there once in the Gila mountains.

Driving south bound down Interstate 25, Eduardo began to dose off, almost going off the road. I should have thought to get coffee at the last stop, he says talking to himself.

Pulling over to the side of the road just after passing the town of Truth or Consequences, Eduardo gets out for air. Walking around the mesa to stretch and wake up, he sees someone approaching from the darkness. It was an old man, barely seemed able to walk, but there he was coming directly to him. Looked to be Native American Indian, maybe in his eighty’s or even ninety’s. He was wearing a yellow rolled up bandana around his head, when the man came closer he noticed the bandana had black happy faces all round it.

Is everything alright? the smiling toothless old man asked Eduardo.

Yes, I just pulled over to get some air.

It’s a warm night, clear sky; we should be able to see many of the star people, the ones that like to travel. This will be a good thing. the old man tells Eduardo.

Eduardo looked up to the sky in time to see three shooting stars, two came down simultaneously and a third one by itself right behind. He remembered something Yolanda said to him in his last dream, See the three stars that travel, these are your stars.

Three stars that travel, she meant shooting stars, he whispered, smiling to himself.

Eduardo stays silent, not sure what to make of this old man that seemed to come out of nowhere from the dark mesa. The old Indian went to sit on a big rock inviting Eduardo to sit with him. You need some coffee mister? the old man asked, still smiling at Eduardo. I got some right here, my wife Bessie, she just made it.

No thank you, I’m good, Eduardo says.

Ignoring Eduardo the old man opens up his thermos and pours Eduardo a cup and hands it to him. Here smell that, isn’t that the best coffee you ever inhaled?

Eduardo takes the cup smells it and drinks from it. That taste reminds me of something, Eduardo tells the old man.

Yep, it’s one of the secrets our women keep in their baskets, the women of these mountains sure know how to cook, don’t they? the old man giggles, looking Eduardo straight in the eye. See that crescent moon, he says pointing to the blue-black sky, That moon is what we call the women’s moon; the crescent shape is like a basket, the basket the women keep their secrets and their pejuta, their medicines in.

They both stay silent for a few minutes