Read Online Coyote Gorgeous by Vijaya Schartz - Free Book Online

floor.
    Sacrificial birds. How many crimes
were committed in the name of religion each day on this planet? The
wildlife scientist in Madison balked at such barbarism. She loved
animals, and her mission was to protect wildlife, not watch them
being pillaged, driven to extinction.
    " What are you
doing here? " The familiar
baritone enveloped her from behind.
    Startled, Madison lowered
her binoculars and spun. Her heart leapt at the sight of Kal. He
had appeared out of nowhere, without a sound, like a cat in the
night. Yet, she was happy to see him. She wondered at his agility
for climbing her cliff so fast. " How did you know I was here? "
    Kal laughed and shook his
head. " If I told you, you
wouldn’t believe it. " He
sobered. " But no white man
should witness our secret ceremonies. "
    " I’m a woman,
not a man. And this is not the Reservation but government
land. " Madison wished she
could stop grinning like an idiot.
    " Good
point. " He looked suddenly
grave, as if scolding a child. " Why are you spying on the tribe? "
    " Just
following orders. " Madison
kept her tone light but resented his accusation. She had nothing to
feel guilty about. " Making
sure White Eagle doesn’t abuse his privileges. These birds are
protected here. "
    " Enforcing
the white man’s law. " Kal’s
gaze fell on her sidearm, and his eyes hooded in
disapproval. " With
guns. "
    He’d mentioned disliking
guns before. " Why don’t you
like law enforcement? Bad experience? "
    " What Indian
hasn’t felt the brunt of the white man’s law? " His eyes sparked suddenly, and he smiled, staring
at her in a way that a woman couldn’t help but notice. " But you are
different. "
    " How
so? " Was it a compliment or
an insult? Madison’s brother thought she wasn’t good enough to be a
real cop.
    " Well, you
are the wildest and most beautiful officer I ever
met. " He dropped and sat
cross-legged on a patch of grass, picked a long stem weed and
played with it.
    Smiling at his obvious
flirtation, Madison sat next to him, facing the abyss. Why was he
running hot and cold all the time? He confused her and she never
knew what to expect. Better stay on track, focus on the job. " What’s going to happen to the
eaglets? "
    He sighed, as if answering
constituted a burden. " At
first, the birds will be treated like children, given toys, well
fed, entertained. They will stand watch, tethered to the roof of
the pueblo, until the harvest ritual in
July. "
    " Then
what? " Madison enjoyed the
music of his voice.
    Kal crushed the plant
between his palms. " They will
be smothered in maize. A necessary sacrifice. They won’t suffer at
all. "
    " But why? It
seems so cruel. "
    He blew the wilted plant
off the canyon’s edge. A rising current picked it up and the grass
rose on the breeze. " So, the
innocent eaglets can join the Great Spirit as messengers of the
tribe, and testify that the Hopi live in harmony with nature, and
still follow the ancient laws they received from the
gods. "
    " I don’t call
that harmony if you have to kill. And I’m sure the eaglets, given a
choice, wouldn’t agree either. " She couldn’t help the disapproval in her tone.
    " Maybe
not. " Kal straightened a
black-leather-clad leg. " But
now more than ever it’s important to respect the
traditions. "
    " Why? " Madison found it
rather strange that a peaceful people perpetrated such cruel
traditions.
    Kal glanced up at her and
hesitated. " There is evil
among us. The world is off balance. "
    Madison chuckled. " Tell me something I don’t
know. "
    " Can you feel
it? " He looked so
serious.
    " I watch the
news. Greedy CEOs, corrupt politicians, serial killers, terrorists,
religious fanatics, take your pick. "
    Kal shook his head. " I’m talking about right here, right
now. "
    Madison remembered the
monster she’d shot only two nights ago. " Strange things are happening, for
sure. But everyone has a different definition of
evil. "
    " Sure. " He gazed into
her eyes, so close she wanted to touch him