The Medicine Man, Book 1

PROLOGUE

Are we there yet? Kasey inquired as she bounced excitedly in the backseat of her parents’ 1977 Black Monte Carlo with the yellow stripe down the side. Her mother, who was sitting in the passenger seat, simply shook her head and said, No, not yet. We will be soon, though.

Kasey sighed and looked out the side window, awestruck by the solid rock wall that was to her left, and she couldn’t help the way her belly felt all funny when she looked at the steep drop to her right as her father carefully drove along the winding mountain road. Going to the mountains was a yearly treat for Kasey, as her mother loved visiting places like Maggie Valley, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge, all of which were located in the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains of the North Carolina/Tennessee states. She knew that they would inevitably end up going to Ghost Town, and she hoped that they would stay at that neat lodge again this year, the same lodge where she’d met that cute boy last year. Temporarily bored with the scenery, she sighed again and stared straight ahead, then frowned when her mother said to her father, Stop rubbernecking, John! Don’t you see this huge drop-off to our right? You’re supposed to keep your eyes on the road, not on everything else!

Kasey’s father glanced over at her mother and replied in an irritated voice, Well, I always have to drive while you get to sit there and sight-see. Why don’t you drive, if you’re so worried about it?

Kasey’s mother simply harrumphed in exasperation and fell quiet, much to Kasey’s relief. She hated it when her parents argued, but since she was only twelve, there wasn’t much she could do about it. She sighed and opened up the magazine she’d brought, and as she flipped through the pages without really seeing them, she couldn’t help thinking that she wished they were at their destination already. She sighed and closed the magazine as her father navigated the steep, winding mountain road, half-heartedly listening to the country music playing on the radio.

Much to Kasey’s delight, her parents had booked a room at the same lodge they’d visited the year before, and after settling in, she asked if she could go swimming in the pool. Her parents relented and accompanied her to the pool, and as Kasey stood in the shallow end, she sighed in a mixture of awe and wonder as she glanced around at the tall, lush green mountains that surrounded the property. She’d always loved coming to the mountains, and she wondered what her parents had planned for their vacation this year as she ducked under the water long enough to get her hair wet. She grumbled a bit when her parents informed her it was time to get out of the pool and get ready for dinner, and an hour later she sat in the restaurant picking at her food as her parents once again engaged in a rather heated argument about the price of what her mother had ordered for dinner. She knew better than to say anything, so instead she continued to pick at her food as her parents squabbled. She was relieved when they finally left the restaurant, and after returning to the lodge, Kasey was more than ready to call it a day as she put her pajamas on and wearily climbed into bed. She never slept as good in a hotel bed as she did in her own bed back home, but tonight was definitely the exception as she fell asleep within moments of closing her eyes.

Kasey smiled and waved at her friend, a young, handsome Indian boy who always had a smile and a kind word for her whenever he saw her. She always saw him whenever she dreamed of the forest, and as she walked through the forest this time, she laughed in delight when her Indian friend approached her from behind and gently picked her up before swinging her around in his strong arms. He was grinning by the time he gently set her on her feet, and as he leaned against a tree he simply said, Hi. How have you been?

Kasey shrugged and said, I went swimming earlier. Then my parents and I went out to dinner, but they started arguing. I hate it when they do that.

The boy nodded and pushed away from the tree, then gently took Kasey by the hand and said, Come with me, I want to show you something.

Kasey eagerly followed him to the edge of the forest, where a beautiful, majestic black stallion was loosely tied to a tree. Kasey watched as her friend smoothly mounted the horse, and his smile was kind as he extended his hand to her and inquired, Would you like to ride?

Kasey hesitated as she took in the sight of the huge animal, but she knew that if she didn’t do this, she would regret it forever. She slowly nodded and allowed him to help her up onto the horse, and because of her small size, there was plenty of room for her to sit in the very front of the saddle. She laughed in pure delight and leaned forward to wrap her small arms around the horse’s neck before her friend gave the horse a gentle nudge with his intricate moccasin boots, which prompted the animal to slowly move forward at an easy, gentle pace. Kasey was all smiles as she rode with her friend through the forest, but she frowned and squinted when the sun became almost blinding in its brightness. She turned her head from side to side in aggravation as something buzzed close by, and as she slowly blinked she realized that she’d been dreaming. Her father was leaning close to her face saying, It’s time to get up, punkin. Would you rather go to Ghost Town or Cherokee today?

Since Kasey’s delightful dream was still fresh in her mind, she smiled up at her father and said, Cherokee. We can go to Ghost Town tomorrow.

Her father nodded and said, OK. Get up so we can go get some breakfast, and then we’ll go to Cherokee. I think they’re having some kind of festival there today.

Kasey’s smile widened into a delighted grin at her father’s words, and fifteen minutes later she was dressed and ready to go. Her parents laughed at her enthusiasm, and Kasey was full of energy as she eagerly climbed into the back seat of her parents’ car. Even though she knew it had just been a dream, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she would see her kind, handsome Indian friend at the festival. The mere thought of actually seeing him in person made her stomach feel all funny, and she still wore a happy grin as her father entered the town limits of Cherokee half an hour later. Sure enough, the annual Pow Wow was being held that day, and Kasey could barely contain her excitement as her father parked the car and finally allowed her to get out of the back seat. She was excitedly shifting from foot to foot as she impatiently waited for her parents to decide what they wanted to do first, and much to her delight, they headed for the main area of the Pow Wow, a large, grassy area that was surrounded by vendor tents. Kasey managed to wiggle her way to the very front of the crowd, and as she took in all of the participants dressed in full Cherokee regalia, complete with breathtaking headdresses, she saw him. He was dressed in a colorful blue, white, and yellow outfit, complete with a stunning headdress that rose a few feet above his head and was decorated in various colors and a stunning array of feathers. Even though his face boasted paint, Kasey had no problem recognizing him as the boy who had given her a ride on his horse just a few hours ago in her dreams. As if he could sense Kasey’s intense stare, he slowly turned and scanned the crowd until he spotted her. He gave her a slow smile and waved at her, then turned his attention back to the older man he was talking to before he took his place in line and glanced at Kasey again as the announcer explained what the spectators were about to witness. Kasey watched in utter awestruck admiration as the dancers performed a traditional Cherokee dance, and as Kasey listened to the compelling drumbeat and strong tones of the flute, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the boy in her dreams. She was so caught up in the music that her mouth was open slightly as she continued to stare at the dancers. She gasped softly when she saw her dream boy smiling at her, and when he danced by so close that his outfit brushed against her, Kasey felt that funny fluttering in her belly again. Her twelve year-old mind wondered at the implication of it all as she kept an eagle eye on the dancers, especially the boy from her dreams. She felt a strange, deep disappointment and sadness when the dance ended, but as the dancers slowly walked out of the arena, she knew that she would see the boy again, most likely in her dreams.

After a full day of sightseeing which included the Cherokee Pow Wow, a visit to Mystery Mountain, and Linville Caverns, Kasey and her parents returned to Maggie Valley for dinner before calling it a night. Kasey was so tired that she was asleep soon after her head hit the pillow, and she smiled when she suddenly found herself walking through a fragrant, brightly lit forest. She walked for a while with no sign of her friend, and she swallowed hard when she realized that she was lost and by herself. She cried out in fear and surprise when she suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around her and pick her up, but she was laughing by the time her friend set her down and gently tapped the end of her nose before he said, Hi. Did you have a good time today?

Kasey smiled up at him and nodded before she said, I loved that outfit you were wearing. It was pretty.

He smiled back and stuck his hands in his pockets as they walked through the forest, and his voice was casual as he inquired, So how long are you staying?

Two more days.

He nodded and said, I can tell how much you hate to leave.

I love it here.

I know.

Kasey stared up at him for a few moments before she said, You never did tell me your name.

The boy smiled and replied, Ashwin.

That’s a nice name. What does it mean?

Strong horse.

Kasey nodded and inquired, Is that why you have that pretty black horse?

Ashwin laughed and replied, I guess you could say that.

Where’s your horse today?

I’m letting him rest. He was in the Pow Wow today.

What’s his name?

Thunder.

Kasey smiled. Cool.

Ashwin laughed and shook his head, then said, Would you like to ride again tomorrow?

Kasey eagerly nodded and said, That would be great!

Ashwin simply smiled and said, I’ll be sure to bring him, then. He cocked his head and listened to something in the distance, then added, I think your parents are calling for you.

Kasey sighed as a disappointed look settled over her face, which prompted Ashwin to drop to one knee so that he was at eye level with her. He gently tapped the end of her nose before he said, I want you to know something—no matter how far apart we are, I will always be here. There’s never any reason for you to be afraid, because I’m always close by. OK?

Kasey nodded, even though she had a puzzled look on her face as she tried to figure out just what he’d meant by his statement. As if he could read her mind, he gently tapped her forehead and explained, I meant that I’m always in here. As well as here. He gently tapped the center of her chest and smiled, then slowly got to his feet and led her back the way they’d came. As they neared the edge of the forest, Kasey could clearly hear her father saying her name, but before she left she tugged on Ashwin’s sleeve and stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. He simply smiled and ruffled her hair, then watched her walk out of the forest until he couldn’t see her anymore.

As usual, Kasey’s parents took her to Ghost Town the next day, and although she enjoyed visiting the mile-high amusement park, she hated riding the chair lift all the way up the side of the mountain. Her father loved it, though, and she always rode with him while her mother rode alone. On this particular day, though, the attendant brought the safety bar down hard on her leg, and the chair lift had already began its slow climb up the mountain, preventing the attendant from correcting his grave error. Kasey cried out in a mixture of pain and fear as the bar dug into the tender flesh of her bare leg, and as her father tried to lift the bar off her leg she felt two strong, gentle hands on her shoulders. She whipped her head around in an effort to see what could possibly be making her feel like there were two hands on her shoulders, but all she saw was her mother looking bored in the chair lift directly behind her. Her father finally got the bar secured in the correct place, and almost immediately, the feeling of two hands on her shoulders slowly disappeared. She shrugged and leaned back against the cold steel of the chair lift as it finally neared the top of the mountain, and although her leg was a bit sore, she soon forgot about her ordeal as they reached the top. She got off the chair lift and tugged on her father’s hand, excited at the prospect of all the fun she was going to have. There were the rides and the huge fake horse that looked surprisingly real, as well as the shootout that happened at noon and never failed to amuse her father. He thought the appearance of the undertaker was particularly amusing as he dragged the supposed lifeless bodies of the two cowboys away, and after that Kasey and her parents wearily walked through the dusty amusement park in search of something to eat. As they sat at a round wooden table beneath a huge umbrella, Kasey glanced down at her leg and grimaced at the large bruise that had quickly formed from the chair lift bar. She gingerly poked the bruise and winced, then shrugged and took a sip of her Coke before she finished her hot dog and inquired, What are we going to do now, daddy?

Kasey’s father smiled at her and said, I don’t know. What do you want to do, punkin?

Kasey shrugged and said, Go back to the lodge and go swimming. Or we could go to Cherokee again.

Her father nodded and said, You really liked that show yesterday, didn’t you?

Kasey smiled as she nodded enthusiastically. Yeah! All of those costumes were so pretty!

Kasey’s mother spoke up then and said, Your father has Cherokee in him. That’s why you have those brown eyes. And those outfits weren't costumes. They're called regalia.

Kasey simply nodded and took another sip of her Coke as she mulled over her mother’s words. It was an interesting bit of info that she hadn’t known before, but it explained why she’d been so fascinated with everything at the Pow Wow the day before. She remembered how all of the Indian dancers had looked the day before, with dark hair and dark eyes, and she frowned as she wondered how she could be considered even part Cherokee, because her hair was long, fine, and blonde. She suddenly heard laughter ringing in her ears, and she frowned as she turned around to see who was laughing. Her frown deepened when all she saw was people eating lunch, and she briefly wondered if she was losing it as she took another sip of her Coke and began chewing on the straw. She suddenly saw Ashwin’s handsome, amused face in her mind, and his voice was crystal clear as he said, Your blonde hair isn’t the issue. You’re Cherokee, just like me. Welcome to the circle.

She began feverishly chewing on her straw as she thought, What circle?

Ashwin laughed again and replied, You’re a part of us. I want to be the first to welcome you.

Kasey smiled to herself and thought, Thank you.

Ashwin smiled that boyish smile that never failed to give her that funny feeling in her belly before he said, You’re quite welcome. Are we still on for our ride tonight?

Of course.

How’s your leg?

Kasey stopped chewing on her straw as her mouth dropped open in surprise, and Ashwin laughed again before he said, Those were my hands you felt on your shoulders on the chair lift. I didn’t want you to fall.

Tears welled in her eyes at his kindness, not to mention the mind-blowing fact that somehow he’d known she was in trouble and had managed to project himself all the way to where she was in order to help her, and she began chewing on her straw again as she thought, Thank you.

I’ll take care of that leg for you tonight. I know it’s got to be sore.

It is.

I think your parents are ready to go. I’ll see you later. Stay sweet.

Kasey looked up at her parents and almost laughed when she saw that they were looking at her in an odd way, but she simply continued to chew on her straw as her mother inquired, Are you ready to go?

Kasey nodded and slowly got to her feet, then followed her parents back to the chair lift and rode down the mountain with her father in silence.

For some reason Kasey had trouble falling asleep that night, but when she finally did, she immediately found herself in the now-familiar forest that was always sunny and smelled deliciously of cedar and pine. She smiled as she looked around for Ashwin, and moments later he appeared on Thunder. The horse stopped directly in front of her and whinnied before he lowered his head, which was an open invitation for her to gently stroke his long, muscular, shiny black neck. Ashwin smoothly dismounted and tied Thunder to a tree, then walked over to Kasey and said, Hi. What took you so long?

Kasey shrugged and replied, It took me a while to fall asleep.

Ashwin simply nodded and pointed to a large, smooth rock that was situated on a lush green bed of moss before he said, Sit down so I can have a look at your leg.

Kasey nodded and climbed up onto the rock, which had been deliciously warmed by the sun, and as she put her hands behind her and braced them on the rock she curiously inquired, How old are you, Ashwin?

Ashwin didn’t look up from his task of gently examining the painful-looking bruise that had developed on her leg before he replied, Sixteen, why?

Kasey shrugged. Just wondering.

There has to be a reason why you asked.

I’m only twelve, you know.

Ashwin laughed and said, I know. You’re a bit mature for your age, but your age doesn’t really matter to me. I’d still be your friend if you were younger or older.

Kasey looked positively stunned as she replied, Really?

Ashwin smiled and replied, Yes, really as he tended to her leg, and when he was finished he straightened and said, There. Your leg should feel much better now.

Kasey cautiously slid off the rock and gingerly touched her leg, then glanced up at him with a surprised expression on her face as she inquired, How’d you do that?

Ashwin gave her a friendly wink before he replied, It’s a secret. Come on, I think Thunder is waiting for us. He gently took her by the hand and led her over to his horse, then helped her into the saddle before he easily mounted the horse and treated Kasey to a slow, leisurely tour of the forest. He stopped at a clear, shallow stream to let Thunder get a much-needed drink, and as they both sat in the saddle waiting for Thunder to quench his thirst, Kasey fingered the intricate design on the saddle horn as she softly inquired, How is it possible that we can meet and communicate like this?

Ashwin sighed and replied, I honestly don’t know, but I’m sure we’ll have the answer to that question one of these days.

I mean, why me, and why you?

Ashwin shrugged and said, I don’t know the answer to that one either, sweetheart.

Kasey sighed when she heard the first faint echo of her father’s voice, and she knew that she had to go back very soon. The thought made her sad, but Ashwin leaned forward and gently whispered, It’s alright. Just because you have to go doesn’t mean that I’m going to disappear. Remember what I told you earlier. I’m always close by.

Kasey nodded and loosely held onto the saddle horn as Ashwin guided Thunder to the edge of the forest, and after he dismounted he carefully helped Kasey off the horse and said, Have fun today. I’ll see you soon.

Kasey smiled and kissed him on the cheek again, and moments later she slowly opened her eyes and blinked up at her father as he said, Time to get up, punkin. We have to go home early.

Kasey frowned as she slowly sat up in bed. Why?

Kasey’s mother sighed and said, Your grandfather had a heart attack this morning and died.

Kasey gasped at the unexpected news, and tears welled in her eyes as her mother’s words sank in. She suddenly