The Book of Bones- A Bones Bonebrake Adventure: Bones Bonebrake Adventures, #2

Prologue

1871- The Badlands of New Mexico

Beans again? Carl tilted the brim of his hat down over his eyes and laid back on his bedroll. Ain’t we got anything else at all? They were still days away from Santa Fe, days of nothing but dirt, rocks, cactus, and precious little water or game between them and their destination, and all they had left to eat were dried beans. Nearby, their horses cropped on a pitiful patch of weeds, and Carl found himself wondering what horseflesh tasted like.

Not just beans. We got that jackrabbit you shot. Oh, wait. You missed, didn’t you? Little Mike let out a cackle and bared his rotten teeth. Just joshing you. I reckon that critter was a long way away. Else you’d have hit it.

It wasn’t my fault, Carl complained. I done told you what happened.

You told me, but it still don’t make no sense. You was about to shoot the rabbit, and a big-headed injun stuck his head up over a rock and scared you.

I weren’t scared, Carl lied. It just surprised me is all. And it weren’t no injun.

A white man, then? Little Mike kept his eye on the pot of beans as it boiled, stirring occasionally with his knife.

It was gray. And it had a big head and big eyes. He turned over on his side and looked out over the open range. He knew how foolish his words sounded, but it was the God’s honest truth.

Little Mike’s voice suddenly grew serious. Truth told, I’ve seen the same thing before.

Carl sat bolt upright. You never told me that.

Little Mike nodded. Last summer. I had about a dozen whiskeys, and when I went out to take a leak I seen somebody who looked just like that. Course, everybody looked that way for a while. He let out another cackle.

Carl felt his face go crimson. You can go to hell. He fixed his hat, tugged on his boots, and stood.

Aw, don’t be like that. Sit yourself down. The beans is almost ready.

I’m going hunting.

What do you think you’re gonna find out there, ceptin coyotes?

I don’t know, but I’m gonna look. Anything’s better than listening to you. He strapped on his gun belt, turned, and stalked off into the darkness.

In the distance, a tall, rock formation stood dark on the horizon, and he headed toward it. Little Mike was right; he didn’t expect to encounter any game. He just needed to clear his head.

Admitting what he’d seen had been stupid. It wasn’t a lie, but nobody was going to believe him. Hell, if Little Mike opened his mouth once they got to Santa Fe, Carl would be a laughingstock. And when had Little Mike ever failed to open his mouth?

Somewhere in the distance, a coyote yipped. Several of its brothers answered its call, and a chorus of unearthly howls filled the air. Carl wasn’t bothered. Coyotes weren’t much of a threat. They tended to shy away from humans. Still, he touched his Colt, seeking comfort there.

I wonder if you can eat coyote?

The thought dissolved as soon as it had come. Something moved in his peripheral vision. Something much bigger than a rabbit.

Carl whirled and drew his pistol. His eyes searched the horizon. Cactus, yucca, and a single juniper. As he stared, something moved behind the large bush. He couldn’t see much, but he could tell it moved on two feet.

Who’s there? He couldn’t keep the tremor from his voice. Thoughts of the strange thing he’d seen earlier flooded his mind. Mikey, that you? You best come out afore you get yourself shot.

Nothing. Whatever hid behind the juniper remained still.

Carl dared a step in its direction, then another. Close by now, the rock formation seemed foreboding, sinister even.

Come on out. I won’t hurt you. Carl hoped he sounded more confident than he felt. Beneath the base of the juniper, he caught a glimpse of a bare foot—a foot with four toes.  What in creation was it? Cold sweat slicked his lanky frame, and the night air seemed impossibly cold. The barrel of his Colt wavered. 

I won’t tell you again. Come on out.

The thing didn’t move. Instead, movement came from all around. He whirled, his finger twitching spasmodically on the trigger. The Colt boomed and jerked in his hand. He kept turning and firing, sending a bullet in the direction of every compass point, with a couple extras thrown in.

When it was empty, he stood in a thin, acrid cloud of his own making, and waited.

Finally, the thing stepped out from behind the juniper. Carl caught a glimpse of large, dark eyes, and he cried out in fear and alarm.

His mind told him to run, but his feet seemed locked in place. A dizzying feeling of disbelief swept over him, and his body went numb. Only the warm trickle down his leg kept him tethered to reality.

What are you? he croaked.

The last thing he saw was a flash of green light.

Chapter 1

"You’ve got to be kidding me. Uriah Bones" Bonebrake stared at the dashboard of his Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, watching as the arrow on the speedometer fell while the RPMs red-lined as he stepped down on the gas pedal. Not good. A green road sign loomed up ahead, and he coasted the truck to a stop in front of it.

QUEMADURA, NEW MEXICO 2 MILES

Almost made it. He consulted his phone and found to his absolute lack of surprise that he had no signal. He’d have to hoof it into town and hope they had a repair place. He could handle minor repairs but, unless he missed his guess, he was looking at something major. He grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, slung his leather jacket over his shoulder, locked the truck, and headed down the highway.

A stiff breeze took the edge off the hot summer day, but almost immediately, sweat began dripping down his face, only to evaporate in the dry desert air. He dribbled some water on the back of his neck and tried to focus on the landscape.

The golden sun hung high overhead in a cornflower blue sky, shining down on a rolling landscape of juniper, cactus, yucca, and a whole lot of dirt and rock. In the distance, two russet-colored buttes stood out in sharp contrast to the dull brown earth. Because he had nothing else to do, he focused on the hill on the left and tried to estimate its height, then calculated how long it would take him to free-climb the steepest side.

He’d just about completed his estimate when he heard the sound of a vehicle coming up behind him, and turned to see a battered red Honda Accord coming his way. He didn’t bother putting out his thumb. Few strangers were comfortable giving a ride to a long-haired, six foot five Native American.

The Accord slowed to a stop alongside him and the driver called out to him. That your truck back there?

Bones nodded as he looked the girl up and down. She was Latina with rich caramel skin, full lips, and glossy black hair that hung halfway down her back. She wore a pink midriff tank top, tight-fitting blue jeans, and big sunglasses.

Yep. That’s me.

Out of gas? In this part of the country you’ve got to fill up every chance you get. Service stations are few and far between.

I wish. It’s something mechanical for sure.

Sorry to hear that. Hop in and I’ll give you a ride.

Bones heard the passenger door unlock, and he slipped inside. The air conditioning was running at full blast but produced little in the way of cool air. It was in dire need of juicing up, but from the looks of the girl’s battered vehicle, he doubted she had the money for such a luxury.

I’m Marisol. Mari for short. She held out her hand to shake, and he found her grip surprisingly strong.

Bones. And don’t bother asking my birth name, because I won’t tell you.

Fair enough. She glanced in the rear-view mirror and guided the Honda back onto the empty highway. We don’t see many natives off the reservation out here, but you’re clearly not from around here. I saw your Florida license plate. Seminole?

Cherokee. Originally from North Carolina, but I’ve lived in the Keys since I left the Navy.

Mari sighed. I’ve never seen the ocean. My parents were supposed to take me to Disney once when I was a kid, but my dad got drunk and wrecked our car. She shrugged as if to say, ‘What are you gonna do?’

Bones managed a half-smile. Saw plenty of that growing up. The stereotype about Indians and fire water isn’t entirely undeserved.

How about you? Do you drink?

I wouldn’t say no to a cold one, but it’s a little early in the day for a drink. How about tonight? He glanced at the ring finger of her left hand, saw it empty, and flashed his most roguish grin in her direction.

Panic flashed across Mari’s face. Oh, I didn’t mean that. I work at a bar and grill in town. The only one of either, in fact. She turned and stared into the side-view mirror. I just thought you might like to drop in after you get your truck taken care of.

As she turned her head, Bones caught a glimpse of a bruise over her right eye. So the big sunglasses weren’t solely for the purpose of keeping down the glare.

It’s cool, he said. I’ve got an idea. How about, after your shift is over, I buy you a drink. Maybe whoever gave you that shiner will be stupid enough to show up and say something about it.

Mari jerked her head around, and the car swerved into the emergency lane. She overcorrected in the other direction, and Bones snatched the wheel with one hand and guided them back on course.

I’m so sorry, she said. I’m just really out of it today. I got this, she gestured at her eye, rock climbing. Had a bit of a fall.

So you don’t have a boyfriend?

Yeah, I do.

Is he the one who took you rock climbing?

Mari grimaced, her jaw working for a few seconds. The repair shop is right up there.

She nodded at a metal building with a large open bay on the front. A sun-bleached mural of hot air balloons floating across a desert landscape adorned the near side.

Balloon Fiesta, Mari said. They do it in Albuquerque every year. You should check it out.

Sounds like something white people would do. Bones said, eliciting a giggle from Mari. I might check it out if the beer is cold and the women are hot.

So you like old, white women? Mari teased, clearly relieved that the subject had moved away from her bruised eye.

I just like women.

Mari pulled into the parking lot of Miguel’s Automotive and Pawn. Rather, she drove off the road and onto the flat patch of dirt in front of the building, brought the car to a stop, but left the engine running. Here’s where I leave you.