She's Gone: A Novel by Joye Emmens Page A

with the other women? Was he off with another woman? He was the handsomest man at the ranch, and he captivated everyone. No, but he loved her and would be faithful. She wouldn’t waste energy on jealousy. Who could blame him for not staying in this hot room in the middle of the day with her? She longed to sit on the porch and watch the comings and goings of the ranch, but she was too weak to move. Everything had a dreamlike feeling. Sleep overtook her again.
    One evening, during the second week of her illness, she woke to find Will, Mark, Jasmine, Grace, and Crazy Bob standing around her bed gazing down at her.
    “How are you, Little Wing?”
    Was she dreaming? Will’s voice and his touch felt real on her cheek. “I’m a little weak.”
    “Everyone’s concerned about you,” Grace said.
    “After dinner tonight we had a family meeting,” Mark said. “We think someone should take you to the hospital in Shasta.”
    Jolie looked at Will. What did he think? What about the authorities? They were certainly looking for them. Her parents had seen them together on the news, protesting, and her friend Zoe would have told them about Will. By now they would have pieced together that she was with him.
    “Do you want to go to the hospital?” Jasmine asked, stroking her arm.
    Jolie probed Jasmine’s eyes. She trusted Jasmine’s knowledge of natural medicine. She’d seen her cure others. She tried to clear the fog in her mind. It would be a disruption for someone to drive her out in the Power Wagon and stay with her at the hospital. Since they’d arrived at the ranch, no one had driven out. There also could be a problem, a missing person photo of her and a wanted photo of Will. Neither of them had any idea what awaited them out there but she couldn’t voice those concerns to the ranch family. They were living there on a false pretense. She continued to probe Jasmine’s eyes while her mind swirled. “What do you think?”
    Will took Jolie’s hand. “No, it’s up to you, Little Wing.”
    She never wanted to burden anyone. “Give me a couple days,” Jolie whispered.
    Jasmine nodded. Jolie closed her eyes and heard them leave the room. Hushed voices murmured outside her door.
    “We can’t lose anyone here. Everyone keep a close eye on her,” Mark said. “I’ll drive her out myself if I have to.”
    “She has a strong spirit. She’ll pull through,” Jasmine said.
    Jolie felt like dying and was too weak to care. What if she died, there at the end of the road, at the ranch? Would anyone contact her parents? If no one did they would never know what had happened to her. Guilt washed over her. “Please forgive me,” she whispered in the dark.
    Will came back with broth and helped her sit up to drink. He stayed with her and furiously scribbled in his notebook as she floated in and out of sleep.
    Later that night, the door creaked open. Mark and Jasmine slipped in with tea. They sat on either side of her bed. Jolie was awake but listless. Will helped her drink and held the cup between sips.
    Mark handed Jolie a small leather pouch. “This is for you.”
    “What is it?” She struggled to open the pouch. Inside was a green, milky stone, the size of a nickel. She held it in her palm. It shone in the kerosene lamp light.
    “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
    “It’s a moonstone for our Moonchild. It’s associated with moon goddesses,” Mark said.
    “Its energy can ease illness and balance upsets,” Jasmine said. “It protects travelers from danger.”
    “Use it to draw in your desires. Moonstones can be used to extend the power of the moon into daylight hours,” Mark said.
    Jolie smiled at them for the first time in two weeks. She wrapped her hand around the smooth green stone.
    “Thank you.” Her eyes closed as she clutched the talisman and drifted off to sleep.

6
    Winter in Two Moons

    Three days later, Will held Jolie’s arm as she wobbled downstairs. Will went to tell everyone the good news. Grace made