Playing With Fire

By

Deana

Note: I've been studying the Civil War since I was a teenager, but still don't know enough to be considered an expert. Even though I did extensive research on the Battle of Gettysburg and Civil War-era field hospitals, all my facts may not be completely accurate. If you, the reader, see a mistake and can correct it, feel free to email me. All historical figures used in this story participated in the battle in some form, but until time travel becomes a reality, we won't know their exact roles. That said, I hope you enjoy this story!!! It was a blast to write!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , July 2, 1863

Confederate General Robert E. Lee stroked his mustache and nodded as his visitor, Louisa Martin Stanley, came to end of her long narrative. “That's quite a tale, young lady,” he commented mildly.

“I know it sounds crazy, General, but every word is true,” the young woman answered. A sudden thought occurred to her. “My identification is in my saddle bags! Where are they, and my horse?”

Lee signaled to his aide and the man left, returning a few minutes later with the bags. “That animal near took my hand off!” he complained.

“I guess I should have warned you,” she apologized. “Comanche doesn't like strangers. Here, let me bandage that cut for you.”

Stuart entered the tent just in time to see the operation. “Pardon me, ma'am, but are you a doctor?” he asked, clearly scandalized by the very idea.

Louisa smiled ruefully and shook her head. “No, sir, I'm a nurse and lab technician. There you are, soldier. Keep that clean and dry for a few days. If it shows any sign of infection, uh, redness or swelling, please let me know.”

General Lee bent forward curiously. “What do you have in there, miss?” he questioned.

“First-aid supplies,” the young woman replied. “Gauze, cotton, bandages, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, scissors, tape, and some over-the-counter remedies.”

“And this one?” Stuart interrupted, gesturing towards a padlocked metal box.

“Sterile syringes, vials of medication, a dozen packets of stainless-steel needles, three kinds of suture material, and various surgical instruments,” she answered. “My family teases me about it, but I think it's important to be prepared, just in case.”

“I'm apt to agree with you,” Lee commented. “Would you excuse me for a moment, please?” He motioned to Stuart and the two generals stepped outside to confer in low voices.

The soldier Louisa had treated minutes before stared at her with wide eyes. “Do you really operate on people with that stuff, ma'am?” he asked politely.

“Not anymore,” the young woman answered. “I spend most of my time in the lab now, but I still help out in the ER if the need arises.”

The generals returned, followed by a man in a blood-stained apron. “Mrs. Stanley, this is Dr. Bishop, our head surgeon. If you're of a mind to, we'd like you to help him and his colleagues with the wounded,” said Lee.

“Of course, sir, but will he accept my help?” she questioned. “I don't wish to offend anyone.”

Bishop cleared his throat noisily. “If you are a trained nurse as the General claims, I can put aside my reservations, ma'am,” he rasped. “I must warn you, however; a field hospital is no place for a lady.”

Louisa's chin lifted and she looked him straight in the eye. “Doctor, I may be a woman, but don't let that fool you into thinking that I'm not capable of treating wounded soldiers,” she said coldly. “I've survived things that would kill a normal person, so don't you dare look down on me, because I will not tolerate it! Do I make myself clear?!?”

“ Crystal , ma'am,” grumbled the surgeon. “But I think you'll change your mind once you have your hands in a man's gut.”

“It wouldn't be the first time,” she retorted, scooping up her bag and ducking out of the tent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , Present Day

“What do you mean, you're recalling your men?!?” shouted Hank, slamming his fist down on Harold Nesbitt's desk. “Damn it, my wife is out there someplace! You have to find her! She could be hurt!”

“I'm aware of that, sir!” the Park Ranger yelled back. “The search will resume at first light, I give you my word.”

“It better, or I'll have your badge!” the Captain vowed, his eyes blazing. He stomped out of the office, grumbling under his breath, and drove back to the hotel.

Mr. Dupree was standing in the lobby, talking with a Pennsylvania State trooper. He broke off his conversation and laid a hand on Hank's arm as he passed by. “I just heard, Captain,” he whispered. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No, thanks, I need to be alone,” Stanley muttered. He pulled away and went up to his suite, dropping onto the bed with a sigh. His eyes scanned the room, finally coming to rest on the telephone. He picked it up and dialed a number from memory. Hey, pal, it's Cap. I got a problem and you're the only person who can help.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The other surgeons had reacted with varying degrees of shock and outrage when Bishop explained what was going on. “A woman? Absolutely not !” blustered one. “I won't have it!”

“Come now, Randolph ,” argued a second. “Other hospitals use nurses; why shouldn't we? I think it's splendid.”

“Then she can assist you,” Randolph snarled. “I want no part of this lunacy! Stay out of my way, young lady, or I'll speak to the General.”

“Go right ahead,” said Louisa, cocking an eyebrow. “I'm sure he would like to know what you think of his idea.”

A third surgeon, who appeared to be considerably older than his colleagues, grinned and handed her a smock. “Well, if he trusts you, ma'am, I see no reason why I shouldn't,” he chuckled. “You up to the challenge, Miss…….”

“Mrs. Stanley,” the young woman replied with a smile. “I believe so, Doctor. Just tell me what needs to be done. I'm sorry; I don't even know your name.”

“William T. Kellogg,” he answered. “We'll be handling triage. Are you familiar with the concept?”

“Certainly,” Louisa nodded. “The most serious cases get top priority. My former supervisor, Dixie McCall, served with…..uh, I mean, told me how it works,” she amended, censoring herself before revealing too much.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later that night, Louisa was washing her hands for what seemed the hundredth time when Dr. Randolph called out. “I need help over here!” he shouted frantically, his hands deep inside a soldier's belly.

The young woman glanced around the tent, but all the other doctors were occupied. Without thinking of the consequences, she dropped the towel she was holding and ran to respond. “How may I assist you, sir?” she asked.

“Grab a cloth and remove some of this blood!” answered the doctor. “I can't see where it's coming from!”

Louisa bit her lip and reached into the wound, quickly locating the bleeder and clasping it between her fingers. “Right here, Doctor,” she murmured. “Is that better?”

Randolph 's mouth fell open. “Yes, hold steady while I tie it off. Done! You can move your hand now. Pull the intestine back, please. There's the culprit!” he said, displaying to a small chunk of lead before tossing it aside. “Nice work, young lady. I'd like to speak with you after I'm finished here.”

“Yes, sir,” she whispered, wiping her hands on the front of her smock. “I'll be outside.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Present Day

Hank was sitting in the Vattimo's kitchen, an untouched plate of bacon and eggs in front of him. “I'm sorry, Margaret,” he apologized. “I'm just not hungry.”

The Lakota woman patted his hand. “Maybe not, but you have to keep your strength up,” she scolded gently.

“Better listen to her, buddy, before she gets it in her head to call your Chief,” chuckled Ted.

That got the Captain's attention. “Sure, kick me while I'm down,” he grumbled. “Wait a minute; how do you know about McConikee?”

“Louisa told us about him,” answered Margaret, her eyes twinkling. “She said the mere mention of his name has the power to send you into, and I quote, ‘a fit of raging paranoia'. Is that true?”

“Of course not,” protested Stanley , his face turning red. “He doesn't bother me at all .”

“Then why do you freak out every time he shows up at the station?” teased a voice. John Gage stood in the doorway, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Better quit lying or you'll end up a nose like Jimmy Durante!”

“Better quit harassing me or you'll end up with six months' latrine duty,” Hank mocked. “Seriously, thanks for getting here so fast, pal. Buck, it's good to see you again.”

The Native American ranch foreman nodded gravely and reached out to shake his hand. “Don't worry, my friend. We'll find Louisa and bring her home safe and sound.”

“Yeah, just like before,” agreed the paramedic. He saw Ted's questioning look and smiled. “Lou and I traveled back in time a few years ago. Buck and my grandfather had to come after us. Remind me to tell you about it some time.”

“Ask him about Sweet Lark,” grinned Buck, making Johnny blush. “All right, Niece, tell me exactly what happened and don't leave anything out. Even the smallest detail could be important.”

“The four of us, Louisa, Hank, Ted, and myself, were riding on the trail that leads from Taneytown Road to the Wheatfield and Little Round Top when Louisa stopped her horse,” Mrs. Vattimo began. “By the look on her face, I could tell something was wrong.”

“It was right where she saw that vision,” interrupted Hank. “Lou told us about it when we were camping in Limekiln Park , remember, John?”

Red Deer stroked his chin thoughtfully. “There may be a link between the vision and her disappearance,” he mused. “Gray Eagle always believed that Louisa had the ability to communicate with the spirit world.”

Margaret stared at her uncle. “I'm sure of it!” she declared firmly. “The night the Stanleys came here for dinner, Louisa said that she felt drawn to the battlefield, almost as if someone or something was calling to her. She also told me about an encounter she had with a Confederate soldier at the Shriver House a few days ago.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

July 2 nd , 1863

Louisa walked aimlessly though the camp, lost in thought. A hand fell onto her shoulder and she whirled to confront her attacker. “Oh, General Stuart!” she gasped. “You startled me!”

“My apologies, ma'am,” he smiled. “I was on my way to check on my horse when I saw you wandering about. Are you all right?”

“Just tired, sir,” the young woman answered. “It's been a long day.”

“For all of us,” replied Stuart. “Dr. Randolph was at General Lee's tent a while ago.”

“Screaming for my head on a silver platter, no doubt,” Louisa muttered sarcastically. “Pardon my language, but that man is a jackass!”

“Well, that jackass was braying through a mouthful of crow,” the cavalry officer grinned. “He was singing your praises to anyone who would listen, including Old Marse Robert himself!”

“Poor fellow! It's a wonder he didn't hurt himself with that drastic turn-around! Maybe I should examine him to be sure.” the young woman joked, her eyes twinkling wickedly. “General, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Do you have a man by the name of Amos Sutton in your regiment?”

Stuart thought for a moment before replying. “Yes, I believe so. He was part of a group that transferred in from an Alabama unit, if I remember correctly. Why do you ask?”

“Would you believe he's my great-great-grandfather?” she smiled. “My mother gave me his diary several years ago and there was a passage saying that he rode with Stuart's cavalry.”

“I'm proud to say that Sutton is a fine soldier, even if he didn't go to West Point ,” the General answered with a teasing lilt in his voice.

“Or wasn't lucky enough to be born a native Virginian?” Louisa teased back.

“Yes, even in spite of that terrible misfortune,” he laughed as they approached the makeshift corral. “Good evening, Private,” he said, addressing the sentry on duty.

“Good evening, General, ma'am,” the youth responded, offering a rather shaky salute.

The young woman studied the boy closely, aware that something was wrong. “Are you injured, soldier?” she asked.

“Yes, ma'am, but it's nothing serious,” he answered.

“Right, and I'm Jefferson Davis,” muttered Louisa. “March your tail straight to the hospital tent and have that wound checked out this instant ! What are you waiting for, an engraved invitation? Move it !” The sentry dropped his musket and fled without a backward glance.

Raucous laughter erupted from the line of Union pickets stationed a few hundred yards away. “Hey, Reb! What'd ya do? Bring your mama to help ya fight?!?” hollered a rough voice.

“Shut up, Yank, or I'll come over there and box your ears!” the young woman shouted back, drawing more laughter. She bent over to retrieve the gun and handed it to Stuart, then climbed over the fence. Comanche nickered a greeting and she patted his neck. “Don't worry, fella. I'll find a way to get us home.”

Gettysburg , Present Day

“What are you talking about?” Hank questioned. “Lou never said a word to me about that.”

“I'm not surprised,” answered Margaret. “According to what Louisa told me, the soldier, a Lieutenant Wohlford, asked her to meet him near the Devil's Den at sunset, which she did. They talked, but before he could tell her anything important, a Park Ranger showed up and Wohlford vanished.”

“She actually had a conversation with this man's spirit?” Buck asked. “You're sure?”

The Lakota woman nodded. “She said that he implied she was tied to the Devil's Den and the area around it in some way.”

“Her great, great grandfather fought at Gettysburg ,” said Johnny. “Could that be the connection this Wohlford was referring to?”

“It's a definite possibility,” the foreman replied. “I wish Gray Eagle was here. He would have been able to make some sense of this whole mess.”

The telephone rang and Ted got up to answer it. “Hello, Harold. You did? Where? We'll be there in a bout fifteen minutes!” He hung and turned to grin at the others. “Nesbitt and his team found something. This could be the break we've been waiting for.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

July 3rd, 1863 —Early Morning

Louisa crawled across the body-littered Wheatfield on her belly, praying that no one would see her. A twig snapped a few yards to her left and she froze, hardly daring to breathe. “Damn! A picket!” she thought. “Buster, if you're a Yankee, I'm in deep trouble!” After what seemed like an eternity, the unseen walker moved on and she continued her trek. She completed her mission, then headed back the way she had come.

Dr. Kellogg glanced up when the young woman entered the hospital tent a short time later. “There you are, Mrs. Stanley,” he greeted. “Want some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

“”Sounds great,” smiled Louisa, accepting a brimming cup. “It's almost dawn. Why don't you get some sleep? I can watch our patients for a while.”

“Speaking of which, that sentry you sent over last night hadn't been shot,” the doctor replied. “He cut himself on his own bayonet and was too embarrassed to admit it!”

“You're joking!” the young woman exclaimed. “Will he be all right?”

“Yes, his wound was minor,” the doctor grinned. “Unfortunately, the lecture he got from Dr. Randolph was not . I'll bet the poor lad's ears are still ringing!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Park Headquarters, Present Day

“Looks like someone notified the press,” Vattimo grumbled to Hank as they pushed their way through the crowd. “I'd bet my pension it was that old busybody, Mae Pierce. She's always spreading wild tales about the battlefield coming to life on moonlit nights.”

“For the last time, no comment !” snarled Nesbitt over the din, glaring at the reporter dogging his steps. “Now get back behind the ropes or I'll have you tossed in jail!” He spotted Ted and his companions and waved. “Glad you made it. Sorry about the feeding frenzy. I don't know how the media got wind of this.”

“I'm more interested in what you found,” answered the Captain.

The Park Ranger nodded and led them into his office. “One of my trainees found this sticking out from under a rock near the Devil's Den,” he said, handing over a small wrapped bundle. “I don't know how we missed it before.”

Hank drew back the cloth to reveal a piece of birch bark, fashioned into a crude envelope and held together with wax. “It can't be,” he whispered, holding the packet out to Johnny.

Gage unfolded the bark and gasped. “This is Lou's handwriting! I'm sure of it!”

“Looks like a message of some kind,” commented Buck, leaning over his shoulder. “What does it say?”

The paramedic swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “Dearest Hank,” he read . “I don't know if you'll ever see this, but if you do, know that I'm alive and well, at least for the moment. It seems God has a sick sense of humor, because He decided to give me another taste of the past. I didn't quite believe it at first, but meeting Robert E. Lee and Jeb Stuart in the flesh convinced me that I really had traveled back to 1863 and landed right in the middle of a war zone. Yup, you read that right, but don't worry ,hose jockey; General Lee believed my story and even put me to work in a field hospital, where I met a doctor that makes Mike Morton look positively jolly. Tomorrow is the last day of the battle, so we've got to move fast. The wagon train carrying the wounded will be going through Cashtown and Chambersburg before turning south. Once we cross the Potomac , Lord knows where I'll be sent, so you have to hurry. Love, Louisa. P. S. Tell Johnny to add leeches and blank cassettes to his shopping list. I'll explain later. L.”

“Leeches and blank cassettes?” echoed Margaret. “Whatever for?”

“It's just my wife's twisted mind putting in overtime,” chuckled the Captain. “Trust me, the less you know, the better.”

Nesbitt grinned. “I have a feeling your wife is already planning her next prank.”

“I think you're right,” laughed Johnny. “Question is, who's the intended victim?”

“My guess would be the only person we know who went swimming and ended up covered in leeches,” snickered Hank.

“Oh man,” the paramedic groaned. “Cap, can I have Halloween off?”

“And miss the fireworks? Not a chance, pal.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

July 3 rd , 1863 —Mid-Afternoon

Louisa was changing the dressing on a major's amputated leg when Dr. Randolph tapped her on the shoulder. “Listen,” he said. “You hear that?”

“Sounds like some of the cannons have stopped firing,” she replied. “What time is it?”

“About quarter past two ,” the doctor answered after consulting his watch.

Just then, Lee's aide dashed into the tent. “Mrs. Stanley, the General sent me to fetch you,” he panted. “He says it's important.”

“So is this,” the young woman muttered crossly. “I'm going to give you something for the pain, sir,” she told her patient, holding up a syringe. “It will make you sleepy, but that's completely normal. Lord knows you've earned the rest.”

The Major flinched when the needle entered his arm, then smiled dreamily as the medication took effect. “Thank you, ma'am,” he whispered. “I feel better already. God bless you.”

“And you,” Louisa murmured, gently squeezing his hand. “I'll be back as soon as I can, Doctor,” she said to Randolph , then followed the fidgeting aide outside.

“About time,” Lee grumbled when they entered his tent. “I've been waiting for nearly twenty minutes.”

The young woman sighed heavily. “I apologize for the delay, sir, but I was with a patient,” she answered. “Now, what's your problem?”

“I beg your pardon?” blustered the general. “How dare you speak to me that way!”

“Sorry, General,” she relented. “How may I be of service?”

“I need someone with a fast horse to deliver a message to General Pickett on Seminary Ridge,” he replied.

Louisa's eyes widened. “And you immediately thought of me ?!? But why?” she squeaked.

“Because I doubt even Yankees would fire upon a woman,” Lee answered with a faint smile. “Especially if she doesn't appear to be carrying a weapon.”

“If you think I'm crossing that field unarmed, you're out of your mind!” she snapped. “I may not be playing with a full deck, but I'm far from suicidal!”

The General quirked an eyebrow. “Does that mean you'll do it?” he asked. “Or are you afraid?”

“Of a bunch of half-witted blue bellies?” the young woman sniffed. “I was born and raised in the South, General. To even suggest that I fear those ignorant cretins is an insult! I'll deliver your message and maybe kick some Yankee butt in the process!” she boasted, mounting her horse.

“There goes a lady with a lot of guts,” Lee commented to his staff as they watched her canter away. “I just hope she doesn't get herself killed.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Confederate General George E. Pickett was consulting with his own staff when he heard hoof beats approaching from the northeast. He raised his field glasses and focused them on the rider, gasping when he saw that it was a woman. “Be ready, men,” he barked. “It could be a trick.”

Louisa reined in and leaned forward, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Message from General Lee for you, General Pickett, sir,” she said, handing him the pouch and offering a jaunty salute.

The Virginian mimicked the salute and quickly scanned the note. “This is what we've been waiting for, gentlemen!” he shouted. “Thank you, Miss……uh”

“Mrs. Louisa Stanley,” the young woman answered. “God be with you, General.” She turned her horse and galloped back the way she had come, whooping at the top of her lungs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gettysburg —Present Day

“Are you sure being out here is a good idea?” Johnny asked Buck as they crouched under a tree near the Devil's Den. “This place is beyond creepy.”

The foreman smiled thinly. “I agree, but my gut instinct is telling me that something big is going to happen tonight,” he answered. “Louisa's spirit is close by; I can feel it.”

“The only thing I'm feeling is the rain dripping down my neck,” the paramedic grumbled sourly, hunching his shoulders against the downpour.

“I told you to bring a raincoat,” reminded Buck. “It's not my fault you didn't listen.”

“Thanks a lot, Mom,” Gage muttered sarcastically. A low keening reached his ears and he cocked his head, straining to locate the source. “Do you hear that?” he whispered.

“Sounds like an animal howling,” Red Deer murmured, an instant before thunder rumbled overhead and a bolt of lightning struck the ground a yard to their right, charging the air with electricity. The force of the blast sent both men sprawling in the mud, unconscious.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

July 5 th , 1863

Louisa reined Comanche to a halt in a clump of trees twenty feet from the Devil's Den, watching a group of Union soldiers dig a long trench in the earth. Hot tears streamed down her face as the men shoveled dirt over the bodies and patted it smooth. When the burial detail had moved on, the young woman crept forward and knelt beside the grave, sobbing bitterly. A stanza from a Walt Whitman poem popped into her mind and she recited it out loud.

“I saw battle-corpses ,myriads of them,

And the white skeletons of young men, I saw them,

I saw the debris and debris of all the dead soldiers of the war,

But I saw they were not as was thought,

That themselves were fully at rest, they suffer'd not,

The living remain'd and suffer'd, the mother suffer'd,

And the wife and child and the musing comrade suffer'd,

And the armies that remain'd suffer'd.”**

“Rest easy, boys,” she croaked hoarsely, laying her rosary on the mound. “Your suffering is over now.” She crossed herself, then returned to her horse, dragging her weary body into the saddle with a groan as thunder rumbled in the distance. “Come on, fella; let's find a place to crash before it starts raining again. Maybe someone in town will take pity on us and let us sleep in their barn tonight.”

The stallion nickered softly and tossed his head, responding to his rider's command. Louisa couldn't resist taking one final look over her shoulder and immediately wished she hadn't. A cluster of wraith-like shapes stood around the fresh grave, barely visible in the fading light. One ghostly figure turned to face her and smiled. “You're going the wrong way, Mrs. Stanley,” it whispered, pointing to the south. “The path you seek is that way. We sure do appreciate what you did for us just now, but it's time for you to go home. Godspeed, ma'am.”

“Th-thank you, soldier,” the young woman stammered, recognizing the man as one of her former patients. “I wish I could have done more to save you.”

“I was fated to die here,” the figure shrugged. “Nothing would have changed that, but, thanks to you, I wasn't in pain at the end. Good bye, Mrs. Stanley, and good luck.”

“Good bye,” Louisa answered, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. “I'll never forget you, sir. When you get to the other side, say hello to my father for me.” She urged her mount forward, raising a hand in a gesture of farewell. Comanche entered the trees at a full gallop, squealing in alarm as he dodged around a body lying motionless in his path. The young woman screamed and lost her grip on the reins, tumbling from the saddle to land in a heap on the wet ground.

Part 3

Louisa rolled over and slowly got to her feet, shooting Comanche a glare. “Thanks for the mud bath, you crazy horse,” she grumbled. “How about a little warning next time, huh?” The stallion bumped against her, nickering an apology. “All right, you're forgiven, this time. What made you spook like that, fella?” A low groan made her jump and she froze. “Is someone there?”

“Lou, is that you?” moaned a voice. “Or am I in Hell?”

The young woman's eyes widened. “ Johnny ?!?” she called. “What in blazes are you doing out here?”

The paramedic sat up, wiping blood off his face. “Looking for your sorry butt, what else?” he snapped. “Wait a second; where's Buck?”

“Over here,” the foreman replied, crawling out from beneath a clump of bushes. He spotted Louisa and grinned. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. I don't know whether to hug you or ring your damn neck for scaring us half to death,” he teased.

“Aren't you happy to see me, Bucky?” she joked, giving him a squeeze.

“That depends,” he answered. “Did you break any hearts while you were gone?”

“Dozens,” Louisa giggled, “but they couldn't help falling in love with me. I literally got under their skin.”

“Like a bad case of poison ivy?” snickered Gage, making Buck laugh. “Was calamine lotion available back then?”

“Another crack like that, buster, and I won't invite you to my Halloween party this year,” she threatened.

Johnny was immediately contrite. “Sorry, Lou,” he mumbled. “Hey, that reminds me. Why did you want me to add leeches and blank tapes to my shopping list?”

The young woman smiled wickedly. “Patience, Cousin. You'll find out soon enough. If you're done asking questions, can we leave? I want to kiss my husband, take a hot bath, change my clothes, have a decent meal, then sleep for a week, in that order.”

“Man, listen to her barking out orders,” chuckled Buck, shaking his head. “Tell me something, sweetheart. Did those Civil War generals give you lessons or does it just come naturally?”

Louisa shot him a look, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Wouldn't you like to know?” she smirked. “If you think that was loud, wait ‘til you hear my rebel yell!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The trio stopped their horses in front of the Vattimo house and dismounted. The back door opened and Ted appeared, grinning broadly. “Welcome back, Mrs. Stanley,” he called softly. “Hank is asleep inside. Should I wake him?”

The young woman smiled. “I'll do it, just as soon as I wash this muck off my face,” she answered. Ten minutes later, she tiptoed into the den and bent over her husband. “Time to rise and shine, hose jockey,” she whispered, gently stroking his cheek.

Hank woke with a start and blinked groggily. “Honey, is that really you?” he croaked, rubbing his eyes.

“In the flesh!” she laughed, throwing her arms around his neck. “Did you miss me?”

“Of course I did,” he murmured, struggling to disentangle himself.

“We all did,” interrupted Margaret, moving forward to greet her friend. “Louisa dear, how in the world did you get so dirty? Am I mistaken or is that blood on your dress?”

“Among other things,” nodded Louisa, flashing a tired smile. “I'll tell you everything that happened, but right now, I'm dying for a long, hot bath.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Two Hours Later

“When General Lee found out that I was a nurse, he immediately put me to work in the hospital tent,” Louisa was saying.

“What was old Marse Robert like in person?” Ted asked, his eyes burning with curiosity.

“The epitome of a Southern gentlemen,” she answered with a smile. “It may sound odd, but he reminded me of Joe Early. Kind of reserved, but warm, you know?”

“I always admired Jeb Stuart,” grinned Buck. “Tell us about him, Lou. What was he like?”

The young woman sighed dreamily. “Larger than life and a true cavalier,” she chuckled. “He took one look and it was love at first sight,” she added, winking at her husband. “Unfortunately, it was Comanche he was seeing, not me!”

Hank burst out laughing. “The nerve of that man!” he joked. “How dare he insult you that way!”

His wife giggled. “Maybe I shouldn't mention that he took me walking then, huh?” she teased. “Relax, hose jockey, Stuart was very nice, but he can't hold a candle to you.”

They all jumped when the phone rang. “Who would be calling at this hour?” wondered Margaret, getting up. “Louisa, it's Harold Nesbitt for you. He's says it's important. Should I tell him you've already gone to bed?”

“No, I'll talk to him,” Louisa replied, taking the receiver. “Hello, Harold. You want me to what ?!? Absolutely not! I don't give a damn how much they're willing to pay, the answer is, and always will be, no ! It doesn't make any difference who it is, I still won't do it!” She hung up and returned to the table, her eyes blazing. “That jackass wants me to go on television and tell the entire world what happened! Says it will be good publicity for the Park! Is he out of his freaking mind?!?”

“Maybe you should do the interview,” said Johnny, his trademark crooked grin firmly in place. “It could even be fun.”

“ Fun ?” she echoed. “You can't be serious!”

“Completely,” the paramedic answered. “Listen, this guy is just looking for some free publicity, right?” When she nodded, he went on. “Who says it has to be good?

The young woman shook her head. “He can create his own publicity,” she said. “Hank, I know we planned to be here another couple of weeks, but what do you think about cutting our vacation short?”

“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” the Captain replied. “To be honest, I'm ready to go home myself. Something about this town makes me uncomfortable.”

“You and me both!” Louisa exclaimed, breathing a relieved sigh. “I'll call the airline tomorrow and ask if we can leave early.”

“Why don't you come back to Montana with me?” said Buck. “I'm sure Phil and Dorothy would enjoy the visit.”

“If you like, I could call my buddy and have Comanche delivered to the ranch,” Ted offered. “The three of you could even ride on the same train.”

“Sounds good to me,” she grinned. “Maybe Johnny would like to come along, too. How ‘bout it, Cousin? Want to do some real work for a change?”

“Why not?” Gage laughed. “It'll give me a chance to pump you for information on this leech-filled Halloween prank you're cooking up.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lame Deer, Montana —Three Days Later

“You go in the truck, Lou,” said Johnny. “I can get a lift from Mr. Quincy.”

“No, that's okay,” she answered. “I think I'll ride Comanche. He's still mad about being cooped up in a boxcar. The exercise will settle him down.”

“Translation: I want to be alone, so get out of my face,” joked Hank. “Right, honey?”

“You know me too well,” laughed his wife. “Tell Dorothy that I'll be at the ranch in time for supper.”

“We'll have a stall waiting,” said Buck.

Louisa waved as they drove away, then turned to saddle her mount. A tall, lanky man clad in dusty blue jeans approached, smiling in a friendly way. “Howdy, ma'am,” he said, tipping his hat. “That's quite an animal you've got there. I'll give you a thousand dollars for him.”

“Thanks, but he's not for sale,” the young woman answered. “Oh my Lord, Miles Duncan, is that you ?!?”

“The one and only,” he laughed. “I wasn't sure you'd recognize me, Lou. What are you doing in Lame Deer?”

“Visiting Phil and Dorothy,” she replied. “Why don't you come out to the ranch with me? I want you to meet my husband.”

“Actually, I'm heading out that way myself,” Miles grinned. “The old lady will have my hide if I'm late for supper, especially since it's my turn to wash the dishes.”

“You're working for the Johnsons? Man, Phil must really be desperate,” joked Louisa.

“I seem to recall a city girl who didn't know which end of a cow to milk when she first got here,” Duncan teased.

“Oh, really?” she retorted. “Who tried to ride Jed Harvey's prize hog? Wasn't me, pal.”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” he answered sheepishly. “I would have gotten away with it, too, if the pig hadn't squealed.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Be glad you don't have anyone like Michael and Miles on your crew, Hank,” said Louisa at dinner that night. “The pranks Chet and Johnny cook up are nothing compared to some of the stunts the Duncan boys have pulled over the years.”

“What was the worst thing you guys ever did?” Gage asked.

“Hmm, tough question, but I'd have to say the infamous Rainbow Chicken Caper,” grinned Miles. “You were in on that one, remember, Lou?”

The young woman started to giggle. “How could I forget? Like you said after the Pork Chop Rodeo, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“I may regret this later, but what did you do?” queried Stanley .

“We painted Dorothy's chickens with egg dye,” answered his wife.

“So it was you !” joked Phil. “I always blamed the Easter Bunny. No wonder than damn rodent never brought us any candy.”

“I think it was your shotgun that scared him away, dear,” commented Dorothy with a smile. “Now, who wants a slice of fresh raspberry pie?”

“None for me, thanks,” answered Louisa, patting her stomach. “Hey Johnny, can I borrow the Rover for a couple hours? I need to get a few things in town.”

Gage studied his cousin, knowing that shopping was the last thing on her mind. “I think I'll go with you” he said. “That is, if you don't mind me tagging along. I wanted to say hello to Sheriff Daniels while we're here.”

“What a coincidence; so did I,” she replied, hiding her annoyance behind a sweet smile. “I'll get my purse.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A mile from the ranch, Johnny pulled the Rover to the side of the road and shut off the engine. “We're not going any farther until you tell me what you're up to,” he said. “And I want the truth this time.”

Louisa glared at him, her eyes dark with anger. “I don't have to explain my every move to you,” she growled stubbornly.

The paramedic shrugged. “No, you don't, but what about Cap?” he asked. “Won't he be upset if he finds out you lied about visiting Andy? Come on, Lou. If you're in trouble, maybe I can help.”

The young woman laughed harshly. “Is that what you think? Well, if I was, you'd be the last person I would turn to.” She gasped, her face red with shame. “I'm sorry, Johnny; that's not what I meant. God, I'm just so mixed up.”

Gage slid across the seat and patted her shoulder. “It's okay,” he murmured. “You were going to the reservation, weren't you?”

Louisa nodded. “I wanted to speak to the medicine man, Matohinsda,” she whispered.

“I thought so,” he grinned. “You did remember to bring an offering for the old man, right?”

“Is Chet Kelly Irish?” she retorted with a giggle. “Don't worry, Cousin. I came loaded for bear, pardon the pun.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Reservation

“But I have to see him!” exclaimed Louisa, her eyes pleading. “It's extremely important!”

Buffalo Calf, the medicine man's grandson, shook his head. “Grandfather does not have time for the problems of a white woman,” he sneered.

“Do not shame yourself with lies,” interrupted a gruff voice. An elderly man wearing a bathrobe and slippers appeared in the doorway and held out his hand. “You are kin to Gray Eagle, is that so?”

“Yes, Matohinsda,” the young woman answered softly in Lakota, bowing her head respectfully.

The old shaman laughed gustily. “Ah, a young one who knows how to treat her elders,” he wheezed. “What is your name, child?”

“Louisa Stanley, but the Lakota know me as Moon Flower,” she whispered, following him into the house. “I apologize for disturbing you, sir.”

“I can sense that you have just returned from a long journey, my child,” answered the shaman, pointing to a woven mat lying on the floor. “One that took you to the site of a great battle between the white men. And it was not the first time you have traveled to the past, am I correct?”

“Yes, sir, but this time, I went alone,” Louisa replied. “Matohinsda, I have to know why this is happening! Please, can you help me?”

“Calm yourself, Moon Flower,” he murmured, stroking her cheek. “I will perform the ceremony, but not here. Is there a place close to your home that has special meaning to you and is very old?”

The young woman thought hard. “The caves!” she exclaimed. “My cousin and I found a group of caverns in Topanga Canyon several years ago! The walls are covered with ancient paintings!”

Matohinsda nodded. “We will hold the ceremony there,” he decided. “You may choose one person to accompany us, but they must be a blood relation and someone you trust with your life.”

Louisa grinned widely. “I know just who to ask,” she replied.

Part 4

The Johnson Ranch—The Next Morning

“I had no idea that old shaman was still alive,” Phillip commented to Hank. “He must be close to eighty by now.”

“Actually, Matohinsda is ninety-five winters,” said Louisa, coming up behind them. “Can you imagine all the things he's seen in his lifetime? It boggles the mind!”

“Are you sure he'll survive the trip back to L. A.?” asked the Captain. “He looks pretty frail to me.”

“Appearances can be deceiving, honey,” the young woman answered. “Take Craig Brice, for example. He may seem to lack a sense of humor, but that's definitely not the case. Remember that rubber frog you found in your desk drawer about a month ago? You blamed Chet, but he wasn't the culprit.”

“You mean it was Brice ?!? I don't believe it!” exclaimed Hank.

Louisa glanced over her shoulder at Johnny, who stood a few feet away, listening with a huge grin on his face. “It's true!” she giggled. “I went into the office to use the Xerox machine and caught him and his accomplice in the act.”

“That little weasel!” laughed the Captain. “Wait a minute. Who was his partner-in-crime?”

“I'm not at liberty to divulge that information, “she countered, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “And don't bother asking Johnny, because he's been sworn to secrecy, along with the rest of your crew.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Los Angeles , Five Days Later

“Park near the corral, Johnny,” Louisa instructed as they pulled into the Stanley 's driveway. “I don't want to put Comanche in the barn until he's had a chance to stretch his legs a little.”

“Isn't that Marco's car?” asked Hank. “What's he doing here?”

“Cleaning the stalls, I hope,” his wife answered. She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled piercingly.

Marco came out of the barn and waved. “Welcome home, you guys!” he called. “What's in the trailer?”

“Come over and see!” the young woman hollered back. She unlatched the door and swung it open. “Easy, fella. Take it slow. Johnny, get on his other side and grab the halter.”

The Latino fireman's eyes widened when he saw the stallion. “ Madré de Díos , what a magnificent creature! He's even bigger than Samson! What's his name?”

Louisa smiled proudly. “Comanche,” she answered. “So, what's been going on here? Anything exciting?”

“Nothing much,” he grinned. “Matthew, Robert, and I went fishing the other day and caught six bass. We ate four, but saved the rest for you, Cap.”

“Gee, thanks,” Hank muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “You're all heart.”

At that moment, Matohinsda tugged on Louisa's sleeve and pointed across the pasture, babbling with excitement. She turned to look and gasped. Three wolves stood in the shadow of a massive spruce tree, watching the group intently. The largest of the trio limped towards them, whining pitifully. “My God, that's Naiche!” the young woman cried, running forward and dropping to her knees beside him. The animal licked her face and lay down in the grass, panting harshly.

Johnny approached cautiously, his jaw tightening when he saw the contraption dangling from the wolf's left rear paw. “Marco, get a blanket!” he called over his shoulder. “Easy, boy, I'll have that thing off in just a minute.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Davis Veterinary Clinic

Dr. Warner, the vet, pushed upon the exam room door and stopped short, his eyes bulging. “That's a wolf!” he squeaked.

“What was your first clue?” answered Louisa with a snort. “Relax, Doc; Naiche is used to being around people and won't bite unless he feels threatened.”

“I hope you're right,” replied Warner. “Now, what's the problem?”

“He got caught in this,” said Gage, holding up a small trap. “We don't know when or how much damage it did to his paw.”

“Let's take a peek then.” After a brief examination, the vet stepped back and wrote something on a pad. “I don't think it's fractured, but we'll do an x-ray just to be sure.” He looked up when the receptionist poked her head around the door. “What is it, Janice?”

“There's an Officer Howard here, asking to speak to Mrs. Stanley or Mr. Gage,” she smiled. “Should I send him in?”

“I think he should see this,” Johnny answered. “Don't you agree, Cousin?”

“You bet your boots!” Louisa snapped. “Come on in, Vince!” she hollered.

The African-American police officer walked in, his eyes narrowing when he saw the injured wolf. “Tell me what happened!” he growled.

“Someone has been setting traps in the canyon and Naiche blundered into one!” she snarled through clenched teeth. “Show him, Johnny! The bastard was stupid enough to put tags on them, too. If you don't arrest the son-of-a-bitch, I'll hunt him down and deal with him myself!”

“You will do no such thing!” Howard retorted sharply. “Look, I know you're upset, but we have to do this by the book . Is that clear?”

The young woman bit her lip and nodded curtly. “ Crystal ,” she answered quietly. “Okay, what do we do first?”

“Call the State Game Commission and ask them to launch an official investigation,” replied Vince.

“But that could take weeks!” protested Gage. “We have no idea how many traps are still up there!”

“Then we'll comb every square inch of the canyon until we do,” said Louisa.

“Good thinking,” the officer praised. “We can photograph each trap and mark its location with a flag for future reference.”

“That plan works until the creep realizes we're onto him and comes back for them,” the young woman pointed out.

“Yes, but he can't find what isn't there , right?” grinned Vince. “His traps will be confiscated as evidence.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Next Morning

“Anyone know why we're here?” questioned Stoker, eyeing at the group assembled in the Stanleys ' front yard.

Roy shook his head. “I asked Johnny, but he wouldn't tell me a thing.”

“It better not be to look at their vacation slides,” grumbled Chet.

“Stow it, Chester ,” said Louisa from the doorway. “If you will come inside, I'll explain what's going on.” Once everyone was seated, she continued. “Someone has been setting traps in the woods bordering the canyon and Naiche, one of the wolf pups Johnny and I found, got caught in one. He'll be okay, but I intend to make sure no other animal suffers that kind of pain.”

“What's the plan and how can we help?” asked McConikee.

“We're going to break up into teams and search the canyon and woods with metal detectors until every last trap has been found,” answered Johnny. “Each team will be given a camera, a map, a packet of coded evidence bags, felt-tip pen, and a grain sack. When you find a trap, take a picture, put it in a bag, and mark the location on your map. Any questions? Good. Lou, are the walkie-talkies ready?”

“Just about,” she answered. “Okay, people, listen up. I want everybody to be careful and keep their eyes and ears open. If you run into trouble or see anything unusual, use your radios to contact the others. Identify yourself by team number, briefly describe the situation, and give us your location. Whoever is closest will come and assist. One more thing: if you find an injured animal, don't go near it. Notify home base on the emergency frequency and they'll handle it.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Three Hours Later

“There's another one under here, Chet,” said Marco, indicating a clump of wild raspberry bushes.

The Irishman squatted down and poked a stick through the foliage. “Man, I don't what that dude was using for bait, but it sure stinks !” he complained, wrinkling his nose. “Holy cow, is that what I think it is?”

“Yeah,” whispered Lopez, his face dead white. He grabbed the walkie-talkie from his belt and spoke into it. “This is Team Two. We found something near Standing Stones.”

“I copy, Team Two,” came the reply. “We're about one hundred yards from your location. Hang tight, boys; we're coming.” Five minutes later, Louisa emerged from the woods, Johnny right behind her. “What have you got and where is it?” she asked.

“Over there by the stump,” moaned Kelly, gesturing towards the bushes with a shudder.

The young woman knelt down and wriggled into the briar patch. Seconds later, she crawled out, dragging a blood-encrusted trap with her. The putrefying remains of a large bird were caught between the jaws.

“Oh my God,” Gage breathed reverently. “That's a bald eagle! Marco, you better get Vince up here.”

Louisa sat on the ground, cradling the once majestic creature in her lap. Angry tears streamed down her cheeks as she began to chant, her voice choked with sobs.

“What in the heck is going on?” questioned Chet. “Why is Lou wailing like that?”

“It's a Lakota funeral prayer, you idiot,” hissed Johnny. “She's helping the eagle's soul find its way to spirit world. Now shut up !”

Marco waited until his sister finished her song before clearing his throat. “Vince said to bring the eagle back to the ranch,” he said quietly. “Lou, you want me to carry him?”

The young woman looked up. “Huh? No, thanks; I can manage. Chet, did you see what this trap was baited with?”

“No, but the leaves around it smelled like rotten fish,” replied the Irishman.

Louisa cursed under her breath. “Get a picture of the site, then gather up some of those leaves; we'll need them later. What are you waiting for, an engraved invitation? Chop, chop, hose jockey!”

“In case you haven't noticed, we've got company,” retorted Kelly. “Something gray and shaggy is watching us from behind that big log. It could be a bear.”

“Bears are brown or black, chucklehead. If it will shut you up, I'll go check. Here, cousin; hold this.” She climbed over the log and disappeared. After a few moments, the young woman returned, two low-slung gray shapes trotting at her heels. “Chet, you're the only person alive who could mistake a couple of wolves for a bear!” she teased. “I think you owe Tasha and Mojo an apology.”

“Oh, yeah, sorry,” he mumbled, his face beet red. “My imagination got the better of me, I guess.”

Marco bent down to scratch Tasha's ears, chuckling when she licked his hand. “How ya doing, girl? Were you trying to scare us on purpose?”

“They probably smelled us and came to see if we had any food,” grinned Louisa, giving Mojo an affectionate pat. “Sorry, kids, all I have is trail mix. You'll to wait until we get home.”

“How do you plan to get them there?” questioned the Irishman. “Bring them in on a leash?”

The young woman laughed. “Can you imagine the expression on Vince's face if I did that ?!? I'll just tell them to follow me and they'll obey; watch.” She issued a command in Lakota and started to walk away. Instantly, the wolves sprang forward and fell in step behind her like a pair of trained dogs.

“Maybe Lou should teach you that trick, Gage,” needled Kelly. “Then you could get a date more than once a decade.”

“Shut up, Chet!” the paramedic shouted. He ran to catch up with his cousin. “Whatever you have planned for him, count me in!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“I ran into Helen Stone the other day,” Vince was saying. “She said Bert was doing fairly well, considering.”

“No one thought he would live this long, that's for sure,” answered Hank. “Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time.” He looked up when a car pulled into the driveway and stopped in front of the house. “Who could that be?”

A tall man got out and slammed the door. “Afternoon, gentlemen,” he said. “Is this the Stanley Ranch?”

The Captain walked forward to greet him. “Yes, it is. Can I help you, Mr.……….”

“Rupert Clark, California State Game Commission,” the stranger replied. “I'm looking for Vincent Howard.”

Vince stuck out his hand. “I'm Howard. We weren't expecting you for at least another week, sir.”

“When my superiors heard what was going on down here, they almost blew a gasket,” Clark smiled. “Trapping in a protected area is a serious offense, especially when an endangered species is involved. Speaking of which, I'll need to examine the animal; where is he?”

“In the shed, but you'll have to wait until my wife gets back,” said Hank. “In the mean time, would you care to join us for lunch?”

“Do I have a choice?” he muttered, eyeing the shed crossly. “I don't see a lock, so what's the problem?”

Before Hank could reply, Chet and Marco rounded the corner of the house. “Lou and Johnny are on their way,” said Lopez, handing Vince the bag he was carrying. “They sent us ahead to warn you.”

The Captain's eyebrows shot up. “Warn us about what ?!?” he asked.

“See for yourself, Cap,” grinned Kelly, hooking a thumb over his shoulder. “Here they come now.”

Sure enough, the duo in question were walking across the pasture. They stopped in the tall grass near the corral and, after a brief discussion, Gage continued on alone, heading for the barn and going inside. He reappeared a moment later with a small bundle and a coil of rope.

Clark 's jaw dropped when he saw two massive gray shapes pounce on the ‘medic and wrestle him to the ground. “My God, those are wolves !” he exclaimed. “They'll kill him!”

“Only if they lick him to death,” snickered Roy , making the others chuckle.

The man shook his head in confusion. “You make them sound like pets or something!”

“Not quite,” replied Mike Stoker. “John and my sister are the only parents they've ever really known. Their mother was killed soon after they were born, so they grew up around humans. I guess you could say we're their pack.”

“Then you owe me a few dozen hours of babysitting, Mikey,” joked Louisa, as she joined the group. “Tasha, Mojo, and Naiche may be used to people, but they're still wild animals and potentially dangerous, especially if they feel threatened. Who are you, mister?”

“Rupert Clark, California Game Commission,” he answered stiffly.

“From the Southwest division, based in Santa Barbara ?” When Clark nodded, she retorted, “ Wrong ! The regional office is in San Diego . It's obvious that you're lying, so just cut the bull and tell us the truth, starting with your real name!”

The imposter looked at the hostile faces surrounding him and sighed in defeat. “It's Raymond Cooper,” he whispered.

“The low-life who's been setting traps in the canyon?!?” the young woman gasped, pale with shock. “You bottom-feeding, scum-sucking pile of buffalo dung!” Unable to find enough English words to convey her rage, she switched to a mix of Spanish and Lakota, throwing in a few medical terms for good measure. One choice, obscenely-colorful phrase sent Johnny into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He dropped Mojo's leash and fell to the ground, holding his ribs. The wolf, thinking it was a game, pounced on him, yipping madly.

Matohinsda came out of the house, drawn by the commotion. When the medicine man spotted the wolves, his wrinkled face lit up with childlike wonder and he limped forward to get a better look.

Louisa saw the old man coming and stopped in mid-rant. “I'll deal with you later!” she snarled at Cooper, dragging her cousin up by the collar at the same time. “Quick, distract him so he doesn't see anything!”

The paramedic whistled to Mojo and sped away to run interference. While he was presenting the wolf to the shaman, the young woman leaped for the box of traps and slammed the lid shut.

“That must be the gentleman Hank was telling me about,” said McConikee. “I'd sure like to talk to him. Does he speak our language?”

“No, but he understands a little,” Louisa answered. “Come on.” They followed her over and stood quietly as she introduced them. The old Lakota nodded to each man, then made a short speech, his eyes sparkling with humor. “He greets his white brothers and hopes you don't speak with serpent's tongues,” she translated.

“Tell him I greet my red brother and hope he doesn't scalp me,” replied Chet, trying to be funny.

The young woman listened to the old shaman's response and started to giggle. “He says you have nothing to worry about because the spirits protect your kind.”

“Who, the incredibly handsome and brave?” he questioned.

“No, pranksters and the insane,” Louisa shot back with a grin. “Consider yourself lucky, Chester . Your guardian angel is probably the only thing that's kept the Phantom's victims from killing you all these years.”

“Nah, he's still alive because I don't want to fill out the paperwork,” snickered Hank, drawing loud laughter.

Part 5

Three Days Later

“I'd feel a lot better if I knew what that old shaman was going to do,” grumbled Hank as he helped Johnny saddle the horses.

“I can't give you all the details, but it's similar to hypnotism,” the paramedic answered. “Don't worry, Cap. My people have been doing this for generations.” He turned when Matohinsda entered the barn, dressed in his ceremonial robes. Louisa stood near the open door, wearing a costume of heavily beaded and fringed buckskin. “Looking good, Cousin. You nervous?”

“Not really, but I'll be glad when it's over,” answered the young woman. “Can you give me some time to, uh, well….” She glanced at the Captain, then down at her moccasins.

Gage saw the look and nodded. “Sure, but make it quick. We'll meet you at the foot of the trail in five minutes.”

Louisa reached out to caress her husband's cheek. “The ceremony isn't dangerous, but there is a bit of risk involved,” she murmured. “In case something happens, I just want you know how much I love you. The years we've spent together haven't always been easy, but I wouldn't change a thing. Well, maybe the whole Tom Parker fiasco, but nothing else. If all goes as planned, we'll be back before sundown.”

“You'll be okay, honey,” smiled Hank, his eyes moist. “See you soon.”

The young woman gave him one last hug, then mounted her horse and rode away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Matohinsda sprinkled a mixture of sage and other herbs into the fire and began to sing, his words echoing through the small cavern. Louisa bent over the flames and inhaled deeply, drawing the pungent smoke into her lungs. She coughed once and closed her eyes as the intoxicating fumes took effect, making her head swim.

“The winds of time are carrying you to the past, my child,” intoned the old shaman. “Can you describe where you are?”

“I'm standing on a battlefield,” the young woman replied, her voice faint. “It's Gettysburg ; I recognize the landmarks. The men are wearing blue and gray uniforms and they're shooting at each other. Someone is calling for help; it's a doctor and we're in a hospital tent, caring for a wounded soldier. He's a Yankee, an officer. There's something pinned to his coat, a paper with his name and regiment written on it. Major Timothy Stanley, Company B., 63 rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. Oh my God, he looks just like Hank !”

“Did the Captain have an ancestor who fought in this war?” Matohinsda asked Johnny.

“He never mentioned it, but his paternal grandparents were from Pennsylvania ,” Gage answered. “You think we're on to something?”

“Perhaps. I'm going to bring her out now.” He produced a bone rattle and resumed his chant, watching the young woman closely.

Louisa's eyes flew open and she tumbled sideways, hitting the cave floor with a thud. “Whoa, talk about a rough landing! Guess I forgot to fasten my seatbelt! Hey, Cousin, I betcha a trip to the spirit world would get that stick outta ol' Craigy's butt, Brackett's, too! Wanna try it, just for kicks?”

“I'll think about it,” chuckled the paramedic. “Come on, sweetie; let's go home.”

“Sounds good to me, baby,” giggled the young woman. “Don't know ‘bout you, man, but I'm famished !”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hank was sitting on the porch, chatting with Roy , when Johnny rode Comanche into the barnyard. Louisa was sitting in front of him, a moonstruck grin on her face. “Hey there, sweet cheeks,” she chortled. “How about getting me something to eat. I'm starving!”

The Captain's jaw dropped in surprise. “What the heck?!” he squawked. “Is she drunk?”

“Not exactly, Cap,” hedged Gage. “You see, the ceremony involves using a certain kind of medicinal plant to induce euphoria.”

“Don't you mean an herb , partner?” snickered Desoto. “One that contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol as the active ingredient?”

Hank sighed in exasperation. “Will you please tell me what you're talking about? What is wrong with my wife?!?”

“It's very simple, Cap,” the senior paramedic replied. “Lou is under the influence of Cannabis sativa , commonly known as marijuana. In layman's terms, she's stoned out of her gourd!”

The Captain started to laugh. “And extremely lucky, too. Your timing couldn't have been better, Gage. Vince dropped by to collect the rest of those traps. He left less than ten minutes ago.”

Matohinsda tugged on Johnny's arm and pointed, talking excitedly. Billowing gray clouds were moving swiftly across the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. “Good thing we came back early,” commented the dark-haired paramedic. “Looks like we're in for one heck of a storm. Better get these horses in the barn. Give me a hand with the feed, will you, Pally?”

Roy scooped grain into three buckets and carried them to the stalls. “Did you see Cap's face when he found out Lou was stoned?” he laughed. “I thought he was gonna swallow his tongue!”

“Yeah, tell me about it!” chuckled Gage. “He'll do more than that when he hears what she saw in her vision. I was pretty surprised myself.”

“Well, don't keep me in suspense, Junior!” Desoto blurted. “I'm dying of curiosity!”

“I can't, Roy ,” Johnny answered. “Please try to understand. Vision quests aren't something the Lakota take lightly. If Louisa wants to share the details with you, she will, but don't be offended if she doesn't.”

“No big deal,” smiled Roy . “I just thought of something. The day we collected all those traps, what did Louisa say to Raymond Cooper? It was hard to follow with her talking so fast.”

Gage flashed his trademark crooked grin and translated. “I'll have to ask Brackett about the last one. I'm not sure if a person can twist into that position.”

“Only if they're Gumby,” smirked Desoto. “Even then, it might be difficult.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One Week Later

“Thanks for helping me sort through all this stuff, Jo,” Louisa said to her friend. “I could never do it alone.”

“My pleasure,” smiled Joanne, rubbing her swollen belly. “Judging all that paper, Hank's mother must have traced the family back to the Stone Age!”

“No kidding,” the young woman giggled. She dug into a box and pulled out a thick leather-bound journal. “Hey, look at this! It's the Stanley family tree, complete with biographies. Look here, Timothy Stanley, born May 12, 1834 , Burgettstown, Pennsylvania .”

“Isn't that the young man you mentioned?” asked the petite brunette, panting slightly.

“Could be; if the date is correct, he would have been 29 in 1863.” Louisa glanced at the other woman sharply, noticing that something wasn't quite right. “Jo, are you in labor?”

“I think so,” she replied. “Oh damn, my water just broke! You better take me to the hospital quick!””

Louisa pressed her hand against Joanne's stomach and shook her head. “I don't think the baby is going to wait. I'll call the paramedics, but they probably won't get here in time. Try to stay calm.”

“Easy for you to say,” grunted Joanne. “Oh God, it hurts !”

The young woman knelt on the floor between Joanne's knees. “You're doing fine. One more big push; come on, you can do it! Okay, good, relax now.” She slid the infant from the mother's body and grinned. “It's a boy, and what a boy! Nine pounds if he's an ounce. Hey there, little man. Say hello to your Mama.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Station 51 were responding to a structure fire when the call went out. “Squad 10, woman in labor, 348 Cane Bridge Drive, 3-4-8 Cane Bridge, cross street Maplewood, time out 10:04.”

“That's my house!” gasped Roy , his face pale. He snatched up the mic. “Squad 51 to Engine 51. Cap, did you hear that last call?”

“Affirmative, Squad 51,” replied Stanley 's voice. “Relax, pal, my wife headed for your place right before I left this morning. Joanne is in good hands.”

Desoto breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God. Squad 10, Squad 51, do you copy?”

“Yes, Squad 51,” answered Tom Wheeler. “We're pulling into your driveway as I speak. We'll keep you informed. Squad 10 out.”

“Appreciate it, Squad 10. Tell Jo I love her. 51 out.”

Craig Brice, picking up some overtime at Station 10, chuckled as he gathered their equipment. “This should be interesting, taking orders from an ER nurse who is actually on-scene,” he commented with a grin.

“If we're lucky, she'll even let us help with the delivery,” joked Wheeler.

“Oh, great,” said Louisa from the doorway. “I ask for paramedics and get Laurel and Hardy. You're a little late, fellas. The baby was born ten minutes ago.”

“How do you like that? She called us for nothing. Let's head back to the station and finish breakfast,” muttered Brice.

“One step and you'll be taking nourishment through a straw,” retorted the young woman with a smile.

“Aw, man, I think she's serious,” said Tom. “You're a real meanie, Mrs. Stanley.”

“Damn right I am,” Louisa joked. “Now get moving before I kick your scrawny behind.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rampart, Two Hours Later

Roy dashed into the ER and slid to a stop near the base station. “Has my wife been brought in yet?” he panted.

The nurse on duty, a recent transfer from Mercy General, frowned. “I don't know, sir. What's her name?”

“Joanne Desoto. Never mind; where is Mrs. Brackett?”

“Right behind you,” said Dixie . “To answer your question, hose jockey, she's up in Maternity. Come on, I'll take you to her room, after you clean up a little.” Fifteen minutes later, she pushed open Joanne's hospital room door. “I found this character downstairs. You know him?” she joked.

Joanne laughed. “He looks like my husband, but it's hard to tell under all that dirt. What do you say, Doctor Stanley? Should we let him in?”

“Do we have to?” snickered Louisa. “He smells terrible ! You'd think he'd been fighting a fire or something.”

“What was your first clue?” Desoto grumbled.

“Search me and please use both hands,” she teased, making the other women giggle. “It's okay, Dix; I'll watch him. I guess he does have the right to see his own kid.”

“You're all heart,” Roy muttered sarcastically, his eyes focused on the bundle in her arms. “Remind me to thank Brice and Wheeler next time I see them.”

“For what?” questioned Joanne. “All they did was get me to the hospital after it was over.”

The paramedic looked confused. “Back up a minute. If Craig and Tom weren't there, then who delivered the baby?”

“I did,” answered Louisa, handing him the infant and heading for the door. “By the way, Daddy, it's a boy.”

Roy blinked back tears. “Thanks for being there, Louisa,” he whispered. “Wait a second; you're not leaving yet, are you?”

The young woman shook her head. “Nah, I'm going to visit Paul, if I can get past Rayburn,” she smiled. “And, for the record, you don't have to thank me; just care of that little rug rat. He's pretty special.”

“So are you,” he replied, giving her a one-armed hug. “If you see Johnny, tell him the news, okay?”

“Will do. I'll stop back later, Jo.”

When she was gone, Joanne turned to her husband. “What should we name this little bundle?” she asked.

“Good question,” answered the blonde paramedic. “You think Louisa would mind if we called him Nicholas Martin?”

The new mother beamed. “I think she'd be honored,” she murmured. “Then it's settled. Our son will be Nicholas Martin Desoto.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Louisa took the elevator to the 6 th floor and entered the Chemical Dependency Unit. Greta Rayburn, known to staff and patients alike as Nurse Ratched, was sitting behind the reception desk, sorting papers into neat piles. “What do you want?” she barked.

“Good afternoon to you, too,” answered the young woman, flashing a sweet smile. “I'm here to see Paul Roland. Could you direct me to his room, please?”

“All visits must be approved by the patient's doctor,” snarled Rayburn. “Unless you have a pass, don't waste my time. I'm very busy.”

“Yeah, busy being a bitch,” Louisa muttered under her breath. “Where might I find Mr. Roland's doctor?”

“Go out this door, take a left, and it's the last office on the right,” she replied.

“Thank you,” said the young woman. She was about to leave when the door opened and Mr. Jacobs, the hospital administrator, came in, followed by a man with fiery red hair. “Hello, Mrs. Stanley,” he greeted. “How was your vacation?”

“Interesting,” she chuckled, nodding to his companion. “I was just on my way to find you, Dr. O'Grady. I wanted to visit my friend Paul Roland, but was told I needed your permission first. Is that true?”

“Unfortunately, it is,” answered O'Grady sadly. “We've had to increase security ever since someone tried to bring drugs into the Unit. Luckily, the gentleman was caught. When I asked Paul about the incident, he said the man was his former manager, Rudolf Martone, but wouldn't elaborate.”

“I'm not surprised, considering what that slimy bastard did to him!” Louisa growled. “How the Hell did Martone even get in here?!?” He's supposed to be in jail!”

“How well do you know this gentleman?” questioned the doctor.

“Well enough to know that he is no gentleman!” she snapped. “Didn't Paul tell you anything ?”

O'Grady shook his head. “No, that is the one subject he refused to discuss,” he replied. “Perhaps you'd be willing to.”

The young woman bit her lip. “If you think it will help, but I'd like to make a call before we get started.” She reached for the telephone on Miss Rayburn's desk and dialed. “Hi, Sherry, it's Louisa Stanley. Is your boss around? Sure, I'll wait. Hey, Tobe, can you come down to Rampart? No, he's fine, but Dr. O'Grady wants to talk about Rudy. Yeah, I know you're busy, but this is important. Great, see you soon. Oh, one more thing; hurry it up, will ya? I ain't got all day.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Paul's face lit up when Louisa and Toby came into his room. “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” he joked. “When did you get back, Lou?”

“A few days ago,” she answered, giving him a warm hug. “Good thing, too. I was at the Desoto's when Jo went into labor this morning. She and Roy are the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy, which I just happened to delivery.”

Roland grinned. “That's awesome! I'll have to send them a gift.” His grin faltered when he saw Dr. O'Grady standing in the doorway. “What's going on?”

“Paul, it's time we talked about Rudolf Martone,” said the doctor.

The guitarist blanched. “No, I can't. Please don't make me,” he begged.

Louisa squeezed her friend's hands tightly. “Paulie, I know it's painful to remember what Rudy did to you, but the truth has to come out,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “Toby and I will be here, so there's nothing to be afraid of. Purge the demon before it destroys you!”

“I think we'd need an exorcist for that, honey,” smiled Toby.

“Not with Lou around,” Roland cracked, his eyes sparkling with glee. “She's an expert at scaring the Hell outta people. Just ask Chet Kelly. What do you have in store for the poor sap this year?”

“I don't have all the details worked out yet, but it will be a scream.”

“And we know what that means, right?” grinned Wilder.

“Yeah, she's gonna do something mean and vicious,” snickered Paul.

The young woman pretended to be shocked. “Would I do that?”

The men looked at each other before replying in unison, “ Yes !”

“You're right; I would!” she giggled.

Dr. O'Grady watched, amused, as they shared a laugh. “I hate to interrupt, but we have work to do.”

“Sure, Doc, no problem,” said Toby. “These two goofballs forgot to take their normal pills this morning.”

“This from a guy who won't go into a courtroom without his lucky Aquaman boxers shorts,” Louisa joked.

“He always did have a thing for fish,” quipped Roland.

Part 6

Rampart, One Week Later

“You want me to what ?!?” exclaimed Louisa, her eyes widening.

Steve Jacobs, the hospital administrator chuckled. “Take over as Laboratory Manager,” he replied. “It's a lot of responsibility, but I'm confident you'll do a wonderful job. Dr. McAllister has agreed to stick around until you get the hang of things. Interested?”

“I might be,” the young woman answered slowly. “What can you offer regarding salary and benefits?”

“Double what you were making at Mercy, five weeks paid vacation and full medical and dental coverage,” said Jacobs. “Plus the joy of attending departmental meetings once a month.”

“Be still my heart,” she joked. “All right, Steve; you've got yourself a new Lab Manager!”

“Excellent!” he beamed. “I'll notify Personnel. You start first thing Monday morning.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After leaving the hospital, Louisa drove to Station 51 to share her good news, stopping at a small grocery store along the way. Chet and Marco were out back, hanging hose, when she arrived and they turned to wave. “Hey, little sister!” called Lopez. “What's in the bag?”

“Aren't you the nosy one?” she teased. “Make yourself useful and grab that crate. I have something to show you guys.”

“Is that what I think it is?” asked Mike, wiping his hands on a rag.

Louisa grinned. “Sure is, Mikey. I picked it up on my way to Rampart this morning.”

Hank was pouring coffee when his wife came in. “Hi, honey,” he greeted. “How did your meeting go?”

“All in good time,” she answered. “Set it up over there, Marco. Where are Johnny and Roy?”

“Right behind you,” said Desoto. “What's that?”

“Take a seat and you'll find out,” the young woman chuckled. “You've all heard the story about my adventure in Gettysburg and the man I treated. Now, feast your eyes on his face.” She pulled off the cover to reveal a large painting of a Civil War soldier. “Gentlemen, Hank's great-great grandfather, Major Timothy Stanley!”

“Wow, he looks just like Cap!” breathed Chet. The others nodded in agreement, marveling over the uncanny resemblance.

“Incredible! Where did you get this, sweetheart?” the Captain asked, studying the portrait.

“My friend Maddy Hughes painted it from a daguerreotype I found in the attic,” smiled Louisa.

“What's a daguerreotype?” Roy wanted to know.

“A photograph created by projecting an image into a silver-coated plate treated with mercury vapor,” said Mike. “The process was invented in the 1830's by a Frenchman named Louis Daguerre.”

“Very good, Michael,” praised his sister. “As a reward, you get to open this.” She reached into the bag and pulled out a bottle of champagne. “Don't give me that look, big brother. It's non-alcoholic. Johnny, can you get us some glasses?”

“Sure, but exactly what are we celebrating?” he questioned.

The young woman's smile widened. “My new job at Rampart General. Dr. McAllister is retiring and Steve Jacobs asked me to take over as Lab Manager. I start on Monday.”

“That's terrific, honey!” exclaimed Hank. “I'd say you're on a roll. First, Roy and Joanne name their son after you and then you get a big promotion. What's next?”

“Getting the Phantom and his Pigeon to call a truce,” Louisa grinned, her eyes twinkling.

“You'd have better luck ending the conflict in the Middle East ,” Marco quipped, making everyone laugh.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rampart, Two Weeks Later

“I'm glad you know what to do with this thing!” grouched Dr. McAllister, regarding the lab's new computer system with disgust. “Call me old-fashioned, but I hate these high-tech gadgets.”

“I'll bet you said that when they invented the train, too,” chuckled Louisa, teasing the older man a little. “Let me show you how the program works. Say Jacobs wants to know how many CBCs we performed last week. We just type in the dates and the procedure code and click on the search tab. The computer does the rest.” A few minutes later, she handed him a printed report. “Pretty slick, huh?”

“I'll say,” the doctor admitted. “Back in my day, generating a report like this took hours. Maybe technology isn't so bad.”

They looked up when Amy, Louisa's secretary, knocked on the door. “Pardon me for interrupting, Mrs. Stanley,” she said, “but there's a Mr. Wilder here for you.”

The young woman glanced at her watch. “Must be my lunch date,” she smiled. “You're welcome to join us, Doctor.”

McAllister shook his head. “Thanks for the invite, but I already have plans. Don't forget our meeting with the Board this afternoon.”

“Wouldn't miss it,” she muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “I know Mr. Morgan is your friend, but he drives me nuts. If he tries to cut our budget again, I swear I'll belt him!”

“That would take the starch out of his bloomers!” the doctor cackled. “See you at three.”

Louisa shut down the computer and left the office, locking the door behind her. “Ready, Tobe? Amy, if you need to reach me, I'll be at my husband's workplace,” she told her secretary. “The number is in the Rolodex.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Station 51

“Having a party is a wonderful idea,” said Hank. “After everything he's been through, Paul deserves to enjoy himself. What did you have in mind?”

“Nothing too fancy,” Toby answered. “Just something to let Paul know how much he means to us, with a little good-natured ribbing thrown in for the heck of it.”

“How about a roast?” put in Chet. “Anyone who wanted to could get up and say a few words. I saw one on TV and it was hysterical.”

“Use what passes for your brain, Kelly,” scoffed Johnny. “Dumping on a guy who just got out of rehab is a new low. He'll freak!”

The Irishman opened his mouth to retort, but Louisa cut him off. “Don't be so sure,” she giggled. Paulie is a lot tougher than you think. A few insults won't bother him. In fact, I think he'd enjoy it immensely.”

Wilder chuckled. “She's got a point,” he grinned. “If anyone knows how Roland's mind works, it's her. Besides, I've watched them trade insults for more than twenty years. If Paul didn't like it, he would have strangled her ages ago!

“It helped that he didn't understand half of what I was saying,” the young woman added. “Being multilingual has its benefits!”

“How many languages do you speak?” asked Chet.

Louisa thought for a moment. “English, Spanish, Lakota, German, Italian, and French, plus a little Cheyenne , Latin, Greek, Japanese, Dutch, and Russian,” she replied, ticking them off on her fingers.

Johnny rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a devilish gleam in his dark eyes. “Latin, huh? That could come in handy,” he mused, glancing at Kelly.

“Exorcism only works on demons and evil spirits, not phantoms,” the young woman chuckled.

The paramedic's face fell. “Oh, yeah, I forgot,” he muttered. “What do you suggest?”

Louisa studied the Irishman intently, a wicked smile curving her lips. “I'll come up with something,” she promised. “Might be easier if I had some pejula sapa .”

“Some what ?!?” said Marco, looking mystified. “I don't think we have any.”

“A fire station without pejula sapa ?” she gasped. “Unbelievable. Michael, will you educate this poor, misguided soul?”

“The literal translation is black medicine,” said the engineer with a grin. “You know it as coffee.”

“Makes sense to me,” commented Hank. “How do you say phantom in Lakota?”

“ Wanagi if you mean ghost or, in Chet's case, tonwan would suffice,” Stoker replied.

“You got that right,” snickered Gage. “If anyone is a bad spirit, it's him!”

“How do you know all this stuff, pal?” asked the Captain.

“Lou and Johnny have been teaching me about our heritage,” Mike explained ,his eyes shining. “They even showed me how to make arrows and shoot a bow!”

“Keep practicing and I'll take you deer hunting this fall,” smiled Louisa. “Anyone else interested?”

“I might be,” answered Kelly. “Depends on where you're going and whether or not I can find my rifle, though.”

“Who said anything about guns?” questioned Johnny. “This is an traditional Lakota hunt. We'll be using bows and arrows and sleeping out in the open.”

“Are you nuts?!? We'll freeze our butts off!”

“Don't listen to him, Chet,” the young woman chuckled. “We'll be sleeping in a teepee under fur robes, but I recommend packing long johns and a heavy jacket. Montana is pretty cold in November, especially at night.”

“The cold doesn't bother me,” retorted the Irishman. “Tell you what, babe; I'll go if you agree to do all the cooking.”

“Fine with me, but if I hear one complaint, you go hungry,” Louisa warned.

Just then, the telephone rang and Hank got up to answer. “L. A. County Fire Department, Captain Stanley speaking. Yes, she's right here. Honey, it's Dr. Donaldson.”

The young woman took the receiver. “What's up, Kent ?” she asked. “Oh, God, when? No, it's not a bad time; tell him I'm on my way.” She hung up and turned around, her face pale. “Bert Stone was just brought into Rampart. I have to get over there before……” Her voice broke and she ran for the parking lot, dragging Toby by the arm.

“We'll be right behind you!” called Hank, already dialing headquarters to pass along the sad news.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rampart General

Captain Stone looked up when Louisa burst through the door. “Thanks for getting here so quickly,” he rasped. “Come sit beside me.”

The young woman dropped into the offered chair and reached for his hand. “How you feeling, Stoney?” she whispered.

“Awful, but seeing your beautiful face helps,” he answered. “I heard you're running the lab now. Like it?”

“Everything but the mounds of paperwork,” she chuckled. “You know how it is.”

“Yeah, same crap, different day,” the former Captain smiled. “Gage started to tell me how the Lakota deal with death when we worked together. Could you go over it again? You know, the part of getting to the afterlife and what their family did?”

“They walk Wanagi Tacaku , the Spirit Path,,” Louisa replied softly. “After a person dies, the items he or she used in life are buried with the body to aid in their journey to Wanagi Yata , the Place of Souls. Sometimes, a person's favorite horse is killed and placed nearby. In the old days, the deceased's family would show their grief by cutting themselves with knives and letting their blood mix with that of their relative's. Some would even cut off their braids and bury them with the body. Does that answer your question?”

“Uh huh. Will you do that for me?” he murmured. “Put some of your hair in my casket? It may sound strange, but I think of you as the daughter I never had.”

“We both do,” added Helen, Stoney's wife. “I hope you don't mind.”

“Not at all,” answered the young woman, her voice cracking with emotion. “In fact, I'm honored.” She glanced over her shoulder when the door swung open, admitting Chief McConikee and a large number of firemen. “Aren't you popular?” she teased. “I think half the county is here.”

“Motley looking crew, ain't they?” Stone joked weakly. “Especially that bunch from 51's. Come in and join the party, boys.”

“How you feeling, Stoney?” questioned Hank, unconsciously using his wife's words.

“Tired,” the dying man responded, his eyes sliding closed. “I think I'm gonna go to sleep now. Don't forget your promise, kiddo.”

“I won't. Akewancinyankin kte ,” she croaked, tears spilling down her face. “Rest in peace, le mita kola .”

“Time of death, one-sixteen p.m.,” intoned Dr. Donaldson, checking his watch. “I'll give you some time alone with him.”

Helen nodded and bent to kiss her husband's cheek. “Goodbye, Bert,” she whispered. “You're in the arms of the angels now. Excuse me, gentlemen. I have to notify the rest of the family.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Board Meeting— 3:00 P.M.

“Are you sure you're up for this?” Dr. McAllister asked Louisa as they approached the conference room. “The Board would understand if you skipped the meeting.”

“Life doesn't stop because someone dies, Dave,” she answered softly. “I'd rather be here than sitting home crying about something I can't change.” Without another word, she pushed the door open and took a seat.

Jacobs leaned over and patted her arm sympathetically. “I heard about your friend,” he murmured. “I'm very sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Steve,” the young woman smiled. “I appreciate it. If everyone is here, could we get started, please?”

Gunnar Morgan, the newly-elected Board President, cleared his throat. “Certainly, Mrs. Stanley,” he grinned. “A few days before you took over as Lab Manager, Dr. McAllister submitted a request for additional funding to purchase new equipment. After much consideration, the Board has denied said request.”

Louisa's jaw dropped. “ What ?!?” she bellowed, her temper rising. “We desperately need that money! Most of our equipment is on its last legs!”

“I am well aware of that!” Morgan exclaimed. “When I say your request was denied, I meant the amount . Dr. McAllister asked for $50,00, correct? In our opinion, that figure is much too low. Therefore, the Board has taken the liberty of raising the amount to $150,000, which should be more than enough to purchase the equipment you may need.”

“With that much, we could order two of everything and still have money left over!” the young woman gasped.

“Better get started on your list because the supply house rep will be here on Friday,” chuckled Jacobs. “What's next on the agenda, Gunnar?”

“Nothing; we're finished, unless you want to go over it again,” replied Morgan.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later That Afternoon

“I can't believe it,” breathed Louisa. “We can replace every piece of equipment in the lab.”

Chloe, one of the lab techs, grinned. “I guess Morgan isn't the tight wad we thought he was. What are you going to do with the surplus, Mrs. Stanley?”

“How would you guys feel about using part of it to buy new toys for Pediatrics?” the young woman asked. “Some of that stuff is older than I am!”

“And you're all of, what, twenty-five?” joked Roger, another tech.

“If you say so,” answered Louisa, making him laugh. “Believe it or not, Rog, I celebrated my fortieth birthday this past March, but I appreciate the compliment. I'll pay you later.”

“Speaking of paying,” interrupted McAllister, “tell them the best part.”

“If you insist, Dave,” she smiled. “Listen up, people. As a reward for putting up with me, you will each receive an equal share of whatever cash is left over after we buy the toys.”

“Why don't we throw a Halloween party for the kids instead?” asked Chloe. “I know from experience that spending the holiday in the hospital sucks!”

“That's a wonderful idea!” Louisa exclaimed. “I'll bet my husband and his crew would love to help.” A wicked grin spread across her lips. “It could be a preview for my little prank on the Phantom, too.”

To be continued……….

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

**The lines Louisa quotes while kneeling beside the Confederate grave are from “While Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd”, by Walt Whitman, written in 1865 in remembrance of Abraham Lincoln.

Lakota Indian words used in this story:

pejula sapa— coffee (literally “black medicine”)

wanagi —ghost

tonwan —bad spirit

Wanagi Tacaku —The Spirit Path

Wanagi Yata —The Place of Souls

Akewancinyankin kte— until I see you

le mita kola —my friend

More Lakota words and translations can be found at www.lakotawritings.com/lakota_words_Index.htm