Read The Touch of Her Hands [The Wind River Pack 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online Page A

Alvara inside and stifled a yawn. They’d gotten a late flight out of Miami and had to wait three hours before boarding a bus for Medellin. What should have been a twelve-hour ride turned into fourteen hours when the bus suffered a blown tire. It wasn’t as easy as one might think to change a tire on what amounted to a tour bus. He’d thought they’d rent a car for the last leg of their trip, only such rentals were unheard of in the Medellin area. They’d hired a car and driver to take them to the Medina ranch. So far, he wasn’t impressed with their welcome. The people were unfriendly and openly suspicious, and the climate vicious. The heat and humidity during the late afternoon clashed with the chills and lower temperatures of the night and early morning. Add in his lack of sleep and this trip was about to do him in.
    The ranch didn’t look much different from Alvara’s place in Texas, except for the guns everyone seemed to be carrying. The house was nothing special, just a two-story dwelling that could use a coat of paint or two. The inside was warm and friendly, with lots of large, overstuffed furniture. They followed Jorge through a large living room, down a short hall, and through a double door. Inside, ensconced in a white, ornate chair, sat an old woman hunched over at the waist. Her hair was silver gray, and she stared at him with totally clear, deep blue eyes.
    “Hola,” she said.
    Jorge stepped forward. “May I present my mother-in-law, Consuela Renyana. Mama, this is our cousin from the Americas, Alvara Medina and his friend, Zack Wind River.”
    Zack nodded. “Ma’am.”
    Alvara walked over and kissed her wrinkled cheek. “It’s wonderful to be meeting another branch of my family.”
    Consuela looked at Zack. “You are the destino, si?”
    Zack looked at Alvara and shrugged.
    Jorge sighed. “Mama wants to know if you are the destiny. I’m not sure what she means.”
    “Nos déjà,” Consuela said. “I wish to speak with Senor Wind River alone.”
    “Mama?” asked Jorge.
    “Por favor, mi hijo. I will be fine.”
    Jorge gave a heavy sigh. “Very well, Mama. I will be close if you need me.” He looked at Zack and narrowed his eyes. “You be good to Mama.”
    Zack nodded. “Of course.” Everyone left the room leaving only Zack and Consuela Renyana alone. Zack took a deep breath. “You wanted to talk to me? I should warn you, I don’t speak much Spanish.”
    “No matter. You are the destino.”
    Zack frowned. “What are you talking about?”
    “The destino. Her destiny. You are Aurelia Salazar’s destiny.”
    Zack sucked in a breath. How could this woman know this? He licked his lips. “Yes, ma’am. And she’s my destiny.”
    “Si, this I know. What I don’t know is what troubles me.”
    “I’ll ease your mind if I can,” said Zack. “What is it you don’t know?”
    “I don’t understand your dos almas.”
    “My what?”
    She thought for a moment. “Your almas duales, your dual souls.” She got carefully to her feet and grabbed the cane leaning against the side of her chair. She made her way over to Zack and laid her hand on his chest. “I sense there are two souls in this body and both are Aurelia’s destiny. I need seguridades…um, reassurance that both of your souls are bright and will cause her no harm.”
    Zack laid his hand over hers and felt his coyote stretch out toward the old woman. He quickly lay on his back exposing his belly. After a moment, she smiled. “Yes, I can feel him now. He’s good and wants to protect her.”
    “How do you know all this?” asked Zack.
    “I am vidente, a seer. I often know things that others do not.” She curled her fingers into Zack’s. “You must hurry and take Aurelia away from this place. There is danger ahead in your journey. They are coming for her, and you must not let them take her. She’s had so much pain in her short life, and now you must change that.”
    “I’m ready, Mrs. Renyana. I want to take her back