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“Yes,” the wo her eyes on the mountain, but she wobbled a little Instinctively, Jesse ainst him “Jack Jack and the others”

“They abandoned you”

“No They’re at the foot of the mountain”

“They’re gone,” Jesse said harshly “They let you risk your life for nothing There’s nothing here to steal The guardian stones, the sacred stone itself, are too big And there’s nothing else” His mouth twisted “Your people o”

“My people?” She glared up at him “What’s that supposed to mean?”

What, indeed? She hite So what? He was, too Half white, anyway, and what did it iven a da about this wo

“Okay,” he said gruffly “Here’s the plan” An overstate to link our belts together I’ll fasten one end around your wrist, the other around o down first and you’ll watch every le move, because one misstep and… Damn it, what now?”

Sienna Cu down this mountain”

“What will you do, then?” Jesse’s voice dripped sarcasm “Wish yourself down?”

The look she gave him was hot with defiance

“I’ to wake up”

Jesse raised his eyebrows “Excuse me?”

“You heardThis is a dreae halfway up ato afor a olden brown hair blew over her lip; she shoved it behind her ear and her chin rose a little higher “John Wayne is dead, and I a End of story”

Jesse alh piece of work Whatever else she was, he had to admire her for that

“I’ve got news for you, baby John Wayne’s alive And this is no dream”

“Wrong on both counts,” she said If her chin went up any higher, she’d tumble over backward “John Wayne is history And I am sound asleep in my tent There’s not a way in the world you can make me think otherwise” Her eyes—more violet than ever—narrowed “This is not real”