Chapter Four

        Dakota woke with a start to the sound of flames hissing as water poured down on it. She gazed up at the source of the water, a bucket upended over the fire. Dirk gaze met hers above the bucket.

        "If you want breakfast, you better get moving. Your first lesson starts in ten minutes." Dirk set the bucket down and picked up his plate.

        Dakota looked confused for a moment before scrambling out of her blankets.

        Dakota fingered the short hairs she received thanks to Dirk. One lock shorn when he misjudged the distance while training. She learned something valuable thanks to him, Kota was quick on her feet. Much more than Dirk or her thought.

        It had been decided that she would practice with him watching instead of trying blade against blade. Dakota shifted in her saddle, stretching her legs. She sighed. There was so much she didn't know about fighting or fending for herself. She counted herself lucky to have Dirk along for this leg of her journey. There was still the troubling subject of her dreams. The recurring dream of the inferno and now the one with the knife fight. What did it all mean?

        Kota exhaled in frustration. Dirk turned in the saddle to look at her.

        "Is everything alright, Dakota?" His brow creased in concern. Dirk noticed her fingering shorn lock. "I'm sorry about your hair." Kota could hear how contrite he felt.

        "Nothing's wrong, just a bit frustrated." She quit fingering her hair. "Don't worry about my hair. I'm not that attached to it."

        "What's got you so frustrated? You were a bit distracted during training."

        "It's nothing really. Just some dreams I keep having." She blew a lock of hair out of her face.

        "Really? You know your mother had dreams too." Dirk looked thoughtful for a moment. "The people of Frontera thought she might be a seeress."

        "A seeress? How did they figure that?" Kota quirked an eyebrow questioningly.

        "She knew when she left Frontera that she would never return. Sierra even left things behind for her future daughter to retrieve. She wasn't even expecting when she left, but she knew she would have a daughter." He looked at Dakota appraisingly. "I'd say she was right." Kota's cheeks flushed lightly and she ducked her head hiding her face.

        "Do you know what Mama left behind?"

        "Nobody really knows what she stashed away." He shivered at some thought. "No one can even get close to her stash."

        "Why not?"

        "That is something for another time, Dakota." His tone indicated that she better change the topic.

        "You said Mama had dreams too. What were they about?" she softly asked.

        "I'm not really sure. But they might be the reason she left town with a stranger."

        "That stranger, could he be my father?"

        "Could be. From what I've heard, Sierra had stars in her eyes when she left." Dirk glanced up at the sky. "Looks like we might need to stop soon. I don't like the looks of those clouds."

        Dakota noticed the dark clouds in the distance. "You sure? They look so far away."

        Dirk nodded emphatically, "I'm sure. The wind is blowing them right towards us." Kota shivered as the wind picked up and whipped her hair about her face.

        "How far is the nearest town, Dirk?"

        "About an hour's hard ride ahead. We'll try for there." They both nudged their horses into a hard gallop, racing the incoming storm. Riding low in the saddle, Kota's hair whipped about stinging her face. The wind howled in her ears. In the distance, thunder rolled urging her to push her horse harder. Dirk kept pace with her steed, glancing back occasionally to check on the storm.

        The wind bore down on them, bringing the smell of rain. The sky suddenly turned dark as the clouds blotted out the sun. Lightening flashed, brightening up the sky, as the continued their mad run for town. They passed trees that blurred into green and brown streaks on the side of the road.

        They could see the town just as the clouds burst, soaking them as they raced into town. They slowed their tired mounts and walked them into the stables at the tavern. They quickly stripped their gear from the horses and gave them a rub down, cleaning the muck and sweat from their lathered sides.

        Grabbing their packs, they rushed across the yard to the tavern. They stood dripping in the doorway of the crowded common room, looking for the owner. Grasping Dakota's arm, Dirk wended his way to the back.

        Tapping the owner on the shoulder, Dirk got his attention.

        "What can I do for you?"

        "Two rooms for my companion and myself, and dinner."

        The owner gave Kota a lascivious look. "With a pretty thing like that, one room should do."

        Dirk glared at the tavern owner. "Two rooms and dinner." His voice came out forcefully. "She's my cousin, you fool." Dirk heard Dakota's soft intake of breath. He cast her a sidelong glance beseeching her to let him explain later.

        The tavern owner handed Dirk two keys and pointed up the stairs. "Last two rooms on the right. Sorry for the misunderstanding."

        Dirk led the way up the stairs. Stopping in front of the last door, he unlocked it and stepped aside. Turning to a shivering Kota, he handed her the key. "I'll talk to you once you get out of those wet clothes. I'll be right next door."

        Dakota stepped into the room. After securing the door, she dropped her packs on the floor and stripped off her sodden clothing, hanging them from the pegs on the wall. Naked and shivering, she dug into her pack searching for dry clothes.

        Dressed in fresh clothing, Dakota slipped out her door, locking it behind her, and knocked on Dirk's door. He answered the door wearing dry clothing. Taking Kota's arm, he escorted her back to the common room.

        Seated at a private table with a hot meal before them, Kota turned to question Dirk.

        "Why did you say I was your cousin?"

        He shrugged his shoulders. "Why should I deny the truth? You really are my cousin."

        "Why didn't you tell me?" Dakota looked angry.

        "Easy, Dakota." He tried to placate her. "It wasn't brought up until now. How would you have reacted had I just come right up to and said, 'Hi, Dakota, I'm your cousin, Dirk.'"

        "I probably wouldn't believe you, considering I didn't know I had any relatives besides Nevada and Papa."

        "Now you see why I didn't just come right out and said it." He waited for Kota's nod of acceptance. "By the way, who's Nevada?"

        Dakota laughingly told him about her precocious half sister, who was forever getting into everything despite her mother's best attempts.