Free Navajo's Woman by Beverly Barton Page A

and drank. Andi cleared her throat.
    Joe glanced over his shoulder."Morning."
    "Who was that on the phone?" she asked.
    "J.T."
    "Why did he want to know if I was here? And what message are you supposed to pass along?"
    Joe surveyed her from head to toe, taking in every inch of her long, lean body. Within Andrea Stevens ran the blood of two races that had combined to create perfection. Her hair was a shade lighter than his—not a true black, more a deep, smoky brown. And her soft, smoothskin was shades fairer than his and yet still a rich olive. But it was in her eyes that Andi was unique. He'd never seen eyes quite the color of hers.Golden eyes.Like mixing the brown of the earth with the yellow of the sun.
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    Andi frowned. "Didn't you hear what I asked?"
    "Yeah, sure.J.T. called. Doli is looking for you. She phoned your house and when you didn't answer, she con-tacted Joanna."
    "Is something wrong? Is Doli all right?"
    "She's all right, as far as I know. She told Joanna it was urgent that she talk to you."
    "May I use your phone?"
    He picked up the cell phone and held it out to her. "Maybe she's heard from Russ."
    "Dear God, I hope so."
    Andi grasped the phone and quickly dialed Doli's num-ber. Joe got up, refilled his cup with hot coffee and poured a second cup. He remembered that she liked her coffee black, just as he did. He set the cup down in front of Andi. She nodded and mouthed the wordsThank you.
    Andi took a sip of the strong brew as she listened to the phone ringing. Ah, Joe made great coffee and he'd served it to her without cream or sugar. He'd remembered. She cast a quick glance in his direction and saw that he was watching her. Their gazes met and held,then Lucille Chalon, Doli's sister, answered the phone.
    "Hello."
    "Lucille, this is Andi Stephens."
    "Yes, Doli needs to speak with you."
    "Is something wrong? Has she heard from Russ?"
    "No, she has heard nothing from her son," Lucille said. "But she has thought of a place where Russ might go.
    "Where?"
    "She must speak with you herself. Wait. I will get her."
    Holding the phone against her cheekbone, Andi tapped the back of the small black telephone with her fingertips as she waited.
    "What's going on?" Joe asked.
    She put her finger to her lips. "Shh. Doli might not tell me anything if she thinks I'm with you."
    "What is it—"
    Andi glowered at him and repeated, "Shh."
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    "Andi, is that you?" Doliasked, her voice pitifully weak.
    "Yes, Doli.Your sister told me that you've thought of a place where Russ might have gone."
    Joe's eyes widened as he stared directly at Andi. She shook her head, warning him to keep quiet.
    "Yes, I believe Russ might have gone to my uncle Jefferson Nastas, who lives in a secluded area of the res-ervation.Over in Arizona. Russ has been there many times and he has great respect for my uncle."
    "Doli, why don't you call your uncle and find out if Russ is there?"
    "You do not understand," Doli said. "My uncle has no telephone, no television,no electricity. Neither he nor the families of his three daughters who live close by have telephones."
    "Give me directions to his home, and I'll find out if Russ has gone to your uncle for help."
    Joe scrambled around in a kitchen drawer until he found a pad and pencil. He plopped them down on the table and shoved them over to Andi. She nodded to him, grabbed the pad and pencil, and wrote hurriedly as Doli gave her the directions.
    "You must not trust Joe Ornelas," Doli said. "If you do, you will regret it."
    "Believeme, I know that better than anyone." Andi glanced over at Joe, who stood propped against the wall, his unbuttoned shirt hanging open to reveal the sleek, dark flesh of his muscular chest. "I'll get in touch after I've seen your uncle. Thank you. And Doli, please take care."
    The minute Andi ended her conversation and laid the phone down