Manitou Canyon Read Online Free PDF Page B

he arrived, and before he could say a word, she kissed him.
    â€œ Boozhoo, love,” she said in greeting and with such enthusiasm she hoped it would light a warming fire in him.
    He smiled, but not with his heart, she could see. “Is Henry here?”
    â€œCome into my home, Corcoran O’Connor,” the old man spoke from inside. “You and whatever trouble you bring.”
    Cork stepped into the doorway. “What makes you think I’ve brought trouble, Henry?”
    â€œYou hold yourself stiff, like a wary deer. But come inside. I do not mind your trouble.”
    Cork did as the old man said, and Rainy closed the door. Ember struggled up and trotted to meet the visitor. Cork gave him a halfhearted patting, and the Irish setter went back to his place at Henry’s feet.
    â€œWould you like some coffee, Cork? It’s a chilly day out there,” Rainy said.
    â€œNo, thanks. I just need to talk.”
    â€œNot yet,” the old man said. “Sage, Niece. We will smudge this troubled man and this place where he has brought his trouble.”
    Rainy took a sage bundle from the store in one of Henry’s cupboards, dropped it into a shallow clay bowl, lit it with a match, and waved the cleansing smoke over Cork, Henry, herself, and around the cabin saying, “ Migwech, Nimishoomis . Thank you, Grandfather. Migwech, Nokomis . Thank you, Grandmother, for the beauty of this day, for the life you have given us, and for the wisdom that comes when we listen to your voices on the wind and in the water and singing among the trees. We pray for guidance from the Creator and the spirits. Let our hearts be open to all you offer us.”
    When she’d finished, her great-uncle brought out one of his pipes and a pouch of tobacco. He filled the pipe, then offered tobacco to the spirits of the four directions. He put a match flame to the tobacco, and they sat together at his table and shared the pipe.
    Only when they’d completed these preparations did Henry finally say, “And what is this trouble you bring, Corcoran O’Connor?”
    Cork explained about the two clients he’d just taken on and about the vision Trevor Harris claimed to have experienced and about what he intended to do.
    The old man nodded but said nothing.
    Rainy said, “Jenny and Daniel’s wedding is coming up fast, Cork.”
    â€œI’ll be in and out, Rainy. I don’t imagine I’ll find anything at Raspberry Lake that wasn’t found before.”
    â€œThen why go?”
    â€œThey need help.”
    â€œNo, they need comfort, closure. If you find nothing, which is what you seem to be expecting, how does that help them?”
    â€œI’m not convinced we won’t find anything. The whole time we were out there, I had the feeling we were missing something. I still can’t quite put my finger on it. There’s no harm in giving it one more try.”
    â€œIs this really about them, Cork?”
    He looked surprised. “I sort of think it is.”
    â€œAre you sure it’s not more about you?”
    â€œWell, I’m certainly a part of it.” His voice was hard, which was unusual for this man she knew and loved.
    â€œI’m only pointing out that if in the end you really can’t offer them any comfort in this way, you’re only delaying the inevitable.”
    â€œAnd the inevitable would be?”
    â€œAcceptance. Opening their hearts to the pain and the grief. And then to the healing.”
    â€œThey want to be sure. I can understand that.”
    â€œAnd if you don’t find him, how will that help them to be sure?”
    Meloux had been quiet, but now he spoke to Cork. “Your father found his father.”
    Rainy looked confused. “What have I missed?”
    â€œMany years ago, the father of John Harris disappeared in much the same way that he has now. Liam O’Connor found him, Niece.”
    â€œI thought his father died in a