Author's Note: I wrote a 750 word story called "The Dance," this piece continues with Luke and Reyna about six months later.
It was late at night in early April when a pickup carrying one man and two women was forced off the road on a two-lane highway in southern Colorado. The dark brown Suburban that forced them off the road didn't stop or slow down; if anything, it accelerated away.
The occupants of the vehicle that plunged off the road were found nine hours later by a passing county sheriff's deputy. All three were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
---
"I'm glad you're here."
Luke set his bags down on the floor. He put his arms around his cousin, Reyna, and gave her a warm hug. "I got here as soon as I could."
"I should have waited for you," Reyna had tears in her eyes. "I needed you here with me."
"I'm here now." Luke reassured his cousin. "Where should I put my things?"
"In your old room," she replied, "I'm in my old bedroom."
The house was a rambling five-bedroom, single-story log home built in the Colorado wilderness on
one hundred and sixty acres. Two master suites were separated from the other three bedrooms by the common areas of the home.
"So we're across the hall from each other again?" Luke chuckled.
Reyna smiled, "Just like old times."
Luke and Reyna were cousins, although they could pass for siblings. Luke was just over six feet, slender, but not skinny. Reyna was six inches shorter with the same build, slim, but with gentle curves in the right spots. Both shared a sandy brown hair color. Luke's hair was short and neat, while Reyna's wavy hair reached her shoulders. Reyna's eyes were hazel green, and Luke's were soft brown.
They shared some of the same facial features, notably their mouths and noses. Reyna was quite attractive, and while not many would have described Luke as handsome, good-looking would be the term most would agree on.
Reyna wished her breasts were larger; she wore a B-cup bra, but the positive side was she could usually go braless without attracting any undue attention.
---
Reyna and Luke had grown up together in this house. Luke and his mother had moved in with Reyna's parents after a divorce. Luke's mother and Reyna's father were brother and sister. Being the same age, the two children had grown up more as siblings than cousins. The home was in a remote region of southwestern Colorado and largely cut off from the community.
Reyna's father had been a gunsmith building high-end custom hunting rifles. The waitlist for his rifles could be as long as two years. Reyna's mother and Luke's mother ran a small four-cabin wilderness bed and breakfast. Their customers came for the fishing, hiking, and photography experience of the rugged back country.
Luke grilled steaks while Reyna prepared a salad. They ate on the back veranda that overlooked the scenic valley behind the house.
"What has the sheriff's department told you?" Luke asked.
Reyna shook her head. "Not much; they think Dad lost control of the truck on the curve and went off the road and down the embankment."
"Your dad? Lose control?" Luke was incredulous. "Uncle 'I drive fifty-five' Earl?"
Reyna shrugged. "I know; it doesn't make sense to me."
"I would look at a mechanical failure before I would suspect Uncle Earl of losing control." Luke shook his head in disbelief. "Have they inspected the truck?"
"I don't know. I didn't ask that," Reyna replied.
"Have you made any arrangements?" Luke asked.
"Not yet," Reyna's eyes began to mist. "The mortuary is waiting for the coroner to finish the autopsies."
"If you want, we can run into town tomorrow and start making what arrangements we can."
They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as the sun began to set behind the mountains to the west. At this time of year when the sun went away, so did the warmth. It was like a switch had been flipped, turning off the heat.
"Do you want to go in?" Reyna asked, "It's getting chilly."
Luke nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's pack it up and head in."
They cleared the dishes from the table and moved back inside of the house. Reyna washed and Luke dried. "Just like old times." Luke leaned against the counter. "How many times did we do this while growing up?"
Reyna brushed back a lock of her hair and looked at Luke as she tried to do the math in her head. "Gosh, I never thought about that; it has to be hundreds of times, maybe even thousands."
Luke's smile turned sad. "I love being here. Seeing you. But I wish we weren't..."
"I know. I've been thinking the same thing since you got here," Reyna nodded as she wiped down the sink.
Their chores done, they abandoned the kitchen and moved into the great room. Luke put some wood into the fireplace and lit it. He waited until the flames had taken hold before sitting on the large, overstuffed leather sofa. He sat at one end and Reyna at the other end.
The fire seemed almost hypnotic, drawing them both into the dance of the flames. Finally, Reyna broke the silence. "Luke, do you regret what happened at the wedding?"
She was referring to the dance after the wedding of mutual friends. Reyna wasn't sure who seduced whom, but they had ended up having sex twice that night. Once behind the hall and then later in Reyna's hotel room.
Luke continued staring into the flames, taking time to formulate his answer. He turned and looked at Reyna and shook his head. "No, not once. We both wanted it, and we both needed it."
"I thought it was just me that needed it." Reyna's reply was quiet. "I had just broken up with..." She paused for a moment, not wanting to say his name, "Jerkface."
Without asking, she moved down the couch and snuggled up beside Luke. He wrapped his arm around her and just held her. His eyes studied the flames. "It was something I had wanted for a long time, Reyna. I just didn't know how to tell you."
She loved this feeling; it was the same feeling she had always felt with Luke, safe and protected.
---
Luke was up first and had started the coffee. For most of his life he had been an early riser. As a young boy he had tried to emulate his Uncle Earl. His first words of wisdom to the young Luke had been, "Get up early and make your bed; start the day out with an accomplishment."
As Luke had grown up, Earl had taken him with him to work in the large shop beside the house. His uncle had been pleased that Luke had shown a genuine interest in the art of gun-making.
"Good morning," Reyna was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Her hair was still wet from the shower.
Luke handed her a mug of coffee. "Good morning to you, too."
"Breakfast?" Luke asked.
"What did you have in mind?" Reyna sipped her coffee.
"You have a choice this morning; we can have omelets and bacon or pancakes and sausages," Luke offered his menu for the day.
"What about waffles and bacon?" Reyna answered as she batted her eyes at Luke.
He laughed, "Now stop that; you know I can't say no."
Reyna kissed him on the cheek. "That's what I was counting on."
---
After breakfast, Reyna and Luke headed into town. Their first stop was at the office of Sidney Rosenblatt, the attorney for Earl Robinson. There were two Sidney Rosenblatts, a father and son law practice.
Their meeting was with the senior Mr. Rosenblatt.
"Yes," he explained to Reyna, "there is a will. I can tell you that since you two are the only remaining survivors, the estate will be divided between you and Mr. Sinclair." He gestured towards Luke.
He continued, "I have in my possession the means to access two letters. The first letter is to be given to you after a cause of death has been determined; the second letter is only to be given to you in the event that Mr. Robinson's death was -- how do I say this -- found to be irregular."
Reyna gave Luke a quizzical look; he shrugged his shoulders in response. Luke directed a question at Mr. Rosenblatt. "Any idea when the autopsies will be complete?"
"I believe the autopsies are finished; a coroner's inquest will be held on Thursday morning at 09:00 to establish cause of death."
"Are you going to go?" Reyna asked the attorney.
Mr. Rosenblatt nodded. "Yes, as Mr. Robinson's attorney and executor, I will be in attendance.
"Any idea what the letters contain?" Luke was curious.
The attorney shook his head. "None whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I have never seen the letters or handled them. I have my instructions, and that's all I'm at liberty to say at this time."
After they left the attorney, they sat in Reyna's SUV. "Well, that's odd," Reyna said to Luke while looking in the rear-view mirror.
"Well, Uncle Earl was a meticulous man. He never did anything in half measures." Luke replied.
"No, I mean the guy parked behind us. For a minute it looked like he was taking pictures of us." Reyna's eyes remained focused on the mirror.
As Luke swiveled his head, the black compact car pulled away from the curb, did an immediate u-turn, and sped off.
Luke and Reyna looked at each other and then out the back window of the SUV.
"Maybe I was mistaken." Reyna shrugged her shoulders.
The visit to the mortuary was hard on both of them. Both of them were relieved to find out that Reyna's parents and Luke's mother had made their final arrangements a few years ago. The only decisions left for Luke and Reyna would be the flowers and the date for the services. They left a suit for Earl and dresses for Reyna's and Luke's mothers to be buried in.
"Are you up to going for some lunch?" Luke asked.
"And a drink," answered Reyna. She turned and hugged Luke. "I'm so glad you're here. I don't know if I could do this alone."
"We're family, Reyna. I would have never expected you to handle this by yourself. Your dad treated me like I was his son, and he was my father. If you really think about it, we shared a father and had two mothers."
Reyna nodded her head in agreement and laughed, "We couldn't get away with shit!"
Luke chuckled in response. Despite the tragedy, he was glad to be here. This was home.
They chose 'High Country Bar and Grill' to eat lunch. They had just finished ordering when a sheriff's deputy approached their table. "Luke, Reyna, I thought I'd offer my condolences."
Luke stood up, and a big grin came over his face. "Barney Fife! How the hell are you?"
The deputy laughed, "Do you mind if I join you?"
Luke looked at Reyna and then pointed to an empty chair. "Please, Brad, sit down."
Barney Fife was Brad Marshall; he graduated high school the same year as Luke and Reyna.
"I'm sorry about your mom and dad, Reyna, and your mom, too, Luke." Brad sat down and set his hat in the empty chair.
