Table of Contents
ALSO BY ROSEMARY ALTEA
BOOKS
The Eagle and the Rose: A Remarkable True Story
Proud Spirit: Lessons, Insights & Healing from The Voice of the Spirit World
Give the Gift of Healing: A Concise Guide to Spiritual Healing
You Own the Power: Stories and Exercises to Inspire and Unleash the Force Within
Soul Signs: An Elemental Guide to Your Spiritual Destiny
CDs
A Journey Towards Healing
Not Perfect But Yet Still Beautiful
The Heartbeat of the Soul
A Garden of Souls
A Conversation with Bob
AUDIO BOOKS
You Own the Power: Stories and Exercises to Inspire
and Unleash the Force Within
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First I would like to thank my publisher, Joel Fotinos, and all those at Tarcher who were involved in the process of publishing this book, and who gave such enthusiastic support.
My thanks to Denise, for her ever cheerful and helpful presence in my office. Also for going, unselfish and caring, above and beyond the call of duty in helping the many who contact us. I am grateful that she is on my team.
I thank my team, both here in the United States and in England, for their unfailing loyalty and hard work on the various projects we encounter together as our spiritual journey continues. The RAHEF would not exist without them.
A special mention to Lynn and Peter, to Jane, Jean and Joan, to Kay and Nigel, and to Eileen. Love and kisses.
My gratitude goes out to all those whose stories are written in these pages, and to those who allowed me to use them here. I am so honored. My gratitude also goes out to those many, many fans who have written asking for more, and whose enthusiasm and trust have carried me along all these years. I thank you all from my heart.
It is impossible to fully express my thanks to my friend Joann Davis, for the help and expertise she has given freely, for her time and effort on my behalf, and for being there for me when I felt so lost, not knowing what to do next. Words cannot say how grateful I am. Thank you.
My thanks to my child, who has been my best friend, and without whom I would have no reason to continue. And to God, to Christ, and to Grey Eagle, who has stood by my side as I have told my stories, unfailing in his presence, in his inspiration, and in his encouragement. He sees for me when I am blind. He hears for me when I am deaf. He feels for me when it seems that I am numb. He feeds me when I am not capable of nourishing myself.
Through the writing of this book, and for the help and support from all of you, I am truly nourished.
As always, my child, Samantha Jane, is first on the page, for without her, I do not exist. She is my light, my hope and inspiration, and the reason for my life here on Earth. Her courage and strength feed me, her love warms me and keeps me from the cold and harshness that is sometimes our world, and her unfailing loyalty holds me up and saves me from the sinking of my heart, which threatens to drive me into the depths of despair, in those times of my human frailties.
Do you love me, or do you not?
You told me once, but I forgot....
PART I
MEDIUM RARE
Accident or Murder?
I was in Wyoming, way up in the mountains, at one of those fancy resorts that offer all the amenities for the best of everything a mountain vacation could possibly be. There were walks, mountain biking, hiking, camping; in fact, every possible activity for the outdoors was provided.
It was one of those days, when the sun is bright, the sky is a perfect blue, and the mountain air is crisp and sharp and clean. The smell of pines was strong in my nose, and needles scattered the floor like a carpet, crunching under the boots of the group who were making their way along the pathway through the woods.
The younger of the two couples was walking ahead, uncomfortable and embarrassed by the older couples insistent and heated argument, noticeably upset that their walk was being ruined by the continual bickering of the older couple. This should have been a day to enjoy, a day for all of them to take pleasure in the phenomenal beauty of the Wyoming mountains, which was, after all, the reason they had come on this family vacation.
The log cabin they had rented was great, with a large living room, modern kitchen, two spacious bedrooms with bathrooms en suite, and it provided all the comforts of a home away from home. The atmosphere of the resort was wonderful, and this should have been the perfect vacation, thought the young man, as he walked by his wifes side, but it was quickly turning into a nightmare. His father and stepmother, and their constant arguing, well, that was something that he and his wife had not bargained for when they had agreed to come, and they did not like it one bit.
As I watched them from my vantage point, I found it hard not to be saddened by their apparent blindness to the breathtaking beauty around me. I found it hard to understand how the older couple could ignore such an amazing and incredible sight as the range of mountains surrounding us, stretching for as far as the eye could see and beyond, and not be calmed by it. But they saw none of it.
The argument raged on. The man, an obvious bully, thought that all he had to do was shout the loudest and drown out his wifes voice, ignoring all her pleas for him to stop. Tears rained down her face, but he simply didnt see them; nor did his wifes misery seem to affect him in any way. He just shouted louder still until she couldnt take any more.
Thats it, thats it. Ive had it! I heard the woman scream at her husband finally. I am not going to take your bullying any longer. Im going back to the cabin to pack my bag, and Im leaving you. Its over! Ive had enough! And with that, she turned and headed back down the path the way they had come.
The husband, arrogant and self-righteous, still indifferent to his wifes pain, shrugged and let her go. Ignoring for now, at least, the consequences of what this might mean, he began walking a little faster, now eager to catch up to his son and daughter-in-law.
What the hells going on, Dad? the son demanded, rounding on his father angrily as the older man approached. We didnt come all this way on vacation to listen to you two fighting. Youre just not being fair to any of us.
Well, shes gone. Shes leaving, so we dont have to worry about it anymore, do we? the father replied belligerently, irritated by his sons angry reaction.
But you cant just leave her to go back by herself, I heard the daughter-in-law say incredulously. These mountains are dangerous, for Gods sake, and you know perfectly well that we should all stay together. You have to go after her. We all do, she added, tight-lipped, even more exasperated by her father-in-laws attitude, and fervently wishing she had never agreed to come.
Shes right, Dad, said the son, who was made still more angry by his fathers indifference. We have to catch up to her, and all of us should go back together. These woods, as you perfectly well know, are too dangerous for one person to be walking alone.
And still I watched. I watched from my vantage point, as the husband turned angrily away from his son. Well, he spat out furiously, the last thing I want is to ruin anything for you, so you two go on. Ill go back and find her myself.