Spirit Journey: Historical Western Cowboy Romance Novel (Dawson Chronicles Book 3) (11 page)

“Ok.”

Raising up, Peanut kissed him, pulling him back down with her.  Skip didn’t hesitate now, kissing her back with abandon.  He wanted her fiercely, but he didn’t feel right being intimate with her without some sort of promise being between them.

Someone cleared their throat and they jumped apart.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Raven said, barely restraining a smile.  “I was worried when you didn’t come back and I was also doing a last look around to make sure everything was safe.”

Skip’s eyes flashed fire at Raven before he lowered his gaze as he rose and helped Peanut to her feet.  Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.  “That’s ok.  I should get back to Annie, anyway.  Goodnight,” she said, giving Skip a little smile.

He smiled back at her and then started putting out the fire.  He made sure that Peanut was out of earshot before saying, “Thanks for ruining that for me.”

“I didn’t mean to.  I really was worried about the two of you,” Raven said.  “We don’t need anyone else getting hurt.”

Skip didn’t respond as he finished putting out the fire.

“Skip, it’s not a good idea to get involved with a woman who will have two children soon—”

Skip let out a sarcastic laugh as he brushed dirt from his hands and picked up his spear.  “Do you want to know what you just interrupted?  Would you
like
to know?”

Raven arched an eyebrow at Skip’s belligerent tone but remained silent. 

“That was the first time I’ve ever kissed a girl, Raven. 
Ever
.  I wouldn’t have let it go further than that.  I have too much respect for Peanut.  But, I would have liked to have enjoyed it a little longer and not have either of us embarrassed,” Skip said.

Raven sighed.  He remembered his first kiss and he wouldn’t have wanted it interrupted, either.  “I’m sorry, Skip.  I didn’t know.”

“I’ll tell you something else.  I love her and when she’s ready, if she falls in love with me, I’m gonna marry her.  I don’t know when that’ll happen or if it will, but I’m willing to take that risk.  I love Annie, too, and God knows she needs a father.  So will Peanut’s son,” Skip said.  “And don’t you dare say that I don’t know what I’m talking about or what that’ll entail.  I’ll work like a dog to support them and make sure they have a good life.  Now, I’m going to bed.  Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Raven said, smiling as Skip walked away.  “Grandfather, now I know where Father gets his matchmaking habit from.”  Shaking his head, he followed Skip back to camp.

              Brook sat between her sons, Bear and Wolf, in the back of Joe’s Brougham automobile, glad that they were with her.  She wasn’t used to riding in cars or going to big cities, so she was anxious to begin with, but she was even more scared over her husband’s condition.  She, along with many others, had been praying nonstop for him.

              Joe had insisted that he, Bobby, and Joey would bring the whole clan since they would be too upset to drive.  They’d have luggage, too, since they didn’t know how long they’d be in Rapid City before Reckless was well enough to come home.

              “I’ll be damned,” she heard Joe say.

              She looked out the window as Joe slowed down and pulled over to the shoulder of the road as they entered Rapid City limits.  A smile lit the faces of the car’s occupants.

              “Hey!” Joe hollered out his window.  “You lousy Indians!”

              Black Fox’s head whipped around and Joe knew from the black expression on the chief’s face that if he’d have been anyone else, he’d be a dead man.  However, once he recognized Joe’s grinning face, Black Fox let out a loud laugh and halted his horse.  Joe’s party got out of their cars and Black Fox’s dismounted. 

A rowdy reunion occurred in the middle of the road before they moved over to the side where the cars were parked.  Everyone was ecstatic that they’d found Runner, and they all hugged him.

              Then Brook said to Raven, “Please tell us what happened.”

              He told them about their shared vision and how tired Reckless had been afterward.  “It took a lot out of him, but we didn’t know that it would cause this.  It happened the next morning after we’d made camp.”

              Runner walked away from them to hide the tears in his eyes, pretending to look at the town a little ways down the road. 

              “It will be all right, cousin.”

              Runner closed his eyes and shook his head as Bobby joined him.  “You don’t understand.  It’s my fault that this happened.  I wasn’t strong enough to help him more than I did.  I tried so hard.  I swear to you that I did.”

              Bobby put a hand on Runner’s shoulder.  “I’m sure that you did.  You’re still learning.  Reckless knew what he was doing and I know that he wouldn’t have any regrets.”

              “I don’t want him to die.”

              Bobby’s amber eyes met his steadily.  “I don’t, either, but if he does go on to walk the next life, he will go with honor and he won’t have any regrets about it.  No matter what happens, you should be proud of yourself.  You sacrificed yourself for the sake of our family and for all of our people.  You should send the story to our tribe on the reservation.  It will give them hope to know that one of our greatest chiefs has sent such a message through a powerful vision.”

              Runner nodded.  “I’ll do that.  It is a good idea.”

              “Come.  I think we’re leaving for the hospital,” Bobby said.

              He followed Bobby back to the group, but guilt still weighed heavily on his heart.

*****

              Mike came out of Reckless’ room and saw Brook, Bear, and Wolf striding in his direction.  The twins’ little sister, Clover, was visiting friends in Colorado but had been contacted and was on her way to Rapid City.  They were joined by Hannah, Bobby, his younger brother, Nash, and their younger sisters, Faith, and Rose.

              He smiled and embraced Brook, holding her tightly as she cried.

              “How is he?” she asked, trying to get herself under control.  She didn’t want her husband to see her crying. 

              Mike pulled away.  “He’s pretty weak, but holding his own.”

              Bear, the fiercer of the twins, asked, “Will he make it?”

              “Bear!” Brook admonished him.  “Don’t ask that.”

              He frowned, but his blue eyes never left Mike’s.  “I’m sorry, Mother, but I think it’s best that we’re prepared.  Be honest with us, Mike.”

              Mike said, “I wish I could say one way or the other.  In my professional opinion, as long as he doesn’t have a second attack, I think he’ll pull through.  Having you guys here will help.  The more positive energy around him, the better.  Now, I know you want to go see him right away, but there’s something that has to be done first.  Just stay here.”

              They gave him curious looks, but stayed put.

              Mike went into Reckless’ room and signed to Owl, “Brook and the kids are here.”

              Owl nodded and rose from the chair by the side of Reckless’ bed.  They’d already agreed that he should tell everyone about his true relationship to Reckless before they came to see him.  He followed Mike out into the hallway and greeted everyone warmly.

              “Come with me,” he said.  “There’s a conference room down here that we can use.”

              Holding Hannah’s hand tightly, he led them down the hall.  Hannah felt his hand tremble slightly and saw tension in his shoulders.

              “Owl, what is it?” she whispered.

              He put an arm around her, giving her a squeeze.  “I’ll tell everyone at once.  It’ll be easier.” 

              The group filed into the room and took seats.  Owl sat down and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.  Mike patted his shoulder, silently lending him his support. 

              Owl saw them all looking at him expectantly and quickly prayed for strength.  After asking them not to interrupt, he began his story, meeting their gazes unflinchingly.  When he finished, silence met his announcement.

              Hannah took his hand and smiled at him.  “I already knew.”

              Owl’s eyebrows rose.  “Who told you?”

              “Eagle Woman.  She told me a couple of years before the army set those wildfires.  She didn’t want there to be any secrets between her and I,” she replied.

              “Why didn’t you say anything?” Owl asked.

              “Because she asked me not to.  She didn’t want to upset you or He Who Runs.”

              Owl laughed.  “I wouldn’t have been upset.  It would’ve been nice to be able to talk about it.”

              Bear’s expression was stony, while Wolf’s was contemplative.

              “So you are our grandfather,” Bear said.

              “Yes.”

              Bobby’s brow furrowed.  “And Reckless is my brother? 
Our
brother?”

              “I know that this is very confusing,” Owl said.  “I would have let it alone, but Grandfather Brown Stag wanted it known.  He told Reckless, and we’ve talked about it.  He doesn’t harbor any hard feelings against me about it.  He understands why and how it all happened.  I believe that Wakan Tanka wished for it to come out now because He wanted Reckless to have a father in this life as well as in the spirit world.

              “I wanted to tell you all now so that there aren’t any confrontations about it in front of Reckless.  He needs rest and peace, not arguing.  You can be angry at me all you want, but please don’t act that way when you go to see him.”

              All of them agreed to this and then the group dispersed, Brook and her children heading for Reckless’ room.

*****

              Reckless was awake when they entered his room.

              A big grin spread across his handsome face.  “
Hau
.  I am glad to see you, but I’m sorry you had to travel so far.”

              Brook went to him immediately, kissing and embracing him gently.  “It doesn’t matter.  We would travel anywhere to get to you.  How are you feeling?” she asked, stroking his hair, noting the white stripe on the right side of it.

              “Tired, but I’m not in any pain.”  Reckless frowned.  “I cannot wait to get out of here.  The food is terrible and the nurses are annoying.  The doctors have been very good.  Mike is pleased with them.”

              Wolf and Bear greeted him warmly.

              “You have to behave yourself, Father,” Wolf said.  “You have to get better so we can get you home.”  He touched the white streak in Reckless’ hair.  “What happened here?”

              Reckless said, “It’s from the vision.  It was the strain of holding it for so long.”

              Bear said, “You shouldn’t have done that.  It almost killed you.”

              Reckless took his hand.  “Bear, it was very important that we all were able to spend that time with Grandfather.  I do not regret it at all, so do not be angry about it.”

              Bear nodded.  “Ok.  Speaking of grandfathers, we know that Owl is actually our grandfather.”

              Reckless smiled.  “I know that it’s confusing, but I am not angry with him.  I’ve meditated about it very hard and I know that what was done was for the good of all, including us.  My feelings for my parents have not changed.  I still love them as much as always, and so should you. 

“But I also love the man I’ve known as my uncle all my life, too.  I have decided to call him Father since he is here with me in this life.  Whether or not you continue to call him Uncle or want to call him Grandfather is your decision.  You must do what you’re comfortable with.”

              Wolf shook his head.  “It’s too soon for me to make that decision.”

              Reckless nodded his understanding and then sighed.  “I wanted to see Buffalo Gap and Hot Springs.  I feel their power.  Every place here has power and it is so strong.”

              Brook said, “You must let it go, Reckless.  You are not strong enough.”

              He squeezed her hand.  “I know.  I won’t do anything stupid.”

              “You better not,” Bear said.

              Someone knocked on the door and then it opened.  Joe poked his head inside.

              “Ok to come in?” he asked.

              Reckless laughed.  “Oh, no.  They did not tell me that you were here.”

              Joe said, “Well, when we got the news, I told your family that we’d pack up and leave right away.  I have plenty of cars and we could get here faster than the train or by horse.  Besides, I couldn’t stay away from my very brave brave.”

              He came over and hugged Reckless.  Images of Reckless as the seventeen-year-old kid he and Jake had hired rose in his mind and he had to blink back tears.

              “So what are the doctors saying?” Joe asked as he released Reckless.

              A sad expression settled on Reckless’ face.  “It was a very bad attack, but I’m holding my own.  There is most likely a lot damage to my heart and they don’t know how much will come back.”  Tears filled his dark eyes.  “I do not think I’ll be able to work for you anymore.  I do not think that my heart will be able to take it.  I am sorry.”

              While the idea of Reckless no longer working at the Watering Hole greatly saddened Joe, he knew that Reckless had to do what was best for his health.

              “There ain’t nothin’ for you to be sorry for, buddy.  You’ve done a lot of excellent work for us.  You know how much we love you.  And that’s why I want you to take care of yourself.  That’s the most important thing to me.  We all want you around for a long time, so getting better is your job now,” Joe said.  He gave Bear his crocodile grin.  “I know another very brave brave who would be perfect for the job, though.”

              Bear laughed.  “I don’t know about that.  I’m needed at camp.”

              Brook said, “We will be fine.  You should do it.”

              Wolf nodded.  “You have the right personality for it.”

              “You know I pay real well,” Joe coaxed.  “C’mon, now.  Please?”

              “Ok, I’ll do it,” Bear said, honored that Joe wanted him to take over his father’s position.

              Joe looked Bear over.  His build was slightly bulkier than Reckless’ and with his six-foot-two-inch height, he was an imposing figure.  Since coming back from the war, Bear had elected to keep his hair in a short brush cut that suited him well.  His light blue eyes, which he’d inherited from Brook, contrasted attractively with his dusky skin and chiseled features.  Yes, Bear would make a very good bouncer indeed.

              “Fantastic,” Joe said, grasping arms with Bear.  “I appreciate it.  Now, you take time to be with your daddy.  Don’t think you gotta rush back or anything.  Of course, I’m your ride, but I’m not in a rush, either.”

              Reckless chuckled.  “You are always in a rush and you are hardly ever still.”

              Joe said, “Smart ass.  I’m gonna go for now, but I’ll be back to see you.  There are a lot of people here who wanna see you.  Boy, you should’ve seen Black Fox’s face when I hollered at him when we spotted all of them coming into town.”

              Reckless scowled.  “They are here?  He promised me that they would go on to the other sites.”