Westward Dreams (14 page)

              The closer the coach got to home, the more anxious Marcus became to see his children.  As they were nearing a point where Marcus knew the trail to camp wasn’t far from the road, he began taking off his suit jacket.  Then the shirt came next.

              Seth eyed him and said, “What are you doing?”

              “See you at the ranch,” he said and kissed Claire.  Then he jumped from the coach and took off running.

              Claire watched him go and laughed.  “He might be a doctor now, but he hasn’t changed a bit.”

              Dean said, “Thank God for that.”

              Marcus ran all out down the trail.  It had been too long since he’d been able to run completely free and his soul sang with joy as the forest trail lay before him.  As he jumped over fallen branches and dips in the trail, Marcus was thankful that he’d kept in shape.  He ran for the sheer thrill of running and inhaled the beloved scents of the trees and plants that he’d missed so much.

              His need to see his children spurred him on and as he neared camp, he let out his own hoot owl call that all of the sentries recognized as his.  The sentry answered him and Marcus shouted, “Greetings, Brown Snake!” in Lakota.  He laughed because it felt incredible to speak his second language again.

              He emerged from the trees and never paused.  As he ran through camp, his friends began greeting him, but while he smiled and waved, he kept on going, intent on finding his kids.  They were with his sister, Squirrel.  Seeing Aiyana up ahead, he let out her special whistle.  His little girl turned at the sound and stared at him in disbelief as she saw him.  Then she ran for her father. 

              Marcus slid to a stop and fell to his knees with his arms out.  Aiyana hit him full force and clung to him.  Marcus pressed her close and kissed her sweet little face and told her over and over how much he’d missed her and how much he loved her.  She began crying and he rocked her as he cried right with her.

              “It’s ok, sweetheart,” he said.  “Pa’s home now.  Shh.  Don’t cry, honey.  You got so big.”

              “Don’t go away no more, Pa,” Aiyana pleaded.  Her strong little arms held tightly to his neck and she wouldn’t let go.

              “I won’t.  I promise,” he said kissing her again.  “Where’s your brother?” he asked and then saw Squirrel walking towards him with Anthony in her arms.  He gently disentangled himself from Aiyana as Squirrel sat his son down on his feet in front of Marcus.

              Anthony saw who it was and squealed his delight.  “Pa!” the two-year-old shouted as Marcus scooped him up.  He gave the little fellow the same treatment he had Aiyana.  Anthony had grown as well.  Marcus sat Anthony on his feet again and looked into his eyes.  He looked even more like Claire, he noted.

              Then he rose and even while his children clung to his legs, Marcus hugged his sister. 

              “Are you well, sister?” he asked.

              “Yes, and you?” she said.  Marcus held a special place in her heart.  While she loved her other brothers, there was something unique about Marcus that made her feel especially close to him. 

              “Much, much better now,” Marcus said and drew back from her.  “You look wonderful.”

              “So do you.  You’re home for good then?” Squirrel asked.

              Marcus nodded.  “Yes, I am.”

              “Congratulations on your graduation,” Squirrel said.

              “Thanks,” Marcus said.  “Thanks for watching the kids.”

              “No thanks needed, Silver Ghost,” Squirrel said.

              Soon Black Fox and He Who Runs appeared and Marcus tried to hug them both at once.  Black Fox laughed at their little brother’s enthusiastic greeting.  Marcus was talking so rapidly that it made his head spin.

              “Calm down, Silver Ghost.  I can’t keep up with you,” the chief said.

              Marcus said, “Sorry, I just have so much to tell everyone and I’m so happy to be home.  You have no idea.”

              He Who Runs smiled and said, “We can see how happy you are.”

              “Come and sit down a few moments,” Black Fox said.

              Marcus picked up Anthony and took Aiyana’s hand and followed his brother to his tipi.  Wind Spirit stood by it and Marcus’ eyes got bigger when he saw that she was pregnant.

              He hugged her gently and said, “It’s so good to see you.  Look at what you brought back with you,” and rested a hand on her stomach.

              She laughed.  “Yes.  It was a very nice surprise.”

              Then he started asking her questions about how she was feeling and if there were any problems with the pregnancy.

              “No, no.  Everything is fine.  Stop worrying,” she said with a laugh.

              “Sorry, I can’t help myself.  It’s the doctor in me.”

              He helped her sit down and turned to the chief and asked, “Where’s Owl?”

              “He is at the ranch,” He Who Runs said.  A troubled expression came over his face.

              “What’s the matter?” Marcus asked.

              He Who Runs let out a sigh and said, “It’s that shoulder and I guess his back, too.  He tried to shoot his bow again yesterday and it didn’t go much better than the last time.  It’s hard to watch.  It’s so sad and he is so upset.  He wouldn’t want me to say anything, but I thought you should know.  Is there anything you can do?”

              Marcus said, “I don’t know.  I’ll examine him, of course, but I don’t know that there’s anything more I can do than Doc could.”

              Black Fox said, “I’m not sure he’s ever going to heal correctly.”

              “I’ve been afraid of that myself,” Marcus said.  “Let’s not borrow trouble, though.  Sometimes injuries as severe as his take longer to heal.  Soft tissue damage can be worse than broken bones because they heal differently.  You know I’ll do everything I can.”

              Black Fox nodded and then he said, “We like Hannah very much and she has helped us with a few ailments.”

              “I’m lucky to have her as a nurse,” Marcus said.

              Then his brothers began filling him in on all of the happenings from the winter.

              Marcus rode to the ranch on a horse he’d borrowed from Black Fox.  Aiyana and Anthony rode in front of him.  He reveled in their animated chatter that made him laugh the whole way there.

              Mikey had been waiting for them and ran to greet his uncle.  Marcus stopped the horse and handed his son and daughter down to Mikey.  Then he dismounted and hugged his nephew.

              “Uncle Owl gave me one of his ponies,” Mikey told him.

              “He did?  Wow.  Your Pa let you have one, huh?” Marcus said as they walked to the house.

              “Yeah.  Pa’s teaching me to cut calves and rope ‘em.  Shadow is learning really fast,” Mikey said.

              “Oh yeah?  That’s great,” Marcus replied.

              Mikey told him about the bet that his father and uncle had made.  Marcus laughed.  “I can’t wait to see who’s gonna win.”

              He’d greeted everyone else and then saw Owl coming through the paddock.  He let out a whistle and Owl grinned and waved.  Marcus could see the way Owl held his left shoulder as he walked.  It obviously bothered him.  Marcus was very worried.

              Owl saw the look in Marcus’ eyes and his joy over seeing his brother slightly dimmed as his own apprehension over his condition surfaced yet again.  Then Marcus smiled and Owl’s spirits lifted at the sight. 

              Marcus contained his enthusiasm when embracing his brother so he didn’t cause him more pain.  Owl drew Marcus off alone.  “Is there anything you can do about this?” Owl asked.

              “Wow.  Listen to your English.  Claire said you’ve been working hard on it,” Marcus said.

              Owl’s brows drew down in annoyance.  “Yes, I have.  I am sorry to bother you with this right away, but I need help.  There is so much that depends on my shoulder.”

              Marcus said, “It’s ok.  I know you’re worried and I’ll do what I can but I can’t promise anything.”

              Owl sighed.  “I know.  I’m sorry.  Forget it for now.  It’s great to have you home,” he said with a genuine smile.

              Marcus was only able to wait a couple of hours before examining Owl.  He couldn’t get Owl’s problem out of his mind and needed to see what was going on with the shoulder.

              Owl winced as Marcus carefully prodded the area around his shoulder blade.  “Right there,” Owl said.  “That’s the worst spot.  It helps when Hannah massages it, but lately it’s even been too sore for that.”

              “Raise your arm,” Marcus said.

              Owl did and the pain increased.  “Hurry up,” Owl said through clenched teeth.

              “Ok, put it down,” Marcus said.  “Well, the bad news is that I think you tore it a little again.  The good news is that I think it’ll heal.  More bad news is that it’s not ever going to be perfect again.”

              Owl said, “Is there more good news?”

              “Nope.  Sorry.  The best thing you can do for it is not try to shoot your bow.  Doctor’s orders, brother,” Marcus said.

              “That does not help me much,” Owl said. 

              “I’m sorry,” Marcus said. 

              Owl’s smile was tinged with sadness.  “Me, too.  Have a good night.”

              Marcus’s mind was troubled as he watched his brother walk away. 

              Hannah hadn’t been expecting to see Owl that night, but was happy that he’d come over. 

              “Hello. I thought you’d be with Marcus,” she said as he stepped past her into the parlor.

              “I was.  It’s great to have him home,” Owl said as he sat down on the sofa.

              Hannah noted that his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.  “All right.  So what’s wrong then?”

              “He looked at my shoulder and said that it seems like I reinjured it a little.  It’s going to take more time to heal than I expected,” Owl replied.  “I didn’t take the news well and I was rude to him.  I’ll apologize tomorrow.”

              Hannah sat down by him.  “I’m sure he understands,” she said.

              Owl nodded.  “I’m sorry.  I’m not good company, I shouldn’t have come.  It’s late.”

              “Of course you should have.  I don’t mind,” Hannah said.

              “So how was your day?” Owl asked.  He needed a distraction and he genuinely wanted to hear about what she’d been up to.

              “Busy.  I’m glad Doc came back when he did,” she said and went on to tell him about some interesting cases that had come in.  She never told him who, but when there was something unusual he liked to hear about it.

              Hannah could tell that he was only half listening.  “Owl, what can I do to help you?”  She sensed that his pain was more emotional than physical.

              Owl decided it was time to jump off the precipice that they kept avoiding.  “Hannah, remember when I said that I couldn’t make you any promises about the future?”

              Hannah nodded.  Suddenly she was panicky about what he was going to say.  “Yes.”

              Owl took a huge breath and said, “I still can’t make promises, but no matter what happens you need to know that I love you.”

              His declaration wasn’t what she’d been expecting.  She’d thought he’d been about to tell her that it was over.  “You do?”

              Owl saw the distress in her face and regretted scaring her.  “Yes.  What did you think I was going to say?”

              “That you wanted to break things off,” Hannah said. 

              “No, no.  I’m sorry if I made you think that,” Owl said and cupped her face.  “I love you, Hannah.  You make me so happy and I want to be with you.”

              Hannah placed her hands on his wrists and looked into his beautiful eyes and said, “I love you, Owl.  That you love me is enough for now.”

              Owl kissed her and tried to communicate to her everything he felt for her.  Hannah’s response to him was ardent and bold.  Her desire for him was enflamed by the way his hands traveled over her body.  When he pulled back from her, Hannah gripped his shirt and quickly said, “Don’t leave.  Please stay.”

              Owl’s eyes widened slightly.  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

              “Yes.  Stay.”  Hannah saw the surprise in his eyes change into hunger.

              When they kissed there was a raw primal element in his embrace and it ignited an intense craving within Hannah.  She needed to touch him.  Her hands found their way under his shirt and pressed against his warm chest.  Owl complied with what he sensed she wanted and drew his shirt over his head and let it drop to the floor.

              She stood up and pulled him with her.  They barely stopped kissing the whole time she led him to her bedroom.  Once there, Owl gave her a last questioning look.  Hannah’s fiery kiss was his answer and he became caught up with her in a powerful storm of love and bliss.

              Hannah awoke first the next morning and felt a weight across her midsection.  She placed her hand on it and smiled as she realized that it was Owl’s arm.  She looked at her windup alarm clock and saw that were only a few minutes before it would go off.  She pressed the button to shut it off and lay her head back down again. 

              Turning her head, Hannah looked at Owl’s relaxed face and felt a surge of love wash over her.  His long black hair was spread over his back and she brushed some back from his face.  Hannah’s mind replayed their night of passion and she didn’t feel any regret or shame for giving herself to Owl.  She ran her hand over the powerful muscles of his arm and felt him stir.

              Owl stretched as he rose from a deep slumber.  His hand rested on Hannah’s warm, soft skin.  Without opening his eyes, he pulled her closer and heard her giggle.  He lightly bit her shoulder and she laughed harder.

              “Stop that,” she said.

              “Why?  You liked it last night,” Owl said.

              “Hush!”

              Owl chuckled and looked at her then.  She looked beautiful with her hair all mussed and slightly flushed cheeks.  Her gorgeous eyes smiled up at him.  “Can you be late for work?” he asked.

              “No!  I’m meeting your brother for the first time and I don’t want to make a bad impression by being late.  He’s one of my bosses, you know,” Hannah said.

              Owl kissed her and then said, “I could write you a note.  Dear Marcus, please excuse Hannah for being late because we were—‘”

              Hannah clapped a hand over his mouth and he laughed.  “You’ll do nothing of the kind Mr…Owl.  What would your last name be?”

              Owl kissed her palm and then removed it from across his mouth.  “Owl is a short form of my name.”

              Hannah looked at him with interest.  “Your name is longer?”

              “Yes.  My mother gave birth to me out on the trail.  When women have a baby on the trail, they go off alone and deliver the baby themselves,” Owl said.

              Hannah said, “What?  That’s not safe!”

              “That’s the way it’s been done for…” the English word escaped him for a moment.  “Centuries.  They’ve done it that way for centuries,” Owl said.

              Hannah tried to reserve judgment.  “So what is your full name?”

              “Great Owl in Night Sky,” Owl said.  “As I was being born, she looked up and saw a Great Horned Owl flying above her.  It was nighttime.  That’s how many of us get our names.  Sometimes our parents see something like that when we’re born.  Other times it might be what we look like.  Sometimes you’re given one name when you’re born, but it may get changed when you’re older and do a great deed of some sort.”

              Hannah frowned.  “Isn’t that confusing?”

              “Not really.  You have a naming ceremony and so everyone knows your new name,” Owl said.

              “So you just shortened your name,” Hannah said.

              “Yes.  Do you want to call me that whole name all the time?” Owl said with a smile.

              She gave him a sheepish smile.  “No, I guess not.”

              “See?  So, I became simply Owl except for formal occasions,” Owl said.

              Hannah glanced at the clock.  “Owl!  I have to get ready for work.”

              He didn’t let her go until he’d given her a kiss that made her heart race.  “That was nice, but I have to go.”

              Owl chuckled and released her.  He watched her lovely form as she hurried from the bed and left the room.

              Hannah wasn’t late but she found Marcus already at the clinic.  He stood in the waiting room looking around.  If it weren’t for his shorter hair and gray eyes, she would have mistaken him for Owl.  He smiled when he saw her come in the door and she smiled back.  As she got closer to him, she could see that the shape of his jaw was different and he wasn’t quite as tall as Owl. 

              “Hi, you must be Hannah,” Marcus said. 
She’s a beautiful woman.  I can see why Owl would be attracted to her.

              “And you’re Dr. Samuels,” she said and took the hand that he held out to her.

              He laughed.  “It’s gonna take me a while to get used to being called that.  Please just call me Marcus.”

              “All right.  I’ve heard so much about you,” she said.  She liked his easy manner and infectious smile.

              “And yet you still showed up.  You’re a brave woman, Hannah,” Marcus said.

              She laughed.  “I’ve been told that.”

              He said, “I’ve been looking at Doc’s office.  He said that next week we’re gonna start going through it and getting me up to speed with everyone’s chart.  The place looks like a mess, but I know his system so it won’t be bad.”

              “I’m glad you understand it, because I can never seem to find the right chart.  He comes along and puts his hand right on it,” Hannah said.

              “Well, I think it’ll be more practical if we update some things,” Marcus said.

              The office door swung open and Joe stepped through it.

              “Well, look what the cat finally drug home!” Joe said and he and Marcus shared a hearty handshake.  “Our Dr. Samuels in the flesh.  Ya’ll are lookin’ good.”

              Marcus smiled at his friend and said, “Wish I could say the same for you.”

              “Hey!  Is that any way to talk to the man who funded your educational endeavors?” Joe said.

              Marcus frowned and said, “About that, you gave me way too much money.  I’ll write you a check for the amount of what I didn’t need to use.”

              “No, sir, you will not.  What you’re gonna do is take that money and invest it in this office.  Buy new equipment, or give Hannah a raise, whatever.  Use it at your discretion.  I trust you,” Joe said.

              “Joe, be serious,” Marcus said.

              “I am,” Joe said.  “I’m dead serious.”

              Marcus could tell that he wasn’t going to budge Joe on this.  “Ok, fine.”

              “Good,” Joe said with a smile.  “Now you treat my favorite nurse well.”  He gave Hannah a one armed hug.

              Marcus laughed.  “I see you haven’t changed.”

              “Why mess with perfection,” Joe said and then left.

              Marcus shook his head.  “He’s something else.”

              Hannah agreed as their first patient came in.

              By noon it was apparent that the main reason people where coming in to the office was because they wanted to visit with Marcus.  Doc and Hannah watched with smiles as Marcus teased and laughed with almost everyone who came through the door.  There were legitimate patients and between Hannah and him, they were dealt with quickly.

              Doc hung back and let Marcus run the show.  Marcus’ laid back style of practicing and his popularity put people at ease.  He knew many of the children in the area, some he’d even delivered.  That they knew him took a lot of the fear out of their office visit.

              At noon, Marcus plopped down in a chair in the waiting room and said, “Well, the day’s only half over and I think the whole town’s been through here.”

              Doc chuckled as he joined Marcus.  “It’s your fault for being so damn likable.  If you were a little surly now and then, you wouldn’t be so busy.”

              “Thanks for the tip, Doc,” Marcus said.  “Hey, Hannah!  Where are you?”

              She popped her head out of an examination room.  “Right here.”

              “Get out here and sit down for a break.  In fact, let’s all go have lunch.  I’m starving.  I miss Jack’s cooking,” Marcus said.

              Hannah was uncertain.  “Oh.  Are you sure?”

              “Yeah.  C’mon.  My treat,” Marcus said and stood up. 

              Dean walked through the door and said, “I need your help,” to Marcus.

              Marcus shook his head and said, “Sorry.  I don’t have a cure for stupidity.”

              Dean smacked Marcus in the back of his head.  “Knock that off.”

              Marcus rubbed his head and said, “You just hit a doctor, you know.”

              “Right now you’re my brother.  Where’s Lakota number two?” Dean asked.

              “Who?”

              “Owl.  Where’s Owl?” Dean said.

              “How should I know?  I’ve been here all morning,” Marcus said.

              “I know,” Dean said.  “That’s the problem.”

              “Huh?  You’re not making sense, Dean,” Marcus said.

              “I don’t know why but it somehow escaped my attention that when you got back you wouldn’t be working on the ranch anymore,” Dean said.  “Cam and Marty are out on a drive and Luke and Seth are branding the rest of this week.  Jack’s at the sheriff’s office and that leaves me to do everything else.  I need another ranch hand pronto and Owl has been helping us out already.  Do you think he’d come work for me?”

              Marcus smiled.  “Let me get this right.  You, who has had a grudge against my other family for so long, now wants to hire one of my brothers to work at the ranch?”