by Rita Karnopp
They parted as mutually as they'd joined. "Thanks for being there for me," Brett said, his voice unsteady.
"I have always been there, Shadow Chaser," he said. "I will always be there for you," he added, then turned to follow the others down the long corridor.
Brett stood watching him. A man he could be proud to call father. "Willow, I realize this has been one hell of a day for us both, but we pulled through like a real family." He took her hand in his. "During all that waiting I couldn't help thinking about you and me, and of course the boys."
"It's been draining, yet I feel grateful," she said. "When I think about what could have been, I shudder. All I could think about was our being a family. How much the boys wanted to be brothers and how devastated the other would have been if . . . it would have been hard."
"I agree." He rubbed her palms with his thumbs. "I'm sorry for being so pig-headed back at the house. I'm sorry for hurting you. It really doesn't matter anymore, the Indian thing. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes. It'll take time to adjust, that I'm sure. John will help, and so will I," she whispered into his ear, and then left a soft kiss to seal it.
"I can't live without you as my wife, Willow. I know this isn't an appropriate place, but I need to ask you again, will you marry me?" He watched her warm, slow smile and waited to hear the right word.
"I answered yes before, and I haven't changed my mind."
"You've made me a happy man, Willow Howling Moon." If ever a kiss said all the things he felt, this one did. He pulled her into his arms and held her.
"And, you've made me a happy woman, Brett Turner. I still can't believe we've managed to mend the fences between us. I have a feeling there's a lot of people who will never believe we have." She laughed and kissed him, soft and intimate.
* * *
"Father, I realize you've done much for the boys this past week," Willow said, moving an arm around his shoulder, "but you can't continue to burn sweetgrass in this room. There are rules about burning things in a hospital and―"
"Now, Willow, I don't need you scolding me too," Antelope Tipi said, shaking a rattle.
"Your prayers have been answered. Look at them," she said in a soft tone. "They're sleeping in peace. They have no pain and both have good coloring in their cheeks. Between you and John, the boys were never in any danger."
"Yes. We work well together. He tells me the white buffalo calf is doing well, as is Little Thunder. Brothers, different, yet alike." Antelope Tipi put the rattle, feathers, and the remaining sweetgrass into a leather pouch. "It is a sign that we must learn to live in harmony together."
Willow checked both boys and then followed her father out of the room. "Yes, I hear you. Brett and I are working on that one," she said, a hint of laughter in her tone. "He seems so much happier since he's found out John Steals Many Horses is his father. I think he needed to know where he came from before he could continue on with his journey in life."
"There is much truth in that, Willow Howling Moon. We are the extension of our ancestors. Not to know who they are would be confusing and give us no direction. It must have been difficult for Brett Shadow Chaser not to know who his father was. Difficult to face the questions of his son, when he had no answers to give."
"Yes, I'm sure it must have been. I can't believe what I thought about him. I was as blind and stubborn as he was. I thought . . . I guess it doesn't matter anymore, does it?" Willow asked, shaking her head. "When the boys start school next fall, Brett is going to work with Doctor Potter to get his vet degree. It won't be easy, but we're confident he can do it. He's really excited about it."
"This is good to hear." Antelope Tipi stopped to sit on a chair in the waiting room.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
"Of course. What would make you ask such a silly question?
She looked carefully at her aging father. "You never stop to rest like this. Are you feeling ill or―?"
"Stop fretting. This looked like a comfortable chair, so I thought I would check it out. It is a good choice. I will remember it for the next time I come here." He looked at Willow and shook his head as he got to his feet. "You young people worry too much."
* * *
"What on earth!" Willow gasped, staring at Sean's bald head. "Your beautiful hair. How come―"
"You like it?" Sean asked, rubbing his palm on the smooth skin.
"To be honest, I don't know what to think. I guess you don't look any less bare than Lance."
"That's the point. I figured if both of us had no hair the kids in school wouldn't be so hard on Lance. Together we fight pretty mean," he added.
"I can just imagine," Brett said, his voice deep with authority. "Don't you think it might have been a good idea to check with one of us first?"
"I checked with Grandpa John Steals Many Horses.” Sean looked over at his partner in crime. “Didn't I, Lance?"
"Yup. Grandpa shaved it for him." Lance nodded, laughing into his hand.
"I'm going to have a chat with Grandpa," Brett said, moving to wrap his arm around Willow.
"You get the feeling things aren't going to get any easier?" she asked him.
"Nothing we can't handle, right fellas?" Brett asked.
Willow smiled at the boys' raised thumbs, Lance's still wrapped in a multitude of cloth, Sean's hanging from a traction bar. She couldn't help rolling her eyes upward in defeat, knowing their gesture of brotherhood.
Brett shifted his feet. "We've got something to ask you guys."
Willow waited until the room became silent. "By the time summer vacation is here, you two bull-riders should have had enough time to regain your strength." Her tone revealed her excitement. "What would you think about a real traditional Blackfeet wedding?" She laughed at their loud cheers of approval.
Brett raised his finger to his lips, quieting them once again. "But that's not all. Equally important, I'll be adopting you, Lance, so we'll be the Turner family. What do you think of that?"
The boys stared at each other for a moment, then smiled, giving each other a look that only brothers could understand.
"I'd like that," Lance said, tears forming.
"Me, too," Sean said with excitement. “It worked just like in Parent Trap.”
"Except it took them longer to get the idea," Lance pointed out.
"You're wrong," Brett said. "We fell in love on the way to get you beastly boys."
"You did?"
Willow laughed at their unison response, pleased with their startled looks. "Yes, we did."
"But you kept yelling at each other," Lance said.
"Yeah, you couldn't stop," Sean added.
"We were too angry to let you boys know your plan worked. You guys endangered our lives, as well as your own. But, we've decided this family isn't keeping secrets, so you've a right to know it worked," Brett explained, hugging Willow to him.
"Wow. Can you believe it?" Lance asked.
"Wow. We did it!" Sean's voice held a tone of awe.
"One more thing, guys," Willow announced. "We were thinking of going to Hawaii for our honeymoon."
"Cool," Lance said. "Are we going to stay at the Res with our relatives while you're gone?"
"Yeah. We promise not to ride any bulls," Sean added.
Willow couldn't help smiling. "That's comforting, but we thought we'd like to have you boys come with us. There'll be plenty to keep you busy, so we’ll have time to ourselves when we want it."
"Hawaii works," Sean answered, smiling.
"Yep.Hawaii works," Lance echoed.
Willow shook her head and turned to face Brett. She accepted Brett's kiss and the boy's cheering giggles. It felt comfortable. Like that of a close, sharing family, and she liked it.
"A wife and two sons. This feels right."
She accepted his kiss on the cheek. Together they looked at their sons, and then back at each other. In unison they repeated, "Hawaii works."
About the Author
Multi-published author
Rita Karnopp knew at a very young age she wanted to be a writer—and penned her first story at age sixteen. She is drawn to the history of the Native American and strives to bring alive the authenticity of a time past. Whether writing suspense, Indian historicals, or contemporary romance, Rita enjoys bringing excitement and the enduring power of love to her stories.
Rita currently resides in Montana with her husband and their loveable Cockapoo named Gema.
When she isn't reading, writing or doing research, Rita enjoys making dream catchers, gold panning, crystal or sapphire digging, rafting, fishing, canoeing, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Check out her website at www.ritakarnopp.com. Contact her at BooksWeLove.com or write to her at [email protected].
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[L1]Changed this to Blackfeet as I believe Blackfeet is the name of the Indian people whereas Blackfoot is the language spoken by the Blackfeet. Please let me know if you think I am wrong as that is what my research indicated.
Table of Contents
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