Faith was ready to pack up the babies and go with him, but Ian wouldn’t hear of it. He loaded the buckboard with supplies and hitched the gelding and another horse that he had bartered for to the front. Storm was tied to the back. He planned on using him to travel back and forth. He promised to return at the end of two weeks’ time with a progress report. He hoped his family could join him before summer.
He kissed Faith long and hard before he climbed onto the seat of the buckboard. They had just rejoined again as man and wife, and that was the one thing he hated, to do without. The circles under her eyes were gone now that the twins were sleeping more and she had regained her slim figure, except for the extra fullness in her breasts. He commented on that very fact as Faith leaned into him and pushed his hair back out of his eyes. He kissed her again, kissed the babies, whom Elizabeth was holding in her arms, and bussed Elizabeth on the forehead with instructions to take care of the Duncans for him.
He set off into the spring morning, finally seeing his lifelong dream with his reach. The land office in Council Bluffs confirmed what he had found out in St. Jo. The land was his, all he had to do was stake his claim. As he drove the buckboard around the gentle curve of the hill and saw before him all that he had dreamed about, he gave a prayer of thanksgiving. He now had everything he had ever wanted. Life was good.
Ian set to work laying out a foundation for a house, building a corral, carefully planning everything. He would dig a well after Faith arrived; he could get water from the stream until then. It was too early to think about a garden, besides, Elizabeth and Faith had been canning all fall and had enough to keep them well fed until they had their own crops. With all the things we’ve been collecting, it will take me to next jail to get everything hauled out here, he thought as he struggled with a stud to erect a wall in his house. He pushed against the section and slowly moved it into place. He bent to pick up his hammer, and froze when he saw a man on horseback on the rise above the house. He pulled his gun from his holster and dropped down from the foundation as the rider came down the slope.
It was Gray Horse. He rode up to what would be the front of the cabin and dismounted. Ian stepped out from behind the frame of the house and put his gun away.
“I came to see if you were the one who had settled here.”
“None other,” Ian replied. He followed Gray Horse, who was walking over to the small corral Ian had built.
“You do have a gray horse,” the Indian commented as he admired Storm. “He should give you many strong foals.”
“I hope so,” Ian said. “How’s your wound?”
Gray Horse touched the faint scar on his steely abdomen. “It healed well, thanks to you.” He stood and surveyed all the work Ian had done. “I still owe you a life,” he commented.
“I would be happy instead with your friendship,” Ian replied, “You might get bored waiting around for me to get into trouble.” The Indian looked at Ian and gave a heartfelt laugh, and soon Ian was laughing with him.
“Has your coffee gotten any better?” Gray Horse finally asked.
Gray Horse stayed the night with Ian and helped him set the framing in place for the walls of the cabin. Ian showed him the different rooms he had laid out and shared his future plans with him. He also told him about the twins, and Gray Horse was amazed when he heard about Jenny holding on to Jamie’s ankle. The two men talked many hours, and Ian was amazed that despite the differences in their cultures, they were basically the same inside. With the help of the Indian, Ian was able to do a weeks work in one day, which meant that Faith would be able to join him that much sooner. He was in high spirits at the end of the first two weeks when he made the trip back to St. Jo.
As spring came to the area, Ian’s homestead grew. The house was nearly complete. Gray Horse had shown up from time to time, sometimes with fresh game or fish that he had caught upstream. He always stayed the night and helped in whatever way he could. The bond between the two men grew stronger. Ian even allowed Storm to cover some mares that Gray Horse brought along, and in exchange the Indian gave him a mare. Like his family, Ian’s herd was growing, with the expectation of two foals come next spring, one by Tess and one later on by the Indian pony. He soon had the house under roof, and the next trip out he would bring his family.
The twins were now three months old and growing as expected. Jamie was the first in everything, Jenny usually right behind him. Faith was anxious for her family to be back together, but at the same time hated the thought of leaving Elizabeth. The woman was as close to her as anyone had ever been, except for Ian, and she wasn’t sure if she could cope with the babies without her steadying influence.
The time soon came for them to part. Ian, much to their disbelief, had been able to pack all of their collected household items into the buckboard. The babies were safely tucked into baskets beneath the seat among the last-minute items that Elizabeth kept adding to their load. Tess and Storm were tethered to the back. This was the first time Faith had ever felt regrets at leaving anywhere, and she held on to Elizabeth as tears filled her eyes.
“How will I manage without you?” she cried into the woman’s shoulder.
“You’ll be fine my dear, just use that pretty head of yours. Common sense is usually the answer.” Elizabeth wiped her own eyes. “I promise to write, and I’ll be out for a visit before you know it.”
“We’ll be back to see you,” Ian promised. “You’re our family.” He handed Faith up into the buckboard and followed her up onto the seat. Faith checked on the twins, who were both asleep, and they started off for their new home. Faith was full of apprehension as they traveled, but she was so glad to be back with Ian that she soon relaxed and began to look forward to finally seeing the place that had captured Ian’s heart.
She wasn’t disappointed when early the next morning they rounded the hill into their little valley. The cabin was sitting all fresh and new in front of a grove of trees. There was a stream, close enough to be convenient, and off to the left were a corral and a small shed. Ian helped Faith down from the wagon, then swept her up into his arms.
“What are you doing?” she squealed as he pretended he was about to drop her.
“Carrying you across the threshold.” He grinned as he kicked open the door and carried her into her home. He spun her around in the main room of the cabin until she was drunk with laughter. He deposited her in the middle of the floor and ran out to get the baskets with the twins. He handed Jamie to Faith and took Jenny in his own arms as he conducted them on a tour of their home. The cabin consisted of three rooms—a sitting room, a kitchen behind, and a bedroom off to the right. Above the sitting room and kitchen was a loft that would later become the twins’ bedroom. Faith examined each room and admired the careful craftsmanship that had gone into the building of the place.
“I can’t believe you did all this on your own,” she said in amazement.
“Like I said, Gray Horse helped,” Ian replied. He had gone to the wagon and carried in the rocking chair. Jenny was getting restless and was ready to be fed. He set the chair in front of the window, and Faith sat down to take care of Jenny. She still wasn’t sure if she felt comfortable about Ian being friends with an Indian, but Ian seemed to have no concerns, so she would wait and see what happened. Faith nursed the babies while Ian carried in furniture and provisions. There were several things they still needed, but between the two of them they soon had the place looking like a home. They finished the basket of food Elizabeth had packed for their dinner and put the twins to bed, each one now having its own cradle at the foot of the bed. Faith’s quilt was carefully folded at the end of the bed, and her box with the angel carved in the top was in its place on the bedside table.
Faith took the box into her lap after she had settled into bed for the night. Ian was out making sure the stock was content and the house was secure. She had her Bible open and was reading the pages in the front when he came into the room. He stopped at the door and surveyed the scene before him with a smil
e on his face. His children were contentedly sleeping in their beds, and his wife was before him, the glow from the lamp on the bedside stand making a halo around her head as she studied the Bible.
“Ian, look at this,” she said without looking up. “I’ve never paid any attention to this until now.” She laid the Bible beside her on the bed as Ian sat down to look. The book was opened to the front where births, marriages and deaths were recorded. It started with the marriage of what Faith assumed were her mother’s parents; then there was her mother’s birth, and another birth, soon followed by a death of the same baby. Her grandmother had died soon after that. The next recording was the marriage of her mother, Jenny Marie, to Melvin Taylor; then, not even five months later, her own birth was recorded. After that was the death of her mother, hastily scribbled in some fifteen years later before the book had been handed to her. “It was right here in front of me the entire time and I didn’t even know it.”
“You mean the fact that Taylor isn’t your real father?” Ian asked. “I knew that the first time I saw you together.” He pulled Faith into his arms. “I don’t care who your father is, or was. I just care that he made you for me, and that you’re here with me now. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’m just glad that we’re finally here—” Faith motioned around the room—”home.” She settled against his chest.
“I don’t ever want to be apart from you again.” Ian kissed his wife. She was here with him now, and they had all the time in the world.
It was a few days later that Faith met Gray Horse for the first time. She was out hanging the endless pile of wet diapers on the clothesline when he rode into the yard. She was startled at first, this being her first contact with an Indian, but soon felt comfortable in his presence. Ian had gone to town to buy a cow, and was happy to see his friend sitting on the front stoop with a twin in each arm when he arrived later that afternoon. Faith had taken advantage of his babysitting, and used the time to fix the three of them dinner. Gray Horse seemed uncomfortable inside the house now that it was furnished with all the civilized trappings of a family, so the three of them ate on the porch, juggling plates and babies.
What amazed Faith most was that the sun had bronzed Ian’s skin to almost the same color as the Indian’s. They both had the same sharp planes and angles to their faces, the only thing setting them apart was the color of their eyes and hair. Gray Horse was very polite and was quite taken with the babies. Jamie stared intently at the man with his deep blue eyes. Jenny seemed determined to take possession of Gray horse’s hair, her tiny hand reaching for the braided and beaded strands that hung down to his chest. He agreed to stay the night but refused to sleep in the house, instead making camp down by the stream where he and Ian had spent many a night.
“I was afraid of him at first,” Faith confessed to Ian when she was securely wrapped in his arms, safe in their bed.
“Why?” Ian asked. He rubbed his cheek against the top of her head.
“I guess it was just the whole idea of having an Indian in our home. When you first mentioned him, I as if we were going to the very edge of civilization, but now I realize, he’s not so different.”
“I didn’t think about how much he must miss his own family until I saw him with the twins.”
“It’s a sad thing, to know that you’ve lost the ones you love.”
“I know I’d die if anything happened to you,” Ian said as he moved down on his side, taking Faith with him. His hand caressed the side of her face, his deep blue eyes pulling her once again into the very essence that was Ian. His mouth came down on hers, and she felt herself spinning as he poured his soul into her, as she poured hers back, as they once again came together in their love. At the foot of the bed, Jamie and Jenny slept on.
Ian decided to start on the well since Gray Horse was there and seemed inclined to help. He hadn’t wanted to dig without knowing that someone was nearby to lend assistance in case of a cave-in. He had rock left over from the chimney and was hard at work when Faith called that breakfast was ready. Ian hastily cleaned his plate and jumped back into the well. Faith sat down on the porch steps with Gray Horse as he ate.
“How did you learn to speak English so well?” she asked.
“At the mission, my father thought it would be wise to learn the ways of our enemies.”
Faith was taken aback by his admission. “Do you consider us your enemy?”
“Your husband saved my life. There are not many white men who would do that.” Gray Horse put his plate down and watched Ian as he worked. Faith waited patiently for the man to continue. “I have found that there are good and bad in both worlds. If we have to share this land with someone, I would rather it be someone good, like your husband.”
“He is good,” Faith said as she watched Ian dig. The babies began to fret, and she went inside to get them. She returned with both and handed Jamie to Gray Horse. Faith sat down behind him and discreetly began to nurse Jenny, laying a blanket over her for modesty’s sake. Gray Horse propped Jamie on his knee and began to bounce him. Jamie promptly stuck his chubby fist in his mouth and watched Gray Horse as he sang a little song to him. “Ian said you had a son,” Faith said as she watched the two.
“Yes. He is gone now.” Faith didn’t pursue it, she could tell by the set of his shoulders that the subject was closed.
“You are really good with children,” she finally said. Gray Horse glanced over his shoulder and saw Faith smiling at him. He pulled Jamie up to him and hugged him. Faith saw the deep blue eyes of her son gazing at her over the Indian’s bare shoulder. She knew without a doubt that Gray Horse would be there for them.
Ian popped his head out of the well and flashed a grin at his wife. His hair was hanging down in his eyes again and he pushed it back, leaving a long streak of dirt on his forehead.
“Hey, how about some help?” he called to his friend.
Gray Horse held up Jamie and shook his head. “Some things are more important, my friend,” he said and laughed.
Ian went back to his digging.
Ian’s next plan was to raise a barn. He knew it was more than he could handle, even with Gray Horse’s help. He had faithfully been taking his family to church each Sunday in Council Bluffs and had begun to make friends with the other new families in the community. His homestead was further along than most, so he volunteered his time in return for help with his barn. He also managed to increase their household by the addition of a pregnant sow and a flock of chickens. They had a successful barn-raising at the end of June, complete with a picnic under the trees behind the house. The women all fussed over the twins, and the men all admired Storm, who showed off for everyone by prancing around his corral, tossing his mane and tail.
Faith looked up once to see Gray Horse deep in the trees watching the proceedings. He faded back into the brush when he saw her. Faith knew he would not come to the house with so many people there. He appeared later that night, after everyone had left. Faith and Ian were sitting on the porch admiring the new building when he came around the comer of the house. He didn’t say a word, just sat on the steps and looked at the barn. Faith kissed Ian and went into the house. She knew Gray Horse wouldn’t say anything as long as she was there.
“You have many new friends who helped you today,” Gray Horse remarked after Faith had left.
“That’s the way it is. We all help each other,” Ian said. He came down and sat next to his friend on the stoop. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I have seen many horses out on the plains to the west.”
“Running wild?” Ian asked.
“Yes, ours for the taking,” Gray Horse replied. “Two men should be able to take some, if they had a plan.”
“Tell me more,” Ian said.
Faith looked out the window and saw the dark head and the russet one bent close together. Ian would tell her about it soon enough. She climbed into bed and went to sleep to the sounds of their voices talking into the night.
The next day, Ian was full of plans for going after the wild horses. Elizabeth was coming for a visit, so he decided to wait until she arrived so Faith would not be left alone with the babies. Ian picked Elizabeth up in town from the stage depot. She arrived with many packages and baskets full of food, bubbling over with excitement at getting to see her grandchildren. When the buckboard pulled into the yard, Faith ran out to meet her, letting herself be enfolded in the woman’s loving arms. Ian grinned at Faith over Elizabeth’s gray head as he loaded the packages into his arms.
Elizabeth immediately went to the babies upon entering the house. They were on the quilt in the middle of the floor in the sitting room. She plopped down between the two and scooped them both up into her arms. Jamie looked up at her with his deep blue eyes, Jenny wiggled around until Ian took her out of Elizabeth’s arms. The only time Jenny seemed content was when her father was holding her. She was also quite fascinated with Gray Horse, and would stare at him for long minutes on end.
Gray Horse arrived soon after they had finished dinner and were sitting on the front porch enjoying the night air. Elizabeth gasped as the Indian seemed to appear magically out of the darkness. Ian had heard the bird call that usually announced Gray Horse’s arrival but neglected to tell anyone that company was coming. Faith was by now used to the Indian turning up in the evenings and didn’t bat an eye as he gently rubbed Jamie’s head. Elizabeth was holding a sleeping Jenny in her arms and looked from Ian to Faith in bewilderment as Gray Horse sat down on the porch step next to Ian.
Chase the Wind Page 11
