Westward Dreams

by Linda Bridey

  Sammi grinned at her. “I can see how you would. It does sound kind of like a joke doesn’t it? I answered his ad and it was the best thing I could have ever done.”

  “So it’s worked out then?” Hannah said.

  “Yep. I’m sorry it didn’t for you. You could always just point him out to me and I’ll beat him up for you,” Sammi said with another smile.

  Hannah laughed. “I could do that, but then I’d just have to patch him up again.”

  “Oh yeah. Jack said you’re a nurse. We could use a nurse in these parts,” Sammi said.

  “It seems as if Jack is full of good information,” Hannah said.

  “So he already filled you in on our doctor situation?”

  “Yes. In fact, if you would give me directions to the doctor’s office, I’d like to go meet him,” Hannah said.

  “Oh, sure. You got it,” Sammi said as she took a sip of coffee.

  The door opened and Mitch came in.

  “Hannah, this is my husband, the best-lookin’ sheriff in the state,” Sammi said.

  Mitch smiled. “Last week it was the country. What happened to that?” he asked and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  “Mitch, this is Hannah Fairbanks,” Sammi said.

  He held out a hand to Hannah. “Pleased to meet you. Sorry about all your trouble. I can’t believe Clive did that.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too, sheriff,” Hannah said. “It’s my own fault, really. I should have known better.”

  Sammi cocked her head and said, “Sometimes when something doesn’t work out the way you hope, something better ends up coming along. So don’t beat yourself up about it.”

  Hannah smiled. “I’ll try not to. Well, if you’ll just point me in the right direction, I’ll be on my way.”

  Doc Turner was what Hannah considered the best kind of doctor. He was honest, caring, and wasn’t in the profession for money. It was obvious that he was very dedicated to his patients and that they loved him.

  “So now, Miss Fairbanks, what in the world are you doing in Dawson? The Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing is the premier nursing program in the country. You could work almost anywhere you wanted,” Doc said. His keen brown eyes looked over her resume.

  Hannah told him her story and he grew angry.

  “What a damn dirty thing to do to somebody, and especially a nice lady like you,” Doc said.

  Hannah laughed. “You’re very sweet, Dr. Turner.”

  “Just call me Doc. Everyone does. So you’re lookin’ for work, right?” Doc said.

  “Yes. I was hoping you might have room in your practice for someone with my skills,” Hannah said.

  Doc said, “You know, Nurse Fairbanks, sometimes the good Lord drops just what you need into your lap and I think He did that in this case. We don’t get a lot of real complicated stuff around here. A lot of farming accidents and colds and such; that’s pretty much it. Does that sound like something you’d be interested in?”

  Hannah nodded. “Yes. I’m also experienced at delivering babies.”

  “Perfect! We can use someone else who can handle that,” Doc said. “Now let’s talk about the money part.”

  An hour later Hannah left Doc’s a very happy woman. The pay wasn’t very high compared to what she’d made in Cleveland, but she felt that it would be enough for now and she knew she’d be making a real difference in Dawson. Doc was quite a character and Hannah liked him immensely already. He’d told her a lot of stories about Marcus and she couldn’t wait to meet him.

  On the way back to the hotel, Hannah suddenly saw Clive. She stopped to see which way he was going so she could walk in a different direction. He saw her and started walking her way. Hannah decided to stand her ground.

  Clive reached her and said, “Look, Hannah. I’m sorry about everything. I shouldn’t have tricked you like that.”

  “That’s right. You shouldn’t have lied to me. I left everything to come here because you painted this perfect picture for me. You told me what I wanted to hear and I should have realized that it was too good to be true,” Hannah said.

  “You’re right. Let me make it up to you,” Clive said.

  “You can’t, Clive. I have no respect for you now. I’ll never be able to trust you, either,” Hannah said honestly.

  Clive began getting angry. “You came here to marry me and that’s what you’re gonna do, Hannah.”

  Her brows drew down and she backed up a little. “I’ll do no such thing and there’s no way to make me. There was never any contract and I do not want to marry you. If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to notify the sheriff that you’re harassing me.”

  Clive made another move towards her and she backed up again. “You think you’re smart with your fancy education and all, don’t you?”

  “Leave me alone,” Hannah said loudly.

  “I’m warning you,” Clive said.

  “Is there a problem, here?”

  Hannah hadn’t noticed Sammi ride up behind her. “Yes. Clive will not leave me alone.”

  Sammi turned her ice-blue eyes on Clive and said, “So you’re the idiot that thought he could get away with tricking a nice woman to come here under false pretenses.”

  “This is none of your business, deputy,” Clive said with contempt.

  Sammi said, “That’s where you’re wrong. You’re harassing Hannah and I’m not gonna let you keep doing that. That’s my job. So you can either move on and not ever bother her again or I can get down from this horse and arrest you. Just so you know if you choose the second option, I hope you resist arrest so I can kick your ugly can and slap cuffs on you. What’s it gonna be?”

  Clive had seen Sammi make good on those kinds of threats when she was working at the Watering Hole and had no desire to come up against the deputy in the middle of town. He threw scathing looks at both women and walked away.

  Hannah breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Sammi.”

  “No sweat. If he gives you any more problems, you just let us know and I’ll make him sorry,” Sammi said. Then she shouted something out in a different language and waved.

  Hannah turned in that direction and felt like the wind was knocked out of her. Her rescuer from the day before rode in their direction. She tried not to stare but it was hard not to. As he neared, Owl said something to Sammi and she laughed.

  “Hannah, this is my good friend, Owl. Owl, this is Hannah. She’s new here,” Sammi said.

  Owl smiled at Hannah and said, “Yes. I remember. Pretty lady from…” he looked at Sammi for help.

  “Earlier?” Sammi said.

  “He means ‘yesterday’,” Hannah said.

  “Yes. Yesterday,” Owl said.

  “Oh. What happened yesterday?” Sammi said.

  “Hannah almost fell in mud, but I catched her,” Owl said.

  “You mean ‘caught’ her,” Sammi corrected him.

  “Yes, I caught her,” Owl said.

  Hannah said, “Thank you again.”

  “No problem,” he said and scanned the sky. “It will rain again tonight, I think.”

  Sammi said, “He’s the best weather forecaster you’ve ever seen.”

  “I’m sure that shoulder feels it first,” Hannah said.

  Owl’s gaze sharpened. “How did you know?”

  “I’m a nurse and I’ve treated all kinds of injuries. People with severe injuries that heal often say they have more pain when it’s going to storm,” Hannah said.

  “Nurse?” Owl asked.

  “Sort of like a doctor, but not quite,” Hannah said.

  Owl nodded. “I see.”

  “Do you get cramps in the muscles?” Hannah said. She suddenly saw Owl from a practitioner point of view.

  “Yes.”

  Hannah asked, “Has anyone ever tried massage on it?”

  Owl frowned and looked at Sammi. She translated for him. Just as Owl was learning English, Sammi was learning Lakota.

  “No. What will that do?” Owl aske
d.

  “I’ll show you, but not here,” Hannah said.

  “Let’s go to the office. I’d like to see this massage stuff,” Sammi said.

  Owl gave her a doubtful look, but followed Sammi’s lead.

  Jack was just coming out of the storeroom when the threesome came in the office.

  “Hey, Uncle Owl,” he said in Lakota.

  “Hi, Jack. How are you?” Owl asked.

  “I’m good. What’s going on?” Jack asked.

  “Hannah is going to rub my shoulder, I guess. I’m not sure if it’ll help, but I’ll give it a try,” Owl said.

  Jack laughed. “This I have to see.”

  Owl said, “Sammi said the same thing.” He switched back to English. “Ok, what do I do?”

  Hannah pulled out a chair and said, “Take off your shirt and sit here.”

  Owl grinned. “People always tell me keep my shirt on, not take off.” He pulled the garment over his head and tossed it to Jack.

  “What do I look like, a coat rack?” Jack asked.

  Owl ignored him and sat down in the chair. Hannah tried to keep seeing Owl as just a patient but couldn’t ignore how muscular the Lakota man was. Then she forced such thoughts from her mind and gathered Owl’s hair in her hands. It was incredibly soft. She twisted it a little and put it over Owl’s right shoulder so it hung out of the way.

  Hannah shook her head when she saw the scar from the knife wound. She could only imagine how much it must have hurt to have such a severe injury. She traced it with a fingertip and found that it was almost completely smooth. It was an excellent suturing job. Hannah removed her cloak and rubbed her hands together vigorously to warm them up. Then she prodded Owl’s muscles around the scar feeling for the problem areas.

  There seemed to be a bad knot near the shoulder blade and Hannah decided to start there. Owl was patient. He was curious to see what she was going to do. Her fingers started moving in gentle circles and then she stopped. Owl was surprised when he felt her hands on either side of his neck. She shook him a little.

  “Relax. Make your shoulders loose,” she said.

  Owl did as she asked and she went back to the knot in his shoulder and began working on it in earnest. Two minutes into the massage, Owl let out a deep animal growl as he felt something release inside his back. Sammi and Jack looked at each other but kept from laughing. They’d never heard Owl make such a sound.

  Hannah smiled and kept working. Those kinds of noises told her what she was doing was working. As she moved down his spine, more growls followed. Owl had never had any kind of experience like it. Every area she massaged eventually loosened up and eased more and more discomfort. Hannah got caught up in what she was doing. She moved Owl’s hair to the other shoulder and worked on the right shoulder and back.

  Mitch came in the office and Sammi held a finger in front of her lips to tell him to be quiet. Mitch came around to stand by Sammi just as another growl issued from Owl’s throat. The three officers smiled at each other. Owl’s mind wandered as Hannah worked. He was completely conscious of her hands on his body, but a powerful peace stole over him as each muscle was relaxed and soothed. It had a spiritual effect on him.

  Hannah moved up to his neck and pressed the pads of her thumbs into his firm flesh. Owl’s mouth curved in a relaxed smile and he said, “I think your Lakota name should be Magic Hands.”

  The office erupted in laughter, including Hannah.

  She said, “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She finished the massage and straightened Owl’s hair.

  When Hannah moved to stand in front of him, Owl’s eyes were slightly glazed as he said, “Thank you. Feels much better.” He was so relaxed that he hated to move.

  “Good. That means I did my job,” Hannah said. She tried not to think about how his body had felt under her hands, but it was difficult

  The office door opened and Joe poked his head inside. Seeing that the sheriff and his wife were not engaged in a kiss or anything, he entered.

  “Hey, ya’ll. Why’s Owl got his shirt off?” Joe said.

  Owl looked at Joe and smiled.

  Joe’s eyes got big. He looked at Hannah. “I’d recognize that look anywhere. Are you giving massages? I’m next,” he said and started taking off his suit jacket.

  Hannah was rather startled. “I, um, I wasn’t planning on it and I’m—‘”

  Joe pulled a twenty dollar bill out of the interior pocket of his jacket and held it up. “Not even for this much?”

  She was shocked at the amount of money he was offering her. It was more than a week’s wages.

  Seeing that Hannah was still reluctant, Joe said, “Ok, how about I hire you to come to the house every week. My wife would appreciate it, too. Probably some of my grooms, too.” He released Hannah and said, “Do you know what kind of money you could make doing that?”

  Hannah began to calculate numbers as she saw his point. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

  Joe smiled and said, “My place every Tuesday?”

  “All right,” she agreed.

  Joe said, “Fantastic,” and pressed the money into Hannah’s hand. “Consider that a down payment. See ya’ll later.”

  Hannah looked down at the money and then after Joe as he left.

  Jack said, “He’s always like that. He runs a really successful horse ranch and he’s always throwing money around. But in a good way.”

  “I guess so,” Hannah said. “Thank you for letting me use your office. I’ll get out of your hair now.”

  Mitch said, “No problem. It was pretty entertaining to watch and hear. Owl over there sounded like a bear or something.”

  Owl smiled. “You wait ‘til you have one. See what kind noises you make. You, too,” he said to Sammi.

  “It looks like it makes you feel really good. I’ll do it,” Sammi said.

  Hannah nodded. “Ok. You just let me know when you would like me to come.”

  “Will do,” Sammi replied.

  “Well, thanks again,” Hannah replied. “Have a good day.”

  Owl watched her go and made a decision. He caught up to her easily. Hannah was surprised to see him walking along beside her. She felt a little thrill run through her body.

  “How much to do that like for Joe?” he asked.

  “Certainly not as much as he gave me. It was way too much. I’m not sure. Can I think about it and get back to you?” she said.

  “Yes. Fine. Thank you. My shoulder feels much better. Back, too,” Owl said. “Where you go now?”

  “I have to go to the bank to open an account,” she said. “Why?”

  Owl didn’t know why he wanted to know himself. He just shrugged. “Where you stay?”

  “At the hotel,” she answered.

  “Ok.”

  As they neared the bank, Clive came out of the building. Hannah stopped and froze. Owl’s gaze traveled in the direction Hannah was looking and settled on Clive. He saw a slightly anxious expression settle on Hannah’s pretty features.

  “You do not like him?” Owl asked.

  “No, I don’t,” Hannah said.

  Owl placed a hand on her shoulder. “Do not worry. I will not let him bother you.”

  The brave sent Clive a hard look and stood a little closer to Hannah. Clive looked surprised. Owl’s stare never wavered as he looked the other man directly in the eye. Lakota culture taught that a direct stare was a challenge. Clive dropped his eyes first and walked in the other direction.

  Hannah hadn’t realized that she was holding her breath until Clive left the area and she let it out. “Thank you,” she said to Owl.

  “No problem,” he said. He felt it was safe for her to do her errands now. “Goodbye, Hannah.”

  “Goodbye, Owl,” Hannah said.

  He smiled and turned back the way he’d come. Hannah watched the handsome man walk away. She noticed that he walked a little straighter than he had before she’d given him a massage. Hannah was happy that she could help him. That was her life’s
mission after all.

  Chapter Four

  Claire looked up from the papers she was grading and sighed as she looked across the study she and Marcus had added on to their house. Marcus’ desk sat on the other side of the room. It was messy. Piles of books sat haphazardly on one side and assorted papers were scattered around the top of it.

  She smiled and felt admiration for him that he could be so disorganized and yet know where everything was. Claire’s eyes misted over as a wave of longing swept over her. Marcus had been in Chicago since the end of February and she missed him terribly. She would be so happy to see him when she went to his graduation ceremony in May.

  Claire was very proud of Marcus’ scholastic accomplishments. She’d always known that he would be an excellent student and he had excelled in every class. He’d worked hard and it helped that he was able to actually apply what he learned in the medical books to his informal practice. When Marcus had written and told her how well his clinicals were going, it had only confirmed what she’d known; he would breeze through them and most likely pass with honors.

  Aiyana came in from outside. “Mama, I miss Pa,” she said. “I want to play with him.”

  Claire reached out and stroked her daughter’s silky black hair that was so like Marcus’. “I know, honey. Me, too. We just have to patient a little longer, sweetie.”

  Aiyana’s gray eyes filled with tears. “But I want him now.”

  Claire drew the five-year-old onto her lap and cuddled her. “I want him here now, too. I tell you what; why don’t we go see Uncle Owl?”

  Aiyana brightened. “Can we?” Owl was a close second to Marcus.

  Claire said, “Yes, we sure can. Go get your shoes on.”

  “Mama, do I have to?” Aiyana said.

  The girl had inherited Marcus’ dislike of binding clothing and preferred to wear Indian dresses instead of the kinds worn by Claire and her sisters.

  “Yes, you have to,” Claire said.

  Aiyana rolled her eyes and stomped off to her room.

  When Owl had been able to be up and around more, he’d noticed that the men on the ranch did some of the work that was usually done by the women in his Lakota culture. Jack gathered and chopped wood. The men took turns hauling water for the women and also caring for the children. That Jack actually cooked astounded him. In his culture, women did everything from child care and cooking, to washing clothing and bead work. The men were only responsible for protecting their camps and hunting.