Westward Dreams

by Linda Bridey

  A small leather parcel sat in her hand. “What is it?”

  “Have to open to find out,” he teased her.

  When she did, two small barrettes fell into her palm. She turned them over and saw the pretty butterflies on them. Looking at Owl she said, “You’re just full of surprises. They’re lovely. Thank you. I’ll wear them tomorrow.”

  It made Owl happy that she liked them. “Good. I come see you then.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes. Is that ok?” Owl asked.

  “Of course!” Hannah said. “You can come see me as long as I’m not busy. I’d love to see you.”

  “Ok,” he said as his eyes met hers. “You have very pretty eyes.”

  Hannah said, “Thank you. So do you.” She couldn’t look away from him. It was as if he held her in some invisible grip.

  The smile he gave her made her blood warm and her breath came a little more rapidly. Owl leaned forward and captured her mouth with his. She tasted of wine and he liked the way she responded to him right away. He cupped the back of her head and then released her hair from the ribbon she’d used to tie it up with. The silky texture of it felt good against his palm as his fingers dove into it.

  Slowly he lay her back on the mat and lay next to her. Hannah ran her hand over his arm and squeezed his biceps. Images of his bare torso and touching his smooth skin rose in her mind and she felt as if she was melting. Owl found her lips incredibly soft and sweet and he wanted more, but knew it wasn’t proper. He slowly ended the kiss and smiled down at her.

  “I think should take you home,” he said.

  Hannah said, “I don’t want you to, but I think you’re right.”

  Owl laughed and rose from the ground. He helped her up and said, “Be right back.”

  He disappeared and Hannah used the privacy to regain her composure. When Owl returned he held a bucket with water in it. “Stand back.”

  Hannah moved away and Owl poured water on the embers. He ran back to the stream for a second bucket. He wasn’t taking any chances of a fire starting. Once the fire was out, he helped Hannah mount up again and jumped on behind her.

  Owl rode Hank right up to the hotel and helped Hannah down from the horse.

  “Thank you for a wonderful night, Owl,” Hannah said. “I’ve never had a nicer first date.”

  Owl smiled. “I am glad. It was very special.”

  His kiss goodnight was soft and slow and Hannah would have been happy to stand there all night with him. When it ended he said, “You go in so I know you are safe.” His voice was husky with desire.

  Hannah knew how he felt. “All right. Goodnight, Owl.”

  “Goodnight,” he said.

  Once the door shut behind her, Owl turned and leaned against Hank for a moment. It had been a long time since he’d experienced passion like that and it was a heady sensation. After a few deep breaths, Owl mounted up and rode through town towards home.

  Chapter Six

  “He went on a date?” Tessa asked Jack the following morning after breakfast. She was helping Jack clean up the cookhouse so he could get to his deputy job on time.

  “Yep. Said it was a big success, too,” Jack said as he put a stack of dishes on a shelf. “Of course, I helped him with the menu and the little extras like wine. He’s not used to dating white women,” Jack said.

  Tessa snapped Jack hard on his backside with her towel.

  “Ow! What the hell was that for?” Jack said as he grabbed his rear end. He didn’t normally swear in front of his mother, but she’d surprised him.

  “For not telling me,” Tessa said.

  Jack laughed. “He swore me to secrecy, Mama. You know I never betray a confidence.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s very annoying,” Tessa said.

  “You crack me up, you know that? So is Grandpa or Grandma nosey like that?” he asked.

  Tessa smiled and said, “Papa. It drives him mad when people have secrets.”

  “I guess that apple barely got off the branch, huh?” Jack said and jumped out of her reach. His rear still stung from her last towel snap and he didn’t want another one.

  Tessa laughed and said, “Go to work. Don’t keep the sheriff waiting.”

  “Ok. ‘Bye, Mama,” he said. He kissed her and ran out the door.

  Tessa sighed. She worried about him from the moment he left for his job until he returned. There were times when she looked at him that she still saw the adorable little boy he’d been when she first met him. Tessa shook off her musing and finished straightening the cookhouse.

  She left the building and was promptly enveloped in a hug. Tessa cried out in surprise and then laughed. Owl was always sneaking up on her.

  “Gotcha!” he said with a wicked laugh.

  Tessa switched to Lakota and said, “One day I get you back.”

  Owl’s grin got wider. “Not bad, sister. You seem to have a knack for languages,” he said. “I returned the things that I borrowed from you,” he said.

  “What things?”

  “Your basket, cups, plates, and utensils. And your pans. I washed them all, too. Did Jack tell you about my date?” he asked as he began walking with her.

  Tessa didn’t catch everything he said, but she got the gist. “Thank you. Yes, he tell me,” she answered giving him an annoyed look.

  “Don’t be mad because I wouldn’t tell you. It was just a joke,” Owl said. “It went really well.”

  “I am glad.” Tessa gave him a questioning look. “What you do?”

  Owl smiled. “I took her to our camp and we ate supper. I’ve never cooked before. I was relieved that the food turned out well.”

  He saw Tessa’s confused look and knew that he’d spoken too fast. He repeated his answer in English.

  “I’m very happy for you, Owl,” Tessa asked. “Are you going to see her again?”

  “Yes. I go after a while. Let me know you need anything from town,” Owl said as he jogged off to the barn.

  Tessa shook her head and smiled as she imagined what his date had been like. Apparently Hannah had liked it if they were going to see each other again.

  Owl’s little brother Marcus ran across the Rush College campus at full speed. He wasn’t late but he was trying to stay in good shape. There was so much sitting around in classes that he was fearful he would get soft. He was used to much more physical exercise than he got there.

  When he’d first started attending the school, he’d been self-conscious because he was older than most of the students. He’d cut his long hair again and it only touched the collar of his shirt now. Not everyone would be accepting of his Lakota heritage and when he kept his hair shorter, it wasn’t nearly as noticeable. Marcus hated having to hide the Lakota side of him, but he didn’t want any trouble. He needed to get these classes and clinicals over with so he could get back home to his family.

  As he ran, he wove between other students. He took pride in knowing that he was in better shape than a lot of his younger classmates. Marcus wasn’t oblivious to the admiring looks some of the women in the city gave him, but he always made it clear that he was taken. He’d made some good friends while he’d been there.

  One such friend was Chase Burke. He was a big guy who reminded Marcus of Luke. Marcus heard his name called as he ran across the front lawn of the campus. He looked over to the right and saw Chase waving at him from atop the main flight of stairs leading into the school. Marcus changed directions and leaped up the stairs.

  “How the heck do you do that?” Chase said with wonder.

  “Practice,” Marcus answered with a grin.

  “Look at you. You’re not even breathing hard,” Chase said.

  Marcus patted Chase’s slightly pudgy belly. “If you got rid of this, you could do it, too.”

  “Ok, Dr. Samuels. That’s enough of that,” Chase said with a laugh. “Here’s your mail. I just picked up mine and thought I’d get yours, too.”

  Chase and Marcus were roommates and were always doing favors for ea
ch other. “Oh. Thanks.” Marcus flipped through the mail and laughed when he saw a letter from Claire.

  “Good news, I take it?” Chase said.

  “Letter from my wife,” Marcus answered and ripped it open.

  Dear Dummy,

  Marcus smiled at her use of her funny term of endearment for him.

  We miss you so much! I know there’s only five more weeks before we’ll be coming for your graduation ceremony, but it seems like a lifetime away. Everyone here is fine. The children keep asking for you. They will be so happy to see you when we get back from Chicago. I’m looking so forward to watching you walk across that stage. We’re all so proud of you.

  There have been some interesting developments around here. We now have a nurse in town. Her name is Hannah Fairbanks and she’s very nice. I took Aiyana to Doc’s because she had a cold that wasn’t getting better and I met her then. She’s very highly trained. She attended the Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing in New York and graduated with honors. Doc is thrilled to have her and I’m sure you will be, too. It will be good for you to have help when Doc retires.

  “Wow! Bellevue, huh? How’d she wind up in Dawson? Poor Aiyana. I hope she’s better now,” Marcus muttered to himself. It was hard hearing that his child was sick when he couldn’t be there to tend to her.

  Everyone here seems to like her, especially your brother. Owl seems quite taken with her and they have been out on a date, which went very well according to him. This next part will crack you up. He cooked for her. Yes, you read correctly. He cooked. Jack gave him advice on how to date white women and he took it to heart. He made her a nice dinner, which they ate at the empty camp site under the stars. Your brother apparently shares your romantic streak.

  Marcus laughed out loud. He couldn’t believe that Owl had taken up with a white woman. He was both amused and concerned. He didn’t want Owl to get hurt. It had been a long time since Owl had shown any interest in a woman and him seeing a white woman might get complicated. He felt the same for Jack and Sparrow. Marcus knew her father and was afraid of how the man would react when his daughter’s relationship with Jack was disclosed. Marcus had been immensely relieved when Dean had taken it so well. He wanted the young couple to be happy and hoped that Sparrow’s family would be accepting of Jack.

  He misses you and our Lakota family so much and so do I. I’ll be glad when they’re back. Dean says that I’m supposed to tell you that Owl is a pain in his ass. He talked Dean into letting Owl give Mikey one of his ponies when they get back. As usual he’s always protecting the children, which creates tension. He doesn’t back down and that makes Dean even angrier.

  Marcus smiled. He’d seen Owl torture Dean firsthand and knew from personal experience what an instigator he was. People thought he was annoying, but he had nothing on Owl.

  Owl’s English continues to improve and Tessa is catching on to Lakota fairly well. Dean has even learned a few words. It sounds very strange to hear him say them. The school children are getting anxious for summer and it won’t be long. Most of them are doing well. There are only two that I am going to hold back. I just don’t feel that they have mastered the current curriculum well enough to go on.

  Marcus was so proud of his wife for the fantastic job she was doing in teaching the children of Dawson. It made him feel good to see her so happy. She’d been fearful that she was never going to be able to use her teaching degree. His wife’s mind was too brilliant to be wasted and he knew that she was providing a quality education for the kids.

  I will be so happy when I can hold you and feel your arms around me, too. I think about you all the time and wonder what you are doing. I’ll close before I depress us both. I love you!

  Yours always,

  Claire “Fawn”

  He smiled at the use of her Lakota name. Black Fox had given it to her moments after meeting her. Marcus put the letter back in the envelope and looked at his other mail. There was a letter from Joe and Marcus knew it would contain another check. True to his word, Joe had paid Marcus’ way and continued to send money for his room and board. He opened it and read:

  Hey, Doc,

  I figure you might as well get used to people calling you that. Here’s the next installment. Let me know if you need more than that. I’ll be happy to send it to you. Hope all is going well there. We need to get you graduated and back here with us. You’re very missed, my fine friend.

  I don’t know if anyone else has told you, but we have a nurse here now and she is a very talented masseuse. She’s been giving Owl massages for his shoulder and he makes some very funny noises. She gave me one and I thought I was in heaven. I set up a regular weekly appointment with her. You’ll have to have her give you one. You’ll be hooked.

  The poor woman got hoodwinked by Clive Laramie. I guess you put an ad in the papers for him and he lied to her about everything. When she got here, he was a real jackass to her. She didn’t have anywhere to go, either. But Jack got her put up in the hotel and Doc was happy to take her on, so she seems happy. Your brother is sweet on her. It’s pretty cute.

  Guilt washed over Marcus as he read of Clive’s deception. Marcus didn’t know the man well and at the time he’d placed the ad, he had no reason to suspect Clive of any deceitfulness. Anger joined the guilt and he decided that from then on he was going to make it clear to whomever he wrote an ad for that he wouldn’t tolerate that kind of behavior.

  Well, I won’t take up more of your time. Study hard and get good grades!

  Regards,

  Joe

  Marcus looked at the check Joe sent and groaned. Joe always sent too much money. Marcus would make a trip to the bank to deposit the check. It always made him nervous to have such a big check sitting around and preferred to get them in the bank as soon as possible.

  Chase finished reading his mail, too and said, “See ya later, buddy. I’m off to work on that chemistry paper. Unless you wanna do it.”

  Marcus said, “Nice try, Chase. Sorry. I’ve got my own work to do.”

  “You’re no help whatsoever,” Chase said with a smile. “See ya.”

  Marcus stowed the letters in his bag and continued on his way to class. Since he had studied so many books that Doc had given him over the years, Marcus knew a lot of the material being covered and was sometimes bored in class unless they had a discussion. He was almost always called on to answer. It got around that he’d actually been practicing medicine for a long time. He didn’t disclose any of his Lakota medicine knowledge even though he ached to do so sometimes.

  Marcus entered the auditorium and was surprised when he saw that there was some kind of presentation set up. He smiled and settled into a seat near the front. It looked like he wouldn’t be so bored after all.

  Chapter Seven

  The day had been long for Hannah. There were so many people to treat that she hadn’t even really gotten to eat. She’d seen Owl briefly and had apologized for not being able to spend more time with him. He’d kissed her quickly and told her it was fine. She’d gone back to work and had been on the go ever since.

  When she and Doc were finally through for the day, it was dark out and the wind had kicked up. Owl was standing outside when she left the office. As usual, there was a little thrill that ran through her at the sight of him. She was surprised to see him dressed in black pants and a white shirt. He looks incredible.

  “Hi. Have you been waiting long?” she asked as she drank in his appearance.

  “Not so long,” Owl said. “You look tired.”

  Hannah sighed. “I am. It was very busy.”

  Owl’s expression turned concerned. “Are you hungry?”

  “Yes! Why did you cook again?” she teased him.

  Owl laughed. “No, not this time. Restaurant up the street? My treat?”

  “Um, well, I’m not really dressed for going out,” Hannah said.

  “You look great,” Owl said and meant it. “Do not worry about it. Come. We go eat,” Owl said and took her hand.

>   Hannah didn’t resist anymore. His touch was very nice and she curled her fingers around his hand. He smiled down at her.

  The Grady House was fairly busy. Alice, one of the waitresses, seated them. She looked at them curiously as she gave them menus.

  Owl smiled as she left and said, “I think she surprised to see me here.”

  “I think you’re right,” Hannah said. “She’ll just have to get used to it.”

  Owl looked at the menu and concentrated on it. Some of the words he knew and some he didn’t. Hannah noticed his frown and guessed at the cause of it. She wanted to help him, but didn’t want to embarrass him. She perused her own menu.

  “Hmm. I’m so hungry I can’t figure out what I want. They have chicken pot pie. I like that. Or do I want the meatloaf? Oh, they have ham, too,” she said.

  Owl heard “meatloaf” and decided that was what he would get. He liked Jack’s meatloaf so he thought the meatloaf there must be similar. “Meatloaf sounds good.”

  Hannah smiled. “Thank you for helping me to decide what to have.”

  “You are welcome. Thank you,” he said with a meaningful look at her. Her kindness was appreciated.

  She smiled as Alice came to take their order. When the waitress left, Owl began telling her amusing stories about when he and Marcus had been teenagers. She laughed as he told her how they’d gotten in trouble for pulling pranks on their grandfather who was the chief at the time.

  Hannah said, “You’re the grandson of a chief? Wow. I didn’t know I was dining with royalty.”

  Owl didn’t quite know what “royalty” meant, but he guessed it had something to do with being important. “Yes. I am big shot. My brother Black Fox is chief now.”

  Hannah almost dropped her fork over that. “He is?” She got a little nervous about meeting an Indian chief.