* * *
Jana joined them when Dan drove through the park to reach the canyon.
“It’s different, seeing the park from a car instead of hiking through wilderness, isn’t it?” Riley smiled, sitting next to Cam in the back seat.
“Would you rather have this life back?” He reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze. He searched her eyes for the answer, but only love for him shone in their depths. This was her chance to stay in her time.
“I wouldn’t trade my life with you in the past for anything, you silly caveman.” She leaned over, and kissed him, emphasizing her words.
The parking lot near the canyon was filled with cars, and people walked along the rim trail. Dan parked the vehicle, and people stared at them when they headed for the rim. Dan was dressed in his ranger uniform while Cam wore his buckskins. His knife and tomahawk hung from his belt. Dan had managed to get the weapons back when he'd secured his release from the Justice Center.
Riley would need a new deer or sheepskin dress when they returned to the past. According to her, Jeffrey had dressed her in modern clothes before taking her to the hospital. Cam had kept his annoyance with the cowardly man to himself. No one touched his wife, but in a way, Jeffrey had saved Riley, even if he’d brought her back to this time against her will. He would have to be dealt with discreetly if he refused to give up the vessel.
“There he is.” Riley nodded with her chin toward a thin man, standing by an overlook to the canyon, his eyes darting around nervously. He wore light tan pants, a blue shirt, and white shoes, which made him stick out from other people around him. He was clearly out of his element here, and it was obvious that being outdoors didn’t suit him.
When he saw Riley, Jeffrey’s body tensed, and his stance straightened.
“Stay here.” She placed her hand on Cam’s chest. “Let me talk to him first.”
Cam looked at her, about to refuse, but the pleading look in her eyes held him back. He nodded, but his muscles remained tense. Riley waved, and walked up to Jeffrey. They conversed, and she smiled, while he looked rather nervous. He cast glances toward Cam every few seconds. It quickly became apparent that they were arguing. Riley had one hand on her hip, leaning toward him while he shook his head.
“Doesn’t look like it’s going so well,” Jana remarked.
Cam didn’t wait. He walked toward them. He was going to get the vessel back. It belonged to the Sky People, not to this cowardly man.
“Why would I give it back to you?” Jeffrey said adamantly. “So you can ruin and waste your life, to go back to the past to be with some Indian?” The note of anger in his voice was apparent.
“You can’t make that choice for me, Jeffrey,” Riley replied.
She sounded pleasant, but there was a distinct note of annoyance in her voice. No doubt she was trying hard to control her temper. Jeffrey’s eyes darted to Cam at that moment, and his eyes widened. He obviously hadn’t noticed that Cam had moved closer, and now stood just a few feet away. How had this man survived even a day as a captive of the Bakianee?
“I love you, Riley. Don’t you know that?” he stammered, his voice taking on a pleading, desperate tone. “I love you. We’re perfect for each other.”
Riley shook her head. “I don’t feel the same about you, Jeffrey,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry. You’ve always been such a good friend to me. Don’t ruin that, for both of us.”
Jeffrey backed away, stumbling over a rock that was part of a barrier to prevent people from getting too close to the canyon rim.
“Please, give me the artifact, Jeffrey.” Riley stepped closer, holding out her hand. “If you truly care for me, you’ll let me be happy.”
Cam moved toward him. Jeffrey was getting too close to the rim.
“Don’t be a fool,” Cam growled. He couldn’t hide his annoyance. “You can’t keep what doesn’t belong to you.”
"Don't come any closer," Jeffrey warned, holding up his own trembling hand. "Riley was perfectly happy with her life until she touched that thing." His hand went to his waist. "I'm going to make sure no one touches it again." His voice cracked with uncertainty.
“What are you doing, Jeffrey?”
He reached into his pocket.
“I wasn’t going to bring it with me.” His eyes lingered on Riley. “But then I realized the irony of it. This is the best place to get rid of that artifact. No one’s going to find it down in that canyon, in the river.” Jeffrey sniggered.
A raven fluttered and landed on a rock several feet away, calling loudly. Jeffrey ducked, startled by the bird, and backed away. His foot slipped in the loose gravel, and he lost his balance. His upper body tilted backward, and he flailed his arms through the air.
Cam sprung forward. People called out, some gasping loudly. Jeffrey fell, and Cam lunged for him, his hands fisting in Jeffrey’s shirt. Cam dropped to his knees, and grabbed the terrified man’s arm.
“Don’t let me fall,” he yelled, his feet desperately scrambling against the brittle rocks. His actions only loosened more gravel.
Cam gritted his teeth, and pulled him toward the rim. The shirt in his grip was about to give way, but he couldn’t let go of Jeffrey’s arm with the other hand. At that moment, Dan was beside him, and together they hauled the frantic man to safety.
Riley rushed up, her arms around Cam’s neck when he’d backed a safe distance from the rim. Dan had a firm grip on Jeffrey’s arm.
“I could arrest you, for not following park regulations about staying behind the barrier.” Dan’s threatening voice droned in a low tone. “Give this man the snakehead, and we’ll forget this whole thing ever happened. It rightfully belongs to him.”
Several people cheered, and congratulated them on their rescue, even while they cast odd glances at Cam’s clothing.
Jeffrey’s terror-filled eyes clung to Riley. She walked up to him once he found his feet again. She embraced him in the same way she’d embraced Mat.
“I love you, but only as a friend,” she whispered. “You have a wonderful future ahead of you, and so do I. I found my purpose in the past. Don’t deny me my happiness.”
Slowly, Jeffrey nodded. He looked from Dan to Riley, then his fearful eyes met Cam’s.
“Take care of her,” he said. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out the vessel. He stared at it for a moment, then dropped it into Cam’s open palm.
Cam nodded. “She will be well taken care of.”
Jeffrey forced a smile.
“Unless I’m under arrest, I’ll be going back to the university now.” He looked at Dan.
“As long as none of this ends up in one of your research papers or in the tabloids, you’re free to go.”
Jeffrey scoffed. “I’m not going to ruin my future by mentioning any of this, you can be assured of that.”
Dan stepped aside, and Jeffrey walked away on unsteady legs. The people dispersed, some shaking Dan’s hand and thanking him for the job he was doing as a ranger.
Next to him, Jana cleared her throat. “Well, does this mean we’re saying goodbye?” She nodded toward the vessel in Cam’s palm.
Cam reached for Riley’s hand. “This needs to be returned to its rightful owners.” He held up the vessel.
Jana sniffed. Riley stepped up to her, and the two women embraced.
“This is déjà vu all over again,” Jana sobbed. “I had to do this once already, with Aimee and Daniel.” She swiped at her eyes, and smiled, glancing from Cam to Riley. “I see a little of both of you in Dan, but more so in Daniel.”
Cam scrunched his forehead. “Who is Daniel, exactly?”
Dan chuckled. “If my math is correct, I think he’s your future grandson.”
Cam’s brows rose. His eyes connected with Riley, who smiled.
“The park needs you, both of you,” Dan said, and reached out his hand.
Cam clasped Dan’s wrist. “This vessel will be returned to the Sky People. Somehow, we will see to it that Mukua is stopped, and can’t do any
more harm to anyone in our family. The Osborne name will always be around to protect this park.” He locked his gaze with Dan’s, who nodded.
“We’ll be around for a long time.” The ranger grinned. He looked from Riley to Cam. “But you two are the origin, the start of it all.”
Riley slipped her hand in Cameron’s. Together, they headed for the treeline, out of sight of the crowds, and Cam held his thumb over the gleaming eyes of the vessel.
Epilogue
“You should not be here, Cameahwait. You will anger the Sky People.”
Day Star emerged from the wicciup, a stern and disapproving frown on her face. Cam walked toward her despite the woman’s warning.
“I’ve been on a hunt. Every bighorn sheep I brought back has been distributed among the village. There’s a special piece of meat, and the hide of a fine ram waiting for you at your hut.”
Day Star’s eyes softened slightly, but she jabbed a finger at his chest when he moved closer to the wicciup.
“Your wife is resting. You should be with the men. She will let me know when she needs something.”
“Riley has followed the traditions of the Tukudeka, Mother.” Cam placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “But she is also from a place where there are different customs, as am I. The Sky People won’t mind that I break tradition to be with my wife. I have fulfilled my obligation to the village, but now I wish to be with her.”
Day Star glanced around, an uneasy smile on her face. The wicciup was erected a short distance away from the rest of the huts. A cold wind lifted the older woman’s hair from her back, and she wrapped her arms around her middle.
“There may be snow tonight,” she remarked, in an obvious attempt to prevent him from seeing Riley.
“Cameahwait.”
Cam groaned at the sound of his name. He turned his head to where Wo’itsa strode toward him with a wide grin on his face.
“I see that the hunt has gone well,” Wo’itsa said.
“You weren’t in the village when Riley and I arrived weeks ago, or I would have asked you to join me.” Cam held out his hand in greeting, and Wo’itsa clasped his wrist.
“You’ve done well on your own. The shaman looks pleased with your gifts to the village. With the weather remaining cold, hunting has been difficult.”
“I have something for you.” Cam held out the horn bow he’d carried for nearly a year. “This belongs to you, and I am fulfilling my obligation to return it.”
Wo'itsa stared at the bow and smiled at Cam. "I have since made a new bow, but I thank you for returning it. I hope it has served you well."
"It has kept me safe from harm, and provided for my wife and me. I, too, have a new bow."
Wo’itsa nodded. “Then let this bow be a symbol of our friendship.” He slapped Cam’s back. “Come, and we will join the other men in celebration of your good fortune.”
Cam shook his head. “I’m going to be with my wife.”
Wo’itsa frowned. “You would break tradition?”
“Yes. I consider you and the Tukudeka my friends, but I also have my own traditions I wish to uphold, and so does Riley.”
Day Star expelled a loud huff, but the faint smile on her face belied her disapproval.
Wo’itsa shook his head, but smiled. He slapped Cam’s back again. “You will always walk a different path than the rest of us, Cameahwait. Even when you left us, the Sky People did not abandon you. They will not abandon you now, if you stray from tradition again.”
Cam raised his eyes to his foster mother, a triumphant smile on his face. “See? Even Wo’itsa says it’s all right for me to break tradition.”
Day Star scoffed. She waved a dismissive hand at the hunter. “What does he know? He is merely a hunter, not a shaman. He has not been granted a vision from the Sky People in many years. How would he know whether they approve of what you are doing or not?”
Wo'itsa's grin widened. "My puha is as strong as ever. I may not have been granted a new vision, but the Sky People will talk to me again, in time." He raised his chin and headed toward the other side of the village to join some of the hunters and old men around their fire.
Day Star glared at him again. Her lips pursed, then she smiled. She shook her head. “Go, and be with your wife. It is as Wo’itsa says. You and she walk a different path from the rest of us.”
Cam nodded, and she walked away. He glanced from her to the wicciup and swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. Wiping a hand across his forehead, he lifted the flap and entered the dim dwelling.
A fire burned low in the center, and it was noticeably warmer in here than outside. Cam’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, and traveled to where a pallet was set up against the opposite wall. Someone stirred under the furs.
“Cameron?”
“I’m here.” He dropped to his knees by the pallet. “I was afraid I’d have to fight Day Star in order to be with you.”
He brought his hand around the back of her head, and pulled her closer for a kiss.
“Meet your son,” Riley whispered. She lifted the fur that covered her, and exposed a tiny, dark-haired child.
Cam swallowed, and he touched tentative fingers to the small face. The baby’s fingers curled around his outstretched one. Cam’s heart swelled with love and pride. His eyes lifted to his wife, and he smiled.
“He’s a strong boy,” he murmured.
“Just like his father.” She returned his smile, her gaze full of love for him, and for their newborn child.
“He needs a name,” Riley said.
Cam eased himself onto his haunches on the pallet next to Riley, and she leaned against him.
“You do know that it’s against tradition for a mother to name her child before his first smile, don’t you?”
Riley laughed. “Yes, and I also know it’s against tradition for the father to see his baby for the first month of his life, but here you are.”
“We will make our own traditions.” Cameron leaned over, and kissed her again. “Do you have a name in mind?”
Riley lifted the baby from her chest, and placed the squiggly bundle in Cam’s arms. He awkwardly supported the infant, and his heart swelled with love.
“Do you have a preference?” she asked.
Cam shook his head. “I don’t have a preference.”
Riley glanced at him. “If you don’t mind, then, I would like to name him Zachariah, after my grandfather. He died when I was little, and my grandma raised me on her own.”
"Zach it is." Cam stared at his little son, then at the baby's mother. "We'll stay here at the village as long as you need to recover before we return home to the valley."
Riley laughed softly. “I’ll stay for as long as you can put up with Day Star, but if she makes me sit in this wicciup for an entire month, I may want to go home next week.”
Cam smiled. The baby squirmed in the crook of his arm, and he handed the infant back to Riley.
“Maybe when we get back to the cabin, Mat will have returned from his visit with Naatosi.”
Riley touched his arm. “I know you miss him. He has been gone for a very long time.”
“Naatoyita assured me that Naatosi sent Mat on a spirit journey, and he is where he needs to be.”
“At least we haven’t seen or heard from Mukua,” Riley smirked. “Or Hastings.”
Cam tensed at the mention of both the elder and the man he’d trusted all these years. “Hastings is dead, but I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Mukua. He will cause trouble again. We have to be vigilant.”
He glanced at his sleeping son, and touched the baby’s cheek. “It’s time we put all that’s happened behind us. Our son will grow up to lead a normal life, free to choose his own path, and not fall under the influence of the Sky People.”
Riley rested her head against Cam’s chest, and he wrapped his arm around her. A content smile formed on his lips. He and Riley had come far since the Sky People had brought them together. He was no longer angry and lost, but at peace
with his life. Riley had grown into a confident woman, and her abilities in the wilderness continued to improve.
When she was recovered from the birth, he would take his family home to the valley along the Yellowstone, eager to begin a new chapter in their lives. He’d put his past behind him, and his son was proof that the future of the Yellowstone would be secure, just as his father and ancestors had envisioned.
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The adventure continues with Book 7 in the Yellowstone Romance Series, Yellowstone Legacy, coming in 2016 (scroll down for a short excerpt). Currently, there are six full-length novels, three novellas, and a short story in this series. For a full list the books in this series, as well as my other time travel and historical romances, please visit my Amazon Author Page
Yellowstone Romance Series:
(in recommended reading order)
Yellowstone Heart Song
A Yellowstone Christmas (novella)
Yellowstone Redemption
Yellowstone Homecoming (novella)
Yellowstone Awakening
Yellowstone Dawn
A Yellowstone Season of Giving (short Story)
Yellowstone Deception
A Yellowstone Promise (novella)
Yellowstone Origins
Second Chances Time Travel Romance Series
Come Home to Me
Ain’t No Angel
Diamond in the Dust
Teton Romance Trilogy
Teton Sunrise
Teton Splendor
Teton Sunset
Blemished Brides Western Historical Romance
In His Eyes
In His Touch
In His Arms
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www.peggylhenderson.com
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Yellowstone Origins: Yellowstone Romance Series, Book 6 Page 29
