Westward Moon

by Linda Bridey

  Dean said, “I don’t think he’s gonna notice, honey.”

  Jack watched for Mike to come back. “He’s gonna be winning races all the time in camp. They won’t want him to compete.”

  Sparrow nodded. “Yes. I don’t think we have any horse as fast as that.”

  Mike was soon back. He rode with his arms stretched out to the sky. He stopped in front of them and slid off Duncan. He ran over to his parents and hugged them, thanking them over and over. Then he hugged Joe and Lacey and thanked them for training Duncan so well. Next he took Duncan to the barn to put him in an empty stall.

  Joe and Lacey stayed for a while after that. They took the kids for sleigh rides and then visited a little before heading home. Joe had left gifts for the children to open the next morning. He’d said that Santa had dropped them off at his place along with the colt for Mike. Mike went along with Joe’s story so the younger ones were none the wiser.

  Near dark, Luke and Jamie left with Rosie to spend the night at Luke’s parents’ house so they would already be there for Christmas. Jamie wasn’t thrilled about the idea, but went along with it for Luke and Rosie’s sakes. Luke’s mother, Pricilla was Jamie’s least favorite person.

  That evening Seth played carols on his fiddle and sang along with the twins who had pleasant little voices. He’d actually begun to teach them some harmony. He’d secretly rehearsed with them and they surprised everyone by singing The First Noel by themselves while Seth accompanied them.

  “You’re gonna have to sing that tomorrow for everyone, ok?” Dean said as he hugged them. “The musical ability skipped me, but I’m glad you guys got it.”

  Once the children were asleep, the adults put the presents under the trees and went to bed. Jack and Sparrow slept in the twin’s room next to Dean and Tessa’s room. Mike had offered for the twins to sleep in his room with him so that the presents could be put out without them knowing it. He did it every year. Also, Jack could sleep in one of the twin’s beds and be more comfortable than on the sofa.

  The twins were up before it was light out and even though Mike had tried to keep them upstairs for a while, they were too excited to settle back down, and came downstairs. Sparrow made them sit on the sofa while she put coffee on and helped Jack to the outhouse.

  Dean and Tessa had heard them and had dressed quickly. When they came out of their room, the twins began talking rapidly. They finished each other’s sentences and basically drove their parents crazy until they were allowed to open their gifts.

  Jack and Sparrow laughed as the twins exclaimed over new games and toys.

  Jack leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Just think; that’ll be us in a few years.”

  She smiled at him and said, “I can’t wait. I have dreamt of our children and asked for them to come once we are married.”

  “Then it really won’t be long,” Jack said. He knew that the Lakota prayed for fertility as much as any other culture. “I’ve asked for the same thing.”

  Claire, Marcus, and their children arrived later that morning and another day of havoc ensued. Marcus conned Dean and Seth into joining him and the kids in a snowball battle. It turned into a wrestling match with Dean and Seth ganging up on Marcus. Jack sat on the porch watching them.

  Jack yelled at Dean and Seth to play fair. Suddenly a barrage of snowballs came his way and he had to duck and hobble into the house to get away from them. Sparrow was quickly gaining even more perspective into Jack’s family dynamics. Even though she didn’t always say much, she listened intently because she wanted to learn everything she could about them so that when she married Jack, she would be able to fit in better.

  How his family perceived her was of the utmost importance to her and in Sparrow’s mind if she made a good impression, it showed that she loved him enough to care about making him proud of her.

  Jack helped as much as he could with the cooking, but had to put his leg up periodically, which frustrated him. Normally he would have been right in the thick of everything. He’d refused to take any medicine because as he told his fiancée, “I’m gonna eat every damn thing I can to make up for the last couple of days.”

  Geoff and Maureen, Tessa’s parents arrived with more presents for everyone and Maddie took them over to her and Seth’s house since Tessa’s house was already overflowing with gifts and such. Tessa and Dean’s daughter Sadie and her husband, Tucker, also came. Tucker was no longer shy around the family and chimed right in with the banter. Their little boy, Ethan was quickly drawn into playing by the twins.

  Marcus had brought mistletoe with him. He hung it all over both houses and even the barn so that people had to kiss every few steps, which made the chaos even worse, but more fun, too. It was a good thing they had the cookhouse in which to eat their dinner so that everyone could dine together. Even so, it was a little tight.

  No one wanted to say grace and it was argued about until Mike shouted, “Shut up! I’ll do it!” Stunned into silence, they were further shocked when Mike said a grace that was deeply moving.

  No one said anything for a few moments after he finished until Jack said, “Mike, that was beautiful, now pass the ham. I’m hungry.”

  When everything was cleaned up from the meal, they all sat in the parlor to let their meals digest. Marcus said to Seth, “Close your eyes.”

  “Why?” Seth said giving his brother a dubious look.

  “Just do it,” Marcus insisted and ran upstairs to Mike’s room.

  J.R. laughed and Seth looked at his son. “You know what he’s up to, don’t you?”

  J.R. nodded, but wouldn’t say anything except, “Close your eyes, Pa.”

  Seth did as told. Marcus was soon back and held up a finger to his lips as he drew something from behind his back. “Hold out your hands, but put them kinda close to your chest.”

  “Does this thing come with all kinds of instructions, Marcus?” Seth asked.

  “Sorta.”

  Seth frowned and put his hands the way Marcus told him to. Suddenly he felt something very soft in his palms.

  “Ok, open your eyes,” Marcus said.

  Seth did and looked into the little dark eyes of a tiny black poodle puppy. It whined and wagged its tail and tried to get to Seth’s face. Seth looked at Marcus with wide eyes.

  “Where’d you get it?” Seth asked.

  “Oh, I know a guy who knows a lot of people in dog circles,” Marcus said.

  Seth held up the little ball of fur and laughed. “He’s cute as all get out! Thanks, little brother,” Seth said as he became a little misty-eyed.

  Seth’s little poodle, Trouble, had passed away the year before and Seth had missed his sidekick terribly. Trouble had caused the accident in which Seth’s right leg had been severely injured. He’d been on a cattle drive at the time. Instead of being angry with the dog, Seth had formed an instant bond with the poodle and had brought him home.

  Seth laughed as the puppy barked and jumped at Seth. Abruptly the puppy stopped and a stain spread on Seth’s shirt. To everyone’s surprise, Seth didn’t get angry. He shrugged and said, “It’s not the first time I’ve been peed on.” To the puppy he said, “I don’t even have you five minutes and you’re causin’ me trouble. I guess we know what your name is. Now I gotta change my shirt, you little devil. I’ll be back.” He left the house with the puppy, talking to it the whole time.

  That evening, Raven showed up and joined the melee. He brought Christmas tidings from the Lakota camp along with word that all was well. He stood under mistletoe but had no idea what it was for. Several of the women ganged up on him and kissed his cheeks and forehead to demonstrate. The young brave laughed and tried to fend them off.

  The poodle puppy, now dubbed Trouble Too, barked at him. Seth and Marcus had argued about the spelling of the “too” part of the name. Marcus said it should be “two” but Seth insisted that it be “too” because the puppy was trouble “as well”. Seth had won the argument.

  Raven had picked him up to look at him cl
oser. “Is this supposed to be a dog?”

  Seth said, “Yeah, he’s a dog.”

  “Oh. He looks more like something I’d use for bear bait. Nah, there’s not enough of him for a bear,” Raven said.

  Seth snatched the puppy from Raven and said, “This dog disappears, you’re the first one I’m coming after.”

  Raven laughed and left again.

  With Christmas over, life at the ranch began to resume as normal. Jack’s forced vacation from work gave him and Sparrow more time together to get to know each other even better. It also gave Dean another pair of hands to help out around the ranch temporarily. He put Jack to work cleaning tack and other work he could do sitting down.

  Jack taught Sparrow how to do it and they had a lot of time to talk about their wedding and about whether Sparrow should look for work or not. Jack had some savings and his pay was fairly decent, but the job would never make him rich. Since moving off the ranch, Jack refused to take money from his parents. He wanted to make his own way and he intended to keep it that way.

  Sparrow was perfectly willing to work and Jack agreed that until they had children, it would be a good idea. They’d be able to build up their savings even more. Now she just needed to find a job.

  “You’ll find one. It’ll just land in your lap when you’re least expecting it, honey,” Jack said one day when she was worrying about it.

  They were working on cleaning bridles at the time.

  “I know, but where? It’s not as if just anyone is going to hire me,” Sparrow said.

  Jack said, “I know you’re worried about people being prejudiced, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen. I mean, look at Owl. Most people like him and have no problem with him being around town. Raven and Reckless, too. It’s not like it once was, Sparrow. You’ll see.”

  “I hope so. I don’t want you to be embarrassed by me,” she said.

  His blue eyes held her gaze and he took her hand and tugged on it. “Come here.”

  She stepped over to him and he sat her on his lap and said, “Sparrow, I could never be embarrassed by you. You’re the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me and I don’t give a crap what other people think. I love you more than anything and I’ll beat the crap out of anyone who says one wrong word about you.”

  Sparrow laughed. “So you would beat up the whole town?”

  Jack nodded. “If I had to, sure.”

  “You are so funny,” she said.

  “Ok. I’d try, anyway,” Jack said and kissed her.

  Sparrow rubbed his shoulders and kissed him back as his strong arms wrapped around her. She loved his scent and the way his mouth was soft yet firm. Sparrow craved Jack’s touch and wanted to touch him, too. Jack wanted the same thing, but knew the tack room was not the best place. The problem was that when he kissed her, all he could think about was how good she felt and tasted. Sometimes his common sense almost left him.

  Sparrow heard someone approaching the tack room and jumped off his lap quickly and sat in her chair. She picked up the bridle she’d been working on just as the door opened and Luke came in.

  Jack’s cousin took one look at the unhappy expression on Jack’s face and Sparrow’s bowed head and rolled his eyes. He plucked the bridle Jack was working on out of his hands and said, “Don’t let me interrupt, kids,” and left again.

  The door shut and Sparrow started to laugh. “Why do you always have to give it away?” she accused Jack.

  “Me? You’re the one averting your eyes like crazy,” Jack said with a scowl.

  “Yes, but that’s normal for me. You look like an angry cougar!” she retorted.

  “Well, what do you want me to do, smile?” Jack said. “You get me all hot and bothered and then expect me to be happy when someone comes along?”

  Sparrow laughed so hard that Jack couldn’t keep a straight face, either. Jack got off his chair, hobbled over and sat on her lap this time. “Now I got your right where I want you,” he said and proceeded to tickle her until she shrieked.

  Seth opened the tack room door, ready to defend whoever needed it and saw them. “Jack, get off your fiancée. You scared the crap out me. You’re gonna crush the poor girl.”

  Jack did as he was told and sat back down in his own chair. Sparrow caught her breath and said, “Thank you, uncle.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Seth said.

  Jack asked, “So how’s that bear bait of yours?”

  Seth glowered at Jack and said, “Don’t press your luck, son. Be nice to your girl, now.”

  He left and Jack said, “Why is it always my fault?”

  “Because it usually is a man who is at the root of the problem,” Sparrow teased him.

  “Oh, yeah?” Jack said and made as if to come after her again.

  “Do not touch me or I will scream,” she warned.

  Jack laughed and stayed seated.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sparrow and Jack’s wedding was planned for early March. Tessa had tried to convince them to wait for spring, but they were both steadfast in their decision. Claire, Maddie, and Tessa initiated Sparrow into how weddings were conducted in white culture. Since Claire had the best understanding of Lakota culture, she was able to help Sparrow and Jack with blending the traditions of both cultures into the wedding. Sparrow was grateful to all of them for their help, but especially Claire, whom she asked to be her maid of honor. All of the preparations were overwhelming to her and their guidance helped ease her anxiety.

  Jack was happy when his leg was healed enough that he no longer had to use the crutches. He still had a little hitch in his gait, but at least he was mobile and he could return to work. He’d enjoyed all the time he and Sparrow had been able to spend together while he’d been recuperating, but he’d missed his job, too.

  Although they hated being apart, Jack and Sparrow knew that if they kept staying together, they weren’t going to be able to resist the passion they felt for one another. So Jack stayed at his house at night. When he had trouble sleeping because he missed her, Jack would sit out on his front porch and gaze up at the moon and though he still wondered if his beautiful Lakota maiden was looking at it too, he mainly thanked the moon for finally giving him the answers he had sought for so long.

  Sparrow, too, had some nights when she couldn’t sleep until later in the night. She was staying in the guest room in Maddie and Seth’s house. Silently Sparrow would creep down the stairs and sit on the front porch. She’d smile up at the moon because she knew there was a good chance that Jack was doing the same thing.

  As the wedding approached, she became more nervous. She wanted to be a good wife to Jack and make him proud of her. During the day while he was working, Sparrow would go to the village to work on her wedding present for Jack. She had traded beadwork for supplies to make him a deerskin coat. It was an arduous task, but one that she did with love.

  One night in early February, Marcus showed up at Jack’s house. Even though it was cold, Jack sat out on the porch. He smiled at his uncle.

  “What are you doing here?” Jack asked as Marcus dropped into a chair.

  “It was a hell of a day and I needed to unwind a little. I hope you don’t mind, but I want to do a little whittling and I had an urge to sit here to do it,” Marcus said.

  “Sure. I don’t mind. You know you can come anytime. After all, it used to be your place,” Jack said. “Growing up, I used to love watching you whittle and hearing you whistle. I miss that.” His expression was wistful.

  Marcus smiled and said, “Me, too. Don’t get me wrong. I love our apartment, but there are times when I miss it out here. Hearing the stream out back and all of the night birds.” Marcus sighed. “So much has changed over the years, huh?”

  Jack nodded. “Yep. It sure has. But they’re good changes. I mean, look at you, Dr. Samuels. It took a while, but you got that degree. I’m proud of you.”

  Marcus said, “Thanks. I’m proud of you, too. You’re a heck of a deputy and a good man. I can’t
believe you’re getting married next month. You’re starting a new chapter to your life. How do you feel about that?”

  Jack looked up at the moon and smiled. Was she watching it right then, he wondered. “I can’t wait. I’ve prayed for her to come back to me and here she is. I meant what I told Pa; I’m not wasting any more time. I am so anxious to get her to that altar and make her mine and me hers.”

  Marcus laughed. “Yeah. I remember that feeling. I’m so happy for you two, Jack. You deserve to be happy. I’m looking forward to being an uncle again, so don’t wait too long to have kids.”

  “Are you kidding? We’re gonna work on that right away,” Jack said with a laugh. “You’ll be an uncle again in no time and Pa and Mama will be grandparents again.”

  “Good,” Marcus said as he worked at making what looked like a kitten. “You’re gonna be happy here, Jack. We wouldn’t have sold this place or given it to anyone but you. When and if the time comes that you want to move, please keep it in the family if possible. That’s all I ask.”

  Jack nodded. “I promise to do that. Who knows, maybe Mike will want it someday. Well, I’m going to bed, but you stay as long as you want. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Jack,” Marcus said.

  Night Wolf slipped from his post, making sure that no one saw him, and sped through the woods. He reached the meeting place and let out a whistle. It was answered and soon he was joined by White Deer, a brave from Two Dogs’ tribe. Night Wolf was a secret supporter of Two Dogs’ tribe and had been feeding them with information about Black Fox’s tribe.

  Night Wolf gave White Deer the latest news on the tribe.

  “So Sparrow is still going to marry the white man?” White Deer asked.

  “Yes. What does Panther want me to do?”

  “Nothing, yet. I will give you instructions as he gives them to me. For now, just act as if everything is normal,” White Deer said. “I will be back at the end of the week.”

  Night Wolf nodded and made his way back to camp.