"No, but surely Stone and Tess won't be like that. You heard Tess saying that they had to discuss things with each other."
"She didn't discuss that deal she and those other women cooked up back in Clover Valley with Stone."
"How could she? He made it clear he didn't want her poking her nose into his problems."
"See what I mean?"
"Oh dear," Angie said.
"Like you've said before, Angie, we'll just have to wait and see what happens. When are those Indian women gonna get done with Tess?"
"Don't get impatient, Michael. A woman wants to look her best on her wedding day."
"Stone's the one who's impatient. Look at him."
Angela peered over the side of the pew and giggled. "He's trying to look so solemn. But he can't keep his feet still, and he's clenching and unclenching those fists like his hands are trying to go to sleep."
"He's scared to death," Michael said. "Look, there comes Tess — over on the edge of the camp. Boy, is she beautiful. She's gonna scare him even more."
"That's the dress Silver Eagle's wife wore when they got married," Angela informed him. "He kept it all these years. While they were going through the Indian purification ceremony for Tess before her marriage, Flower told Tess that her grandfather would be honored if Tess would wear it."
"I missed that part, 'cause I wasn't gonna watch them wash and dress Tess, but that sounds nice," Michael mused. "I wish we had some music. Doesn't seem right not to have music at a wedding."
"The Indian drums fit the ceremony down there better," Angela said. "But we could have our own music up here, since they won't be able to hear it."
She waved her hand and a chorus of voices filled the air. Smiling, she settled back against the pew. Michael lifted his hand and the pew tilted slightly forward, so they could see the scene below them better.
The whole camp had turned out for the ceremony, all wearing the finest clothing they owned. As Tess moved through the throng of people, they quieted and watched her pass. Even the children left their games and joined their parents, the smaller ones hiding behind the various buckskin and cotton skirts of their mothers, peeking out in awe at the pretty woman walking by.
Michael sniffed at the aromas rising from the camp. "They've been cooking down there all day, getting ready for the wedding feast," he murmured. "Almost makes me wish we could join them to eat."
"We don't have to eat now, Michael."
"Who said anything about having to? That never bothered me if I wanted to sample something when I was alive." He patted his paunch and winked at Angela.
"I remember my older sister's wedding," Angela said with a sigh. "It was right before the war, and we still had plenty of good things to eat. She had these huge, pink candy rose buds on her cake, and she gave me a whole one all for my own."
"Quite sinful, wasn't it?" Michael quipped.
"Uh huh," Angela agreed, her cheeks blushing the same shade as the candy rose.
Tess walked up to Stone and he took her hand in his. They turned to face Silver Eagle, and the Shaman's strong voice rose, blessing both of them and wishing them a life filled with joy as they shared it together. And — with a little smirk — a fruitful union, with many children to care for them when they grew old.
Angela gave another sigh as she watched Stone and Tess gaze into each other's eyes, unaware of anything but themselves, their love, and the voice of the Shaman, who's words were making them man and wife. Just before Silver Eagle said the final words of the Indian ceremony, he paused and spoke to the gathering, explaining that Stone and Tess also wished to pledge themselves to each other in their own words.
Stone placed one hand on Tess's waist, and cupped her cheek with the other.
"I, Stone," he said in a husky voice, "take you, Tess, for my wife. What I have is yours to share, now and forever. You are the light in my life, the other part of me that makes me whole. I pledge you my fidelity and love forever, throughout all time."
Blinking back tears, Tess kept her gaze on Stone's face. "I, Tess, take you, Stone, for my husband. With you I've found the true meaning of love, and I shall cherish that always. I give you my trust, my heart, and my faith in the rightness of our love. I pledge myself to you, my darling, now and for all time."
Stone bent and tenderly kissed Tess, then turned and motioned Rain and Flower to join them. Rain held out a slightly grubby hand as soon as he approached, and Stone took the ring he had traded one of the Indian craftsmen for in his fingers.
"This ring is for you to wear as a symbol to the world that I love you," he said. "But it's also from Flower and Rain, as a symbol that we're a family now — that you're part of us and we're part of you. Now and always."
A tear slipped down Tess's cheek as Stone placed the ring on her finger and kissed it. He dropped her hand, and Flower and Rain each grasped one of Tess's hands as Stone completed the circle by taking a hand of each child.
"The circle of the ring will always remind me of the circle of love in our family," Tess promised.
She smiled into Stone's eyes, then hugged Flower and Rain. Flower moved to Tess's side, while Rain stepped to the other side of Stone. Clasping hands again, Stone and Tess faced Silver Eagle.
"You are one now," the Shaman said. "For now and forever, you will walk this earth as two, but you shall be as one."
Stone swept Tess into his arms and kissed her soundly as Rain let out a whoop that was quickly echoed by several of his young friends. The crowd began breaking up and heading for the cooking pots, but Stone held Tess close after he broke the kiss.
"Hello, Mrs. Chisum," he said.
"Hello, husband," Tess said in a dreamy voice.
Michael propped his elbow on the side of the pew and settled his chin on his palm. "Seems a shame we can't go down there and wish them happiness — maybe kiss the bride."
"And sample all that food," Angela said with a laugh. "I can tell what you're thinking about. You know, I haven't seen Rain or Silver Eagle eat all day. They camped out up in the hills together last night, and just came back in time for the ceremony this evening. And now Rain's not going over to eat with his friends. You don't think he's getting sick, do you? He's always had a huge appetite."
"He's probably just too excited about Tess becoming his mother to eat," Michael said. "But you wouldn't think even that could hurt a growing boy's appetite, would you?"
Rain and Silver Eagle began walking away from the camp and suddenly the wind rose. The church pew started moving as though following Rain and his grandfather, but when Angela glanced down, she didn't see a stir of wind on the ground.
"Michael, stop that," she said. "We're supposed to stay with Tess. And I want to watch the rest of the celebration."
"I'm not doing anything," Michael denied. "Come on. Let's get off this thing."
"I can't," Angela said with a gasp. "Michael, I can't get up. And my wings won't unfold."
"Neither will mine. What the danged blazes is going on here?"
***
Chapter 29
Rain and Silver Eagle finally came to a halt beside the ashes of the campfire they had built the night before on the hill behind the Indian camp. The Shaman sat down and crossed his legs, and Rain sat beside him, trying desperately to keep his excitement from showing on his face. The church pew carrying the two angels floated to the ground on the other side of the dead fire.
"You figured out what's going on here yet, Angie?" Michael whispered.
"Not entirely," she replied quietly. "But I'd guess that Silver Eagle's powers are pretty strong. I'm sure we could break the spell if we really wanted to, but he's gone to an awful lot of trouble to try to talk to us. That must be what he and Rain were doing up here last night — preparing themselves spiritually to speak to us. Let's see what he wants."
"O.K.," Michael agreed. "Guess Mr. G probably wants us to talk to them, or He wouldn't have made us come here, instead of staying with Tess."
"It's their wedding night, Michael. We
weren't going to stay there all night anyway."
"Yeah, I know that. And this seems like it might be a lot more interesting than watching the Indian dances." Michael laid an arm across the pew back and propped one ankle on the opposite knee. "Think he can see us yet?"
Silver Eagle took a pipe from the pouch hanging on his belt and placed the stem to his lips. Rain reached up and flicked the lighter Tess had given him, and Silver Eagle drew on the pipe until the tobacco in the bowl caught. He glanced at the lighter.
"That is a good thing to have," he told his grandson. "Even better than the white men's matches."
Rain placed the lighter back in his pocket and stared at the angels again. "When can we speak to them, Grandfather?"
Silver Eagle ignored him and puffed on the pipe. He blew smoke in all four directions, then took another puff and handed the pipe to Rain.
"It is time you learned to smoke with me, Grandson."
Rain took a manly drag from the pipe and quickly blew the smoke back out. His eyes watered and his chest heaved, but he managed to control himself and not cough like a child. He started to hand the pipe back to Silver Eagle, but the Shaman nodded across the ashes.
"Oh, Michael, you can't!" Angela cried.
"It's part of the ceremony," Michael said with a grin as he reached for the pipe. He took it from Rain and inhaled a long drag of smoke. "Ahhhh," he breathed as he quirked an eyebrow and offered the pipe to Angela.
"No, thank you," she said primly.
Michael shrugged and handed the pipe to Silver Eagle. "Women don't smoke in your ceremonies anyway, do they?"
"Not unless they wish to," Silver Eagle replied, confirming that he could see and hear Michael. "We have never been able to find a ceremony that will let us control a woman's mind."
"You never will, either," Angela said with a huff. "And I'll thank you to remember that just because I'm outnumbered by the males in this group, I'm not going to be overlooked."
"We would never try to do that," Silver Eagle said with a smile.
"Well, let's get cracking here," Michael said. "What did you want to talk about, Silver Eagle?"
Rain jumped to his feet. "What are your names? Where have you come from? Why can't anyone see you except me — and now Grandfather? How does it feel to fly? Can I...can I touch you?"
Silver Eagle shook his head and winked at Michael. "Grandson," he said in a slightly exasperated voice. "We have time. You need not ask it all in one breath."
Rain sank back to the ground in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Grandfather. I forgot. I didn't mean to act like a...a child."
"It's all right, Rain," Angela soothed. "You've been watching us for weeks now, and I'd be surprised if you didn't have a whole lot of questions to ask."
Silver Eagle placed an arm around Rain's shoulder and pulled him closer. "You have done well, Grandson. You followed our customs and acted with reverence toward the spirits. You prepared yourself and I am sure they know you are respectful. We will ask them if they are permitted to answer your questions."
"I'm Michael," Michael said when Silver Eagle looked over at him. "This is Angie."
"Angela," Angela corrected.
"O.K., Angela," Michael said with a shrug. "And Angie and I are Tess's guardian angels. We're here to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't get hurt."
"But she broke her ankle," Rain said.
"Yeah. Well...a...."
Angela nudged Michael in the ribs. "Go ahead, Michael. Explain that to Rain."
"You think I can't, don't you? Well, I've been thinking about it. I think it was meant to be. You see, Rain." Michael pulled his cigar stub from his robe pocket and clamped it in his mouth. "You see, if Tess hadn't broken her ankle and started to fall off that mountain, and if I hadn't sneezed just then, she wouldn't be here with you all right now. She wouldn't have met your pa, and you wouldn't be a family."
Angela gently clapped her hands. "Good going, Michael. And I really think you're right."
"Thank you." Michael turned to Angela and regally nodded his head.
"My grandson has told me that your Tess is from the future," Silver Eagle said. "I would know how this happened."
"Like I said, with a sneeze," Michael replied around a laugh. "Say, would you like one of these?" He snapped his fingers and held out an entire cigar to Silver Eagle. "It's a real Havana. That was one thing I splurged on when I was alive."
"Alive?" Rain whispered as Silver Eagle accepted the cigar. "You...you're dead now?"
"Yeah, well Rain, you just haven't thought about that end of it, have you?" Michael told him. "'Course we're dead. Well, sort of. I mean...."
Michael gave Angela a helpless glance, but she calmly folded her arms and sat back on the pew. Silver Eagle was busy reaching into Rain's pocket for the lighter when Michael looked at him. The Shaman pulled the lighter out and studied the mechanism until he figured out how to flick the wheel and light the cigar. He blew out a long stream of smoke, which Michael gazed at longingly.
"Michael," Angela warned.
"O.K. O.K.," Michael grumbled. "Look, Rain...."
For the next hour Michael tried to explain to Rain's ten-year-old mind the intricacies of life and death — spirits and guardian angels — and also answer a thousand and one other questions tumbling from Rain's mouth. The Shaman listened attentively, now and then relighting his cigar when he became so involved in the conversation between Michael and his grandson that he forgot to draw on it.
Angela at last gave in and helped Michael with his explanations, mainly because she was just a little put out. After all, she had spent years and years answering children's questions.
Finally, Rain stumped them both.
"How can this be happening now," he asked, "and other things going on where Tess used to live? How can she be here, with us, when she isn't even born yet in our time?"
Twin shrugs of white-robed shoulders greeted that query. Silver Eagle quirked an eyebrow and waited patiently, but his brown eyes twinkled as he watched the angels shift uncomfortably on the pew.
"Uh...," Angela finally began. "I guess there are some things that just can't be explained, Rain. That's where faith comes in."
"But I thought faith was what we were supposed to have while we're alive — for those things that happen and we can't figure out why."
A few more long seconds crawled by, and suddenly Rain's face lit up. "I know," he said. "It's like you said, Michael. Tess came here because that's what was supposed to happen in her life. So it doesn't really matter now what's going on back there, because she's here with us. We needed her worse than they did back there, and what's happening now is what's supposed to happen in Tess's life."
"Makes sense to me," Michael said in relief. "How about you, Angie?"
""Huh?" Angela said, a frown creasing her face. "I guess so."
"What about the red wagon you fly in sometimes?" Rain asked, satisfied with his own explanation as to Tess's presence in his life. "You don't even use any horses to pull it."
"It's a Mustang convertible," Michael explained. "It's not a wagon — it's a car, one of those inventions you're just now reading about and seeing a few of in this time. Except that our Mustang came out in 1964 and a half. And it's driven with horsepower, Rain, but it's invisible — under the hood. Here. I'll show you."
Michael whistled up the little car and it zoomed down from the sky, skidding up to them with a squeal of tires. Rain jumped to his feet, his eyes sparkling and his mouth rounded in awe as Michael flicked his finger and the hood popped open. Michael glanced at the sky briefly, then slid off the pew, giving a satisfied smile in Angie's direction.
"We can move now," he told her, and Angela stood up to join him.
While Michael explained the workings of the engine and other mechanisms on the car, Angela shrugged into her driving coat and scarf. She waited patiently as Michael and Rain even crawled under the car so Michael could point out how the drive train and transmission worked, glancing once at Silver Eagle,
who still sat in the same place.
"Aren't you interested in how the car works?" she asked.
"It is for the young ones to know," Silver Eagle replied. "I have seen many things in my life — and there will be more to come before I join your world. Your friend is enjoying showing his knowledge to my grandson."
"He is, isn't he?" Angela smiled tolerantly at the two pairs of feet sticking out from under the Mustang's bumper.
Soon Michael and Rain scooted out from beneath the car and rose to their feet, dusting themselves off. Michael straightened his wings and fluttered them to dislodge a few pieces of clinging grass and dirt.
"Rain," Angela said. "Would you like to go for a ride in the Mustang?"
"Could I?" Rain gasped. "Could I really?"
"Sure," Michael said as he brushed at his robe. "I'll...."
"I'll take him, Michael," Angela interrupted. "You can talk with Silver Eagle while we're gone."
"Uh...Angie...."
Silver Eagle got to his feet, a frown on his face. "This ride," he said. "It will only be where we can see you?"
"I promise," Angela said as she opened the door and settled behind the wheel. "We'll stay right here above you."
Rain glanced longingly at the empty seat, but he waited until Silver Eagle reluctantly nodded his head before he let out a shout and ran around the car. He stared at the door handle for just a second, then ignored it and jumped over the side of the car. Grinning at Angela, he watched her turn the key, excitement sparkling in his eyes when the motor responded with a throaty purr.
"It is safe to let a woman drive one of these?" Silver Eagle murmured to Michael.
Angela heard the Shaman, and her head whipped around as she fixed Michael with a severe look, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel while she waited for Michael to answer the Indian.
Michael hurriedly wiped the doubt from his face. "Sure," he said in a jolly voice. "I taught Angie how to drive myself."
Satisfied with Michael's answer, Angela smiled and shifted into first gear. An asphalt road appeared ahead of the Mustang, and the little car moved off smoothly until the road ended a hundred yards away. Then it sailed into the sky.
Forever Angels Page 25
