A Yellowstone Season of Giving: Yellowstone Romance Series Holiday Short Story

by Peggy L Henderson

“Oh, how thoughtful,” Aimee said, and accepted the pouch. “I take it all of their food supplies have been replenished after that horrible flood, and they are all set for winter?”

  “Yes.” Summer nodded. She glanced up at Samuel, a loving smile on her face. “Thanks to my husband, and all the help from Chase and Sarah, my clan will not go hungry this winter.”

  “What a relief,” Aimee said, and handed the pouch to Daniel.

  Someone knocked at the door just before it opened, sending in more cold air. Elk Runner entered, a wide smile of satisfaction on his face. Following closely behind him was his wife, Little Bird.

  “I told you we’d arrive before our children,” Elk Runner said loudly, and reached out to clasp Daniel’s hands.

  “Good to see that you are well, Brother,” Daniel said, slapping Elk Runner’s back.

  “He almost broke his foolish neck, not to mentioned risking my life. If not for Samuel and Summer Rain’s help, his old bones would by lying in a pile at the bottom of the mountain,” Little Bird chastised. “He had to beat his children, just to prove that he was not an old man.” She shook her head. Laughing, she turned to Aimee. “Some men will never grow up, no matter how old they get.”

  The women embraced warmly, and Aimee shot Daniel a mischievous smile. He winked at her. If Elk Runner and Little Bird weren’t constantly squabbling, it would be a sign that one of them was angry with the other. Their bickering was their way of expressing their affection for one another, and everyone expected nothing less from them.

  Elk Runner inhaled loudly through his nose, emitting a moan of pure pleasure. His eyes darted to the workbench. He grinned broadly, like a fox who’d come up on an unguarded elk carcass. Setting his horn bow on the table, he rubbed his hands together.

  “How about some hot coffee or tea to warm your belly?” Daniel put his hand on his brother’s shoulder and guided him away from the workbench in an effort to head him off from making a fatal mistake by reaching for the sweet treats. “The women have been cooking since yesterday. Once the rest of your family arrives, we should be ready to eat.”

  Elk Runner shot Daniel a disappointed glare, but eagerly accepted a steaming cup of coffee.

  “Your baking is the reason I make this journey in the cold, Dosa haiwi,” Elk Runner said, flashing a calculated grin at Aimee. He took a step closer to the workbench, and craned his neck at the large bowl filled with the molasses cookies.

  “Oh, good grief,” Aimee huffed. “Just take one and put yourself out of your misery.” She reached for the bowl, and lifted it toward Elk Runner. His hand quickly dipped into the bowl. Samuel’s hand followed just as Aimee tried to snatch the treats away.

  Daniel seized the opportunity and grabbed a cookie for himself. Before Aimee could rescue the dwindling stash of baked treats, the door to the cabin opened again, and their son-in-law, Chase, filled the frame. He ducked into the room, little Kyle riding on his shoulders. His eyes darted quickly to everyone before honing in on the cookie bowl. Aimee sighed in defeat.

  “Everyone loves your baking, gediki.” Daniel leaned toward her and whispered against her cheek.

  “Well, why didn’t someone come and tell me we were having dessert first?” Chase said, and grabbed for the sweet treats. Handing a cookie to his son, he gestured with his chin in greeting at Samuel.

  “Sarah sent me to tell you that everything’s ready.” Chase looked at Aimee. Then he turned to Samuel.

  “Hey, Sam. Glad you made it back in time.” He bit into a cookie, grinning from ear to ear. His eyes rested on Little Bird and Elk Runner. “Your family just got here, too. The girls finished setting the tables, and want to eat.” To Samuel, he added, “Maybe you can give me a hand with the venison?”

  Elk Runner snatched a final cookie before Aimee set the bowl back on the workbench, and avoided a smack from her hand. Little Bird scolded him for acting more insolent than a little child. Elk Runner grinned from ear to ear, but allowed his wife to push him toward the door.

  “Help me get the pies in the oven, Daniel,” Aimee said. “You all go ahead, and we’ll be along in a moment. The pies can bake while we eat supper.”

  Once everyone had filed out of the cabin to head to Chase and Sarah’s much larger cabin, the crackling of the fire in the hearth was the only sound left. Daniel reached for two of the pies on the workbench, and shoved them into the stone oven that was built into the hearth. He added more logs to the fire, and accepted two more pies Aimee handed to him.

  “Ready to go eat?” she asked, a bright smile on her face. She removed the cloth apron she wore from around her waist, and reached for his hand. Daniel stepped up to her, and wrapped a fur coat around her shoulders. He gazed down at his wife.

  “This is the time of year that often makes me think of how thankful I am for everything I have,” he said slowly. “So many years ago, I was content to be alone, and then you were sent to me.” He touched the back of his hand to her cheek.

  “I’m thankful for everything we have, and the life we’ve built, and the family we’ve raised,” Aimee whispered. She stood on her toes, and kissed his cheek. “Let’s go join them before they send a search party after us."

  Chapter Three

  Daniel reached for Aimee’s hand, and together they made their way across the yard to where Sarah and Chase had built a larger cabin to accommodate their family. Chase and Samuel stood by the fire pit, removing the side of venison that had been roasting all day. They both declined when Daniel offered to help. He frowned.

  “Young bucks think I can’t do anything anymore,” he grumbled under his breath.

  Aimee patted his arm. “Of course they think you can still do everything.” She shot him a stern look. “Even the things you perhaps shouldn’t be doing. Everything they know, you taught them. Just enjoy being with your family today, and let them do the work.”

  Daniel glanced from his wife to the two men lifting the large rack of meat from the fire. Aimee tugged on his hand, smiling up at him. She still favored him with love in her eyes every day, making him feel as young as he’d been when he fell in love with her. He returned her smile, conceding that for just today, he would let the young men do the work, and lengthened his stride.

  The moment Daniel opened the door to Sarah’s cabin, he and Aimee were greeted by loud voices. The warm home was filled with the rich aroma of roasted meat mixed with the succulent smells of various dishes Sarah was known to prepare – greens she’d gathered in the mountains, potatoes they brought from St. Louis during the summer, and wild grains. Daniel stepped aside to allow Aimee to enter ahead of him, and he removed her heavy coat, hanging it on a peg near the door.

  Kara and Emily rushed up to them, wide smiles on their rosy cheeks.

  “We’re just waiting for you, Grandma and Grandpa,” Kara said, her blonde hair braided down her back. Unlike her sisters, twelve-year-old Kara liked to dress in britches, which did nothing to disguise that she was blossoming into a beautiful young woman.

  Daniel smiled. Chase would soon have his hands full, fending off suitors for his four daughters. Although he loved and doted on his girls, relief had been evident on Chase’s face when his only son, Kyle, had been born two years ago. He was no longer the only male in his house.

  Kara reached for Daniel’s hand, and ushered him to the head of one of several tables that had been set up in the center of the main room. Elk Runner and Little Bird were already seated, along with Summer Rain. There was an empty seat next to her, obviously intended for Samuel.

  Daniel glanced around the room, a satisfied smile on his face. His three oldest granddaughters mingled with Elk Runner’s grandchildren who were close in age. The younger ones, including Sarah’s youngest daughter, Hannah, sat at a smaller table.

  Chase and Samuel brought in large trays piled high with meat, and took their seats. Chase held Kyle on his lap, and the toddler stuck his hand into the gravy dish. Chase managed to pull it away just before Kyle would have tipped it over. He stood, and handed h
is son to Sarah, who wiped his dripping hand with a cloth.

  Chase grinned, and raised a cup. “Now that everyone’s here, we can eat,” he said loudly. Everyone cheered, and steaming bowls of meat and vegetables were passed from person to person, and from table to table.

  Elk Runner dug into his heaping plate after smacking his lips.

  “Your belly shouldn’t complain any more after this feast, old man,” Little Bird said, a hint of a smile on her face. ‘We have much to be thankful for.” Her eyes scanned the people around her.

  Samuel gazed lovingly at his new bride, and nodded. “Yeah, we sure do,” he said, and raised his cup.

  Elk Runner chewed the meat he’d shoveled into his mouth, his eyes darting from Samuel to Summer Rain before resting on Daniel.

  “For many seasons, I feared that your youngest son would become like you, White Wolf, and never take a wife. He is practically an old man already.” His eyes twinkled, and even though his mouth was filled with food, his lips curved in a grin.

  “I just waited for the right woman to come along,” Samuel said, apparently unaffected by his uncle’s remark. “It might take a while longer, but once you find the right one, you have to go after them, right, Pop?”

  Daniel met his son’s eyes. Samuel had waited a long time, much longer than he himself had, to take a wife. Unlike his brothers, Zach and Matthew, who hadn’t been able to make the long journey to be here for the holidays, Samuel had chosen to remain at the remote homestead, living the solitary life of a trapper. He’d seemed content with his life, until he met the woman he’d finally chosen to marry.

  Much like it was with you.

  Daniel glanced around the room, then settled his gaze on Aimee. Elk Runner was right. It had never been his intention to find a woman with whom to share his life. The sky people had sent her to him. Had it not been for her, there was no doubt that he would have led a lonely life to this day.

  “It doesn’t matter how long it takes or how many seasons pass to find your true life’s mate,” Daniel said, nodding at his son.

  “Ain’t that the truth,” Chase said, and winked at Sarah. “Once you find the right one, grab her and don’t let her go.”

  “What finally made you choose this woman?” Elk Runner’s glance alternated from Summer to Samuel.

  Samuel wiped his mouth on a cloth napkin. He laughed at his uncle, then smiled at his wife, who sat quietly by his side.

  “Chase and I were coming back from a trip to trade with some whites to the north, when we came upon Summer’s family. A flash flood destroyed their village. As you know, there was a lot of winter run-off and rain late into the spring this year.” He paused, and reached for his wife’s hand, giving it a squeeze.

  “Summer’s husband drowned in the flood. No other man wanted to take her, even as a second wife, because she hadn’t conceived a child in more than five years of marriage. I knew the moment I saw her that I wanted her for my wife, so I went to her family, after helping them replenish their supplies, and asked to marry her.” He leaned toward her, and kissed her cheek.

  “My first husband had all but cast me aside since I could not give him a child,” Summer said quietly. She lowered her head. Samuel held two fingers under her chin, and she glanced up at him. They smiled at each other, and Summer continued, “My family was very grateful for Samuel and Chase’s help. They saw that Samuel would be a good provider, so they agreed to the marriage.”

  “It was love at first sight,” Chase chimed in. “You could just see it on his starry-eyed face.” He winked at Sam.

  “The spirits must have finally found favor with you,” Elk Runner said, shoveling more food in his mouth.

  Daniel grinned at his brother. “Like they did with you?” he asked, and raised his eyebrows.

  Elk Runner stared at him, and nodded. “Yes. The spirits have always favored me. I married Little Bird shortly after I became a hunter. I caught her eye the moment we met.” He sat up straighter, and raised his chin. “After the proper introductions, she couldn’t wait to become my wife.”

  Little Bird snorted loudly, and Daniel laughed. “That’s not what I remember,” he said.

  “Your mind is becoming as dull as the rest of you, old man,” Little Bird croaked, and jabbed her elbow in Elk Runner’s side.

  He looked at his wife in exaggerated astonishment. “Had it not been for me and White Wolf, your family would have starved one winter. Just as Samuel proved to the family of Summer Rain that he could provide for her, I amazed your family with my hunting skills.” He glanced around, all eyes on him.

  Daniel coughed loudly, and Chase chuckled. “I have a feeling the truth lies somewhere in the middle,” he said, glancing from Daniel to Elk Runner.

  “We married in the proper traditions of the Tukudeka,” Elk Runner huffed. He glared at Chase across the table. “Can you say the same?”

  Daniel cleared his throat. “Proper? I don’t remember anything proper about the way you tried to win favor with Little Bird.”

  “All right.” Chase set his fork next to his plate, then wiped at his mouth with a napkin. He raised his hands, one palm resting on top of the fingers of his other hand in a gesture that Daniel had come to know as “time out.” This usually meant all activity would cease until his son-in-law received an answer to a pressing question.

  Chase leaned forward, and stared at Elk Runner, a smirk on his face. Then he turned to Daniel. “I don’t care which one of you two starts talking, but I know we’re all eager to hear how this mighty hunter of the Tukudeka clan won the love of his life.” He raised an eyebrow at Little Bird. “And then I want to hear the real story from Little Bird.”

  Everyone laughed. Daniel’s gaze darted from Chase to Sarah, then to Samuel and Little Bird, before settling on Aimee. They all looked at him expectantly. Aimee nodded enthusiastically.

  “I think we all want to hear the story,” she said, eagerness in her voice. “Since you seem to know what really happened, Daniel, maybe you should start.”

  Aimee patted his arm. Her smile widened, and she stared at him, as did everyone around them, all with keen looks on their faces to hear how his brother had managed to win Little Bird’s affection. Daniel’s gaze locked with that of Elk Runner, whose eyes challenged him to begin. Daniels lips curved in a slow smile.

  Chapter Four

  Yellowstone Plateau, Autumn, 1805

  “It is a good day to go out on a hunt. Will you join me, White Wolf?”

  At the sound of Elk Runner calling his name, Daniel glanced up from the chunk of obsidian he held in his hand. Sitting cross-legged in front of the wicciup he shared with his brother and foster mother during the months he lived with the Tukudeka, his gaze drifted to the flint-knapping rock he clutched in his other hand. Five new arrow tips lay in a pile next to him. With Elk Runner’s arrival, this would have to be enough for today.

  Elk Runner hurried toward him, a bright smile on his face even though he looked tired. A streak of red pigment covered his bare chest and forehead, remnants of the ceremony to meet with the spirits. After a cleansing ritual in a nearby lake or stream, Elk Runner would have sat or stood quietly in front of one of the sacred rock panels that were covered in paintings created by his forebears, and waited for a sign from the spirits.

  “The spirits must have spoken to you,” Daniel said, and set his tools aside. He stood, and assessed his brother.

  The night before, Elk Runner had returned from a vision quest in order to connect with his power, as he’d proclaimed. Even though the leaves had all turned yellow for the season, and it was almost winter, he had insisted on making the three-day journey to the higher mountains to visit with the spirits. That had been nearly ten days ago.

  “You would do well to go on a vision journey, White Wolf,” Elk Runner scoffed. “Ever since your return two seasons ago from the white man’s villages, you have not been yourself.”

  “I don’t understand why you would want to seek out the spirits so late in the season,” Da
niel said in an effort to avoid Elk Runner’s scrutiny. He had no desire to relive memories from his time spent in Philadelphia.

  “They speak louder in the winter,” Elk Runner proclaimed, taken aback. “My guardian spirit, the elk, has come to me and told me I will soon be met with good fortune.”

  Daniel’s lips curved in a slight smile. Well aware of the customs of his adopted people, he had never himself had the desire to go on a vision quest. Although he lived as a Tukudeka for much of the season, and respected their beliefs, he was still a white man, and his father had instilled in him the views of his white mother.

  His jaw clenched. Elk Runner’s mention that he hadn’t been himself since coming home to the mountains after spending two years in the white man’s world brought a bitter taste to his mouth. He shook his head to rid himself of the unpleasant memories swirling though his mind. It had been two years since he’d fled the big cities in the east, vowing never to return. What would it take for him to forget the woman who had made him shun his heritage? Perhaps he should follow his brother’s example and seek out a vision, just to see if the spirits would give him a sign on what to do.

  He smirked. What could they possibly have to tell him? At his father’s insistence, he’d tried to live as a white man after spending his entire life in the remote Shining Mountains. Two years in Philadelphia, and one spoiled young woman, had cured him of any further desire to live anywhere but in his mountains.

  “Good fortune?” Daniel’s brows rose. “Perhaps we should go hunting, then, and see if what your spirit guardian told you is true.”

  Elk Runner nodded eagerly. “I am to keep watch for a little bird, which will show me the way to great happiness.”

  Daniel glanced around, looking toward the trees at the edge of camp. “There are birds everywhere. How will you know which one you seek?”

  Elk Runner shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “When I see it, I will know.”

  Daniel laughed, and slapped his brother’s back. “All right. Let’s go follow the birds, and see if they guide us to some good hunting.”