The Blessed Blend

by Allison Shaw

  After thinking about it, Red Wolf decided to wear the outfit Euan had given him. Since his father had not bought him a pair of ghillie-brogues, the child would wear his new beaded moccasins. He also wanted to wear the shell gorget his Uncle CD, Jim’s cousin, had made for him.

  Callie prepared to brush Euan’s hair for him and as he sat down on the chair in their room she requested that he wear shorts under his kilt in the interest of modesty. Euan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are ye afeart I’ll gi’e someone a fright there, lass?”

  “Not hardly,” she answered, giving his locks a yank and smiling as he protested. “Although you might want to consider the frost-bite factor. Besides which, folks over here are a bit more modest about their privates than folks in Europe and you know damned well that some of the little kids are going to try to look up under it. You don’t need to give folks something like that to gossip about.”

  Nancy Jo rushed into the room and scolded Callie, “Don’t you know its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?” Nancy Jo had a tendency to make mountains out of molehills when she was excited or nervous. This morning she was quite a bit of both.

  Callie grinned wickedly and purred, “Well, I’d say it’s a bit late to be worrying about that. He saw me buck-naked this morning when we woke up. Besides, we’re already married. This is just a celebration for the family.”

  As Nancy Jo continued fussing, Callie pulled Euan’s hair into a pony tail with an elastic band before lacing up a fine leather wrap around it. Giving him a kiss, she departed and left him and Red Wolf to finish their preparations while she tended to her own.

  As Red Wolf watched his father put on his sporran and tuck his sgan dubh into his hose, he asked, “Is that true about the bad luck, Daddy?”

  Euan shook his head. “Nae son, it’s joost an auld wives’ tale.” Noticing his son’s solemn face he asked, “Are ye worried aboot somethin’, Red Wolf?”

  Red Wolf nodded. “My other grandparents are coming for us, to take us away from you and Mama.”

  Euan knelt down and put his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “D’ ye ken that?” he asked.

  Red Wolf nodded. “I saw it in my dream,” he said softly. “They have a paper to take us away, but the words aren’t real.”

  “Wha’ d’ ye mean, ‘aren’t real’?” Euan queried, perplexed. God Almighty, he’d kill his parents himself if they showed up to disrupt the wedding let alone take his children.

  “When the sheriff looked at the paper, the words disappeared.” Red Wolf looked perplexed himself. “What kind of paper would they have?”

  Euan reached for his cell phone. “I’m aboot tae find oot,” he said grimly. Punching in the number he reached Kilkirk on the fourth ring.

  “Kilkirk here.”

  “This is Euan Wallace. Can ye find oot for me if m’ parents hae gotten a legal order of custody on m’ bairns.”

  Kilkirk coughed. “How would they have gotten one this soon and on a weekend?” he asked. “And without proper notification of my office?”

  “Tha’s wha’ I called tae find oot,” Euan stated. “I doona trust ‘em one bit an’ I hae reason tae believe that they may try to show up today with some sort o’ paper tryin’ tae get custody.”

  “Give me one hour and I’ll find out if they got anything from this end or through the Embassy there in the States. If they show up, call me immediately and request that local law enforcement provide enough time to determine the legality of any writ or order presented,” Kilkirk requested. “And Euan?”

  “Aye?”

  “Don’t lose your head under any circumstances,” the solicitor warned.

  “Aye, sir,” Euan replied. “But I canna be responsible for how m’ wife’s family may react. These people arre used to taking care o’ their ain business.”

  There was a brief pause before Kilkirk said, “Understood, lad. Just try to keep it from coming to that, will you?”

  As Euan hung up he looked at Red Wolf. “Son, go tell yer Granny Robertson and Granny Stockett aboot yer dream. They already ken aboot yesterday’s events. They’ll make sense o’ it an’ decide hoo tae deal wi’ it.”

  Red Wolf nodded and said “Yes sir,” as he headed for the door.

  “Red Wolf?”

  “Sir?”

  “Remember wha’ I told ye yesterday aboot stayin’ wi’ yer mathair or me. Ye an’ Mountain Rose must stay wi’ us or yer grandparents or great-grandparents at all times. D’ ye understand?”

  “Yes sir.” Red Wolf closed the door behind him.

  Euan’s mood was grave. He still didn’t understand his children’s abilities but he trusted their validity. It would be exactly like his parents to try to present some order, authentic or not, to manipulate the situation in their favor and failing that, kidnap the children and take off somewhere beyond the reach of the authorities. All for spite and their own over-inflated sense of self-importance.

  Jim knocked on the door. “Euan, are you about ready, son?” he asked.

  Euan invited his father-in-law in and told him about Red Wolf’s dream. “I called m’ solicitor an’ he’ll call me back within an hour,” he advised. “Is there any way they could get some sort of court order locally?”

  Jim drew in a deep breath. “We only have one judge and that’s Judge Connelly. If someone had come to him for something like that he would have called to ask what was going on before even looking at the petition.” He thought a moment and added, “Of course if they went to the federal court house in Knoxville to see a judge that’s another story.”

  “Today is Sunday, Da. They couldnae hae gotten an order for a personal matter on the weekend, could they?”

  “Depends on who they know that could pull some strings for them,” Jim responded. “Still, there’s a proper procedure that has to be followed before the court could allow the children to be taken out of the country.”

  “An’ who’s tae stop m’ parents from flying tae the Caribbean wi’ ‘em, beyond the reach o’ the authorities?” Euan asked.

  “Well, Judge Connelly will be here today, so if something comes up he can order a stay until things get sorted out,” Jim said. “He used to be a federal prosecutor, so he knows the system and isn’t cowed by it, and law enforcement around here defers to him.”

  Euan swore and said, “It’d be joost like the bloody pair o’ ‘em tae pull somethin’ like that oon m’ wedding day.”

  Jim smiled and patted Euan on the shoulder. “Pack takes care of its own,” he advised. “If it comes up, we’ll handle it.”

  When Jim went back downstairs he pulled Caleb over. “Get down to the foot of the road and tell Mike C and Mike D not to let Euan’s folks in here. If they show up, they’re to call up here on the two-way. Get them a freshly-charged pair in just in case, and tell them to go on and close the gate.”

  As Caleb started to leave Jim warned, “And if the Wallaces show up with law enforcement, they’re to ask for a warrant and verified ID. Since I’m the property owner, I’ll come down myself to check it out and let them in.”

  Caleb nodded and hurried out the door. Jumping in the truck, he headed down the mountain to the main gate. He’d had a sneaking suspicion himself that Euan’s parents would make trouble and apparently something was up that was making that look likely.

  Like the rest of the Robertson men, he didn’t have the gift like the women did but he had an uncanny sense of discernment and empathy. A smile crossed his face as he thought of the Robertson women, especially his great-grandmother and great-great-aunts. If those fancy folks thought they’d waltz in and pull a fast one to take Callie’s kids, they were in for a shock they’d never get over.

  If they survived it, that is. And if that didn’t take care of them, Callie would. Her gift was erratic and she had trouble controlling it but he knew about her ability to deliver those stinging jolts when she was in a deep enough rage, having been on the receiving end of a few of them. She wouldn’t need that to kill anyone, though.<
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  She could do that with her bare hands.

  He met the preacher coming up the road and pulled over to let Brother Wilcox pass. “How’re you’uns this fine day?” Brother Wilcox asked. “Is yore sister ready for her big day?”

  Caleb smiled. Brother Wilcox was soft-spoken, good-natured, sober, and devout, one of the few folks he knew of who called themselves Christian and actually managed to live it. He and his wife were frequent visitors to homes in the area, bringing whatever food or other needs that they could scrape together for the needy in the community, which was an awful lot of folks these days. The preacher wasn’t above rolling up his shirt-sleeves and pitching in with whatever work was being done wherever he was at.

  Brother and Mrs. Wilcox had never had any children of their own, but saw it as God’s desire that they devote themselves more fully to the saving of souls. The good reverend had had some spirited debates with Jim and Callie, neither of whom put much stock in what they referred to as churchianity. They respected the Wilcox’s as folks who walked their talk, however, and treated them accordingly.

  “As ready as she’ll ever be,” Caleb replied. “We’re glad to have her husband in the family. He’s a pretty cool dude.”

  Brother Wilcox turned to his wife and smiled before turning back to Caleb. “We’ve had the pleasure of meetin’ the feller and we’re especially happy that they’re making things right by the Lord for them young’uns,” he said. “Y’all missed a good sermon this mornin’ so you know I got to do a little preachin’ here!”

  “But he’ll keep it mighty short!” Mrs. Wilcox added with a smile. “Don’t want to take away from the bride’s big day!”

  Caleb laughed and waived at them as he pulled past them. Mrs. Wilcox would head for the kitchen as soon as they pulled up so she could help out. She was as good-natured as her husband, if a bit talkative, but she wasn’t a gossip and didn’t put on airs of any kind. Her thick glasses made her look kind of owlish and both she and the reverend were rather plain-faced but no one really paid much attention to that after getting to know them.

  Once at the gate he gave the two Mikes Jim’s instructions and the two-way radios. “Go on and shut the gate,” he said. “Let people in as they come.”

  You don’t think them folks will really try somethin’ today, do you?” asked Mike Cumbow. “Good Lord A’mighty, Callie would kill ‘em for sure!”

  “Or Granny Robertson would stop ‘em in their tracks,” added Mike Dalton. “I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be on the receivin’ end of her stuff. You remember when she made ol’ Jack Parnell drop like a fly that time he was drunk and a-beatin’ poor ol’ Albert Carter up?”

  Caleb nodded. “He was froze stiff for an hour. Couldn’t move nothin’ but his eyes. Sobered him up instantly, though, an’ he ain’t touched a drop since.”

  “You don’t think she’d, you know, do them people in, do you?” asked Mike C.

  Caleb shrugged. “She’ll do whatever it takes to protect them kids. They all will. Personally I’d rather face off with a hundred hogzillas than the Robertson women. The odds of survival would be a hell of a lot better.”

  Once Caleb got back to the Lodge, Jim gestured to Darlene that it was time to get things started. He had changed into a ribbon shirt and dress slacks and Darlene was wearing her favorite winter dress suit - deep red wool blazer and calf-length slim-line skirt, white silk blouse, and a pair of black boots - with a Robertson tartan sash pinned over her shoulder. Jim smiled to himself as he looked at his wife and she winked at him and smiled back. Twenty-one years of marriage and they were still nuts about each other. How lucky could a man get?

  As they began getting the assembled kinfolk to the tent, Brother Wilcox could be seen walking with Euan, his hands gesturing as he spoke. Red Wolf and Mountain Rose stood at the bottom of the stairs with Layla and Eli as Jim and Caleb waited for Callie to come down. Caleb shooed Lacie along to the tent after she had come downstairs, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Oh, Callie looks so pretty you wouldn’t know it was her you were looking at!” she said. She had meant that as a compliment, of course, but sometimes Lacie’s mouth moved faster than her brain and things came out the wrong way. Everyone knew that, of course, so folks seldom took offense.

  Callie heard Lacie and started laughing. The girl had pestered her all morning taking pictures of the bridal preparations. The twins were flower girl and ring bearer and Lacie had taken multiple pictures of them as well as their father, the groom. Callie’s siblings and Uncle Dave had happily mugged for the camera, going so far as to have a contest to see who could make the silliest or grossest face.

  Then there were some of their distinguished guests being recorded for posterity by Adelaide Finch, who wrote the society column for the weekly local paper: Judge Connelly, Sheriff Tatum, County Mayor Whitley, most of the county commissioners, and their wives. Hell, so many folks were taking pictures that Callie was sure she’d be seeing flashes in her eyes clear into next week.

  With such a crowd present, she wasn’t sure how she would deal with it when her senses hit overload. It wasn’t like she’d have the excuse of Euan whisking her off on a honeymoon as a reason to leave the crowd behind for a while. She admitted it would be nice for them to just go somewhere for a few days, with the twins of course. Maybe somewhere warm.

  Jolena asked, “Are ye ready, Callie?” Her warm smile and gentle touch helped to ease any jitters Callie was feeling. She adjusted the floral crown and smoothed down Callie’s hair before stepping back and nodding. “Like a princess!” Jolena exulted. Giving Callie a kiss on the cheek, she excused herself to join Papa downstairs.

  Callie walked down the hall and stopped at the top of the stairs. Her parents and siblings looked up and Jim and Caleb whistled. “Baby Girl, you look bee-yoo-tee-ful!” Jim proclaimed, grinning proudly. “There’s not a prettier bride in the county!”

  “That’s because I’m the only one getting married in the dead of winter, Dad,” Callie sighed.

  It didn’t matter how many times she heard it or who said it, Callie never felt like she was pretty. And no matter how many times she blew it off, sometimes feeling so plain did bother her. She wasn’t sure what Euan saw in her. A man that handsome could have his pick of tall, slender, beautiful women who were polished, poised, sophisticated, and accomplished.

  Caleb spoke up. “No, sis, you are beautiful! More than that, you’re a knock-out!”

  Mountain Rose smiled at Callie. “You’re so pretty, Mama! Daddy’s gonna smile big when he sees you!”

  Red Wolf smiled shyly and nodded at his mother. Callie could imagine Euan’s eyes filled with love and pride at seeing her in her bridal regalia. His son’s sure were.

  Jim held out his hand and Callie came down the stairs. Taking his arm, she walked out with her family to the big tent where their kin and her husband were waiting. The cold slapped her right in the face and seeped quickly through her cotton dress as they stepped out of the Lodge. At least the long johns, moccasins, and thick socks kept her from freezing. Not exactly the fancy undergarments that most brides wore under their wedding dresses, but Callie was more concerned with comfort than style at the moment.

  “Damn, its cold!” Darlene observed.

  “It’s gotten pretty warm in the tent, Mama,” Eli said. “Everybody’s in there and the woodstoves are going. It’ll probably chill down real fast once the sun starts setting, though.”

  “Good,” said Jim. “That means folks’ll clear out of here at a decent hour.”

  “I wish some of them would help clean up, though,” Layla sighed. “I don’t want to be out here in the dark with a flashlight in the freezin’-ass cold picking up food and trash.”

  Darlene chuckled. “Oh, I’m planning on asking everyone to help pick up before they go! And I told the sheriff to make sure he took plenty of leftovers for them to feed the staff and inmates at the jail. Brother Wilcox already asked for some to give to the needy and even brought plenty of containers and boxes to haul it in.
”

  As they reached the entrance to the tent, Callie took a deep breath. She didn’t just hear all of the people in there, she could feel them- felt the interplay of their emotions within and between each other and at various levels. Her chest tightened and her stomach became queasy. She closed her eyes and drew from the mountains around her. Up on the ridge, a chorus of howls rang out as the pack sang to her. She could feel them in her heart and it brought a smile to her face.

  Papa and Jolena entered the tent and walked up to their seats in the front row. Papa was wearing his Sunday suit, the only suit he had. Jolena was in her best Sunday winter dress and coat. As nice as their attire was it couldn’t beat the smiles on their faces.

  Eli and Caleb entered the tent first in order to accompany Euan up the aisle as his groomsmen. Dressed in ribbon shirts and dress slacks like their father, they were tall and handsome- prime examples of why Cherokee men were so darned popular with women everywhere.

  John couldn’t get the time off from work to make it in to be Best Man and Euan just couldn’t give the honor to anyone else. His presence was sorely missed.

  Layla was Maid of Honor and Callie’s cousins Annie Stockett, Elyse Mullins, and Suzanne Cumbow were her bridesmaids. They proceeded up the aisle and stood opposite the groomsmen. All wore Tear Dresses in colors matching the ribbon work on Callie’s dress and color-coordinated bridesmaids’ bouquets. Their fine features showed the beautiful blend of Native American, Scottish, and Melungeon ancestry - high cheekbones, full lips, fine noses, honey-toned skin, thick dark hair, and large dark eyes. The women of the Robertson clan were known for their beauty and these young ladies were among the fairest flowers in the mountains.

  Jim handed his two-way to Johnny Teale, a close friend of Caleb’s. “If there’s a problem, poke your head in here and signal me,” he instructed. “Mike and Mike are watching the gate, be listening for them and check in with them every five minutes.”