by Linda Bridey
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing. You’re really good at that.”
He smiled. “Thanks. Nothing like Pa. You can’t trust him with sharp objects. If he does have to cut something, he goes real slow so he doesn’t cut himself. He’s not good with tools or shooting weapons, either. It’s pretty funny, in a way.”
Peanut said, “You must take after your mama then.”
“Not in looks. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. I look just like Pa. I act like him somewhat, too. My sister looks like him, but our brother, Jethro, looks just like Ma. He’s an actor in New York. He’s getting pretty famous, too.”
“Really? Can he make frog legs?”
“Nope.”
“Then I’m not impressed. I’m only impressed by men who can cook frog legs,” Peanut said.
A blush stained his cheeks as he smiled. “Is that so? So do you know a lot of guys who cook frog legs?” He ran the stick he’d sharpened through the legs.
Giving him a coy look, she said, “Just you.”
Skip’s face grew even hotter and he laughed a little. He didn’t know what to say since he wasn’t used to girls flirting with him. “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna wash the frog guts off my hands.” Well, that was a romantic thing to say. “Just hold these above the flames and they’ll cook.”
He handed her the stick and quickly left the fire, berating himself for his awkwardness. Finding some sand, he scrubbed his hands and forearms thoroughly. Going back to the fire, he was about to sit across it from her, but Peanut patted the ground by her. When he hesitated, she gave him a coaxing smile, and he lowered himself down to sit beside her.
“How long do they have to cook?” she asked.
Skip was glad to have something else to focus on. “Let me see them.” He took the stick from her and examined them. “Not quite done yet.”
He held the stick over the fire again and then jerked when he felt her hand on his knee.
She giggled. “Sorry. You jumped more than a frog does.”
Skip laughed but stayed silent, reverting to his former shyness.
“Oh, no. Don’t you crawl back into your shell,” she said, putting a hand on his jaw and exerting gentle pressure. “Look at me, Skip.”
He turned towards her, but he couldn’t meet her eyes.
“Skip, what are you so afraid of?”
“Looking like an idiot.”
Peanut’s forehead wrinkled. “Why would you look like an idiot?”
“I’m not good at this stuff,” he said.
“What stuff?”
“Stuff with girls.”
She chuckled. “We can fix that.”
He started to pull away from her. “It’s not funny.”
“I didn’t mean that it was,” Peanut said. “You’re just so sweet.”
He threw her an annoyed look, handed her the frog legs, and started to get up. She surprised him by shoving him onto his back.
“I wasn’t making fun of you, Skip. I meant sweet in a good way,” she said, stretching out beside him. “You just don’t know how cute you are.”
“You did? I am?”
She nodded and rested a hand on his chest. Skip’s heart thudded against his ribs so hard that he was sure she must feel it. “Those girls back in Dawson must be blind not to see what a handsome boy you are.”
His voice cracked a little as he asked, “You think I’m handsome?”
“Yeah. You have the biggest brown eyes and I love your messy hair,” she said, running her fingers through it a little. “And then there’s the rest of you.”
“What about the rest of me?”
“You’re so strong and virile.” She put a finger against his lips. “Yes, you.”
Skip thought he was dreaming. He never thought he’d hear a girl say those sorts of things to him. He’d never thought of himself in those terms. Peanut took away her finger and replaced it with her lips, pressing them lightly against his.
Skip froze, terrified and excited all at once. Peanut slid her hand around the back of his neck and kissed him more firmly. Instinct took over and Skip responded to her, hoping that he was doing it right. He must’ve been because she moved closer and grew more insistent.
She took one of his wrists and pulled his arm around her waist. At first Skip’s embrace was awkward, but he slowly gained confidence. It felt natural for him to draw her closer. Lying next to a fire under a star-filled sky was a very romantic setting for his first kiss, especially such a powerful one.
Peanut’s lips were incredibly soft and the way her fingers played with his hair felt so good. He held her tighter and Peanut kissed him harder yet. Skip growled and rolled her over, running a hand over her thigh. Realizing what he’d done, he snatched it away and broke their kiss.
His heartbeat thumped in his ears as he said, “I’m so sorry. I just got carried away. I shouldn’t have done that. It’s just that I’ve never kissed anyone before and you’re so beautiful and you feel so good. I didn’t know it would be like that. I mean, I’ve heard fellas talk about it, but actually doing it is so different. Are you mad?”
Smiling, she said, “No, I’m not mad at all.” Tears burned her eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Skip. You make me feel beautiful and wanted. After what Claude did, I thought that if he could do that to me that maybe I wasn’t good enough for anyone. Why do you think I’m beautiful? I’m pregnant and I’m getting fat and now I’m gonna cry after you made me frog legs and you’re so good at kissing that it made my toes curl.”
Skip blinked in shock over her comments. Stroking her hair, he said, “You’re too good for the likes of him, Peanut, and you are incredibly beautiful, pregnant or not.” Feeling daring, he put a hand on her softly rounded stomach. “This isn’t fat, it’s a beautiful new life in there, and I’ll bet he’s gonna be just as cute as Annie.”
“He?”
“Yeah. Brown Stag said it’s gonna be a boy and I believe him,” Skip said.
“I’d like a boy,” she said. “Am I really the first girl you’ve ever kissed?”
Sheepishly he said, “Yes, you are, and it was … magical.”
Peanut laughed. “Kissing a pregnant woman who already has one baby was magical?”
Skip grinned. “It sure was. I made your toes curl?”
“Mmm hmm. For someone who’s never kissed before, you sure caught on fast,” she said. “I didn’t want you to stop.”
Skip felt proud and manly that he’d done it so well. “Uh, me, neither, but I didn’t want to take advantage of you. Like I said, I got carried away.”
Peanut put her hand over where his still rested on her stomach and moved it up his arm, squeezing his bicep and shoulder. Her mouth curved seductively. “Would you like to get carried away again?”
His pulse went crazy as she continued touching him. “Yeah, but I shouldn’t.”
“I know, but I can’t help wanting you,” she said. “You’re so sweet and handsome.”
Skip swallowed hard. “Wanting me? As in…?”
Peanut smiled and nodded. “Yeah. How do you feel about that?”
“Well, uh, oh jeez,” Skip said, pulling away from her a little. “I mean—” He made a frustrated noise.
Turning her head so he wouldn’t see her tears, Peanut said, “It’s ok, Skip. I know you never thought your first time would be with a pregnant girl.”
He wouldn’t let her get up. “Wait a second. It’s not you being pregnant. I don’t know what I’m doing and I never thought I’d do that until I was married.”
Peanut looked into his eyes. “So theoretically, if we were married, you’d make love to me even though I’m gonna have a baby?”
“I sure would,” Skip said, grinning.
“But you won’t now?”
Skip’s brows pulled together. “I want to—so much, Peanut. But I respect you and I want to do the right thing by you.”
“You’re such a good guy, Skip. Those are hard to find. I thought Claude was, but …�
�� Peanut hadn’t meant to cry, but the tears came on suddenly. She knew that part of it was her pregnancy and all of the fluctuations her body was going through, but there were times when the pain of Claude’s dastardly betrayal came back full force.
Her face crumpled and Skip couldn’t stand to see her cry. Gathering her close, he rocked her and kissed her temple. “It’s ok, Peanut. Everything is gonna be all right. You’re not alone. You have people who care about you and Annie. You’ll like it in Dawson, too. You’ll see.”
Peanut swiped at her tears. “Where are we gonna stay? We don’t have much money—not enough for rent and food. I’ll need to get a job, but who’s gonna hire a pregnant woman? Who’ll watch Peanut while I work? I’m so scared, Skip.”
“Don’t worry, Peanut. We’ll figure it all together,” he said.
“I’m not your responsibility, Skip, and neither is Annie.”
He held her closer. “Yes, you are. Both of you are.”
She shook her head against his chest. “No, we’re not.”
“Yes, you are, because I love you and Annie. And if you’re a real man, you take care of the woman you love and your kids.” Skip bit his lip while he waited for her reaction.
Peanut went very still. He loves me and Annie? I must not have heard him right. How can that be? No one his age wants to be stuck with a pregnant woman and a baby.
“Skip, that’s impossible. You don’t mean that,” Peanut said.
“Look at me, Peanut.”
Slowly she did, surprised by the conviction in his eyes and the stubborn set of his jaw.
“I would never say such a thing if it wasn’t true. I would never lie to you or lead you on, Peanut. So when I say that I love you and Annie, I mean it,” he said firmly.
Fear shot through Peanut. “I don’t think I’m ready for love yet, Skip. It’s not you. Please don’t think that.”
He smiled and shook his head. “I know that. You’ve been through hell and I don’t expect anything from you. I’ve never been in love before, but you have. You were hurt physically and emotionally by the man you loved. I know your heart isn’t healed enough. I can wait, Peanut. I’m not in a rush, but at least you know how I feel.”
She caressed his cheek. “You are such a special man, Skip, and don’t you let anyone tell you anything different.”
“Ok.”
Raising up, Peanut kissed him, pulling him back down with her. Skip didn’t hesitate now, kissing her back with abandon. He wanted her fiercely, but he didn’t feel right being intimate with her without some sort of promise being between them.
Someone cleared their throat and they jumped apart.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Raven said, barely restraining a smile. “I was worried when you didn’t come back and I was also doing a last look around to make sure everything was safe.”
Skip’s eyes flashed fire at Raven before he lowered his gaze as he rose and helped Peanut to her feet. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “That’s ok. I should get back to Annie, anyway. Goodnight,” she said, giving Skip a little smile.
He smiled back at her and then started putting out the fire. He made sure that Peanut was out of earshot before saying, “Thanks for ruining that for me.”
“I didn’t mean to. I really was worried about the two of you,” Raven said. “We don’t need anyone else getting hurt.”
Skip didn’t respond as he finished putting out the fire.
“Skip, it’s not a good idea to get involved with a woman who will have two children soon—”
Skip let out a sarcastic laugh as he brushed dirt from his hands and picked up his spear. “Do you want to know what you just interrupted? Would you like to know?”
Raven arched an eyebrow at Skip’s belligerent tone but remained silent.
“That was the first time I’ve ever kissed a girl, Raven. Ever. I wouldn’t have let it go further than that. I have too much respect for Peanut. But, I would have liked to have enjoyed it a little longer and not have either of us embarrassed,” Skip said.
Raven sighed. He remembered his first kiss and he wouldn’t have wanted it interrupted, either. “I’m sorry, Skip. I didn’t know.”
“I’ll tell you something else. I love her and when she’s ready, if she falls in love with me, I’m gonna marry her. I don’t know when that’ll happen or if it will, but I’m willing to take that risk. I love Annie, too, and God knows she needs a father. So will Peanut’s son,” Skip said. “And don’t you dare say that I don’t know what I’m talking about or what that’ll entail. I’ll work like a dog to support them and make sure they have a good life. Now, I’m going to bed. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Raven said, smiling as Skip walked away. “Grandfather, now I know where Father gets his matchmaking habit from.” Shaking his head, he followed Skip back to camp.
Chapter Thirteen
Brook sat between her sons, Bear and Wolf, in the back of Joe’s Brougham automobile, glad that they were with her. She wasn’t used to riding in cars or going to big cities, so she was anxious to begin with, but she was even more scared over her husband’s condition. She, along with many others, had been praying nonstop for him.
Joe had insisted that he, Bobby, and Joey would bring the whole clan since they would be too upset to drive. They’d have luggage, too, since they didn’t know how long they’d be in Rapid City before Reckless was well enough to come home.
“I’ll be damned,” she heard Joe say.
She looked out the window as Joe slowed down and pulled over to the shoulder of the road as they entered Rapid City limits. A smile lit the faces of the car’s occupants.
“Hey!” Joe hollered out his window. “You lousy Indians!”
Black Fox’s head whipped around and Joe knew from the black expression on the chief’s face that if he’d have been anyone else, he’d be a dead man. However, once he recognized Joe’s grinning face, Black Fox let out a loud laugh and halted his horse. Joe’s party got out of their cars and Black Fox’s dismounted.
A rowdy reunion occurred in the middle of the road before they moved over to the side where the cars were parked. Everyone was ecstatic that they’d found Runner, and they all hugged him.
Then Brook said to Raven, “Please tell us what happened.”
He told them about their shared vision and how tired Reckless had been afterward. “It took a lot out of him, but we didn’t know that it would cause this. It happened the next morning after we’d made camp.”
Runner walked away from them to hide the tears in his eyes, pretending to look at the town a little ways down the road.
“It will be all right, cousin.”
Runner closed his eyes and shook his head as Bobby joined him. “You don’t understand. It’s my fault that this happened. I wasn’t strong enough to help him more than I did. I tried so hard. I swear to you that I did.”
Bobby put a hand on Runner’s shoulder. “I’m sure that you did. You’re still learning. Reckless knew what he was doing and I know that he wouldn’t have any regrets.”
“I don’t want him to die.”
Bobby’s amber eyes met his steadily. “I don’t, either, but if he does go on to walk the next life, he will go with honor and he won’t have any regrets about it. No matter what happens, you should be proud of yourself. You sacrificed yourself for the sake of our family and for all of our people. You should send the story to our tribe on the reservation. It will give them hope to know that one of our greatest chiefs has sent such a message through a powerful vision.”
Runner nodded. “I’ll do that. It is a good idea.”
“Come. I think we’re leaving for the hospital,” Bobby said.
He followed Bobby back to the group, but guilt still weighed heavily on his heart.
*****
Mike came out of Reckless’ room and saw Brook, Bear, and Wolf striding in his direction. The twins’ little sister, Clover, was visiting friends in Colorado but had been contacted and was on her way to Rapid City. They
were joined by Hannah, Bobby, his younger brother, Nash, and their younger sisters, Faith, and Rose.
He smiled and embraced Brook, holding her tightly as she cried.
“How is he?” she asked, trying to get herself under control. She didn’t want her husband to see her crying.
Mike pulled away. “He’s pretty weak, but holding his own.”
Bear, the fiercer of the twins, asked, “Will he make it?”
“Bear!” Brook admonished him. “Don’t ask that.”
He frowned, but his blue eyes never left Mike’s. “I’m sorry, Mother, but I think it’s best that we’re prepared. Be honest with us, Mike.”
Mike said, “I wish I could say one way or the other. In my professional opinion, as long as he doesn’t have a second attack, I think he’ll pull through. Having you guys here will help. The more positive energy around him, the better. Now, I know you want to go see him right away, but there’s something that has to be done first. Just stay here.”
They gave him curious looks, but stayed put.
Mike went into Reckless’ room and signed to Owl, “Brook and the kids are here.”
Owl nodded and rose from the chair by the side of Reckless’ bed. They’d already agreed that he should tell everyone about his true relationship to Reckless before they came to see him. He followed Mike out into the hallway and greeted everyone warmly.
“Come with me,” he said. “There’s a conference room down here that we can use.”
Holding Hannah’s hand tightly, he led them down the hall. Hannah felt his hand tremble slightly and saw tension in his shoulders.
“Owl, what is it?” she whispered.
He put an arm around her, giving her a squeeze. “I’ll tell everyone at once. It’ll be easier.”
The group filed into the room and took seats. Owl sat down and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Mike patted his shoulder, silently lending him his support.
Owl saw them all looking at him expectantly and quickly prayed for strength. After asking them not to interrupt, he began his story, meeting their gazes unflinchingly. When he finished, silence met his announcement.
