by Linda Bridey
“This baby is hers. Or was.” Black Fox’s face became a picture of grief. “She was killed in a Cheyenne raid on us last week.”
Marcus blinked at him a few times as he absorbed that information. His eyes filled with tears of grief. Redtail had been a sweet, loving young woman and Marcus had planned to see her again. Her loss was profound to him.
He swallowed and said, “I’m so sorry, for the tribe and myself. Will you please tell her father that my heart is full of sorrow for him and the rest of her family?” He didn’t speak her name because the Lakota didn’t say the names of their dead aloud for fear that their spirits would remain earthbound.
He Who Runs nodded.
“How do you know she’s mine?” Marcus said, looking at the baby.
Black Fox smiled. “Look at her eyes.” He tipped the lantern a little so the light shone on the baby’s face.
Marcus sucked in a breath as he recognized his own gray eyes staring back at him. “Holy crap. Okay, she’s mine, but what am I going to do with her?”
He Who Runs laughed. “Raise her, stupid.”
“What about One Bird or Aiyana’s aunts? Wouldn’t she be better with them?” he asked.
Black Fox shook his head sadly. “They already have their hands full with the children they now have. She is best with you, Silver Ghost.”
He Who Runs sat another bundle on the porch.
“Please don’t tell me that’s another baby,” Marcus said in a pleading tone.
Both men laughed at him. “No,” He Who Runs said. “These are supplies for her. There is milk in here and mush. She is around eight moons old and can have a little in her milk. There are also cloths and moss.”
They were the equivalent to the white man’s diaper.
“That will get you through until you can get some more tomorrow,” Black Fox said, and rose from his chair.
“Wait. You’re really going to leave her here with me?” Marcus said. His chest began to constrict with panic.
“Yes, brother,” Black Fox said. “She’s yours and belongs with her father now that her mother has gone to the Big Sky.”
“You don’t understand,” Marcus protested as he shifted the baby to his shoulder. “My white family doesn’t know anything about all of you, remember? They won’t understand. Please help me.”
He Who Runs gazed at Marcus with sympathy. “Silver Ghost, if your family is as wonderful as you say, they will get used to the idea of having Aiyana in the family.”
His half-brothers left the porch then and disappeared back into the night. Marcus looked at his daughter, who smiled at him. He saw Redtail in her, but he couldn’t deny that Aiyana looked like him, too. He returned the adorable baby’s smile. She reached out and grabbed his nose and he laughed.
He gently dislodged her chubby little fingers from his nose and said, “That’ll be enough of that, little one. That’s no way to treat your niyate,” he told her, using the Lakota name for father.
She laughed and Marcus fell in love with her as her silver eyes met his. “Yes, Aiyana, I’m your father,” he said.
He sat holding her and playing with her until she rubbed her eyes as she became sleepy. Marcus didn’t know where he was going to put her to sleep that would be safe. He had no crib or cradle.
“The wood box,” he whispered.
He would have to clean it out. Marcus made Roscoe follow him into the house. He got his bed pillow and a blanket and laid Aiyana on the parlor floor. Then he propped the pillow up on one side of her and rolled the blanket up and put it on the other side. Sarah and Tessa had both done that kind of thing with his niece and nephews. Then he told Roscoe to lie down and watch her.
The wood box was about the size and shape of a cradle and would do until he could get set up better. As he cleaned it out, Marcus tried to figure out how he was going to tell his family about Aiyana. Would they reject her because of her Lakota heritage? He decided that if they did, then they might as well reject him, too. They didn’t know it, but he didn’t get all of his looks from his mother. He had her eyes, but his black hair and slightly darker skin belonged to the Indian who’d sired him.
Marcus dreaded how they would look at him once they knew. He’d known since he was sixteen, and hadn’t been able to tell them. When their mother had passed away, Marcus had been going through her things, just looking at them and remembering moments from his childhood. He’d opened the drawer of her nightstand and noticed a stack of journals.
He’d never seen them before and he began reading them immediately. When he was halfway through the fourth book, Marcus had come across information that knocked the foundation out from under what he’d believed about his identity. His father had been away on a cattle drive when his mother had been attacked by a Lakota brave who was out for a good time. He’d forced himself on her and she’d become pregnant with Marcus as a result.
Marcus finished cleaning out the wood box and went back inside with it. He got another blanket and put it and the one on the floor by Aiyana in it, and then laid her on the blankets. She slept peacefully. Marcus thought of Redtail and began to cry. He sat down on the sofa by his daughter and mourned the baby’s mother.
He looked at the baby and said, “Aiyana. Eternal blossom. You sure are as pretty as any flower. Oh, little girl, how am I going to explain you to your uncles, aunts, and cousins?”
Marcus wiped away his tears with his hand and lay down on the sofa. He dangled a hand down so he was touching the blanket. All through the night he laid awake, keeping watch over his daughter.
Chapter Seven
Tessa watched for Dean to return with everyone and wondered where Marcus was. He was supposed to have been there already. There was work that Dean wanted him to do and Dean hadn’t been pleased that his brother hadn’t shown up that morning. Tessa and Sadie had cooked breakfast and then began working on laundry. Tessa wanted to have it done by the time her family returned.
Out on the road, Dean and company were having a good time catching up and talking about Claire’s graduation. Maddie kept telling stories about when Claire was little and Claire laughed even as she tried to make Maddie shut up. As they came by Charlie and Lydia’s place, Dean spotted something moving in the distance. It got a little closer and he recognized Rosie, Marcus’ horse.
She was running almost flat out. Suddenly, Marcus checked her speed a little and turned her towards the Bensons’ pasture fence. Seth saw, too. He grasped Dean’s shoulder and grabbed the reins from him. With a firm hand, Seth pulled the team to a halt. They watched as Rosie ran, neared the fence and gathered herself for flight.
Dean would have called out, but Seth clapped a hand over his mouth. “Shut up, Dean. You’ll startle them and make them crash into the fence. They don’t know we’re here.”
Dean nodded and Seth dropped his hand. They watched Rosie’s haunch muscles bunch and then she launched herself up and over the barbed wire fence with grace and power. As she landed, they heard Marcus let out a war whoop and watched him pat Rosie on the neck.
“I’ll be damned,” Seth said. “That’s how he keeps coming down through the south pasture to the paddock. I suspected, but I didn’t know for sure.”
“That reckless idiot,” Dean said. His tone was filled with reproach.
Seth said, “Yep. But you gotta admit it was kind of pretty.”
Dean looked up at Seth. “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you realize what would have happened if she hadn’t cleared that fence? She’d be permanently injured or dead. The same goes for Marcus.”
“I know, I know. We’ll have to talk to him about it,” Seth agreed.
Claire had watched the jump with fascination and dread. Her hands had balled into fists as she mentally tried to help the mare over the fence. She didn’t want to see either of them hurt. When they’d landed safely, she released the breath she’d been holding and sagged with relief.
Maddie took her hand. “I feel the same way. I can’t believe he did that.”
&nb
sp; Claire nodded but inside she felt admiration for Marcus’ bravery, even if it was too reckless a stunt. Her heartbeat was still elevated slightly as they turned into the lane to the ranch. When they arrived at the house, Marcus was waiting there with Tessa. Marcus stepped forward and helped Maddie down, and then reached up for Claire.
She paused for a moment before stepping forward. He took her around the waist and she put her arms on his strong shoulders. He lifted her down and set her on her feet. She was surprised to see him smiling at her as if he was happy to see her.
“Hi, Claire,” he said.
“Hello, Marcus,” she answered. She’d been anxious the whole way there because she didn’t know what kind of greeting she would get from him.
Then Tessa was hugging her and exclaiming about how grown up she looked and Marcus privately agreed as he assessed Claire. She’d blossomed as a woman, filling out in all the right places, he thought. Her hair caught the sunlight and Marcus noticed that there were gold and red highlights in her hair. He hadn’t seen that the first time she’d been there, but then again, he hadn’t been looking at her in that light. He’d mainly been trying to keep away from her.
She looked at him shyly and then away again and Marcus thought that he saw her blush a little. He blinked and then smiled. Then Dean stepped in front of him and said, “We have something to discuss, Marcus.”
“Okay, sure. Uh, later, okay?” Marcus said and grabbed a couple of bags from the wagon bed. “Are these yours?” he asked Claire.
“Yes,” Claire answered.
He asked Maddie, “I assume Claire is in the guest room?”
“You assume correctly,” Maddie answered.
Marcus nodded and walked over to their house. Claire walked with him and said, “Please be careful with them. I have a few things in there that are a little fragile.”
“Okay. I need you to do me a favor,” he said.
Claire looked at him. “Me? What could you possibly want me to do?”
“We’ll take these to your room and then you pretend to start an argument with me and then I’ll leave like I’m mad and you follow me to the barn,” Marcus said.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you owe me. That last letter you wrote was really nasty and I did nothing to provoke your anger. Then you never even answered me. You could at least do me this small favor. I need to talk to you about something,” Marcus said. “Please, Claire?”
Claire thought about it for a moment and said, “What’s in it for me?”
“Whatever you want,” Marcus growled. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“All right,” Claire said. Her curiosity got the better of her and she just had to know what he wanted to tell her.
“Thank you,” Marcus said as they entered her room. Marcus set the suitcases down and stood back.
“What shall we argue about?” Claire asked.
Marcus rolled his eyes. “Do I have to think of everything?”
Claire crossed her arms over her chest and the movement emphasized just how much she had filled out. Marcus also noticed the gold flecks in her brown eyes for the first time. She had very pretty eyes. “This is your plan, Marcus.”
He sighed. “How about the whole Mendel thing? We never did finish discussing that subject.”
Claire nodded. “Yes. That will work, because I happen to think you’re wrong that you can alter the genetic makeup of peas.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Marcus said and raised his voice.
Claire followed suit. “No, I’m not. As a matter of fact, your notion is ridiculous.”
Marcus began walking out of the room. “Listen, lady, take it from someone who grows plants for a living, you can definitely alter it. It’s called a hybrid, or maybe you hadn’t heard of that, Miss College Graduate,” he taunted as he stomped through Maddie and Seth’s parlor.
“Don’t take that tone with me, Marcus Samuels,” Claire said. They were down the porch steps and into the driveway by this point.
Marcus turned and bowed to her. “And what tone would milady like me to take?” he asked, and then walked away from her again.
Seth and Maddie stood on the porch and watched them walk to the barn. Marcus and Claire disappeared inside.
“Not even here ten minutes and they’re at it,” Seth said.
Maddie laughed. “I know. They’re entertaining to say the least.”
Then they went back inside to unpack.
*****
Marcus had Claire stay just inside the door while he ran all through the barn to make sure no one else was in it. He came back to her slightly out of breath. He smelled of sweat, hay, and horse. Claire liked the combination.
“Let’s go in here,” Marcus said indicating the tack room. He shut the door behind them.
“Now what is it that you want to discuss?” she said.
Marcus started pacing. “I need your help, very badly. Outside of myself, you’re the smartest person I know and I need you to put that brain power of yours to use.”
Claire frowned. “All right. I’ll try, depending on what it is.”
“You have to swear that you won’t tell a soul. Not until I’m ready to tell it myself. Do you swear?” Marcus said.
Claire was starting to become alarmed. Marcus was clearly quite upset.
“Do you swear, Claire? I don’t have a lot of time here,” Marcus insisted.
“Yes. I swear. Now tell me what it is,” Claire said.
Marcus raked a hand through his hair and then said, “I have a daughter, Claire.”
Claire stared blankly at him a moment and then said, “I’m sorry, but I thought you said that you have a daughter.”
“I did. I have a daughter. She’s three-quarters Lakota Indian. She’s adorable. Her name is Aiyana and she’s eight months old. I just found out about her when my half-brothers brought her to me last night. A brave from my tribe, uh, forced himself on my mother and she got pregnant with me. My white brothers, Seth and Dean, don’t know anything about my Indian heritage or the fact that I have a whole other family. They’re not going to want me anymore when they find out, Claire. I don’t know how to tell them, but I have to because I have this little baby now and I have to care for her and I need help to do that. I need you to help me figure out how to tell them. I don’t want to lose them.”
Claire leaned back on a saddle rack that hung from chains attached to the ceiling. It moved and she almost fell. Marcus caught her with cat-like speed and righted her.
“Careful,” he said.
She was trying to absorb everything he’d just told her. Claire closely examined his face and could now see his Indian heritage in his high cheekbones, black hair, and tanned skin. Something told her it was like that all over his body and she quickly squelched that thought. Her agile mind quickly sorted through the information Marcus had provided her and she sought possible solutions.
Claire had come to Montana with an agenda of her own and she now saw a way that she and Marcus could help each other.
“I’ll help you. I think I have an idea, but I need your help, too,” she said.
Marcus said, “With what?”
“I want to stay in Montana, but my parents aren’t going to allow it. I just know they won’t.” Claire dropped her eyes as she screwed up her courage and then looked him in the face again. “But they would have to if I were to marry someone who lived here.”
Marcus gave her a confused look. “You want me to help you find someone to marry? Okay, sure, no problem.”
“I’ve already found the person,” she said. “You.”
“Me?” he almost shouted. “Me?”
“Yes, you, dummy. I’m not talking to anyone else, am I?” Claire said. “You need someone to help you raise this child and run interference with your family for you and I can do both of those things. And I need to stay here and have a life of my own. I love my parents. They’re wonderful people and very dear to me, but I’m a grown woman and can make my
own decisions. Please, Marcus?”
Marcus thought over his options and saw that he didn’t have much of a choice. “Do you really think we can get along? I mean, all we do is fight.”
“We’re not fighting right now,” Claire pointed out.
Marcus smiled. “No, we’re not, are we? All right. It’s a deal. We gotta make this look good, though.”
Footfalls sounded on the barn floor outside the door. Claire grabbed Marcus and pressed her mouth to his.
“What are you doing, Claire?” Marcus mumbled against her lips.
“Making it look good, dummy,” she mumbled back. “Now kiss me.”
Marcus did a mental shrug and wrapped his arms around Claire’s waist. He was surprised to find that she felt good in his arms. Claire put her arms around his neck. She’d only ever been kissed once in her lifetime and it hadn’t gone especially well. As a result, her technique was a little awkward.
“Claire,” Marcus said. “Just hold still. I’ll do the rest until you get the hang of it.”
Gently he tipped her head where he wanted it. If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Marcus would have found their predicament laughable. He wished he had a little more time to teach Claire how to kiss, but he hoped that she’d learn fast.
Claire was embarrassed that he was able to tell that she was inexperienced in this area. She willed her mind to clear and to just follow his lead. Marcus’ lips were warm and supple and Claire thought of how many times she’d dreamt of kissing him like this. His shoulders were firm under her arms and instinctively she placed her fingers on the back of his neck and ran them up under his hair.
It was so soft and silky and she enjoyed playing with it. Marcus was surprised to feel his body break out in gooseflesh as her fingers grazed his skin. Claire smelled good, but Marcus couldn’t quite place the scent she wore. His arms tightened around her and he ran his hands up her back. Her mouth was soft and pliant under his and Marcus felt her start to respond to what he was doing.
Thatta, girl, he thought. Keep it up. Claire was truly getting caught up in what they were doing and she kept wishing that it would go on forever. Her fingers tangled in Marcus’ hair and she pulled a little. Marcus growled his pleasure against her mouth and she pulled harder.