Brave Beginnings

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “Chogan?” Julia whispered, reaching for him.

  “No. He won’t hurt you again,” Chogan replied, realizing his voice had turned cold in the sudden burst of anger that heated his body. Ignoring the panic in Julia’s eyes, he rushed to the front of the store where he saw Ernest standing in front of the counter where Mrs. Coley stood. “Julia’s not your wife.”

  Ernest turned from Mrs. Coley and blanched.

  “You didn’t expect me to live, did you?” Chogan demanded, his voice sharp.

  Ernest stepped back. “It’s impossible. No one was there to help you.”

  “You can’t kill me.” Chogan stepped forward, clenching his fists as he thought of everything Ernest did to Julia. “You’ll never kill me, Ernest, and you’ll never lay a hand on my wife again.”

  Ernest bolted from the store, but Chogan followed. All he could picture was Ernest hitting Julia. By the time Ernest reached the street, Chogan had caught up to him and shoved him into the ground. Chogan kicked Ernest in the back and sides with all of his strength despite the pounding in his ears and pain from his wounds.

  “How does this feel?” Chogan yelled, realizing he was speaking in Mandan but unable to form the English words. “You think it’s good to do this to a woman?”

  Ernest rolled from him and tried to scamper away, but Chogan grabbed Ernest by the collar and lifted him to his feet. He turned Ernest around and punched him in the nose which bled.

  “I’ll kill you for what you did to Julia!” Chogan yelled, again in Mandan, before he punched Ernest, this time aiming for his eye where Ernest had struck Julia.

  Chogan was only briefly aware of the commotion going on around him as Ernest crumpled to the ground, whining for Chogan to stop. But Chogan couldn’t stop. All he could see was Julia’s bruised face and arms and hear her telling him everything Ernest had done to her. Chogan pounced on Ernest and got ready to punch him again when someone grabbed his arm.

  “Stop!” Citlali shouted in their native tongue. “They’ll hang you if you kill a white man!”

  Chogan pushed Citlali away from him. “No! Look at what he did to her!”

  Chogan glanced at Julia who stood close by, crying with her aunt as they watched everything that was happening. His breathing grew rough with the exertion of paying Ernest back for what he did to Julia, and his vision began to blur, but he couldn’t stop. Ernest didn’t stop in the barn. Chogan delivered another punch to Ernest’s jaw.

  When Chogan felt as if he might pass out, Citlali dragged Chogan off of Ernest. “Stop it!” Citlali yelled. “It doesn’t matter what Ernest did to Julia or what he did to you. The white judge will only hear you killed a white man, and he’ll hang you for it!”

  Chogan tried to reach Ernest again, but Ernest had scampered far enough from his reach, and Conrad and Gary were quickly approaching. Gasping from the pain in his side, Chogan clutched the bandages, aware he was bleeding. He’d pushed himself too far. He looked over at Julia who was running over to him. Conrad and Gary apprehended Ernest who coughed and spit out a couple of teeth.

  Julia put her arms around Chogan. “Please stop! Citlali’s right. They’ll hang you. I don’t want to live without you.”

  Citlali motioned to her. “You see what you’re doing to her? She loves you. You’ll be no use to her or your child if you’re dead.”

  As much as Chogan hated to admit it, Citlali was right. Citlali and Julia helped him to his feet and he stumbled forward, suddenly exhausted. He heard a scuffle behind him and glanced over his shoulder.

  Ernest managed to get away from Conrad and Gary. Chogan saw Ernest pull out his gun and heard the gunfire before Citlali pushed Chogan aside. The next series of gunshots were directed at Ernest. Conrad and Gary stood with their guns pointed at Ernest who remained standing for a long moment before blood dribbled out of his mouth and he collapsed to the ground.

  Conrad ran over to Ernest and checked his pulse. “He’s dead.”

  Julia cried out in relief and hugged Chogan.

  Remembering the gunshot Ernest fired, Chogan turned to Citlali who inspected his arm. “Did he get you?” Chogan asked him.

  “Just grazed me,” Citlali replied. “I’m fine.”

  Chogan sighed with relief, glad Ernest was no longer a threat to Julia.

  Gary strode over to them. “We need to get you to a doctor to check your wounds,” he told Chogan. “You’re bleeding.”

  This time Gary and Citlali brought Chogan to his feet and helped him walk while Julia and her aunt followed close behind. Noah led the marshal to Conrad who knelt beside Ernest. Chogan glanced at Julia and Erin who were crying and holding each other. It was good Erin was here. The two women needed to be together for a while. Relieved Julia was finally safe and back with him, Chogan turned his attention to finding the doctor.

  ***

  Everyone went to the jailhouse where Julia told Conrad and the marshal about Ernest abducting her and finding the skeleton in the shack. She didn’t tell them the full details of her time with Ernest, but they could see her bruised face and come to their own conclusions. “He planned to take me to Canada. We were supposed to board the train here in Jamestown and head out,” she said, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.

  Chogan, who was now freshly bandaged, pulled her closer into his embrace. “I think she’s been through enough. You have everything you need to know.”

  Conrad nodded from where he sat. “I’m sorry you two had to get involved in the case, but I appreciate your cooperation. I’ve been trying to pin Ernest down for the murder of his wife. Did he mention killing her?”

  Julia shook her head. “I didn’t even know he’d been married.”

  Citlali cleared his throat. “The bones in the shack… I saw a piece of jewelry on one of them. A woman’s piece of jewelry. I did not think it meant something, but it is still there.”

  “Good,” Conrad said, looking excited by the prospect. “Maybe I can prove it’s her, and if I can, we’ll know for sure.”

  Julia remembered that she held the hand of that corpse. Could it really have been Ernest’s wife that she touched? She gripped Chogan’s vest and shivered.

  “May we go?” Chogan asked.

  Conrad stood. “Yes, I have everything I need. Thank you.” He approached Julia and patted her shoulder. “I hope next time we see each other, it’ll be under better circumstances.”

  She nodded, grateful it was all over. All she wanted to do was go home and stay in Chogan’s arms for the rest of her life. Her aunt came up to her, so she turned around and gave Erin a strong hug.

  “Julia,” her aunt whispered, crying softly.

  Julia broke into a fresh wave of tears and remained in her aunt’s arms for a few seconds. “I knew Chogan would come for me,” she whispered back.

  Her aunt laughed. “You’ve got a good man, my dear.”

  Julia looked up at Gary and Citlali and smiled at them. “Thank you for taking care of Chogan.”

  While Citlali nodded, Gary came forward and hugged her and her aunt.

  “I’m glad you’re alright,” Gary said in a shaky voice. “I love you, Julia.”

  Julia laughed. “I love you too, Gary.” When she broke away from them, she returned to Chogan and wiped her eyes. “Can we go home now?”

  “Yes, go on,” the marshal replied. “You’ve been through enough.”

  Relieved, Julia leaned against Chogan and left, the others not far behind.

  ~~********~~

  Chapter 41

  Julia was glad to be back at the tribe, safe in bed with Chogan’s arms wrapped around her. It’d been two months since they returned, and they spent most of their time in their room in the lodge, content to keep the rest of the world out so they could regroup from everything that had happened.

  There were times when she felt the familiar flutter of their child moving in her womb, serving as a reminder that life could thrive even in the worst of times. She didn’t know if she’d ever stop seeing Chogan bleedi
ng and lying helpless on the ground or the fury in Ernest’s eyes as he struck her. The bruises were healing faster than the emotional scars, which she supposed was normal. And with both Sarita and Ernest gone, no one would try to come between her and Chogan ever again.

  Chogan’s eyelids fluttered, signaling he was waking from his slumber.

  She got up on her elbow and brought her hand up to his cheek and stroked it. “How are you feeling?”

  He smiled. “Good. You’re here. For a minute, I thought I was back out on the prairie without you.”

  “No. I’m here.” She lifted the blanket to check his shoulder and chest. The bandages were now off and he looked better than he had that morning. Gently pressing her hand to his wounds, she asked, “Does it still hurt when I touch you?”

  “I’m a little sore, but it’s not bad.” He looked at her naked body and sighed. “Your bruises are still there.”

  “They’re turning yellow now.”

  “I hate that you even have them. Ernest had no right to touch you, let alone hit you.”

  Letting the blanket fall back onto them, she blinked back her tears and kissed him. “I want you to make love to me, Chogan.”

  “But your body is still sore.”

  “You can be gentle with me.” Her hand traveled from his chest to his stomach and then to his erection. They hadn’t been intimate since Ernest abducted her. “I miss being with you this way.”

  “Alright but roll over.”

  She settled onto her back, her body ready for him, her flesh tingling with desire. He rolled onto his side, cupped the side of her face in his hand, and pressed his lips softly to hers. Her fingers lightly traced his arm. She loved that his strength meant protection and safety. When she parted her lips, she noted his brief hesitation before he followed suit and touched her lips with his tongue. She caressed his tongue with hers, encouraging him to explore her more intimately. As he did, she moaned and ran one of her legs along his.

  His hand brushed her collar bone before it descended to her breasts. He continued to kiss her as he caressed one breast and then another, working his thumb over her nipples in soft circular motions that she enjoyed so well. When he shifted so he could kiss her neck, she brought her free arm around his shoulders and ran her hand along his hair which now reached past his shoulders. She loved the silky feel of it and was glad he could grow it out now that he was back in the tribe.

  His hand left her breasts and then went between her legs. She was aware of his erection as it pressed against her thigh, and she moved her leg so that he could get more pleasure from the contact. His groan notified her that he appreciated it. Smiling, she draped her leg over his to keep him firmly against her.

  Still kissing her neck, he slid two fingers into her and brought his thumb to her sensitive nub which he then proceeded to caress with the same lazy circular motions he’d used with her nipples. She gasped, surprised it should feel this intense. Their time apart had made her flesh more sensitive and eager for his touch. Unable to stop herself, she moved her hips in slow rhythm to his stroking and moaned, aware that her climax was quickly approaching.

  Holding him closer to her, she struggled to prolong the sweet torment he worked on her but lost the battle. She cried out when her release came and clutched his arm. He continued to rub her nub which prolonged her pleasure. When the last of her climax subsided, she weakly urged him to enter her.

  He carefully got on top of her, keeping his weight on his elbows as he slid into her. Grabbing his hips, she pulled him deeper into her and sighed with contentment as he filled her core. She loved the feel of him inside her. Being together this way always made her feel complete, as if they were truly one unit. His thrusting was slow and deliberate, and she knew he was holding back for her sake.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and whispered, “It doesn’t hurt, Chogan. You can go faster.”

  He groaned and obeyed, still keeping his weight on his elbows as he increased the momentum of his thrusting. As had been the case with her, it didn’t take him long to climax. Still holding his weight with his elbows, his body shuddered above her while he throbbed and spilled his seed into her. When he was finished, he slid out of her and collapsed onto his side. She rolled with him and snuggled up against him. He put his arms around her.

  His breathing still heavy, he kissed her forehead and whispered, “I love you, Julia.”

  “I love you too, Chogan,” she softly replied, her heart and body humming in satisfaction. “It’ll always be you and no one else.”

  He gave her a light squeeze. “For me too, sweetheart.” Taking her hand in his, he pressed it to his heart and exhaled. “For me too.”

  She closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  Julia held her youngest niece and smiled at Woape who was resting in the center of her lodge. Onawa sat on Julia’s other side and helped Penelope string beads.

  Cuddling Woape’s second daughter, Julia asked, “What will you name her?”

  “Gary and I are thinking of Phoebe,” Woape said.

  Julia rubbed her niece’s cheek and marveled that, come November, she’d be holding her own child. This was what it would be like. As much as she couldn’t wait, she also loved the feel of her child moving inside her womb. But even better was the expectation of seeing Chogan hold their child. After hearing about the losses he’d been through, he needed to have a child who would survive the birth.

  Turning her attention back to Woape, she smiled. “What made you decide to name her after Gary’s and my mother?”

  Woape shrugged. “I thought Penelope is a white woman’s name, so I might as well give Phoebe a white woman’s name. I wanted the name to have a special meaning. Penelope was the woman who took care of me and helped me deliver my first child. I remember her kindness when I see my first daughter. With Phoebe, I’ll look at her and remember all I’ve received in marriage to her son.”

  Julia laughed. “And here I thought all there was to naming a baby was liking a particular name.”

  Onawa helped Penelope finish the strand of beads before she picked up another. “We like names to have a special meaning.”

  Julia figured it made sense since their artwork had a lot of symbolism in it. She wondered if she and Chogan should give their child a name that meant something special to them.

  Phoebe sneezed and Julia chuckled. Yes, it would be good to see Chogan holding their child. She couldn’t wait.

  ***

  In late September, Julia stood by Millicent’s side as Millicent and Conrad exchanged their wedding vows. She glanced over her shoulder at Chogan who sat further back in the church beside her aunt, Gary and Woape. Offering a smile at Chogan who smiled in return, she turned back to the bride and groom. When she was a child, she dreamt of marrying this way—standing in front of her family and friends in a church.

  Of course, back then she never imagined she’d find someone as wonderful as Chogan. She thought she might find a man she could be content with, someone to have children with and grow old with. Her life hadn’t turned out the way she thought. In fact, as she thought on it, she realized it had turned out better than she ever hoped.

  Once the preacher announced that Millicent and Conrad were husband and wife, Julia and Conrad’s brother followed them down the aisle. Soon after, the others departed the church and gathered outside for a potluck lunch to celebrate the blessed event.

  During the potluck, Millicent came over to Julia and gave her a long hug. “Oh my dear cousin, I am ever so grateful you could be here on this day.”

  Julia squeezed her hands. “I’m glad I could be here too. You look absolutely radiant.”

  Giggling, she pressed one of her hands to her cheeks. “I find myself blushing all the time these days.”

  “Enjoy it, Millicent. Conrad’s smitten with you.”

  Millicent glanced at Conrad who was talking to her parents. He gave a slight wave which she returned before giggling again. “I feel like a s
illy school girl.”

  “There’s nothing silly about it. It’s wonderful.”

  “Is it any wonder why you’re my dearest friend?”

  Julia hugged her, careful not to disturb the baby growing in her womb. “I’ll miss you.”

  “Oh, in all the excitement, I almost forgot to tell you the good news!”

  Pulling away from her so she could look at her, Julia asked, “What good news?”

  “Conrad realized there are no detectives in Bismarck and he’s grown rather fond of this place, so he’s set up his business here.”

  “No kidding?”

  “Nope. And better yet, we found a lovely house. You’ll never guess which one.”

  By the knowing gleam in her cousin’s eye, Julia ventured, “Not Aunt Erin’s?”

  “Yes, that’s the one!”

  “Then we’ll still get to see each other.”

  “And your aunt will get to live with you. She misses you, you know.”

  Julia caught sight of her aunt who was talking to Gary, Chogan, and Woape. “She’s a sly one. To think she knew you and Conrad were going to buy her house and she didn’t bother to tell me.”

  “Don’t be too hard on her. I swore her to secrecy. I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

  Julia laughed. “Well, considering this is your special day, I won’t scold her for not telling me.” She saw Conrad heading in their direction and gave her cousin a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll leave you to your husband.”

  Millicent squealed. “Oh, that has a most lovely sound to it, does it not?”

  “It does. Congratulations, Millicent.”

  Leaving a very happy Millicent and Conrad to talk, Julia returned to Chogan.

  ~~********~~

  Chapter 42

  In early October, Chogan returned from hunting and stopped outside his lodge when he saw his friend approaching.