by Linda Bridey
Switch heard the censure in Mike’s voice and didn’t like it. He released Hope and stood up to face Mike. “What’s your problem?”
Mike was surprised by his confrontational tone. “I don’t think what you’re doing is a good idea,” he said.
Hope said, “Mike, this is really none of your business. It’s between Switch and me.”
Mike said, “I promised your parents that nothing would happen to you.”
Hope stepped closer to Mike. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m a grown woman.”
“It’s me he’s objecting to,” Switch said. “Isn’t that right, Mike?”
“No, it’s that Pa doesn’t allow that sort of thing here and I would hope that you respect that,” Mike answered.
Switch looked away from Mike and then said, “You’re right. Your place, your rules.” He kissed Hope’s cheek. “Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Ok. Good night.”
She waited until he was out of earshot before turning her anger on Mike. “I would appreciate it if from now on you minded your own business. You’re not my father or my brother. I can take care of myself.”
Mike said, “You’re right. I’m not your father or your brother. I’m your friend and friends tell each other when they’re wrong and they watch out for each other. What happens if you get pregnant and then go home to Chicago? How are you going to explain that to your folks, especially your father?”
“What if I don’t go back to Chicago? What if I stay in Dawson?”
“What? You can’t do that. Your life is in Chicago. Your folks are there. You have to go back.”
“My life? What life? The one my father dictates I should live? No, thanks. I can’t keep living like that, like some bird in a cage that only gets let out once in a while. You have no idea what that’s like. So when I get the chance, I live my life to the fullest. That might go against your principles, Mike, but they’re your principles, not mine,” Hope said.
Mike replied, “Fine. You’re right. I have no business imposing my beliefs on you. But let’s say you stay here. Do you want to stay because of Switch? You barely know him and you know he has major issues. Are you willing to take them on? Do you want to start a relationship with someone who is unreliable?”
Switch stood around the corner from the main barn floor where Mike and Hope were talking. He heard Mike’s response and knew that he didn’t need to hear any more. He took off at a run through the pastures to the stream and followed it to the camp.
Hope said, “Maybe that’s how you see him, but it’s not the way I do. He’s so full of life and fun. He’s kind, and handsome, and caring. Those are rare qualities to find in someone. Not everyone is like that.”
“He’s not like that all the time. There are times when you can’t get him out of bed or get him to do anything at all. You see what he’s like the rest of the time. I love Switch, but it’s a lot to deal with. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt. I care about both of you enough to voice my opinion to you. What you do with it is your own choice,” Mike said.
“I appreciate your concern, and I’ll think about what you’ve said. I’ll make a decision by New Year’s,” Hope said. “Goodnight, Mike.”
“Goodnight.” Mike watched her go and sighed. Sometimes being the voice of reason really stinks, he thought as he also left the barn to go to the tipi where it was nice and toasty inside.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The next day, there was another search for Switch, but it turned up empty until Owl noticed that there were boot tracks leading to the stream. They followed the stream.
“I think he went to the camp,” Owl said.
“Why did he leave?” Dean asked. “I know he was upset last night, but I didn’t think he’d leave.”
“I don’t know,” Owl said. “Did something happen?”
Hope had followed them into the pasture. “I’ll tell you what happened. Your son happened.”
Dean frowned at her. He could see how angry she was by the way her eyes glittered and the high color in her cheeks. “What do you mean?”
“Mike interrupted a private moment between Switch and me last night, and I’ll bet he overheard some of the things Mike said about him. He feels bad enough about himself and he doesn’t need to have other people run him down like that. Maybe he just needs someone to believe in him, to care enough to give him a chance,” she said as tears gathered in her eyes. “Did anyone ever stop to think about that?”
She didn’t wait for an answer. She took off through the pasture, following the footprints into the trees. Dean and Owl exchanged confused looks.
Owl said, “I’ll make sure she gets there safely.”
“And I’ll go talk to Mike,” Dean said, with a sober expression.
*****
“Michael, shame on you,” Tessa said as she sat at the kitchen table with him and Dean.
Mike felt like he had when he was ten and had done something wrong. “I didn’t say it to be mean. I wanted Hope to understand, that’s all. She’s talking about not going back to Chicago. She has to go back or I’m gonna be dead. Her father will kill me when I go back to school.”
“Why does she have to go back for good? If she likes it here and wants to move here, she could simply get her affairs in order and then come back,” Tessa said.
Mike smiled. “I sometimes forget that you were a rebel.”
“That’s right,” she said proudly. “I knew what I wanted, and I was of age to go after it. I know what it’s like to be told what you were going to do every day, and I don’t blame Hope for wanting her freedom. What exactly is your objection to her and Switch having a relationship?”
“Ok, so say they do. What if they fall in love and then break up for some reason? Hope will recover in time, but I’m not so sure Switch would. He doesn’t handle situations like that as well as other people. I’m worried that he would do something drastic. People with his condition sometimes do,” Mike said.
Dean asked, “Are you talking about suicide?”
“Yes. That’s my objection. I don’t want to see either of them get hurt,” Mike said.
“Son, you’re a good friend, but you can’t decide things like that for other people. You also don’t want to borrow trouble. If they care about each other enough, they would work things out. Who knows? Maybe Hope would be good for him. She obviously cares about him if she’s willing to run off into the woods after him,” Dean said.
Mike conceded the point even though he was irritated. “You’re right. I shouldn’t try to decide their futures. I’ll stay out of it, but I know if I hadn’t interrupted them, well, you can use your imagination. That’s all I’m gonna say about it. I’m gonna go into town for a while. I have some shopping to finish up. I’ll see you later on.”
*****
When Rachel arrived at the store that morning, she could hear noise coming from the woodshop. She sighed with dismay as she thought about the day ahead of her. The man who still held her heart was only a few yards from her and yet it felt as if they stood on opposite sides of a canyon.
Had Will fooled her with his good manners and kind attitude? She dismissed that, but she thought about how out of character he’d acted. How could he have done that to her? He’d made her feel cheap and insignificant.
As she dusted off the furniture before it was time to open the doors, she tried to shove these thoughts aside and think about Christmas. The next day was Christmas Eve, and she was planning on attending the church services. She could certainly do with some forgiveness for her transgressions, she supposed. Yet there was a part of her that didn’t regret her night with Will.
Their lovemaking had been unlike anything she’d ever known before, and even if she and Will were completely through, she would cherish the experience in a way. Those memories washed over her even as she ran her dust cloth over a bookcase, leaving her slightly breathless with desire. If she had no dignity, she might march right into that workshop and throw herself at Will. Howe
ver, she did have dignity, so she refrained doing any such thing.
Will wasn’t faring much better. He knew that Rachel always came in about a half hour before the store was due to open and that she would be there by now. He wasn’t sleeping at night because he couldn’t stop dreaming about her in his arms. But more importantly, he missed her. His house felt so empty without her there cooking dinner with him, and he missed going to her place, talking about their day, and playing with Boo.
Strong determination to win her affections again filled him and Will began formulating a plan to do just that. If he could convince her to take him back, he knew that he would make sure to be worthy of her. He wanted to build that life with her that they’d imagined so many times, and he was going to do his utmost to make it happen.
*****
Switch felt someone run a hand through his hair, but thought he must be dreaming. It was a very nice dream, he thought. It was definitely a woman’s touch. The hand stroked his cheek and dipped beneath the collar of his undershirt to rub his chest. He practically purred under his dream lady’s caress, and he had no intention of waking up. Not yet, anyway.
He felt the buttons on his undershirt being undone and cool air hit his chest as it was parted. Soft lips placed kisses along his collarbone. Switch groaned but stayed still. He was afraid to move and ruin the dream. Those lips made a trail up his neck and then teeth lightly bit his earlobe. Switch couldn’t remain still anymore.
With a growl, he rolled his dream lady over and pressed his mouth against hers in an ardent kiss. She felt so soft, so warm, and so real. He wanted to see her and he forced his eyes open to look at her. Hope’s gorgeous blue eyes stared into his.
“Hope?” he queried.
“Good morning,” she said with a smile.
He wasn’t sure if he was still asleep or not. “Are you a dream? Am I dreaming?”
“Do you want to be dreaming?”
“Oh, boy. You’re really here, aren’t you?” he asked.
She giggled. “Yes, I am.”
He groaned and rolled away from her. “I shouldn’t have looked at you.”
“Where are you going?” Hope protested.
“Out into the snow,” he said, and sat up.
Hope tackled him and said, “No, you’re not.”
He laughed. “Hope, you’re being naughty. Santa’s not going to leave you any presents.”
“I don’t care. There’s only one present I want. Too bad I didn’t bring a bow to wrap around you.”
Switch’s eyebrows rose high. “You really are gonna get a lump of coal in your stocking.”
She smiled down at him. “Are you complaining?”
“Uh, no. It’s just that I’m trying to do the right thing here,” Switch said as he looked her over. “You … are not wearing very much.”
“I know. I didn’t want to be overdressed.”
Switch sat up and wrapped a buffalo hide around her. “Hope, I want to, I do, but I think it was a good thing that we were interrupted last night.”
“Why? I thought you wanted to have some fun.”
“Do you want children?” Switch asked.
Hope’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“Do you want children?”
“Yes. Someday. Why?”
“Because I don’t. It’s possible that I could pass on my craziness to any children I would father and I don’t want to do that,” Switch said.
“Who said anything about having children?”
Switch took her by the shoulders. “Mike was right. What if you accidentally get pregnant and you’re in Chicago? I’m never leaving Dawson. You need to know that. At least here, people sort of accept me. There, I would be … well, it wouldn’t be pleasant.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing that I’m moving here then,” Hope said.
“You’re moving here? Why?”
“I need some independence. I’m being suffocated by my father, and I don’t know how much more I can take. Being here has made me see how much freedom I could have. I’m not told what to do, what to wear, where to go, or when to go there,” Hope said. “I’m going to go back with Mike, get my things together, and then come back.”
“Why not just become independent in Chicago?” he asked.
She took off the buffalo robe and Switch couldn’t keep his eyes from traveling over her scantily clad form. “Because you’re here and not there.”
“Please don’t move here for me,” Switch said.
“It’s not just for you. It’s for both reasons,” Hope said.
“Hope, I told you I’m not good at controlling my urges, and you’re not helping me,” Switch said. “So you have about ten seconds to cover up or else.”
Hope just crossed her arms over her chest, which only served to enhance her bosom. Switch was desperately clinging to the last of his willpower. He groaned and found his pants. As he shoved his legs into them, he kept his eyes averted from her. After buttoning up his undershirt, he put on his shirt, buttoned it, and tucked it into his pants and zipped them up. Next came his boots. When he chanced a look at Hope, she had pulled the blanket over her and was smiling at him.
“What?” he asked.
“Switch, do you know what you just did?” she asked.
“Yeah. I got dressed because you wouldn’t.”
Hope said, “Yes. You controlled your urges.”
Switch stared at her for a few moments. “That was a test?”
“Yes, and you did great,” Hope said.
“What if I hadn’t controlled them? What then, Hope?” Switch asked angrily. He snagged his coat from the tipi floor and put it on quickly. “I’m not some damn experiment.”
Hope stood and grasped his arm. “Switch, it’s not like that. Please listen to me. Please?”
Switch relented. “Ok. Go ahead.”
“I believe in you. Maybe other people don’t, but I do. I think you’re capable of more than you think you are,” she said.
“Now you sound like my mother,” Switch said.
“I’m not like her, either. What I’m saying to you isn’t out of embarrassment. It’s because I care about you and instead of people telling you what you can’t do, they should be helping you find out what you can do!” she said. “All I’ve heard since I met you is that you can’t hold down a job, you can’t control what you’re like, you’re not reliable, and you can’t be depended on. Well, I don’t believe it! You just proved me right, Switch.”
Switch held her gaze for quite a while before a smile spread across his face. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did,” she replied.
He laughed and picked her up. “Thank you, Hope. Thank you for believing in me.” The next instant, his smile fled and he put her down again.
“What’s wrong?”
“What if you go back to Chicago and your father does something to prevent you from coming back? If he’s that controlling, do you think he’s just going to let you go?” Switch asked.
Hope bit her lip. He was only voicing her own fears. There was no way he would let her come back to Dawson unaccompanied, and Mike wouldn’t be able to leave school again until May. She didn’t know if she could survive under his rule again for that long. There was no way for her to run anywhere in Chicago because she had no money, no job, and nowhere to go. Her father had friends all over the city and finding her there would be easy.
“I’m trapped, Switch. You’re right. He’ll keep me there. It’s hopeless,” she said as she began pulling on her petticoats. “I don’t have any money of my own. He gives me an allowance. He won’t let me go to work. I can’t run away and come back here because I won’t have the money to cover the trip.”
A determination unlike anything he’d ever experienced took hold of Switch. “Hope, finish getting dressed. We’re going shopping.”
“Shopping? What are we shopping for? You could do with some clothes shopping,” she teased him as she eyes his mismatched outfit.
He smiled.
“Oh, I have plenty of clothes. I just normally don’t care what I put on.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” Hope said.
“We, my dear, are going shopping for wedding bands,” Switch said.
“What? That’s insane, Switch,” she said with a laugh. “No, we’re not.”
“Yes, we are. Think about it. If you’re married, he can’t keep you in Chicago. We’ll get married and I’ll go back to Chicago with you long enough to get things squared away and then come back to Dawson,” Switch said.
“Switch, that’s very kind and chivalrous of you, but we can’t get married. I can’t ask that of you. We don’t know each other well enough and we’re not in love. It wouldn’t be right,” Hope said.
“You haven’t said so, but I’m guessing that your family is wealthy. So is mine. Therefore, we both understand that marriages in our circles are arranged every day for reasons that are much less viable than ours.”
“Yes, that’s true, but—”
“And sometimes, the two parties never meet until a few days before the wedding,” Switch continued. “At least we like each other there’s definitely chemistry between us. I want you to know that just because we would get married doesn’t mean I expect you to take care of me. That’s a big job and ask it of you.”
“Switch, slow down,” she said, as she saw that he was beginning to get very excited. “Your parents are kicking you out. Where would we live? We need witnesses and I don’t have a dress. There haven’t been any plans made,” Hope said.
“I’m crazy, not stupid,” Switch said with a grin. “We’ve got a lot to do. The hotel in town has a nice little suite and we can stay there until we have a permanent place to live. Will and Rachel can be our witnesses. Wolfe Point has a couple of very nice boutiques, where I’m sure you can find a suitable dress. We can buy the bands and then you can get your dress and then we’ll come home. Pastor John will marry us and—”
“You are not riding home in the same buggy as my dress. I don’t want to take any chance that you’ll see it.”
“Wait, wait! Don’t move!” Switch said. “Just stay here.”
He ran out of the tipi and over to Squirrel’s tipi where he scratched on the flap. “Come,” Striking Snake said.